Gaming system and a method of gaming

Abstract

An example gaming system is disclosed that includes a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a plurality of display position groups, with each display position group including a plurality of display positions. The example system includes an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the displayed symbols define a special winning symbol combination, the special winning symbol combination including a symbol from each of the display position groups. The example system also includes a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize when a special winning symbol combination is displayed. The example system is arranged to progressively replace all symbols in each display position group with a replacement symbol corresponding to a symbol of the special winning symbol combination until the displayed symbols define the special winning symbol combination. A corresponding example method is also disclosed.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a plurality of display position groups, each display position group comprising a plurality of display positions;   an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the displayed symbols define a special winning symbol combination, the special winning symbol combination comprising a symbol from each of the display position groups; and   a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize when a special winning symbol combination is displayed;   the gaming system being arranged to progressively replace all symbols in each display position group with a replacement symbol corresponding to a symbol of the special winning symbol combination until the displayed symbols define the special winning symbol combination.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is arranged to progressively replace the symbols in the display position groups according to a defined sequence. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein each display position group is associated with a reel having a plurality of display positions. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein, for the or each display position group including symbols that have not been replaced with replacement symbols, the selector is arranged to re-select a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols for display. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement symbol is a particular symbol of the special winning combination. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement symbol is a wild symbol usable as a symbol of the special winning combination. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the displayed symbols define a standard winning symbol combination, and the prize allocator is arranged to allocate a prize when a standard winning symbol combination is displayed. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the prize allocator is arranged to allocate a prize in response to display of a standard winning symbol combination after each progressive symbol replacement. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the special winning symbol combination is defined as a run or multiple symbols of the same kind. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein, when multiple special winning combinations are displayed, the prize allocator is arranged to allocate a prize for each displayed special winning symbol combination. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system is operable in base game mode or special game mode, wherein:
 in base game mode, the gaming system implements a base game; and   in special game mode, the gaming system is arranged to progressively replace all symbols in each display position group with a replacement symbol corresponding to a symbol of the special winning symbol combination until the displayed symbols define the special winning symbol combination.   
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode when a trigger condition occurs. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to commence special game mode in response to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a special game is purchased by a player. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the trigger condition is display of a particular symbol, or display of a defined symbol combination. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the allocated prize is based on how many symbol replacement progressions have occurred. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the allocated prize is determined according to the last symbol replacement progression that causes a special winning symbol combination to be defined. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the allocated prize decreases as the number of symbol replacement progressions increases. 
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a game, the method comprising:
 selecting a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols;   displaying the selected symbols in a plurality of display position groups, each display position group comprising a plurality of display positions;   evaluating whether the displayed symbols define a special winning symbol combination, the special winning symbol combination comprising a symbol from each of the display position groups;   progressively replacing all symbols in each display position group with a replacement symbol corresponding to a symbol of the special winning symbol combination until the displayed symbols define the special winning symbol combination; and   allocating a prize when a special winning symbol combination is displayed.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising progressively replacing the symbols in the display position groups according to a defined sequence. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising associating each display position group with a reel having a plurality of display positions. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein, for the or each display position group including symbols that have not been replaced with replacement symbols, the method comprises re-selecting a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols for display. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the replacement symbol is a particular symbol of the special winning combination. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the replacement symbol is a wild symbol usable as a symbol of the special winning combination. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining whether the displayed symbols define a standard winning symbol combination, and allocating a prize when a standard winning symbol combination is displayed. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising allocating a prize in response to display of a standard winning symbol combination after each progressive symbol replacement. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the special winning symbol combination is defined as a run or multiple symbols of the same kind. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising allocating a prize for each displayed special winning symbol combination when multiple special winning combinations are displayed. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a base game mode wherein a base game is implemented, and a special game mode wherein all symbols in each display position group are progressively replaced with a replacement symbol corresponding to a symbol of the special winning symbol combination until the displayed symbols define the special winning symbol combination. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising a special game mode when a trigger condition occurs. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising commencing a special game mode in response to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a special game is purchased by a player. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the trigger condition is display of a particular symbol, or display of a defined symbol combination. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising allocating a prize based on how many symbol replacement progressions have occurred. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining a prize to be allocated according to the last symbol replacement progression that causes a special winning symbol combination to be defined. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the allocated prize decreases as the number of symbol replacement progressions increases. 
     
     
         35 . A computer readable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to implement a gaming system, the gaming system comprising:
 a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a plurality of display position groups, each display position group comprising a plurality of display positions;   an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the displayed symbols define a special winning symbol combination, the special winning symbol combination comprising a symbol from each of the display position groups; and   a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize when a special winning symbol combination is displayed;   the gaming system being arranged to progressively replace all symbols in each display position group with a replacement symbol corresponding to a symbol of the special winning symbol combination until the displayed symbols define the special winning symbol combination.