Patent Grant
7470189
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.
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 game in a gaming device in which a player picks selections to obtain gaming device awards until no selections remain or until a termination variable ends the game.
In gaming machines, the games must come to an end. In a slot machine game, the game ends when the reels stop and the gaming device analyzes the symbol positions to determine if one or more winning outcomes exist. In a poker game, the game randomly deals cards, the player has one or more opportunities to randomly generate one or more new cards and the player wins or loses based on the final combination of cards. In blackjack, the player's card values add until the player's hand beats the dealer's hand, loses to the dealer's hand or busts.
In each of these well known games, the game ends after a number of random generations. In slot, the game ends after one random generation. In poker, the game ends after one, two or more random generations, depending on the type of poker game. In blackjack, the number of generations varies, but has a limit; namely, the number accumulates until the card denominations add to a desired number or exceed twenty one.
Known bonus games employ a plurality of game ending strategies. One known strategy is a do-until sequence, in which the player picks until picking a bonus terminator. European Patent Application No. EP 0 945 837 A2, filed on Mar. 18, 1999, and assigned on its face to WMS Gaming, Inc., discloses a bonus game in which a player has one or more opportunities to select masked bonus awards. When the player selects a masked award, the game reveals the selection and provides the award to the player. The player selects until selecting a game terminator.
Another known bonus game ending strategy includes letting the player decide whether to end the game with a particular result or trade results with the hope of obtaining a higher award. The TOP DOLLAR™ gaming device, which is manufactured and distributed by the assignee of this application, provides the player with three offers and a final award. When an offer is given, the player may accept or reject it. If the player accepts an offer, the player receives the accepted bonus amount and the bonus round terminates. If the player declines an offer, the game generates another offer for the player, which may be a higher or lower award. The game is similar to poker, wherein the player has a limited opportunity to better an outcome.
In each of the foregoing games, the game ends upon a limited number of random generations or upon a result of the random generations. In an effort to create a more entertaining and exciting game, a need exists to create new apparatus and methods for ending a game and combine these with the known methods described above.
The present invention provides a gaming device and in particular a primary or bonus game of a gaming device that enables players to accumulate awards until there are no more awards or until one or more termination variables reaches a predetermined limit. The gaming device includes at least one random generation device that generates awards upon a player input. The gaming device also includes one or more termination variables, each defined by a plurality of units, whereby one of the random generation devices generates an amount of units upon a player input. The termination variables each have an associated termination limit of accumulated or lost termination units, whereby a player generates awards until reaching the termination limit. The termination limit may be reached by accumulating or losing the units.
The gaming device preferably includes a plurality of termination variables, wherein each has its own termination limit of units. The game thereby enables the player to generate awards until the first of said variables reaches its termination limit of units.
The gaming device provides a number of selectors, displays them to the player and generates an award for the player when the player picks a selector. The game preferably simultaneously displays each of the selectors to the player. The game enables the player to generate awards until reaching a termination limit of units (as mentioned above) or until no unpicked selectors remain, whichever occurs first. In one embodiment, the game picks the first selector for the player. In another embodiment, the player picks the first selector.
The gaming device of the present invention is adapted to randomly assign units or a number of units for one or more of the termination variables to each selector, whereby a player receives the assigned units upon picking a selector. The gaming device is also adapted to include a pick order, wherein the game randomly assigns units or a number of units to each pick of the order, and whereby a player receives the assigned units based on which pick of the order the player makes.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming device also generates survival units associated with a termination variable that counteract the units towards the termination limit of said termination variable. The game preferably randomly generates the survival units upon a player's pick of a selector. The game may be adapted to randomly assign survival units or a number of survival units to each selector, whereby a player receives the assigned survival units upon picking a selector. The game is alternatively adaptable to randomly assign a number of survival units to a pick of an order, whereby a player receives the assigned survival units based on which pick of the order that the player makes. The game also enables the player to exchange at least one gaming device award for at least one survival unit.
In one embodiment, the game also provides a selector order, whereby a player must pick at least one selector before picking at least one other selector. The present invention is adapted so that one of the selectors, and preferably the final selector of an order, has an associated jackpot award. Another embodiment of the game includes at least one set of selectors, wherein the game only enables the player to pick a predetermined proportion of the selectors in a set. The game in a further embodiment diverts the player, upon a player's pick, to pick a different selector than the picked selector. The gaming device alternatively diverts the player to a different predetermined selector.
