Patent ID: 8113941

Claim:
A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: a) providing a game matrix having a plurality of game element locations; b) providing game elements including differing subsets of game elements that have a predetermined matching relationship; c) randomly assigning game elements to a respective game element location for a first gameplay condition; d) determining according to a preset game methodology whether any of said randomly assigned game elements are in a matching relationship for a positive outcome in said first gameplay condition, wherein said matching relationship comprises at least two game elements having an associative indicium in a subset; e) transforming said game elements which make up a positive outcome according to said game methodology such that in at least a plurality of transformations, but not necessarily all transformations, at least one “Wild” game element, which has the attribute of matching a plurality of different game element indicia, replaces a game element in said positive outcome; f) eliminating at least one of said game elements of each positive outcome, thereby creating an open space for that game element location; g) after transformation and elimination, determining whether a remaining game element can be moved according to a movement methodology designed to fill an open space, and moving any remaining game element as permitted by said methodology without adding any game element to fill any remaining open space for a subsequent gameplay condition; h) determining according to said game methodology whether said game elements in said subsequent gameplay condition comprise a positive outcome; and i) repeating steps (e) through (h) so long as there is a positive outcome for continued gameplay.