Gaming device having a selection award revealing game

• US 20040242296A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne, Haag, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/11
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

A gaming device and method having a selection award revealing bonus game, where during the primary game the player is awarded indicators. The gaming device reveals the values associated with selections in the bonus game, and the bonus game is initiated upon the player accumulating a predetermined combination of indicators. The player is allowed to pick the selections which the associated values have been previously revealed to the player and the gaming device provides awards associated with the picked selections to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of masked selections;

a plurality of awards, each associated with at least one of said masked selections;

at least one display device for displaying said masked selections and awards; and

a processor operable with said display device to cause the masked selections to be displayed to a player, cause at least one of the awards associated with at least one of the masked selections to be revealed to the player before enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enable the player to pick at least one of the masked selections, and provide the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes animation which reveals to the player one of said awards and the masked selection said award is associated with, wherein if the player does not pick said masked selection, the processor is operable to cause the display device to display the animation and to enable the player to pick again.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the awards include a largest award associated with one of said masked selections.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein said largest award is the award revealed to the player.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the awards is not revealed to the player prior to enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes means for revealing one of the masked selections in a manner which gives an illusion that the gaming device is broken.

7. A gaming device having a base game and a bonus game said gaming device comprising:

at least one triggering event;

a plurality of masked selections;

a plurality of awards, each associated with at least one of said masked selections;

at least one display device for displaying said masked selections and awards; and

a processor operable with said display device to enable a player to play said base game, initiate the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event in the base game, cause at least one of the masked selections to be displayed, cause at least one of the awards associated with at least one of the masked selections to be revealed to the player before enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enable the player to pick at least one of the masked selections, and provide the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, which includes animation which reveals to the player one of said awards and the masked selection said award is associated with, wherein if the player does not pick said masked selection, the processor is operable to cause the display device to display the animation and to enable the player to pick again.

9. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the awards include a largest award associated with one of said masked selections.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the largest award is the award revealed to the player.

11. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the awards is not revealed to the player prior to enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections.

12. The gaming device of claim 7, which includes means for revealing one of the masked selections in a manner which gives an illusion that the gaming device is broken.

13. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of indicators;

an indicator trigger;

at least one predetermined combination of said indicators;

a plurality of masked selections;

a plurality of awards, each award associated with at least one of said masked selections;

at least one display device for displaying said indicators, masked selections and awards; and

a processor operable with said display device to provide at least one indicator to a player when said indicator trigger occurs, accumulate said indicators provided to the player, cause said masked selections to be displayed to the player when the accumulated indicators match the predetermined combination of said indicators, cause at least one of the awards associated with at least one of the masked selections to be revealed to the player before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enable the player to pick at least one of the masked selections, and provide the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, which includes animation which reveals to the player one of said awards and the masked selection said award is associated with, wherein if the player does not pick said masked selection, the processor is operable to cause the display device to display the animation and to enable the player to pick again.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the awards include a largest award associated with one of said masked selections.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the largest award is the award revealed to the player.

17. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the awards is not revealed to the player prior to enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections.

18. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein revealing the masked selections includes a production generated by the processor which gives an illusion that the gaming device is broken.

19. A gaming device having a base game and a bonus game comprising:

a plurality of indicators;

at least one indicator trigger;

at least one predetermined combination of said indicators;

a plurality of masked selections;

a plurality of awards, each award associated with at least one of said masked selections;

at least one display device for displaying said indicators, masked selections and awards; and

a processor operable with said display device to enable a player to play the base game, cause at least one of the awards associated with at least one of the masked selections to be revealed to the player during said base game before enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, provide at least one indicator to the player when said indicator trigger occurs, accumulate said indicators provided to the player, cause the masked selections including the masked selections whose associated awards were previously revealed during the base game to be displayed to the player when the accumulated indicators match the predetermined combination of said indicators, enable the player to pick at least one of the masked selections, and provide the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, which includes animation which reveals to the player one of said awards and the masked selection said award is associated with, wherein if the player does not pick said masked selection, the processor is operable to cause the display device to display the animation and to enable the player to pick again.

21. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein the awards include a largest award associated with one of said masked selections.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the largest award is the award revealed to the player.

23. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein at least one of the awards is not revealed to the player prior to enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections.

24. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein revealing the masked selections includes a production generated by said processor which gives an illusion that the gaming device is broken.

25. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of indicators;

at least one indicator trigger;

a plurality of masked selections;

a plurality of awards, each award associated with at least one of said masked selections;

at least one predetermined combination of said indicators;

at least one display device for displaying said indicators, awards and masked selections; and

a processor operable with said display device to provide at least one indicator to a player when said indicator trigger occurs, accumulate said indicators provided to the player, cause at least one masked selection to be displayed and at least one award associated with said displayed masked selection to be revealed to the player when said indicator is provided to the player before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said displayed selection, cause the plurality of masked selections to be displayed including the masked selections whose associated awards were previously revealed when the accumulated indicators match the predetermined combination of indicators, enable the player to pick at least one of the plurality of masked selections, and provide the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein at least two different masked selections are displayed and associated awards are revealed when the indicator is provided.

27. The gaming device of claim 25, which includes animation which reveals to the player one of said awards and the masked selection said award is associated with, wherein if the player does not pick said masked selection, the processor is operable to cause the display device to display the animation and to enable the player to pick again.

28. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the awards include a largest award associated with one of said masked selections.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the largest award is the award revealed to the player.

30. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein at least one of the awards is not revealed to the player prior to enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections.

31. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein revealing the masked selections includes a production generated by said processor which gives an illusion that the gaming device is broken.

32. A gaming device having a bonus game comprising:

a plurality of indicators;

at least one indicator trigger;

at least one bonus game trigger;

at least one predetermined combination of indicators;

a plurality of masked selections;

a plurality of awards, each associated with at least one of said masked selections;

at least one display device for displaying the indicators, masked selections and awards; and

a processor operable with the display device to provide to the player at least one of the indicators when said indicator triggers occurs, accumulate said indicators provided to the player, initiate the bonus game upon the occurrence of the bonus game trigger, cause the masked selections to be displayed by the display device, if the accumulated indicators match the predetermined combination of indicators cause at least one award associated with at least one of the masked selections to be revealed to the player before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enable the player to pick at least one masked selection and provide at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection to the player.

33. The gaming device of claim 32, which includes animation which reveals to the player one of said awards and the masked selection said award is associated with, wherein if the player does not pick said masked selection, the processor is operable to cause the display device to display the animation and to enable the player to pick again.

34. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein the awards include a largest award associated with one of said masked selections.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the largest award is the award revealed to the player.

36. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein at least one of the awards is not revealed to the player prior to enabling the player to pick at least one of the masked selections.

37. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein revealing the masked selections includes a production generated by said processor which gives an illusion that the gaming device is broken.

38. A method of operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager by a player, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of masked selections to the player, wherein each masked selection is associated with at least one award;

(b) revealing at least one of the awards associated with at least one of said masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection;

(c) enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections after step (b); and

(d) providing the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

39. The method of claim 38, which includes displaying an animation which reveals to the player one of the awards and the masked selection said award is associated with when the player does not pick said masked selection.

40. The method of claim 38, which includes canceling the player'"'"'s pick if said player does not pick the masked selection associated with one of the awards, displaying the plurality of masked selections, revealing at least one of the awards associated with the plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enabling the player to pick at least one masked selection, and providing the player at least one award associated with said masked selection.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the player is enabled to pick more than one masked selection and the player is provided with the awards associated with the picked selections.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the awards include a plurality of values with at least one masked selection associated with a highest value of said plurality of values.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein if the player has not picked the masked selection with the highest value of said values, providing the player said value of the player picked selection, displaying a second plurality of masked selections associated with a second plurality of values wherein the highest associated value is the difference between the highest value of the previous masked selections and the value of the player picked selection, revealing at least one value associated with at least one of the second plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said second plurality of masked selections, enabling the player to pick at least one of the second plurality of masked selections, and providing the player said value associated with the player picked masked selection.

