Patent Grant
7381134
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having a free game bonus with a multiplier that obtains for each free game.
Gaming machine manufacturers constantly strive to make gaming machines that maximize enjoyment and excitement for players. Providing a bonus game in which a player has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits in addition to the awards associated with the base game of the gaming machine is one way to enhance player enjoyment and excitement.
Known gaming devices having bonus games employ a triggering event that occurs during play of the base game of the gaming device. The triggering event temporarily stalls or halts the base game play and enables a player to enter a second, different game, which is the bonus game. The player plays the bonus game, likely receives an award, and returns to the base game.
Bonus games that provide players with large awards or the potential to win large awards are especially attractive to players. One way that gaming device manufacturers provide larger or more frequently occurring awards in slot gaming machines is by providing free spins to a player. Several known games provide players a number of free spins at the beginning of the game and spin the reels to obtain awards. This type of bonus game is described in European Patent Application No. EP 0874337A1 and European Patent No. EP 0984409A2. These games are generally versions of a “Spin Until” type bonus game.
EP 0874337A1 discloses a gaming device having a bonus game where the player spins a plurality of reels including several symbols. In the bonus game, if the player obtains a winning symbol combination on the reels, the player receives an award and spins again. The probability for obtaining a winning symbol combination on the reels is greater than fifty percent. Therefore, a player will likely have multiple opportunities to spin the reels in the bonus game and to receive several awards. If the player does not obtain a winning symbol combination, the bonus game ends and the player receives the total accumulated awards for the bonus game. Thus, the player spins the reels in the bonus game until they do not obtain a winning combination.
EP 0984409A2 discloses a gaming device wherein the game enables the player to spin a plurality of reels having various symbols attempting to obtain awards. In this bonus game, the player starts the bonus game with a limited number of spins. The player spins the reels until there are no spins remaining. The player receives an award after each spin. The final award in the bonus game is the total of all of the awards accumulated by the player in the game.
Another way that gaming device manufacturers provide larger awards to players is by using multipliers. A multiplier increases the award amount proportionally to the value of the multiplier. For example, a “2×” multiplier pays twice the normal award value. A “3×” multiplier pays three times the normal award value. A multiplier can substantially increase a player's award. Some games also employ an incrementing multiplier as described in the following paragraphs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,207 discloses a slot machine that provides a multiplied payout when certain symbols or symbol combinations appear on the reels and a player bets the maximum amount of coins. This bonus game includes a plurality of reels including several symbols on the reels and a multiplier. The symbols include multiplier symbols and Power Point symbols. Initially, the bonus game sets the multiplier at a predetermined level. The multiplier increments by one level when the player obtains ten Power Point symbols on the reels from one or more spins. After the multiplier increases in value, the player needs ten more Power Point symbols to increment the multiplier again. The gaming device also enables a player to spin the reels to obtain a winning symbol combination. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides the player with an award. If the winning combination includes a multiplier symbol, the award is multiplied by the multiplier. Once an award is multiplied by the multiplier, the multiplier resets to a predetermined level.
Another type of bonus game that includes a multiplied payout is the “GOOD TIMES” gaming device which is manufactured by the assignee of this patent application. This game includes three reels having a plurality of symbols and blank spaces. The symbols include a plurality of “Good Times” symbols. The bonus includes two multiplier groups. A first multiplier group starts at “1×” (or one times the award) and goes up to “12×” (or twelve times the award). The second multiplier group starts at “1×” and goes up to “144×” (or one hundred forty-four times the award). Each time a player spins the reels and obtains three blank spaces on a payline, the designated multiplier in each multiplier increments one level. When the player obtains a winning combination, the player receives an award. If a “Good Times” symbol appears in the winning combination, the player's award is multiplied by the designated multiplier in the first bonus table. If two “Good Times” symbols appear in the winning combination, the player's award is multiplied by the designated multiplier in the second bonus group.
