Gaming machine with main and subsidiary game combined

Abstract

A gaming machine with a bonus feature; said bonus feature comprising a subsidiary game played in combination with a main game played on said machine; said subsidiary game displayed as at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appearing in a primary display of said machine; characterized in that said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appears during said play of said main game, and wherein scatter symbols appearing in a result of a said main game may be combined with at least one scatter symbol appearing on a said additional simulated bonus game reel; a combination of said scatter symbols determining a prize winning outcome.

1 . A gaming machine with a bonus feature; said bonus feature comprising a subsidiary game played in combination with a main game played on said machine; said subsidiary game displayed as at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appearing in a primary display of said machine; characterized in that said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appears during said play of said main game, and wherein scatter symbols appearing in a result of a said main game may be combined with at least one scatter symbol appearing on a said additional simulated bonus game reel; a combination of said scatter symbols determining a prize winning outcome. 
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein said subsidiary game is played on said gaming machine as an ante bet; said subsidiary game including a gradual emerging of said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel; said one additional simulated bonus reel emerging at one side of a matrix of symbol containing elements; said symbol containing elements visible portions of a set of side by side simulated reels of said main game. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein play of said main game and said subsidiary game include the spinning of said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game and spinning of said at least one additional simulated bonus reel of said subsidiary game. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein a winning outcome of said main game is determined by a predefined pattern of symbols of said symbol containing elements appearing coincident with a predefined pay line of said main game. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus reel of said subsidiary game is provided with at least one scatter symbol. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus reel is blank except for said at least one scatter symbol. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein said matrix of said main game and said emerging additional simulated bonus reel are displayed on a main display module of said gaming machine. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein, as said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges, said matrix moves in a direction opposite to said one side at which said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges; said display of said matrix and said at least one additional simulated bonus reel remaining centred in a display unit of said gaming machine. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges at the end of a game sequence of said main game when said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein a player of said main game is offered said ante bet for play of said subsidiary game prior to commencement of said main game. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel emerges during play of a games sequence of said main game; said at least one additional reel beginning to gradually emerge before said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein a player of said main game is offered said ante bet for play of said subsidiary game at the completion of a game sequence of said main game. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein there is a re-spinning said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game if said player has placed a said ante bet. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein, a pattern of said symbol containing elements appearing in said matrix when said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest at an end of said re-spinning is maintained during play of said subsidiary game. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein said at least one additional simulated reel of said subsidiary game is spun after said set of simulated side by side reels have come to rest. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein a winning of a bonus feature of said subsidiary game played in combination with a main game, is dependent on a predefined number of scatter symbols appearing among the symbols of said symbol containing elements of said set of simulated side by side reels and said at least one additional simulated bonus reel. 
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a main game and a subsidiary game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of:
 presenting said main game as an outcome of spinning a set of side by side simulated reels,   arranging a gradual emerging of at least one additional simulated reel to one side of a matrix formed of symbol containing elements of displayed portions of said set of side by side simulated reels,   awarding a feature to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game if a predefined number of scatter symbols appear on said set of sided by side simulated reels and said at least one additional simulated reel.   
     
     
         18 . A method of offering a player an optional ante bet for play of a subsidiary game in combination with play of a main game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of:
 playing said main game on a set of side by side simulated reels,   arranging a gradual emerging of at least one additional simulated reel if a said player has opted to place said ante bet,   awarding a bonus feature to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game if a predefined number of scatter symbols appear on said set of sided by side simulated reels and said at least one additional simulated reel.   
     
     
         19 . A display for a main game and a subsidiary game of a gaming machine; said display gradually changing from a display of portions of a set of side by side simulated reels of said main game, to a display of said set of side by side simulated reels and at least one additional simulated reel appearing to one side of said set of side by side simulated reels; said at least one additional simulated reel arranged for play of a subsidiary game in combination with said main game. 
     
     
         20 . The display of  claim 19  wherein said at least one additional simulated reel appears to emerge from under an outermost one of said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game. 
     
     
         21 . The display of  claim 19  wherein a bonus feature is awarded to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game; said bonus feature awarded if a combination of symbols displayed on said set of side by side simulated reels and on said at least one additional simulated reels conforms to a predefined number or pattern of said symbols.