Symbol frame mechanics for random based game outcomes

Abstract

A symbol frame mechanic for a gaming device is described. The symbol frame mechanic generates a random based game outcome in a first game instance that includes a special symbol and determines that the special symbol lands within a symbol window position with a preexisting symbol frame. The symbol frame mechanic generates an upgraded symbol frame at the symbol window position. The symbol frame mechanic resets a count indicative of a number of remaining spins left before the preexisting symbol frame expires to a designated number of remaining spins. The symbol frame mechanic generates a random based game outcome in a second game instance that includes a credit symbol. The symbol frame mechanic determines that the credit symbol lands within the symbol window position with the upgraded symbol frame and triggers a payout for the credit symbol that lands in the upgraded symbol frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors, and   one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 cause a plurality of symbol frame state configurations for a base game having a plurality of symbol window positions to be stored in memory, each symbol frame state configuration in the plurality of symbol frame state configurations associated with a different bet level of a plurality of bet levels and at least including information indicating any corresponding unexpired symbol frame or frames that are associated with any of the symbol window positions for that bet level; 
 cause, responsive to each receipt of an input indicating a request to change a currently selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels to a newly selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels, each unexpired corresponding symbol frame that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the currently selected bet level indicates is associated with one of the symbol window positions to be displayed on one or more displays in association with that symbol window position; 
 cause the symbol frame state configurations to be updated such that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the newly selected bet level at least indicates each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions after a last play of the base game at the newly selected bet level; 
 cause, responsive to each receipt of an input indicating a play of the base game, an instance of the base game to be provided in which symbols are selected from a plurality of symbols and displayed in the symbol window positions on the one or more displays, wherein the plurality of symbols from which the symbols are selected at least includes one or more special symbols; and 
 cause the newly selected bet level to be used as the currently selected bet level in association with a next play of the base game that occurs after each receipt of the input indicating the request to change the currently selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels to the newly selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to cause each symbol frame state configuration to indicate a corresponding multiplier value associated with each unexpired corresponding symbol frame for that symbol frame state configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
 further cause the symbol frame state configurations to be updated such that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the newly selected bet level further indicates a number of base game plays remaining that is displayed on the one or more displays in association with each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions after a last play of the base game at the newly selected bet level, and   further cause, responsive to each receipt of the input indicating the request to change the currently selected bet level to the newly selected bet level, each unexpired corresponding symbol frame that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the currently selected bet level indicates is associated with one of the symbol window positions to be displayed on the one or more displays in association with that symbol window position and in association with the number of base game plays remaining for that unexpired corresponding symbol frame.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to decrement the number of base game plays remaining displayed on the one or more displays for each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions in association with each receipt of the input indicating the play of the base game. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to cause, responsive to each display of one of the one or more special symbols in one of the symbol window positions that does not have a corresponding unexpired symbol frame displayed on the one or more displays at the time that special symbol is selected and displayed in that symbol window position on the one or more displays, a corresponding unexpired symbol frame for that symbol window position to be displayed on the one or more displays. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to cause, responsive to each display of one of the one or more special symbols in one of the symbol window positions that has a corresponding unexpired symbol frame displayed on the one or more displays at the time that special symbol is selected and displayed in that symbol window position on the one or more displays, the corresponding unexpired symbol frame for that symbol window position to be upgraded. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to, for each of the corresponding unexpired symbol frames that is to be upgraded, cause that corresponding unexpired symbol frame to be upgraded by increasing the number of base game plays remaining associated with that corresponding unexpired symbol frame. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, readable by at least one processor and storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 cause a plurality of symbol frame state configurations for a base game having a plurality of symbol window positions to be stored in memory, each symbol frame state configuration in the plurality of symbol frame state configurations associated with a different bet level of a plurality of bet levels and at least including information indicating any corresponding unexpired symbol frame or frames that are associated with any of the symbol window positions for that bet level;   cause, responsive to each receipt of an input indicating a request to change a currently selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels to a newly selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels, each unexpired corresponding symbol frame that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the currently selected bet level indicates is associated with one of the symbol window positions to be displayed on one or more displays in association with that symbol window position;   cause the symbol frame state configurations to be updated such that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the newly selected bet level at least indicates each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions after a last play of the base game at the newly selected bet level;   cause, responsive to each receipt of an input indicating a play of the base game, an instance of the base game to be provided in which symbols are selected from a plurality of symbols and displayed in the symbol window positions on the one or more displays, wherein the plurality of symbols from which the symbols are selected at least includes one or more special symbols; and   cause the newly selected bet level to be used as the currently selected bet level in association with a next play of the base game that occurs after each receipt of the input indicating the request to change the currently selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels to the newly selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , further storing additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to cause