It should be appreciated that multipliers may substantially elevate award returns and increase player excitement and enjoyment. Players enjoy playing for high bonus awards. Thus, it is desirable to have a bonus game of a gaming device that provides several opportunities to play a bonus game and has the potential to accumulate large awards.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device having a bonus game or scheme, and more particularly to a gaming device having a bonus game or scheme including a plurality of reels, a plurality of symbols on the reels, a plurality of free spins of the reels and a plurality of multipliers associated with the free spins.
In one embodiment, the gaming device provides the player with a plurality of free spins of the reels in the bonus game. A multiplier is associated with each spin of the reels. The multiplier obtains and preferably increases after each spin. The processor in the gaming device spins the reels and determines if the player obtains an award based on the combination of symbols on the reels. If the player obtains an award, the award is modified by the multiplier associated with that spin of the reels. In another embodiment, a consolation award is provided to the player if the player does not receive an award after a spin of the reels. In a further embodiment, an accumulated award is provided to the player after there are no spins remaining in the game. The accumulated award may include a plurality of the awards provided to the player or all of the awards provided to the player during the game.
In one embodiment, the multiplier increases by one after each spin. In other embodiments, the multiplier increases by more than one or as desired by the game implementor. In other embodiments, the increase of the multiplier is randomly determined. In one alternative embodiment, the multiplier increases after non-winning games.
In one embodiment, a plurality of reels having several symbols are displayed to a player. The multiplier is also displayed to the player. The player starts the game with a predetermined number of spins in the game. The number of spins may be determined randomly, predefined or picked by playing a sub-game such as by having the player choose from a plurality of masked selections each having an associated number of spins. To start the bonus game, the processor spins or enables the player to initiate a spin of the reels attempting to obtain an award based on a combination of symbols on the reels. If the player obtains an award, the award is modified by the related multiplier. In one embodiment, the multiplier starts at “1×” for the first spin and increases with each spin. After each spin, the multiplier is incrementally increased by one. Therefore, each subsequent spin has a larger multiplier. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no spins remaining.
In another embodiment, the gaming device provides the player with additional spins based upon the occurrence of one or more symbols on the reels.
In a further embodiment, the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbols including at least one, and preferably a plurality of incrementor symbols. The multiplier obtains and preferably increases (such as by one) each time the incrementor symbol appears on the display or on a payline associated with the reels. In another alternative embodiment, if one or more incrementor symbols are displayed by the reels, the multiplier increases by the number of incrementor symbols that are displayed on the reels.
In one embodiment, the multiplier of the present invention is employed in a poker game. In another embodiment, the multiplier of the present invention is employed in a keno game.
In one alternative embodiment, the multiplier is predetermined by the processor at the beginning of the bonus game. Then, the multiplier may increase by a predetermined amount or a random amount after each game.
In another alternative embodiment, the multiplier is randomly determined at the beginning of the bonus game and then randomly determined after each subsequent game. The processor or player may select the new multiplier. In one embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of player selectable selections to the player. The selections are masked or hidden from the player and when selected, display a multiplier to the player. The multipliers are randomly associated with the selections. The player may pick one or a plurality of selections. In another embodiment, the selections are only displayed to the player after a specific symbol combination occurs on the reels.
In one alternative embodiment, a light display is mounted to the gaming device and displays the multiplier to the player after the processor randomly selects the multiplier.
In another alternative embodiment, different increases of the multiplier and different probabilities are associated with different incrementor symbols such that one incrementor symbol has a greater probability of appearing on the reels than another incrementor symbol.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device provides a plurality of free spins, a plurality of reels activated by the free spins, an outcome and a plurality of sections associated with the outcome. The reels include a plurality of symbols including a plurality of section indicator symbols. The gaming device obtains at least one of the sections associated with the outcome by removing the section when a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols associated with the section are indicated on the reels. The section may be removed or altered in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides an award or awards to the player for each section that is removed in the game. It should be appreciated that the award may be any suitable award such as a free spin game, a game element, a value, a credit or any other suitable award. The gaming device or player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the game or until all of the sections are obtained. The gaming device then reveals and provides the outcome to the player and the game ends. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides a new outcome associated with a plurality of sections to the player when the player has free spins remaining in the game and enables the player to continue to activate the reels until there are no free spins remaining.
