Patent Publication Number: US-2021183207-A1

Title: Gaming machine having a jackpot resulting from player selection of a plurality of selectable icons

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/144,669, filed Sep. 27, 2018, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2017903936, filed Sep. 28, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) or gaming devices provide a variety of wagering games such as slot games, video poker games, video blackjack games, roulette games, video bingo games, keno games and other types of games that are frequently offered at casinos and other locations. Play on EGMs typically involves a player establishing a credit balance by inputting money, or another form of monetary credit, and placing a monetary wager (from the credit balance) on one or more outcomes of an instance (or single play) of a primary or base game. In many games, a player may qualify for secondary games or bonus rounds by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in the base game. Secondary games provide an opportunity to win additional game instances, credits, awards, jackpots, progressives, etc. Awards from any winning outcomes are typically added back to the credit balance and can be provided to the player upon completion of a gaming session or when the player wants to “cash out.” 
     “Slot” type games are often displayed to the player in the form of various symbols arrayed in a row-by-column grid or matrix. Specific matching combinations of symbols along predetermined paths (or paylines) through the matrix indicate the outcome of the game. The display typically highlights winning combinations/outcomes for ready identification by the player. Matching combinations and their corresponding awards are usually shown in a “pay-table” which is available to the player for reference. Often, the player may vary his/her wager to include differing numbers of paylines and/or the amount bet on each line. By varying the wager, the player may sometimes alter the frequency or number of winning combinations, frequency or number of secondary games, and/or the amount awarded. 
     Typical games use a random number generator (RNG) to randomly determine the outcome of each game. The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player (RTP=return to player) over the course of many plays or instances of the game. The RTP and randomness of the RNG are critical to ensuring the fairness of the games and are therefore highly regulated. Upon initiation of play, the RNG randomly determines a game outcome and symbols are then selected which correspond to that outcome. Notably, some games may include an element of skill on the part of the player and are therefore not entirely random. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an electronic gaming machine is provided. The electronic gaming machine includes a display device and a game controller. The game controller executes instructions stored in a memory which cause the game controller to display, on the display device, a plurality of jackpots and a plurality of bonus meters, where each bonus meter corresponds to and is displayed in association with one of the jackpots. The instructions also cause the game controller to display, on the display device, a plurality of player selectable symbols and receive a player selection of at least one of the player selectable symbols. Further, the instructions cause the game controller to reveal, in response at least in part to receiving the player selection, a jackpot symbol in place of the selected player selectable symbol, where the jackpot symbol corresponds to one of the plurality of jackpots. In addition, the instructions cause the game controller to add a prize amount to the bonus meter of a jackpot corresponding to the revealed jackpot symbol, and award, when at least a predefined number of jackpot symbols corresponding to the jackpot are displayed, both of a value of the jackpot and an accumulated value of the bonus meter of the jackpot. 
     In another aspect, a method of displaying a wagering game on an electronic gaming machine is provided. The method includes displaying, by a game controller and on a display device of the electronic gaming machine, a plurality of jackpots and a plurality of bonus meters, where each bonus meter corresponds to and is displayed in association with one jackpot of the plurality of jackpots. The method also includes displaying, by the game controller and on the display device, a plurality of player selectable symbols, and receiving a player selection of a player selectable. Further, the method includes revealing, by the game controller and in response at least in part to receiving the player selection, a jackpot symbol in place of the selected player selectable symbol, where the jackpot symbol corresponds to one of the plurality of jackpots, and adding, by the game controller and in response to revealing the jackpot symbol, a prize amount to the bonus meter of a jackpot corresponding to the jackpot symbol. In addition, the method includes awarding, by the game controller and when at least a predefined number of jackpot symbols corresponding to the jackpot are revealed, both of a value of the jackpot and an accumulated value of the bonus meter of the jackpot. 
