AU2013251275A1 - Persistent rotation - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A gaming system is disclosed. An award is made in respect to a winning outcome, and an additional award is made if 5 the winning outcome corresponds to one of a set of active conditions displayed on a display area.

Description

-1 PERSISTENT ROTATION Related application 5 This patent application is a divisional application of Australian patent application 2011200257 and relates to subject matter disclosed in that application. Some description of the invention of 2011200257 is included 10 herein to facilitate understanding of the present invention. If necessary reference may be had to the disclosure of application 2011200257 to understand the present invention, and the disclosure of that application is incorporated herein by reference. 15 Field The present invention generally relates to a slot machine having a display area that displays any currently 20 active conditions, and particularly but not exclusively to a slot machine that also makes an additional award upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an active condition. 25 Background Slot machines having either mechanical reels or a video display simulating mechanical reels are known. 30 While such gaming systems provide players with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment. 35 Summary of the Invention -2 According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a gaming system comprising: a plurality of symbol display positions; 5 a display area; and a game controller operatively coupled to the plurality of symbol display positions and the display area, and configured to: cause the display area to display a plurality of 10 conditions, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed conditions are indicated as inactive and at least one of the plurality of displayed conditions is indicated as active; select symbols for display in each of the display 15 positions; evaluate the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomes 20 corresponding to different conditions of the plurality of displayed conditions; make an award in respect of each winning outcome; and make an additional award upon there being a 25 winning outcome which corresponds to an active condition. In an embodiment, the additional award is an award of one or more free games. The one or more free games may be 30 a series of free games. In an embodiment, the additional award is an award of an additional prize. 35 In an embodiment, the additional award is an award of a feature game.

-3 In an embodiment, more than one of the conditions constituting the plurality of conditions may be arranged on the display area. The active condition may be indicated. The active condition may be indicated by an 5 indicator associated with the display area. The more than one conditions may be arranged in a circle on the display area. The circle of the plurality of conditions may rotate. The indicator may rotate. The rotation of either the one or both of the indicator and circle may change the 10 active condition. The rotation may be persistent. The indicator may comprise a light. In an embodiment, the controller is arranged to recurrently change at least one of the plurality of 15 displayed conditions indicated as inactive to active. At least one of the plurality of displayed conditions indicated as active may also be changed to inactive.. The controller may be arranged to change the condition indications after one of: a designated number of symbol 20 selections; a designated number of plays of the game; a designated time period. In an embodiment, the display area comprises the face of a timepiece comprising one or more hands. 25 In an embodiment, each of the plurality of symbol display positions has a respective reel, each reel having at least some of the plurality of symbols. 30 In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises an electronic display. The plurality of reels may be simulated on the electronic display. The display area may be on the or another electronic display. 35 In an embodiment, each condition of the plurality of conditions is represented by one of the signs of the zodiac.

