Chain Reaction Game

Abstract

A game, gaming machine apparatus and game method wherein game elements are assigned to a matrix of game element locations. Play is initiated by evaluating the game elements for predetermined transformative conditions, such as a match of game elements. If a transformative condition is found, the game element(s) are transformed with at least one being removed from the matrix. The remaining game elements are moved, if permitted, according to a movement methodology. The steps of evaluating, transforming, removing, and moving the remaining game elements are repeated so long as a transformation is subsequently available for continued gameplay.

1 - 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a game matrix having a plurality of game element locations;   b) providing game elements;   c) registering a wager;   d) randomly assigning game elements to respective game element location for a first gameplay condition;   e) determining according to a preset game methodology whether any of said randomly assigned game elements in said first gameplay condition comprise a game element subject to transformation;   f) transforming said game elements subject to transformation, said transformation including an elimination of at least one of said game elements so transformed to thereby create an open space for that game element location of said eliminated game element;   g) after transformation, determining if a remaining game element can be moved according to a movement methodology designed to fill an open space created, and moving any such remaining game element as permitted by said methodology for a subsequent gameplay condition;   h) determining according to said game methodology whether said game elements in said subsequent gameplay condition are subject to transformation;   i) repeating steps (f) through (h) so long as there is transformation for continued gameplay; and   j) determining a payout according to a predetermined paytable.   
     
     
         76 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 75  wherein said transformation comprises eliminating all game elements subject to transformation. 
     
     
         77 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 75  wherein said game elements include subsets of game elements which have an associative relationship within each subset, and said game methodology requires at least three game elements which have an associative relationship be contiguous in said game matrix for said transformation, and said transformation further comprises:
 eliminating all but a middle game element of said at least contiguous game elements; and changing said middle game element into a “Wild” game element which has the attribute of matching with a plurality of game element subsets. 
 
     
     
         78 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 75  wherein said game elements include subsets of game elements which have an associative relationship within each subset, and said game methodology requires at least two game elements which have an associative relationship be contiguous in said game matrix for said transformation, and said transformation further comprises eliminating all of said at least two contiguous game elements. 
     
     
         79 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 75  wherein said paytable has a structure of payouts for gameplay conditions having a transformation wherein each of said payouts is increased for each repetition through transformation and movement. 
     
     
         80 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 75  wherein said paytable has a structure of payouts based upon a hierarchy of differing subsets of game elements. 
     
     
         81 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 77  wherein said game matrix of game element locations comprises adjoining orthogonal rows and columns which establish said game element locations, and said transformation requires that said contiguous game elements be in a column or in a row. 
     
     
         82 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 78  wherein said game matrix of game element locations comprises adjoining orthogonal rows and columns which establish said game element locations, and said transformation requires that said contiguous game elements be in a column or in a row. 
     
     
         83 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 81  wherein said game matrix has sides, and at least one of said sides is a boundary toward which said movement methodology moves remaining game elements. 
     
     
         84 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 82  wherein said game matrix has sides, and at least one of said sides is a boundary toward which said movement methodology moves remaining game elements. 
     
     
         85 . The method of operating a gaming machine of  claim 75  wherein said game matrix has a boundary toward which said movement methodology moves remaining game elements. 
     
     
         86 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 a game matrix having a plurality of game element locations;   game elements comprised of differing subsets of game elements having a predetermined matching relationship;   a wager registered by a player;   a paytable which provides a reward in view of said outcome determination;   a random assignment of game elements to respective game element location for a first gameplay condition;   a preset game methodology which determines whether any of said randomly assigned game elements in said first gameplay condition comprise a game element subject to transformation; with   a) transformation of said game elements subject to transformation, said transformation including an elimination of all but a one game element of at least two contiguous matching game elements, thereby creating an open space in said matrix at the game element location of said eliminated game element, and changing in at least a plurality of transformations, but not necessarily all transformations; said one game element into a “Wild” game element which has the attribute of matching with a plurality of differing game element subsets;   b) after transformation, determining if a remaining game element can be moved according to a movement methodology designed to fill an open space created, and moving any such remaining game element as permitted by said methodology without adding any game element to fill any remaining open space for a subsequent gameplay condition;   c) determining according to said game methodology whether said game elements in said subsequent gameplay condition are subject to transformation;   d) a repetition of steps (a) through (c) so long as there is transformation for continued gameplay; and   e) determination of an outcome.   
     
     
         87 . The game of  claim 86  wherein said paytable has a structure of payouts for gameplay conditions having a transformation wherein each of said payouts is increased for each repetition through transformation and movement. 
     
     
         88 . The game of  claim 86  wherein said paytable has a structure of payouts based upon a hierarchy of differing subsets of game elements. 
     
     
         89 . The game of  claim 86  further including a bonus, said bonus being evidenced by a plurality of bonus indicia in a predetermined bonus association which are located within said game matrix and at least one of said bonus indicia is in an unachieved mode when said game elements are randomly assigned, said unachieved mode being established by a game element being located on the same game element location as a bonus indicium, said bonus converting to an achieved mode when all of said bonus indicia in a bonus association are no longer located in the same game element location as a game element. 
     
     
         90 . The game of  claim 86  wherein said unachieved mode comprises a game element obscuring a bonus indicium from view, and said achieved mode is all of said bonus indicia in an association are no longer obscured. 
     
     
         91 . The game of  claim 90  wherein said bonus indicia in an association are contiguous in a line on said matrix. 
     
     
         92 . The game of  claim 89  wherein said matrix is comprised of rows and columns, and said bonus indicia in an association are equal in number to game element locations of a respective row or column, wherein said achieved bonus mode constitutes open spaces throughout a respective row and column having said bonus indicia. 
     
     
         93 . A bonus for a gaming machine wherein said gaming machine has a base game with game elements in game element locations and at least some of the game elements are subject to being eliminated in play of the base game, said bonus comprising:
 a plurality of bonus indicia in a predetermined bonus association, said bonus indicia being placed in respective game element locations and at least one of said bonus indicia is in an unachieved mode relative to said game elements, said unachieved mode being established by a game element being located on the same game element location as a bonus indicium, said bonus converting to an achieved mode when all of said bonus indicia in a bonus association are no longer in the same game element location as a game element.   
     
     
         94 . The bonus of  claim 93  wherein said unachieved mode comprises a game element obscuring a bonus indicium from view, and said achieved mode is all of said bonus indicia in an association are no longer obscured. 
     
     
         95 . The bonus of  claim 94  wherein said bonus indicia in an association are contiguous in a line on a matrix of game element locations. 
     
     
         96 . The bonus of  claim 95  wherein said matrix is comprised of rows and columns, and said bonus indicia in an association are equal in number to game element locations of a respective row and column, wherein said achieved bonus mode constitutes open spaces throughout a respective row and column having said bonus indicia.