Gaming system, method, and program product for controlling near miss outcomes in a wagering game

Abstract

A game symbol matrix, such as a symbol matrix produced in a reel-type game, may be modified to provide the player with an additional chance for certain types of winning symbol combinations. In particular, a first game symbol matrix which may be produced in a wagering game may be evaluated to detect if the game symbol matrix is close to, for example, a high value win. If so, one or more symbol locations may be repopulated with a respective game symbol to provide the player with another chance at achieving the high value win.

1 . A method for a wagering game, the method including:
 (a) producing a first game symbol matrix by populating each respective symbol location of a symbol location matrix with a respective game symbol selected from one or more game symbol sets;   (b) evaluating the first game symbol matrix to detect the presence of a modification condition in the first game symbol matrix, the modification condition comprising a condition in which the replacement of a respective game symbol in one or more detected symbol locations has the potential to produce a win in the wagering game at least at a threshold win level according to a pay table of winning symbol combinations for the wagering game;   (c) in response to the detection of the modification condition, repopulating each detected symbol location with a respective game symbol selected from one of the one or more game symbol sets, to produce a second game symbol matrix;   (d) evaluating the second game symbol matrix for the presence of any winning symbol combinations defined in the pay table of winning symbol combinations; and   (e) awarding a prize for each winning symbol combination defined through the second game symbol matrix, for each winning symbol combination defined through the first game symbol matrix, or for each winning symbol combination defined through both the first game symbol matrix and the second game symbol matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes a matrix of two or more rows of symbol locations and two or more columns of symbol locations; 
 (b) the modification condition comprises a condition in which the replacement of a respective game symbol at each symbol location in one of the columns of symbol locations has the potential to produce a win in the wagering game at least at the threshold win level; and 
 (c) further including in response to the detection of the modification condition, repopulating the detected symbol location at each symbol location of the one of the columns of symbol locations with a respective game symbol selected from one of the one or more game symbol sets. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein populating at least one symbol location of the symbol location matrix includes spinning a video-generated or mechanical reel and then bringing the video-generated or mechanical reel to a stop to show the respective game symbol for the at least one symbol location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the threshold win level comprises a prize at least at a predefined prize value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modification condition further includes the absence of a winning game symbol combination in the first game symbol matrix and wherein evaluating the first game symbol matrix to detect the presence of the modification condition in the first game symbol matrix includes determining if the first game symbol matrix includes any winning symbol combinations defined in the pay table of winning symbol combinations. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes a single row of symbol locations, and there is a single detected symbol location comprising a symbol location at a position along the single row of symbol locations, such position being defined prior to producing the first game symbol matrix; or 
 (b) the symbol location matrix includes a matrix of two or more rows of symbol locations and two or more columns of symbol locations, and wherein each detected symbol location is included at a respective symbol location of a respective column of symbol locations, the column being defined prior to producing the first game symbol matrix. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes three or more columns of one or more symbol locations; and 
 (b) when the replacement of either one of two or more respective symbol locations each has the potential to produce a respective threshold winning game symbol combination, applying a tiebreaker rule to identify which of the two or more respective symbol locations to define as a detected symbol location. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the symbol location matrix comprises a one-dimensional matrix and wherein each of the one or more game symbol sets comprises a deck of playing card representations. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming machine including:
 (a) a display system;   (b) a player input system;   (c) at least one processor; and   (d) at least one memory device storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
 (i) cause the display system to display populating each respective symbol location of a symbol location matrix with a respective game symbol selected from one or more game symbol sets, the populated symbol location matrix comprising a first game symbol matrix; 
 (ii) evaluate the first game symbol matrix to detect the presence of a modification condition in the first game symbol matrix, the modification condition comprising a condition in which the replacement of a respective game symbol in one or more detected symbol locations has the potential to produce a win in a wagering game at least at a threshold win level according to a pay table of winning symbol combinations for the wagering game; 
 (iii) in response to the detection of the modification condition, cause the display system to display repopulating each detected symbol location with a respective game symbol selected from one of the one or more game symbol sets, to produce a second game symbol matrix; 
 (iv) evaluate the second game symbol matrix for the presence of any winning symbol combinations defined in the pay table of winning symbol combinations; and 
 (v) award a prize for each winning symbol combination defined through the second game symbol matrix, for each winning symbol combination defined through the first game symbol matrix, or for each winning symbol combination defined through both the first game symbol matrix and the second game symbol matrix. 
   