In one embodiment, the gaming device provides a modifier such as a multiplier at the beginning of the game which increments when a designated symbol combination or combinations are indicated on the reels. In one embodiment, the game begins with a base multiplier and the base multiplier increments for each designated symbol combination indicated on the reels. In another embodiment, the multiplier increments for a plurality of designated symbol combinations indicated on the reels. It should be appreciated that the multiplier may increase, decrease or remain unchanged in one or a plurality of free spins of the reels. It should also be appreciated that the multiplier may increment by a predetermined amount or a random amount. In another embodiment, the modifier or multiplier increments when one or a plurality of modifier symbols occur on the reels. The multiplier multiplies the outcomes or awards received by the player for each designated symbol combination indicated on the reels. The multiplied outcomes are summed or otherwise combined and provided to the player. In a further embodiment, the gaming device sums or otherwise combines the outcomes or awards received for each designated symbol combination on the reels and multiplies the summed or total outcome by the multiplier at the end of the game to provide the total outcome or award to the player for the game. The multiplier thereby enhances the award or outcome provided to the player in the game.
In another embodiment, the gaming device provides at least one additional free spin to the player for each designated symbol combination indicated on the reels. The additional free spin enables the player to have additional chances to obtain an outcome or outcomes in a game. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides at least one free spin to the player for a plurality of designated symbol combinations indicated on the reels. In a further embodiment, the gaming device provides at least one free spin to a player when at least one free spins symbol occurs on the reels. It should be appreciated that any suitable number of free spins may be provided to the player in the game.
In one embodiment, any section indicator symbols associated with a section that is obtained in the game are removed or eliminated from the reels. Therefore, only the section indicator symbols associated with sections that have not been obtained in the game, remain on the reels in the game. This enhances the probability that the player will obtain the designated symbol combinations needed to obtain the remaining sections and reveal the outcome in the game. This further increases a player's excitement and enjoyment of the game because the opportunity of obtaining another award and revealing the outcome in the game increases.
In another embodiment, the symbols includes at least one wild symbol. If at least two wild symbols or a designated combination of the wild symbols are indicated on the reels, the gaming device automatically obtains all of the sections and reveals the outcome to the player. It should be appreciated that the wild symbol or the designated combination of wild symbols may cause the gaming device to obtain one, a plurality or all of the sections in the game.
In an alternative embodiment, there is a weighted probability of increasing the multiplier by more than one.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device having a free game bonus with a multiplier that increments after each game.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a gaming device including a multiplier that increments after each game to provide larger awards to players.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device including an outcome concealed by different sections which are independently obtained during a game.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a gaming device which eliminates symbols from a plurality of reels to increase the probability of indicating subsequent symbol combinations on the reels.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.
Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in
Gaming device 10 can incorporate any primary game such as slot, poker, blackjack or keno, any of their bonus triggering events and any of the bonus round games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device 10 may be in mechanical, electronic, electrical or video form.
As illustrated in
As shown in
A player may “cash out” and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button 26. When the player “cashes out,” the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray 28. The gaming device 10 may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the player's credits.
Gaming device 10 also includes one or more display devices. The embodiment shown in
Each reel 34 displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images or symbols which preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device 10. Furthermore, gaming device 10 preferably includes speakers 36 for making sounds or playing music.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
It should be appreciated that although a processor 38 and memory device 40 are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively, and/or individually, referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside on each gaming device 10 unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor 38 and memory device 40 is generally referred to herein as the “computer” or “controller.”
With reference to
In addition to winning credits in this manner, gaming device 10 also gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round. This type of gaming device 10 will include a program which will automatically begin a bonus round when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of indicia on a display device. The gaming device 10 may use a video-based central display device 30 to enable the player to play the bonus round. In one embodiment, the qualifying condition is a predetermined combination of indicia appearing on a plurality of reels 34. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in
Referring now to
The multiplier display 104 displays the multiplier associated with a particular free spin or activation of the reels. In one embodiment, the multiplier associated with each free spin increases by a predetermined amount. In another embodiment, the amount of the increase is an amount selected from a range greater than zero and less than ten after each free spin of the reels. In a further embodiment, the multiplier associated with each free spin increases by a random amount.
