Patent Grant
7674168
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.
Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment and excitement as possible. Providing a secondary or bonus game in which a player has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits in addition to the awards associated with the primary or base game of the gaming device is one known method for enhancing player enjoyment and excitement.
Gaming devices having bonus games generally employ a triggering event that occurs during the operation 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 secondary or bonus game. The player plays the bonus game, likely receives an award, and returns to the base game.
Bonus games typically include a plurality of awards ranging from relatively small awards to relatively large awards such as a jackpot award. These awards are generally weighted so that the relatively large awards are more difficult to obtain than the relatively small awards in a bonus game. Thus, players are less likely to obtain the relatively large awards such as the jackpot award in the game.
Accordingly, gaming devices that employ bonus games that increase the probability of obtaining the relatively large award or awards are desirable. Players are attracted to games that provide larger awards and games that increase the chances of obtaining the larger awards. Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is desirable to provide new games for gaming devices.
The present invention provides a gaming device and in particular a game of a gaming device that randomly selects awards, eliminates the selected symbols such as award symbols or awards from further selection in the game and increases the probability of the player subsequently obtaining the non-selected symbols, award symbols or awards in the game.
In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of symbols displayed to a player by a display device. A probability of being picked by the processor is associated with each of the symbols. Also, a plurality of awards are associated with the symbols where the awards may be any award such as credits, monetary or other values, prizes, free spins, free games, multipliers or any other suitable award. The processor provides at least two picks in the game where the number of provided picks is less than the number of symbols in the game. Then, the processor randomly picks symbols from the plurality of symbols based on the probabilities associated with those symbols. Each symbol picked in the game, including the probability associated with that symbol, is eliminated from further selection in the game. As a result, the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbols proportionately increase based on the probabilities associated with the picked symbols. This occurs because the proportionate shares of the total probability (i.e., the sum of the probabilities associated with each of the symbols) associated with each of the symbols increases as the total probability decreases. In one embodiment, the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbols proportionately increase after each pick of the symbols. In another embodiment, the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbols proportionately increase after a plurality of picks of the symbols. The processor continues to pick symbols until there are no picks remaining in the game. The number of picks may be determined in any suitable manner such as being predetermined, randomly determined by the processor, or randomly determined by a player. The number of picks can accordingly be determined in a separate game or sub-game, based on an amount of wager or otherwise.
In one embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of selections to the player on a display device where each selection includes a total number of picks of the symbols in a game. The gaming device enables the player to pick one of the selections and randomly picks the symbols for a number of picks equal to the total number of picks associated with the picked selection in the game. In one aspect of this embodiment, the display device includes a touch screen and the gaming device enables the player to physically touch or press one of the selections to pick the selection in the game.
In one embodiment, the number of picks is determined in a game or subgame which includes a plurality of selections displayed by the display device where each of the selections includes at least one pick of the symbols or a terminator symbol. In a play of the game, the player picks one of the selections to reveal a number of picks of the symbols. A processor of the gaming device then randomly picks a number of symbols based on the probabilities associated with the symbols, where the number of picked symbols equals the number of picks associated with the picked selection. The awards associated with the symbols picked by the processor are added to the players total award in the game. In addition, the picked awards are eliminated from further selection in the game and may not be picked again in that game. By eliminating the picked awards from further selection in the game, the probability of picking each of the remaining symbols proportionately increases as described above. This facilitates a better chance for a player to receive the more valuable awards which initially have lower probabilities than less valuable awards.
The player continues to pick selections and receive picks of the symbols until the player picks the selection including the terminator symbol. When the player picks the selection including the terminator symbol, the game ends and the player receives the total award for the game. In another embodiment, the gaming device resets the selections after the player picks one of the selections in a game. Therefore, the gaming device displays a new set of selections or resets the selections prior to each pick of the selections by the player in the game.
In a further embodiment, the number of picks is randomly determined by a wheel displayed in the game. The wheel includes several sections where each of the sections includes at least one pick or a terminator symbol. The processor activates or spins the wheel and a section indicator indicates one of the sections on the wheel. The processor then provides the number of picks associated with the indicated section on the wheel to the player. Thus, it should be appreciated that the number of picks provided to a player in a game may be randomly determined, predetermined, based on the player's wager in the game or determined according to any suitable determination method.
In one embodiment, the award symbols include at least one relatively large award and a plurality of relatively small awards. In this embodiment, the probability associated with the symbol including the relatively large award is less than the probabilities associated with the symbols including the relatively small awards. In another aspect of this embodiment, the probability associated with the symbol including the relatively large award is less than a plurality of the probabilities associated with the symbols including the relatively small awards. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the probability associated with the symbol including the relatively large award is less than all of the probabilities associated with the symbols including the relatively small awards. In one embodiment, the relatively large award is a jackpot award. Although the symbol including the relatively large award generally has a lower probability than the probabilities associated with symbols including the relatively small awards, the probability of obtaining the large award proportionately increases as the player progresses in the game. Therefore, the probability that a player will obtain the relatively large award or jackpot award in a game increases as more awards are picked and eliminated from further selection in the game (assuming that the large award is not selected). This increases the level of excitement and enjoyment to the player.
