Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes a wager input device, a display device, and game-logic circuitry. The wager input device receives wagers from players to play the wagering game. The display device displays outcomes of the wagering game via a plurality of symbol-bearing reels each having a plurality of symbol positions occupied by symbols, at least one of the reels having a designated clump area comprising a predetermined number of the symbol positions. Prior to displaying the outcome of the wagering game, the game-logic circuitry randomly determines whether to include a symbol clump in the designated clump area, the symbol clump comprising a plurality of identical symbols occupying adjacent ones of the symbol positions within the designated clump area.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an input device, a display device, a processor, and a memory device. The memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager in response to an input, display a main array of symbol-bearing reels, and to display a plurality of enhanced arrays. The main array includes a plurality of enhanced-array triggers. Each enhanced array includes an enhancement feature and each enhanced array is associated with at least one of the plurality of enhanced-array triggers. The enhanced arrays are spun and evaluated upon display of the associated enhanced-array triggers.

Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one memory device that stores instructions that cause a processor to operate with a display device an input device to display a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game having a first end-game outcome, trigger a first instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game, provide a first number of award opportunities during play of the first instance of the bonus game, complete the first instance of the bonus game in response to the first end-game outcome, store any remaining award opportunities in the at least one memory device in response to the first end-game outcome being achieved with at least one award opportunity remaining, trigger a second instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game, and provide any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming system or gaming device for conducting a wagering game includes a display device, a processor, and a memory device. The memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device to determine an outcome of the wagering game, which is randomly determined from plural available wagering-game outcomes, and display, in an array located at a first position on the display device, symbols indicative of the wagering-game outcome. The processor, in conjunction with the memory device, determines a value associated with the wagering-game outcome. The symbol array is then shown moving from the first position to a second position on the display device. The second position is based on a random determination and/or player input. The value of the wagering-game outcome is modified based upon one or more modifiers achieved due to movement of the array to the second position.

Abstract: A gaming system having an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game including a trail-based game. A display for displaying the trail-based game is also included. The trail-based game includes a plurality of elements along a trail. Each of the plurality of elements has an associated award. In response to a player meeting a predetermined criterion, the player is awarded the associated award for all of the plurality of elements.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes a wager input device, a display, and a controller. The wager input device receives wagers from players to play the wagering game. The display displays outcomes of the wagering game. Prior to displaying the outcome of the wagering game, the controller determines whether to add at least one symbol clump to at least one of a plurality of reels. A symbol clump comprises one or more identical symbols occupying two or more symbol positions located immediately adjacent one another on one reel. In response to a determination to add at least one symbol clump, the controller instructs the display to visually indicate the addition of the symbol clump to the reel, and to display the outcome of the wagering game.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system includes receiving a wager in response to an input via at least one input device. The method also includes displaying, on at least one display device, a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in a display area. The display area includes a plurality of reels with a plurality of symbols forming an array. The plurality of symbols includes at least one special symbol. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a special symbol on adjacent ones of the plurality of reels, the method includes changing the functionality of the special symbols on the adjacent ones of the plurality of reels to create a modified array.

Abstract: A gaming machine and method is disclosed that includes an electronic display, a player input system, a processor in communication with memory configured to store code. The code is configured to accept a wager from a player, initiate the wagering game play, define a trigger symbol, generate and display random symbols arranged in a first array of symbols, determine if a trigger symbol is present in the first array, if a trigger symbol is present in the first array, identify a location of all trigger symbols in the first array and designate the locations as mapped locations, generate a second array of symbols, designating symbols in the second array that are located at the mapped locations as predefined symbols, evaluate the second array for winning outcomes; and providing a monetary award to the player for a winning outcome.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes a wager input device, a display device, and game-logic circuitry. The wager input device receives wagers from players to play the wagering game. The display device displays outcomes of the wagering game via a plurality of symbol-bearing reels each having a plurality of symbol positions occupied by symbols, at least one of the reels having a designated clump area comprising a predetermined number of the symbol positions. Prior to displaying the outcome of the wagering game, the game-logic circuitry randomly determines whether to include a symbol clump in the designated clump area, the symbol clump comprising a plurality of identical symbols occupying adjacent ones of the symbol positions within the designated clump area.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a display for displaying a base game of the wagering game in response to receiving a wager input from a player and a controller coupled to the display. The controller is programmed to randomly increment during game play a bonus-time eligibility counter for a community bonus game, decrement the bonus-time eligibility counter as real time progresses, and render a player eligible to play the community bonus game if the bonus-time eligibility counter is greater than zero when a community bonus game is triggered.