The award display 106 displays the total award, or the value of the accumulated awards, during the bonus game. The award value indicated by award display 106 at the end of a game is the award that the player receives for that bonus game.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, a consolation award is provided to the player if the player does not receive an award after a free spin. In one aspect of this embodiment, the consolation award is predetermined by the processor. In another aspect, the consolation award is randomly determined by the processor. In a further aspect of the present invention, the consolation award is based on the multiplier associated with each free spin of the reels.
In another embodiment, an accumulated award is provided to the player after there are no spins remaining in the game. The accumulated award is based on the awards, if any, provided to the player after each spin. The accumulated award may include a plurality of the awards provided to the player or all of the awards provided to the player.
The player starts the secondary or bonus game by spinning the reels.
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring to
The above example illustrated in
In one embodiment of the present invention, the multiplier increments after each game, regardless of whether the player obtained a winning combination or not. Because the multiplier continues to increment even after non-winning combinations, the player still may obtain large awards in the bonus game, which increases the player's excitement and enjoyment of the game. For example, a bonus game begins with a multiplier of “1×” and increments by “1×” after each free spin. If a player does not obtain an award combination until the player's fourth free spin, the player still receives a large award because the multiplier in the fourth free spin is “4×.”
In another embodiment of the present invention, the multiplier 110 increases by a predetermined amount that is greater than one after each free spin in the bonus game. For example, the multiplier begins a bonus game at “1×” and increases by “2×” after each free spin of the reels. After the first spin the multiplier increases to “3×,” after the second spin the multiplier increases to “5×” and so forth. It should be appreciated that the multiplier can also increase by a predetermined multiplication factor. For example, the multiplier can increase by two or double after each free spin. The multiplier starts the bonus game at “1×” then increases to “2×” after the first free spin, “4×” after the second free spin and so forth. In a further embodiment, the multiplier increases by a random amount after each free spin. The random amount is determined by the processor. In yet another embodiment, the multiplier increases by a predetermined amount after a predetermined number of free spins greater than one. In still a further embodiment of the present invention, the multiplier increases by a random amount after a random number of free spins as determined by the processor.
Referring now to
In
Referring to
In
Referring to
In one embodiment, the gaming device provides the outcome to the player when all the sections 203 associated with the outcome are obtained by obtaining the designated symbol combinations associated with each of the sections. The outcome may be any suitable outcome such as at least one award, value, multiplier, free game, game element or any other suitable award. The gaming device or player continues to activate the reels in the game until there are no free spins of the reels remaining or until all of the sections associated with the outcome are obtained in the game. The gaming device then reveals the outcome, provides the outcome to the player and ends the game. In another embodiment, the gaming device does not end the game but provides at least one additional outcome including a plurality of sections to the player when there are free spins remaining in the game. In this embodiment, the player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining.
In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a modifier such as a multiplier 211 which increments during the free spins of the reels. In the beginning of a game, the multiplier 211 is a predetermined or a randomly determined value which increments during the game. In one embodiment, the multiplier increments after each free spin of the reels. In another embodiment, the multiplier increments after a plurality of free spins of the reels. In a further embodiment, the multiplier increments after each designated combination of the section indicator symbols are indicated on the reels. In another embodiment, the multiplier increments after a plurality of the designated combinations of the section indicator symbols are indicated on the reels. It should be appreciated, that the multiplier 211 may increase, decrease or remain unchanged in one or more free spins of the reels. It should also be appreciated that the multiplier may increment by a predetermined amount, a randomly determined amount, an amount based on a wager made by a player or by any suitable amount.