     In yet another aspect, a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes an electronic gaming machine and a server system communicatively coupled to the electronic gaming machine. The server system includes a processor that executes instructions stored in a memory which cause the processor to display, on a display device of the electronic gaming machine, a plurality of jackpots and a plurality of bonus meters, where each bonus meter corresponds to and is displayed in association with one of the jackpots. The instructions also cause the processor to display, on the display device of the electronic gaming machine, a plurality of player selectable symbols and to receive a player selection of at least one of the player selectable symbols. Further, the instructions cause the processor to reveal, in response at least in part to receiving the player selection, a jackpot symbol in place of the selected player selectable symbol, where the jackpot symbol corresponds to one of the plurality of jackpots. In addition, the instructions cause the processor to add a prize amount to the bonus meter of a jackpot corresponding to the revealed jackpot symbol, and award, when at least a predefined number of jackpot symbols corresponding to the jackpot are revealed, both of a value of the jackpot and an accumulated value of the bonus meter of the jackpot. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a plurality of core components of an exemplary gaming machine; 
         FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of an exemplary gaming machine; 
         FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary gaming machine; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a plurality of functional components of an exemplary gaming machine; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a plurality of functional components of an exemplary memory; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary network gaming system; 
         FIG. 6  is a further block diagram of an exemplary gaming machine; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of a process of gaming, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary free games feature, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary Jackpot feature, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process for updating graphic assets, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating a process for controlling edge lighting, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 12A to 12K  show an example plurality of screenshots of a sequence of updates resulting from a player playing a jackpot feature, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 13A to 13C  show an example plurality of screenshots of updating of a graphic asset, in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 14A to 14D  are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of different edge lighting effects, in accordance with at least one embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  show an example plurality of screenshots of a wild expand event, in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming machine having a number of novel features. 
     In one aspect, the gaming machine has bonus meters associated with specific jackpot prizes to enable the gaming machine to implement a pick a box type feature game where additional awards are tracked in respect of at least a subset of the jackpot prizes. In this respect, bonus meters are associated with at least some of the jackpot prizes and when a player makes a selection of a box which results in the revealing of a jackpot symbol corresponding to that particular jackpot prize, a bonus meter associated with the jackpot prize is updated by adding a prize amount. When a player wins a particular jackpot prize that has an associated bonus meter, both the prize stored in the bonus meter and the jackpot prize are awarded by the game controller to a win meter or a credit meter. 
     In another aspect, the embodiments may employ graphic assets that correspond to respective turn over states which change as turnover increases. These graphic assets provide a visual indicator to the player of the turnover since the last awarding of the relevant jackpot prize. The gaming machine is configured so that the graphic assets are only updated when a designated symbol appears even though the turnover may have already moved into a range corresponding to another the relevant jackpot asset. Further, the gaming controller is configured to inhibit the change to the next graphic in the range if a jackpot feature is awarded. 
     In another aspect, the gaming machine incorporates edge lighting which is controlled by the gaming machine in response to game events. The gaming machine monitors for occurrences of game events and controls the edge lighting in accordance with a lighting configuration associated with the specific game event. 
     In an embodiment, the edge lighting is divided into a number of sections corresponding the number of trigger symbols required to trigger a feature game. The sections are lit up each time a trigger symbol appears on the display to communicate the status of the trigger to the player and/or others watching the players play the gaming machine. 
     In yet another aspect, the gaming machine incorporates an expanding wild feature where a random determination is conducted to determine whether an expansion condition is met. In embodiments, where more than one designated symbol is selected by the gaming machine, the gaming machine is configured either to expand or not expand all the selected designated symbols. The random determination conducted by the gaming machine is configured to be more likely to occur the larger number of designated symbols that are selected. 
     General Construction of Gaming Machine 
     The gaming machine can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a standalone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 
     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 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; 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. 
     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 machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in standalone 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 to persons skilled in the art. 
     Irrespective of the form, the gaming machine has several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface  50  and a game controller  60  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction 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. 
     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 and receive payouts, one or more displays  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 . In various embodiments, game play mechanism may also be referred to as a “player input interface,” which may include, for example, one or more mechanical pushbuttons, one or more software or virtual buttons, a “button deck” that includes a plurality of mechanical and/or virtual buttons, and the like. 
