AU2010223844A1 - Gaming system for playing a game - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming system (100) for playing a game is disclosed. The game is a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels. The gaming system (100) comprises a processor (205) for controlling the play of the game and at least one display device (214) coupled to the processor (205) for displaying one or more screens (e.g., 800) of the game. The gaming system (100) also comprises an input means (e.g., 202) coupled to the processor (205), for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game. The processor (205) controls the game such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game. The predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game using the input means (202).

Description

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 GAMING SYSTEM FOR PLAYING A GAME Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a gaming system and, in particular, to a feature game for a base game being played on a gaming system. 5 Background Games played both on land-based gaming machines and online, are extremely popular. Every year substantial amounts of money are gambled on such games. However, technological advances in the delivery of content for games, means that players of such games are becoming increasingly discerning as to the presentation of the games. Players 10 expect to be excited by new features and by more appealing presentations of traditional features in games. As a result, developers of games for gaming systems are forced to develop new and innovative features, including "feature games" for base games being played on the gaming systems, in order to keep existing players interested in the games and in order to attract 15 new players to the games. One known feature, which is very popular with gaming system players, is known as a "double-up" feature. The double- up feature typically involves a player choosing between different symbols (e.g., red and black symbols) upon winning a particular game. If the player's choice matches that of the gaming system, then the number of credits won by the 20 player for the game is doubled. Another known popular feature with gaming system players are "wild symbols". A wild symbol is a symbol that may represent any of the other symbols in a game and substitute for that other symbol in winning combination of symbols. A wild symbol may WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -2 result in a winning combination of symbols that would have otherwise not have occurred and therefore effect the outcome of a game. Conventionally, a player has limited or no control of game features or the placement of symbols on a screen of a game being played. 5 Summary It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming system 10 for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said gaming system comprising: a processor for controlling the play of the game; at least one display device connected to the processor for displaying one or more screens of the game; and 15 input means connected to the processor and the display device, for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game, the processor controlling the game such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game using the input means. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer 20 implemented method of playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said method comprising the steps of: controlling the play of the game using a processor; and displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device connected to the processor, the processor controlling the game based on input from a player using WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -3 input means connected to the processor and the display device, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game using the input means. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an 5 apparatus for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said apparatus comprising: a processor for controlling the play of the game; at least one display device connected to the processor for displaying one or more screens of the game; and 10 input means connected to the processor and the display device, for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game, the processor controlling the game such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game using the input means. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a 15 computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to play a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said program comprising: code for controlling the play of the game; and code for displaying one or more screens of the game, and for controlling the game 20 based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game using the input means.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -4 According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming system for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said gaming system comprising: a processor for controlling the play of the game; 5 at least one display device coupled to the processor for displaying one or more screens of the game; and input means coupled to the processor, for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game, the processor controlling the game such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by 10 a player of the game using the input means. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer implemented method of playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said method comprising the steps of: controlling the play of the game using a processor; and 15 displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device coupled to the processor, the processor controlling the game based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided an 20 apparatus for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said apparatus comprising: a processor for controlling the play of the game; at least one display device coupled to the processor for displaying one or more screens of the game; and WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -5 input means coupled to the processor and the display device, for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game, the processor controlling the game such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. 5 According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to play a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said program comprising: code for controlling the play of the game; and 10 code for displaying one or more screens of the game, and for controlling the game based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming system for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of 15 spinning reels, said gaming system comprising: a memory for storing data and a computer program; and a processor coupled to said memory executing said computer program, said computer program comprising instructions for: displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device 20 coupled to the processor, the processor controlling the game based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -6 an apparatus for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said apparatus comprising: means for controlling the play of the game; and means for displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device 5 coupled to the means for controlling, the game being controlled by the means for controlling based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. 