In another embodiment, the plurality of symbols includes one or more terminator symbols. A probability of being selected by the processor is associated with each of the terminator symbols in a game as well as the symbols in the game. As a player progresses in the game, the probability of picking the terminator symbol proportionately increases because the picked symbols are eliminated from the game. In one aspect of this embodiment, the probability associated with the terminator symbol is greater than the probabilities associated with at least one of the symbols. In another aspect of this embodiment, the probability associated with the terminator symbol is greater than the probabilities associated with a plurality of the symbols. Associating one or more terminator symbols with the symbols, increases the chance of terminating the game versus achieving the larger awards in the game and provides additional excitement and enjoyment to the players.
In a further embodiment, the symbols are formed with different shapes or configurations. The shapes or configurations may be any suitable shapes or configurations and may be based on the theme of the game.
In an alternative embodiment, the selections include a number of picks of the symbols and at least one terminator. The player picks the selections based on the probabilities of being picked by the processor associated with the selections and receives a number of picks of the symbols for each picked selection. The gaming device provides an award or awards associated with each picked symbols. If the player picks a selection including a terminator, the gaming device ends the game and decreases the player's total award. In one embodiment, the gaming device decreases the total award by a predetermined amount such as decreasing the total award by 50% or by half. The gaming device then provides the decreased total award to the player. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may decrease the total award by a predetermined amount, a randomly determined amount or by any other suitable amount. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides a consolation award, which is less than the player's total award in the game. Thus, the player may accept the total award at any point in the game or risk all or a portion of the total award and continue picking selections in the game based on the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbols. The player attempts to increase their total award in the game while risking all or a portion of the total award with each pick of the selections.
Although the present invention is described with respect to a bonus game, it should be appreciated that the present invention may be employed as a primary game, or bonus game or any other suitable type of game in a gaming device.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device which proportionately increases the probabilities of picking awards in a game.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a gaming device that increases the probability of obtaining the relatively large awards in a game.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a gaming device that increases the probability of obtaining the jackpot award in the game.
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, and any of the bonus triggering events and bonus games associated with these primary games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device 10 may be in mechanical, electrical, electronic 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
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 or alternatively 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 are generally referred to herein as the “computer” or “controller.”
With reference to
In addition to winning credits in this manner, in one embodiment 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 begins 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 mechanical devices or 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
In one embodiment of the present invention, if a player achieves a bonus triggering or qualifying condition during the primary game, the gaming device 10 initiates the secondary or bonus game of the present invention.
Referring to
In a further embodiment, the gaming device or processor provides at least two picks to the player where the number of picks is less than the number of symbols displayed to the player in the game. In this embodiment, the processor randomly picks symbols in the game until the player runs out of picks. The numbers of picks associated with the selections are used by the processor to pick symbols from the plurality of symbols 100. It should be appreciated that the number of picks may be randomly determined, predetermined, based on a player's wager in the game or determined according to any suitable method. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a wheel (not shown) having a plurality of sections. Each of the sections includes at least one pick of the symbols in a game. The processor activates or spins the wheel and a section indicator randomly indicates one of the sections on the wheel. The processor then picks symbols according to the number of picks associated with the indicated section on the wheel.
In one embodiment, the player picks one of the selections from the plurality of selections and reveals a number of picks of the symbols in a game. The player continues to pick the selections until there are no selections remaining. In another embodiment, the gaming device resets the selections after each pick of the selections by the player. For example, the gaming device displays four selections in a game. The player picks one of the four selections to reveal a number of picks of the symbols in the game. The gaming device randomly picks the symbols based on the revealed number of picks and then resets the selections so that a new set of four selections are displayed to the player prior to the next pick by the player. The player continues to pick one selection from the reset sets of selections for a designated number of picks of the selections in the game. The designated number of picks of the selections may be randomly determined, predetermined, determined based on a wager made by the player in a game or determined according to any other suitable determination method.
In another embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of selections on a display device where each of the selections includes a total number of picks of the symbols in a game. For example, the player picks one of the selections and receives six picks of the symbols for the game. The gaming device randomly picks six of the symbols in the game and then the game ends. The player receives the total amount of the awards associated with the picked symbols in the game. In one embodiment, the display device includes a touch screen where the player may physically pick one of the selections by touching or pressing the selections on the screen.
In one embodiment, the symbols 100 are arranged in a grid as shown in
In this embodiment, the gaming device displays a number of selections 104 to the player. The selections 104 may include any desired number of selections. A number of picks 106 is randomly associated with each of the selections in the plurality of selections 104. The number of picks 106 associated with each selection are used by the processor to randomly select symbols from the plurality of symbols 100. In one embodiment, the number of picks are integers such as one, two or three. However, any suitable number of picks may be employed in a game. Additionally in this embodiment, the plurality of selections 104 include at least one terminator symbol 108. It should be appreciated that the selections may include one or more terminator symbols or no terminator symbols as desired by the game implementor.
