Patent Grant
7314409
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 an accumulated award selection bonus scheme wherein the accumulated award includes a plurality of other awards.
Gaming device manufacturers constantly strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment and excitement to players as possible. Gaming devices such as slot machines, having primary and secondary or bonus games or schemes are well known. 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 or primary game of the gaming device is one way to enhance player enjoyment and excitement.
Gaming devices having bonus games generally employ a triggering event that occurs during play of the base game. 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. In most instances, the bonus game is relatively short in relation to the time that the player spends repeatedly playing the base game.
Known gaming machines have bonus schemes in which the player has one or more opportunities to choose a particular selection or symbol from a group of symbols. When a player chooses a symbol, the game will either award the player a bonus value or terminate the bonus round. The outcome, thus, depends upon the particular symbol selected by the player. In such games, when the player selects a symbol that awards a bonus value (hereinafter referred to as “award indicator”), the player receives the value, and the player has another chance to select another symbol. Each time the player selects an award indicator, the game prompts the player to make another selection. The bonus game continues and the player may choose another symbol. The player then selects another symbol, and this process continues until the player selects a symbol which terminates the bonus game (hereinafter referred to as a “terminator”). When the player selects a terminator, typically the game ends and the player collects any bonus values that the player accumulated in that bonus round. In this type of game, the potential amount of the award is limited by the terminators.
While such bonus schemes offer advantages in player appeal and excitement, there is a continuing need to develop new types of bonus games that allow players to accumulate larger awards and increase the level of player excitement and enjoyment.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device having an accumulated award selection bonus scheme. The game displays a plurality of selections to the player. In one embodiment, an award or an accumulated award is associated with each selection. The game provides the player with a number of picks of the selections. If the player picks a selection that has an associated award, the player receives that associated award. If the player picks a selection that has an accumulated award, the player receives an accumulated award based on a plurality of selections related to or associated with the accumulated award selection. In one embodiment, the accumulated award includes the awards that are associated with the selections that are directly adjacent to the accumulated award selection. The player continues to pick selections until the player has no remaining picks. In one alternative embodiment, the game includes one or more terminators associated with the selections. In this embodiment, the player picks selections until there are no picks remaining or until the player selects a selection having a terminator associated with the selections. In one embodiment, the selections are arranged in a grid wherein the accumulated award includes the awards associated with the selections in the grid which are adjacent to the accumulated award selections.
In a further embodiment, the game displays a plurality of sequential selection sets to a player. The selection sets include awards, accumulated awards, transformers, promoters and terminators. As indicated above, an accumulated award provides several awards to the player where the awards are a combination of awards from associated selections. As indicated above, a terminator ends the game. A transformer changes or transforms a terminator into an accumulated award. If a player picks the transformer selection, the player keeps or banks the transformer until a terminator is picked. When a terminator is picked, the transformer changes the terminator into an accumulated award. A promoter enables a player to skip a selection set and make another pick from the plurality of selections in the next or a subsequent selection set. The player's goal is to obtain as many awards as possible before picking a selection having an associated terminator.
In an alternative embodiment, the present invention relates in general to a gaming device having a game such a secondary or bonus game, and more particularly to a gaming device having a game including a plurality of matingly connected indicators and a plurality of selections including those indicators. In one alternative embodiment, the indicators are matingly connected puzzle pieces which form a puzzle. Initially, the indicators associated with the selections are masked or hidden to the player. The player picks the selections and the gaming device reveals one or more indicators such as one or more puzzle pieces corresponding to an indicator such as a puzzle piece in the indicator group such as the puzzle. Once a puzzle piece is revealed, the corresponding puzzle piece is revealed along with any awards associated with that puzzle piece. The player continues to pick selections until the player obtains a designated combination or section of puzzle pieces. After completing the combination, the player receives any awards associated with the puzzle pieces in the combination. In one embodiment, the player also receives the awards associated with the matingly connected puzzle pieces which were previously selected by the player.
