Gaming machine, networked gaming system and method with a player selection symbol replacement game

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a feature game which may be triggered by the base game to provide an adjustable possible progressive award to the player. The feature game includes a player selectable set of symbols, where the symbols include one or more high and low value incrementing symbols and one or more terminator symbols. When a player selects one of the incrementing symbols, the player's position on a ladder or other graduated sequence of prize values increments to a higher value prize.

1 . A method including:
 (a) receiving one or more play initiation inputs for a base wagering game through a player interface of a gaming machine and, in response to a respective one of the one or more play initiation inputs for the base wagering game, causing a display system of the gaming machine to, under control of a data processing system, display a respective result in the base wagering game for the respective play initiation input;   (b) under control of the data processing system, causing the display system to display a sequence of prize levels with one or more of the prize levels corresponding to a progressive prize;   (c) under control of the data processing system and in response to a triggering event, causing the display system to display a set of player selectable elements each corresponding a respective concealed award, at least one of the awards comprising a change in position along the sequence of prize levels;   (d) under control of the data processing system and in response to receiving a player selection of one of the player selectable elements corresponding to the change in position along the sequence of prize levels, causing the display system to display a description of the respective change in position;   (e) under control of the data processing system, conducting the change in position corresponding to the selected player selectable element, the change in position resulting in a designation of one of the sequence of prize levels; and   (f) under control of the data processing system, making payment to the player by incrementing a credit meter by an amount corresponding to the designated prize level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, after displaying the description of the change in position corresponding to the selected one of the player selectable elements, and before shuffling the player selectable elements in preparation for a further selection by the player, displaying the awards associated with the player selectable elements not selected by the player at step (d) of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a first one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing one prize level in an advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels, a second one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing two prize levels in the advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels, and a third one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing three prize levels in the advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, in response to the player selection and prior to receiving a subsequent player selection of one of the player selectable elements, replacing at least one of the awards with a terminator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  in which the award replaced with the terminator is a highest value award remaining corresponding to any of the player selectable elements after the player selection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sequence of prize levels is displayed on a secondary display device in the display system separate from a first display device in the display system which displays the player selectable elements. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming system including:
 (a) a gaming server including at least one server processor;   (b) one or more electronic gaming machines each including at least one gaming machine processor, a display system, and a player input system, the at least one gaming machine processor being operable to:
 (i) control the respective display system to display a wagering game, the wagering game defining a possible triggering pattern, 
 (ii) control the respective display system to display a sequence of prize levels with one or more of the prize levels corresponding to a progressive prize, 
 (iii) in response to an occurrence of the triggering pattern in the wagering game, control the respective display system to display a set of player selectable elements each corresponding a respective concealed award, at least one of the awards comprising a change in position along the sequence of prize levels, 
 (iv) in response to receiving a player selection of one of the player selectable elements corresponding to the change in position along the sequence of prize levels, control the respective display system to display a description of the change in position and perform the change in position corresponding to the selected player selectable element, the change in position resulting in a designation of one of the sequence of prize levels, and 
 (v) make payment to the player by incrementing a credit meter by an amount corresponding to the designated prize level. 
   
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one gaming machine processor is also operable to, after controlling the display system to display the description of the change in position corresponding to the selected one of the player selectable elements, and before shuffling the player selectable elements in preparation for a further selection by the player, control the display system to display the awards associated with the player selectable elements not selected by the player at element (b)(iv) of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 7  wherein a first one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing one prize level in an advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels, a second one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing two prize levels in the advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels, and a third one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing three prize levels in the advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one processor is further operable to, in response to the player selection and prior to receiving a subsequent player selection of one of the player selectable elements, replace at least one of the awards with a terminator. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 10  wherein the award replaced with the terminator is the highest value award remaining corresponding to any of the player selectable elements after the player selection. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 7  wherein each gaming machine display system includes a secondary display device separate from a first display device, and wherein the sequence of prize levels is displayed on the secondary display device and the player selectable elements are displayed on the first display device. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming machine including:
 (a) a player input system;   (b) a display system; and   (c) at least one processor being operable to:
 (i) control the display system to display a wagering game defining a possible triggering pattern, 
 (ii) control the display system to display a sequence of prize levels with one or more of the prize levels corresponding to a progressive prize, 
 (iii) in response to a triggering event, control the display system to display a set of player selectable elements each corresponding a respective concealed award, at least one of the awards comprising a change in position along the sequence of prize levels, 
 (iv) in response to receiving a player selection of one of the player selectable elements corresponding to the change in position along the sequence of prize levels, control the display system to display a description of the change in position and perform the change in position corresponding to the selected player selectable element, the change in position resulting in a designation of one of the sequence of prize levels, and 
 (v) make payment to the player by incrementing a credit meter by an amount corresponding to the designated prize level. 
   
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein the at least one processor is also operable to, after controlling the display system to display the description of the change in position corresponding to the selected one of the player selectable elements, and before shuffling the player selectable elements in preparation for a further selection by the player, control the display system to display the awards associated with the player selectable elements not selected by the player at element (c)(iv) of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein a first one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing one prize level in an advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels, a second one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing two prize levels in the advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels, and a third one of the awards is a change in position comprising advancing three prize levels in the advancement direction along the sequence of prize levels. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein the at least one processor is further operable to, in response to the player selection and prior to receiving a subsequent player selection of one of the player selectable elements, replace at least one of the awards with a terminator. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming machine of  claim 16  wherein the award replaced with the terminator is the highest value award remaining corresponding to any of the player selectable elements after the player selection. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming machine of  claim 13  wherein each gaming machine display system includes a secondary display device and a separate first display device, and wherein the sequence of prize levels is displayed on the secondary display device and the player selectable elements are displayed on the first display device.