-4 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a game controller configured to be operatively coupled to a plurality of symbol display positions and a 5 display area, and further configured to: cause the display area to display a plurality of conditions, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed conditions are indicated as inactive and at least one of the plurality of displayed conditions is 10 indicated as active; select symbols for display in each of the display positions; evaluate the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of 15 a plurality of possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomes corresponding to different conditions of the plurality of displayed conditions; make an award in respect of each winning outcome; and make an additional award upon there being a winning 20 outcome which corresponds to an active condition. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method comprising the steps of: causing a display area to display a plurality of 25 conditions, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed conditions are indicated as inactive and at least one of the plurality of displayed conditions is indicated as active; selecting symbols for display in each of a plurality 30 of symbol display positions; evaluating the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomes corresponding to different 35 conditions of the plurality of displayed conditions; making an award in respect of each winning outcome; and -5 making an additional award upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an active condition. According to a fourth aspect of the invention there 5 is provided a computer program comprising instructions for controlling a computer to implement a method in accordance with the third aspect of the invention. According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is 10 provided a tangible computer readable medium providing computer program in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention. Brief Description of Drawings 15 An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stand alone gaming machine; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the core components of an embodiment of a gaming system; 25 Figure 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment; Figures 4 and 5 each show an example of each of a set of conditions displayed on a display area. 30 Figure 6 is a block diagram of the functional components of an embodiment of a gaming machine; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of 35 the functional components of a memory; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a -6 network gaming system; and Figure 9 is a further block diagram of an embodiment of a gaming system. 5 Detailed Description Referring to the drawings, there are shown various embodiments of a gaming system having a game controller 10 arranged to implement a game. A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in Figure 1. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which are 15 displayed representations of a game that can be played by a player. Irrespective of the form, the gaming system has several core components illustrated in Figure 2. At the 20 broadest level, the core components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in Figure 2. The game controller may cause the system 10 to perform the method represented by the flow chart in Figure 3. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction 25 between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter instructions to play the game and observe the game outcomes. 30 The gaming system 10 presents to a player of the game a plurality of simulated reels on an electronic display 14. In another embodiment, the reels may be mechanical and maybe additional to the electronic display. The game controller is operatively coupled to each of the reels and 35 causes the reels to spin and stop to display a symbol at a respective symbol display position. . The game controller is also operatively coupled to a display area, -7 such as 16, on the electronic display 14. The controller causes any currently active conditions of a set of conditions to be displayed on the display area 5 16. For example, each of the set of conditions may have an associated symbol which is displayed if the respective condition is active. In one embodiment, the conditions may each be associated with one of the signs of the zodiac, such as shown in Figure 4. It will be 10 appreciated, however, that any suitable symbol (for example a suit, fruit, coins, flowers, etc.) may be employed. In this embodiment, zodiac signs, such as cancer each 15 corresponding to one of a set of conditions are arranged on the display area in a circle 70. Although more than one condition is displayed in this example, that does not necessarily mean that all of the conditions are currently active. Only one or some of the displayed conditions may 20 be active. In this example there is only one active condition. The active condition is indicated, at least in this example, by an indicator in the form of an arrow 74. In an alternative embodiment, the active condition may be indicated by the associated symbol lighting up or 25 highlighting the active symbols by generally any suitable way. Alternatively, a needle or hand may be placed adjacent the wheel. In this example, the wheel rotates and the symbol 30 closest to the head of the arrow 74 is taken to be the active symbol. In an alternative embodiment, the circle of zodiacs signs is stationary and the indicator rotates around the circumference of the circle 70. The relative rotation between the circle of zodiac symbols and 35 indicator causes the change in condition. In another embodiment, both the circle and indicator may rotate. The rotation may be constant and persistent, or it may be -8 variable or even random. Generally any pattern of rotation, or any means to change the active symbol may be employed. 5 In some embodiments, the controller 60 evaluates the symbols displayed at the symbol display positions, once the reels have stopped, to determine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes. 10 The controller 60 then makes an award in respect to the winning outcome. An additional award is made by the controller 60 upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an active condition. 15 In one example, if the game has a free game feature, and if the player won a base game involving three or more cancer symbols while in the constellation Cancer (i.e. the indicator 74 shows cancer to be active) then the free game 20 feature would be triggered. The sign associated with the active condition, however, need not visually correspond with the symbols of the winning outcome. In another example, the active condition may be 25 represented by a coin, and the winning combination three kings. In this example, the association is notional and conceptual that kings are rich. Figure 5 shows another example in which the display 30 14 is displaying signs associated with respective conditions that may be active. In this example, a night sky is shown in the display area 16. One or more, perhaps all, of the zodiac signs are visible and the active one is indicated by any suitable means, such as its position 35 relative to the display area, its position relative to the other symbols or the use of a highlighting feature such as a circle circling the active condition or conditions, for -9 example. Generally, any means to show the active symbol or symbols can be used. In another embodiment, the display area comprises a 5 face of a timepiece comprising one or more hands, such as an analogue clock. As a hand moves around the active condition changes. For example, if it is one o'clock, then the active condition is associated with one o'clock. The active condition may be associated with the period of 10 time between two hours, for example or a particular quadrant of the time piece or any other suitable configuration. In one example, an additional award is given if a winning symbol combination is made when the second hand strikes 12. The hands on the clock may rotate 15 persistently, as for a standard clock, or may even behaviour erratically. The controller evaluates the displayed symbols and determines if the symbols displayed by the reels once 20 stopped correspond to one or more winning outcomes, and if so determined, make an award with respect to the winning outcome. A winning outcome may be, for example, 3 or more of the same suit or symbol. If the winning outcome corresponds to an active condition the controller may make 25 an additional award. The additional award may be, for example, one or more free games, possibly a series of free games, a feature game, or an additional prize. 30 In one embodiment, only one of the conditions is active at any time. For example, a single sign of the zodiac may be displayed on the display area, the zodiac sign being indicative of which condition is active. The 35 controller may recurrently changes the active condition and changes the corresponding displayed symbol or sign on the display to indicate the change in the active -10 condition. The active condition may be changed by the controller after, for example, a designated number of symbol 5 selections. Alternatively, after a designated number of plays of the game the symbol may be changed by controller. In another embodiment, the active condition may be changed after a designated time period. In all of these examples, the displayed symbol associated with the active condition 10 may be changed when the active condition is changed by the controller. In another embodiment, more than one active condition is displayed in the display area. For example, the 15 symbols for Aries, Aquarius and Cancer may be displayed on the screen. If a winning outcome on the reels includes one or more of these symbols then, in this example, the winning outcome corresponds to at least one of the active conditions and an additional prize can be determined 20 accordingly. the additional prize, in this example, is a number of free games, the number of free games being equal to the number of matches between the symbols on the reel in the displayed positions and the active conditions displayed on the display area. For example, if the reel 25 showed Cancer, Aries and Aquarius and all three conditions are active then three free games would be provided. It will be appreciated that calculation of the additional award may follow any suitable plan and is not limited to the above example. 30 Of course the symbols on the reels and the symbol associated with the active condition need not be the same or even similar. For example, the active condition may be represented by a monarch's head and the symbol displayed 35 in the symbol display positions may each be fruit. The gaming system can take a number of different -11 forms. In a first form as shown in Figure 1, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 5 In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for 10 implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a "thick client" architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; 15 or a "thin client" architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player. 20 However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming 25 machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, "thick client" mode or "thin client" mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent 30 to persons skilled in the art. Each gaming system has a game controller 60 operatively coupled to the reels and/or the electronic display(s) which are collectively indicated by numeral 54 35 in Figure 2. In one embodiment there is a single electronic display and the reels are simulated on the display.

