Wagering game with superimposed images for highlighting gaming information

Abstract

A gaming machine is provided that has a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game. The wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game. A display initially displays first indicia of the basic game. The first indicia indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. Second indicia of the bonus game are incrementally superimposed on the first indicia on the display in response to the randomly selected outcome including a bonus-game-triggering event.

Description

COPYRIGHT

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 facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to gaming machines, and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to a gaming machine for implementing a wagering game having a bonus feature for superimposing bonus feature images on top of a basic wagering game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.

One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with “progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators

However, many of the wagering games in the art are displayed on a different display than that on which the basic game is displayed. Accordingly, a relatively large and expensive gaming terminal is required that has space for two displays. There are other wagering games being used in the art that completely fade out the basic game and then display the bonus game on the same display on which the basic game had been displayed. However, the bonus game is displayed only after the basic game has completely faded and is no longer being displayed. In additional wagering games, the bonus game and the basic game are both displayed on the same display and the elements from the basic game are displayed (e.g., the reels) during the bonus game, but the various symbols within the bonus game are changed from what they were during the basic game (e.g., the symbols displayed on the reels).

Wagering games need to include additional features that will maintain the player's interest and enhance entertainment. The present invention is directed to satisfying this and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided that has a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game. The wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game. A display initially displays first indicia of the basic game. The first indicia indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. Second indicia of the bonus game are incrementally superimposed on the first indicia on the display in response to the randomly selected outcome including a bonus-game-triggering event.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes receiving a wager from a player to play the wagering game. The wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game. First indicia of the basic game are initially displayed. The first indicia indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. Second indicia of the bonus game are incrementally superimposed on the first indicia on the display such that at least some of the first indicia are visible in response to a bonus-game-triggering event being achieved.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a gaming system for playing a wagering game is provided that has at least one display. A controller is coupled to the display and is programmed to cause the display to initially display first images of a basic game. The first images indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. Second images of a bonus game are incrementally displayed, the first images are dimmed, and the second images are overlaid over the first images, in response to a bonus-game-triggering-event. The second images are brighter than the first set of images.

Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine;

FIGS. 3A-3F illustrate various game screens displayed on the primary display for a wagering game according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an embodiment of the invention where the player may change the appearance of the basic game screen shown on the primary display according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another embodiment of the invention where the player may change the logo banner of the wagering game according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gaming establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present invention, the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For example, the gaming machine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game, such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, roulette, etc.

The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 for displaying information about the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine 10.

The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, or in addition, the value input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22 for receiving paper currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 may include a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming machine 10.

The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push-buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30 or by pressing an appropriate push-button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as push-buttons 26. Alternatively, the push-buttons 26 may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game.

The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in FIG. 1, or may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the housing 12 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises these components whether housed in the housing 12, or outboard of the housing 12 and connected remotely.

The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual associated to at least one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.

A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 32 that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.

In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1 as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled in the gaming establishment's loyalty club and may be awarded certain complimentary services as that player collects points in his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her card into the player information reader 52, which allows the casino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16 or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player with information about his or her account or other player-specific information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52 may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and saved during a previous game session.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming machine 10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34, also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions, the controller 34 executes one or more game programs stored in a computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory 36. The controller 34 performs the random selection (using a random number generator (RNG)) of an outcome from the plurality of possible outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller 34 may include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel processor.

The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.

As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to, and controls, the primary display 14, the player input device 24, and a payoff mechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in response to instructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards, etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoff mechanism 40 includes both a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44. However, any of a variety of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the art may be implemented, including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40 are determined by one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 36.

Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10 bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.

Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In FIG. 2, the controller 34 in the gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the controller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with other components, such as the I/O circuits 46, 48 and the system memory 36.

A wagering game according to an embodiment of the present invention superimposes a bonus game or bonus features on top of the elements of a basic game. For example, when a bonus game has been triggered during the basic game, the elements of the bonus game are subsequently displayed on top of (i.e., superimposed) the elements of the basic game on the primary display 14, as discussed below with respect to FIGS. 3A-3G. The bonus game may include several features or portions, and the features or portions may be incrementally or successively displayed on top of the elements of the basic game, giving the player the feel as though the bonus game is being built or constructed on top of the elements of the basic game. When the bonus game is displayed, the color of the elements that were displayed during the basic game may be dimmed or faded, so that the elements of the bonus game are more clearly distinguishable from those of the basic game.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a display screen in a wagering game that can be changed based on various inputs by the player. For example, the player may touch the primary display 14 with the player's finger to reveal a rainbow or other items. The player may also touch the primary display 14 to change, e.g., the background and/or logo of the wagering game.

FIGS. 3A-3F illustrate various game screens displayed on the primary display 14 for a wagering game according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3A illustrates a slot wagering game displayed on the primary display 14. As shown, the slot wagering game includes five symbol-bearing reels, 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120. In other embodiments, more or fewer than five symbol-bearing reels 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120 may be utilized. Three symbols are visible on each of the symbol-bearing reels 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120, respectively. In other embodiments, more or fewer than three symbols are visible on each of the symbol-bearing reels 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120. In this embodiment, a combination of at least three symbols on an active payline provides a winning outcome.

The basic wagering game includes a moveable-clover-snare symbol 125. The moveable-clover-snare symbol 125 may, e.g., randomly move to different symbol locations on the reels while the reels are spinning. In the event that the moveable-clover-snare symbol 125 comes to rest on a “Lucky” symbol 130, a bonus game called the “Lucky” bonus game is triggered.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, an animation associated with the “Lucky” bonus game is displayed on the primary display 14 and the reels 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120 and the rest of foreground that was displayed in FIG. 3A is dimmed and becomes the background of the “Lucky” bonus game displayed in FIG. 3B. In some embodiments, a dimming of the foreground of FIG. 3A is not required.

The “Lucky” bonus game includes several elements that are displayed on the primary display 14. These elements are effectively superimposed on “top” of elements of the dimmed basic game. A person of skill in the art would realize that the elements of both the basic and the “Lucky” bonus game are displayed on the display 14 at the same time. However, because of the dimming of the elements of the basic game, the elements of the bonus game appear to be placed on “top” of, or superimposed on, the elements of the basic game.

The elements of the “Lucky” bonus may be displayed with standard colors and contrasts so that they are distinguishable from the dimmed background. Accordingly, both the elements of the “Lucky” bonus game and the elements of the basic game (e.g., moveable reels 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120) are simultaneously displayed on the display 14, but the player can perceive which elements are part of the “Getting' Lucky” bonus because the elements that are part of the basic game are dimmed. However, aside from the dimming, the elements of the basic game are not altered in any other way. Accordingly, this provides the player with an exciting way of viewing a bonus game.

Preferably, the elements of the bonus game are incrementally displayed on the primary display 14, as discussed below. In other words, in the event that the bonus game includes, e.g., ten different displayed elements, each element may be added one-at-a-time (or two-at-a-time, etc.) onto the primary display 14 to provide the player with a feeling as though the bonus game is being built on top of the elements of the basic game.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the “Lucky” symbol 130 that was located at the same symbol position as the moveable clover snare symbol 125 in FIG. 3A is “pulled” or released from the moveable clover snare 125, and a large “Lucky” symbol 140 is subsequently shown in an area near the center of the primary display 14. Next, a rainbow symbol 145 appears and the large “Lucky” symbol 140 leaps up toward the top of the primary display 14, as shown in FIG. 3C. The “Lucky” symbol 130 may then move about the primary display 14.

A tree limb symbol 150 is subsequently displayed on, for example, the left-hand side of the primary display 14, as shown in FIG. 3D. The tree limb symbol may, for example, move onto the displayed game screen from the left-hand side of the primary display 14. The large “Lucky” symbol 140 then jumps over onto the tree limb symbol 150.

Next, the large “Lucky” symbol 140 snaps his fingers and a stand 160 (FIG. 3E) appears, moving up onto the game screen from the bottom of the primary display 14. The stand 160 may be a multi-tiered stand onto which several player-selectable elements are later displayed, as discussed below.

As shown in FIG. 3E, after the stand 160 has been moved to its final position, the large “Lucky” symbol 140 snaps his fingers again and a first “pot of gold” symbol 170 appears at the top of the game screen and floats down toward the stand 160, where it comes to rest. Four other “pot of gold” symbols 175, 180, 185, and 190, respectively, subsequently float down onto other positions on the stand 160, as shown in FIG. 3F.

After all of the “pot of gold” symbols 170, 175, 180, 185, and 190 have moved onto the stand 160, the player is prompted to begin selecting from among the “pot of gold” symbols. In one embodiment, the player selects one of the “pot of gold” symbols and receives an award associated with, or masked by, the selected “pot of gold” symbol and the “Lucky” bonus game ends. In other embodiments, the player selects several “pot of gold” symbols and accumulates awards associated with, or masked by, the selected “pot of gold” symbols. In yet other embodiments, the player continues selecting from the “pot of gold” symbols until a symbol is selected that is associated with a bonus-game-ending element that ends the “Lucky” bonus game.

The “Lucky” bonus game described above provides an exciting and unique way of presenting bonus game play. Because the elements of the “Lucky” bonus game are incrementally superimposed or added on top of the elements of the basic game, the player's level of interest in the wagering game is maintained.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the player may change the appearance of the basic game screen shown on the primary display 14 of FIG. 3A by, for example, physically touching the touch screen 28 of the primary display 14.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the player may drag the player's finger 200 across the top of the touch screen 28, starting from the left-hand side of the touch screen 28. Prior to touching the game screen, the portion of the screen that appears to be behind the main reels may appear to be, for example, a wooden surface such as a light cherry wood. However, once the player touches the touch screen 28 and begins dragging the player's finger 200, a rainbow 205 is displayed, and the rainbow 205 bends in the direction of where the player's finger 200 has touched the touch screen 28. Once the player's finger 200 reaches the right-hand side of the touch screen 28, or the player removes the finger 200 from the surface of the touch screen 28, the rainbow 205 stops growing.

As shown in FIG. 4B, if the player moves the finger 200 all the way across the touch screen 28, a full rainbow 205 will be displayed. After the rainbow 205 is fully displayed, the rainbow 205 may remain displayed until the player touches the touch screen 28 again in a location where the rainbow 205 is displayed. Alternatively, the rainbow 205 fades out during the next few spins of the reels.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another embodiment of the invention where the player may change the logo banner of the wagering game. As shown in FIG. 5A, the default logo banner 220 of the wagering game is displayed with a background that has a wooden appearance. However, to maintain the player's interest, the wagering game permits the player to change the logo banner 220 via a physical touch of, for example, the player's finger 200.

For example, the player may touch an area of the touch screen 28 at or near where the logo banner 220 is located with the player's finger 200. The old logo banner 220 then begins to slide off the primary display 14, revealing a new logo banner 225 (FIG. 5B). As shown in FIG. 5B, the background of the new logo banner 225 may include images of clouds and the sky. After the old logo banner 220 has completely slid off the primary display 14, the clouds form the background of the new logo banner 225. The old logo banner 220 remains off of the primary display 14 until the player touches the new banner logo 225 again or after a few subsequent spins of the reels.

Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising: a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game; and a display for initially displaying first indicia of the basic game, the first indicia indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes; wherein in response to the randomly selected outcome including a bonus-game-triggering event, second indicia of the bonus game are incrementally superimposed on the first indicia on the display.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein a color of the first indicia is dimmed in response to the bonus-game-triggering event.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein in response to the randomly selected outcome including the bonus-game-triggering event, the second indicia are incrementally displayed, one-at-a-time, to create a bonus game scene.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the second indicia include a plurality of player-selectable elements, at least one of the player-selectable elements masking an award.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the basic game is a slot wagering game with a plurality of reels.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the basic game includes a moveable indicator, the moveable indicator providing the bonus-game-triggering event in response to the moveable indicator stopping on a certain symbol of the first indicia.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first indicia remain stationary during the incremental superimposing of the second indicia.

8. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising: receiving a wager from a player to play the wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game; initially displaying first indicia of the basic game, the first indicia indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes; in response to a bonus-game-triggering event being achieved, incrementally superimposing second indicia of the bonus game on the first indicia on the display such that at least some of the first indicia are visible.

9. The method of claim 8, further including dimming a color of the first images in response to the bonus-game-triggering-event.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the incrementally superimposing step includes incrementally displaying the second indicia, one-at-a-time, to create a bonus game scene.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second indicia include a plurality of player-selectable elements, at least one of the player-selectable elements masking an award.

12. The method of claim 8, further including animating one symbol of the first indicia of the basic game, the one symbol becoming a symbol of the displayed second indicia of the bonus game.

13. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 8.

14. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising: at least one display; and a controller coupled to the display and programmed to cause the display to initially display first images of a basic game, the first images indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes; in response to a bonus-game-triggering-event, incrementally display second images of a bonus game, dim the first images, and overlay the second images over the first images, wherein the second images are brighter than the first set of images.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the display and the controller are both located within a gaming machine.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the display is located within a gaming machine and the controller is located outside of the gaming machine.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein a color of the first images is dimmed in response to the bonus-game-triggering event.

18. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein in response to the bonus-game-triggering event, the second images are incrementally displayed, one-at-a-time, to create a bonus game scene.

19. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the second images include a plurality of player-selectable elements, at least one of the player-selectable elements masking an award.

20. The gaming system of claim 14, the controller being further programmed to animate at least one symbol of the first images of the basic game, the at least one symbol becoming a symbol of the displayed second images of the bonus game.