10 Brief Description of the Drawings Some aspects of the prior art and one or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings and appendices, in which: Fig. 1A is a schematic block diagram of a gaming system upon which the 15 arrangements described can be practiced; Fig. 1B is a schematic block diagram of another gaming system upon which the arrangements described can be practiced; Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a gaming apparatus used in the gaming systems of Figs. 1A and 1B; 20 Fig. 3 is a representation of the software architecture of the gaming systems of Figs. 1A and 1B; Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram representing a method of performing a particular game in the gaming systems of Figs. 1A and IB; WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -7 Fig. 5 shows a display screen presentation of a base game being implemented on the gaming systems of Figs. IA and IB; Fig. 6 shows another display screen presentation of a base game being implemented on the gaming systems of Figs. IA and IB; 5 Fig. 7 shows a flow diagram representing a method of performing a feature game on the gaming systems of Figs. IA and IB; Fig. 8 shows a screen of the feature game of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 shows another screen of the feature game of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 shows another screen of the feature game of Fig. 7; 10 Fig. 11 shows another screen of the feature game of Fig. 7; Fig. 12 shows another screen of the feature game of Fig. 7; and Fig. 13 shows another screen of the feature game of Fig. 7. Detailed Description including Best Mode Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps 15 and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears. It is to be noted that the discussions contained in the "Background" section and that above relating to prior art arrangements relate to discussions of documents or devices 20 which form public knowledge through their respective publication and/or use. Such should not be interpreted as a representation by the present inventor(s) or patent applicant that such documents or devices in any way form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -8 Fig. lA shows a gaming system 100A including a gaming machine 101A for use by a player in playing a game. The gaming machine 101 A comprises an enclosure 201 A having display means in the form of a video display device 214A for displaying to the player one or more graphics screens (e.g., 105) for the game being played on the gaming 5 machine 1OlA. The enclosure 201A also has an input device in the form of a keypad 202A comprising one or more buttons for use by the player in controlling one or more aspects of the game. Credit input means in the form of a coin input device 106A and a note input device 107A, are also included in the enclosure 201 A, to allow the player to input credit in order to play the game. A coin tray 108A is also typically incorporated in the enclosure 10 201A in order to allow cash payouts to be payed to the player. In the gaming system 1OA, the gaming machine 1OA is connected to a communications network 222A, known as a Local Area Network (LAN), via a connection 223A. Alternatively, the gaming machine 101A may be standalone. As shown in Fig. 1A, the LAN 222A is coupled to a wide-area network (WAN) 220A, such as the Internet or a 15 private WAN, via a connection 224A. The gaming machine 101A may also be coupled directly to the WAN 220A via a connection 221 A. The network 222A comprises one or more further gaming machines 102A and 103A connected thereto. The further gaming machines are generally similar to the gaming machine 101A but may be configured to implement different games. The further gaming 20 machines may also be connected to the network 220A. A server computer 104A, used for monitoring the gaming machine lOA, is also connected to the network 222A. The server 104A may be used for monitoring the amount of money wagered (or bet) on the gaming machine 101 A over a period of time, the amount of money payed out on the gaming machine lOlA over a period of time and any fault WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -9 conditions on the gamine machine 101A. The server 104A may also be configured to disable or enable the gaming machine 101A. The gaming machine 101A will be described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 2. 5 Fig. lB shows another gaming system 100B. The gaming system 100B comprises a stand-alone "personal" computer 101B for use by a player for playing a game. The personal computer 1OIB may be an IBM-PC or compatible, a Sun Sparcstation, an Apple MacTm, or one of a like computer system evolved therefrom including desktop, laptop, notebook or handheld variations thereof. As seen in Fig. 1A, the computer 101B 10 comprises an enclosure 201B and a display means in the form of a video display device 214B for displaying screens, such as the screen 105 of the game being played. The computer 101B also comprises an input device in the form of a keyboard 202B comprising one or more buttons for use by the player in playing the game. The input means for the computer 101B also comprises a mouse pointer device 203B. 15 The computer 1OIB may be connected to a local area network (LAN) 222B, via a connection 223B. The LAN 222B may couple to a wide area network (WAN) 220B, such as the Internet or a private WAN, via a connection 224B. The computer 101B is also shown coupled directly to the WAN 220B, via a connection 221B. In the system 100B, the WAN 220B typically comprises one or more further computers 102B and 103B, similar to 20 the computer 101B, connected thereto, and which may be used by other persons for game playing. Further such computers may also be connected to the LAN 222A. A remote server 104B is also connected to the WAN 220B. However, in contrast to the server 104A of the system 1 OOA, the server 104B of the system 100B may be used to control the execution of one or more games being played on the gaming system 100B. For WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -10 example, the server 104B may download one or more graphic objects to the computer 101B for the game being played by the corresponding player, together with a display list for displaying the downloaded graphic objects for one or more screens (e.g., 105) of the game being played on the computer 1IB. In this instance, the server 104B then controls 5 the game by downloading further display lists to the computer 10IB as the game is being played by the player and being executed by the computer 101B. In the system 100B, rather than credit input means in the form of the coin input device 106A and the note collector 107A, the player inputs credit in order to play the game by creating an account with a provider of the game, who may or may not be the 10 administrator of the server 104B. For example, the player may provide their credit card and contact details to the game provider via the computer 101B and the network 220B. In this instance, as the player plays the game on the computer 101B, the player's account is debited and credited according to how the player bets and wins, respectively. The computer 101B will now be described in more detail below with reference to 15 Fig. 2. The gaming machine 101 A and the computer 101 B have similar computer hardware architecture. Accordingly, unless referred to specifically, the gaming machine 101A and the computer 101B will be hereinafter generically referred to as the "gaming device" 101. Similarly, components of the gaming machine 1OlA and the computer 101B, such as the 20 enclosures 201A and 201B, and the displays 214A and 214B, respectively, will be hereinafter generically referred to as the enclosure 201 and the display 214, respectively, of the gaming device 100, unless such components are referred to specifically. Further, other components, such as the WANs 220A, 220B, and the LANs 222A and 222B, for example, will be hereinafter generically referred to as the WAN 220 and the LAN 222. Finally, WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 11 unless referred to specifically, the gaming systems 100A and 100B will be hereinafter generically referred to as the gaming system 100. The game played on either of the gaming systems 1 OOA or 100B may be implemented as software, such as one or more application programs being executable by 5 the gaming system 100. In particular, the game may be effected by instructions in the software that are carried out by the gaming system 100. The instructions may be formed as one or more code modules, each for performing one or more particular tasks. As will be described in detail below, the software may also be divided into separate parts, in which a one or more parts and the corresponding code modules performs the game and one or more 10 other parts and the corresponding code modules manage a user interface between the first part and the player of the game. For example, as seen in Figs. 1A and 1B, the user interface may be formed by one or more screens such as the screen 105. The software may be stored in a computer readable medium, including the storage devices described below, for example. The software may be loaded into the gaming 15 system 100 from the computer readable medium, and may then be executed by the gaming system 100. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the gaming system 100 preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for implementing the game described herein. 20 As seen in Fig. 2, the gaming device 101 comprises an input device 202. The input device 202 is formed by the keypad 202A when the gaming device 101 is the gaming machine 1OlA or by the keyboard 202B when the gaming device 101 is the computer 101B. The computer 101B also comprises the mouse pointer device 203. The gaming WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -12 device 101 also comprises output devices including the display device 214 and loudspeakers 217. In one configuration, the display device 214 may be a touch screen. When the gaming device 101 is the gaming machine 101 A, the gaming apparatus 100 also comprises the coin input device 106A and the note input device 107A, as well as a 5 coin output device 218, as seen in Fig. 2. An external Modulator-Demodulator (Modem) transceiver device 216 may be used by the gaming device 101 for communicating to and from the communications network 220 via the connection 221. Where the connection 221 is a telephone line, the modem 216 may be a traditional "dial-up" modem. Alternatively, where the connection 10 221 is a high capacity (eg: cable) connection, the modem 216 may be a broadband modem. A wireless modem may also be used for wireless connection to the network 220. The gaming device 101 typically comprises at least one processor unit 205 for controlling at least partial execution of the game on the gaming system 100. The processor unit 205 may be formed by a micro-controller, micro-processor, programmable logic 15 device or the like. The gaming device 101 also comprises a memory unit 206, for example, formed from semiconductor random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). A number of input/output (I/O) interfaces including an audio-video interface 207 that couples to the video display 214 and loudspeakers 217, are typically also included. The gaming device 101 also comprises an I/O interface 213 for the input 20 device 202, and when the gaming device 100 is the gaming machine 101A, the coin input device 106A and the note input device 107A, as seen in Fig. 2. The interface 213 is also used for the mouse 203 when the gaming device 101 is the computer 101B. The gaming device 101 may also comprise or be connected to an interface 208 used for the external modem 216. The interface 208 may be used for a coin output device 218, WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 13 when the gaming device 101 is the gaming machines 101A. In some implementations, the modem 216 may be incorporated within the gaming device 101, for example within the interface 208. The gaming device 101 also has a local network interface 211 which, via the connection 223, permits coupling of the gaming device 101 to the LAN 222. As also 5 shown in Fig. 2, the LAN 222 couples to the wide network 220 via the connection 224 and would typically include a so-called "firewall" device or similar functionality. The interface 211 may be formed by an Etherneti circuit card, a wireless Bluetooth or an IEEE 802.11 wireless arrangement. The interfaces 208 and 213 may afford both serial and parallel connectivity, the 10 former typically being implemented according to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards and having corresponding USB connectors (not illustrated). Storage devices 209 are provided and typically include a hard disk drive (HDD) 210. Other devices such as a floppy disk drive and a magnetic tape drive (not illustrated) may also be used. An optical disk drive 212 is typically provided to act as a non-volatile source of data. Portable 15 memory devices, such optical disks (eg: CD-ROM, DVD), USB-RAM, and floppy disks for example may then be used as appropriate sources of data to the gaming system 100. The gaming device 101 may also comprise one or more hard meters 215, which are required by some regulatory authorities. These hard meters 215 determine a cumulative number of credits input by a player of the gaming device 101 and output by the gaming 20 device 101 throughout the life of the gaming device 101. The meters 215 are typically set to "zero" when the gaming device 101 is first configured. The components 205 to 213 of the gaming device 101 typically communicate via an interconnected bus 204 and in a manner which results in a conventional mode of operation of the gaming device 101 known to those in the relevant art.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 14 Fig. 3 is a representation of the software architecture 300 of the gaming system 100. The software architecture 300 comprises a base game application program 301, which controls the game being played on the gaming system 100. This game will be hereinafter referred to as the "base game". Another of the application programs of the software 5 architecture 300 is a random number generator 303, as known to those in the relevant art, which determine the outcomes of the base game being played on the gaming system 100. A display controller application program 305 is included to implement one or more of the screens (e.g., 105) to be rendered or otherwise represented upon the display 214 for the base game and any other games, such as features games 313 being played on the gaming 10 device 101. The software architecture 300 may also comprise an input device monitor application program 307 for monitoring signals from the input device 202 (and possibly the mouse 203) of the gaming device 101. For example, the input device monitor application program 307 monitors the manipulation of the input device 202 or the mouse 203 by the 15 player of the base game in order to provide controlling commands to the base game application program 301 and any other games being played on the gaming device 101. A credit control application program 309 is also included in the software architecture 300 for crediting or deducting any winning or losing amount from the credits of a player depending on the outcomes of the base game and any other game being played by the 20 player. This winning or losing amount may be referred to as a "prize" and is determined by a win calculator application program 311 using a pay table. This pay table may be stored on the hard disk drive 210, for example.