Abstract:
A method of conducting a wagering game includes: conducting a base game on an electronic gaming machine; detecting a first trigger condition in the base game; initiating a feature game in response to the first trigger condition; detecting a second trigger condition in the feature game; granting access to a plurality of bonus feature game levels in response to the second trigger condition; and determining an outcome of the feature game.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2015902143, filed Jun. 9, 2015 for “A Gaming System and a Method of Gaming,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a gaming system, a method of gaming, a game controller and computer program code. 
         [0003]    It is known to provide a gaming system which comprises a game controller arranged to randomly display several symbols from a predetermined set of symbols and to determine a game outcome such as a game win based on the displayed symbols. Such gaming systems may commonly be implemented as a stepper machine provided with reels with each reel carrying several symbols of the set, or a video machine wherein selected symbols are displayed on virtual reels on a video display. 
         [0004]    While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of gaming comprising: conducting play of a game; awarding eligibility to a feature game in response to a first trigger condition being met in relation to the game; conducting play of the feature game; awarding eligibility to access a number of bonus feature game levels in response to a second trigger condition being met in relation to the feature game (though it should be noted that eligibility to access the bonus feature game levels does not ensure that they will in fact be accessed, which will depend on game round outcomes); and determining an outcome of the play of the feature game. 
         [0006]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to: conduct play of a game; award eligibility to a feature game in response to a first trigger condition being met in relation to the game; conduct play of the feature game; award eligibility to access a number of bonus feature game levels in response to a second trigger condition being met in relation to the feature game; and determine an outcome of the play of the feature game. 
         [0007]    In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming system comprising: a player interface comprising a display for displaying game outcomes to a player; and a game controller arranged to: conduct play of a game; award eligibility to a feature game in response to a first trigger condition being met in relation to the game; conduct play of the feature game; award eligibility to access a number of bonus feature game levels in response to a second trigger condition being met in relation to the feature game; and determine an outcome of the play of the feature game. 
         [0008]    It should be noted that any of the various individual features of each of the above aspects of the invention, and any of the various individual features of the embodiments described herein, including in the claims, can be combined as suitable and desired. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In order that the invention may be more clearly ascertained, embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of exemplary core components of a gaming system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an exemplary gaming machine that may be used with the gaming system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of exemplary functional components of a gaming machine, such as the gaming machine shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram representing an exemplary structure of a memory that may be used with the gaming system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary networked gaming system; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an exemplary game controller and player interface used with the gaming system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary display of an exemplary feature game round outcome that may be used with the gaming machine of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of game play that may be implemented by the gaming system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    According to embodiments of the invention there is provided a gaming system in which a player plays a spinning reel type game or games. An award is determined for the game or games. The reels spin about an axis in a conventional manner to display a sequence of symbols and in due course may form a winning pattern (such as a win line). According to embodiments of the present invention, the reels are each of apparent three-dimensional, torus form. In one example, the torus has a circular cross section, and in another example a square cross section. It will be appreciated, however, that essentially any cross section can be used provided it is suitable for displaying the symbols. 
         [0019]    The gaming system may be provided in a number of different forms. In one embodiment, a stand-alone gaming machine is provided in which all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 
         [0020]    In a second embodiment, 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. 
         [0021]    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 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 to persons skilled in the art. 
         [0022]    Irrespective of the form, the gaming system includes several core components. Referring to  FIG. 1 , at the broadest level the core components include a player interface  12  and a game controller  14 , as illustrated schematically at  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    In the exemplary embodiment, player interface  12  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 and play the game. Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment, but will typically include a credit mechanism  16  to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays  18  and a game play mechanism  20  that enables a player to input game play instructions. 