More specifically, in one embodiment, several puzzle pieces and selections are displayed to a player. The puzzle pieces each include at least one award such as values, credits, multipliers, free picks, free spins, free games, game elements or any other desired values. A predetermined or designated combination of puzzle pieces is required to complete the game. The combinations may be rows, columns, or any other suitable section of the puzzle. The player picks selections attempting to obtain desirable combinations of the puzzle pieces (i.e., combinations of puzzle pieces resulting in larger awards) and avoid obtaining undesirable combinations (i.e., combinations of puzzle pieces resulting in smaller awards). After each pick, a puzzle piece is revealed in the puzzle. Furthermore, an award associated with that puzzle piece is displayed to the player. The player continues to pick selections until they obtain a designated combination or section of the puzzle piece. Once the player obtains a designated combination or section of the puzzle piece, the game ends. In one embodiment, the player is awarded the total value of the matingly connected puzzle pieces in the completely designated combination.
In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the player receives additional awards for obtaining a designated combination. Once the player obtains a combination, the player is awarded the total value of the awards associated with the picked puzzle pieces in that combination. In addition, the player receives the total value of any awards associated with any puzzle pieces that are matingly connected to the completed combination. Thus, in this embodiment, the player is not only limited to the awards associated with the designated combination. The player also receives the awards associated with any matingly connected pieces to that designated combination that were picked by the player.
In another embodiment, the indicator display or puzzle includes at least one puzzle piece which is repeated two or more times in the puzzle. In other words, the puzzle pieces in the puzzle include a predefined or predetermined relationship. In one aspect of this embodiment, the puzzle includes two or more identical puzzle pieces. In this embodiment a single selection may reveal one puzzle piece or a plurality of puzzle pieces in the puzzle. This adds excitement and enjoyment for the player because the player may pick selection which reveals several puzzle pieces in the puzzles and thereby provides the player with multiple awards for a single selection. It should be appreciated that one puzzle piece or a plurality of puzzle pieces may be repeated in a puzzle.
In a further embodiment, a selection in the selection display may include two or more puzzle pieces in a puzzle. In this embodiment, the puzzle pieces associated with the selection may be the same or identical puzzle pieces or different puzzle pieces. In this embodiment, the player obtains a plurality of puzzle pieces for a single pick of the selections in the selection display. As described above, this also adds excitement and enjoyment for the player in a game.
In another alternative embodiment, certain sections of the puzzle are associated with awards. In one aspect of this embodiment, at least one of the rows of interconnected puzzle pieces are associated with a row award and at least one of the columns including interconnected puzzle pieces in the puzzle are associated with a column award. In another embodiment, each of the rows is associated with a row award and each of the columns is associated with a column award. The player picks selections to reveal puzzle pieces until all of the puzzle pieces associated with a designated section such as a row or a column are revealed or obtained by the player. The player receives all of the awards associated with the puzzle pieces which form the designated row or column. In addition, the player receives the row award or column award associated with the completed designated section. In one embodiment, the row award or column award received by the player is added to the awards associated with the puzzle pieces which form the completed designated row or column. In another embodiment, the row or column award is used to modify such as multiply the accumulated awards from the puzzle pieces which form the completed designated row or column. It should be appreciated that the row or column award may be any suitable award and may modify the accumulated awards associated with the puzzle pieces that form the completed designated section in any suitable manner.
In a further alternative embodiment, the puzzle initially displayed to the player at the beginning of a game includes puzzle pieces having awards which are visible or viewable by the player. Thus, the player can see or view the awards associated with the each of the puzzle pieces in the puzzle before the player obtains any of the puzzle pieces. The player then can root for or particular puzzle pieces in the puzzle in order to obtain a large award or a relatively large award in the game. This adds further excitement and enjoyment for the player in a game.
Although the present invention is discussed relative to a bonus game of a gaming machine, it should be appreciated that the present invention could be employed as a primary game in a gaming device.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device with an accumulated award selection bonus game.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a bonus game that enables players to accumulate larger awards from a single selection.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a selectable combination bonus game that enables players to pick selections to obtain one of several interconnected combinations.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a bonus game that enables players to receive awards for obtaining interconnected combinations.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a bonus game that enables players to receive larger awards.
