Method, apparatus and system for perpetual bonus game

• US 20030104860A1
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Anchor Gaming (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E., DuPerault, Don G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,780,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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: Y10T 436/106664 Blood serum or blood plasma standard or control

Abstract

Methods of playing games and gaming systems and devices useful for playing games. Gaming devices include a first gaming unit for randomly selecting and displaying indicia associated with play of a primary game and for generating a signal relating to play on the first gaming unit. The gaming device also includes a second gaming unit connected to the first gaming unit for conducting an ongoing bonus game and enabling participation by a player in the ongoing bonus game in response to a signal generated by the first gaming unit. The ongoing bonus game may be administered by and communicated from a second gaming unit in the form of a host server to a number of networked gaming devices. Players may enter and exit play of the ongoing bonus game while it is still in progress, participating only in a segment thereof.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming unit configured for generating a random outcome in play of a primary game and for play of at least one ongoing bonus game upon occurrence of at least one predetermined activity associated with play of the primary game enabling entry into the ongoing bonus game;

apparatus associated with the at least one gaming unit for conducting the at least one ongoing bonus game in a manner wherein a player at the at least one gaming unit may enter the at least one ongoing bonus game, participate therein to some conclusion and exit the at least one ongoing bonus game while the at least one ongoing bonus game remains in progress; and

at least one display for exhibiting at least some visible representations of play of the at least one ongoing bonus game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the series of random outcomes of the at least one gaming unit are produced by a microprocessor.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor utilizes a random number generator.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to conduct an ongoing bonus game comprising at least one of a selection game, a collection game, and a role-playing game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the role-playing game is configured to enable a uniquely identified player to reenter and continue an earlier participation therein.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the role-playing game is configured to provide selection of at least one of a plurality of roles by a player for participation therein.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, where the role-playing game enables cooperative activity between at least two different roles for obtaining a bonus prize award.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, where the role-playing game enables selection of a different role by each of at least two different players selecting each of the single roles.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus for conducting the ongoing bonus game includes a bonus event computer networked to the at least one gaming unit.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises a plurality of gaming units networked with the bonus event computer.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the at least one display comprises at least one bonus game display separate from any of the gaming units of the plurality and at lest one display associated with each gaming unit of the plurality includes a display.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of gaming units includes at least one gaming unit located at each of at least two mutually remotely sites.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises a personal computer.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the personal computer is enabled to be operatively coupled to the apparatus via the Internet.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined activity includes generation of a random outcome corresponding to at least one preselected outcome in play of the primary game.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least predetermined activity includes placement of a wager of at least a predetermined value for play of the primary game at the at least one gaming unit.

17. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined activity includes placement of at least one of a predetermined number and a predetermined frequency of wagers for play of the primary game at the at least one gaming unit.

18. A method of conducting a game of chance, comprising:

placing at least one wager at a gaming unit to generate a random outcome in play of a primary game thereon;

qualifying for participation in an ongoing bonus game responsive to an occurrence of a predetermined activity associated play of the primary game;

entering the ongoing bonus game and participating therein for a period of time; and

exiting the ongoing bonus game while the ongoing bonus game is still in progress.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising exhibiting a visual representation of activity within the ongoing bonus game on at least one a display screen.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing at least one the display in association with the gaming unit.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising qualifying for participation in the ongoing bonus game a plurality of times through continued play of the primary game on the gaming unit.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the ongoing bonus game comprises at least one selection game.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one selection game comprises selecting among a plurality of alternative options to receive a bonus prize award associated with a selected option.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of options in the at least one selection game each have an individual, randomly adjusted value, bonus prize award associated therewith.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the ongoing bonus game comprises at least one collection game.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one collection game includes a number of objects to be collected to be enabled to receive a bonus prize award.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the ongoing bonus game comprises at least one role-playing game.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one role-playing game is configured with a number of tasks to be performed to enable receipt of a bonus prize award.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising configuring the ongoing bonus game to allow a uniquely identified player to reenter the ongoing bonus game and continue an earlier participation therein.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising configuring the role-playing game to provide a plurality of different roles from which a single role may be selected for participation in the ongoing bonus game.

31. The method of claim 30, further including configuring the role-playing game to enable cooperative participation between at least two of the different roles in play of the ongoing bonus game.

32. The method of claim 31, further including configuring the role-playing game to require each of the plurality of different roles to be selected by a different player.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for participating in the ongoing bonus game includes generation of at least one predetermined outcome in play of the primary game.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for participating in the at least one ongoing bonus game includes placement of a wager of at least a predetermined value for play of the primary game.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for participating in the at least one ongoing bonus game includes at least one of placing a predetermined number and a predetermined frequency of wagers for play of the primary game.

