Slot machine game with enhanced wild symbol features

Abstract

A game is provided including a special wild symbol that applies a transformation field to other symbols around it. The effect of this transformation field is to change the symbols into wild symbols. Multiple transformation fields may overlap, increasing the value of the transformed symbol in certain designated ways. Rules are provided for applying the transformation field in certain directions with respect to the special wild symbol with which it is associated.

1 . A method of providing a wagering game for a player on an electronic gaming machine controlled by a processor and having an electronic display, the method comprising the following performed under control of the processor:
 (a) receiving a wager input from the player;   (b) receiving a play input from the player;   (c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations on the electronic display including a plurality of symbol locations;   (d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;   (e) the symbol elements including a special wild symbol having a fixed-size transformation field associated with it;   (f) the special wild symbol causing symbols in the fixed-size transformation field adjacent to the special wild symbol to receive a wild status according to a dynamic conditional rule for determining the placement of the fixed-size transformation field;   (g) the transformation field being applied in a non-symmetric multidirectional fashion;   (h) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and   (i) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein multiple transformation fields of multiple special wild symbols overlap one or more symbol locations in the matrix causing symbols in the one or more locations to have additional wild values. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein any bonus symbols located in the transformation field of the special wild symbol retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status. 
     
     
         4 . A system for providing a wagering game for a player, the system comprising an electronic gaming machine interacting with at least one server, the system programmed for:
 (a) receiving a wager input from the player;   (b) receiving a play input from the player;   (c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations;   (d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;   (e) the symbol elements including a special wild symbol having a fixed-size transformation field associated with it;   (f) the special wild symbol causing symbols in the fixed-size transformation field adjacent to the special wild symbol to receive a wild status according to a dynamic conditional rule for determining the placement of the fixed-size transformation field;   (g) the transformation field being applied in a non-symmetric multidirectional fashion;   (h) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and   (i) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein multiple transformation fields of multiple special wild symbols overlap one or more symbol locations in the matrix causing symbols in the one or more locations to have additional wild values. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein any bonus symbols located in the transformation field of the special wild symbol retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status. 
     
     
         7 . A program product embodied in one or more tangible non-transitory computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:
 (a) receiving a wager input from the player;   (b) receiving a play input from the player;   (c) displaying a matrix of symbol locations including a plurality of symbol locations;   (d) displaying a number of symbols at selected symbol locations in the matrix, the symbol type indicative of elements in the matrix that are made available to be used in forming patterns according to rules of the wagering game;   (e) the symbol elements including a special wild symbol having a fixed-size transformation field associated with it;   (f) the special wild symbol causing symbols in the fixed-size transformation field adjacent to the special wild symbol to receive a wild status according to a dynamic conditional rule for determining the placement of the fixed-size transformation field;   (g) the transformation field being applied in a non-symmetric multidirectional fashion;   (h) after performing (f), evaluating the matrix for presence of one or more winning patterns formed by the symbols; and   (i) in response to finding a winning pattern, awarding a wager win result to the player.   
     
     
         8 . The program product of  claim 7 , wherein multiple transformation fields of multiple special wild symbols overlap one or more symbol locations in the matrix causing symbols in the one or more locations to have additional wild values. 
     
     
         9 . The program product of  claim 7 , wherein any bonus symbols located in the transformation field of the special wild symbol retains its bonus value in addition to the wild status. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  in which the dynamic conditional rule positions the fixed-size transformation field downward from the special wild symbol if the special wild symbol is in the upper half of the array, but positions the fixed-size transformation field upward from the special wild symbol if the symbol is in the lower half of the array. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4  in which the dynamic conditional rule positions the fixed-size transformation field downward from the special wild symbol if the special wild symbol is in the upper half of the array, but positions the fixed-size transformation field upward from the special wild symbol if the symbol is in the lower half of the array. 
     
     
         12 . The program product of  claim 7  in which the dynamic conditional rule positions the fixed-size transformation field downward from the special wild symbol if the special wild symbol is in the upper half of the array, but positions the fixed-size transformation field upward from the special wild symbol if the symbol is in the lower half of the array.