Referring to
In the above embodiment, at the start of the game, the player has a one out of one hundred chance of receiving a symbol such as the award symbol including the award of one thousand as shown in the probability table 112 in
For example, if the player picks one of the selections 104 and receives two picks associated with that selection, then the player has two opportunities or picks to obtain two awards from the plurality of symbols such as award symbols 100. The processor uses the two picks and randomly selects two of the award symbols from the plurality of award symbols 100 based on the probabilities 116 associated with those award symbols as displayed in the probability table 112. As the probability table illustrates, the probabilities associated with each of the award symbols forms a proportionate share of the sum or total of all of the probabilities associated with the award symbols. As an example, the award symbol including the award of five has a proportionate share of (5/100) or 5% out of the total of the probabilities associated with all of the award symbols, which is initially, 100%. Therefore, initially, the processor is more likely to select an award symbol including one of the relatively small awards because the probabilities associated with the relatively small awards are greater than the other probabilities in the table.
As another example, if the processor randomly picks the awards of twenty-five and thirty, then those awards are eliminated from being selected again in the game. Since each of those awards has been eliminated from the game, the chances or probabilities of receiving the other awards in the game with subsequent picks increases proportionately. As described above, the probabilities increase proportionately because each probability forms a proportionate share of the sum of all of the probabilities associated with the symbols in the game. Therefore, when an award symbol is picked in a game, the award symbol and the probability associated with that award symbol are eliminated from the game. As a result, the total or sum of all of the probabilities associated with the remaining or unpicked symbols, decreases because two of the probabilities have been eliminated. Therefore, the proportionate share of the probabilities associated with the remaining or unpicked award symbols increases because the sum of all of the remaining probabilities decreases.
In another embodiment, the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbol or symbols proportionately increase after each pick of the symbols in the game. In a further embodiment, the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbol or symbols proportionately increase after a plurality of picks of the symbols in the game. In this embodiment, the probabilities remain constant until a designated number of symbols are picked in the game. Therefore, although each picked symbol is eliminated in the game, one or more picked symbols may be picked again in the game. In this situation, the gaming device enables the player to pick one or more different symbols such as an unpicked symbol if the player picks a previously picked symbol in the game.
In this example, when the game started, the probability of picking the award symbol including the award of one thousand was one out of 100 or 1% of the total probability, which is 100%. After the award symbols including the awards of twenty-five and thirty were picked and eliminated, the probability of picking the award of one thousand increases to one out of sixty or 1.67% (i.e, 1% out of 60%) as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Because the awards picked from the plurality of award symbols are eliminated from further selection in the game, the probabilities of the processor picking the remaining or unpicked award symbols increase proportionately as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
There is only one selection remaining in the game. The terminator symbol, however is associated with the selection and therefore there are no more picks remaining in the game. In one embodiment, if the terminator symbol is the only remaining selection left in the game, the game automatically ends when the terminator symbol is associated with the last remaining selection. In another embodiment, the player selects the final selection and reveals the terminator symbol. Then, the game ends and the player receives the total award indicating the total award display 110. In this example, the game automatically ends when the terminator symbol is associated with the only remaining selection. The player receives the total award of one thousand one hundred seventy-five as indicated in the total award display 110 and the game ends.
Referring to
In a further embodiment, the probabilities associated with the award symbols and/or the terminator symbol or symbols change after each random pick by the processor. The probabilities may change by a predetermined amount or a random amount. In another embodiment, the probability associated with the award symbols and/or the terminator symbols change after a plurality of picks by the processor. It should be appreciated that the probabilities may increase, decrease or remain unchanged after each pick or a plurality of picks by the processor. Additionally, the probabilities associated with the terminator symbol may be greater, the same as or less than the probabilities associated with one or more of the award symbols in a game.
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment, the present invention includes an offer and acceptance game. In this embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of symbols and a plurality of selections to the player. Each of the selections includes a number of picks of the symbols. In addition, at least one of the selections includes a terminator. The player picks the selections and the gaming device picks the number of symbols corresponding to the number of picks associated with each of the selections picked by the player in the game. The gaming device provides an award associated with each of the picked symbols to the player. However, if the player picks a selection including a terminator, the game ends and the gaming device decreases the player's total award in the game. In one embodiment, the gaming device decreases the player's total award by a predetermined amount such as decreasing the player's total award in half when the player picks a selection including a terminator. The gaming device provides the player with the decreased award and ends the game. It should be appreciated that the gaming device may decrease the total award by a predetermined amount, a randomly determined amount or by any suitable amount. In another embodiment, the gaming device provides a consolation award, which is less than the player's total award in the game. Thus, the player may accept the total award at any point in the game or risk all or a portion of the total award and continue picking selections in the game.
Although the present invention is described in a secondary or bonus game, it should be appreciated that the present invention may be employed in a primary or base game in the gaming device.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. It is thus to be understood that modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of this invention as defined in the claims, and that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the claims.
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