In a multistage embodiment of the present invention, the player plays a stage of the game and advances by selecting a jackpot, surviving a number of selections or advancing to the end of a path. The player otherwise terminates the game by reaching a termination limit of units of one of the termination variables. Each stage is adapted to have a jackpot award at the end or to simply advance the player. After a predetermined number of stages, the game ends and optionally provides a final jackpot award.
The multistage embodiment includes randomly generating the advance to a subsequent stage or jackpot, such that the game can conceivably generate the advance or jackpot on the first pick of a stage. Alternatively, the player is required to advance along a certain predetermined path or survive a predetermined number of picks. The common element in each multistage implementation is that the player plays against the termination variables, which tend towards game termination with each pick of a selector.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device in which a player continues to pick selectors for gaming device awards until no unpicked selectors remain or until a termination variable ends 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, 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 display devices. The embodiment shown in
The slot machine base game of gaming device 10 preferably displays a plurality of reels 34, preferably three to five reels 34, in mechanical or video form on one or more of the display devices. 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 device displaying the video reels 34 is preferably a video monitor. Each base game, especially in the slot machine base game of the 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 device. 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 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 device 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 device. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in
Referring now to
The selectors “A” through “H” are alternatively electromechanical input devices 44 (
The paid display 102 is preferably a simulated indicator on the display device 30 or 32, as illustrated, but is alternatively an electromechanical device mounted to the cabinet of the gaming device 10. The paid display 102 indicates the value of a recent award paid to the player and is distinguishable from the credit display 16, which shows the recent award plus the player's previous total award. The display devices 30 or 32 of the present invention preferably include other indicators and selectors (not illustrated) associated with the base games of slot, poker, blackjack, keno, etc., or with a stand alone embodiment.
The present invention includes a plurality of indicators associated with the termination variables 1 and 2. The variables include a termination unit indicator 104 that displays a generation of termination units. While the termination variables are being described generally, it should be appreciated that in one preferred implementation, the termination variables represent physical items associated with the theme of the gaming device 10. For instance, one termination variable may be water, wherein a termination unit includes any unit of water such as a quart or gallon.
The game generates the termination units and displays them in the indicator 104. When the game generates a predefined number of the termination units, the game ends. The termination units displayed as positive values in the indicator 104 are thus detrimental to the player.
The game also generates survival units and displays them in the indicator 106. The survival units counteract or offset the termination units. The survival units, which are also displayed as positive values, are displayed in the indicator 106 are thus desirable for the player. The accumulation indicator 108 displays the accumulation of any termination units and survival units, which indicates how close the game is to termination based on termination variable 1. The indicators include displaying numbers, gauges, meters, graphs, pie-charts or any other percent full or percent empty method of indication. The termination limit could start at zero and increase or start at a fixed amount and decrease.
The display 110 of variable 1 includes a termination limit such as twenty, which is the amount of termination units that the player must, in this example, lose for the game to terminate. The display 110 of variable 1 illustrates a decreasing variable, wherein the termination units subtract from a starting number which is the termination limit, and the survival units add back to the accumulation. For instance, in a desert survival theme game, if the variable is water, the units are gallons, the player initially starts with twenty gallons of water and loses and/or gains gallons of water upon successive random generations. When the accumulation indicator 108 displays zero units, the game ends. It should also be appreciated that partial units or different units, such as quarts, may also be employed.
The display 110 of variable 2 includes a termination limit such as one hundred, which is the amount of termination units that the player must in this example accrue for the game to terminate based on termination variable 2. The display 110 of variable 2 illustrates an increasing variable, wherein the termination units add from a starting number such as zero, and the survival units subtract from the accumulation. In the desert survival theme game, if the variable 2 is sunburn and the units are hours, the player initially starts with no hours of sunburn and gains and/or loses hours of sunburn upon successive random generations. When the accumulation indicator 108 displays one hundred units, the player dies from sunburn and the game ends.