     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 display. 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 to any device that can process or execute one or more computer-readable or computer-executable instructions, such as instructions stored in a computer memory, as described herein, In various embodiments, a processor may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device and/or any other computational device, such as a computer (e.g. a PC, a laptop computer, a tablet computing device, a smartphone), a server computer, and the like. Accordingly, in at least some embodiments, a processor may be provided by any suitable logic circuitry for receiving inputs, processing or executing them in accordance with instructions stored in memory and generating outputs (for example on the display). In some embodiments, a processor may include a central processing unit (or CPU). In some embodiments, a processor may include an integrated circuit, such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 
     A standalone gaming machine  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The gaming machine  10  includes a cabinet  12  having a display  14  on which are displayed representations of a game that can be played by a player. The display appears to be a single display from the perspective of the player but is actually formed from two LCDs, an upper curved LCD and a lower, flat LCD. In other embodiments, the display can be formed from two flat LCDs, two curved LCDs, a single LCD, and the like. A mid-trim  20  of the gaming machine  10  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 which includes a bill acceptor/validator/ticket reader  24 . In some embodiments, the credit input mechanism may also include at least one of a card reader and/or a coin input mechanism. 
     The display  14  may be any other suitable video display unit, such as an OLED display. In other embodiments, a further display can be mounted above display  14 , such as, for example, to show the progress of a linked jackpot. 
     The gaming machine incorporates a number of lights  40 ,  42 ,  45 , and  47 . Referring to  FIG. 2A , these lights include left and right side strip lights  40 A,  40 B. The gaming machine also has edge lighting provided by a series of twenty-five side slots  42 A,  42 B . . .  42 Y in the right hand edge  43 , which allow light to escape from light sources within the right had edge  43  of the gaming machine corresponding, at least in number, to the number of sections it is desired to be able to light independently. A corresponding set of slots are provided in the left hand edge  44  of the gaming machine  10 . Referring now to  FIG. 2B , there are also a set of 15 rear side lights,  45 A,  45 B . . .  450  in the right rear side with corresponding lights  46 A,  46 B, etc. in the left rear side. Finally, a set of lights  47 A, etc. extends along the bottom rear of the display. Advantageously, most of the rear lights  45 ,  46 ,  47  cast light onto the front face  48  of the cabinet. 
       FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different from the gaming machine of  FIG. 2 . 
     The gaming machine  100  includes a game controller  101  having a processor  102  mounted on a circuit board. 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 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 . 
     The gaming machine has hardware meters  104  for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) 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 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 numbers. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , a player interface  120  includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller  101  including one or more displays  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/validator and/or coin input mechanism  110  and a coin output mechanism  111 . Additional hardware may be included as 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 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. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that a touch screen can be used to emulate other input devices, for example, a touch screen can display virtual buttons which a player can “press” by touching the screen where they are displayed. 
     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 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, communications over a network may be via the 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. 
       FIG. 4  shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory  103 . The memory  103  includes RAM  103 A, EPROM  103 B and a mass storage device  103 C. The RAM  103 A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor  102  and related data. The EPROM  103 B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device  103 C 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  103 B 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 provided remotely from the game controller  101 . 
       FIG. 5  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 network. Gaming machines  202 , shown arranged in three banks  203  of two gaming machines  202  in  FIG. 5 , are connected to the network  201 . The gaming machines  202  provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines  10 ,  100  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks  203  of two gaming machines are illustrated in  FIG. 5 , 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 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. 
     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 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  206 A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a linked 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. 
     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 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 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 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. 
     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  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 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 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. 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 terminals. 
     Further Detail of the Gaming Machine 
     The player operates the game play mechanism  56  to specify a wager which will be evaluated for this play of the game and initiates a play of the game. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a player&#39;s wager can be varied from game to game dependent on player selections. 
     A number of different wagering mechanisms are used with spinning reel games. For example, a gaming machine may be arranged to enable a player to wager on a number of lines and to choose amount to be wagered per line. The 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. In many games, the gaming machine may award winning outcomes which are not strictly limited to the lines they have selected, for example, “scatter” pays are awarded independently of a player&#39;s selection of pay lines. 
     In other embodiments, the player may select a number of reels to play or play a fixed number of reels. Games of this type are also known as “ways” to win games. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may employ a fixed number of “ways” (the maximum) and enable the player to vary the wager by placing a wager linked to how many “stacks” of symbols will be added to reel strips before each play of the game. Stacks of symbols are typically instances of three or more symbols in a row. Stacks increase the player&#39;s chances to win because when the stopping position of a reel includes the stack of symbols it has a higher chance of resulting in winning outcomes. 