         [0024]    Game controller  14  is in data communication with player interface  12  and typically includes a processor  22  that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to at least one display  18 . Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory  24 , 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 microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine  30 . In the exemplary embodiment, gaming machine  30  includes a console  32  including a display  34  that displays representations of a game  36  that can be played by a player. A mid-trim  40  of the gaming machine  30  houses a bank of buttons  42  that enable a player to interact with gaming machine  30 , in particular during game play. Mid-trim  40  also houses a credit input mechanism  44  that, in this example, includes a coin input chute  44 A and a bill collector  44 B. Other credit input mechanisms (not shown) may also be employed, such as a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for 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. 
         [0026]    A top box  46  may carry artwork  48  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 panel  50  of the console  32 . A coin tray  52  is mounted beneath front panel  50  for dispensing cash payouts from gaming machine  30 . 
         [0027]    In the exemplary embodiment, display  34  of gaming machine  30  is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, display  34  may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. Top box  46  may also include a display, such as a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display  34 , or of a different type. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary gaming machine  60 , in which only the operative components are shown for clarity. Gaming machine  60  may be the same as or different from gaming machine  30  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Gaming machine  60  includes a game controller  62  including a processor  64 . Instructions and data to control operation of processor  64  are stored in a memory  66  that is in data communication with processor  64 . Typically, gaming machine  60  includes both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by memory  66 . 
         [0029]    Gaming machine  60  includes hardware meters  68  that ensure regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, and an input/output (I/O) interface  70  for communicating with peripheral devices of gaming machine  60 , for example. Input/output interface  70  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  70  and/or the peripheral devices. 
         [0030]    Gaming machine  60  also includes a random number generator  72  that generates random numbers for use by processor  64 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, gaming machine  60  includes a communications interface, such as, for example a network card  74  that transmits status information, accounting information and/or other gaming information to a central controller, server and/or database, and that receives data or commands from the central controller, server and/or database. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of exemplary functional components of gaming machine  60 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, gaming machine  60  includes a player interface  80  that includes peripheral devices that communicate with game controller  62 . These peripheral devices include one or more displays  82 , a touch screen and buttons (including a PLAY button)  84 , a card and/or ticket reader  86 , a printer  88 , a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism  90  and a coin output mechanism  92 . Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine  60 , or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of exemplary main components of memory  66 . In the exemplary embodiment, memory  66  includes RAM  66 A, EPROM  66 B and a mass storage device  66 C. RAM  66 A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by processor  64  and related data. EPROM  66 B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. Mass storage device  66 C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by processor  64  using protected code from EPROM  66 B or elsewhere. In other embodiments, operative components of gaming machine  60  may be distributed. For example, in other embodiments, any of input/output devices  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 , and/or  92  may be remote from game controller  62 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary networked gaming system  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, gaming system  100  includes a network  102  that may be, for example, an Ethernet network. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, gaming machines  104 , shown arranged in three banks  106  of two gaming machines  104 , are connected to the network  102 . Gaming machines  104  provide a player operable interface and may be the same as gaming machines  30  and/or  60  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , respectively), or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While two banks  106  of gaming machines  30  are illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in other embodiments system  100  may include any number of banks including banks of one, three, or more than three gaming machines  30  are also envisaged. 
         [0034]    One or more displays  108  may also be connected to the network  102 . Displays  108  may, for example, be associated with one or more banks  106  of gaming machines  30 . Displays  108  may be used to display representations associated with game play on gaming machines  104  and/or to display other representations, such as promotional or informational material. 
         [0035]    In an exemplary thick client embodiment, game server  110  of gaming system  100  implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine  104 , and gaming machine  104  implements part of the game. Within this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming machine implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server  112  may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by gaming devices  104  in a database  112 A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server  114  will be provided to carry out the accounting in respect of the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server  116  may also be provided. 
         [0036]    In an exemplary thin client embodiment, game server  110  implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine  104  and gaming machine  104  essentially provides only the player interface. Within such an embodiment, game server  110  provides the game controller. Gaming machine  104  receives player instructions, passes these to game server  110 , which then processes them and returns game play outcomes to gaming machine  104  for display. In a thin client embodiment, gaming machines  104  may be computer terminals, such as PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. 
