Patent ID: 9711012
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: G07F

Claim:
1. A method of gaming for use with a gaming machine playing a game in a normal game mode and a special game mode, and having i) a memory storing a) data indicative of symbol images of a plurality of symbols, b) a base pay table including data indicative of a first prize for winning with x number of said symbol images, and c) a special pay table including data indicative of the first prize for winning with less than x number of said symbol images, ii) a display having a plurality of display positions, iii) a controller, iv) a credit input mechanism configured to accept a physical item associated with a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity, and v) a payout mechanism configured to cause a payout associated with the credit balance, the method comprising: establishing the credit balance including receiving the physical item via said credit input mechanism; in response to having established the credit balance via the credit input mechanism, decreasing the credit balance, and selecting via the controller a plurality of said symbol images via said memory for display on said display; displaying on said display at said display positions the selected plurality of symbol images; determining via the controller whether a winning symbol outcome exists in accordance with the displayed plurality of symbol images on said display; during said normal game mode, in response to determining that a winning symbol outcome exists, determining via the controller a prize for said winning symbol outcome using said base pay table including data indicative of the first prize for winning with x number of said symbol images; during said special game mode, in response to determining that a winning symbol outcome exists, determining via the controller a prize for said winning symbol outcome using said special pay table including data indicative of the first prize for winning with less than x number of said symbol images; in response to determining that the prize using the base pay table and the prize using the special pay table, increasing via the game controller the credit balance; and causing via the payout mechanism an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance.