Patent ID: 7144322

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 which 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 comprise a positive outcome, said transformation including an elimination of all but one game element of said positive outcome; and according to said game methodology, changing in at least a plurality of transformations, but not necessarily all transformations; said one game element into a “Wild” game element which has the attribute of matching a plurality of different game element indicia; f) after transformation, determining if 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; g) determining according to said game methodology whether said game elements in said subsequent gameplay condition comprise a positive outcome; and h) repeating steps (e) through (g) so long as there is a positive outcome for continued gameplay.