     As the number of “ways” is fixed to the maximum, all symbols selected for each reel can be combined with all symbols of each other reel when evaluated left to right. Thus, the total number of ways to win is determined by multiplying the number of display positions of each reel. As a result for five reels, where three symbols are selected for each reel (i.e. so there are fifteen symbol display positions) there are 243 ways to win. Similarly, for five reels, with four symbols selected per reel, there are 1024 ways to win. 
     In one embodiment, the display positions of the symbol display are arranged in a rectangular matrix comprising a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the processor  62  of game controller  60  of the gaming machine  1  is shown implementing a number of modules based on program code  641  and data stored in memory  64 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the modules could be implemented in some other way, for example by a dedicated circuit. 
     When a player initiates a play of the game, the first stage in generating an outcome for the reel controller  622 D of outcome generator  622  to control the reels that will be used for this play of the game. To this end, reel controller  622 D conducts a determination as to how many stacks of symbols will be added to the reels  643 B which is related to the player&#39;s wager. In one example, the player&#39;s wager affects a number of positions which can be expanded by the reel controller adding a stack of symbols to a base set of reels. In an embodiment, the game reel controller  622 D also selects which symbol is added from a weighted table of symbols. Symbol selector  622 A then selects stopping positions for each of the reels. For example, five reels arranged in an array where there are four symbols for each reel. That is, there are four symbol positions arranged in five columns set side by side where symbols will be displayed after the stopping positions of the reels have been selected. 
     The symbols that can be selected for at least two of the reels include a designated symbol in the form of a wild symbol. If the designated symbol is selected, an expansion controller  622 C determines whether the wild symbol should be expanded to occupy each position of that reel. In an embodiment, the expansion controller  622 C conducts a separate random determination in respect of each wild that appears using random number generator  621 . That is, the expansion controller  622 C obtains a random number from RNG  621  and if the number is within a defined range as defined by expansion condition  647 , then the wild symbol will be expanded to occupy all positions of that reel—i.e. all symbols displayed for that reel will become wild symbols which can substitute for other symbols in winning combinations defined by pay table  648 . In the embodiment, the expansion controller  622 C is configured so that if an expansion condition is met in respect of any reel that has a wild symbol, all wild symbols of all reels are expanded. Because the expansion controller  622 C conducts an independent determination in respect of each wild symbol, the chances of an expansion condition being met increases with the number of wild symbols that are selected. In another embodiment, the expansion controller  622 C conducts a single random determination but using different ranges of values depending on the number of wild symbols selected so that the prospects of the expansion condition being met increase depending on the number of wild symbols. In an example, if an expansion condition is met, all symbols on each reel where a wild symbol was displayed are replaced with a gold wild symbol. The outcome evaluator  623  then awards prizes based on pay table  648  taking into account any wild symbols. 
     The outcome evaluator  623  also includes a trigger monitor  623 C which determines whether a respective trigger condition  649  is met for triggering a second screen jackpot feature or a free game feature. If neither of these are triggered, the game ends. 
     Once the second screen jackpot feature is triggered, the display  54  is changed to show a pick of a box type feature game where the player is presented with a plurality selectable icons. The memory  64  of gaming machine  1  may include jackpot data  644 F defining a plurality of jackpot prizes. In an embodiment, some of the jackpot prizes may be fixed while some are progressive. In other embodiments, all the prizes may be fixed or all the prizes may be progressive. In one example, there are grand, major, minor and mini progressive jackpot prizes. 
     The symbol data  643  includes jackpot symbols  643 A corresponding to each of the jackpot prizes, for example, four different jackpot symbols corresponding to the grand, major, minor and mini progressive jackpot prizes. In one example, the meter data  644  includes bonus meter  644 C associated with the mini, minor and major jackpot prizes. 
     A set of possible bonus prizes  648 A are stored in a weighted table in memory  64 . 
     When the player selects one of the selectable icons, the jackpot symbol selector  622 B uses random generator  621  to select one of the jackpot symbols from a weighted table  643 A of jackpot symbols without replacement. That is each entry in the weighted table can only be selected once. The weighting of symbols within the table reflects the relative chances of the player winning the respective jackpots. The jackpot prize selector  622 E determines whether a mini, minor or major jackpot symbol is selected, i.e. a symbol corresponding to any prize except the grand jackpot. If one of these symbols was selected, the jackpot prize selector  622 E operates to select a bonus prize from the weighted table of bonus prizes  648 A. 
