Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a slot machine game with a movement game board bonus game. Responsive to a trigger pattern in a base game result, a prize board is displayed including a number of symbol locations containing symbols indicating prizes, and a current position indicator indicating a current location on the board. A number of selectable items are provided from which the player may select. Responsive to selections, one of a movement indicator with an associated movement direction, or a prize collector indicator are revealed. For a movement indicator, the current position indicator moves to an adjacent one of the symbols on the prize board in a direction shown by the movement indicator. For a prize collector indicator, the method includes awarding a prize associated with the prize level of the current position indicator.

Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially advances the gaming continuum or totally advances the gaming continuum, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward an initial state. If a wager activation occurs before the initial state is reached, the level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.

Abstract: A gaming machine, method, and program product provide a slot machine game with group gaming mode features. A set of gaming machines enter a group gaming mode in which prize objects are displayed on a group mode game board and are available to be awarded to individual gaming machines in the set, and are then removed from the group mode game board. Primary game results at each of the set of gaming machines are presented through the group gaming mode.

Abstract: A method includes conducting a base portion of a game in which the base portion result may include a first trigger condition or a second trigger condition. Where the base portion result includes the first trigger condition, the method includes conducting a first bonus feature which may include activations of reels defining a first array of game symbol locations. Where the base portion result includes the second trigger condition, the method includes causing the display system to display a selection from among a number of different additional bonus feature options at least one of which comprises a reel-type bonus feature which includes activations of reels defining a second array of game symbol locations larger than the first array.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing improvements to feature games played on slot machines or other gaming machines. A bonus symbol feature game selection is provided that determines multiple feature games to be made available for the player by a player selection. The games made available are determined at least in part based on the base game result. A wheel enhancement feature game is provided in which a wheel is modified with various types of persistent modifications selected by player picks. The enhancements accumulate until a wheel spin is achieved, building excitement with the player. Chances of achieving a wheel spin may also be altered by the persistent modifications.

Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially advances the gaming continuum or totally advances the gaming continuum, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward an initial state. If a wager activation occurs before the initial state is reached, the level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.

Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially advances the gaming continuum to provide a losing game outcome or totally advances the gaming continuum to provide a winning game outcome, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward an initial state. If a wager activation occurs before the initial state is reached, the level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing a wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems that provide a persistent gaming mode including a persistent game mode with multiple rounds in which each round includes a randomization of the matrix of symbol locations, a chance to win an award, and a chance to include a persistent feature event. An adjustable meter may be used to allow players to compete for the same bonuses or jackpots no matter what their bet level. A rolling meter shows special features scheduled to appear in future rounds using a rolling group of status indicators.

Abstract: A method of controlling prize targets displayed during a play in a target-interactive game includes receiving a total prize amount to be awarded for the play of the game and determining an expected target value for a respective record from a target sequence comprising a sequence of records. The method further includes selecting a target value for the respective record from a number of different available target values, where the selected target value comprises a value from among the number of different available target values that bears a predefined relationship to the expected target value. Once the target value is selected, the method includes selecting a target type correlated to the selected target value and then causing a prize target corresponding to the selected target type to be launched in the game.

Abstract: A gaming machine, method, and program product provide a slot machine game with group gaming mode features. A set of gaming machines enter a group gaming mode in which prize objects are displayed on a group mode game board and are available to be awarded to individual gaming machines in the set, and are then removed from the group mode game board. Primary game results at each of the set of gaming machines are presented through the group gaming mode.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing improvements to feature games played on slot machines or other gaming machines. A bonus symbol feature game selection is provided that determines multiple feature games to be made available for the player by a player selection. The games made available are determined at least in part based on the base game result. A wheel enhancement feature game is provided in which a wheel is modified with various types of persistent modifications selected by player picks. The enhancements accumulate until a wheel spin is achieved, building excitement with the player. Chances of achieving a wheel spin may also be altered by the persistent modifications.

Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially advances the gaming continuum to provide a losing game outcome or totally advances the gaming continuum to provide a winning game outcome, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward an initial state. If a wager activation occurs before the initial state is reached, the level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.

Abstract: A method of controlling prize targets displayed during a play in a target-interactive game includes receiving a total prize amount to be awarded for the play of the game and determining an expected target value for a respective record from a target sequence comprising a sequence of records. The method further includes selecting a target value for the respective record from a number of different available target values, where the selected target value comprises a value from among the number of different available target values that bears a predefined relationship to the expected target value. Once the target value is selected, the method includes selecting a target type correlated to the selected target value and then causing a prize target corresponding to the selected target type to be launched in the game.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing improvements to feature games played on slot machines or other gaming machines. A bonus symbol feature game selection is provided that determines multiple feature games to be made available for the player by a player selection. The games made available are determined at least in part based on the base game result. A wheel enhancement feature game is provided in which a wheel is modified with various types of persistent modifications selected by player picks. The enhancements accumulate until a wheel spin is achieved, building excitement with the player. Chances of achieving a wheel spin may also be altered by the persistent modifications.

Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming meter or continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially fills the gaming continuum to provide a losing game outcome or totally fills the gaming continuum to provide a winning game outcome, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward a lowest state. If a wager activation occurs before the lowest state is reached, the instantaneous level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.

Abstract: A method for introducing player skill-dependent play through a gaming machine for a wagering game includes receiving a skill level input specifying a first skill level from a set of skill levels, and placing the gaming machine in a first state in response to that skill level input. Each respective skill level in the set of skill levels is correlated to a different respective numerical proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component of a portion of the wagering game. After placing the gaming machine in the first state, the method includes providing a number of result opportunities through the gaming machine and providing a respective result for each result opportunity. At least a portion of these results are selected at random according to the first value of the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing a wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems that provide a persistent gaming mode including a persistent game mode with multiple rounds in which each round includes a randomization of the matrix of symbol locations, a chance to win an award, and a chance to include a persistent feature event. An adjustable meter may be used to allow players to compete for the same bonuses or jackpots no matter what their bet level. A rolling meter shows special features scheduled to appear in future rounds using a rolling group of status indicators.

Abstract: A method of controlling prize targets displayed during a play in a target interactive game includes receiving a total prize amount to be awarded for the play of the game and determining an expected target value for a respective record from a target sequence comprising a sequence of records. The method further includes selecting a target value for the respective record from a number of different available target values, where the selected target value comprises a value from among the number of different available target values that bears a predefined relationship to the expected target value. Once the target value is selected, the method includes selecting a target type correlated to the selected target value and then causing a prize target corresponding to the selected target type to be launched in the game.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing a wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems that provide a persistent gaming mode including a persistent game mode with multiple rounds in which each round includes a randomization of the matrix of symbol locations, a chance to win an award, and a chance to include a persistent feature event. An adjustable meter may be used to allow players to compete for the same bonuses or jackpots no matter what their bet level. A rolling meter shows special features scheduled to appear in future rounds using a rolling group of status indicators. A persistent game mode control process sets the frequency of scheduled special features and adjusts reel weights to achieve a desired payout.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a skill level input specifying a first skill level from a set of different skill levels, and in response to the skill level input, placing the gaming machine in a first state. Each respective skill level in the set of different skill levels is correlated to a different respective proportion between a player skill-dependent component and random component of the wagering game. Thus placing the gaming machine in the first state has the effect of setting that skill-dependent to random proportion to a desired value. After placing the gaming machine in the first state, the method includes receiving player inputs for which a prize may ultimately be awarded. This prize is determined by (i) any player inputs included in the player input set for the player skill-dependent component and (ii) the random component in an award proportion based on the desired value.