Gaming system, gaming device, and method for enabling a player to select volatility using game symbols

• US 10,192,390 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hughes, William K., Boese, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US15/057,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20160180641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 463 19, 463 20, 463 21, 463 25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Various embodiments of the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide a primary game and a free activation bonus sequence, wherein the gaming system enables the player to select one or more of a plurality of different volatility options for use in the free activation bonus sequence. Each option is associated with a different number of free activations and a different pool of symbols or different symbol functionality. The gaming system provides this variation in the pool of symbols or symbol functionality in various embodiments by enabling the player to replace one or more symbols of a pool or set of symbols of the primary game (i.e., the primary set of symbols) with the symbol associated with a player selected option. The symbols of this modified set of symbols (i.e., the secondary set of symbols) are used in the free activation bonus sequence).

Claims

1. A dedicated electronic gaming machine comprising:

a housing;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

a payment acceptor supported by the housing;

at least one input device supported by the housing;

an application-specific integrated circuit comprising;

a first set of instructions that, when executed following receipt of a physical item by the payment acceptor, cause the application-specific integrated circuit to establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with the 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;

a second set of instructions that, when executed following receipt of an actuation of a wager button to place a wager for a play of a primary game associated with a primary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, cause the application-specific integrated circuit to;

decrease the credit balance by the placed wager; and

for the play of the primary game;

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the primary symbol set,

cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined plurality of symbols of the primary symbol set,

determine any primary awards based on the displayed symbols of the primary symbol set, and

cause the at least one display device to display any determined primary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined primary awards;

a third set of instructions that, when executed responsive to a triggering event occurring, cause the application-specific integrated circuit to;

cause the at least one display device to display a plurality of different selectable options including;

a first option associated with a first quantity of plays of a secondary game and a first secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the first secondary symbol set including a first quantity of instances of a designated symbol; and

a second option associated with a second quantity of plays of a secondary game and a second secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the second secondary symbol set including a second quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the second quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the first quantity of plays of the secondary game and the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol; and

set a player selectable volatility of the secondary game by;

responsive to a selection of the first option being received via the at least one input device, for at least one of the first quantity of plays of the secondary game;

 

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the first secondary symbol set,

 

cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined plurality of the symbols of the first secondary symbol set,

 

determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the first secondary symbol set, and

 

cause the at least one display device to display any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards;

responsive to a selection of the second option being received via the at least one input device, for at least one of the second quantity of plays of the secondary game;

 

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the second secondary symbol set,

 

cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined plurality of the symbols of the second secondary symbol set,

 

determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the second secondary symbol set, and

 

cause the at least one display device to display any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards; and

a fourth set of instructions that, when executed following receipt of an actuation of a cashout button, cause the application-specific integrated circuit to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

3. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one instance of the designated symbol is included in the primary symbol set.

4. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein when executed, the third set of instructions cause the application-specific integrated circuit to form the first secondary symbol set by adding the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

5. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 4, wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

6. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein when executed, the third set of instructions cause the application-specific integrated circuit to form the second secondary symbol set by adding the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

7. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 6, wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

8. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the options include a third option associated with a third quantity of plays of a secondary game and a third secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the third secondary symbol set including a third quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the third quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the second quantity of plays of the secondary game and the third quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol, and wherein when executed responsive to a selection of the third option being received, the third set of instructions cause the application-specific integrated circuit to, for at least one of the third quantity of plays of the secondary game:

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the third secondary symbol set,

cause the at least one display device to display the randomly determined plurality of the symbols of the third secondary symbol set,

determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the third secondary symbol set, and

cause the at least one display device to display any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards.

