Method and apparatus for providing an advantage to a player in a bonus game

• US 20030125103A1
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E., Tessmer, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,052,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• 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 17/3267 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match

Abstract

A video game allows a player to improve odds of success in a bonus game by winning an advantage outcome in association with play of a primary or base game. An exemplary bonus game is the game of Pong where the player can use advantage credits won in play of the primary or base game to provide himself with an advantage such as lengthening his paddle, shortening his opponent'"'"'s paddle, or slowing the shrinkage rate of his paddle during the course of the bonus game. Alternatively, he may also purchase one or more advantages for use in the bonus game through monetary payment.

Claims

1. A method of providing a bonus game comprising:

receiving a selection of a first advantage from a player; and

providing the first advantage for a first play of the bonus game by the player.

2. The method in claim 1 which further comprises prompting the player to effect the selection of the first advantage.

3. The method in claim 1 which further comprises displaying a plurality of advantage choices for selection of the first advantage by the player.

4. The method in claim 3 which further comprises displaying a total of available advantage credits to the player.

5. The method in claim 1 which further comprises:

receiving a selection of a second advantage from the player; and

providing the second advantage for the first play of the bonus game by the player.

6. The method in claim 1 which further comprises requiring the player to pay for the first advantage.

7. The method in claim 6 wherein requiring the player to pay comprises requiring payment in the form of credits earned in association with play of an associated primary game.

8. The method in claim 6 wherein requiring the player to pay comprises requiring the player to tender money.

9. The method in claim 1 which further comprises determining whether the player won a predetermined outcome from the first play of the bonus game.

10. The method in claim 9 which further comprises:

if the player was determined to have won the predetermined outcome from the first play of the bonus game then;

receiving a selection of a second advantage from the player; and

providing the second advantage for a second play of the bonus game by the player.

11. The method in claim 1 further comprising configuring the bonus game as a game of Pong.

12. The method in claim 11 wherein the first advantage comprises at least one of:

an initial shortening of a paddle of an opponent;

an initial lengthening of a paddle of the player; and

a slower shrinkage of a paddle of the player than a paddle of an opponent.

13. The method in claim 12 wherein a player is enabled to select a second advantage from the advantages in claim 12.

14. The method in claim 11 wherein a paddle of the player shortens during a play of the bonus game.

15. The method in claim 14 wherein the first advantage is a slowing of a rate of shortening of the paddle of the player during the play of the bonus game.

16. The method in claim 1 wherein the bonus game is a game of basketball.

17. The method in claim 16 wherein the first advantage is at least one of a longer set of legs for a basketball player representing a player and a shorter basket height.

18. The method in claim 16 wherein the first advantage is an at least one of a smaller ball or a larger hoop for a basketball player representing a player.

19. The method in claim 1 wherein the bonus game is a game of hockey.

20. The method in claim 19 wherein the first advantage is an initially longer stick for a player.

21. The method in claim 19 wherein the first advantage is a shorter stick for an opponent.

22. The method in claim 19 wherein the first advantage is a smaller goal for a player.

23. The method in claim 19 wherein the first advantage is a larger goal for an opponent.

24. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises an advantage in perceived ability for a player.

25. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises a disadvantage in perceived ability for an opponent.

26. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises a competitive advantage for a player against an opponent.

27. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises an advantageous alteration of environment for bonus game play for a player.

28. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises an acquisition of an article advantageous for a player in bonus game play.

29. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises an advantageous time element for a player in bonus game play.

30. The method in claim 1 wherein the first advantage comprises a perceived advantage in physical ability for a player.

31. An apparatus for providing a bonus game comprising:

a gaming device including;

a memory containing computer instructions for;

receiving a selection of a first advantage from a player through an input device; and

providing the first advantage for a first play of the bonus game by the player.

32. The apparatus in claim 31 which further comprises:

a display device configured for prompting the player for the selection of the first advantage.

33. The apparatus in claim 31 which further comprises:

a display device configured for displaying a plurality of choices for the selection of the first advantage by the player.

