Wagering game with left-to-right variable prize arrangement

Abstract

A wagering game, gaming machine, gaming network, and associated methods are disclosed including scatter symbols, and more specifically a left-to-right scatter feature having variable increasing payouts associated with each symbol. The symbols in the left-to-right scatter may interact visually in a sequential manner according to a theme.

1 . A method of providing a wagering game, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a game play request with an associated wager, at a gaming machine;   (b) displaying a matrix of symbol locations on a display device at the gaming machine;   (c) rearranging the symbol locations;   (d) after rearranging the symbol locations, determining the presence of a left-to-right scatter pattern comprising multiple occurrences of a designated symbol or symbols;   (e) in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a first symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a first prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;   (f) after (e), selecting a variable prize out of the first prize range and awarding it to a player;   (g) in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a second symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a second prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;   (h) after (g), selecting a variable prize out of the second prize range and awarding it to the player.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including repeating steps (g)-(h) for a third symbol of the scatter pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (f) and (h) both include randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a prize from a paytable associated with the respective prize range. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (f) and (h) both include selecting a prize from the paytable associated with a respective prize range at least in part based on a target prize value associated with a prize amount previously selected for the game play request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, for each symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern, displaying an animated visual sequence associated with selecting and awarding the respective variable prize to the player. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with a previous symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with a subsequent symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each time a prize range is determined, it is determined according to an ordinal level of the respective symbol in the scatter pattern. 
     
     
         9 . A system for providing a wagering game, the system comprising:
 (a) a player interface adapted for receiving a game play request with an associated wager at a gaming machine;   (b) a video display device adapted for, at some point after the game play request and in response to the game play request, displaying a matrix of symbol locations comprised of multiple reels each including one or more symbol locations;   (c) a game controller adapted for determining game play results in a random or pseudo-random manner and displaying the game results by updating the symbol locations;   (d) the game controller further adapted for, after rearranging the symbol locations, determining the presence of a left-to-right scatter pattern comprising multiple occurrences of a designated symbol or symbols;   (e) the game controller further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a first symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a first prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;   (f) after (e), selecting a variable prize out of the first prize range and awarding it to a player;   (g) the game controller further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a second symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a second prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;   (h) the game controller further adapted for, after (g), selecting a variable prize out of the second prize range and awarding it to the player.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the game controller is further adapted for repeating steps (g)-(h) for a third symbol of the scatter pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein (f) and (h) both include randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a prize from a paytable associated with the respective prize range. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein (f) and (h) both include selecting a prize from the paytable associated with a respective prize range at least in part based on a target prize value associated with a prize amount previously selected for the game play request. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the game controller is further adapted to, for each symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern, display an animated visual sequence associated with selecting and awarding the respective variable prize to the player. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with another symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern. 
     
     
         15 . A program product stored on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium, the program product including:
 (a) player interface program code adapted for receiving a game play request with an associated wager at a gaming machine;   (b) video display program code adapted for, at some point after the game play request and in response to the game play request, displaying a matrix of symbol locations comprised of multiple reels each including one or more symbol locations;   (c) a game controller program code adapted for determining game play results in a random or pseudo-random manner and displaying the game results by updating the symbol locations;   (d) the game controller program code further adapted for, after rearranging the symbol locations, determining the presence of a left-to-right scatter pattern comprising multiple occurrences of a designated symbol or symbols;   (e) the game controller program code further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a first symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a first prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;   (f) after (e), selecting a variable prize out of the first prize range and awarding it to a player;   (g) the game controller program code further adapted for, in response to determining the presence in paragraph (d), determining a second symbol of the scatter pattern and determining a second prize range in which to provide a prize associated with the symbol;   (h) the game controller program code further adapted for, after (g), selecting a variable prize out of the second prize range and awarding it to the player.   
     
     
         16 . The program product of  claim 15 , wherein the game controller program code is further adapted for repeating steps (g)-(h) for a third symbol of the scatter pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 15 , wherein (f) and (h) both include randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a prize from a paytable associated with the respective prize range. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 15 , wherein (f) and (h) both include selecting a prize from the paytable associated with a respective prize range at least in part based on a target prize value associated with a prize amount previously selected for the game play request. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 15 , wherein the game controller program code is further adapted to, for each symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern, display an animated visual sequence associated with selecting and awarding the respective variable prize to the player. 
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 19 , wherein the animated visual sequence for at least one of the symbols in the left-to-right scatter pattern includes displaying an interaction with another symbol in the left-to-right scatter pattern.