Wagering game with player activated special function which simulates predicting the game outcome

Abstract

A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more special function zones which allow player interaction in a manner that simulates a good luck charm predicting the future game outcome. A preferred version provides a slot machine game with a special function zone beside the reels presented as a selectable “good luck charm,” which is seen in certain circumstances to predict the outcome of a reel spin. If the player touches the charm at any time, it animates with a first animation. There is a second, different animation that the charm can do while the reels are spinning This second animation foreshadows a reel stop which will hit a designated high-value outcome.

1 . A method for providing a wagering game including:
 (a) controlling a touch sensitive gaming display with one or more electronic processors, the gaming display including a first gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations which are updated to provide results of the game, the gaming display further comprising a second special function zone outside of the first gaming zone;   (b) receiving a player touch input in the special function zone and, in response, displaying a first animation sequence in the special function zone;   (c) receiving a player game activation and, in response, beginning an animated display in the first gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;   (d) while conducting the animated display in the first gaming zone, displaying a second animation sequence in the special function zone if the following conditions are met:
 (i) if a measured time between the player touch input in the special function zone and the player game activation is within a predetermined limit; and 
 (ii) if the outcome, which is already determined, of the game play being shown in the first gaming zone is going to be a designated high-value win outcome; 
   (e) after displaying the second animation sequence, stopping the animated display in the first gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations; and   (f) paying an award if the game result is a winning game outcome.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, in addition to meeting conditions (i) and (ii), making a further random determination as to whether the second animation sequence will be shown in the special function zone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising playing a sound along with displaying the second animation sequence, the sound chosen to foreshadow the designated high-value win outcome. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the matrix of symbol locations is a matrix of simulated slot machine reel symbol locations, and the animated display in the first gaming zone simulates spinning and stopping of simulated slot machine reels, and the second animation sequence is begun after or as the simulated slot machine reels are shown to be spinning. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the matrix of symbol locations is a matrix of simulated slot machine reel symbol locations, and the animated display in the first gaming zone simulates spinning and stopping of simulated slot machine reels, and the second animation sequence is ended before the simulated slot machine reels are shown to stop spinning. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a player option to choose an active wild symbol, and wherein the second animation sequence is selected based on the active wild symbol. 
     
     
         7 . A program product embodied in one or more tangible computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:
 (a) controlling a touch sensitive gaming display with one or more electronic processors, the gaming display including a first gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations which are updated to provide results of the game, the gaming display further comprising a second special function zone outside of the first gaming zone;   (b) receiving a player touch input in the special function zone and, in response, displaying a first animation sequence in the special function zone;   (c) receiving a player game activation and, in response, beginning an animated display in the first gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;   (d) while conducting the animated display in the first gaming zone, displaying a second animation sequence in the special function zone if the following conditions are met:
 (i) if a measured time between the player touch input in the special function zone and the player game activation is within a predetermined limit; and 
 (ii) if the outcome, which is already determined, of the game play being shown in the first gaming zone is going to be a designated high-value win outcome; 
   (e) after displaying the second animation sequence, stopping the animated display in the first gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations; and   (f) paying an award if the game result is a winning game outcome.   
     
     
         8 . The program product of  claim 7 , further for, in addition to meeting conditions (i) and (ii), making a further random determination as to whether the second animation sequence will be shown in the special function zone. 
     
     
         9 . The program product of  claim 7 , further for controlling the gaming machine to play a sound along with displaying the second animation sequence, the sound chosen to foreshadow the designated high-value win outcome. 
     
     
         10 . The program product of  claim 7 , in which the matrix of symbol locations is a matrix of simulated slot machine reel symbol locations, and the animated display in the first gaming zone simulates spinning and stopping of simulated slot machine reels, and the second animation sequence is begun after or as the simulated slot machine reels are shown to be spinning. 
     
     
         11 . The program product of  claim 7 , in which the matrix of symbol locations is a matrix of simulated slot machine reel symbol locations, and the animated display in the first gaming zone simulates spinning and stopping of simulated slot machine reels, and the second animation sequence is ended before the simulated slot machine reels are shown to stop spinning. 
     
     
         12 . The program product of  claim 7 , further for providing a player option to choose an active wild symbol, and wherein the second animation sequence is selected based on the active wild symbol. 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a wagering game including:
 (a) controlling a touch sensitive gaming display with one or more electronic processors, the gaming display including a first gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations which are updated to provide results of the game, the gaming display further comprising a second special function zone outside of the first gaming zone;   (b) making the special function zone available to receive a player touch input in the special function zone and, if such input is received, displaying a first animation sequence in the special function zone in response;   (c) receiving a player game activation and, in response, beginning an animated display in the first gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;   (d) while conducting the animated display in the first gaming zone, displaying a second animation sequence in the special function zone if the outcome, which is already determined, of the game play being shown in the first gaming zone is going to be a designated high-value win outcome;   (e) after displaying the second animation sequence, stopping the animated display in the first gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations; and   (f) paying an award if the game result is a winning game outcome.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising making a further random determination as to whether the second animation sequence will be shown in the special function zone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising playing a sound along with displaying the second animation sequence, the sound chosen to foreshadow the designated high-value win outcome. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the matrix of symbol locations is a matrix of simulated slot machine reel symbol locations, and the animated display in the first gaming zone simulates spinning and stopping of simulated slot machine reels, and the second animation sequence is begun after or as the simulated slot machine reels are shown to be spinning 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the matrix of symbol locations is a matrix of simulated slot machine reel symbol locations, and the animated display in the first gaming zone simulates spinning and stopping of simulated slot machine reels, and the second animation sequence is ended before the simulated slot machine reels are shown to stop spinning 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a player option to choose an active wild symbol, and wherein the second animation sequence is selected based on the active wild symbol.