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 15 The software architecture 300 of the gaming system 100 may also include a feature game application program 313 implementing a feature game of the base game. Such a feature game may include the double-up feature described above. Typically, the application programs 301 to 313 discussed above are resident on the 5 hard disk drive 210 and are read and controlled in their execution by the processor 205, and in the following description, this will be assumed to be the case. However, in the gaming system 100B, the application programs 301 to 313 may be resident on a hard disk drive of the server 104B and be controlled in their execution by a processor of that server 104B, with the processor of the server 104B being configured to download one or more 10 graphic objects for the game to the computer 101 B together with one or more display lists for displaying the downloaded graphic objects as one or more screens (e.g., 105) of the base game and any other game being played on the gaming system 100B. Intermediate storage of the application programs 301 to 313 and any data fetched from the networks 220 and 222 may be accomplished using the semiconductor 15 memory 206, possibly in concert with the hard disk drive 210. In some instances, the application programs may be supplied to a game provider (e.g., an operator of the gaming machine 101 or administrator of the server 104B) encoded on one or more CD-ROMs and be read via the corresponding drive 212, or alternatively may be read by the user from the networks 220 or 222. Still further, the software may also be loaded into the gaming 20 system 100 from other computer readable media. Computer readable media refers to any storage medium that participates in providing instructions and/or data to the gaming system 100 for execution and/or processing. Examples of such media include floppy disks, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, a hard disk drive, a ROM or integrated circuit, a magneto-optical disk, or a computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card and the like, whether or not such WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 16 devices are internal or external of the enclosure 101. Examples of computer readable transmission media that may also participate in the provision of instructions and/or data include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a network connection to another computer or networked device, and the Internet or Intranets including e-mail transmissions 5 and information recorded on Websites and the like. In the described arrangements, the base game is a spinning reel game, with each spin of the reels being referred to hereinafter as a 'game'. A screen 500 of the base game, as represented on the display device 214 by the display control application program 305, is shown in Fig. 5. The screen 500 comprises five vertical reel strips (or "reels") 501 to 505, 10 with each of the reel strips 501 to 505 displaying a series of three symbols (or "base symbols") (e.g., 506, 507 and 508), such that the symbols in the same position of each of the reel strips 501 to 505 form a horizontal row (e.g., 517). For example, the reel strip 501 comprises a star symbol 506 in a first position, a cross 507 in a second position and a square symbol 508 in a third position of the reel strip 501, with the star symbol 506 being 15 the first symbol in the horizontal row of symbols 517. Accordingly, the screen 500 of the base game has a "three (3) symbol (or row) by five (5) reel strip" layout (i.e., a 3 x 5 reel strip layout). Other reel strip layouts may be also be used, such as a "five (5) symbols (or row) by five (5) reel strip" layout. The empty area between each of the reel strips 501 to 505 may be referred to as a 20 "reel strip divider". A method 400 of performing a particular game (i.e., spin of the reel strips 501 to 505) of the base game, will be described below by way of example, with reference to Fig. 4. The method 400 may be implemented as one or more modules of the application programs 301 to 311 described above.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 17 The method 400 begins at step 401, where an initial screen of the base game is displayed, which, in the present example, is the screen 500 of Fig. 5. The screen 500 is typically displayed by the display controller application program 305 in conjunction with the base game application program 301. 5 At the next step 402, the amount of a bet placed by the player on the game to be played is determined. This amount is typically determined by the credit control application program 309 being controlled in its execution by the processor 205 typically examining player input via the input device 202. In the described arrangements, the base game has a plurality of paylines, as known to those in the relevant art, on each of which the player of 10 the base game may place a bet. These paylines are typically indicated by payline indicator columns 509 and 510, as seen in Fig. 5. For example, the base game described herein has five paylines which are typically indicated by the numbers one (1) to five (5) in the columns 509 and 510. Each of these five paylines is represented by phantom lines (e.g., 511) in Fig. 5. The paylines in Fig. 5 are three horizontal paylines (#1, #2, #3 - 509) and 15 two diagonal paylines (#4, #5 - 510). Accordingly, the game will pay an amount of credits for a particular combination of symbols, such as three crosses (e.g., 512) on the payline 511. The screen 500 also comprises a 'BET' meter 514. In the present example, the BET meter 514 indicates that the player has bet on all five paylines by displaying the number 20 five '5' (as indicated by the arrow 519), as seen in Fig. 5. The BET meter 514 also indicates that the player has bet five cents ($0.05) on each payline (e.g., 511) for a particular game (or spin of the reel strips 501 to 505). The player may indicate the amount that they wish to bet on the particular game, at step 401 using the input device 202. The screen 105 also comprises a 'CREDIT' meter 516 indicating a total amount of credits for WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 18 the player including the amount of credits originally input (or available on the player's account) by the player and the amount of credits won by the player during a particular playing session. Upon the bet being placed by the player, the credit control application program 309 updates the BET meter 514 and the CREDIT meter 516 to reflect the amount 5 of the bet. The method 400 continues at the next step 403 with the spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505. The spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505 is initiated by the player inputting a command using the input device 202 which is monitored by the input device monitor application program 307. The spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505 is controlled by the 10 base game application program 301 being executed by the processor 205 and is representative of the processing or actual performance of the game. At the next step 404, a stopping position of each reel strip 501 to 505 is determined. The stopping position of each reel strip 501 to 505 is typically determined by the base game application program 301 depending on an output of the random number generator 15 application program 303. Then at the next step 405, a result screen 600, as seen in Fig. 6, of the base game is displayed on the screen 214. The position of the symbols in the reel strips 501 to 505 of the screen 600 are based on the stopping position of each of the reel strips 501 to 505 as determined at step 403. The screen 600 is typically displayed by the display controller 20 application program 305. The method 400 concludes at the next step 406, where a prize (e.g., an amount of credits) to be payed for any combinations of symbols in the screen 600 is determined. This prize is typically determined by the win calculator application program 311 based on the pay table described above. The screen 600 includes a 'WIN' meter 615 that indicates the WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 19 amount of credits and a corresponding monetary amount that the player has won from the particular game. In the present example, the prize comprises