Gaming system and method

Abstract

A method of displaying an outcome of a game to a player comprising obtaining a stop position for each of a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbols at least one reel having a special symbol, each stop position specifying which symbol or symbols of each reel will correspond to a win line, displaying spinning of each reel to the reel's stop position, determining whether a special symbol condition is met, and making the display of the spinning of at least one subsequent reel different to display of at least the first reel if the special symbol condition is met.

1 . A method of displaying an outcome of a game to a player comprising:
 obtaining a stop position for each of a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbols at least one reel having a special symbol, each stop position specifying which symbol or symbols of each reel will correspond to a win line;   displaying spinning of each reel to the reel's stop position;   determining whether a special symbol condition is met; and   making the display of the spinning of at least one subsequent reel different to display of at least the first reel if the special symbol condition is met.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether a special symbol condition is met comprises determining whether a special symbol will appear on a win line played by the player for a first reel. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether a special symbol condition is met comprises determining whether a special symbol in combination with one or more symbols correspond to an initial portion of a predetermined game outcome and will appear on a win line played by the player after a predetermined number of reels have spun to a stop. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising making the display different by altering at least one of the speed of spinning, the duration of spinning and the direction of spinning. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system comprising:
 a stop determiner configured to determine a stop position of each of a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbols, each stop position specifying which symbol or symbols of the reel will correspond to a win line;   a display for displaying spinning of each reel to the reel's stop position with at least a first reel being spun normally to the first reel's stop position; and   a suspense mode controller configured to determine whether a special symbol condition is met and make the display of the spinning of at least one subsequent reel different to display of at least the first reel if the special symbol condition is met.   
   
   
       6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein determining whether a special symbol condition is met comprises determining whether a special symbol will appear on a win line played by the player for a first reel. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , determining whether a special symbol condition is met comprises determining whether a special symbol in combination with one or more symbols correspond to an initial portion of a predetermined game outcome and will appear on a win line played by the player after a predetermined number of reels have spun to a stop. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein making the display different by altering at least one of the speed of spinning, the duration of spinning and the direction of spinning. 
   
   
       9 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller configured to:
 determine whether a special symbol condition is met based on a stop position for each of a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbols at least one reel having a special symbol, each stop position specifying which symbol or symbols of each reel will correspond to a win line; and   make the display of the spinning of at least one subsequent reel different to display of at least the first reel if the special symbol condition is met.   
   
   
       10 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein determining whether a special symbol condition is met comprises determining whether a special symbol will appear on a win line played by the player for a first reel. 
   
   
       11 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , determining whether a special symbol condition is met comprises determining whether a special symbol in combination with one or more symbols correspond to an initial portion of a predetermined game outcome and will appear on a win line played by the player after a predetermined number of reels have spun to a stop. 
   
   
       12 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein making the display different by altering at least one of the speed of spinning, the duration of spinning and the direction of spinning.