44. The method of claim 38, which includes at least one associated award which is not revealed to said player.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of revealing at least one of the plurality of awards associated with one of said masked selections includes generating a production which gives an illusion that said gaming device is broken when at least one of the awards associated with one of the masked selections is revealed to the player.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the production includes the award being revealed fading in and out or the award flickering in and out.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the production is generated randomly or at predetermined times.

48. The method of claim 38, which includes displaying at least one of the masked selection associated with one of said awards, and revealing said award before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said award is a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

50. The method of claim 38, which includes ensuring that the player is provided with a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein the gaming device is controlled through a data network.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the data network is an internet.

53. The method of claim 38, wherein instructions for executing steps (a) to (d) are stored on a memory device.

54. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to play a base game;

(b) initiating a bonus game upon at least one triggering event occurring in said base game;

(c) displaying a plurality of masked selections to the player, wherein each masked selection is associated with at least one award;

(d) revealing at least one of the awards associated with at least one of the masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that award is associated with said selection;

(e) enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections after step (d); and

(f) providing the player with at least one award associated with the player picked selection.

55. The method of claim 54, which includes displaying an animation which reveals to the player one of the awards and the masked selection said award is associated with when the player does not pick said masked selection.

56. The method of claim 54, which includes canceling the player'"'"'s pick if said player does not pick the masked selection associated with one of the awards, displaying the plurality of masked selections, revealing at least one of the awards associated with the plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enabling the player to pick at least one masked selection, and providing the player at least one award associated with said masked selection.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the player is enabled to pick more than one masked selection and the player is provided with the awards associated with the picked selections.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the awards include a plurality of values with at least one masked selection associated with a highest value of said plurality of values.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein if the player has not picked the masked selection with the highest value of said values, providing the player said value of the player picked selection, displaying a second plurality of masked selections associated with a second plurality of values wherein the highest associated value is the difference between the highest value of the previous masked selections and the value of the player picked selection, revealing at least one value associated with at least one of the second plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said second plurality of masked selections, enabling the player to pick at least one of the second plurality of masked selections, and providing the player said value associated with the player picked masked selection

60. The method of claim 54, which includes at least one associated award which is not revealed to said player.

61. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of revealing at least one of the plurality of awards associated with one of said masked selections includes generating a production which gives an illusion that said gaming device is broken when at least one of the awards associated with one of the masked selections is revealed to the player.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the production includes the award being revealed fading in and out or the award flickering in and out.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the production is generated randomly or at predetermined times.

64. The method of claim 54, which includes displaying at least one of the masked selection associated with one of said awards, and revealing said award before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said award is a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

66. The method of claim 54, which includes ensuring that the player is provided with a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

67. The method of claim 54, wherein the gaming device is controlled through a data network.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the data network is an internet.

69. The method of claim 54, wherein instructions for executing steps (a) to (f) are stored on a memory device.

70. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) providing at least one indicator to a player when at least one indicator trigger is reached in a game, and accumulating said indicators for the player;

(b) displaying a plurality of masked selections to the player when the indicators accumulated by the player match a predetermined combination of indicators, wherein each of said masked selections is associated with at least one award;

(c) revealing at least one of the awards associated with at least one of said masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection;

(d) enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections after step (c); and

(e) providing the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

71. The method of claim 70, which includes displaying an animation which reveals to the player one of the awards and the masked selection said award is associated with when the player does not pick said masked selection.

72. The method of claim 70, which includes canceling the player'"'"'s pick if said player does not pick the masked selection associated with one of the awards, displaying the plurality of masked selections, revealing at least one of the awards associated with the plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enabling the player to pick at least one masked selection, and providing the player at least one award associated with said masked selection.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the player is enabled to pick more than one masked selection and the player is provided with the awards associated with the picked selections.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein the awards include a plurality of values with at least one masked selection associated with a highest value of said plurality of values.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein if the player has not picked the masked selection with the highest value of said values, providing the player said value of the player picked selection, displaying a second plurality of masked selections associated with a second plurality of values wherein the highest associated value is the difference between the highest value of the previous masked selections and the value of the player picked selection, revealing at least one value associated with at least one of the second plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said second plurality of masked selections, enabling the player to pick at least one of the second plurality of masked selections, and providing the player said value associated with the player picked masked selection

76. The method of claim 70, which includes at least one associated award which is not revealed to said player.

77. The method of claim 70, wherein the step of revealing at least one of the plurality of awards associated with one of said masked selections includes generating a production which gives an illusion that said gaming device is broken when at least one of the awards associated with one of the masked selections is revealed to the player.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the production includes the award being revealed fading in and out or the award flickering in and out.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the production is generated randomly or at predetermined times.

