Configuration for iterative bonus game with symbol transformation

Abstract

A reel based bonus game with a predetermined quantity of iterations that is initiated based upon a predetermined bonus game entry criterion in a reel based base game being met is established. The predetermined bonus game entry criterion is a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of base game symbols resulting from a random generation of a plurality of base game reels. The predetermined quantity of iterations is associated with the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols. The plurality of base game symbols is a subset of base game symbols without wild functionality indicated on the plurality of base game reels. Further, an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met is received at a bonus game controller. In addition, a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations is established.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 establishing a reel based bonus game with a predetermined quantity of iterations that is initiated based upon a predetermined bonus game entry criterion in a reel based base game being met, the predetermined bonus game entry criterion being a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of base game symbols resulting from a random generation of a plurality of base game reels, the predetermined quantity of iterations being associated with the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols, the plurality of base game symbols being a subset of base game symbols without wild functionality indicated on the plurality of base game reels;   receiving, at a bonus game controller, an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met;   establishing a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations;   randomly generating, with the bonus game controller, one or more bonus rounds until a bonus game winning combination is selected, the bonus game winning combination including a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of bonus game symbols, the plurality of bonus game symbols being a subset of bonus game symbols without wild functionality indicated on a plurality of bonus game reels;   transforming the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus game symbols into a plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality;   decrementing the counter prior to each of one or more additional bonus rounds; and   randomly generating, with the bonus game controller, the one or more additional bonus rounds with the plurality of bonus game symbols until the counter equals zero.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bonus game winning combination also includes an additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transforming the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols without any symbols with wild functionality into the plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transforming one or more symbols not previously transformed in the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols into wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds, the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols including at least one symbol that was previously transformed into a wild symbol with wild functionality. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reel based base game includes a plurality of video reels. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reel based bonus game includes a plurality of video reels. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reel based base game includes a plurality of mechanical reels. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reel based bonus game includes a plurality of mechanical reels. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols is a payline combination. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols is a scattered combination. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus game symbols is a payline combination. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus game symbols is a scattered combination. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a prize distribution to the player based upon a number of a total quantity of credits won in the base game and the bonus game. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bonus game has a progressive prize associated therewith. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a bonus game prize distribution is based on a product of a prize category selected from a plurality of prize categories and one or more credit values associated with one or more paylines. 
     
     
         16 . A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 establish a reel based bonus game with a predetermined quantity of iterations that is initiated based upon a predetermined bonus game entry criterion in a reel based base game being met, the predetermined bonus game entry criterion being a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of base game symbols resulting from a random generation of a plurality of base game reels, the predetermined quantity of iterations being associated with the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols, the plurality of base game symbols being a subset of base game symbols without wild functionality indicated on the plurality of base game reels;   receive, at a bonus game controller, an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met;   establish a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations;   randomly generate, with the bonus game controller, one or more bonus rounds until a bonus game winning combination is selected, the bonus game winning combination including a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of bonus game symbols, the plurality of bonus game symbols being a subset of bonus game symbols without wild functionality indicated on a plurality of bonus game reels;   transform the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus game symbols into a plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality;   decrement the counter prior to each of one or more additional bonus rounds; and   randomly generate, with the bonus game controller, the one or more additional bonus rounds with the plurality of bonus game symbols until the counter equals zero.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the bonus game winning combination also includes an additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the computer is caused to transform the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols without any symbols with wild functionality into the plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the computer is further caused to transform one or more symbols not previously transformed in the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols into wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds, the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols including at least one symbol that was previously transformed into a wild symbol with wild functionality. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a reel based bonus game establishment module that establishes a reel based bonus game with a predetermined quantity of iterations that is initiated based upon a predetermined bonus game entry criterion in a reel based base game being met, the predetermined bonus game entry criterion being a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of base game symbols resulting from a random generation of a plurality of base game reels, the predetermined quantity of iterations being associated with the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols, the plurality of base game symbols being a subset of base game symbols without wild functionality indicated on the plurality of base game reels;   a bonus game controller that receives an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met;   a counter module that establishes a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations and decrements the counter prior to each of one or more additional bonus rounds;   a random generation module that randomly generates, with the bonus game controller, one or more bonus rounds until a bonus game winning combination is selected and one or more additional bonus rounds with the plurality of bonus game symbols until the counter equals zero, the bonus game winning combination including a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of bonus game symbols, the plurality of bonus game symbols being a subset of bonus game symbols without wild functionality indicated on a plurality of bonus game reels; and   a transformation module that transforms the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus game symbols into a plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the bonus game winning combination also includes an additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising transforming the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols without any symbols with wild functionality into the plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising transforming one or more symbols not previously transformed in the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols into wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds, the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols including at least one symbol that was previously transformed into a wild symbol with wild functionality. 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 establishing a reel based bonus game with a predetermined quantity of iterations that is initiated based upon a predetermined bonus game entry criterion in a reel based base game being met, the predetermined bonus game entry criterion being a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of base game symbols resulting from a random generation of a plurality of base game reels, the predetermined quantity of iterations being associated with the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols, the plurality of base game symbols being a subset of base game symbols without wild functionality indicated on the plurality of base game reels;   receiving, at a bonus game controller, an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met;   establishing a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations;   randomly generating, with the bonus game controller, one or more bonus rounds until a bonus game winning combination is selected, the bonus game winning combination including a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of bonus game symbols, the plurality of bonus game symbols being a first subset of bonus game symbols without wild functionality indicated on a plurality of bonus game reels;   transforming a second subset of bonus game symbols into a plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality;   decrementing the counter prior to each of one or more additional bonus rounds; and   randomly generating, with the bonus game controller, the one or more additional bonus rounds with the plurality of bonus game symbols until the counter equals zero.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second subset of bonus game symbols is randomly determined. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second subset of bonus game symbols is randomly determined only from visible symbols. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second subset of bonus game symbols excludes bonus game symbols from the first subset of bonus game symbols. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second subset of bonus game symbols includes at least one bonus game symbol from the first subset of bonus game symbols. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second subset of bonus game symbols is determined in the one or more bonus rounds generated prior to that of the bonus game winning combination. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a quantity of bonus game symbols in the second subset of bonus game symbols is determined by the predetermined quantity of iterations. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a quantity of bonus game symbols in the second subset of bonus game symbols is determined by an amount wagered per payline. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a quantity of bonus game symbols in the second subset of bonus game symbols and reel location are determined by an amount wagered per payline. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the bonus game winning combination also includes an additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising transforming the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols without any symbols with wild functionality into the plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising transforming one or more symbols not previously transformed in the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols into wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds, the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols including at least one symbol that was previously transformed into a wild symbol with wild functionality. 
     
