Robin Hare

Michael DeBrabander

Dieter Goriup

Stephen Calvert

Timothy Kennedy

Justin Valvo

Ginese Weyant

Gaming systems and methods configured to display, for one more of activations of the symbol displays for a play of a game, an automatic activation zone associated with the symbol displays. For the play of the game: (a) if an activator is displayed on one of the symbols displays at the automatic activation zone, the gaming system automatically activates the pot associated with that activator and thus the feature associated with that pot; and (b) if an activator is displayed on one of the symbols displays not in the automatic activation zone, the gaming system randomly determines whether to activate the pot associated with that activator and thus the feature associated with that pot. In either activation case, the activated feature can then be used for one or more subsequent activations of the symbol displays.

Independently randomly and/or automatically generated different features associated with activators

Gaming systems that in various embodiments provide for each of a plurality of pots, when the activator occurrence indicator(s) associated with that pot reach a pot conversion level for that pot, the occurrence of the activator associated with that pot causes an enhancement of the feature associated with that pot. Gaming systems that in various embodiments provide for each of a plurality of pots, when the activator occurrence indicator(s) associated with that pot reach a pot conversion level for that pot, the occurrence of the activator associated with that pot causes that pot to switch from a perceived persistence pot to an actual persistence pot such that a subsequent activator associated with that pot can automatically cause an activation of that pot.

Independently randomly generated different features and enhancements associated with different activators

Gaming systems and methods configured to independently generate, display, and provide different full and partial features in association with different activators during plays of a game. If the gaming system determines not to provide the full feature associated with a pot based on an occurrence of the activator associated with that pot, the gaming system determines whether to provide a partial feature associated with that pot. The gaming system is also configured to, for each partial feature to determine how many plays of the game to provide the partial feature for.

Independently randomly generated different full and partial features associated with activators

Gaming systems configured to provide a first quantity of activations of symbol displays of a game and then a second quantity of activations of the symbols displays of the game. For each of the first quantity of activations of the symbol displays, the gaming system is configured to, for each occurrence of any one of first, second, and third activators: (i) determine if that activator causes an activation of the pot associated with that activator and the feature associated therewith, (ii) responsive to the activator not resulting in an activation of the pot associated with the activator, display a change to an activator occurrence indicator associated with that pot, and (iii) responsive to the activator resulting in an activation of the pot associated with the activator, display an indication of an activated feature associated with the activated pot, wherein for the first quantity of activations of the symbol displays, each of the first, second, and third features respectively associated with the first, second, and third pots can become activated features. For each of the second quantity of activations of the symbol displays, the gaming system is configured to, for each activated feature, provide that activated feature in association with the activation of the symbols displays.

Independently randomly generated different features associated with different activators

Display screen or portion thereof with a graphical user interface

Gaming systems and methods that maintain a progressive award associated with a guaranteed minimum quantity of generations of a designated symbol, certain of which are associated with an additional award.

Additional awards associated with guaranteed symbol generations

Gaming systems and methods that for a play of a game randomly determine an award set associated with each specific triggering symbol and displays the award set in association with that triggering symbol. In various embodiments, the different triggering symbols are associated with different types of awards and different sets of awards. In various embodiments, the different triggering symbols include a first triggering symbol associated only with a plurality of different static awards, a second triggering symbol associated only with a plurality of different variable awards, and a third triggering symbol associated with the plurality of different static awards and the plurality of different variable awards.

Growing community of inventors

Reno, NV, United States of America

Robin Hare