         [0037]    Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of gaming system  100  including, for example, a gaming floor management server  118 , and a licensing server  120  to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal  122  is provided to enable an administrator to run network  102  and the devices connected to the network. 
         [0038]    Gaming system  100  may communicate with other gaming systems, with other local networks such as a corporate network, with a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall  124 , or a combination of these. 
         [0039]    Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that, in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of gaming system  100  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, game server  110  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 games 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. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of player interface  12  and a game controller  14 . More specifically, processor  12  of game controller  14  includes a display controller  140 , a spinning module  142 , and an outcome determiner  144 . Display controller  140  controls a view displayed on display  34  and/or  82  and spinning module  142  controls the manner in which reels are displayed when displayed to spin. Outcome determiner  144 , which typically receives input from random number generator  72 , determines game outcomes. Display controller  140 , spinning module  142  and outcome determiner  144  cooperate to display and determine the outcome of a game. 
         [0041]    Memory  24  includes game play instructions  146  that control the reels to be displayed to spin such that game symbols arranged along the reels are displayed as moving downwards in display  34  and  82 , and reel data  148  including vertical symbol sequence data. The vertical symbol sequence data is indicative of the sequence in which game symbols are to be displayed along each of the reels, and can be encoded in any convenient way. 
         [0042]    Processor  22  also includes a feature game controller  150  that determines when a player becomes eligible to be awarded a feature game, according to a trigger condition  152  stored in memory  24 . In the exemplary embodiment, trigger condition  152  specifies that eligibility for a feature game is awarded if an outcome of a base game game round includes three or more left to right scatter symbols, that is, triggers the feature game. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, the scatter symbols include diverse gemstone symbols, such as a ruby symbol, an emerald symbol, a pink sapphire symbol, a topaz symbol and a sapphire symbol. Outcome determiner  144  awards a prize if a game round outcome includes a pay line with a predefined number of any of these scatter symbols. In addition to a game round outcome including three or more left to right scatter symbols triggers the feature game, regardless of the identity of the individual scatter symbols. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, the combination from left to right of an emerald symbol, a topaz symbol, an emerald symbol, and a pink sapphire symbol would not result in the awarding of a prize, but would instead trigger the feature game. 
         [0043]    Thus, if feature game controller  150  determines that feature game trigger condition  152  has been met, feature game controller  150  initiates a feature game, that, in the exemplary embodiment, includes seven game rounds that each include a number of feature game reels. Each game reel includes diamond symbols and credit prizes, and the initial number of reels depends on the trigger condition met. For example, feature game controller  150  sets the number of feature game reels to be the same as the number of scatter symbols aligned left to right that triggered the feature game. As three or more such aligned scatter symbols are required to trigger the feature game, in the exemplary embodiment there will be at least three reels in the feature game and at most five. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a view of an exemplary feature game game round outcome  160  display. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the trigger condition that gave the player eligibility to the feature game included four scatter symbols, and as such, four of the base game reels have been replaced by feature game reels  162  and the fifth base game reel  164  is inactive during the feature game, and as such, is darkened. 
         [0045]    Each of the feature game reels, as explained above, include stacked diamond symbols and credit prizes. Numerous outcomes are possible, as will be appreciated by those in the art, but two outcomes (as determined by outcome determiner  144 , when the player touches or presses PLAY button  84 ) in the exemplary embodiment, confer an award to the player: 
         [0046]    i) each stack of three diamond symbols satisfies bonus level trigger condition  154 , in which case, feature game controller  150  will unlock a feature game Bonus Level; and 
         [0047]    ii) each credit prize is awarded. 
         [0048]    In the exemplary embodiment, outcome determiner  144  determines that there are three stacks of three diamond symbols and a credit prize of 250 credits. As such, feature game controller  150  unlocks (that is, gives the player eligibility to) three feature game Bonus Levels and causes a prize awarder  158  of processor  22  to award 250 credits. 
         [0049]    In such an embodiment, feature game controller  150  may apply either of these awards according to the outcome of any of the feature game game rounds, and also subsequently applies any awarded feature game Bonus Levels to the remaining game round of the feature game. Hence, in the exemplary embodiment, feature game controller  150  will apply three Bonus Levels to all subsequent game rounds of the feature game (unless additional Bonus Levels are awarded in later game rounds, in which case the number of Bonus Levels will be incremented as appropriate). 
         [0050]    The Bonus Levels, which are defined in a bonus levels register  156 , of this embodiment when an ante bet was not made when the feature game was awarded are shown in Table 1: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Bonus Levels without Ante Bet 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Bonus Level 
                 Bonus Award 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 5 extra game rounds 
               