-12 Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits 5 and receive payouts, one or more displays such as the reel and an electronic (or video) display 54, a game play mechanism 56 including one or more input devices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place a wager), and one or more speakers 58. 10 The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the 15 displays. Typically, the game play rules are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term "processor" is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a 20 microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. Further details of the gaming system of Figure 1 will now be described. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 25 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input 30 mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. Other gaming machines may configure for ticket in such that they have a ticket reader for reading tickets having a value and crediting the player based on the face 35 value of the ticket. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for -13 example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device. In some embodiments, the player marketing 5 module may provide an additional credit mechanism, either by transferring credits to the gaming machine from credits stored on the player tracking device or by transferring credits from a player account in data communication with the player marketing module. 10 A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front 15 panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10. The display 14 shown in Figure 1 is in the form of a 20 video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include 25 a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or of a different type. Figure 6 shows a block diagram of operative 30 components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of Figure 1. The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102 mounted on a circuit board. 35 Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the -14 gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. It will be appreciated that the memories are 5 one example of tangible media, as are, for example, hard drives, flash memory etc. The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and 10 monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/0) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and 15 data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random 20 numbers. In the example shown in Figure 6, a player interface 120 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101 including one or more displays such as 25 electronic display(s) and reels 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107 (which provide a game play mechanism), a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as 30 part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. For example, while buttons or touch screens are typically used in gaming machines to allow a player to place a wager and initiate a play of a game any input device that enables 35 the player to input game play instructions may be used. For example, in some gaming machines a mechanical handle is used to initiate a play of the game.