one hundred credits ($1.00) which are payed for the combination of three stars 607, 612 and 613 on the payline 511, as indicated by the WIN meter 615. Also at step 406, the CREDIT meter 516 is updated to 5 reflect the amount won by the player on the game. Alternatively, the prize paid at step 406 may comprise a series of free games, a win multiplier (i.e., where the amount of credits won in a game is multiplied by a predetermined factor), a progressive jackpot (i.e., a bonus prize comprising a plurality of credits, where the amount of credits is incremented over a number of games), or a feature 10 game. In alternative implementations, credits may also be payed to the player for the combination of the three stars 607, 612 and 613 together with the star 608 in the row 617 and the star 609 in the row 619. As a further alternative, further credits may be payed for the smiley faces (e.g., 606) in the reel strips 501, 502 and 503, for example. However, in 15 each of these instances, the base game would require further paylines. A method 700 of performing a feature game of the above base game will now be described by way of example, with reference to Fig. 7. The feature game is implemented by the feature game application program 313 of Fig. 3 in conjunction with the other application programs 301 to 311 described above. 20 In the presently described arrangements, the feature game is played using a slider 801, as seen in Fig. 13, positioned adjacent to the reel strips 501 to 505. The slider 801 may be moved left or right by the player inputting a command using the input device 202 which is monitored by the input device monitor application program 307. In particular, the slider 801 may be moved with respect to each of the reels 501 to 505. As seen in Figs. 8 WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 20 and 13, the slider 801 is positioned above the reel strip 501. Alternatively, as seen in Figs. 9 to 12, the slider 801 may be positioned above any one of reel strip 502, 503, 504 or 505. The feature game including the slider 801 may be played for each game of the base game. In this instance, the slider 801 is displayed all of the time. Alternatively, the 5 availability or option to play the feature game may be triggered by a combination of symbols within the reel strips 501 to 505, such as three or more predetermined symbols in three or more of the reel strips 501 to 505. In this instance, the three or more predetermined symbols do not have to be in the same row or payline in order to trigger the feature game, although the three or more predetermined symbols may be in the same row 10 or payline. Accordingly, the three or more predetermined symbols may be "scattered" within the reel strips 501 to 505. For example, the feature game may be triggered by the three smiley faces (e.g., 606) scattered in each of reel strips 501 to 503, respectively, as seen in Fig. 6. In this instance, the screen 600 is termed a "trigger screen". Many other combinations of symbols or events may be used to trigger the feature game so as to display 15 the slider 801 as seen in Figs. 8 to 10. Accordingly, the described feature game may be played as a base game or as a feature. As described below, the slider 801 allows the player to activate or deactivate game conditions as desired. In particular, in the described feature game, the position of the slider 801, with respect to the reel strips 501 to 505, predetermines in which reel strip 501 to 505 20 a wild symbol 802 (i.e., a symbol that may represent any of the other symbols) may appear during a game (or reel spin) and how the wild symbol 802 behaves. In particular, the position of the slider 801 may determine if the wild symbol 802 becomes an "expanded" wild symbol 803 as seen in Fig. 10.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 21 If the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 501, as seen in Fig. 8, then the wild symbol 802 may be spun in the reel strip 501 during a game (or reel spin) and may only appear in one of the rows (e.g., 817) of reel strip 501 in the feature game when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 502 as described below. Further, the wild symbol 5 802 appearing in the reel strip 801 is a 'standard' wild symbol. A standard wild symbol is a symbol that may represent any of the other symbols and substitute for that other symbol in a winning combination of symbols in the feature game. An amount of credits is payed for that winning combination of symbols on a particular payline (e.g, payline #1). Alternatively, if the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 502, as seen in Fig. 9, 10 then the wild symbol 802 may be spun in the reel strip 502 during a game (or reel spin) and may only appear in one of the rows (e.g., 917) of reel strip 502 in the feature game when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 502 as described below. Further, the wild symbol 802 appearing in reel strip 502 has a two times (2X) multiplier associated with the wild symbol 802. Again, the wild symbol 802 appearing in the reel strip 502 is a symbol 15 that may represent any of the other symbols and substitute for that other symbol in a winning combination of symbols. However, due to the 2X multiplier, double the amount of credits is payed for that winning combination of symbols on a particular payline (e.g, payline #2) for the feature game. Alternatively, the multiplier may be three times (3X), four times (4X) or any predetermined amount of times. 20 If the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 503, as seen in Fig. 10, then the wild symbol 802 may be spun in the reel strip 503 during a game (or reel spin). Further, the wild symbol 802 may become the expanded wild 803, as seen in Fig. 10 when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 503 as described below. The expanded wild symbol 803 appearing in the reel strip 503 effectively means that the wild symbol 802 WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 22 appears in each of the rows 917, 817 and 1017 of reel strip 503 at the same time. The expanded wild symbol 803 appearing in the reel strip 503 is a symbol that may represent any of the other symbols and substitute for that other symbol in a winning combination of symbols. However, as the expanded wild symbol 803 effectively means that the wild 5 symbol 802 appears in each of the rows 917, 817 and 1017 of the reel strip 503 at the same time, the wild symbol 803 may effect the outcome of any combination of symbols, for example, in each of the horizontal paylines (#1, #2, #3 - 509) and/or the two diagonal paylines (#4, #5 - 510) during a game. Alternatively, if the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 504, as seen in Fig. 11, 10 then again the wild symbol 802 may be spun in the reel strip 504 during a game (or reel spin). Further, the wild symbol 802 may become the expanded wild 803, as seen in Fig. 11 when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 504 as described below. Again, the expanded wild symbol 803 effectively means that the wild symbol 802 appears in each of the rows 917, 817 and 1017 of the reel strip 504 at the same time. Further, the expanded 15 wild symbol 803 appearing in reel strip 504 has a two times (2X) multiplier associated with the expanded wild symbol 803. Alternatively, the multiplier may be three times (3X), four times (4X) or any predetermined amount of times. Again, the expanded wild symbol 803 appearing in the reel strip 504 is a symbol that may represent any of the other symbols and substitute for 20 that other symbol in a winning combination of symbols, for example, in each of the horizontal paylines (#1, #2, #3 - 509) and/or the two diagonal paylines (#4, #5 - 510). However, due to the 2X multiplier, double the amount of credits is payed for that winning combination of symbols on a particular payline (e.g, payline #2) for the feature game.

