A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains 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 in particular to a gaming device having a game, such as a base or bonus game, with multiple selection groups that increase player excitement and enjoyment.
Gaming machines currently exist with 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, existing games will either award the player a bonus value or terminate the bonus round. The outcome depends upon the particular symbol selected by the player.
In one existing game, when the player selects a masked symbol that awards a bonus value, the player receives the value and is provided with another chance to select another masked symbol. Each time the player selects an award symbol, the game provides the associated award and prompts the player to make another selection. The player then selects another symbol and the process continues until the player selects a symbol that terminates the bonus round. When the player selects a masked end-bonus symbol, the game displays a message such as “COLLECT”. That message indicates that the bonus round has terminated, and the player collects any accrued values.
In the above type of game, the gaming device is programmed so that in each bonus round a certain number of symbols yield awards and a certain number of symbols end the game. The player selects value-associated outcomes from a finite number of selections until selecting an “end-bonus” outcome. While that game offers advantages in player appeal and excitement, there is a continuing need to develop new types of bonus games, which further enhance the level of player interaction, excitement and enjoyment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,995, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a game (‘the '995 game”) having multiple selection groups, wherein the player advances from one group to the next group when the player selects an advance symbol. That is, the player picks selections from a group until reaching an advance. In this game, the player wants to delay the pick of the advances as much as possible to collect as many awards in the group as possible before receiving the advance. Unlike the first game, however, when the player picks the advance in '995 game the player proceeds to another selection group rather than to an end game outcome. While the '995 game is entertaining for players, a need exists to develop new pick-until type games with multiple selection groups.
The present invention provides a game of a wagering gaming device that can be implemented as a base or primary game or as a bonus or secondary game triggered by the base or primary game. The game includes a plurality of selection groups and an advance award or a final jackpot award. The game provides the player with a designated number of picks with which the player uses to attempt to complete the selection groups to win the advance award or jackpot award. The number of picks in one embodiment is not enough to allow the player to pick: (i) once or (ii) more than once from every group. The game requires that a first advance or advance symbol be picked that yields or is aligned with or results in another advance or advance symbol from a selection of a subsequent group for the player to reach the advance award or jackpot. That is, the player has to pick an advance symbol from a first group that yields automatically an advance or advance symbol from a second group, which does not consume an additional one of the player's picks in that subsequent group. The dual advances enable the player to proceed through the second group (without consuming a second pick) to a third group or to the advance award or jackpot.
The present invention is played in one embodiment on a video monitor that operates in conjunction with a touch screen. The video monitor provides a screen that displays a number or plurality of selection groups. Those selection groups each contain a number or plurality of selections. The player picks one of the selections by touching the area displaying the desired selection. The touch screen senses the player's touch and sends a discrete output to the processor, which controls the gaming device, and which proceeds with the game according to the player's selection.
The gaming device is operable with any number of selection groups greater than or equal to two. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides three selection groups. Each selection is in one embodiment related to a selection in an adjacent (e.g., subsequent) group. In one embodiment illustrated below, the selection groups are aligned in rows and columns. The rows delineate the groups and linking between the various selections. The columns create the connection or relationships between selections of different groups. That is, each selection is related to the selection in the like column of the adjacent (previous or subsequent) group or row.
Using the example where three selection groups are provided, the gaming device in one embodiment provides the player with three picks. In one embodiment, the player can use all three picks in the selection groups and still win an advance award or jackpot at the end by advancing through all three groups. In one alternative embodiment, one of those picks is required to collect an advance award or jackpot, leaving the player with two picks to advance through each of the three groups.
In one embodiment, if the player is fortunate enough to only select advance symbols, the player reaches an advance award or jackpot award. However, if the player picks even one non-advance symbol, the game then requires the player to pick at least one advance symbol that is related to another selection in an adjacent group that also yields an advance symbol. When that happens, the game advances the player through the second group without consuming a player pick and makes-up for the player's picks of the non-advance symbol. When two advances are aligned in the same column of separate groups of selections, and the player selects one of the advances, the second aligned advance is also revealed because it resides in the same column (i.e., it is associated with a related or linked selection).
Upon selecting aligned or related advances, the player advances from the first group, through the second group, to the third group. If the selection in the third group that is related to or aligned with the advance symbol in the second group is likewise an advance symbol, the player advances through each of the three groups to the jackpot. It is therefore possible for the player to reach the advance award or jackpot after only one pick. Such a scenario requires that one column randomly draw all advances, and that the player picks that column. It is therefore contemplated to provide the player alternatively with only a single pick or two picks (and perhaps stack the selection groups with more advances) and still provide the player with an opportunity to reach the advance award or jackpot.
In one embodiment, it is more likely that two advances will be aligned, wherein the player has to use the second pick to find the advance in the third group. Or, the player needs two picks to advance to the second selection group and upon the third pick achieves two advances in a row to receive the jackpot.
In one embodiment, the player simply needs to reach the advance award or jackpot award to win it. In another embodiment, the player needs one pick at the end for the advance award or jackpot award. For example, a group of advance awards or jackpot awards could be provided, wherein the player wins one or a number of the advance awards or jackpot awards based on the number of player picks remaining. If the player needs one pick at the end, the provided number of picks can be adjusted accordingly.
When the player selects an advance and the related symbol in the adjacent group is not an advance, the gaming device operates in alternative ways. In one alternative embodiment, the gaming device automatically reveals the related symbol regardless of whether the symbol is an advance symbol or not. For example, if the related symbol is an award symbol, the gaming device reveals that award symbol and provides the associated award to the player. The player not only receives that award, but the gaming device eliminates that selection from its associated group, increasing the player's odds of picking a selection that yields an advance. In an alternative embodiment, when the adjacent related selection does not reveal an advance or advance symbol, the gaming device does not provide the award associated with the related symbol. Further, the gaming device does not reveal that symbol. In such a case, a new player who has not yet learned that because the symbol is not revealed, the symbol is not an advance symbol, may be apt to select that related symbol.
The awards associated with the symbols of the different selection groups are selected randomly, e.g., from weighted or non-weighted tables in one embodiment. Alternatively, the values are preset and consistent from game to game. The advance award or jackpot award can be likewise determined randomly or preset. If preset, the advance award or jackpot can be advertised by the gaming device.
In one embodiment, the awards increase in value as the player proceeds through the selection groups. In that manner, it is advantageous to select as many advances as possible even if the player is unable to reach the advance award or jackpot award. That is, it is advantageous for the player to use as many picks as possible in one embodiment in a subsequent selection group rather than in a prior selection group.
In one embodiment, each of the selections yields an award for the player, regardless of whether the selection also yields an advance. Further, in one embodiment, the earlier selection groups have a higher percentage of advances than do later selection groups. It is therefore more difficult to receive randomly an advance in a later selection group.
As stated above, a single advance award or jackpot award is provided in one embodiment. In other embodiments, a selection group containing a single advance award or jackpot award is provided. Further alternatively, a selection group containing a plurality of advance awards or jackpot awards are provided. In those latter embodiments, the player uses one or more final picks in hopes of achieving one or more advance awards or jackpot awards or the highest possible advance award or jackpot award.
The present invention also contemplates a number of other alternative embodiments. In one alternative embodiment, the player receives an additional award, e.g., a multiplier when the player advances through a selection group without picking from that selection group. That is, when the player receives a second advance in a second group as a result of picking a first advance in a first group, so that the player never picks from the second group, the player receives an extra bonus. The gaming device compensates for that loss of opportunity to pick from the second group by providing an extra bonus award, such as a multiplier. If the player skips through two groups, the gaming device can provide two multipliers or a higher valued multiplier.
In an additional alternative embodiment, the gaming device provides an extra bonus award in exchange for any picks that the player has remaining after receiving the jackpot award. For example, if the gaming device provides three total picks but the player only uses two picks to win the advance award or jackpot, the gaming device can award the player an extra credit or multiplier amount. If the player has two picks remaining, the player receives two additional awards, e.g., two multipliers or receives one additional larger award or multiplier.
While the gaming device is described as providing the player with an overall number of picks to be used for all selection groups, the picks can alternatively be distributed on a per group or level basis, such as one or two picks per group. The number of picks can vary from group to group, e.g., decrease as the player advances through the groups. In this “resetting” embodiment, the picks for each group can be predetermined or randomly determined.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a game with selection groups with alignable advances.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a game with a relatively high value advance or jackpot award.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a wagering game that is fun and exciting to play.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
The base games of the gaming device 10 include slot, poker, blackjack or keno, among others. The gaming device 10 also embodies any bonus triggering events, bonus games as well as any progressive game coordinating with these base games. The symbols and indicia used for any of the base, bonus and progressive games include mechanical, electrical or video symbols and indicia.
In a stand alone or a bonus embodiment, the gaming device 10 includes monetary input devices.
As shown in
Gaming device 10 also includes one or more displays. The embodiment shown in
The slot machine base game of gaming device 10 displays a plurality of reels 34, preferably three to five reels 34, in mechanical or video form on one or more of the displays. 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. If the reels 34 are in video form, the display displaying the video reels 34 is a video monitor. Each base game, especially in the slot machine base game of gaming device 10, includes speakers 36 for making sounds or playing music.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
In certain instances, it is preferable to use a touch screen 50 and an associated touch screen controller 52 instead of a conventional video monitor display. The touch screen enables a player to input decisions into the gaming device 10 by sending a discrete signal based on the area of the touch screen 50 that the player touches or presses. As further 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 also includes being implemented via one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's), one or more hard-wired devices, or one or more mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 preferably reside in each gaming device 10 unit, the present invention includes providing 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.
With reference to the slot machine base game of
In addition to winning base game credits, the gaming device 10, including any of the base games disclosed above, also includes bonus games that give players the opportunity to win credits. The gaming device 10 preferably employs a video-based display 30 or 32 for the bonus games. The bonus games include a program that automatically begins when the player achieves a qualifying condition in the base game.
In the slot machine embodiment, the qualifying condition includes a particular symbol or symbol combination generated on a display. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in
Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, one example of the multiple selection group game of the present invention is illustrated. FIGS. 3 to 5 are each screen shots of one of the display devices 30 or 32 described above in connection with gaming devices 10a and 10b of
Each of the selection groups 62 to 66 has an associated picks meter 68. Picks meter 68 tracks the number of picks the player makes in each group 62 to 66. A jackpot award 70 is shown below the selection groups 62 to 66. In the illustration that follows, the player picks sequentially from groups 62 to 66 with the goal of reaching jackpot award 70. FIGS. 3 to 5 include a visual, audio or audiovisual message 82 to the player that the player needs to catch one or more falling stars all the way to the jackpot.
The screen shots of FIGS. 3 to 5 also show a number of displays. The bet display 22 discussed above in connection with
The processor 38 operates to place award symbols and advance symbols behind each of the masked selections 60a to 60r. The generation or random generation takes place in one of a plurality of different ways. In one way, gaming device 10 randomly assigns award symbols and advances to each of the selections 60a to 60r prior to any picks by the player. In another embodiment, gaming device 10 randomly assigns award symbols and advances to an order which the player picks. That is, the actual selection 60a to 60r that the player picks is not determinable, rather, the pick itself is randomly determined to be a particular award, an advance or an award in combination with an advance symbol. In another embodiment, gaming device 10 randomly generates an outcome immediately after the player picks a selection. In any of the embodiments for randomly associating outcomes, suitable weighted probabilities can be used to determine whether the player receives an award, an advance, or an award in combination with an advance. Still further alternatively, the awards are preset and the same for at least two consecutive plays of gaming device 10. The embodiments are each transparent to the player, making the game appear to be the same.
After the player picks selection 60c, picks meter 68 for the selection group 62 increments to show one pick has been made. The win display 72 shows the win of credits, which is totaled in display 74. The picks remaining indicator 76 in
Returning to the illustrated game, the pick of the selection 60d causes a number of displays to update on display device 30 or 32. The picks meter 68 for selection group 62 increments to show the player has consumed two picks in the selection group 62. The picks remaining indicator 76 is shown transitioning from two picks remaining to one pick. Win display 72 shows that the player has won ten credits via the pick of selection 60d, and display 74 shows an accumulated total win of fifteen credits.
Referring now to
Because the value thirty associated with symbol 60j, revealed automatically by advance 80a, is not itself an advance symbol, player 78 must now pick from group 64 until picking an advance or until exhausting all picks. However, because the thirty value of symbol 60j is revealed and removed from possibility, the player's chances of picking an advance symbol in group 64 are increased. As illustrated, the player has to use the third of three total picks in group 64, requiring the player to “hit” or generate two advances in a row to reach jackpot award 70. As stated above, in an alternative embodiment the player's picks are reset or are replenished upon reaching the new group 64.
As seen in
In the example of the game of FIGS. 3 to 5, the player is not able to obtain a jackpot award 70 at least in part because the selection 60j of group 64, which is related spatially to the selection 60d of group 62, does not yield an advance symbol and because the symbol 60n reveals only a credit or award value and not additionally an advance symbol. As shown in more detail below, if selection 60j yields an advance symbol, the player passes through group 64 automatically without consuming one of the player's picks. Instead, because selection 60j does not yield an advance symbol, the player is forced to use the last of the player's selections in group 64. Because that last selection 60n does not produce an advance symbol, the player does not receive jackpot 70.
In an alternative embodiment, gaming device 10 does not, in the above example, reveal or award the player the award associated with selection 60j. Here, the player could still attempt to pick selection 60j. In that alternative embodiment, however, gaming device 10 would reveal an advance symbol associated with selection 60j and provide any associated award to the player.
Various embodiments exist for when the player selects an advance on the final pick. In the illustrated embodiment, gaming device 10 does reveal the related symbol or value of the subsequent group 66, namely, the symbol associated with selection 60n, which in the illustrated embodiment is one hundred, as shown in win display 72, and which is in the same column as selection 60h and advance symbol 80b. The player's overall award is therefore one hundred sixty-five as illustrated in total win display 74. Alternatively, gaming device 10 does not reveal and provide the one-hundred award associated with the selection 60n of selection group 66. That award is not provided to the player, yielding a total win of only sixty-five or thirty-five as seen alternatively in total win display 74, depending upon whether the player also receives the thirty value associated with selection 60j.
In the game of FIGS. 3 to 5, if the selection 60n of group 66, which is related to the selection 60h of group 64, instead yields additionally an advance symbol, the player wins the jackpot award 70 because the player does not need an additional pick to achieve the jackpot award 70. In an alternative embodiment, such as when multiple jackpot awards 70 are provided, the player may be required to have a pick remaining to win such one or more jackpot awards. In that alternative scenario, if the player is forced to use the player's the final pick in one of the groups 62 to 66, the player cannot win jackpot award 70.
In FIGS. 3 to 5, the selections of the groups 62 to 66 are related via the spatial relationship between symbols of like columns. That is, each symbol is related to at least one other symbol of the same column. As illustrated below in FIGS. 11 to 14, the selections 60a to 60r can be related in other suitable ways. Those relationships can be predetermined or randomly determined in accordance with the present invention. Further, as discussed above, the advance symbol alternatively indicates, points to or otherwise designates the symbol of another group to reveal, wherein that pointed to, indicated or designated symbol is not necessarily a related symbol. The non-related symbol can be chosen randomly from a sub-set of the symbol's associated group or from the entire group.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 8, another example of the game of the present invention is illustrated. The player wins the jackpot award in this example. FIGS. 6 to 8 include each of the components described above including the selection groups 62 to 66 having the selections 60a through 60r. Each group 62 to 66 is associated with a picks meter 68. As before, the player plays the game of FIGS. 6 to 8 hoping to navigate through groups 62 to 66 to win the jackpot 70.
In FIGS. 6 to 8, the display device 30 or 32 provides the displays described above including the credit meter 16, the total bet display 22, the win display 72, the total win display 74, and the picks remaining indicator 76. The screen shots also include message 82 informing the player that advances are needed to win the jackpot award 70. Gaming device 10 provides suitable audio, visual or audiovisual messages to the player at various times throughout the sequence shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 to guide the player and inform the player of the selection groups 62 to 66 from which the player should pick.
In
The win meter 72 and the total win display 74 shows that the player achieves a total win of two hundred ten credits with the single pick of selection 60d, which includes the combination of the award ten from selection 60d, the award fifty from the automatically revealed selection 60j and the award one hundred fifty from the automatically revealed selection 60p (obtained via reveal 80b). In the illustrated embodiment, the awards are added together. In alternative embodiments, one or more of the awards can be a multiplier, wherein the awards are multiplied. Further, in certain embodiments the player can be awarded an extra bonus, e.g., a multiplier or credit value for the group, e.g., group 64, that was passed-over by the multiple or aligned advances 80 (referring collectively to advances 80a, 80b, etc.) Further alternatively, because selection 60p does not yield an advance, the selection is alternatively not revealed and the player begins with a fresh group 66 of selections with none revealed.