     The selected prize is added to the bonus meter  644 C corresponding to a respective jackpot. These bonus meters are displayed on the display during play of the feature game. The process of the player selecting a selectable icon is repeated until the player selects three matching symbols. Then, the prize awarder  623 B awards the relevant jackpot prize as stored in jackpot data  644 F together with a current bonus meter value of the bonus meter  644 C corresponding to the awarded jackpot prize. The award is made by being added to the win meter  644 A or the credit meter  644 B. The game then reverts back to wherever the position in the game was in when the jackpot feature was triggered. In this respect, in an example, the jackpot feature can be triggered either from the base game or from one game in a series of free games. 
     In this respect, the series of free games involves a number of free games being awarded based on at least a designated number of scatter symbols that occurring in a game outcome. In the free games, the gaming machine  1  largely operates as in the base game. The free games otherwise proceed as per the base game except that stacks of symbols on a subset of the reels, for example reels two, three and four are changed to gold wild symbols prior to play. The free games feature is described in further detail in relation to  FIG. 8 . 
     As indicated above, in one embodiment, the jackpot prizes are progressive prizes. In this embodiment, the current value of each jackpot prize will be dependent on the level of turnover since the jackpot was last awarded. To enable the player to visualize the level of turnover since a jackpot prize was last awarded, the game controller  60  causes the display  54  to display a graphic asset (e.g. an image or an animation) which is indicative of turnover. To this end, the game controller implements a turnover modifier  625  which increments each of the jackpot prizes in jackpot data  644 F and which also tracks the total turnover. Memory  64  stores a turnover meter  644 D and a current turnover state  644 E. In one example, the different turnover states are referred to as different levels as shown in Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Level 
                 CREDITS 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 5000 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 10000 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 15000 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 20000 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The turnover modifier  625  updates the turnover meter  644 D based on the wagers input by the player using the game play mechanism. The turnover modifier  625  indicates to the display controller which of the graphic assets  645  should be displayed, for example, on another part of the display of the gaming machine such as a second display. Accordingly, the turnover modifier  625  will initially cause the display controller  626  to display the graphic asset corresponding to the first level. 
     In an embodiment, each of the levels corresponds to graphic assets which are increasingly large animated piles of coins. The graphic asset which is being displayed is determined by the current turnover state  644 E. The gaming machine is configured so that additional conditions must be met in order for the turnover state to be changed by the turnover state updater  625 A. That is, turnover value  644 D could move from the range corresponding to level one to the range corresponding to level two but the logic implemented by the turnover state updater  625 A will only allow the state to be updated (and hence the graphic asset that is displayed to be updated) if certain conditions are met. In an embodiment, the conditions are that a designated symbol appears on the reels without this triggering the jackpot feature. That is, in an embodiment, the transition to the next level only occurs if a wild symbol appears but this does not result in a trigger of the jackpot feature. 
     In an embodiment, the turnover state updater  625 A is configured to reset the graphic asset to the level one asset and the turnover state to level one when a jackpot prize is awarded. 
     A further feature of the gaming machine  1  of an embodiment is that it incorporates a lighting controller  624  which controls edge lighting  42  on the gaming machine. The edge lighting is divided into a number of sections. In one example, the edge lighting  42  is divided into three sections corresponding to the minimum number of trigger symbols that are needed to trigger the free game series. In an embodiment, a first section of the edge lighting  42  is lit up when a first trigger symbol appears, a second section when a second trigger appears and a third section is lit up when a third trigger symbol appears, each of these being triggered by the event monitor  624 A. In another example, the edge lighting  42  is divided into five sections corresponding to a maximum number of trigger symbols. For example, five slots may correspond to a section. In other embodiments, rear side lights  45 ,  46  may be controlled in a coordinated manner with the edge lights or have common light sources. 