In one embodiment, the gaming device multiplies the outcomes received in each spin of the reels with the value of the multiplier 211 in each of those spins of the reels and then sums the multiplied outcomes from those spins to provide a total outcome to the player in a game. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides the multiplier 211 to the player at the end of a game when all the sections 203 of the outcome are obtained and the total outcome is provided to the player in the game. The multiplier multiplies the total outcome provided to the player at the end of the game and thereby enhances any outcome received by the player in the game.
In another embodiment, the gaming device provides at least one free spin for each designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols 206 indicated on the reels. In this embodiment, the gaming device provides one or more free spins of the reels to the player in the game when at least one designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols is indicated on the reels. The free spins are added to the player's total free spins in the game. Therefore, the additional free spins enables the player to continue to spin the reels and possibly obtain all of the sections associated with the outcome in the game.
In a further embodiment, the symbols include at least one modifier symbol and at least one free spins symbol. In this embodiment, the modifier symbol is a different symbol from the section indicator symbol and causes the gaming device to increment the modifier such as the multiplier described above when one or more of the modifier symbols occur on the reels. Similarly, the free spins symbol is a different symbol than the section indicator symbol or symbols and causes the gaming device to provide at least one free spin to a player when one or more of the free spins symbols occur on the reels. It should be appreciated that the symbols may include at least one modifier symbol, at least one free spins symbol or any combination of modifier symbols and free spins symbols in a game.
In one embodiment, at least one payline 56 is associated with the reels. In this embodiment, the gaming device obtains at least one of the sections associated with the outcome when a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbols is indicated on the paylines 56a, 56b or 56c associated with the reels. In another embodiment, the gaming device obtains at least one section associated with the outcome when the designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbol associated with that section is indicated on a plurality of the paylines associated with the reels. It should be appreciated that the designated symbol combination may be indicated on one, a plurality or all of the paylines associated with the reels.
In a further embodiment, the symbols on the reels include at least one wild symbol 300. In this embodiment, the gaming device automatically obtains all of the sections associated with the outcome when a designated symbol combination including the wild symbol 300 is indicated on the reels. In another embodiment, the gaming device obtains all of the sections associated with the outcome when a designated symbol combination including a plurality of the wild symbols 300 are indicated on the reels. It should be appreciated that the wild symbol may be any suitable symbol, character or image. It should also be appreciated that the wild symbol may cause the gaming device to obtain one, a plurality or all of the sections associated with the outcome in a game.
In one embodiment, the gaming device provides an award to the player for each of the sections which are obtained in the game. The award may be any suitable award desired by the game implementor. Additionally, the award may increase, decrease or remain unchanged for one, a plurality or all of the sections which are obtained in a game. Alternatively, the gaming device increments the award in one or a plurality of the free spins in the game. It should be appreciated that the award may increment by a predetermined amount or a randomly determined amount in the game.
In another embodiment, the gaming device indicates an order in which the sections must be obtained to reveal and provide the outcome to the player. For example, the gaming device indicates a first section associated with the outcome that must be obtained before the other sections can be obtained in the game. Therefore, the designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbol associated with the first section to be obtained must be indicated on the reels before the gaming device will obtain any of the other sections associated with the outcome. In this embodiment, if a designated symbol combination including a section indicator symbol associated with a different section than the section to be obtained is indicated on the reels, the gaming device will not obtain that section and does not provide an outcome such as an award or awards to the player in the game. This adds excitement and enjoyment for the player because the player now must root for a particular symbol combination to occur on the reels to proceed in the game.
In a further embodiment, if a designated symbol combination including a section indicator symbol associated with a different section than the section to be obtained is indicated on the reels, the gaming device does provide an outcome such as an award or awards to the player in the game. Therefore, the player still receives an outcome such as an award in the game even though the player did not obtain a designated symbol combination including the section indicator symbol associated with the section to be obtained in the game.
