Electronic gaming system and method for providing upgradeable symbol awards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11798366-B2
Application number	US-202016865138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2020
Priority date	Aug 16, 2019
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

An electronic gaming system includes at least one processor configured to provide a reel-based wagering game. In the game, a matrix of symbol positions is displayed, and during each spin of the reels, the processor determines whether at least one symbol displayed in the matrix is a target (or collectable) symbol. When at least one target symbol is displayed, the processor also determines whether a threshold number of such target symbols have been accumulated from the matrix by the player, and if so, the processor awards a plurality of free games, each of which is evaluated against an upgraded paytable. The upgraded paytable defines a plurality of upgraded awards for a variety of symbol combinations, at least some of which incorporate the target symbol. In some cases, a different (e.g., upgraded) version of the target symbol may be displayed during free games.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming system comprising:
a display device;
an input device;
a memory; and
at least one processor, wherein instructions stored in the memory, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to at least:
control the display device to display a game session of a game in response to an input received from a player of the game;
receive, from the input device, data representing at least one column identified by a user of a matrix of symbol positions, the matrix including a plurality of rows of symbol positions and a plurality of columns of symbol positions that includes the at least one column;
control the display device to display a plurality of symbols in the matrix of symbol positions, wherein at least one symbol displayed in the at least one column is a first collectable symbol associated with a first paytable;
increment a first collectable symbol counter stored in the memory in response to the first collectable symbol being displayed in the at least one column, wherein only user identified columns from the data received from the input device contribute to incrementing the first collectable symbol counter; and
in response to the first collectable symbol counter reaching a threshold number during the game session, at least:
i) control the display device to display a first plurality of free games, each free game associated with a combination of symbols defining a free game outcome, and
ii) retrieve an upgraded paytable from the memory for evaluation of each game outcome of the first plurality of free games, the upgraded paytable defining at least one upgraded award for at least one winning symbol combination that includes the first collectable symbol, the at least one upgraded award being greater than a base game award defined by the first paytable for the same at least one winning symbol combination.

2. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
control the display device to display at least one upgraded instance of the first collectable symbol during the first plurality of free games, the upgraded instance of the first collectable symbol different from instances of the first collectable symbol displayed during accumulation of the first collectable symbol.

3. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
following evaluation of each free game outcome of the first plurality of free games, control the display device to display a subsequent plurality of symbols in the matrix of symbol positions;
determine whether at least one symbol displayed in the matrix is an instance of a second collectable symbol, the second collectable symbol different from the first collectable symbol; and
in response to the instance of the second collectable symbol being displayed in the matrix, determine whether a threshold number of instances of the second collectable symbol have been accumulated by the player during the game session, and if the threshold number of instances have not been accumulated, control the display device to display one or more subsequent pluralities of symbols in the matrix of symbol positions, whereby additional instances of the second collectable symbol are capable of being accumulated.

4. The electronic gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
in response to the threshold number of instances being accumulated, award a second plurality of free games, and evaluate each free game outcome of the second plurality of free games using at least one of the upgraded paytable or one of a plurality of different upgraded paytables.

5. The electronic gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
add at least one row of symbol positions to the matrix of symbol positions, the at least one additional row remaining in the matrix of symbol positions for the duration of the second plurality of free games and increasing the chances that one or more upgraded awards will be provided to the player.

6. The electronic gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
control the display device to display a progress bar, the progress bar indicating at least that the player has accumulated the threshold number of instances of the first collectable symbol and the threshold number of instances of the second collectable symbol, and showing a current progress towards accumulating a threshold number of instances of a third collectable symbol, the third collectable symbol different from both of the first collectable symbol and the second collectable symbol.

7. The electronic gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
following evaluation of each free game outcome of the subsequent plurality of free games, control the display device to display a further subsequent plurality of symbols in the matrix of symbol positions;
determine whether at least one symbol displayed in the matrix is an instance of a third collectable symbol, the third collectable symbol different from the first collectable symbol and the second collectable symbol;
in response to the instance of the third collectable symbol being displayed in the matrix, determine whether a threshold number of instances of the third collectable symbol have been accumulated by the player during the game session; and
in response to the threshold number of instances being accumulated, award a third plurality of free games, and evaluate each free game outcome of the third plurality of free games using at least one of the upgraded paytable or one of the plurality of different upgraded paytables.

8. The electronic gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
prior to awarding the third plurality of free games and during accumulation of the threshold number of instances of the third collectable symbol, control the display device to display a progress bar, the progress bar indicating a current progress towards accumulating the threshold number of instances of the third collectable symbol.

9. The electronic gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
add at least one row of symbol positions to the matrix of symbol positions, the at least one additional row remaining in the matrix of symbol positions for the duration of the third plurality of free games and increasing the chances that one or more upgraded awards will be provided to the player.

10. The electronic gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to at least:
following evaluation of each free game outcome of the further subsequent plurality of free games, control the display device to display an additional plurality of symbols in the matrix of symbol positions;
determine whether at least one symbol displayed in the matrix is an instance of a fourth collectable symbol, the fourth collectable symbol different from the first collectable symbol, the second collectable symbol, and the third collectable symbol; and
in response to the instance of the fourth collectable symbol being displayed in the matrix, determine whether a threshold number of instances of the fourth collectable symbol have been accumulated by the player during the game session, if the threshold nu

Assignees

• Aristocrat Technologies Au

Inventors

• Chan Matthew
• Wasielewski Peter
• Gupta Amit

Classifications

• G07F17/3262 Primary

  Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played · CPC title

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07F17/323 Primary

  wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions · CPC title

• G07F17/3267

  Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games · CPC title