     The event monitor  624 A is also configured to monitor for game events in the form of awarding of the jackpots. In an embodiment, each of the jackpot awards described above have different colors associated with them and the event monitor monitors for the awarding of one of the jackpots and causes the lighting controller  624  to control edge lighting to adopt the color associated with the respective jackpot prize. In some embodiments, each of lights  40 ,  42 ,  45 ,  46 , and  47  may be controlled to reflect the jackpot color. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a flow chart of an embodiment. At step  705 , the gaming machine receives one or more initiate game instructions via the game play mechanism  56 . At step  710 , the game controller picks the stack symbol from a weighted table and populates the reel strips with the selected symbol. The game controller also commences the reel spin. At step  715 , it is determined whether a wild symbol appears.  FIG. 15A  shows an example having wild symbols  1500 ,  1501 ,  1502  present due to the reel spin; each located in a different column. 
     If a wild symbol appears, the game controller conducts, at step  717 , a random determination to determine whether the wild expand feature occurs. If the wild expand feature occurs, each reel containing wild symbols has all symbols on that reel replaced with gold wild symbols at step  719 .  FIG. 15B  shows an example where the result of  FIG. 15A  is modified by replacing non-wild symbols in each column associated with the wild symbols  1500 ,  1501 ,  1502  with wild symbols. At step  720 , the game controller pays wins based on the pay table  648 . 
     The method also involves determining, at step  725 , whether the wild or gold wild symbols are sufficient to trigger the jackpot and if they are, the second screen jackpot feature is conducted at step  730  as shown in more detail in  FIG. 9 . The game controller  60  also determines whether three or more scatters land at step  735  and at step  740 , eight, twelve, or twenty free games are awarded based on three, four or five scatter symbols occurring and a series of free games conducted as shown in  FIG. 8 . The game ends at step  750  and waits for the player to make a further wager and initiate a further game. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a free game method of an embodiment. At step  805 , the game controller initiates a series of free games. As in the base game, the game controller selects gold stack symbols using a weighted table and populates the reel strips. The game controller also changes gold stack symbols on reels two, three, and four to gold wild symbols and commences a spin of the reels. Steps  815 ,  820  and  825  are like steps  715 ,  717  and  719  in that the game controller determines whether a wild symbol appears and determines whether to expand the wilds  820 . Where the expansion condition is met, all other symbols on that reel and any other reel having wild symbols will be replaced with gold wild symbols at step  825 . Wins are paid at step  830  and at step  835 , it is determined whether the wild and/or gold wild symbols, trigger the jackpot feature at step  835  in which case the second screen jackpot feature is played at step  840  as shown in  FIG. 9 . At step  845  it is determined whether three or more scatters land and if they have, eight, twelve or twenty more free games are added to a counter of free games with any three, four or five scatter symbols at step  850 . At step  855 , it is determined whether there are any free games remaining and if there are, the method loops back to step  810 . Otherwise, the free games end at step  860 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  there is shown a flow chart of the jackpot feature. When the jackpot feature is triggered at step  905 , the gaming machine transitions to a second screen  910 . A player selects a symbol (selectable icon) at step  915  and, at step  920 , the game controller reveals a symbol to the player based on a weighted table without replacement. At step  925 , the game controller determines whether a mini, minor or major symbols were revealed and if one of them was, at step  930 , selects a bonus prize from a weighted table to be added to a bonus meter corresponding to the symbol revealed. Note that no bonus prize is added where the grand jackpot symbol is revealed in this embodiment. In other embodiments, bonus meters may be associated with all the jackpot prizes that are available. At step  935 , it is determined whether any of the three revealed symbols are matching. That is, it is determined whether a win condition is satisfied in respect of any of the jackpot prizes. At step  940 , the game controller awards the jackpot corresponding to the three matching symbols as well as any bonus prize stored in the meter associated with that jackpot before returning to the triggering window. In this respect, the game controller returns back either to the base game shown in  FIG. 7  or to the free games shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     If at step  935  the symbols are not matching, the game loops back to step  915  and the player selects a further icon. Once a jackpot prize has been awarded in step  940 , the jackpot feature ends. 
       FIGS. 12A to 12K  show an example sequence of updates to the second screen as a result of receiving player selections (step  915 ).  FIG. 12A  shows the second screen as a result of the transition at step  910 . As can be seen, there is an arrangement of selectable icons  1200 A- 1211 A. Each selectable icon  1200 A- 1211 A is shown in a hidden state (i.e. there are no symbols revealed). Also shown is mini bonus meter  1212 , minor bonus meter  1213 , major bonus meter  1214 , and jackpot meter  1215 . 