80. The method of claim 70, which includes displaying at least one of the masked selection associated with one of said awards, and revealing said award before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection.

81. The method of claim 70, wherein said award is a largest award of said awards, associated with said masked selections.

82. The method of claim 70, which includes ensuring that the player is provided with a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

83. The method of claim 70, wherein the gaming device is controlled through a data network.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the data network is an internet.

85. The method of claim 70, wherein instructions for executing steps (a) to (e) are stored on a memory device.

86. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to play a base game;

(b) displaying during the base game at least one of a plurality of masked selections, wherein each of the masked selections is associated with at least one award;

(c) during the base game revealing at least one of the awards associated with at least one of the masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection;

(d) providing at least one indicator to the player when at least one indicator trigger occurs and accumulating said indicator for the player;

(e) displaying the masked selections including said masked selections whose associated awards were previously revealed when the indicators accumulated by the player match a predetermined combination of indicators;

(f) enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections after step (e); and

(g) providing the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

87. The method of claim 86, which includes displaying an animation which reveals to the player one of the awards and the masked selection said award is associated with when the player does not pick said masked selection.

88. The method of claim 86, which includes canceling the player'"'"'s pick if said player does not pick the masked selection associated with one of the awards, displaying the plurality of masked selections, revealing at least one of the awards associated with the plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enabling the player to pick at least one masked selection, and providing the player at least one award associated with said masked selection.

89. The method of claim 86, wherein the player is enabled to pick more than one masked selection and the player is provided with the awards associated with the picked selections.

90. The method of claim 86, wherein the awards include a plurality of values with at least one masked selection associated with a highest value of said plurality of values.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein if the player has not picked the masked selection with the highest value of said values, providing the player said value of the player picked selection, displaying a second plurality of masked selections associated with a second plurality of values wherein the highest associated value is the difference between the highest value of the previous masked selections and the value of the player picked selection, revealing at least one value associated with at least one of the second plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said second plurality of masked selections, enabling the player to pick at least one of the second plurality of masked selections, and providing the player said value associated with the player picked masked selection

92. The method of claim 86, which includes at least one associated award which is not revealed to said player.

93. The method of claim 86, wherein the step of revealing at least one of the plurality of awards associated with one of said masked selections includes generating a production which gives an illusion that said gaming device is broken when at least one of the awards associated with one of the masked selections is revealed to the player.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the production includes the award being revealed fading in and out or the award flickering in and out.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein the production is generated randomly or at predetermined times.

96. The method of claim 86, which includes displaying at least one of the masked selection associated with one of said awards, and revealing said award before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein said award is a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

98. The method of claim 86, which includes ensuring that the player is provided with a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

99. The method of claim 86, wherein the gaming device is controlled through a data network.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the data network is an internet.

101. The method of claim 86, wherein instructions for executing steps (a) to (g) are stored on a memory device.

102. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising of:

(a) providing at least one indicator to a player when at least one indicator trigger occurs and accumulating said indicator for the player;

(b) when said indicator is provided to the player, displaying at least one of a plurality of masked selections, and revealing at least one award associated with said masked selection before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection;

(c) displaying the plurality of masked selections including said masked selection whose associated award was previously revealed when said indicators accumulated by the player match a predetermined combination of indicators;

(d) enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections after step (b) and (c); and

(e) providing the player at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

103. The method of claim 102, which includes displaying an animation which reveals to the player one of the awards and the masked selection said award is associated with when the player does not pick said masked selection.

104. The method of claim 102, which includes canceling the player'"'"'s pick if said player does not pick the masked selection associated with one of the awards, displaying the plurality of masked selections, revealing at least one of the awards associated with the plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enabling the player to pick at least one masked selection, and providing the player at least one award associated with said masked selection.

