Wagering game with player selection features

Abstract

A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more mode selection zones presented as a selectable “good luck charm,” which, when selected by the player, can change various aspects of the game including the game theme, special animations, bonus functionality, and paytables. In some embodiments, more options of selectable theme symbols are awarded or made available persistently as the player continues to play.

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 mode selection zone outside of the first gaming zone;   (b) receiving a first player game activation and, in response, animating the first gaming zone to show a first game result in the symbol locations, the game result including a first theme symbol and a second theme symbol, with the first theme symbol taking on a designated special function and the second theme symbol not having the designated special function;   (c) after (b), receiving a player touch input in the mode selection zone indicating a choice of a second theme symbol from a displayed set of choices, and, in response, (i) displaying a first animation sequence in the first gaming zone indicating a change of graphic theme in the first gaming zone, and (ii) de-activating the designated special function of the first theme symbol in the game, and (iii) activating a designated special function for the second theme symbol in the game;   (d) after (c), receiving a player game activation and, in response, animating the first gaming zone to show a second game result in the symbol locations, the second game result including the first theme symbol and the second theme symbol, with the second theme symbol expressing its activated special function in the game;   (e) paying an award if the second game result is a winning game outcome; and   (f) making the new graphic theme in the first gaming zone and the activated special function of the second theme symbol active persistently across multiple wagered plays of the game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing a chance to accumulate additional theme symbols for inclusion in the mode selection zone, the additional theme symbols being assigned to a player as part of a bonus round of the game, the additional theme symbols being made persistently available across multiple wagered plays of the game. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a second screen bonus round having a varied function depending on which theme symbol is currently selected by the player in the mode selection zone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which making the graphic theme in the first gaming zone and the activated special function of the second theme symbol active persistently across multiple wagered plays of the game further comprises making the graphic theme active persistently until the player chooses another theme symbol in the mode selection zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  in which the mode selection zone is made active for player selections only after designated outcomes of the game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  in which the change of graphic theme in the first gaming zone is further accompanied by activating a change of game paytable from a first paytable to a second paytable associated with the new graphic theme, the second paytable having at least one entry different from the first paytable. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  in which the change of graphic theme also changes an available special function zone animation which is shown to predict a particular outcome of simulated reels stopping before they actually stop. 
     
     
         8 . 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 mode selection zone outside of the first gaming zone;   (b) receiving a first player game activation and, in response, animating the first gaming zone to show a first game result in the symbol locations, the game result including a first theme symbol and a second theme symbol, with the first theme symbol taking on a designated special function and the second theme symbol not having the designated special function;   (c) after (b), receiving a player touch input in the mode selection zone indicating a choice of a second theme symbol from a displayed set of choices, and, in response, (i) displaying a first animation sequence in the first gaming zone indicating a change of graphic theme in the first gaming zone, and (ii) de-activating the designated special function of the first theme symbol in the game, and (iii) activating a designated special function for the second theme symbol in the game;   (d) after (c), receiving a player game activation and, in response, animating the first gaming zone to show a second game result in the symbol locations, the second game result including the first theme symbol and the second theme symbol, with the second theme symbol expressing its activated special function in the game;   (e) paying an award if the second game result is a winning game outcome; and   (f) making the new graphic theme in the first gaming zone and the activated special function of the second theme symbol active persistently across multiple wagered plays of the game.   
     
     
         9 . The program product of  claim 8 , further for providing a chance to accumulate additional theme symbols for inclusion in the mode selection zone, the additional theme symbols being assigned to a player as part of a bonus round of the game, the additional theme symbols being made persistently available across multiple wagered plays of the game. 
     
     
         10 . The program product of  claim 8 , further for providing a second screen bonus round having a varied function depending on which theme symbol is currently selected by the player in the mode selection zone. 
     
     
         11 . The program product of  claim 8 , in which making the graphic theme in the first gaming zone and the activated special function of the second theme symbol active persistently across multiple wagered plays of the game further comprises making the graphic theme active persistently until the player chooses another theme symbol in the mode selection zone. 
     
     
         12 . The program product of  claim 8 , in which the mode selection zone is made active for player selections only after designated outcomes of the game. 
     
     
         13 . The program product of  claim 8 , in which the change of graphic theme in the first gaming zone is further accompanied by activating a change of game paytable from a first paytable to a second paytable associated with the new graphic theme, the second paytable having at least one entry different from the first paytable. 
     
     
         14 . The program product of  claim 8 , in which the change of graphic theme also changes an available special function zone animation which is shown to predict a particular outcome of simulated reels stopping before they actually stop.