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes a matrix of two or more rows of symbol locations and two or more columns of symbol locations; 
 (b) the modification condition comprises a condition in which the replacement of a respective game symbol at each symbol location in one of the columns of symbol locations has the potential to produce a win in the wagering game at least at the threshold win level; and 
 (c) the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to, in response to the detection of the modification condition, cause the display system to display repopulating the detected symbol location at each symbol location of the one of the columns of symbol locations with a respective game symbol selected from one of the one or more game symbol sets. 
 
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the threshold win level comprises a prize at least at a predefined prize value. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the modification condition further includes the absence of a winning game symbol combination in the first game symbol matrix; and 
 (b) the evaluation of the first game symbol matrix to detect the presence of the modification condition in the first game symbol matrix includes determining if the first game symbol matrix includes any winning symbol combinations defined in the pay table of winning symbol combinations. 
 
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes a single row of symbol locations, and there is a single detected symbol location comprising a symbol location at a position along the single row of symbol locations, such position being defined prior to producing the first game symbol matrix; or 
 (b) the symbol location matrix includes a matrix of two or more rows of symbol locations and two or more columns of symbol locations, and wherein each detected symbol location is included at a respective symbol location of a respective column of symbol locations, the column being defined prior to producing the first game symbol matrix. 
 
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes three or more columns of one or more symbol locations; and 
 (b) the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to, when the replacement of either one of two or more respective symbol locations each has the potential to produce a respective threshold winning game symbol combination, apply a tiebreaker rule to identify which of the two or more respective symbol locations to define as a respective detected symbol location. 
 
     
     
         15 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the symbol location matrix comprises a one-dimensional matrix and wherein each of the one or more game symbol sets comprises a deck of playing card representations. 
     
     
         16 . A program product stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable data storage devices, the program product including:
 (a) player input program code executable by at least one processor to receive a game play input entered through a player input system of a gaming machine;   (b) display and evaluation program code executable by the at least one processor to
 (i) cause a display system of the gaming machine to display populating each respective symbol location of a symbol location matrix with a respective game symbol selected from one or more game symbol sets, the populated symbol location matrix comprising a first game symbol matrix; 
 (ii) evaluate the first game symbol matrix to detect the presence of a modification condition in the first game symbol matrix, the modification condition comprising a condition in which the replacement of a respective game symbol in one or more detected symbol locations has the potential to produce a win in a wagering game at least at a threshold win level according to a pay table of winning symbol combinations for the wagering game; 
 (iii) in response to the detection of the modification condition, cause the display system to display repopulating each detected symbol location with a respective game symbol selected from one of the one or more game symbol sets, to produce a second game symbol matrix; and 
 (iv) evaluate the second game symbol matrix for the presence of any winning symbol combinations defined in the pay table of winning symbol combinations; and 
   (c) payout program code executable by the at least one processor to award a prize for each winning symbol combination defined through the second game symbol matrix, for each winning symbol combination defined through the first game symbol matrix, or for each winning symbol combination defined through both the first game symbol matrix and the second game symbol matrix.   
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes a matrix of two or more rows of symbol locations and two or more columns of symbol locations; 
 (b) the modification condition comprises a condition in which the replacement of a respective game symbol at each symbol location in one of the columns of symbol locations has the potential to produce a win in the wagering game at least at the threshold win level; and 
 (c) the display and evaluation program code is executable by the at least one processor to, in response to the detection of the modification condition, cause the display system to display repopulating the detected symbol location at each symbol location of the one of the columns of symbol locations with a respective game symbol selected from one of the one or more game symbol sets. 
 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the modification condition further includes the absence of a winning game symbol combination in the first game symbol matrix; and 
 (b) the evaluation of the first game symbol matrix to detect the presence of the modification condition in the first game symbol matrix includes determining if the first game symbol matrix includes any winning symbol combinations defined in the pay table of winning symbol combinations. 
 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein:
 (a) the symbol location matrix includes three or more columns of one or more symbol locations; and 
 (b) the display and evaluation program code is also executable by the at least one processor to, when the replacement of either one of two or more respective symbol locations each has the potential to produce a respective threshold winning game symbol combination, apply a tiebreaker rule to identify which of the two or more respective symbol locations to define as a respective detected symbol location. 
 
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the symbol location matrix comprises a one-dimensional matrix and wherein each of the one or more game symbol sets comprises a deck of playing card representations.