Referring to
In one embodiment shown in this example, the gaming device includes a section display such as the clothing display 204 that indicates the order or sequence in which each article of winter clothing must be removed from the person 202. Each article of winter clothing 203 is represented by corresponding reel symbols 206 in the section or clothing display 204. The gaming device indicates the specific article of winter clothing that must be removed from the person 202 at a given point in the game by moving indicator 207 over the corresponding clothing symbol 206 in the clothing display 204. In order to remove an article of winter clothing 203 from the person 202 (i.e., remove the section associated with the outcome), the player must obtain a designated combination or winning symbol combination including the section indicator symbols on the reels which represent the particular article of winter clothing indicated by the indicator 207. For example, if the indicator 207 indicates that the scarf 203d was the next item of winter clothing to be removed from the person 202, a designated symbol combination including three scarf symbols must occur on payline 56b to remove that article of winter clothing from the person 202. If the player obtained a different combination of section indicator symbols or articles of winter clothing such as three boot symbols, the gaming device would not remove any of the articles of winter clothing from the person and the player would have to spin the reels again to attempt to obtain the specific combination of three scarf symbols on payline 56b.
In this example, the symbols on the reels include a plurality of wild symbols 300. If three wild symbols are indicated on payline 56b in one of the free spins of the reels, the gaming device automatically removes all of the designated articles of winter clothing 203 from the person 202 and provides the outcome or award to the player. Alternatively, the player could remove all of the articles of winter clothing from the person 202 by independently obtaining winning symbol combinations on payline 56b including each of the articles of winter clothing in the order specified in the section or clothing display 204.
Additionally, in this example, once a particular article of winter clothing is removed from the person, the article of winter clothing (i.e., the symbol representing the article of winter clothing) is eliminated or removed from the reels for the remaining number of free spins in the game. This further enhances the players chances of subsequently indicating a designated combination including a particular article of winter clothing because there are less symbols on the reels. Also, the players chances of revealing the outcome also increase as the game progresses and more symbol are eliminated from the reels.
In this example, the gaming device provides the player with five free spins of the game as indicated in the spins remaining display 208. The gaming device also provides a base multiplier of 1× as indicated by multipliers 212. The players total award at the beginning of the game is zero as indicated by the total award display 214.
Referring to
According to
According to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
The award of five hundred is added to the players spin award as indicated by the spin award display 210. The award of five hundred is multiplied by the multiplier 3× as indicated by the multiplier display 212 to give the player an award of one thousand five hundred for the spin. The award of one thousand five hundred is added to the player's previous total award of one hundred twenty-five to give the player a new total award of one thousand six hundred twenty-five as indicated by the total award display 214. In this example, the game ends when the player does not have any free spins remaining or when the player removes all of the sections to reveal the outcome. Therefore, because the player removed all the sections from the person to reveal the outcome, the gaming device provides the player with the total award indicated in the total award display and the game ends.
As described above, in another embodiment, the gaming device provides the player with another outcome when the player has at least one free spin remaining in the game. In this embodiment, the gaming device displays a new person 202 wearing the same or different winter clothing items. The new outcome may be pre-determined, randomly determined or determined according to any suitable determination method. In this embodiment, the player plays the game as described above until the player does not have any free spins remaining in the game.
It should be appreciated that the present invention could be employed in other games such as poker, blackjack, keno and other primary or secondary games.
While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. patent aplication Ser. No. 10/086,146, filed Feb. 28, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,611. This application is related to the following commonly-owned patent applications: “Gaming Device Having Separately Changeable Value And Modifier Bonus Scheme,” Ser. No. 10/767,484, “Gaming Device With Bonus Scheme Having Multiple Award Levels,” Ser. No. 10/763,430, “Gaming Device Having A Re-triggering Symbol Bonus Scheme With A Bonus Symbol Accumulator And Player Selection Of Accumulation Total,” Ser. No. 10/952,656, “Gaming Device Having A Re-triggering Symbol Bonus Scheme,” Ser. No. 11/156,112, and “Gaming Device Having A Re-triggering Symbol Bonus Scheme With A Bonus Symbol Accumulator,” Ser. No. 11/196,930.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10086146 | Feb 2002 | US |
| Child | 10650024 | US |
