Gaming device having a designated activator symbol therein and method thereof

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a slot machine gaming device providing players additional opportunities to obtain awards in a game. In one embodiment, a game comprises: a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions; a first plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on the reel, the first plurality of symbols comprising at least one predetermined activator symbol; a second plurality of symbols activated by the activator symbol, the second plurality of symbols replacing a subset of the first plurality of symbols, the second plurality of symbols comprising a plurality of replicator symbols, wherein each replicator symbol includes at least two of the same symbols at one of the symbol positions; at least one predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations; and an award associated with the predetermined winning symbol combination.

主权项

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) causing at least one processor to operate with a display device to display a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions and each symbol position including at least one of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including at least one bonus activator symbol; and (b) for a play of a game:
(i) causing the at least one processor to operate with the display device to activate the plurality of reels and display a plurality of the plurality of symbols on the reels;(ii) if the displayed symbols of the plurality of symbols form a predetermined winning symbol combination, causing the at least one processor to activate a bonus round including a plurality of free spins; and(iii) for the bonus round:
(a) during a first free spin, causing the at least one processor to operate with the display device to display a wild symbol;(b) for each of at least one free spin following the first free spin, causing the at least one processor to lock the wild symbol in place; and(c) for a second free spin subsequent to the first free spin, causing the at least one processor to operate with the display device to replace the wild symbol with a replicator symbol including two wild symbols at the symbol position.