9. The dedicated electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

10. A method of operating a dedicated electronic gaming system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a payment acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

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

establishing, by a dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item;

receiving an actuation of a wager button;

placing, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, a wager for a play of a primary game responsive to the actuation of the wager button, the primary game associated with a primary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the credit balance being decreasable by the wager;

for the play of the primary game;

randomly determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, and displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of the symbols of the primary symbol set,

determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, any primary awards based on the displayed symbols of the primary symbol set, and

displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined primary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined primary awards;

responsive to a triggering event occurring;

displaying, by the at least one display device, a plurality of different selectable options including;

a first option associated with a first quantity of plays of a secondary game and a first secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the first secondary symbol set including a first quantity of instances of a designated symbol; and

a second option associated with a second quantity of plays of a secondary game and a second secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the second secondary symbol set including a second quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the second quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the first quantity of plays of the secondary game and the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol; and

setting a player selectable volatility of the secondary game by;

responsive to a selection of the first option being received, for at least one of the first quantity of plays of the secondary game;

randomly determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, and displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of the symbols of the first secondary symbol set,

determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the first secondary symbol set, and

displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards;

responsive to a selection of the second option being received, for at least one of the second quantity of plays of the secondary game;

randomly determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, and displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of the symbols of the second secondary symbol set,

determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the second secondary symbol set, and

displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards;

receiving an actuation of a cashout button; and

initiating, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, a payout associated with the credit balance responsive to the actuation of the cashout button.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one instance of the designated symbol is included in the primary symbol set.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, the first secondary symbol set by adding the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, the second secondary symbol set by adding the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the options include a third option associated with a third quantity of plays of a secondary game and a third secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the third secondary symbol set including a third quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the third quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the second quantity of plays of the secondary game and the third quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol, and further comprising, responsive to a selection of the third option being received, for at least one of the third quantity of plays of the secondary game:

randomly determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, and displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of the symbols of the third secondary symbol set,

determining, by the dedicated electronic gaming machine application-specific integrated circuit, any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the third secondary symbol set, and

displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

19. The method of claim 10, which is at least partially provided through a data network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is an internet.

21. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor following a receipt of data associated with a credit balance established responsive to an electronic funds transfer initiated from a thin client device, cause the processor to;

for a play of a primary game associated with a primary symbol set of a plurality of symbols;

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the primary symbol set,

communicate data which results in a display device of the thin client device displaying the randomly determined plurality of symbols of the primary symbol set,

determine any primary awards based on the displayed symbols of the primary symbol set, and

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying any determined primary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined primary awards;

if a triggering event occurs;

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying a plurality of different selectable options including;

a first option associated with a first quantity of plays of a secondary game and a first secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the first secondary symbol set including a first quantity of instances of a designated symbol; and

a second option associated with a second quantity of plays of a secondary game and a second secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the second secondary symbol set including a second quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the second quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the first quantity of plays of the secondary game and the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol; and

set a player selectable volatility of the secondary game by;

responsive to a selection of the first option being received, for at least one of the first quantity of plays of the secondary game;

 

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the first secondary symbol set,

 

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying the randomly determined plurality of the symbols of the first secondary symbol set,

 

determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the first secondary symbol set, and

 

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards;

responsive to a selection of the second option being received via the at least one input device, for at least one of the second quantity of plays of the secondary game;

 

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the second secondary symbol set,

 

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying the randomly determined plurality of the symbols of the second secondary symbol set,

 

determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the second secondary symbol set, and

 

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

23. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein at least one instance of the designated symbol is included in the primary symbol set.

24. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to form the first secondary symbol set by adding the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

25. The gaming system of claim 24, wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

26. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to form the second secondary symbol set by adding the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

28. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the options include a third option associated with a third quantity of plays of a secondary game and a third secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the third secondary symbol set including a third quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the third quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the second quantity of plays of the secondary game and the third quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol, and wherein when executed by the processor, responsive to a selection of the third option being received the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, for at least one of the third quantity of plays of the secondary game:

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols of the third secondary symbol set,

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying the randomly determined plurality of the symbols of the third secondary symbol set,

determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the third secondary symbol set, and

communicate data which results in the display device of the thin client device displaying any determined secondary awards, the credit balance being increasable by any determined secondary awards.

29. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

30. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to communicate with the thin client device via a wireless network.

31. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the thin client device comprises a handheld device.