               
                 2 
                 Pic4 and Pic5 pay the same as Pic1 
               
               
                 3 
                 Pic2 and Pic3 pay the same as Pic1 
               
               
                 4 
                 WILD and WILD substituting wins ×2 or ×3 
               
               
                 5 
                 All Wins ×2 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0051]    Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4 and Pic5 indicate different symbols, while WILD indicates a wildcard. 
         [0052]    The Bonus Levels are awarded in succession (from Level 5 to Level 1), so the five extra game rounds will only be awarded if the player is awarded five Bonus Levels. If additional Bonus Levels are awarded (e.g. a sixth, seventh, etc), an additional five extra game rounds are awarded each time. 
         [0053]    In addition, if—when the feature game is awarded—the player makes an ante bet, feature game controller  150  initiates the feature game initially with 15 game rounds and employs a different set of Bonus Levels (also defined in bonus levels register  156 ) as shown in Table 2: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Bonus Levels without Ante Bet 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Bonus Level 
                 Bonus Award 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 5 extra game rounds 
               
               
                 2 
                 A, K, Q, J, 10 and 9 pay the same as Pic1 
               
               
                 3 
                 Pic2, Pic3, Pic4 and Pic5 pay the same as Pic1 
               
               
                 4 
                 WILD and WILD substituting wins ×2, ×3 or ×5 
               
               
                 5 
                 All Wins ×2 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0054]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of game play that may be implemented. Initially, game play is conducted  172 . Feature game controller  150  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) determines  174  whether the player has become eligible to be awarded a feature game (according to whether the relevant feature game trigger condition is met). If not, additional game play is initiated  172 . However, if the player has become eligible to be awarded a feature game, feature game controller  150  sets  176  an initial number of feature game reels according to the feature game trigger condition. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, controller  150  sets one reel for every scatter symbol constituting the trigger condition. Game controller  14  then determines  178  whether an ante bet has been made. If no ante bets were made, feature game controller  150  sets  180  the initial number of game rounds for the feature game to seven and display controller  140  displays the Bonus Levels of Table 1 for player information. However, if an ante bet has been made, however, feature game controller  150  sets  182  the initial number of game rounds for the feature game to 15 and display controller  140  displays the Bonus Levels of Table 2 for player information. 
         [0055]    In both cases (i.e. whether or not an ante bet was made), a game round of the feature game is conducted  184  by feature game controller  150 . Outcome determiner  144  then determines  186  the outcome of that game round and, if an award is due to the player (in the form either of a Bonus Level of a credit prize (or both), where that award is made  188 , after which feature game controller  150  determines  190  whether the last game round of the feature game has been completed. If no award is due  186 , game play continues. 
         [0056]    If feature game controller  150  determines that the last game round of the feature game has not been completed (either because the initial number of game rounds has not yet been completed, or because that initial number augmented by an award made at step  188  has not yet been completed), processing returns to step  184 . Otherwise, processing continues and outcome determiner  144  determines  192  the outcome of the feature game. Prize awarder  158  awards  194  any prize due to the player according to the feature game outcome. Processing then ends. 
         [0057]    It will be appreciated that other features known in electronic gaming machines and the games provided thereby can be advantageously and synergistically combined with the features described above. 
         [0058]    Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0059]    In the claims that follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise owing to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, that is, 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. 
         [0060]    Further, any reference herein to prior art is not intended to imply that such prior art forms or formed a part of the common general knowledge in other country.