105. The method of claim 102, wherein the player is enabled to pick more than one masked selection and the player is provided with the awards associated with the picked selections.

106. The method of claim 102, wherein the awards include a plurality of values with at least one masked selection associated with a highest value of said plurality of values.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein if the player has not picked the masked selection with the highest value of said values, providing the player said value of the player picked selection, displaying a second plurality of masked selections associated with a second plurality of values wherein the highest associated value is the difference between the highest value of the previous masked selections and the value of the player picked selection, revealing at least one value associated with at least one of the second plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said second plurality of masked selections, enabling the player to pick at least one of the second plurality of masked selections, and providing the player said value associated with the player picked masked selection

108. The method of claim 102, which includes at least one associated award which is not revealed to said player.

109. The method of claim 102, wherein the step of revealing at least one of the plurality of awards associated with one of said masked selections includes generating a production which gives an illusion that said gaming device is broken when at least one of the awards associated with one of the masked selections is revealed to the player.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein the production includes the award being revealed fading in and out or the award flickering in and out.

111. The method of claim 109, wherein the production is generated randomly or at predetermined times.

112. The method of claim 102, which includes displaying at least one of the masked selection associated with one of said awards, and revealing said award before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein said award is a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

114. The method of claim 109, which includes ensuring that the player is provided with a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

115. The method of claim 102, wherein the gaming device is controlled through a data network.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the data network is an internet.

117. The method of claim 102, wherein instructions for executing steps (a) to (e) are stored on a memory device.

118. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) providing at least one indicator to a player when at least one indicator trigger occurs and accumulating said indicator for the player;

(b) initiating a bonus game when at least one bonus game trigger occurs;

(c) displaying a plurality of masked selections to the player, wherein each masked selection is associated with at least one award;

(d) if the indicators accumulated by the player match a predetermined combination of awards, revealing at least one award associated with one of the masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection;

(e) enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections after step (d); and

(f) providing the player with at least one award associated with the player picked masked selection.

119. The method of claim 118, which includes displaying an animation which reveals to the player one of the awards and the masked selection said award is associated with when the player does not pick said masked selection.

120. The method of claim 118, which includes canceling the player'"'"'s pick if said player does not pick the masked selection associated with one of the awards, displaying the plurality of masked selections, revealing at least one of the awards associated with the plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection, enabling the player to pick at least one masked selection, and providing the player at least one award associated with said masked selection.

121. The method of claim 118, wherein the player is enabled to pick more than one masked selection and the player is provided with the awards associated with the picked selections.

122. The method of claim 118, wherein the awards include a plurality of values with at least one masked selection associated with a highest value of said plurality of values.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein if the player has not picked the masked selection with the highest value of said values, providing the player said value of the player picked selection, displaying a second plurality of masked selections associated with a second plurality of values wherein the highest associated value is the difference between the highest value of the previous masked selections and the value of the player picked selection, revealing at least one value associated with at least one of the second plurality of masked selections before enabling the player to pick at least one of said second plurality of masked selections, enabling the player to pick at least one of the second plurality of masked selections, and providing the player said value associated with the player picked masked selection

124. The method of claim 118, which includes at least one associated award which is not revealed to said player.

125. The method of claim 118, wherein the step of revealing at least one of the plurality of awards associated with one of said masked selections includes generating a production which gives an illusion that said gaming device is broken when at least one of the awards associated with one of the masked selections is revealed to the player.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein the production includes the award being revealed fading in and out or the award flickering in and out.

127. The method of claim 125, wherein the production is generated randomly or at predetermined times.

128. The method of claim 118, which includes displaying at least one of the masked selection associated with one of said awards, and revealing said award before enabling the player to pick at least one of said masked selections to inform the player that said award is associated with said selection.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein said award is a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

130. The method of claim 118, which includes ensuring that the player is provided with a largest award of said awards associated with said masked selections.

131. The method of claim 118, wherein the gaming device is controlled through a data network.

132. The method of claim 131, wherein the data network is an internet.

133. The method of claim 118, wherein instructions for executing steps (a) to (f) are stored on a memory device.