Abstract: A reel-based game may be executed behalf of a client machine. The game may involve spinning a plurality of reels to determine outcome events. The game may involve selecting a first set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels, where the first set of symbols represents an outcome event of a base game. The game may involve determining that the outcome event includes a trigger event that causes execution of a bonus game, and selecting a second set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels. The game may involve locking instances of a predetermined symbol that are not part of a winning combination, and selecting a third set of symbols associated with the respective positions of each of the reels. The third set of symbols may include the locked predetermined symbols from the second set of symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine may award a number of spins of a plurality of reels in an instance of the bonus game. A symbol counter may be set to an initial value. Until the awarded number of bonus game spins have been performed, the gaming machine may repeatedly carry out iterations of bonus game operations including: (i) selecting a first symbol set or a second symbol set for display on the plurality of reels, where the first symbol set excludes a predetermined symbol, where the second symbol set includes a number of the predetermined symbol equivalent to the symbol counter, and where, when the second symbol set is selected, the symbol counter is incremented, and (ii) transmitting, to a client machine, a representation of the selected symbol set.

Abstract: A gaming machine may determine that a trigger event for a bonus game occurred during a base outcome event of a base game, wherein the base game and the bonus game are both reel-based games being executed on behalf of a client machine. In response, the gaming machine may award use of two or more replaceable symbols for the bonus game. Until all of the replaceable symbols have been used, the gaming machine may repeatedly carry out iterations of bonus game operations including: determining a symbol set for display on a plurality of reels, where the symbol set includes non-replaceable symbols and zero or more replaceable symbols, and where each displayed replaceable symbol is successively replaced in the display by either a new non-replaceable symbol or a new replaceable symbol until no displayed replaceable symbols remain on the plurality of reels.

Abstract: A gaming machine may determine that a trigger event for a bonus game occurred during a base outcome event of a base game. The base game and the bonus game may both be reel-based games being executed on behalf of a client machine. The symbols on each reel may include at least two unstacked wild symbols. In response to determining that the trigger event occurred, an instance of the bonus game may be awarded. A special symbol may be included on each reel for the bonus game. Until all of the reels contain stacked wild symbols, iterations of bonus game operations may be repeatedly carried out. These operations may include determining a symbol set for display on the plurality of reels, where any special symbol appearing on a particular reel results in the wild symbols on the particular reel being stacked.

Abstract: A gaming machine may award a number of spins of a plurality of reels in an instance of the bonus game. A symbol counter may be set to an initial value. Until the awarded number of bonus game spins have been performed, the gaming machine may repeatedly carry out iterations of bonus game operations including: (i) selecting a first symbol set or a second symbol set for display on the plurality of reels, where the first symbol set excludes a predetermined symbol, where the second symbol set includes a number of the predetermined symbol equivalent to the symbol counter, and where, when the second symbol set is selected, the symbol counter is incremented, and (ii) transmitting, to a client machine, a representation of the selected symbol set.

Abstract: A reel-based game may be executed behalf of a client machine. The game may involve spinning a plurality of reels to determine outcome events. The game may involve selecting a first set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels, where the first set of symbols represents an outcome event of a base game. The game may involve determining that the outcome event includes a trigger event that causes execution of a bonus game, and selecting a second set of symbols associated with respective positions of each of the reels. The game may involve locking instances of a predetermined symbol that are not part of a winning combination, and selecting a third set of symbols associated with the respective positions of each of the reels. The third set of symbols may include the locked predetermined symbols from the second set of symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine may determine that a trigger event for a bonus game occurred during a base outcome event of a base game, wherein the base game and the bonus game are both reel-based games being executed on behalf of a client machine. In response, the gaming machine may award use of two or more replaceable symbols for the bonus game. Until all of the replaceable symbols have been used, the gaming machine may repeatedly carry out iterations of bonus game operations including: determining a symbol set for display on a plurality of reels, where the symbol set includes non-replaceable symbols and zero or more replaceable symbols, and where each displayed replaceable symbol is successively replaced in the display by either a new non-replaceable symbol or a new replaceable symbol until no displayed replaceable symbols remain on the plurality of reels.

Abstract: A gaming machine may determine that a trigger event for a bonus game occurred during a base outcome event of a base game. The base game and the bonus game may both be reel-based games being executed on behalf of a client machine. The symbols on each reel may include at least two unstacked wild symbols. In response to determining that the trigger event occurred, an instance of the bonus game may be awarded. A special symbol may be included on each reel for the bonus game. Until all of the reels contain stacked wild symbols, iterations of bonus game operations may be repeatedly carried out. These operations may include determining a symbol set for display on the plurality of reels, where any special symbol appearing on a particular reel results in the wild symbols on the particular reel being stacked.

Abstract: Machines and methods are described for displaying a particular symbol at a corresponding symbol position for multiple consecutive outcome events, such as outcome events including a wager game played on a stand-alone machine located within a casino or a machine within a client-server architecture. After displaying the particular symbol for a first outcome event, the particular symbol can be displayed at the same symbol position within a symbol-display-portion for one or more successive outcome events without the particular symbol being selected to be displayed at the same symbol position. Other symbols displayed within the symbol-display-portion for the first and successive outcome events can be determined or selected by a processor using a random selection process. The particular symbol can be a Wild symbol. A data structure can include data for tracking whether the particular symbol is locked down for an outcome event after the first outcome event.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wager game machines and methods. In one example, a method involves: selecting a first symbol set from a global symbol group; displaying the first symbol set, wherein the first symbol set includes at least two symbols; determining that a trigger event has occurred; responsive to determining that the trigger event has occurred, identifying at least one symbol in the first symbol set that is in a replaceable symbol group which is a subset of the global symbol group; for the or each symbol in the first symbol set which is in the replaceable symbol group, selecting a replacement symbol that is in the global symbol group; and displaying a second symbol set consisting of (i) the symbols in the first symbol set which are not in the replaceable symbol group, and (ii) the or each replacement symbol.

Abstract: Methods, machines, and systems for additional movement of one or more symbols of a reel-type game after the reels are spun for a turn of the reel-type game, but before a next turn of the game, are described. The symbol(s) moved after the reels are spun may comprise a scatter symbol or a symbol other than a scatter symbol. A tip of an off-reel-display symbol positioned outside of a reel-display area may be visible within the reel-display area to notify a player of the reel-type game that additional movement of the off-reel-display symbol is imminent. The off-reel-display symbol may be moved, onto a symbol that is being displayed within the reel-display area, after payment of any award(s) earned for certain combinations of symbols occurring on paylines with the reel-display area and/or after payment of any awards earned for a prescribed number of scatter symbols being displayed within the reel-display area.

Abstract: An example method includes determining, for a first outcome event, a first symbol set to display within a symbol-display-portion of a display of the machine; displaying, by the display for the first outcome event, the first symbol set; determining, by the machine for a second outcome event occurring after the first outcome event, a second symbol set to display within the symbol-display-portion of the display; determining, by the machine for the second outcome event, for each instance of the particular symbol in the first symbol set, a corresponding second symbol position in the symbol-display-portion of the display; and displaying, by the display for the second outcome event, each instance of the particular symbol in the first symbol set randomly selected for the first outcome event at the corresponding second symbol position and each symbol of the second symbol set within the symbol-display-portion of the display.

Abstract: Machines and methods are described for displaying a particular symbol at a corresponding symbol position for multiple consecutive outcome events, such as outcome events including a wager game played on a stand-alone machine located within a casino or a machine within a client-server architecture. After displaying the particular symbol for a first outcome event, the particular symbol can be displayed at the same symbol position within a symbol-display-portion for one or more successive outcome events without the particular symbol being selected to be displayed at the same symbol position. Other symbols displayed within the symbol-display-portion for the first and successive outcome events can be determined or selected by a processor using a random selection process. The particular symbol can be a Wild symbol. A data structure can include data for tracking whether the particular symbol is locked down for an outcome event after the first outcome event.

Abstract: A machine includes a display; a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause a set of functions to be performed that include: making a determination that a trigger event occurred; displaying a selected symbol table; responsive to making the determination, for each symbol cell in the selected symbol table: randomly selecting a multiplier symbol; adding the selected multiplier symbol to a symbol cell, wherein the selected multiplier symbol corresponds to a displayable image component, wherein the displayable image component is from an image component set, and wherein the image component set corresponds to an image; adding the displayable image component to a selected image component set when the image component is not in the selected image component set; displaying the added displayable image component; and determining whether the selected image component set includes each image component of the image component set.

Abstract: In one example, a method involves: a machine making a determination that a trigger event occurred; responsive to making the determination, (i) selecting a precursor symbol set from a precursor symbol group, and (ii) for the or each symbol in the selected precursor symbol set, randomly determining a corresponding arrangement position; displaying on a display the selected precursor symbol set by displaying the or each symbol in the selected precursor symbol set in the corresponding arrangement position for that symbol; selecting a supplementary symbol set from a supplementary symbol group; for the or each symbol in the selected supplementary symbol set, determining a corresponding arrangement position; and after displaying the selected precursor symbol set, displaying on the display (i) the selected precursor symbol set, and (ii) the supplementary symbol set by displaying the or each symbol in the selected supplementary symbol set in the corresponding arrangement position for that symbol.

Abstract: In one example, a machine includes: a display configured to display symbols in a game; a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause a set of functions to be performed, the set of functions including: selecting a first symbol set from a global symbol group, wherein the first symbol set includes at least two symbols; displaying on the display the selected first symbol set; making a determination that a second symbol set, which is a proper sub-set of the selected first symbol set, satisfies a trigger condition; responsive to making the determination, for each symbol in the second symbol set, selecting a corresponding replacement symbol from the global symbol group, such that a third symbol set consisting of the replacement symbols satisfies the trigger condition; and displaying on the display the third symbol set.

Abstract: Machines, servers and reel-type games are disclosed which provide a player with a visible indication of progress being made towards award of a stacked or expanding symbol on a reel, thereby heightening anticipation and increasing excitement of the game. A trigger condition for appearance of the stacked or expanding symbol can be achieved (i.e. accumulated or collected) over multiple turns or spins of the game. Progress towards meeting the trigger condition is displayed to the player directly on the display of the game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wager game machines and methods. In one example, a method involves: selecting a first symbol set from a global symbol group; displaying the first symbol set, wherein the first symbol set includes at least two symbols; determining that a trigger event has occurred; responsive to determining that the trigger event has occurred, identifying at least one symbol in the first symbol set that is in a replaceable symbol group which is a subset of the global symbol group; for the or each symbol in the first symbol set which is in the replaceable symbol group, selecting a replacement symbol that is in the global symbol group; and displaying a second symbol set consisting of (i) the symbols in the first symbol set which are not in the replaceable symbol group, and (ii) the or each replacement symbol.

Abstract: Machines, servers and reel-type games are disclosed which provide a player with a visible indication of progress being made towards award of a stacked or expanding symbol on a reel, thereby heightening anticipation and increasing excitement of the game. A trigger condition for appearance of the stacked or expanding symbol can be achieved (i.e. accumulated or collected) over multiple turns or spins of the game. Progress towards meeting the trigger condition is displayed to the player directly on the display of the game.

Abstract: Methods, machines, and systems for additional movement of one or more symbols of a reel-type game after the reels are spun for a turn of the reel-type game, but before a next turn of the game, are described. The symbol(s) moved after the reels are spun may comprise a scatter symbol or a symbol other than a scatter symbol. A tip of an off-reel-display symbol positioned outside of a reel-display area may be visible within the reel-display area to notify a player of the reel-type game that additional movement of the off-reel-display symbol is imminent. The off-reel-display symbol may be moved, onto a symbol that is being displayed within the reel-display area, after payment of any award(s) earned for certain combinations of symbols occurring on paylines with the reel-display area and/or after payment of any awards earned for a prescribed number of scatter symbols being displayed within the reel-display area.