Gaming system and a method of gaming

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: (a) conducting a game round in which a plurality of symbols are selected; (b) determining a current number of available game rounds based at least on whether or not the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol subsequent to the symbol selection of the game round; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until an end condition is met, wherein there are one or more end conditions and at least one end condition is that the current number of available game rounds is determined to be an end value.

1 . A method of gaming comprising:
 (a) conducting a game round in which a plurality of symbols are selected;   (b) determining a current number of available game rounds based at least on whether or not the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol subsequent to the symbol selection of the game round; and   (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until an end condition is met, wherein there are one or more end conditions and at least one end condition is that the current number of available game rounds is determined to be an end value.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end value is zero. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , comprising reducing the number of available game rounds by one if the selected symbols of a game round include no designated symbols. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3  comprising awarding an entitlement to an initial number of available game rounds. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the initial number is three. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein determining the current number of available game rounds comprises setting the current number to the initial number if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining the current number of available game rounds comprises not altering the number of available game rounds if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining the current number of available game rounds comprises reducing the number of available game rounds by a first value if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol, and reducing the number of available game rounds by a second value greater than the first value if the selected symbols do not include any designated symbols. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two end conditions, and an end condition is that a designated number of designated symbols is reached. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein there are two end conditions. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising awarding a prize determined at least in part by the number of designated symbols when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising awarding a prize determined at least in part by a pattern of designated symbols when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising retaining at least one designated symbol for at least one subsequent game round. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising retaining each designated symbol for at least one subsequent game round. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising retaining each designated symbol until an end condition is met. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  comprising removing at least one designated symbol if a removal condition is met. 
     
     
         17 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
 (a) conduct a game round in which a plurality of symbols are selected;   (b) determine a current number of available game rounds based at least on whether or not the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol subsequent to the symbol selection of the game round; and   (c) repeat (a) and (b) until an end condition is met, wherein there are one or more end conditions and at least one end condition is that the current number of available game rounds is determined to be an end value.   
     
     
         18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising an available game round module arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds. 
     
     
         19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising an end condition module arranged to determine that an end condition is met. 
     
     
         20 . A game controller as claimed in claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the end value is zero. 
     
     
         21 . A game controller as claimed in claimed in  claim 17 , the game controller arranged to reduce the number of available game rounds by one if the selected symbols of a game round include no designated symbols. 
     
     
         22 . A game controller as claimed in any one of  claims 17 , comprising an entitlement module arranged to award an entitlement to an initial number of available game rounds. 
     
     
         23 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the initial number is three. 
     
     
         24 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 22 , the game controller arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds by setting the current number to the initial number if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol. 
     
     
         25 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 22 , the game controller arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds by not altering the number of available game rounds if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol. 
     
     
         26 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 22 , the game controller arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds by reducing the number of available game rounds by a first value if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol, and reducing the number of available game rounds by a second value greater than the first value if the selected symbols do not include any designated symbols. 
     
     
         27 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein there are at least two end conditions, and an end condition is that a designated number of designated symbols is reached. 
     
     
         28 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein there are two end conditions. 
     
     
         29 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising an outcome determiner arranged to determine whether to award a prize when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         30 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the outcome determiner is arranged to determine any award based on the number of designated symbols when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         31 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the outcome determiner is arranged to determine any award based on a pattern of designated symbols when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         32 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , arranged to retain at least one designated symbol for at least one subsequent game round. 
     
     
         33 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 32 , arranged to retain each designated symbol for at least one subsequent game round. 
     
     
         34 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 32 , arranged to retain each designated symbol until an end condition is met. 
     
     
         35 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 33  arranged to remove at least one designated symbol if a removal condition is met. 
     
     
         36 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , constituted, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
     
     
         37 . A gaming system comprising:
 a player interface comprising a display for displaying game outcomes; and   a game controller arranged to:   (a) conduct a game round in which a plurality of symbols are selected;   (b) determine a current number of available game rounds based at least on whether or not the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol subsequent to the symbol selection of the game round; and   (c) repeat (a) and (b) until an end condition is met, wherein there are one or more end conditions and at least one end condition is that the current number of available game rounds is determined to be an end value.   
     
     
         38 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller comprises an available game round module arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds. 
     
     
         39 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller comprises an end condition module arranged to determine that an end condition is met. 
     
     
         40 . A gaming system as claimed in claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the end value is zero. 
     
     
         41 . A gaming system as claimed in claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller is arranged to reduce the number of available game rounds by one if the selected symbols of a game round include no designated symbols. 
     
     
         42 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller comprises an entitlement module arranged to award an entitlement to an initial number of available game rounds. 
     
     
         43 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the initial number is three. 
     
     
         44 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the game controller is arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds by setting the current number to the initial number if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol. 
     
     
         45 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the game controller is arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds by not altering the number of available game rounds if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol. 
     
     
         46 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the game controller is arranged to determine the current number of available game rounds by reducing the number of available game rounds by a first value if the selected symbols include at least one designated symbol, and reducing the number of available game rounds by a second value greater than the first value if the selected symbols do not include any designated symbols. 
     
     
         47 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein there are at least two end conditions, and an end condition is that a designated number of designated symbols is reached. 
     
     
         48 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein there are two end conditions. 
     
     
         49 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller comprises an outcome determiner arranged to determine whether to award a prize when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         50 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the outcome determiner is arranged to determine any award based on the number of designated symbols when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         51 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the outcome determiner is arranged to determine any award based on a pattern of designated symbols when an end condition is met. 
     
     
         52 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller is arranged to retain at least one designated symbol for at least one subsequent game round. 
     
     
         53 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 52 , arranged to retain each designated symbol for at least one subsequent game round. 
     
     
         54 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 52 , arranged to retain each designated symbol until an end condition is met. 
     
     
         55 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the game controller is arranged to remove at least one designated symbol if a removal condition is met. 
     
     
         56 . A computer readable medium including computer program code which when executed implements the method of  claim 1 .