       FIG. 12B  shows a result of steps  915  and  916 . Here, player has selected selectable icon  1200 A, resulting in a symbol  1200 B being revealed in its place. In the present example, symbol  1200 B is a grand jackpot symbol. Therefore, step  925  does not result in an update to a bonus meter (e.g. no update to jackpot meter  1215 ). Additionally, as there are not three identical symbols revealed, step  935  results in a return to a state awaiting further selection by the player. 
       FIG. 12C  shows a result of repeating steps  915  and  916 . Here, player has selected selectable icon  1202 A, resulting in a symbol  1202 B being revealed in its place. In the present example, symbol  1202 B is a grand jackpot symbol. Therefore, again step  925  does not result in an update to a bonus meter. Additionally, again as there are not three identical symbols revealed, step  935  results in a return to a state awaiting further selection by the player. 
       FIG. 12D  shows a result of again repeating steps  915  and  916 . Here, player has selected selectable icon  1209 A, resulting in a symbol  1209 B being revealed in its place. In the present example, symbol  1209 B is a major bonus symbol. Therefore, step  925  results in an update to the major bonus meter  1214  (see the “+$50.00 MAJOR BONUS”). Still, as there are not three identical symbols revealed, step  935  results in a return to a state awaiting further selection by the player. 
     The player then makes further selections in the following order.  FIG. 12E  shows selection of selectable icon  1211 A, revealing symbol  1211 B as being a major bonus symbol therefore resulting in an update to the major bonus meter  1214 .  FIG. 12F  shows selection of selectable icon  1207 A, revealing symbol  1207 B as being a minor bonus symbol therefore resulting in an update to the minor bonus meter  1213  (see “+$5 MINOR BONUS”).  FIG. 12G  shows selection of selectable icon  1204 A, revealing symbol  1204 B as being a minor bonus symbol therefore resulting in an update to the minor bonus meter  1213 .  FIG. 12H  shows selection of selectable icon  1205 A, revealing symbol  1205 B as being a mini bonus symbol therefore resulting in an update to the mini bonus meter  1212  (see “+$2.50 MINI BONUS”).  FIG. 12I  shows selection of selectable icon  1206 A, revealing symbol  1206 B as being a mini bonus symbol therefore resulting in an update to the mini bonus meter  1212 . 
     Player selection of selectable icon  1201 A in  FIG. 12J  reveals symbol  1201 B as being a mini bonus symbol, resulting in an update to the mini bonus meter  1212 . Furthermore, at step  935  it is determined that three identical symbols are present: specifically, symbol  1201 B, symbol  1205 B, and symbol  1206 B each correspond to a mini bonus symbol. Therefore, the method of  FIG. 9  proceeds to step  940 . In  FIG. 12K , a total win  1216  equal to the updated mini prize is shown awarded according to step  940 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a flow chart  1000  of updating graphic assets. At step  1010 , the game controller controls the display to display the graphic asset corresponding to the current turnover state (for example,  FIG. 13A  shows graphic asset  1300 , representing a pile of gold coins, where the size of the pile corresponds to the current turnover state). At step  1020 , the game controller processes the received wager. At step  1030 , the game controller updates the turnover value. At step  1040 , it is determined whether the turnover is in the next range. In this respect, the turnover may already be in the next range or may be incremented into the next range in the current game. At step  1050 , the game controller determines whether a designated symbol, here a wild symbol, has been selected for display and, if not, the game controller will continue to display the graphic asset of the current turnover state. If the turnover is in the next range and the wild symbol is displayed then at step  1060  the game controller changes the turnover state. However, before updating display of the graphic asset to the new turnover state, the game controller determines whether the feature game is triggered at step  1070  and only updates the display of the graphic asset at step  1090  if the feature is not triggered. If the feature game is triggered, at step  1080 , the game controller resets the graphic asset to the initial state, such that the initial state will be displayed at step  1010 . Referring to  FIG. 13B , where a wild symbol in row 1 column 4 is displayed but the feature game is not triggered, the graphic asset  1300  is updated to represent the new turnover state—in the example, the representation of the pile of gold coins is changed to provide an impression of a larger pile of gold coins when compared to  FIG. 13A .  FIG. 13C , where wild symbols in the entire column 4 is displayed but the feature game is not triggered, shows the graphic asset  1300  yet again updated to represent a larger pile of gold coins to that shown in  FIG. 13B . 
