Patent ID: 8602868
Filing Date: 2013-12-10
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for providing a wagering game through an electronic player station, the method including: (a) causing an electronic display system of the player station to display a number of simulated reels for a wagering game, each simulated reel including a series of game symbols spaced apart along a peripheral surface of the respective simulated reel and the number of simulated reels together defining a base matrix of symbol locations in a base matrix area of the display system, the base matrix of symbol locations having a plurality of first paylines defined there through; (b) receiving a play input through a player input system of the player station, the play input being associated with a wager for a play of the wagering game and initiating a play of the wagering game; (c) responsive to the play input, causing the display system to display a reel spinning simulation in which each respective simulated reel is displayed in a simulated spinning condition; (d) with a processing device associated with the electronic player station, determining whether to expand the base matrix of symbol locations for the play of the wagering game; (e) in response to a determination to expand the base matrix of symbol locations for the play of the wagering game, and while continuing to show each respective simulated reel in the simulated spinning condition, causing the display system to display an expansion of the simulated reels in the simulated spinning condition into a first expanded matrix area beyond the base matrix area, the first expanded matrix area and the base matrix area together comprising a first increased symbol location area; (f) after expanding the simulated reels in the simulated spinning condition into the first expanded matrix area, causing the display system to end the reel spinning simulation so that each simulated reel in the simulated spinning condition is displayed as coming to a stop so as to display a respective game symbol at selected symbol locations in the base matrix area and at additional symbol locations in the first expanded matrix area, and causing the display system to display a number of first additional paylines in the first increased symbol location area, each first additional payline at least partially encompassing one or more of the additional symbol locations in the first expanded matrix area; (g) after displaying the respective game symbols at selected symbol locations in the base matrix area and at the additional symbol locations in the first expanded matrix area, evaluating the first increased symbol location area for any winning patterns of symbols along any of the first paylines and the first additional paylines, and awarding a prize for each winning pattern of symbols along any of the first paylines and first additional paylines; and (h) after step (g), conducting at least one additional expansion, each additional expansion including: