Gaming system and method for providing a multiple level selection game

• US 10,157,520 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Marston, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US14/817,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A gaming system which displays a play of a multiple level selection game. For each level, the gaming system displays a plurality of selections associated with that level. A player picks a quantity of the selections as player picks. The player designates one or more of the player picks as designated picks. One or more modifiers are applied to each of the designated picks. The gaming system modifies the awards associated with the designated picks based on the one or more modifiers associated with each of the designated picks. The gaming system provides the value of the awards associated with the player picks. If the total value of the awards is greater than a threshold value for the currently played level, the gaming system provides the play of the next level and repeats the selection game.

Claims

1. A dedicated electronic gaming machine comprising:

at least one display device;

a plurality of input devices including a payment acceptor;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

(a) responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency,

(b) responsive to a selection game triggering event occurring distinct from any placement of any wager on any play of any wagering game;

(i) determine a threshold award value for a level of a multiple level selection game,

(ii) cause the at least one display device to display a plurality of selections, a plurality of said selections each being associated with one of a plurality of award values,

(iii) for each of a first quantity of picks, receive, via at least one of the input devices, a pick of one of the displayed plurality of selections,

(iv) for each of a second quantity of designated picks, receive, via the at least one of the input devices, a pick of at least one of the first quantity of picked selections, wherein the second quantity is lesser than or equal to the first quantity,

(v) for each picked selection of the second quantity of designated picks;

(A) determine a modifier from a plurality of different modifiers, and

(B) modify the award value based on the determined modifier,

(vi) determine a level award value based on;

(A) the award values associated with each of the first quantity of picked selections that are not any of the second quantity of designated picks, and

(B) the modified award values associated with each of the second quantity of designated picks,

(vii) responsive to the determined level award value at least equaling the threshold award value for the level, repeat (b)(ii) to (b)(vii) at least once for another level of the multiple level selection game, said other level being associated with another threshold award value, and

(c) responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein (b)(ii) to (b)(vii) are repeated until a selection game termination event occurs.

3. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the selection game termination event occurs when (b)(ii) to (b)(vii) have been repeated a designated number of times.

4. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 2, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to provide the determined level award value to the player after the selection game termination event occurs.

5. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the modifier for each pick of the second quantity of designated picks includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a play of a bonus game, a multiplier, and a plurality of credits.

6. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first quantity of picks for a first level of the multiple level selection game is the same as the first quantity of picks for a second level of the multiple level selection game.

7. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the second quantity of designated picks for a first level of the multiple level selection game is the same as the second quantity of designated picks for a second level of the multiple level selection game.

8. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor following a receipt of data associated with a credit balance established responsive to an electronic funds transfer initiated from a mobile device and responsive to a selection game triggering event occurring distinct from any placement of any wager on any play of any wagering game, cause the at least one processor to;

(a) determine a threshold award value for a level of a multiple level selection game,

(b) communicate, via a wireless network, data which results in a display device of the mobile device displaying a plurality of selections, a plurality of said selections each being associated with one of a plurality of award values,

(c) for each of a first quantity of picks, receive data associated with a pick of one of the displayed plurality of selections,

(d) for each of a second quantity of designated picks, receive data associated with a pick of at least one of the first quantity of picked selections, wherein the second quantity is lesser than or equal to the first quantity,

(e) for each picked selection of the second quantity of designated picks;

(i) determine a modifier from a plurality of different modifiers, and

(ii) modify the award value based on the determined modifier,

(f) determine a level award value based on;

(i) the award values associated with each of the first quantity of picked selections that are not any of the second quantity of designated picks, and

(ii) the modified award values associated with each of the second quantity of designated picks, and

(g) responsive to the determined level award value at least equaling the threshold award value for the level, repeat (b) to (g) at least once for another level of the multiple level selection game, said other level being associated with another threshold award value.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein (b) to (g) are repeated until a selection game termination event occurs.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the selection game termination event occurs when (b) to (g) have been repeated a designated number of times.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the determined level award value to be provided to the player after the selection game termination event occurs.

12. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the modifier for each pick of the second quantity of designated picks includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a play of a bonus game, a multiplier, and a plurality of credits.

13. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the first quantity of picks for a first level of the multiple level selection game is the same as the first quantity of picks for a second level of the multiple level selection game.

14. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the second quantity of designated picks for a first level of the multiple level selection game is the same as the second quantity of designated picks for a second level of the multiple level selection game.

15. The gaming system of claim 8, which transmits and receives data over a data network.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the data network is an internet.

17. A method of operating a dedicated electronic gaming machine, said method comprising:

(a) responsive to a physical item being received via a payment acceptor, establishing a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency,

(b) determining, by at least one processor, a threshold award value for a level of a multiple level selection game following an occurrence of a selection game triggering event distinct from any placement of any wager on any play of any wagering game,

(c) displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of selections, a plurality of said selections each being associated with one of a plurality of award values,

(d) for each of a first quantity of picks, receiving a pick of one of the displayed plurality of selections,

(e) for each of a second quantity of designated picks, receiving a pick of at least one of the first quantity of picked selections, wherein the second quantity is lesser than or equal to the first quantity,

(f) for each picked selection of the second quantity of designated picks;

(i) determining, by the at least one processor, a modifier from a plurality of different modifiers, and

(ii) modifying, by the at least one processor, the award value based on the determined modifier,

(g) determining, by the at least one processor, a level award value based on;

(i) the award values associated with each of the first quantity of picked selections that are not any of the second quantity of designated picks, and

(ii) the modified award values associated with each of the second quantity of designated picks,

(h) responsive to the determined level award value at least equaling the threshold award value for the level, repeating (c) to (h) at least once for another level of the multiple level selection game, said other level being associated with another threshold award value, and

(i) responsive to a cashout input being received, causing an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein (c) to (h) are repeated until a selection game termination event occurs.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the selection game termination event occurs when (c) to (h) have been repeated a designated number of times.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing the determined level award value to the player after the selection game termination event occurs.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the modifier for each pick of the second quantity of designated picks includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a play of a bonus game, a multiplier, and a plurality of credits.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first quantity of picks for a first level of the multiple level selection game is the same as the first quantity of picks for a second level of the multiple level selection game.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the second quantity of designated picks for a first level of the multiple level selection game is the same as the second quantity of designated picks for a second level of the multiple level selection game.

24. The method of claim 17, which is executed through a data network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the data network is an internet.