The selection 60p of group 66, which is the symbol of group 66 related to selection 60j of group 64, is not associated with an advance symbol. As discussed above, gaming device 10 may or may not upon activating the advance 80b reveal and/or provide an award symbol (if one exists) associated with selection 60p. In the illustrated embodiment, gaming device 10 does not reveal and provide the award associated with selection 60p.
Because the player has advanced through each of the groups 62 to 66, the player wins the jackpot award as shown in
Referring now to
In the embodiment of
As illustrated, player 78 picks the selection 60d that yields the award of ten and the advance symbol 80a. Because the related or indicated symbol 60j of group 64 is associated with advance 80b, gaming device 10 automatically reveals and provides the award of fifty and the advance 80b to the player. Further, because the related or indicated selection 60p of group 66 is associated with the advance 80c, gaming device 10 reveals and provides the award of one hundred and the advance symbol 80c associated with selection 60p to the player.
As seen in
Referring now to
It should be appreciated from
Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 14, various screen displays of video monitor 30 or 32 show different embodiments for relating or associating different selections of different groups. That is, up until now, the selections have been indicated by the advance symbol 80 or related by residing in the same column as other selections of different groups, which are separated into rows. Alternatively, the groups are organized into columns, wherein the selections are related by being in the same row as the selection of another group.
The paths can have a variety of different shapes and lengths. It should be appreciated therefore that related symbols do not have to be aligned but can be placed anywhere on the display device 30 and 32 and be linked via a path.
As seen above, it is possible for the player to reach the jackpot award group 170 with two picks remaining. In an embodiment, gaming device 10 enables the player to use both picks to select jackpot awards. In another alternative embodiment, the gaming device does not require a player pick for the jackpot award 170 and instead generates one and only one or less than all the awards 170a to 170c.
Referring now to
Referring now to
FIGS. 12 to 15 illustrate certain examples of a myriad of ways to relate or associate selections of different groups with one another. Other ways include symbols or indicia, such as selections related by color, selections related by hatching, selections by size or image or via any combination of the above-described embodiments.
In a further alternative embodiment, gaming device 10 does not visually link related selections from different groups. Instead, gaming device 10 selects randomly a selection from the next group when the player receives an advance symbol in a previous group. Here, gaming device 10 preferably reveals the award or award and advance of the randomly selected selection in the subsequent group. In that way, the player knows what has happened when the player receives an advance symbol in the previous group. If the randomly selected symbol from the next group is likewise an advance symbol, gaming device 10 then randomly picks a selection from the next designated selection group. It should be appreciated that additional outcomes, such as awards, can be associated with the alignment of two or more advances.
In an alternative embodiment, the group which contains the advance, jackpot, target or best award or outcome can have just that outcome or have a plurality of selections with one or more selections having such outcomes. That enables the game designer to vary the odds of achieving such outcome in any desirable manner. That also enables the game to include more advances in the groups so that it is more likely that the player gets to the final group, which is more exciting for the player.
It should also be appreciated that in addition to or instead of the number of picks provided to the player, the selection game of the present invention can include one or more terminators associated with the selections, which function to end the game.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
This application relates to the following co-pending commonly owned application: “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION GROUPS,” Ser. No. 09/656,702, Attorney Docket No. 0112300-008, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,995; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION GROUPS,” Ser. No. 10/195,292, Attorney Docket No. 0112300-1011, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,854 B2; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SELECTION GROUPS WITH WIN-GROUP OUTCOMES,” Ser. No. 09/981,084, Attorney Docket No. 0112300-473; “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION GROUPS,” Ser. No. 10/243,047, Attorney Docket No. 0112300-1068; and “GAMING DEVICE HAVING A BONUS SCHEME WITH MULTIPLE SELECTION GROUPS,” Ser. No. 10/623,421, Attorney Docket No. 0112300-1450.