Gaming machine including a feature gamble

Abstract

A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. A game has a feature having non-monetary characteristics which can be won, the non-monetary characteristics being able to be gambled. The gaming machine includes a selector by which a player is able to gamble at least one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature.

1 . A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine further comprising a game in which a feature having non-monetary characteristics can be won, the non-monetary characteristics being able to be gambled and the gaming machine including a selector by which a player is able to gamble at least one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature. 
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the non-monetary characteristics of the feature are selected from the group including: a number of free games constituting the feature, a multiplier applied to prizes won during the feature, a number of paylines applicable to games in a feature, a jackpot category, an amount of partial or total re-spins in a feature. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the feature is won by the occurrence of a predetermined trigger condition in an underlying base game of the game. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3  in which the feature is a series of free games 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4  in which the non-monetary characteristics associated with the free games include the number of free games constituting the feature and the multiplier which is applicable to any wins occurring in the free games of the feature. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  in which the player is afforded more than one opportunity to vary at least one of the non-monetary characteristics. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6  in which the controller limits the number of attempts offered to the player to a certain maximum value or minimum value of the non-monetary characteristics. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 6  in which the player is afforded a predetermined number of attempts to vary the non-monetary characteristics. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  in which, where the player is afforded the opportunity of varying more than one non-monetary characteristic, once the player has made a final determination regarding one of the non-monetary characteristics, that non-monetary characteristic is no longer available for variation. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the selector is a user interface. 
   
   
       11 . A game to be played on a game playing apparatus, the game playing apparatus having a display and being controlled by a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the game comprising a feature having non-monetary characteristics that can be won, the non-monetary characteristics being able to be gambled and a player being offered the opportunity to gamble at least one of the non-monetary characteristics of the feature at the commencement of the feature. 
   
   
       12 . The game of  claim 11  in which the non-monetary characteristic of the feature are selected from the group including a number of free games constituting the feature, a multiplier applied to prizes won during the feature, a number of paylines applicable to games in a feature, a jackpot category, an amount of partial or total re-spins in a feature. 
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 11  in which the feature is won by the occurrence of a predetermined trigger condition in an underlying base game of the game. 
   
   
       14 . The game of  claim 13  in which the feature is a series of free games. 
   
   
       15 . The game of  claim 14  in which the non-monetary characteristics associated with the free games include the number of free games constituting the feature and the multiplier which is applicable to any wins occurring in the free games of the feature. 
   
   
       16 . The game of  claim 15  in which the player is afforded more than one opportunity to vary each non-monetary characteristic. 
   
   
       17 . The game of  claim 16  in which the controller limits the number of attempts offered to the player to a certain maximum value or minimum value of the non-monetary characteristics. 
   
   
       18 . The game of  claim 17  in which the player is afforded a predetermined number of attempts to vary the non-monetary characteristics. 
   
   
       19 . The game of  claim 15  in which, where the player is afforded the opportunity of varying more than one non-monetary characteristic, once the player has made a final determination regarding one of the non-monetary characteristics, that non-monetary characteristic is no longer available for variation.