Automated symbol upgrade and symbol removal during link and respin feature

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing symbol upgrade features in games. An illustrative method includes receiving a first input from a player interacting with a gaming device initiating a first play of a game, where the game comprises an array of cells. The method further includes determining that a randomly-generated first distribution of symbols includes a common symbol in a first cell and a second cell. The method further includes upgrading a cell in the array of cells with an upgrade symbol, where the upgrade symbol represents that the common symbol in the first cell and the second cell have been combined into the upgrade symbol in response to determining that the first cell and the second cell include the common symbol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 initiating a first play of a game, wherein the game presents an array of cells;   rendering, by the display in response to initiating the first play of the game, a first distribution of symbols in the array of cells, wherein each cell in the array of cells comprises a discrete symbol in the first distribution of symbols;   determining that the first distribution of symbols comprises a common symbol in a first cell and a second cell;   upgrading a cell in the array of cells with an upgrade symbol, wherein the upgrade symbol represents that the common symbol in the first cell and the second cell have been combined into the upgrade symbol in response to determining that the first cell and the second cell comprise the common symbol, and wherein the cell that is upgraded with the upgrade symbol comprises the first cell;   removing the common symbol from the second cell at least until a second play of the game is initiated, wherein the second cell is empty at least until the second play of the game is performed;   initiating the second play of the game, wherein the second play of the game occurs after the first play of the game; and   rendering, by the display in response to initiating the second play of the game, a second distribution of symbols in the array of cells, wherein the cell comprises the upgrade symbol in the second distribution of symbols and wherein cells in the array of cells other than the cell comprise a new discrete symbol in the second distribution of symbols.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a game outcome based on the second distribution of symbols in the array of cells; and   updating a credit meter based on the game outcome.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining a location of a payline;   evaluating a combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline; and   updating the credit meter based on a value associated with the combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the combination of symbols includes the upgrade symbol, wherein a value associated with the upgrade symbol is determined by applying a multiplier to a value associated with the common symbol, and wherein the value associated with the combination of symbols comprises at least the value associated with the upgrade symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells other than the cell include the second cell, wherein removing the common symbol from the second cell subjects the second cell to the second play of the game, and further comprising:
 determining that a third cell in the first distribution of symbols also comprises the upgrade symbol; and   upgrading the third cell with a multi-upgrade symbol, wherein the multi-upgrade symbol represents that the upgrade symbol in the first cell and the third cell have been combined into the multi-upgrade symbol in response to determining that the first cell and the third cell comprise the upgrade symbol.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a third cell in the first distribution of symbols comprises the common symbol; and   assigning a value to the upgrade symbol that represent at least three times a value of the common symbol.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cell and the second cell are adjacent to one another and wherein upgrading the cell with the upgrade symbol is conditioned upon the common symbol appearing in adjacent cells. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first cell and the second cell are diagonally adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 increasing a number of spins available to a player in response to upgrading the cell with the upgrade symbol.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first distribution of symbols is determined based on an output of a random number generator (RNG) and wherein all cells in the array of cells other than the cell comprise the new discrete symbol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first play of the game is initiated in response to receiving an input from a player and wherein the second play of the game is automatically initiated in response to upgrading the cell with the upgrade symbol. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 initiating a first play of a game, wherein the game comprises an array of cells;   causing a first distribution of symbols to be displayed in the array of cells, wherein each cell in the array of cells comprises a discrete symbol in the first distribution of symbols;   determining that a first cell and a second cell both comprise a common symbol in the first distribution of symbols;   determining that the first cell is adjacent to the second cell;   upgrading the first cell with an upgrade symbol, wherein the upgrade symbol represents that the common symbol in the first cell and the second cell have been combined into the upgrade symbol in response to determining that the first cell and the second cell both comprise the common symbol and in response to determining that the first cell is adjacent to the second cell;   removing the common symbol from the second cell at least until a second play of the game is initiated, wherein the second cell is empty at least until after the second play of the game;   initiating the second play of the game, wherein the second play of the game occurs after the first play of the game; and   causing a second distribution of symbols to be displayed in the array of cells, wherein the first cell comprises the upgrade symbol in the second distribution of symbols and wherein cells in the array of cells other than the first cell comprise a new discrete symbol in the second distribution of symbols.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining a location of a payline relative to the array of cells;   evaluating a combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline; and   updating a credit meter based on a value associated with the combination of symbols in the second distribution of symbols that intersect the payline.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the combination of symbols includes the upgrade symbol. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a value associated with the upgrade symbol is determined by applying a multiplier to a value associated with the common symbol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein removing the common symbol from the second cell subjects the second cell to receiving a symbol other than the common symbol in the second distribution of symbols. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the value associated with the combination of symbols comprises at least the value associated with the upgrade symbol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 generating a game outcome based on the second distribution of symbols in the array of cells; and   updating a credit meter based on the game outcome.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first cell and the second cell are diagonally adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first distribution of symbols is determined based on an output of a random number generator (RNG) and wherein all cells in the array of cells other than the cell comprise the new discrete symbol.