-15 In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status 5 information, accounting information or other information to a bonus controller, central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the bonus controller, central controller, server or database. In embodiments employing a player marketing module, 10 communications over a network may be via player marketing module - i.e. the player marketing module may be in data communication with one or more of the above devices and communicate with it on behalf of the gaming machine. 15 Figure 7 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The 20 EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B 25 or elsewhere. It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be 30 provided remotely from the game controller 101. Figure 8 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet 35 network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in Figure 7 are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 -16 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown in Figures 1 and 6, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 5 of two gaming machines are illustrated in Figure 8, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged. One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. For example, the displays 204 may be 10 associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material. 15 In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game 20 server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the 25 gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided. 30 In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game 35 controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming -17 machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. Other 5 client/server configurations are possible, and further details of a client/server architecture can be found in WO 2006/052213 and PCT/SE2006/000559, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 10 Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 15 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network. The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a 20 corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the 25 server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single "engine" on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. 30 Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the 35 terminals. Further detail of gaming system -18 The player operates the game play mechanism 56 to specify the win entitlement which will be evaluated for this play of the game and initiates a play of the game. 5 Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player's win entitlement will vary from game to game dependent on player selections. In most spinning reel games, it is typical for the player's entitlement to be affected by the amount they wager and selections they make (i.e. the 10 nature of the wager). For example, a player's win entitlement may be based on how many lines they play in each game - e.g. a minimum of one line up to the maximum number of lines allowed by the game (noting that not all permutations of win lines may be available for selection). 15 Such win lines are typically formed by a combination of symbol display positions, one from each reel, the symbol display positions being located relative to one another such that they form a line. 20 In many games, the player's win entitlement is not strictly limited to the lines they have selected, for example, "scatter" pays are awarded independently of a player's selection of pay lines and are an inherent part of the win entitlement. 25 Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the player may obtain a win entitlement by selecting a number of reels to play. Such games are marketed under the trade name "Reel Power" by Aristocrat 30 Leisure Industries Pty Ltd. The selection of the reel means that each displayed symbol of the reel can be substituted for a symbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, all symbols displayed at symbol display positions corresponding to a selected reel can be 35 used to form symbol combinations with symbols displayed at a designated, symbol display positions of the other reels. For example, if there are five reels and three symbol -19 display positions for each reel such that the symbol display positions comprise three rows of five symbol display positions, the symbols displayed in the centre row are used for non-selected reels. As a result, the total 5 number of ways to win is determined by multiplying the number of active display positions of each reels, the active display positions being all display positions of each selected reel and the designated display position of the non-selected reels. As a result for five reels and 10 fifteen display positions there are 243 ways to win. In other embodiments a player win entitlement may be affected by purchasing access to particular pay tables e.g. a first bet amount entitles the player to wins 15 including cherries and a second amount entitles them to wins including plums. In Figure 9, the processor 62 of game controller 60 is shown implementing a number of modules based on program 20 code and data stored in memory 64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that various of the modules could be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicated circuit. 25 These modules include the outcome generator 622 which operates in response to the player's operation of game play mechanism 56 to place a wager and initiate a play of the game and generates a game outcome which will then be evaluated by award evaluator 623. The first part of 30 forming the game outcome is for a symbol selector 622A to select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data 641 using random number generator 621. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller 624 which causes them to be displayed on display 54 at a set of 35 display positions. The award evaluator may also determine, in the event of a winning outcome, if the winning outcome corresponds to any active conditions and -20 if so determined triggers an additional award to be made. The processor may also comprise an active condition selector 626 which determines which, if any, of the set of 5 conditions are active and triggers the display controller to display the active conditions. The active condition selector may be configured to recurrently change one or more active conditions. 10 One example of selecting symbols is for the symbol selector 622A to select symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. The symbol sets 641 can specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the 15 symbol selector 622A can select all of the symbols by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display 54. It is known to use a 20 probability table stored in memory 64 to vary the odds of a particular stop position being selected. Other techniques can be used to control the odds of particular outcomes occurring to thereby control the return to player of the game. 25 In some embodiments, an eligibility criteria may be applied, for example that the player has made a certain sized wager, made an ante bet, selected all win lines, played sufficient games, or the player is a member of a 30 loyalty program. The trigger event may be a symbol combination in the game, occurrence of a specific symbol in the game, purchased, be caused by another connected system, based on 35 turnover etc. A game round involves at least one of the reels being -21 "spun" - e.g. new symbols of the reels are selected for display at the display positions and the reel is either physically or virtually spun to a stop. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be more than one 5 game round in a play of a gaming machine such as is the case when a series of free spins is awarded. The outcome of a game round may be no win, a win (for example from a winning combination of symbols), a contribution towards a win accrued over a plurality of game rounds, a trigger 10 condition occurring etc. Further aspects of the method will be apparent from the above description of the gaming system. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method 15 could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by transmitting it from a 20 server). It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the 25 invention; in particular it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to form further embodiments. It is to be understood that, if any prior art is 30 referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding 35 description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as -22 "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 5