36. The method of claim 18, wherein placing a wager on the gaming unit includes placing a wager via a personal computer.

37. A method of providing at least one ongoing bonus game, comprising:

providing a bonus event computer for conducting at least one ongoing bonus game;

providing at least one gaming unit configured for generating a random outcome in play of a primary game;

placing the at least one gaming unit in communication with the bonus event computer for participation in the at least one ongoing bonus game response to an occurrence of a predetermined activity associated with play of the primary game thereon; and

participating in the at least one ongoing bonus game, wherein participating comprises entering the at least one ongoing bonus game, conducting an activity associated with play of the at least one ongoing bonus game and exiting the at least one ongoing bonus game while the ongoing bonus game is still in progress.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing a plurality of gaming units and placing each gaming unit of the plurality in communication with the bonus event for participation in the at least one ongoing bonus game responsive to an occurrence of a predetermined activity associated play of the primary game thereon.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing each of the plurality of gaming units with a display screen for exhibiting at least some visible representations of play of the at least one ongoing bonus game.

40. The method of claim 39, further including providing at least one bonus game display separate from any of the plurality of gaming units for exhibiting at least some visible representations of play of the at least one ongoing bonus game.

41. The method of claim 38, further including configuring at least one gaming unit of the plurality of gaming units as a personal computer.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the plurality of gaming units includes at least two groups of gaming units located in at least two mutually remotely located sites.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein placing the at least one gaming unit in communication with the bonus event computer is effected at least partially over the Internet.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising allowing a participation in the at least one ongoing bonus game upon the occurrence of the predetermined activity at the at least one gaming unit.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising paying a bonus on the outcome of the participation.

46. The method of claim 37, further including configuring the ongoing bonus game as at least one of a selection game, a collection game, and a role-playing game.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising configuring the role-playing game to enable a uniquely identified player to reenter and continue an earlier participation therein.

48. The method of claim 46, further including configuring the role-playing game with a plurality of different roles from a role may be selected for participation in the role-playing game.

49. The method of claim 48, further including configuring the role-playing game to enable cooperation between at least two different roles in order to receive a bonus prize award.

50. The method of claim 49, further including configuring the role-playing game to enable each of the different roles to be selected by a different player.

51. The method of claim 37, wherein the predetermined activity comprises generation of at least one predetermined outcome of play of the primary game.

52. The method of claim 37, wherein the predetermined activity includes placement a wager of at least a predetermined value for play of the primary game.

53. The method of claim 37, wherein the predetermined activity includes placement of at least one of a predetermined number and a predetermined frequency of wagers at the at least one gaming unit.

54. A gaming device, comprising:

at least one gaming unit including a random number generator for selecting a random combination of indicia as an outcome of a primary game;

a bonus event computer conducting an ongoing bonus game in communication with the at least one gaming unit;

wherein the at least one gaming unit, in combination with the bonus event computer, enables participation in the ongoing bonus game, the participation including entry into the ongoing bonus game while it is in progress, conducting at least one activity associated with play of the ongoing bonus game and exiting the ongoing bonus game while it is still in progress.

55. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the bonus event computer is configured with an ongoing bonus game comprising at least one of a selection game, a collection game, and a role-playing game.

56. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the ongoing bonus game is configured to enable a uniquely identified player to reenter and continue an earlier participation.

57. The gaming device of claim 55, wherein the role-playing game is configured to provide a plurality of roles from which a single role must be selected to participate therein.

58. The gaming device of claim 57, wherein the role-playing game is configured to enable cooperation between at least two different roles to receive a bonus prize award.

59. The gaming device of claim 58, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises a plurality of gaming units and the role-playing game is configured to enable selection of each different role by a different player at a different gaming unit.

60. The gaming device of claim 54, the at least one gaming unit includes a microprocessor for functioning as a random number generator.

61. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises a plurality of gaming units networked to the bonus event computer.

62. The gaming device of claim 61, further including at least one bonus game display separate from the plurality of gaming units and in communication with the bonus game for exhibiting at least some visible representations of play of the ongoing bonus game.

63. The gaming device of claim 54, further including a display associated with the at least one gaming unit for exhibiting at least some visible representations of play of the ongoing bonus game.

64. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the at least one gaming unit includes at least two gaming units, at least two of the at least two gaming units being located at mutually remote sites.

65. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the at least one gaming unit includes a plurality of gaming units each having a display associated therewith for exhibiting at least some visible representations of play of the ongoing bonus game.

66. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the perpetual bonus game display and the game unit are mutually remotely located.

67. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the first gaming unit comprises a personal computer.

68. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises a personal computer.

69. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the gaming device is configured for conducting at least a portion of the ongoing bonus game over the Internet.

70. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the at least one gaming unit is configured to enable participation in the ongoing bonus game responsive to a predetermined activity associated with play of the primary game.

71. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the predetermined activity includes placement of a wager of at least a predetermined value for play of the primary game.

72. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the predetermined activity includes placement of at least one of a predetermined number and a predetermined frequency of wagers for play of the primary game.

73. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the predetermined activity comprises generation of at least one predetermined outcome of play of the primary game.