Wagering game with moveable bonus trigger to initiate bonus features

Abstract

A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game has a basic game and a bonus game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device. A display displays a plurality of moveable reels having symbols located thereon during the basic game. The symbols indicate a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The symbols on the moveable reels include a start-bonus symbol. A moveable indicator randomly moves across the display during the basic game. The bonus game is triggered in response to the moveable indicator coinciding in location with the start-bonus symbol on the display when the moveable reels and the moveable indicator have stopped.

1 . A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a wager-input device;    a display for displaying a plurality of moveable reels having symbols located thereon during said basic game, said symbols indicating a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via said wager-input device, said symbols including a start-bonus symbol; and    a moveable indicator that randomly moves across said display during said basic game, in response to said moveable indicator coinciding in location with said start-bonus symbol on said display when said moveable reels and said moveable indicator have stopped, said bonus game being triggered.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of moveable reels include mechanical reels.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said display includes a glass panel that is located directly in front of said moveable reels.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of moveable reels include video reels.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said display includes at least one payline that traverses said plurality of moveable reels.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said symbols on said plurality of moveable reels form an array of specific locations.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming terminal of  claim 6 , wherein said moveable indicator moves between locations of said specific locations.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a wager-input device for receiving wagers from a player;    a display for displaying a plurality of moveable reels having symbols located thereon during said basic game, said symbols indicating a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via said wager-input device, a first combination of said symbols indicating a winning payout; and    a moveable indicator that randomly moves across said display during said basic game, in response to said moveable indicator coinciding in location with one of said symbols in said first combination of symbols, an enhanced form of said winning payout being awarded.    
   
   
       9 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of moveable reels include mechanical reels.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming terminal of  claim 9 , wherein said display includes a glass panel that is located directly in front of said moveable reels.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of moveable reels include video reels.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said enhanced form is a multiplier of said winning payout.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said enhanced form is an additional payout that is added to said winning payout.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said display includes at least one payline that traverses said plurality of moveable reels.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said symbols on said plurality of moveable reels form an array of specific locations.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming terminal of  claim 15 , wherein said moveable indicator moves between locations of said specific locations.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said symbols include a start-bonus symbol, and wherein in response to said moveable indicator coinciding in location with said start-bonus symbol on said display when said moveable reels and said moveable indicator have stopped, said bonus game is triggered.  
   
   
       18 . A method of conducting a wagering game having a plurality of symbol-bearing reels with symbols thereon, said wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game, said method comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player;    randomly selecting a game outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to said wager;    displaying said game outcome for said basic game as symbols on said plurality of symbol-bearing reels in alignment along at least one payline;    moving a moveable indicator across said symbol-bearing reels;    stopping said moveable indicator at a location on at least one of said plurality of symbol-bearing reels; and    in response to said location of said moveable indicator coinciding with a start-bonus symbol on one of said plurality of symbol-bearing reels, triggering said bonus game.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including, during said bonus game, displaying a predetermined number of player-selectable elements and requesting that a player select at least one of said player-selectable elements.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said selected player-selectable element masks bonus credits to be awarded.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said selected player-selectable element triggers an additional bonus game to be displayed.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein, during said additional bonus game, multiple bonus symbols, and their associated credit values, are pre-revealed and shuffled, and said player is requested to select one of said multiple bonus symbols.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further including awarding said associated credit value for said selected multiple bonus symbol and ending said additional bonus game when a bonus-termination symbol has been selected.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further including awarding said associated credit value for said selected multiple bonus symbol and continuing said additional bonus game when a predetermined multiple bonus symbol has been selected.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said symbols on said plurality of moveable reels form an array of specific locations.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said moveable indicator moves between locations of said specific locations.  
   
   
       27 . A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 at least one display; and    a controller coupled to said display and programmed to move symbols on a plurality of moveable reels across said display to indicate an outcome of said basic game,    move a moveable indicator across said display during said basic game, and    in response to a stopped location of said moveable indicator coinciding with a start-bonus symbol on one of said plurality of symbol-bearing reels, trigger said bonus game.    
   
   
       28 . The gaming terminal of  claim 27 , wherein during said bonus game, a predetermined number of player-selectable elements are displayed and a player is requested to select at least one of said player-selectable elements.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming terminal of  claim 28 , wherein said selected player-selectable element masks bonus credits to be awarded.  
   
   
       30 . The gaming terminal of  claim 28 , wherein said selected player-selectable element triggers an additional bonus game to be displayed.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming terminal of  claim 30 , wherein during said additional bonus game, multiple bonus symbols, and their associated credit values, are pre-revealed and shuffled, and said player is requested to select one of said multiple bonus symbols.  
   
   
       32 . The gaming terminal of  claim 31 , wherein said associated credit value for said selected multiple bonus symbol is awarded, and said additional bonus game is ended when a bonus-termination symbol has been selected.  
   
   
       33 . The gaming terminal of  claim 27 , wherein said symbols on said plurality of moveable reels form an array of specific locations.  
   
   
       34 . The gaming terminal of  claim 33 , wherein said moveable indicator moves between locations of said specific locations.