The present invention includes any number of termination variables. The general embodiment of
Referring now to
As illustrated in
In
The present invention includes enabling the player to select one or both award exchange selectors 112 a plurality of times as long as the player has a sufficient amount of awards to debit. The present invention also contemplates a cap or limit, such that the game does not accumulate a negative number of units in an increasing variable embodiment or surpass an initial starting point in a decreasing variable embodiment.
The present invention also includes randomly enabling the player to exchange awards for survival units. In a random exchange embodiment, the game first qualifies the exchange by ensuring that the player has enough awards to exchange. A flowchart illustrating a random award for unit exchange is discussed below. The present invention also contemplates any suitable manner for obtaining survival units.
Referring now to
The game includes providing a unit exchange selector 116 for one, more than one, or all the variables. The game includes the unit exchange selector 116 having any exchange rate such as 1:5 for variable 1 and 5:1 for variable 2. As illustrated in
In
Referring now to
The present invention includes adapting the game to randomly generate awards 120 from the award table 118 using one of two methods. In a first award generation embodiment, the game randomly assigns an award to each of the selectors 100 “A” through “H” of
In a second award generation embodiment, the game randomly assigns an award to a pick of an order. That is, the player makes a first pick, a second pick, a third pick, etc. The game randomly assigns, e.g., the 4 award to the first pick, the 20 award to the second pick, etc. The present invention includes the game randomly assigning awards to a plurality or all of the picks before the player begins picking selectors or alternatively assigning each award directly after the player picks a selector. In this embodiment, the selector that the player picks is irrelevant to the player's award. Picking the same selector twice likely generates different awards. The second embodiment also includes enabling or not enabling the player to repeatedly pick the same selector 100.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The unit table 126 of
The unit table 128 of
As with randomly generating awards, the present invention includes adapting the game to randomly generate units 130 and 132 from the unit tables 126 and 128 using one of two methods. In a first unit generation embodiment, the game randomly assigns units, for each variable, to each of the selectors 100 “A” through “H” of
In a second unit generation embodiment, the game randomly assigns units to a pick of an order, e.g., a first pick, a second pick, a third pick, etc. The game randomly assigns, e.g., two termination units and zero survival units from the unit table 126 to variable 1 and fifty termination units and five survival units of the unit table 128 to variable 2 for the first pick. The game randomly assigns, e.g., eight termination units and two survival units from the unit table 126 to variable 1 and thirty termination units and twenty-five survival units from the unit table 128 to variable 2 for the second pick. The present invention includes the game randomly assigning units to a plurality or all of the picks before the player begins picking selectors or alternatively assigning the units directly after the player picks a selector. In this embodiment, the selector that the player picks is irrelevant to the units the game generates. Picking the same selector twice likely generates different units.
Referring now to
The game contemplates likelihood percentages 124 having any desired distribution, wherein the percentages preferably add to 100%. In the unit table 134 for variable 1, the game, e.g., is twice as likely to select five termination units than ten termination units. The game is also twice as likely to select one survival unit than three survival units. In the unit table 136 for variable 2, the game, e.g., is twice as likely to select twenty termination units than fifty termination units. The game is also twice as likely to select five survival units than eight survival units.
Referring now to
The present invention employs table 138 in an embodiment, wherein the game assigns units to a particular pick of an order as opposed to a particular selector 100. The present invention includes making advancement more difficult as the player advances. One way to cause this effect is to shift the percentages in favor of generating more termination units 130 in later picks, while maintaining the same likelihood of generating survival units 132 for each of the picks. For example, for variable 1 there exists a 2% chance of generating ten termination units in pick 1, a 10% chance in pick 2, a 15% chance in pick three and a 30% chance in pick 4. Meanwhile, each pick maintains a 16% chance of generating five survival units.
Viewing the award tables 118 and 122 and the termination and survival unit tables 126, 128, 134136 and 138 together, it becomes apparent that in one embodiment when the player picks a selector, the game reveals an award 120, a number of termination units 130 and a number of survival units 132. This is so regardless of whether the game assigns values to selectors 100 or to picks. As disclosed in connection with tables 126, 128, 134, 136 and 138, certain survival unit entries can be zero, so that when the player picks a selector 100, the game generates a positive award 120 a positive number of termination units 130 and no or zero survival units 132. In other embodiments, the award tables 118 and 122 may include one or more zero award entries. Further, the unit tables 126, 128, 134, 136 and 138 may include one or more zero termination unit entries. The player can thereby receive zero awards 120 and/or zero termination units 130 regardless of whether the game assigns values to selectors 100 or picks.
The effects of the zero value entries are as follows. On any given pick of a selector 100, the player may: (i) receive an award 120, a number of termination units 130 and a number of survival units 132; (ii) receive an award 120 and no termination or survival units; (iii) receive an award 120, a number of termination units 130 and no survival units 132; (iv) receive an award 120, a number of survival units 132 and no termination units 130; (v) receive no award, a number of termination units 130 and a number of survival units 132; (vi) receive no award, a number of termination units 130 and no survival units 132; and (vii) receive no award, a number of survival units 132 and no termination units 130. On any given pick of a selector 100 the game preferably provides some response, i.e., generates at least one of a number of awards, termination units or survival units.
It should be appreciated that one skilled in the art can derive many methods of making the attainment of subsequent picks more difficult. One method specifically contemplated by the present invention is to maintain constant percentages for the termination units 130 while shifting the percentages in favor of generating less survival units 132 in later picks. Another method is to shift the percentages in favor of generating more termination units 130 in later picks and to shift the percentages in favor of generating less L survival units 132 in later picks. A further method is to increase the average selectable amount of the termination units 130 and/or decrease the average selectable amount of the survival units 132 in later picks.
Other methods that change the difficulty level are also contemplated by the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the game employs one of the disclosed methods that make obtaining subsequent picks more difficult for a number of picks and thereafter makes obtaining subsequent picks less difficult. Each of the methods for making obtaining subsequent picks more difficult can be inverted to make obtaining subsequent picks less difficult. For example, the game in one implementation generates less termination units 130 in subsequent picks. In another implementation, the game increases the survival units 132. In still another, the game decreases the termination units 130 and increases the survival units 132.
Through these methods, the game in an embodiment initially makes obtaining subsequent picks more difficult and then switches so that subsequent picks are easier to obtain. The game in one implementation does this linearly. In another implementation, the game employs a bell curve.
In another embodiment, the game makes obtaining subsequent picks easier or more generous and then switches so that subsequent picks are harder to obtain. The game may again be adapted to carry out this embodiment linearly or non-linearly. The game in another embodiment switches back and forth between making the attainment of subsequent picks easier and more difficult.
As stated above with respect to
Upon a sequence triggering event, the game determines whether the player's awards are greater than or equal to a variable 1 debit amount, as indicated by the diamond 144. The game includes determining whether a single generated award (paid display 102) is greater than or equal to a variable 1 debit or whether an accumulated award (credit display 16) meets or exceeds the debit amount. If so, the game generates a variable 1 award exchange option a predetermined percentage of the time, e.g., 30%, as indicated by the block 146.
The game performs the analysis of the method 140 for each variable of the game. The game determines whether the player's awards are greater than or equal to a variable 2 debit amount, as indicated by the diamond 148. The game again includes determining whether a single generated award is greater than or equal to a variable 2 debit or whether an accumulated award meets or exceeds the debit amount. If so, the game generates a variable 2 award exchange option a predetermined percentage of the time, such as 35%, as indicated by the block 150. If the game includes only two variables, the sequence ends, as indicated by the oval 152. It should be appreciated that the present invention includes any number of different variables having different sequence triggering events. For the ease of illustration, variables 1 and 2 are not illustrated as having different sequence triggering events, as indicated by the oval 142.
Referring now to
Upon a sequence triggering event, the game determines whether the player has acquired an appropriate amount of units to exchange, as indicated by the diamond 164. An exchange rate on the exchange selector 116 (
If the player has an appropriate amount of units to exchange, the game generates a unit exchange option between two variables, such as between variable 1 and variable 2, a predetermined percentage of the time, such as 30%, as indicated by the block 166. The sequence ends for the variables 1 and 2, as indicated by the oval 168. The game includes performing method 160 for each available unit exchange between variables at any desired time. The game also includes enabling the option for any period of time while the player has the appropriate amount of units to exchange. The game performs the analysis of the method 160 for each unit exchange between two variables provided by the game.
