Patent ID: 8182325

Claim:
A gaming system operable to play a game comprising a base game and a feature game, the gaming system comprising: a game controller for controlling the play of the base game and the feature game; at least one display in data communication with the game controller to display game play of the base game and the feature game, a player interface in data communication with the game controller to enable the player to control at least some aspect of game play of the game, the game controller controlling play of the feature game so that: a) the feature game comprises at least one series of game events, in which a plurality of symbols from at least one predetermined symbol set that includes at least first and second symbols, are randomly selected and displayed on the at least one display, and b) dependent on an outcome of the at least one series of game events, awarding a bonus, wherein during play of the feature game, the game controller monitors at least the occurrence of the at least first and second symbols in the at least one series of game events and evaluates the occurrence of the at least first and second symbols against predetermined competitive criteria, wherein the outcome of the series of game events is dependent on said evaluation, and wherein the game controller awards the bonus at the conclusion of the at least one series of game events and wherein said predetermined competitive criteria comprise at least one of whether: a) a predetermined symbol of the at least first and second symbols cumulatively occurs more or less frequently than the other at least first and second symbols; or b) a predetermined symbol of the at least first and second symbols occurs a predetermined number of times before the other at least first and second symbols occur a predetermined number of times, and wherein the game controller is further operable to allow a player of the gaming system to determine which symbol from the at least first and second symbols is said predetermined symbol.