Gaming machine with sorting feature

Abstract

A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 at least one visual display; and    a game of chance depicted on the at least one visual display and controlled by a processor in response to a wager, the game of chance including a primary game and a sorting feature, the sorting feature being triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game, the sorting feature including a collection of scrambled objects that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature, the sorting feature generating an award in response to the at least partially sorted objects matching predetermined criteria.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the objects are selected from a group consisting of letters, symbols, pictures, and puzzle pieces.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the award is selected from a group consisting of a payoff, a payoff multiplier, and extended play.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game includes a plurality of rotatable reels that are rotated and stopped to place symbols on each reel in visual association with at least one pay line.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one visual display includes a pair of visual displays.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the visual display includes a video display.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the collection of scrambled objects includes a string of scrambled letters of the alphabet which, when fully sorted, form a word.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the string of scrambled letters is fully sorted to form the word in response to a first of the start-feature outcomes.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the string of scrambled letters includes a pair of letters that are swapped in response to a second of the start-feature outcomes.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the sorting feature includes a plurality of player-selectable elements in response to a third of the start-feature outcomes, the string of scrambled letters being progressively sorted to form the word in response to successive selection by a player of the player-selectable elements.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sorting feature includes a non-interactive mode and a player interactive mode, the non-interactive mode being triggered by a first of the start-feature outcomes, the player interactive mode being triggered by a second of the start-feature outcomes, the sorting feature including a plurality of player-selectable elements when in the player interactive mode.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one visual display includes first and second video displays, wherein when the sorting feature is in the player interactive mode, the first display depicts the collection of objects and the second display depicts the plurality of player-selectable elements.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein the collection of scrambled objects is progressively sorted to form a fully sorted arrangement in response to successive selection by a player of the player-selectable elements.  
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine comprising a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager and being depicted on one or more video displays, the game of chance including a sorting feature having a string of scrambled letters of the alphabet, the string of scrambled letters being rearranged during operation of the sorting feature.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the sorting feature generates a first award in response to the string of letters being partially sorted during the operation of the sorting feature.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 15 , wherein the sorting feature generates a second award in response to the string of letters being fully sorted to form a word during the operation of the sorting feature.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the game of chance includes a primary game including a plurality of simulated spinning slot reels bearing symbols thereon, the sorting feature being triggered by certain combinations of one or more symbols appearing on the visual display after the reels have been rotated and stopped.  
   
   
       18 . A method of operating a gaming machine controlled by a processor, the method comprising: 
 in response to a wager, executing a basic game on at least one visual display;    awarding a basic game payout in response to the basic game generating a winning outcome;    executing a sorting feature on the at least one visual display in response to certain start-feature outcomes generated by the basic game, the sorting feature including a collection of scrambled objects;    at least partially sorting the collection of scrambled objects during operation of the sorting feature; and    awarding a sorting feature award in response to the at least partially sorted objects matching predetermined criteria.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the basic game includes a plurality of rotatable reels, and wherein the step of executing the basic game includes rotating and stopping the reels to place symbols on each reel in visual association with at least one pay line.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the collection of scrambled objects includes a string of scrambled letters of the alphabet which, when fully sorted, form a word.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of at least partially sorting the collection of scrambled objects includes fully sorting the string of scrambled letters to form the word in response to a first of the start-feature outcomes.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of at least partially sorting the collection of scrambled objects includes swapping a pair of letters in the string of scrambled letters in response to a second of the start-feature outcomes.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the sorting feature includes a plurality of player-selectable elements in response to a third of the start-feature outcomes, and wherein the step of at least partially sorting the collection of scrambled objects includes progressively sorting the string of scrambled letters to form the word in response to successive selection by a player of the player-selectable elements.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the sorting feature includes a non-interactive mode and a player interactive mode, the non-interactive mode being triggered by a first of the start-feature outcomes, the player interactive mode being triggered by a second of the start-feature outcomes, the sorting feature including a plurality of player-selectable elements when in the player interactive mode.  
   
   
       25 . A method of operating a gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, the method comprising: 
 executing a game of chance, including a sorting feature, on at least one visual display, the sorting feature including a string of scrambled letters of the alphabet; and    rearranging the letters in the string of scrambled letters during operation of the sorting feature.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of rearranging the letters includes partially sorting the string of letters, and further including awarding a first award in response to the string of letters being partially sorted.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of rearranging the letters includes fully sorting the string of letters to form a word, and further including awarding a second award in response to the string of letters being fully sorted.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the game of chance includes a primary game including a plurality of rotatable symbol-bearing slot reels, and wherein the step of executing the game of chance includes: 
 rotating and stopping the reels to place symbols on each reel in visual association with at least one pay line; and    executing the sorting feature in response to a start-feature outcome based on the symbols appearing on the stopped reels.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the game of chance includes a primary game, and wherein the step of executing the game of chance includes executing the primary game and then executing the sorting feature in response to a start-feature outcome generated by the primary game.