Patent ID: 7637808

Claim:
A gaming machine having a display and a game controller configured to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the game controller being configured to control play of a game comprising: a base game and a feature, wherein the game controller is configured to cause at least one random event to be displayed on the display in response to play of the base game and to award a prize in response to determining that the at least one random event resulted in a predefined winning event, the game controller is configured to initiate play of the feature, the feature comprising a gamble phase followed by a play phase, the play phase comprising at least one bonus game operated in accordance with one or more play characteristics, during the gamble phase, the game controller is configured to allow a player to wager one or more play characteristics of the at least one bonus game of the feature in an attempt to improve one or more play characteristics of the at least one bonus game of the feature, the game controller is configured to award play characteristics of the at least one bonus game of the feature based upon the one or more wagered play characteristics and at least one random event associated with the one or more wagered play characteristics, and after completion of the gamble phase, the game controller is configured to control play of the at least one bonus game during the play phase of the feature in accordance with the play characteristics awarded during the gamble phase.