Gaming Machine with Special Symbols that Change Other Symbols

Abstract

In one embodiment, a base game played on a gaming machine may be a conventional 5×4 video reel-type game, where awards are granted for winning symbol combinations in the base game. If a bonus trigger has occurred, a number of free games are awarded. The symbols on the reel strips are then changed to at least include directional wild symbols, where wild symbols are associated with one of a variety of directions such as up, down, left-down-diagonally, right, etc. Obtaining such a directional wild symbol during a free game causes all symbols along that direction to be converted to a wild symbol. Overlapping wild symbols also act as award multipliers. Awards are then granted based on the symbol combinations and multipliers.

1 . A method performed by a video gaming device, the method comprising:
 a. spinning and stopping a plurality of virtual reels, having symbols, in a game to generate an array of symbols, the symbols including at least one directional wild symbol, each directional wild symbol representing a plurality of other symbols for use in making symbol combinations, each directional wild symbol being associated with at least one direction, the at least one direction including left, right, and diagonal, wherein an appearance of a directional wild symbol in an array of symbols causes one or more symbols along the at least one direction associated with the directional wild symbol to act as a wild symbol;   b. if a directional wild symbol appears in an array of symbols, then causing one or more symbols along the at least one direction associated with that directional wild symbol to act as a wild symbol; and   c. achieving awards based on at least winning combinations of symbols, including combinations using the directional wild symbols and other symbols that have been caused to act as wild symbols by operation of the directional wild symbols   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in a base game using the plurality of virtual reels, there are no directional wild symbols, the method further comprising:
 determining whether a bonus round trigger has occurred during the base game; 
 if a bonus round trigger has occurred, then performing the method comprising:
 adding at least one directional wild symbol to the plurality of virtual reels; 
 granting the player one or more free bonus spins of the virtual reels, in a bonus round, to achieve arrays of randomly selected symbols with each spin; 
 carrying out steps b and c; and 
 after all free games have been played, terminating the bonus round. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the direction associated with each directional wild symbol is predetermined and fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the direction associated with each directional wild symbol is pseudo-randomly selected prior to a directional wild symbol being used to cause one or more symbols along the at least one direction to act as a wild symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, if multiple directional wild symbols appear in the array, and a particular symbol is at an intersection of the directions associated with the multiple directional wild symbols, then causing that particular symbol to be a wild symbol and a multiplier of any award involving that wild symbol in a winning combination of symbols. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein a value of the multiplier is increased as more directions intersect the particular symbol by operation of directional wild symbols. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one direction includes up, down, left, right, up-right-diagonal, left-right-diagonal, up-left-diagonal, and down-left-diagonal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, if a directional wild symbol appears in an array of symbols, then causing all symbols along the direction associated with that directional wild symbol to act as a wild symbol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the direction associated with a directional wild symbol is a straight line direction that is either horizontal, vertical, or diagonal with respect to the array. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the direction associated with a directional symbol includes zig-zag directions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, if a line along a direction associated with a directional wild symbol intersects a special symbol, the line changes direction, causing symbols along the line to act as a wild symbol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein, if a line along a direction associated with a directional wild symbol reaches an outer boundary of the array, the line changes direction, causing symbols along the line to act as a wild symbol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, if a directional wild symbol appears in an array of symbols, then causing all symbols along the direction associated with that directional wild symbol to act as a wild symbol except for certain special symbols. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising achieving awards based on winning combinations of symbols prior to any symbol being affected by any directional wild symbol, then achieving awards based on winning combinations of symbols including combinations using symbols that have been caused to act as wild symbols by operation of any directional wild symbols. 
     
     
         15 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display screen: and   a processing system programmed to carry out the following method:
 a. spinning and stopping a plurality of virtual reels, having symbols, in a game to generate an array of symbols, the symbols including at least one directional wild symbol, each directional wild symbol representing a plurality of other symbols for use in making symbol combinations, each directional wild symbol being associated with at least one direction, the at least one direction including left, right, and diagonal, wherein an appearance of a directional wild symbol in an array of symbols causes one or more symbols along the at least one direction associated with the directional wild symbol to act as a wild symbol; 
 b. if a directional wild symbol appears in an array of symbols, then causing one or more symbols along the at least one direction associated with that directional wild symbol to act as a wild symbol; and 
 c. achieving awards based on at least winning combinations of symbols, including combinations using the directional wild symbols and other symbols that have been caused to act as wild symbols by operation of the directional wild symbols 
   
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that the direction associated with each directional wild symbol is predetermined and fixed. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that the direction associated with each directional wild symbol is pseudo-randomly selected prior to a directional wild symbol being used to cause one or more symbols along the at least one direction to act as a wild symbol. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that the at least one direction includes up, down, left, right, up-right-diagonal, left-right-diagonal, up-left-diagonal, and down-left-diagonal. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that, if a directional wild symbol appears in an array of symbols, then all symbols along the direction associated with that directional wild symbol are caused to act as a wild symbol. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that the direction associated with a directional wild symbol is a straight line direction that is either horizontal, vertical, or diagonal with respect to the array. 
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that the direction associated with a directional symbol includes zig-zag directions. 
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 15  wherein the processing system is further programmed so that, if a directional wild symbol appears in an array of symbols, then all symbols along the direction associated with that directional wild symbol are caused to act as a wild symbol except for certain special symbols.