Gaming machine with symbol enhancements based on winning outcomes

摘要

A wagering game in a gaming machine includes symbols that are associated with multiple payoff levels. The symbols may have their payoff levels incremented and decremented based on certain predefined criteria. The criteria may be based on a winning outcome, random selection, the position of the symbols, the configuration of the symbols, and the like. As some symbols have their payoff levels incremented, other symbols have their payoff levels decremented. Each symbol may be graphically rendered in a manner to distinctively indicate the particular payoff level currently assigned to that symbol. In this way, the wagering game maintains a dynamic mix of symbols having different payoff levels and graphical renderings.

主权项

1. A gaming system that automatically changes a payoff level of a symbol, the system comprising:
at least one input device; at least one display device displaying symbols representing an outcome of a wagering game, said symbols including a plurality of instances of a first symbol having a currently assigned one of multiple possible payoff levels; one or more processors; and a memory device that stores instructions which, when executed by at least one of said one or more processors, cause the said one or more processors to operate with said at least one input device and said at least one display device to: accept a wager from a player to initiate said wagering game; display symbols representing said outcome of said wagering game, said outcome being randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a special-event outcome that includes at least two instances of said first symbol; and in response to said randomly selected outcome being said special-event outcome, automatically assign a predetermined next payoff level of said multiple possible payoff levels to said first symbol for a subsequent round of said wagering game.