Referring now to
For variable 1, the game randomly generates eight termination units as displayed in the termination unit indicator 104 and two survival units as displayed in the survival unit indicator 106 for a total of six termination units. Because variable 1 is a decreasing variable, the game subtracts the six units from the starting point, twenty, and displays the accumulated effect of fourteen remaining units in the accumulation indicator 108. It should be appreciated that each selection could have: (a) termination units for one variable; (b) termination units for multiple variables; (c) termination units for all variables; (d) survival units for one variable; (e) survival units for multiple variables; (f) survival units for all the variables; (g) any combination of termination units and survival units; or (h) no termination units or survival units.
For variable 2, the game randomly generates twenty termination units as displayed in the termination unit indicator 104 and five survival units as displayed in the survival unit indicator 106 for a total of fifteen termination units. Because variable 2 is an increasing variable, the game adds the fifteen units from the starting point, zero, and displays the accumulated effect of fifteen units in the accumulation indicator 108.
In
In
As previously described, the present invention includes enabling the player to select any selector 100 in any order, and includes enabling or not enabling the player to select the same selector 100 more than once. The present invention also contemplates: (i) grouping selectors, such that the game enables the player to pick one or more, but not all selectors of a group; (ii) ordering the selectors, such that the game requires the player to pick the selectors in a predetermined order; and (iii) grouping and ordering the selectors, such that the game requires the player to pick one, a plurality of or all the selectors of a group in a predetermined order. In any of these embodiments, the present invention further contemplates including one or more jackpots or large prizes associated with particular selectors 100 or as a result of a predetermined event, such as successfully picking all the selectors.
Referring now to
The selector group 170 enables the player to pick any one of the selectors “A” through “C.” That is, after the player selects for example “B,” the player cannot thereafter select “A” or “C.” The selector group 172 enables the player to pick any two of the selectors “D” through “F.” The selector group 174 enables the player to pick any and all of the selectors “G” through “I.” In
The present invention also contemplates enabling the jackpot award at some intermediate point in the picking process such as after completing a certain number of picks or after completing one or more of the selector groups 170, 172 and 174, in which case the game preferably requires a player input or pick of the jackpot award 176 to receive the jackpot award. The game preferably terminates upon the player's jackpot pick. The object, in this jackpot embodiment, is to obtain as many awards from the selectors as possible, while ensuring an opportunity to pick and receive the jackpot award 176.
In one embodiment, the pick of a single selector 100 itself provides the jackpot award 176 or, alternatively, instantaneously completes any requirements for the jackpot award 176. This selector 100, which either singly or through completion of a condition provides the jackpot 176 to the player, may be undesirable to a player with an ample number of termination units 130 yet to acquire before termination. On the other hand, the jackpot activating selector 100 is likely welcomed by the player who is on the brink of termination.
Referring now to
The player picks in order “A,” “B,” “C,” etc., such that whether the game randomly assigns awards to the selectors 100 or to the picks of an order, as described above in connection with
When the jackpots 176 and 178 are at the end of the path 180, they provide an incentive for the player to keep the game going by exchanging termination units between variables, as illustrated in
As discussed above with respect to
In the embodiment of
Referring now to
The game enables the player to pick any one of the selectors “A,” “B,” or “C” then any one of the selectors “D,” “E,” or “F” then any one of “G,” “H,” or “I.” As disclosed above in
In any of the embodiments discussed in connection with
In the unrelated selector embodiment illustrated by
The game preferably presents a detour directly after a player's pick. For example, in
Referring now to
The game generates a detour a predetermined percentage of the time, as indicated by the block 194. If the game generates a detour, as indicated by the diamond 196, the game generates a detour instruction for the player and enables one or more selections, as indicated by the block 198. As stated above, the detour includes enabling the player to select from one or more selectors 100 or from one or more selectable paths 182. After the player executes the detour or if the game does not generate a detour, the game continues, as indicated by the oval 200.