       FIG. 11  shows a method  1100  of control edge lighting. At step  1110 , a game is initiated and at step  1120 , it is determined whether a game event occurs corresponding to a lighting configuration within the game and if it does, the game controller controls the edge lighting based on the game event at step  1130  before the game ends at step  1140 . 
       FIGS. 14A to 14D  show examples of different edge lighting effects depending on a particular game event, according to an embodiment. In the figures, a circle represents a specific light source—a white fill indicates an illuminated light and a black fill indicates a non-illuminated light. Alternatively, the different fills may represent different colors. The light sources are shown surrounding display  14 . In embodiments, each light source is illuminated by one or more light emitting diodes. One or more adjacent light sources may be synchronously illuminated to dynamically form an illuminated section. 
     In  FIG. 14A , the game event corresponds to no wild symbols being present as a result of gameplay (e.g. as described with reference to  FIG. 7 ). The corresponding edge lighting effect comprises no specific illumination. In  FIG. 14B , the game event corresponds to one wild symbol being present as a result of gameplay (e.g. as exemplified in  FIG. 13B  with a wild symbol in row 1 column 4). The corresponding edge lighting effect comprises illuminating one section  1401  on the left side and one section  1411  on the right side. In  FIG. 14C , the game event corresponds to three wild symbols being present as a result of gameplay (e.g. as exemplified in  FIG. 15A  with wild symbols in row 4 column 2, row 1 column 3 and row 3 column 4). The corresponding edge lighting effect comprises illuminating three sections  1401 ,  1402 ,  1403  on the left side and three sections  1411 ,  1412 ,  1413  on the right side. In the example shown, the top edge is also illuminated in sections. In  FIG. 14D , the game event corresponds to a wild expand feature occurring (e.g. exemplified in  FIGS. 13B and 13C , and separately in  FIGS. 15A and 15B ). The corresponding edge lighting effect comprises illuminating the entire left side  1400  and the entire right side  1410 . 
     In a general sense, any number of specific game events can each be associated with a specific lighting configuration. It may be that each specific lighting configuration is uniquely associated with one of the game events, although, in an embodiment at least one specific lighting configuration is associated with two or more game events. A specific lighting configuration may comprise a sequence of changes in the illumination of the light sources—for example, to give the impression of a section (e.g.  1401 ,  1402 ,  1403 ,  1411 ,  1412 ,  1413 ) moving along its associated edge. Furthermore, the light sources may be configurable as different colors and each specific lighting configuration includes specification of the color(s) of the light sources. 
     The specific lighting effects provide an additional indication to the player and other players in the vicinity of the gaming machine as to which particular game event has occurred (or most recently occurred). 
     Typically, a winning outcome will result in some form of award being made such as an award of credits. Such an award may never actually be physically received by a player. For example, many gaming systems provide a player with a double or nothing gamble feature, where the player can double or forfeit their credits before commencing another play of the game or cashing out. Further, as credits are fungible, once credits have been added to the credit meter it is not possible to distinguish between credits which exist because the player has input cash or the like and credits resulting from an award. 
     Further aspects of the method of operating a gaming machine will be apparent from the above description of the gaming machine. It will be appreciated that at least part of the method will be implemented electronically, for example, digitally by a processor executing program code such as in the above description of a game controller. In this respect, in the above description certain steps are described as being carried out by a processor, it will be appreciated that such steps will often require a number of sub-steps to be carried out for the steps to be implemented electronically, for example due to hardware or programming limitations. For example, to carry out a step such as evaluating, determining or selecting, a processor may need to compute several values and compare those values. 
     As indicated above, the method may be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a tangible, non-transitory. computer readable storage medium, such as a disc or a memory device, e.g. an EEPROM, (for example, that could replace part of memory  103 ). Further different parts of the program code can be executed by different devices, for example in a client server relationship. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that program code provides a series of instructions executable by the processor. 
     It will be understood to persons skilled in the art that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of embodiments of the present disclosure can be employed to form further embodiments. 
     It is to be understood that, if any prior art is 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 description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “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 disclosure.