Entertainment machines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming machine operable upon a wager, the gaming machine comprising:
- a cabinet;
at least one display device supported by the cabinet;
a main game including;
(a) an opportunity for a player to obtain an award; and
(b) a plurality of reels operable to display a plurality of symbols, each of the reels having a plurality of display positions for a plurality of the symbols and each of the reels operable to display one of the symbols at each of the display positions of said reel;
a bonus feature including an opportunity for the player to receive a bonus award;
a plurality of different conditions usable to cause the bonus feature to begin, each of the conditions requiring that one or more of the symbols be displayed at a designated one or more of the display positions on one or more of the reels;
an input device enabling the player to input a desired one of a plurality of different wager levels for a play of the main game; and
a control unit, in communication with the input device, operable to;
(a) determine the wager level input by the player;
(b) determine how many or which ones of the conditions are to be used, said determination based on the wager level input by the player; and
(c) use the determined one or more conditions to control whether the bonus feature will begin.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coin-operated player operable entertainment machine has a main display device, such as rotatable symbol-bearing reels, which selects a combination of symbols at a win zone after a game-play stake has been credited. Some symbols are bonus symbols which can initiate a bonus feature if at predetermined win zone positions. The game-play stake can be changed by the player to change options for attaining the bonus feature. The arrangement may be such that an increase in stake value results in an increase in the number of predetermined positions which correspond to initiation of the bonus feature.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A gaming machine operable upon a wager, the gaming machine comprising:
-
a cabinet;
at least one display device supported by the cabinet;
a main game including;
(a) an opportunity for a player to obtain an award; and
(b) a plurality of reels operable to display a plurality of symbols, each of the reels having a plurality of display positions for a plurality of the symbols and each of the reels operable to display one of the symbols at each of the display positions of said reel;
a bonus feature including an opportunity for the player to receive a bonus award;
a plurality of different conditions usable to cause the bonus feature to begin, each of the conditions requiring that one or more of the symbols be displayed at a designated one or more of the display positions on one or more of the reels;
an input device enabling the player to input a desired one of a plurality of different wager levels for a play of the main game; and
a control unit, in communication with the input device, operable to;
(a) determine the wager level input by the player;
(b) determine how many or which ones of the conditions are to be used, said determination based on the wager level input by the player; and
(c) use the determined one or more conditions to control whether the bonus feature will begin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A gaming machine operable upon a wager, the gaming machine comprising:
-
a cabinet;
at least one display device supported by the cabinet;
a main game including;
(a) an opportunity for a player to obtain an award; and
(b) a plurality of reels operable to display a plurality of symbols, each of the reels having a plurality of display positions for a plurality of the symbols and each of the reels operable to display one of the symbols at each of the display positions of said reel;
a bonus feature including an opportunity for the player to receive a bonus award;
a plurality of different conditions usable to cause the bonus feature to begin, each of the conditions requiring that one or more of the symbols be displayed at a designated one or more of the display positions on one or more of the reels;
an input device enabling the player to input a desired one of a plurality of different wager levels for a play of the main game; and
a control unit, in communication with the input device, operable to;
(a) determine the wager level input by the player; and
(b) determine how many of the conditions are to be used, said determination based on the wager level input by the player; and
(c) use the determined conditions to control whether the bonus feature will begin; and
an indicator displayed by the display device, wherein, after the player'"'"'s input of the desired wager level and before the play of the main game, the indicator indicates information to the player related to the determined conditions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:
-
(a) enabling a player to place a wager;
(b) providing the player with an opportunity in a main game to obtain an award;
(c) displaying a plurality of reels in the main game, the reels operable to display a plurality of symbols, each of the reels having a plurality of display positions for a plurality of the symbols and each of the reels operable to display one of the symbols at each of the display positions of said reel;
(d) providing the player with an opportunity to receive a bonus award in a bonus feature;
(e) providing a plurality of different conditions usable to cause the bonus feature to begin, each of the conditions requiring that one or more of the symbols be displayed at a designated one or more of the display positions on one or more of the reels;
(e) enabling the player to input a desired one of a plurality of different wager levels for a play of the main game;
(g) causing a control unit to determine the wager level input by the player;
(h) causing the control unit to determine how many or which ones of the conditions are to be used, said determination based on the wager level input by the player; and
(i) causing the control unit to use the determined one or more conditions to control whether the bonus feature will begin. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification