US 12,094,298 B2
Electronic gaming machine and method for holding designated symbols during a wagering game and incrementally increasing a multiplier
Billy Tam, Lindfield (AU); Lipi Gupta, Newington (AU); Matthew Chan, Gordon (AU); and Hiram Yu, Mortdale (AU)
Assigned to Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited, North Ryde (AU)
Filed by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited, North Ryde (AU)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/209,059.
Application 17/209,059 is a continuation of application No. 16/538,441, filed on Aug. 12, 2019, granted, now 10,957,155.
Claims priority of application No. 2018902953 (AU), filed on Aug. 13, 2018; and application No. 2019204528 (AU), filed on Jun. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0209898 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. G07F 17/32 (2006.01); G06F 7/58 (2006.01); G07F 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/3244 (2013.01) [G06F 7/58 (2013.01); G07F 17/3213 (2013.01); G07F 17/3225 (2013.01); G07F 17/3267 (2013.01); G07F 17/34 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
a display device configured to provide graphical display output;
an input device configured to receive selection input during game play;
a memory storing a first set of reel strips; and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:
initiate a first play on the electronic gaming machine based on an input from the input device, the first play using the first set of reel strips;
determine to activate a feature during the first play based on an output of a random number generator (RNG);
modify the first set of reel strips stored in the memory by replacing at least one reel strip of the first set of reel strips with a replaced reel strip resulting in a modified set of reel strips for at least the first play, the replaced reel strip includes one or more trigger symbols;
evaluate the first play using the modified set of reel strips to determine a first spin outcome;
control the display device to display the first spin outcome for the first play using the modified set of reel strips, the first spin outcome including a first trigger symbol on a first reel strip; and
in response to the first spin outcome including the first trigger symbol:
provide a quantity of free plays with the modified set of reel strips after evaluation of the first spin outcome of the first play; and
control the display device to hold the first trigger symbol in place during the free plays.