As previously described, the present invention includes: (i) embodiments enabling the player to pick any selector 100 in any order; or (ii) embodiments restricting the player to pick from a particular group, in a particular order or pick from particular groups in a particular order. In the unordered embodiments, the game provides a jackpot based on the number of picks or based on the accumulated values of the picks. In the ordered embodiments, the game provides a path or visual grouping that visually tells the player where to pick and how close the player is to obtaining a jackpot award 176. Upon completion of the path, the game generates the jackpot award 176.
The present invention further includes providing a third type of embodiment, wherein the player picks masked selectors, and wherein the game generates positions until generating the jackpot award or a termination limit. Referring now to
Referring now to
The game also generates an accumulated number of termination and survival units for each termination variable as shown in the accumulation indicators 108. For ease of illustration,
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The alternative masked selector embodiment of
As described above, in one embodiment, the game ends when the player generates a termination limit of termination units. In any of the previously described embodiments that include a jackpot award, the game is also adapted to end when the player achieves a jackpot award 176. The present invention further includes providing a plurality of stages, wherein the achievement of a predetermined condition or a jackpot award, the survival of a predetermined number of picks or the completion of a predetermined path advances the player to another stage of the game.
After advancing to a different stage, the game provides a new challenge or a new set of chances to the player. In the new stage, the player has an opportunity to advance to a further stage, and so on. In any of the stages, the accumulation or loss of the termination limit of units for any variable ends the game. If the player advances through each stage, the game ends and optionally provides the player a final jackpot.
The multiple stage embodiment includes making the achievement of a jackpot award 176, or alternatively the achievement of the final position along a path 180, the condition to advancing to the next stage. The embodiment includes any number of stages. The jackpot awards 176 do not necessarily have to include an actual credit or multiplier value, i.e., the award can consist of the opportunity for advancement. The multiple stage embodiment is adapted to provide the same procedure or game in each stage or to provide a mix of any of the jackpot embodiments described in
The multiple stage embodiment is adaptable to increase the jackpot awards 176 as the player advances through the stages. The multiple stage embodiment is also preferably adapted to make advancement in later stages more difficult. The multiple stage embodiment further includes the final jackpot award 176, the award that ends the game, being larger than the preceding jackpots. From the foregoing discussion in connection with the data tables of
In a multistage implementation of the masked selector embodiment of
In a multistage implementation of the masked selector embodiment of
In each new stage, the game may also change the number of selectors 100 that the display device 30 or 32 displays and the awards that are assigned to each selector 100 or pick. The game may raise or lower one or more of the termination limits. To make advancing through later stages more difficult, the termination variable, in an embodiment, is lowered so that less termination units are required to terminate the game.
In any of the embodiments disclosed in connection with
In each of the embodiments herein disclosed, namely, all embodiments described in connection with
In a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, each of the embodiments herein disclosed, namely, each of the embodiments described in connection with
Embodiments having the accept/reject feature provide that if the player's rejection of an offer results in the generation of the termination limit, the player loses any previously accumulated award and may or may not receive a lesser award. In a stand alone game, the game may be adapted to reduce the accumulated award to zero. In a bonus game, the game preferably at least provides a consolation award to the player. Otherwise, the game can merely penalize the player by going back to the previous position or stage, etc. It should be appreciated that in a game employing both the accept/reject feature and a jackpot award, the accept/reject feature can present a dilemma for the player. If the player has amassed a significant award in the paid display but has yet to hit the jackpot and is running low on termination units, the player's smartest move may be to accept the offer and forego the opportunity to win the jackpot award.
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 application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/982,476, filed Nov. 5, 2004, which is a continuation application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/429,001, filed May 2, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,664, which is a continuation application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/966,658, filed Sep. 28, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,438, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. This application relates to the following co-pending commonly owned patent applications: “GAMING DEVICE HAVING TERMINATION VARIABLES,” Ser. No. 11/830,237; and “GAMING DEVICE HAVING TERMINATION VARIABLES,” Ser. No. 11/830,217.
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
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| 0984407 | Aug 2000 | EP |
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| PCTAU9700121 | Sep 1997 | WO |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080076535 A1 | Mar 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10982476 | Nov 2004 | US |
| Child | 11830226 | US | |
| Parent | 10429001 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 10982476 | US | |
| Parent | 09966658 | Sep 2001 | US |
| Child | 10429001 | US |