Claims (23)

1. A gaming system comprising: a purality of symbol display positions; 5 a display area; and game controller operatively coupled to the plurality of symbol display positions and the display area, and configured to: cause the display area to display a 10 plurality of conditions, wherein at least some of rhe plurality of displayed conditions are indicated as inactive and at least one of the plurality of dispa yed condi tons is indicated as active; ect symbols for display in each of the 15 display positions; evaluate the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomes 20 corresponding to different conditions of the plurality of displayed conditions; make an award In respect of each winning outcome; and make an additional award upon there being a 25 winning outcome which corresponds to an active condit Lon.

2. A gaming system as clarined in claim 1, wherein the additional award is an award of one or more free 30 g ame s .

3. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional award is an award of a feature game. 35

4. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein toe additional award is an award of an additional prize. -24

5. A gaming system defined by claim 1 wherein the controller is arranged to recurrently change at least one of the plurality of displayed conditions indicated as inactive to active and at least one of 5 the plurality of displayed conditions indicated as active to inactive.

6. A gaming system defined by claim 5 wherein the controller is arranged to change the condition 10 indications after one of: a designated number of symbol selections; a designated number of plays of the game; a designated time period.

7. A gaming system defined by claim 1 wherein the 15 plurality of conditions are arranged in a circle on the display area.

8. A gaming system defined by claim 7 wherein the active condition is indicated by an indicator associated 20 with the display area.

9. A gaming system defined by claim 7 wherein the circle of the plurality of conditions rotates. 25

10. A gaming system defined by claim 8 wherein the indicator rotates.

11. A gaming system defined by claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the rotation changes the active condition. 30

12. A gaming system defined by any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the rotation is persistent.

13. A gaming system defined by claim 8 wherein the 35 indicator comprises a light. -25

14 A gaming system defined by claim 1 wherein the display area comprises the face of a timepiece comrising one or more nands. 5

15. A gairng system defined by claim 1 whereJn each of he plurality of symbol display posi4t ions each have an associated reel, each reel having at least some oF the plurality of symbols. 10

16. A gaming system defined by claim 1 further comprising an electonic display.

17. A garng system defined by claim 16 wherein the plu ralitv of reels are simuL ated on the elecrt-onic 15 di

18. A gaMin g system defined by claim 17 wherein the display area is on the electronic display. 20

19. A gaming system defined by claim 1 wherein eacn condition of the plurality of conditions comprises one of the signs of the zodiac.

20. A game controller configured to be operatively 25 coupled to a plurality of symbol display positions and a display area, and further configure ed to: cause the display area t a pluralitV of conditions, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed conditions re in iatd as 30 inactive and at least one of the plural t y oF di spl ayed conditions is indicated as active; select symbols for display in each of the display positions; evaluate the displayed symbols to determine 35 whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possible winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomes -26 corresponding to different conditions of the plurality of displayed conditions; make an award in respect of each winning outcome; and 5 make an additional award upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an active condition.

21. A method comprising the steps of: 10 causing a display area to display a plurality of conditions, wherein at least some of the plurality of displayed conditions are indicated as inactive and at least one of the plurality of displayed conditions is indicated as active; 15 selecting symbols for display in each of a plurality of symbol display positions; evaluating the displayed symbols to determine whether the symbols correspond to one or more winning outcomes of a plurality of possible 20 winning outcomes, at least two of the possible winning outcomes corresponding to different conditions of the plurality of displayed conditions; making an award in respect of each winning outcome; and 25 making an additional award upon there being a winning outcome which corresponds to an active condition.

22. A computer program comprising instructions for 30 controlling a computer to implement the method defined by claim 21.

23. A tangible computer readable medium providing the computer program defined by claim 22. 35