Abstract: Gaming machines and methods of presenting a game on a gaming machine include receiving a monetary value from the player at the gaming machine as credits usable at the gaming machine and presenting a plurality of slot reels on an electronic display, the plurality of slot reels each comprising a plurality of symbols. It is determined whether a split feature is triggered in the wagering game via a random number generator. When the split feature is triggered, one or more of the plurality of slot reels is split into two or more slot reels. An outcome of the symbols is randomized on the plurality of slot reels via the random number generator and the symbols on the slot reels are displayed to spin. The symbols are evaluated on the plurality of slot reels for winning outcomes; and monetary awards are provided to the player for the winning outcomes.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes a wager input device, a display, and a controller. The wager input device receives wagers from players to play the wagering game. The display displays outcomes of the wagering game. Prior to displaying the outcome of the wagering game, the controller determines whether to add at least one symbol clump to at least one of a plurality of reels. A symbol clump comprises one or more identical symbols occupying two or more symbol positions located immediately adjacent one another on one reel. In response to a determination to add at least one symbol clump, the controller instructs the display to visually indicate the addition of the symbol clump to the reel, and to display the outcome of the wagering game.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes a wager input device, a display, and a controller. The wager input device receives wagers from players to play the wagering game. The display displays outcomes of the wagering game. Prior to displaying the outcome of the wagering game, the controller determines whether to add at least one symbol clump to at least one of a plurality of reels. A symbol clump comprises one or more identical symbols occupying two or more symbol positions located immediately adjacent one another on one reel. In response to a determination to add at least one symbol clump, the controller instructs the display to visually indicate the addition of the symbol clump to the reel, and to display the outcome of the wagering game.

Abstract: A method for playing a wagering game allows an opportunity to achieve a progressive award. A wager input is received from a player for playing the wagering game. A triggered progressive game includes player-selectable elements, each of the player-selectable elements being capable of association with a progressive-winning outcome. An outcome is assigned to each of the player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that the outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of the wager input. The player-selectable elements are displayed.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes a wager input device, a display, and a controller. The wager input device receives wagers from players to play the wagering game. The display displays outcomes of the wagering game. Prior to displaying the outcome of the wagering game, the controller determines whether to add at least one symbol clump to at least one of a plurality of reels. A symbol clump comprises one or more identical symbols occupying two or more symbol positions located immediately adjacent one another on one reel. In response to a determination to add at least one symbol clump, the controller instructs the display to visually indicate the addition of the symbol clump to the reel, and to display the outcome of the wagering game.

Abstract: A system includes a community screen configured to display images of a community event thereon. The system includes a number of wagering game machines coupled to the community screen. The system also includes a number of handheld devices, wherein each handheld device has a respective display and is associated with a respective one of the wagering game machines. The system includes an image module configured, for at least one handheld device of the number of handheld devices, to identify a location on the community screen based on a position of the at least one handheld device and to present an image on the display of the at least one handheld device based on the location.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes at least one input device, at least one display device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager for playing the wagering game, and trigger a free-spin event in which a plurality of free spins is awarded. For a first spin, a first number of arrays is randomly determined, displayed, and evaluated to determine whether an award condition is present. For a second spin, a second number of arrays is randomly determined, displayed, and evaluated to determine whether an award condition is present. The second number of arrays is non-equal to the first number of arrays. Any awards associated with each determined award condition are provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a method of conducting a wagering game which includes the steps of conducting a plurality of basic wagering games and enabling a bonus game in response to a bonus triggering outcome achieved in any of the basic wagering games. The method also includes deferring the enabled bonus game to permit play after completion of play of the plurality of basic wagering games.

Abstract: A method for conducting a wagering game via a gaming terminal includes receiving, via an input device, a wager to play the wagering game. An array of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns is displayed, on one or more display devices. At least a portion of a plurality of symbols is visually moved with respect to the array of symbol positions on the one or more display devices. One or more of the plurality of the symbols are special symbols. In response to one or more of the special symbols being visually moved on the one or more display devices, the visually moved special symbols are caused to be visually collected in a symbol collection area adjacent to the array of symbol positions on the one or more display devices.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a credit detector adapted to detect a wager to play a wagering game, one or more displays adapted to display, in response to the wager, a base game and a secondary game, the base game providing a trigger that provides an opportunity to play the secondary game, the secondary game including a plurality of decision points, each decision point requiring a selection of one of a plurality of paths and a controller operative to respond to the selection of the path at the one decision point and provide a next decision point for a subsequent selection of another path, a state of the secondary game remaining persistent during repeated plays of the base game so that selected paths in the secondary game are combined to provide non-linear unlocking of a bonus award.