     
         36 . A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 receive, at a bonus game controller, an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met;   establish a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations;   randomly generate, with the bonus game controller, one or more bonus rounds until a bonus game winning combination is selected, the bonus game winning combination including a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of bonus game symbols, the plurality of bonus game symbols being a first subset of bonus game symbols without wild functionality indicated on a plurality of bonus game reels;   transform a second subset of bonus game symbols into a plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality;   decrement the counter prior to each of one or more additional bonus rounds; and   randomly generate, with the bonus game controller, the one or more additional bonus rounds with the plurality of bonus game symbols until the counter equals zero.   
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 36 , wherein the bonus game winning combination also includes an additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols. 
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , wherein the computer is further caused to transform the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols without any symbols with wild functionality into the plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds. 
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 37 , wherein the computer is further caused to transform one or more symbols not previously transformed in the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols into wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds, the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols including at least one symbol that was previously transformed into a wild symbol with wild functionality. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus comprising:
 a reel based bonus game establishment module that establishes a reel based bonus game with a predetermined quantity of iterations that is initiated based upon a predetermined bonus game entry criterion in a reel based base game being met, the predetermined bonus game entry criterion being a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of base game symbols resulting from a random generation of a plurality of base game reels, the predetermined quantity of iterations being associated with the predetermined arrangement of the plurality of base game symbols, the plurality of base game symbols being a subset of base game symbols without wild functionality indicated on the plurality of base game reels;   a bonus game controller that receives an indication that the predetermined bonus game entry criterion has been met;   a counter module that establishes a counter with a value equaling the predetermined quantity of iterations and decrements the counter prior to each of one or more additional bonus rounds;   a random generation module that randomly generates, with the bonus game controller and one or more additional bonus rounds with the plurality of bonus game symbols until the counter equals zero, one or more bonus rounds until a bonus game winning combination is selected, the bonus game winning combination including a predetermined arrangement of a plurality of bonus game symbols, the plurality of bonus game symbols being a first subset of bonus game symbols without wild functionality indicated on a plurality of bonus game reels; and   a transformation module that transforms a second subset of bonus game symbols into a plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the bonus game winning combination also includes an additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising transforming the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols without any symbols with wild functionality into the plurality of bonus game wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising transforming one or more symbols not previously transformed in the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols into wild symbols with wild functionality upon the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols being randomly selected in the one or more additional bonus rounds, the additional predetermined arrangement of the plurality of bonus symbols including at least one symbol that was previously transformed into a wild symbol with wild functionality.