34. The apparatus in claim 33 wherein the display device is further configured for:

displaying a total of advantage credits accrued in association with play of a primary game to the player for use by the player in purchasing the first advantage.

35. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the memory further contains computer instructions for providing a second advantage for the first play of the bonus game by the player.

36. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the memory further contains computer instructions for requiring the player to pay for the first advantage.

37. The apparatus in claim 36 wherein the computer instructions for requiring the player to pay further comprise requiring the player to utilize credits acquired in association with play of a primary game.

38. The apparatus in claim 36 wherein the computer instructions for requiring the player to pay further comprise requiring the player to utilize money.

39. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the memory further contains computer instructions for determining whether the player achieved a predetermined first outcome during the first play of the bonus game.

40. The apparatus in claim 39 wherein:

the apparatus is configured for receiving a selection of a second advantage from the player through the input device if the player was determined to have achieved the predetermined first outcome; and

the memory further contains computer instructions for;

providing the second advantage for a second play of the bonus game by the player if the player was determined to have achieved the predetermined first outcome.

41. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the bonus game is a game of Pong.

42. The apparatus in claim 41 wherein the first advantage is an initial lengthening of a paddle of the player.

43. The apparatus in claim 41 wherein the first advantage is an initial shortening of a paddle of an opponent.

44. The apparatus in claim 41 wherein a paddle of the player shortens during a play of the bonus game.

45. The apparatus in claim 44 wherein the first advantage is a slowing of the shortening of the paddle of the player during the play of the bonus game.

46. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the bonus game is a game of basketball.

47. The apparatus in claim 46 wherein the first advantage comprises at least one of a longer set of legs for a basketball player representing a player and a shorter basket.

48. The apparatus in claim 46 wherein the first advantage comprises a smaller ball or a larger hoop.

49. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the bonus game is a game of hockey.

50. The apparatus in claim 49 wherein the first advantage is a longer stick for a player.

51. The apparatus in claim 49 wherein the first advantage is a shorter stick for an opponent.

52. The apparatus in claim 49 wherein the first advantage is a smaller goal for a player.

53. The apparatus in claim 49 wherein the first advantage comprises an advantage in perceived ability for a player.

54. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the first advantage comprises a disadvantage in perceived ability of an opponent.

55. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the first advantage comprises a competitive advantage for a player against an opponent.

56. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the first advantage comprises an advantageous alteration of environment for bonus game play for a player.

57. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the first advantage comprises an acquisition of an article advantageous for a player in bonus game play.

58. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the first advantage comprises an advantageous time element for a player in bonus game play.

59. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the first advantage comprises a perceived advantage in physical ability for a player.

60. The apparatus in claim 31 wherein the bonus game is administered remotely by a bonus event computer.

61. A computer readable medium containing computer instructions for:

receiving a selection of a first advantage from a player; and

providing the first advantage for a first play of a bonus game by the player.

62. The computer readable medium in claim 61 which further contains computer instructions for prompting the player for the selection of the first advantage.

63. The computer readable medium in claim 61 which further contains computer instructions for displaying a plurality of choices for the selection of the first advantage to the player.

64. The computer readable medium in claim 63 which further contains computer instructions for displaying a total of credits accrued in association with play of a primary game to the player.

65. The computer readable medium in claim 61 which further contains computer instructions for:

receiving a selection of a second advantage from the player; and

providing the second advantage for the first play of the bonus game by the player.

66. The computer readable medium in claim 61 which further contains computer instructions for requiring the player to pay for the first advantage.

67. The computer readable medium in claim 66 wherein the computer instructions for requiring the player to pay further comprise requiring the player to utilize credits accumulated during play of a primary game.

68. The computer readable medium in claim 66 wherein the computer instructions for requiring the player to pay further comprise requiring the player to pay with money.

69. The computer readable medium in claim 61 which further contains computer instructions for determining whether the player achieved a predetermined outcome during the first play of the bonus game.

70. The computer readable medium in claim 69 which further contains computer instructions for:

if the player was determined to have achieved the predetermined outcome during the first play of the bonus game, then;

receiving a selection of a second advantage from the player; and

providing the second advantage for a second play of the bonus game by the player.