Patent ID: 7674173
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A gaming machine having a display means and a game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game for a wager placed by a player on the outcome of the game, the game being of a type wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means, the random event comprising the display of randomly selected symbols on the display means and, if a predefined winning combination of symbols occurs, the machine awards a prize associated with that predefined winning combination, the gaming machine including a plurality of standard game symbols, and one or more special symbols, at least one winning combination being an arrangement of a plurality of standard game symbols occurring adjacent each other on the display with an associated prize dependent on the number or arrangement of standard symbols occurring adjacent each other, and wherein, on any play of the game, if one or more special symbols is displayed on the display, the control means causes a displayed special symbol to serve as a plurality of adjacent standard game symbols without changing any displayed standard game symbol, and the prize awarded to the player by the machine is determined to be the prize that would have been awarded had said plurality of adjacent standard symbols occurred on the display during play of the game.