Gaming device having a bonus scheme with multiple selection groups

• US 20040018873A1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Glavich, Paulina, Baerlocher, Anthony J., Hughs-Baird, Andrea C., Webb, Bayard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

Abstract

A gaming device having a bonus round with multiple selection groups. The bonus round does not end upon an “end-bonus” selection; rather, the bonus round ends upon the selection of a predetermined number of selections from the last or final selection group. In one embodiment, the number of selections is determined from a selection group preceding the final selection group. Prior to determining the number of final selection group picks, the game provides the player with at least one selection group in which the player selects award indicators until selecting an indicator that advances the player to the next selection group. Player excitement and enjoyment is enhanced because the present invention provides the player with multiple opportunities to achieve game credits and because the player is guaranteed to have at least one opportunity to select from the final selection group. In one embodiment, the final selection group has larger values than the previous selection groups.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a display device;

a first selection group including a plurality of first selections adapted to be displayed by the display device;

at least one award indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the first selections is picked;

at least one picks indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the first selections is picked;

a second selection group including a plurality of second selections;

at least one award indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the second selections is picked; and

a number of second selection picks in the second selection group corresponding at least in part to the displayed picks indicators.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of award indicators adapted to be displayed by the display device after a plurality of the first selections are picked.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of award indicators adapted to be displayed by the display device after a plurality of the second selections are picked.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of picks indicators adapted to be displayed by the display device after a plurality of the first selections are picked.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of award indicators, wherein for each of the second selections picked, one of said award indicators is adapted to be displayed by the display device.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one advance indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the first selections is picked.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first selections are player selectable.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second selections are player selectable.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first and second selections are player selectable.

10. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a display device;

a first selection group including a plurality of first selections adapted to be displayed by the display device;

at least one award indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the first selections is picked;

a second selection group including a plurality of second selections adapted to be displayed by the display device;

at least one picks indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the second selections is picked;

a third selection group including a plurality of third selections;

at least one award indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the third selections is picked; and

a number of third selection picks in the third selection group corresponding at least in part to the displayed picks indicators.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a plurality of award indicators adapted to be displayed by the display device after a plurality of the first selections are picked.

12. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a plurality of award indicators adapted to be displayed by the display device after a plurality of the third selections are picked.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a plurality of picks indicators adapted to be displayed by the display device after a plurality of the second selections are picked.

14. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a plurality of award indicators, wherein for each of the third selections picked, one of said award indicators is adapted to be displayed by the display device.

15. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes at least one advance indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the first selections is picked.

16. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes at least one advance indicator adapted to be displayed by the display device after one of the second selections is picked.

17. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the first selections are player selectable.

18. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the second selections are player selectable.

19. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the third selections are player selectable.

20. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, said method comprising:

displaying a first selection group including a plurality of first selections;

displaying a first award indicator after one of the first selections is picked;

displaying a picks indicator after one of the first selections is picked;

displaying a second selection group including a plurality of second selections; and

displaying a second award indicator after one of the second selections is picked, wherein a number of second selection picks in the second selection group corresponds at least in part to the displayed picks indicators.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes displaying an advance indicator after one of the first selections is picked.

22. The method of claim 21, which includes enabling the player to choose first selections in said first selection groups until advance indicator is displayed.

23. The method of claim 20, which includes displaying a plurality of award indicators after a plurality of the first selections are picked.

24. The method of claim 20, which includes displaying a plurality of award indicators after a plurality of the second selections are picked.

25. The method of claim 20, which includes displaying a plurality of picks indicators after a plurality of the first selections are picked.

26. The method of claim 20, which includes displaying a plurality of award indicators, wherein for each of the second selections are picked, one of the award indicators is displayed.

27. The method of claim 20, which includes displaying at least one advance indicator after one of the first selections is picked.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the first selections are player selectable.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the second selections are player selectable.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the first and second selections are player selectable.

31. The method of claim 20, which is operable through a data network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the data network is an internet.

33. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, said method comprising:

displaying a first selection group including a plurality of first selections;

displaying at least one award indicator after one of the first selections is picked;

displaying a second selection group including a plurality of second selections;

displaying at least one picks indicator after one of the second selections is picked;

displaying a third selection group including a plurality of third selections; and

displaying at least one award indicator after one of the third selections is picked, wherein a number of third selection picks in the third selection group corresponds at least in part to the displayed picks indicators.

34. The method of claim 33, which includes displaying a plurality of award indicators after a plurality of the first selections are picked.

35. The method of claim 33, which includes displaying a plurality of award indicators after a plurality of the third selections are picked.

36. The method of claim 33, which includes displaying a plurality of picks indicators after a plurality of the second selections are picked.

37. The method of claim 33, which includes displaying a plurality of award indicators, wherein for each of the third selections are picked, one of the award indicators is adapted to be displayed by the display device.

38. The method of claim 33, which includes displaying at least one advance indicator after one of the first selections is picked.

39. The method of claim 33, which includes displaying at least one advance indicator after one of the second selections is picked.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the first selections are player selectable.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the second selections are player selectable.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the third selections are player selectable.

43. The method of claim 33, which is operable through a data network.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein the data network is an internet.