Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for in-store preview of a online jewelry item. The jewelry item and a local provider are selected. Payment to secure the in-store preview is submitted. An indication that the jewelry item is available for preview is sent to the buyer.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for virtual online jewelry sales in secondary markets.

Abstract: A wagering game is provided including an advancing target elimination game, which may be a base or bonus game. In this game, targets are shown to be advancing toward an objective, and the player is given selectable indicia with which to stop the targets. Each pick election may eliminate (or partially damage) a certain number and/or pattern of targets, with a credit value being awarded for each enemy eliminated. The bonus is played by taking turns between a phase of enemy target appearance and movement and a phase of player pick for enemy target elimination. These two phases alternate until an end-bonus condition is achieved.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a bonus currency game is operable simultaneously with the primary game. When a player initiates play of the primary game, the bonus currency game is initiated as well. The bonus currency game includes a set of target symbols which have corresponding bonus currency values such that, when a target symbol is activated, such as by a random or quasi-random determination, the bonus currency value associated with the target symbol is awarded to the player. After a player accumulates bonus currency, the player may utilize the currency to purchase various available online items, such as game plays in an arcade.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more additional payline awards made through special symbols appearing in the game. The number of additional paylines is determined based at least on the special symbol present. A preferred version provides a slot machine game with a payline meter zone on a dedicated display or beside the reels which emphasizes to the player the amount of additional paylines provided and their application in the prize award.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display.

Abstract: Gaming systems and methods provide a tournament game which selectively awards an enhanced tournament play result. The enhanced tournament play result may be of variable value which is selected for the given instance in order to place the receiving tournament player in some predetermined rank in the tournament. Such a variable enhanced tournament play result in the tournament game may be used to help keep all participants interested in the tournament, even those participants who trail the tournament leaders by a wide margin.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides a player-selectable base game and a player-selectable side game, both of which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The selected base game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the selected side game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary or an alternate display. The potential prizes may be stand-alone as with a prize table or networked as with a prize pool having fixed or progressive prizes.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed including a game feature with one or more symbol selection gamepieces, preferably presented as a graphical “Eye of the Pharaoh,” which, when activated, causes a moving graphical effect to sequentially select various symbols in the gaming array. An interactive player input or a timeout may end the sequential selections, after which the symbol selection gamepiece selects a final selected symbol, on which is based a special award. Perceived-skill and actual-skill versions are disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing game players an exciting chance to win any of multiple progressive prizes within a free spin bonus round by accumulating different prize segment symbols which are displayed in a meter zone for each possible progressive prize. Various ways are described to add free spins to the bonus round, making it more exciting by giving the player increased chance to fill all the segments associated with a particular progressive prize, thereby winning the prize.

Abstract: A method provides a secondary game for controlling free plays awarded in a wagering game conducted through a gaming machine. Once results are displayed for a number of free plays awarded in the wagering game, a secondary game is conducted and the outcome of the secondary game may award additional free plays. Once results for the additional free plays are displayed, the secondary game is conducted again and the outcome of the secondary game may award yet more free plays. Each instance of the secondary game may include a result that does not trigger additional free plays and thus may end the play sequence at the gaming machine.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display.

Abstract: A method provides a secondary game for controlling free plays awarded in a wagering game conducted through a gaming machine. Once results are displayed for a number of free plays awarded in the wagering game, a secondary game is conducted and the outcome of the secondary game may award additional free plays. Once results for the additional free plays are displayed, the secondary game is conducted again and the outcome of the secondary game may award yet more free plays. Each instance of the secondary game may include a result that does not trigger additional free plays and thus may end the play sequence at the gaming machine.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and program products are taught which provide a slot machine game that increases the size of the symbol array as a mystery feature. As the player spins the reels, the number of positions available on each reel grows randomly to allow more paylines. Other embodiments may include free spin bonuses, as well as bonus features that further increase the number of positions on each reel, and adjust the probability of reel expansions based on the current array size.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed including a game feature with one or more symbol selection gamepieces, preferably presented as a graphical “Eye of the Pharaoh,” which, when activated, causes a moving graphical effect to sequentially select various symbols in the gaming array. An interactive player input or a timeout may end the sequential selections, after which the symbol selection gamepiece selects a final selected symbol, on which is based a special award. Perceived-skill and actual-skill versions are disclosed.

Abstract: Multiple different game symbol weighting sets are defined for selection in a given play of a reel-type game. Each game symbol weighting set defines a probability of each reel strip in the reel-type game landing at each particular stop position for that reel strip. By providing multiple different game symbol weighting sets, certain game symbols such as special themed game symbols may be favored for one or more plays of the game to increase the chance of hitting winning symbol combinations using that game symbol.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing a free-spin bonus game, wherein the player's streaks of consecutive winning free spins are tracked throughout the bonus, with bonus enhancements or awards for achieving streaks of specified lengths. Some embodiments award additional free spins for win streaks. Other versions provide different numbers of additional spins awarded for each number of consecutive winning spins. Other embodiments provide different bonus features as an award for winning streaks, including credit prizes which may be fixed or variable, triggering a secondary bonus (such as a wheel spin or a pick bonus), or applying multiplier values to the reel-spin wins in the streak.

Abstract: A method includes producing a game symbol matrix for a play in a wagering game. The game symbol matrix is produced through a gaming machine display system by controlling the display system to populate each of at least some of the symbol locations of the game symbol matrix with a respective game symbol selected from one or more game symbol sets. The game symbol matrix is then evaluated for the presence of any winning full window combination, and prizes are awarded at the gaming machine for each winning full window combination defined through the game symbol matrix.

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.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and program products provide for dynamically modifying a symbol matrix, such as a symbol matrix produced in a reel-type game, to provide the player with additional chances to win on a given activation of the game. In particular, one or more initial symbol locations in a matrix of symbol locations may be split so as to replace the respective initial symbol location with two or more symbol locations. The additional symbol locations produced in this way define additional sets of symbol combinations and these additional symbol combinations provide the player with additional chances to win on a given play of the game.