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 23 If the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 505, as seen in Fig. 12, then the wild symbol 802 may be spun in the reel strip 503 during a game (or reel spin). Further, the wild symbol 802 may become the expanded wild 803 when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 505 as described below may appear in reel strip 505 during a 5 game of (reel spin) of the feature game. Again, the expanded wild symbol 803 effectively means that the wild symbol 802 appears in each of the rows 917, 817 and 1017 of reel strip 505 at the same time. Further, the expanded wild symbol 803 appearing in reel strip 505 is a "held" expanded wild. This means that while the other reel strips 501 to 504 continue to spin during a single game (or reel spin), the reel strip 505 remains stationary when the wild 10 symbol 802 appears in the reel strip 505 and becomes the expanded wild 803 during that game (or reel spin). In one embodiment, the expanded wild symbol 803 may be held in the reel strip 505 for one or more further games (or reel spins). Again, the expanded wild symbol 803 appearing in the reel strip 505 is a symbol that may represent any of the other symbols and substitute for that other symbol in a winning combination of symbols. 15 However, as the expanded wild symbol 803 effectively means that the wild symbol 802 appears in each of the rows 917, 817 and 1017 of the reel strip 505 at the same time, the expanded wild symbol 803 may effect the outcome of any combination of symbols in each of the horizontal paylines (#1, #2, #3 - 509) and/or the two diagonal paylines (#4, #5 510). 20 The method 700 begins at step 701, where an initial screen of the feature game, such as the screen 1300 of Fig. 13, is displayed on the display device 214. The initial screen 1300 is typically displayed by the display controller application program 305 in conjunction with the base game application program 301 and the feature game application program 313. In one embodiment, the position of the slider 801, over the reel strip 501, is WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 24 a default position for the slider 801. The player then determines where to position the slider 501 before initiating the spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505 (i.e., before initiating a game). As described above, the slider 801 may be moved left or right by the player inputting a command using the input device 202 which is monitored by the input device 5 monitor application program 307. At the next step 702, the amount of a bet placed by the player on the game to be played is determined. This amount is typically determined by the credit control application program 309 being controlled in its execution by the processor 205 typically examining player input via the input device 202. 10 At the next step 703, the processor 205 determines the position of the slider 801 with respect to the reel strips 501 to 505. In particular, processor 205 determines whether the slider 801 is positioned over reel strip 501, 502, 503, 504 or 505. The method 700 continues at the next step 704 with the spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505. The spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505 is initiated by the player inputting a 15 command using the input device 202 which is monitored by the input device monitor application program 307. The spinning of the reel strips 501 to 505 is controlled by the base game application program 301, executed by the processor 205. As described above, whether any wild symbols appear in the reel strips 501 to 505 depend on the position of the slider 801 determined at step 703. The spinning of the wild symbol 802 within the reel 20 strips 501 to 505 may be controlled by the feature game application program 313 which is also being executed by the processor 205. As described above, if the processor 205 determines, at step 703, that the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 501, as seen in Fig. 8, then at step 704 the wild symbol 802 is WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -25 spun in reel strip 501 and may appear in reel strip 501, as seen in Fig. 8, when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 501 as described below. Alternatively, if the processor 205 determines, at step 703, that the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 502, as seen in Fig. 9, then at step 704 the wild symbol 802 is 5 spun in reel strip 502 and may appear in reel strip 502 when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 502 as described below. Further, as described above, the wild symbol 802 appearing in reel strip 502 has an associated 2X multiplier. Alternatively, if the processor 205 determines, at step 703, that the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 503, as seen in Fig. 10, then at step 704 the wild symbol 802 is 10 spun in reel strip 503 and may become the expanded wild symbol 803 in reel strip 503 when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 503 as described below. Alternatively, if the processor 205 determines, at step 703, that the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 504, as seen in Fig. 11, then at step 704 the wild symbol 802 is spun in reel strip 504 and may become the expanded wild symbol 803 with an associated 15 2X multiplier, when a stopping position is determined for the reel strip 504 as described below. Finally, if the processor 205 determines, at step 703, that the slider 801 is positioned above reel strip 505, as seen in Fig. 12, then at step 704 the wild symbol 802 is spun in reel strip 505 and may become a held expanded wild 803 in the reel strip 505. As described, 20 during one game (or reel spin) if the expanded wild symbol 803 appears in reel strip 505, then reel strip 505 will stop spinning (i.e., reel strip 505 will be held) until the other reel strips 501 to 504 stop spinning. Further, the held expanded wild 803 appearing in reel strip 505 may be held for one or more further games (or reel spins).

WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 26 At the next step 705, a stopping position of each reel strip 501 to 505 is determined. The stopping position of each reel strip 501 to 505 is typically determined by the base game application program 301 depending on an output of the random number generator application program 303. Also at step 705, a stopping position of any wild symbols 802 in 5 the reel strips 501 to 505 is also determined. As described above, the reel strip 501 to 505 in which the wild symbol 802 may appear and how the wild symbol behaves (i.e., whether the wild symbol 802 will become an expanded wild symbol 803) will depend on the position of the slider 801 with respect to the reel strips 501 to 505, as determined by the processor 205 at step 703. The stopping position of wild symbol 802 in the reel strips 501 10 to 505 and the behaviour of the wild symbol 802 (i.e., whether the wild symbol 802 will become an expanded wild symbol 803) is determined by the feature game application program 301, again, depending on an output of the random number generator application program 303. Then at the next step 706, a result screen (e.g., any one of the screens 800, 900, 1000, 15 1100 or 1200), of the feature game is displayed on the screen 214. The result screen is typically displayed by the display controller application program 305. The position of the wild symbol 802 or the expanded wild symbol 803 in the reel strips 501 to 505 of the result screen is based on the stopping position of each of the reel strips 501 to 505 as determined at step 705. 20 The method 700 concludes at the next step 707, where a prize (e.g., an amount of credits) to be payed for any combinations of symbols in the reel strips 501 to 505 of the result screen is determined. This prize is typically determined by the win calculator application program 311 based on the base game pay table described above. The described feature pays for any combination of symbols comprising three of the same symbols WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 27 displayed adjacently left to right on a payline (e.g., payline 1 - 511), or three of the same symbols displayed diagonally on a payline (e.g., payline 4 - 907), where the wild symbol 802 or the expanded wild symbol 803 may substitute for any one of those symbols. Accordingly, the combination of three stars 506, 531, 532 and the expanded wild symbol 5 803 on the payline #2 - 509, as seen in Fig. 10, pays a predetermined number of credits according to the pay table associated with the feature game, as described above. Alternatively, frees games, a progressive jackpot or another feature game may be paid for the combination of the adjacent stars 506, 531, 532 and the expanded wild symbol 803. Further, in accordance with the feature game described herein, prizes may also be paid for 10 combinations resulting from the sets of symbols and the wild symbol 802 or the expanded wild symbol 803 appearing in the paylines #1, #2, #4 and #5. In one embodiment, the number of times that the wild symbol 802 or expanded wild symbol 803 appears in a particular reel 501 to 505 of the result screen (at step 706) will depend on the position of the slider 801. For example, the wild symbol 802 will appear in 15 the result screen more when the slider 801 is above reel 501 than when the slider 801 is above reel 505. However, the prize (e.g., an amount of credits) payed for any combinations of symbols in the reel strips 501 to 505 will be greater when the held expanded wild appears in the reel strip 505 than when the wild symbol 802 appears in reel 501. 20 Also at step 706, the CREDIT meter 516 is updated to reflect the prize(s) won by the player on the feature game. Although the method 700 has been described with reference to the wild symbol 802 (where the wild symbol may become an expanded wild symbol 803), in alternative implementations, the method 700 may be performed with another predetermined symbol WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 28 such as a scatter symbol. Alternatively, the method 700 may be performed with any other symbol which triggers frees games, a win multiplier (e.g., 2X multiplier), a progressive jackpot or another feature game. Accordingly, the position of the slider 801 with respect to the reel strips 501 to 505, would determine in which of the reel strips 501 to 505 the 5 predetermined symbol (e.g., scatter or other symbol) is spun and cause a trigger screen to occur. Further, although the method 700 has been described with reference to the slider 801 being moved horizontally above the reel strips 501 to 505, the slider 801 may be positioned at any suitable position on the screens (e.g., 800) of the feature game. For example, the 10 slider 801 may be positioned below the reel strips 501 to 505 or at any other suitable position adjacent to the reel strips 501 to 505. Still further, in alternative implementations, another object or means, other than the slider 801, may be used to indicate in which reel strips 501 to 505 the wild symbols are spun. For example, the user may use the mouse pointer device 203B to select one of the is reel strips 501 to 505, at step 703, by double clicking on the selected reel strip in a conventional manner. The selected reel strip may then be highlighted on the screen. Industrial Applicability It is apparent from the above that the arrangements described are applicable to the gaming, computer and data processing industries. 20 The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive. For example, as described above, the position of the slider 801, with respect to the reel strips 501 to 505, predetermines in which reel strip 501 to 505 a wild symbol 802 (i.e., a symbol that may WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 29 represent any of the other symbols) may appear during a game (or reel spin) and how the wild symbol 802 behaves. In further embodiments, the player may be provided with controls, such as the slider 801 or similar control, for activating different free games, bonus features or other features within a game. 5 In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including", and not "consisting only of'. Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