each symbol frame state configuration to indicate multiplier values associated with each unexpired corresponding symbol frame for that symbol frame state configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , further storing additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 further cause the symbol frame state configurations to be updated such that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the newly selected bet level further indicates a number of base game plays remaining that is displayed on the one or more displays in association with each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions after a last play of the base game at the newly selected bet level, and   further cause, responsive to each receipt of the input indicating the request to change the currently selected bet level to the newly selected bet level, each unexpired corresponding symbol frame that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the currently selected bet level indicates is associated with one of the symbol window positions to be displayed on the one or more displays in association with that symbol window position and in association with the number of base game plays remaining for that unexpired corresponding symbol frame.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further storing additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to decrement the number of base game plays remaining displayed on the one or more displays for each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions in association with each receipt of the input indicating the play of the base game. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further storing additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to cause, responsive to each display of one of the one or more special symbols in one of the symbol window positions that does not have a corresponding unexpired symbol frame displayed on the one or more displays at the time that special symbol is selected and displayed on the one or more displays in that symbol window position, a corresponding unexpired symbol frame for that symbol window position to be displayed on the one or more displays. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , further storing additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to cause, responsive to each display of one of the one or more special symbols in one of the symbol window positions that has a corresponding unexpired symbol frame displayed on the one or more displays at the time that special symbol is selected and displayed in that symbol window position on the one or more displays, the corresponding unexpired symbol frame for that symbol window position to be upgraded. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further storing additional computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to, for each of the corresponding unexpired symbol frames that is to be upgraded, cause that corresponding unexpired symbol frame to be upgraded by increasing the number of base game plays remaining associated with that corresponding unexpired symbol frame. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 causing, by one or more processors, a plurality of symbol frame state configurations for a base game having a plurality of symbol window positions to be stored in memory, each symbol frame state configuration in the plurality of symbol frame state configurations associated with a different bet level of a plurality of bet levels and at least including information indicating any corresponding unexpired symbol frame or frames that are associated with any of the symbol window positions for that bet level;   causing, by the one or more processors and responsive to each receipt of an input indicating a request to change a currently selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels to a newly selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels, each unexpired corresponding symbol frame that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the currently selected bet level indicates is associated with one of the symbol window positions to be displayed on one or more displays in association with that symbol window position;   causing, by the one or more processors, the symbol frame state configurations to be updated such that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the newly selected bet level at least indicates each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions after a last play of the base game at the newly selected bet level;   causing, by the one or more processors and responsive to each receipt of an input indicating a play of the base game, an instance of the base game to be provided in which symbols are selected from a plurality of symbols and displayed in the symbol window positions on the one or more displays, wherein the plurality of symbols from which the symbols are selected at least includes one or more special symbols; and   causing, by the one or more processors, the newly selected bet level to be used as the currently selected bet level in association with a next play of the base game that occurs after each receipt of the input indicating the request to change the currently selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels to the newly selected bet level of the plurality of bet levels.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising causing, by the one or more processors, each symbol frame state configuration to indicate multiplier values associated with each unexpired corresponding symbol frame for that symbol frame state configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 further causing, by the one or more processors, the symbol frame state configurations to be updated such that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the newly selected bet level further indicates a number of base game plays remaining that is displayed on the one or more displays in association with each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions after a last play of the base game at the newly selected bet level, and   further causing, by the one or more processors and responsive to each receipt of the input indicating the request to change the currently selected bet level to the newly selected bet level, each unexpired corresponding symbol frame that the symbol frame state configuration associated with the currently selected bet level indicates is associated with one of the symbol window positions to be displayed on the one or more displays in association with that symbol window position and in association with the number of base game plays remaining for that unexpired corresponding symbol frame.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, by the one or more processors, decrementing the number of base game plays remaining displayed on the one or more displays for each unexpired corresponding symbol frame associated with any of the symbol window positions in association with each receipt of the input indicating the play of the base game. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising causing, by the one or more processors and responsive to each display of one of the one or more special symbols in one of the symbol window positions that does not have a corresponding unexpired symbol frame displayed on the one or more displays at the time that special symbol is selected and displayed in that symbol window position on the one or more displays, a corresponding unexpired symbol frame for that symbol window position to be displayed on the one or more displays. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising causing, by the one or more processors and responsive to each display of one of the one or more special symbols in one of the symbol window positions that has a corresponding unexpired symbol frame displayed on the one or more displays at the time that special symbol is selected and displayed in that symbol window position on the one or more displays, the corresponding unexpired symbol frame for that symbol window position to be upgraded.