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 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, electrical or video form.
As illustrated in
As shown in
At any time during the game, 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 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 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, preferably 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 preferably uses a video-based central display device 30 to enable the player to play the bonus round. Preferably, 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 gaming device includes a selector (such as a touch screen or electro-mechanical device as indicated above) which is connected to or in communication with the processor which enables the player to select the selections.
If the player picks an award 104, they receive the value of the award. In one embodiment, the award is designated by a number such as a number of credits as shown in
The player may pick a selection that reveals an accumulated award 106. The accumulated award turns a single player selection into a larger award than associated with the selection picked by the player. When a player picks a selection that reveals an accumulated award in one embodiment, the player receives the award values for all of the selections that are adjacent to the selection having the accumulated award. In some circumstances, as in
The accumulated award may be designated by any symbol, number, sound or character as desired by the game implementor. Preferably, the accumulated award is designated by a symbol or shape that corresponds with the theme of the game. Also, it should be appreciated that the accumulated award may include other values besides the award values of the adjacent selections. The accumulated award may be an award associated with the selection having the accumulated award, and may also include the awards from the selections that are in the same row or column as the selection having the accumulated award in the embodiment where the selections are in a column and row format. The accumulated award may also include any defined grouping of selections as desired by the implementor. For example, the accumulated award may include the awards from selections that are diagonal to the accumulated award, or only the selections that are below the accumulated award, if any. An accumulated award may also include another accumulated award, triggered by the first accumulated award.
The pick display 108 indicates how many picks are remaining in a game. Because the player starts a game with a limited number of picks, the player will continue to pick selections until there are no picks remaining in the game as displayed by pick display 108. When pick display 108 equals zero, the game ends. The player's goal is to accumulate as many awards as possible before running out of picks. In an alternative embodiment, a terminator is also associated with the one or more of the selections having the accumulated awards. When a selection having an accumulated award and a terminator is selected, the accumulated award is provided to the player and the game ends. One or more anti-terminators which are accumulated by the processor may be employed to nullify the effect of a terminator associated with one of the selections.
Now referring to
The player starts the game with five picks as shown in pick display 108. Thus, the player will pick five selections in the game. It should be appreciated that an award may include additional picks, opportunities, or other awards that extend the game. The pick display 108 will include any additional picks that the player receives during the game. The player picks selections until all of their original and additional picks are gone.
The player initially does not have any awards in the game as indicated by award display 110. In some games, the player may have an award or awards to start a game. The awards are acquired in previous games and remain with the player until the player is done playing the gaming device. However, the player starts out this game with zero and will attempt to obtain awards while picking selections in the game.
Referring now to
In
Referring to
In the above embodiment, an accumulated award 116 revealed another accumulated award 118. Each award associated with the selections adjacent to the accumulated awards are provided to the player. Overlapping awards 119 are counted one time. Therefore, the total award for picking the selection having the accumulated award 116 is fifty-five (where the accumulated awards do not have associated awards). In an alternative embodiment, the overlapping awards 119 are counted twice. The player receives an award value of fifteen for the overlapping awards 119 after picking the accumulated award 116. Then the player receives another award of fifteen for the same overlapping awards 119 associated with the second accumulated award 118. Therefore in the alternative embodiment, the player receives a total award of seventy for picking the accumulated award 116. It should also be appreciated that each accumulated award could include an award associated with the selection of the accumulated award symbol.
A player receives a much larger award for each accumulated award. Therefore, a game that reveals multiple accumulated awards after only one pick by a player creates enhanced levels of player excitement. It should be appreciated that the number of accumulated awards is only limited by the number of selections. Each accumulated award may reveal zero, one or more accumulated awards in addition to awards of related selections.
In
Referring now to
Referring to
In
In one embodiment of the present invention, a player receives an extra award for completing a row, column or other predefined area in the plurality of selections 102. For example, if a player picks a number of selections 102 that complete a row in the selection matrix, the player receives an extra award in addition to the total awards associated with the revealed selections.
In another embodiment, the plurality of selections 102 include one or more terminators. In this embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to pick selections and obtain awards until the player picks a terminator. If the player picks a terminator, the game ends.
Now referring to
One embodiment includes terminators 132, promoters 134 and transformers 136 associated with the selections. As described in relation to the above embodiment, when a player picks a selection, the player receives an award associated with that selection. If the player picks a selection having an accumulated award 138, the player receives the awards associated with the selections 102 in the selection set of the picked selection. Thus, the selections in a selection set are related for determining the accumulated award. In one embodiment, the game reveals each selection in the respective selection set that includes the accumulated award selection. In another embodiment, each selection set has a plurality of selections and an accumulated award reveals the awards associated with the selections directly adjacent (or otherwise related) to the associated award selection.
If a terminator 132 is associated with a selection, the game ends when the terminator selection is picked by the player. However, if a player picks a transformer 136 before picking a terminator, the transformer changes the terminator into an accumulated award. If this occurs, the player receives the awards associated with the selections 102 in the selection set. In other words, the terminator becomes an accumulated award after it is changed by a transformer 136. In one embodiment, each transformer 136 changes one terminator 132. However, it is contemplated that a single transformer may change one or more terminators in a game.
The promoter 134 causes a player to skip a selection set and move closer to the end 103m. After a player skips a selection set, they receive another opportunity to pick a selection 102 in the next selection set. In one embodiment, the player does not lose a pick by obtaining the promoter. In one embodiment, the promoter skips only one set 103. However, it should be appreciated that a promoter may cause a player to skip one or more sets as desired by the implementor.
A player's goal is to reach the final selection set, which in this example is selection set 103m, while accumulating as many awards as possible before running out of picks. In one embodiment, the player receives a number of picks that enable that player to possibly reach the final selection set 103m if the player picks the correct selections to achieve this result. In another embodiment, the picks may be designated arbitrarily or randomly, such that a player may need one or more promoters to reach the final selection set because the player does not have enough picks at the beginning of the game to successfully pick a selection in each selection set to reach the final selection set.
In
Now referring to
Specifically referring to
The player picks the second selection 144 in the second selection set 103b as illustrated in
Referring now to
The transformer changes a terminator into an accumulated award. The transformer also acts like a free pick in the game by allowing the player to continue to pick selections even though the player picked a terminator. Normally, the terminator ends the game but with a transformer, the terminator reveals selections the same as an accumulated award. Until the player needs the transformer, it will be shown on display 30, 32 or on a separate display (not shown) to indicate that the player has a transformer or transformers to use in the game if the player should pick a terminator selection.
In one embodiment, the number of transformers obtained by a player is indicated on one of the display devices by displaying the same number of transformer symbols on the display device. For example, if the player selects two transformer symbols in a game, the display device will display two transformer symbols. If the player uses one of the transformers during the game, the display will display one transformer symbol to indicate to the player that the player only has one transformer remaining in the game. In another embodiment, the number of transformers obtained by the player is indicated by a transformer display that is similar to the pick display 108. In this embodiment, if the player obtains two transformers during the game, the transformer display will display the number two in the transformer display.
If the player obtains more than one transformer, each transformer is displayed to the player until the transformer is used in the game. The player's award total remains unchanged and the player now has two picks remaining in the game as shown in pick display 108.
Referring to
In
It should be appreciated that the processor of the gaming device preferably randomly assigns the awards, accumulated awards, terminators, transformers and promoters to the selections each time the game is played. The processor could make these assignments from tables, based on weighted probabilities, or distributions, or in any other suitable manner.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the value of the awards associated with the selections in the selection sets increase as a player progresses to each subsequent set in the selection set pattern. For example, the maximum award in the first selection set is one. Then, the maximum award in the second selection set is five. As the player advances to a new selection set, the award associated with each new selection set increases by a predetermined amount. The player advances through the pattern until the player reaches the last selection set in the pattern, where the maximum award is one hundred. It should be appreciated that the award may increase by a predetermined amount or by a random amount. In this embodiment, a player's excitement and entertainment level increases as the player advances through the pattern of selection sets. It should also be appreciated that the ranges of awards could vary and the average values in each set could vary.
In one alternative embodiment, the chance, percentage or probability of termination may vary. In one such embodiment, the chance, percentage or probability of termination increases as the player advances through each set or group of selections. In another such embodiment, the chance, percentage or probability of termination is randomly determined or selected from a pool of such percentages for each set or group of selections.
An alternative embodiment of the bonus game of the present invention is generally illustrated in
In one embodiment, the puzzle pieces 202 which form the puzzle are all different. In another embodiment, the puzzle pieces include a predefined or predetermined relationship. In one aspect of this embodiment, at least two of the puzzle pieces in the puzzle are the same. In another aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of the puzzle pieces in the puzzle are the same. It should be appreciated that at least two of the puzzle pieces, a plurality of the puzzle pieces or all of the puzzle pieces may be different.
The game also includes a selection display 204. In one embodiment, the selection display includes a plurality of selections 206, each of which are associated with an indicator or puzzle piece 202. For example, selection 208 is associated with puzzle piece 210. Preferably, each selection is associated with one or more puzzle pieces 202. However, it should be appreciated that a selection may be associated with values, spins, credits or multipliers as well as puzzle pieces 202. As described above, the puzzle pieces such as the puzzle piece associated with selection 208 are initially masked or hidden from the player. Each puzzle piece 202 is revealed after a player picks the corresponding selection 206 including the puzzle piece from the selection display 204.
The gaming device also includes an instruction display 213 which provides instructions and/or messages to the player in a game. The instruction display 213 may display any suitable instructions or messages to the player. Additionally, the gaming device includes an award display 212 that indicates the value of the awards that the player has accumulated in a game.
At the start of a game, the processor 38 randomly generates a puzzle 200 including several interconnected or matingly connected puzzle pieces 202. A player then picks one selection 206 from the selection display 204. Once a player picks a selection 206, the picked selection reveals a puzzle piece that matches a puzzle piece 202 on indicator display 200. The player receives the award, if any, associated with the picked puzzle piece 202. As described above, the award may be credits, free spins, free games, values, multipliers, game elements or any other suitable award or outcome. In addition, the awards may be weighted such that a player is more likely to receive one award than another award.
The object of the game is to complete a designated section of the puzzle 200 while accumulating awards during the game. The completed designated section may be a row, column or any other suitable section of the puzzle designated by the game implementor, and may vary with each game. In one embodiment, the player continues to pick selections 206 until they complete a designated section of puzzle pieces 202, such as a row or column of puzzle pieces. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides the awards associated with the puzzle pieces which form the completed row or column and any indicated puzzle pieces which are directly or matingly connected to any of the puzzle pieces of the completed row or column.
Referring to
In this example, the instruction display 213 instructs the player to “Pick One of the Selections” in the section display 204. The player picks selection 214 which reveals puzzle piece 216. Puzzle piece 216 has a value of ten. The award or awards associated with the revealed puzzle pieces are transferred to the player when the player obtains or reveals a designated section of puzzle pieces in the puzzle. Because the player has not completed a designated section of puzzle pieces in the game, the total award indicated by the total award display 212 remains at zero. In this example, the picked selection 214 is highlighted and remains visible to the player during the game. Similarly, the corresponding puzzle piece 216 is highlighted so that the player can see the section or sections that they are trying to complete. Preferably, the picked puzzle pieces and values remain visible to the player. However it should be appreciated that only the puzzle pieces may be viewable by the player, and not the associated values of the puzzle pieces. The player now has one piece of the puzzle and must continue picking selections until the player completes a designated section (i.e., a row or column) of the puzzle.