Claims (24)

1. A gaming system for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said gaming system comprising: 5 a processor for controlling the play of the game; at least one display device coupled to the processor for displaying one or more screens of the game; and input means coupled to the processor, for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game, the processor controlling the game such that a predetermined symbol 10 appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game using the input means.

2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined reel is selected based on a slider positioned adjacent the reels on a screen of the game. 15

3. The gaming system according to claim 2, wherein the slider is positioned above the reels.

4. The gaming system according to claim 2, where the slider is positioned below the 20 reels.

5. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the input means is a mouse pointer. WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -31

6. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined symbol is a wild symbol.

7. The gaming system according to claim 6, wherein the wild symbol becomes an 5 expanded wild.

8. The gaming system according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined symbol has an associated multiplier. 10

9. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined symbol appears in each row of the predetermined reel.

10. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined symbol is a scatter symbol. 15

11. A computer implemented method of playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said method comprising the steps of: controlling the play of the game using a processor; and displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device coupled to 20 the processor, the processor controlling the game based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 -32

12. The method according to claim 11, positioning a slider positioned adjacent the reels on a screen of the game to select the predetermined symbol.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the slider is positioned above the reels. 5

14. The method according to claim 12, where the slider is positioned below the reels.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the input means is a mouse pointer. 10

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined symbol is a wild symbol.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the wild symbol becomes an expanded wild. 15

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined symbol has an associated multiplier.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined symbol appears in 20 each row of the predetermined reel.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined symbol is a scatter symbol. WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 33

21. An apparatus for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said apparatus comprising: a processor for controlling the play of the game; at least one display device coupled to the processor for displaying one or more 5 screens of the game; and input means coupled to the processor and the display device, for use by a player in controlling one or more aspects of the game, the processor controlling the game such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. 10

22. A computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program is configured to make a computer execute a procedure to play a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said program comprising: 15 code for controlling the play of the game; and code for displaying one or more screens of the game, and for controlling the game based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. 20

23. A gaming system for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said gaming system comprising: a memory for storing data and a computer program; and a processor coupled to said memory executing said computer program, said computer program comprising instructions for: WO 2010/102330 PCT/AU2010/000267 - 34 displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device coupled to the processor, the processor controlling the game based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. 5

24. An apparatus for playing a game, said game being a spinning reel game comprising a plurality of spinning reels, said apparatus comprising: means for controlling the play of the game; and means for displaying one or more screens of the game on at least one display device 10 coupled to the means for controlling, the game being controlled by the means for controlling based on input from a player, such that a predetermined symbol appears in a predetermined reel of the game, wherein the predetermined reel is selected by a player of the game. 15