Roaming symbol feature for a game of chance

Abstract

A game of chance is conducted on a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes a plurality of symbols randomly selected for placement in respective symbol positions of a displayed symbol array. A roaming symbol feature is triggered in response to the displayed symbols including a predetermined number of value-based symbols. Each value-based symbol is moved from a respective current symbol position to one or more respective target symbol positions. Payout indicia is revealed for each value-based symbol at the one or more respective target symbol positions. The player is awarded an award based on the payout indicia.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of conducting a game of chance on a gaming machine controlled by a processor, comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player;    displaying a symbol array including a plurality of symbol positions, the plurality of symbol positions containing respective symbols, the symbols including a predetermined number of value-based symbols;    moving each value-based symbol from a respective current symbol position to one or more respective target symbol positions;    revealing payout indicia for each value-based symbol at the one or more respective target symbol positions; and    awarding an award based on the payout indicia to the player.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payout indicia is a multiplier, the award being equal to the wager multiplied by a sum of each revealed multiplier.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of value-based symbols is greater than one.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the symbol array includes a plurality of rows and columns, and wherein the step of moving each value-based symbol includes moving each value-based symbol along a respective column.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the payout indicia for each value-based symbol increases in value as the value-based symbol moves to successive ones of the one or more target symbol positions in its respective column.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of value-based symbols is one.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the symbol array includes a plurality of rows and columns, and wherein the step of moving each value-based symbol includes moving the value-based symbol in a random path across the symbol array from a first of the columns to a last of the columns.  
     
     
         8 . A method of conducting a game of chance on a gaming machine controlled by a processor, comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player;    randomly selecting symbols for placement in respective symbol positions of a displayed symbol array;    triggering a roaming symbol feature in response to the displayed symbols including a predetermined number of value-based symbols;    moving each value-based symbol from a respective current symbol position to one or more respective target symbol positions;    revealing payout indicia for each value-based symbol at the one or more respective target symbol positions; and    awarding an award based on the payout indicia to the player.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the payout indicia is a multiplier, the award being equal to the wager multiplied by a sum of each revealed multiplier.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined number of value-based symbols is greater than one.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the symbol array includes a plurality of rows and columns, and wherein the step of moving each value-based symbol includes moving each value-based symbol along a respective column.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the payout indicia for each value-based symbol increases in value as the value-based symbol moves to successive ones of the one or more target symbol positions in its respective column.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined number of value-based symbols is one.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the symbol array includes a plurality of rows and columns, and wherein the step of moving each value-based symbol includes moving the value-based symbol in a random path across the symbol array from a first of the columns to a last of the columns.  
     
     
         15 . A game of chance for a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising: 
 means for displaying a symbol array including a plurality of symbol positions, the plurality of symbol positions containing respective symbols, the symbols including a predetermined number of value-based symbols;    means for moving each value-based symbol from a respective current symbol position to one or more respective target symbol positions;    means for revealing payout indicia for each value-based symbol at the one or more respective target symbol positions; and    means for awarding an award based on the payout indicia to the player.    
     
     
         16 . A game of chance for a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising: 
 means for randomly selecting symbols for placement in respective symbol positions of a displayed symbol array;    means for triggering a roaming symbol feature in response to the displayed symbols including a predetermined number of value-based symbols;    means for moving each value-based symbol from a respective current symbol position to one or more respective target symbol positions;    means for revealing payout indicia for each value-based symbol at the one or more respective target symbol positions; and    means for awarding an award based on the payout indicia to the player.