In
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As illustrated by this example, the player receives the total award for the completed designated section or row including puzzle pieces 236, 216, 224 and 228, and any puzzle pieces matingly connected to that row, which are puzzle pieces 220 and 232. However, it should be appreciated that a player may receive the total award for the completed designated section only, and not the awards from the puzzle pieces which are matingly connected to the completed designated section. For example, the player would have received a total award of forty-five instead of seventy-five without including the awards from the matingly connected puzzle pieces which are not part of the completed row. Therefore, a game implementor may vary the award possibilities as desired.
In another alternative embodiment, each of the pieces of the puzzle which are the puzzle 200 include awards which are visible or viewable by the player. The player can then root for certain puzzle pieces to be revealed when the player picks the selections 206 because those pieces are associated with a desirable award or awards such as a large award. It should be appreciated that a single puzzle piece, a plurality of puzzle pieces or all of the puzzle pieces may include a visible or viewable award in a game.
Referring now to
In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the selections 206 in the selection display 204 include a plurality of puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces may be the same or identical puzzle pieces or different puzzle pieces. In this embodiment, the player obtains a plurality of puzzle pieces in the puzzle 200 by picking a single selection 206 in the selection display 204. Similar to the embodiment described above, the players excitement and enjoyment of the game increases because the player obtains a plurality of puzzle pieces in the puzzle from a single pick of the plurality of selections in the selection display 204.
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
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 of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/963,721, filed Sep. 26, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,137, which incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to the following commonly-owned patent applications: “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION GROUPS,” Ser. No. 09/656,702, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,995; “GAMING DEVICE WITH BONUS SCHEME HAVING MULTIPLE AWARD LEVELS,” Ser. No. 09/602,140, “GAMING DEVICE HAVING BONUS SCHEME WITH INCREMENTAL VALUE DISCLOSURE,” Ser. No. 09/627,198, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE WITH BONUS SCHEME PROVIDING INCREASED REWARD FOR SELECTING RELATED SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/605,023, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A MULTIPLE SELECTION GROUP BONUS ROUND,” Ser. No. 09/605,107, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,375; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN AWARD THROUGH AWARD ELIMINATION OR REPLACEMENT,” Ser. No. 09/686,283, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,161; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING RELATED MULTI-GAME BONUS SCHEME,” Ser. No. 09/688,972, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE INCLUDING AWARDS THAT GENERATE ANOTHER AWARD,” Ser. No. 09/605,107, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A RE-TRIGGERING SYMBOLS BONUS SCHEME,” Ser. No. 09/981,133, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE WITH A BONUS SCHEME HAVING REPEATED SELECTION OF VALUE SETS WITH OPTION TO SAVE VALUES,” Ser. No. 09/684,533, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,582; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SELECTION GROUPS WITH WIN-GROUP OUTCOMES,” Ser. No. 09/981,084, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING DUAL EVALUATION SCHEME,” Ser. No. 09/687,689, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING AN ELEMENT AND ELEMENT GROUP SELECTION AND ELIMINATION BONUS SCHEME,” Ser. No. 09/689,381, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING ACHIEVEMENT CRITERIA FOR ADVANCEMENT,” Ser. No. 09/960,784, now pending; “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING GENERATED VALUES TO DETERMINE AN AWARD IN A GAMING DEVICE,” Ser. No. 09/957,018, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING AN AWARD DISTRIBUTOR AND AN AWARD ACCUMULATOR BONUS GAME,” Ser. No. 09/682,369, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A RE-TRIGGERING SYMBOL BONUS SCHEME WITH A BONUS SYMBOL ACCUMULATOR,” Ser. No. 10/071,441, now pending; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING AN INDICATOR SELECTION WITH PROBABILITY-BASED OUTCOME,” Ser. No. 09/990,693, now pending; and “GAMING DEVICE WITH SIGNIFIED SYMBOLS,” Ser. No. 09/990,484, now pending.
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