Gaming device having skill/perceived skill bonus round

• US 20050026664A1
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Hughs-Baird, Andrea C., Bansemer, Mark W., Nolz, James G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,175,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/142 with pay-out or rewarding with a prize
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/38 Ball games; Shooting apparatus

Abstract

A gaming device, wherein a player'"'"'s skill at an action or event determines the player'"'"'s success or failure in the round. The game is readily adaptable to becoming a pseudo-skill game that would be required in most gaming jurisdictions. In one pseudo-skill embodiment, the skill game is converted to a game employing skill, but which is controlled by a set number of successful outcomes. That is, the player keeps playing until the player'"'"'s skill produces the set number of successful outcomes. In another pseudo-skill embodiment, the game only appears to the player as involving skill. Instead, the gaming device randomly determines when and how many times to produce a successful outcome and increase the player'"'"'s award.

Claims

1. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a number of successful outcomes in the game, said number being at least two;

a player input device in communication with the processor;

a plurality of monetary awards in the game; and

at least one display device operable under the control of the processor to;

(a) display a plurality of sequential attempts at an apparent skill event to a player, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by the player, and

(b) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the apparent skill event, sequentially randomly determine if said attempt is successful without regard to when or how the player activates the player input device, and if said attempt is successful provide one of the monetary awards to the player, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the apparent skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

6. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a number of successful outcomes in the game, said number being at least two;

an apparent skill event in the game;

a player input device in communication with the processor;

a plurality of monetary awards in said game; and

at least one display device operable with the processor to;

(a) display an attempt at the apparent skill event to a player, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by the player,

(b) randomly determine if said attempt at the apparent skill event is successful without regard to when or how the player activates the player input device,

(c) if said attempt is successful, provide one of the monetary awards to the player, and

(d) sequentially repeat (a) to (c) until said plurality of successful attempts at the apparent skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

8. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

9. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

10. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

11. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a number of successful outcomes in the game, said number being randomly determined and being at least two;

a player input device in communication with the processor;

a plurality of monetary awards in the game; and

at least one display device operable with the processor to;

(a) display a plurality of sequential attempts at a skill event to the player, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by the player, and

(b) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the skill event, sequentially determine if said attempt is successful based on how or when the player activates the player input device, and if said attempt is successful provide one of the monetary awards to the player, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

14. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a number of successful outcomes in the game, said number being randomly determined and being at least two;

a skill event in the game;

a player input device in communication with the processor;

a plurality of monetary awards; and

at least one display device operable with the processor to;

(a) display an attempt at the skill event to the player, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by the player,

(b) determine if said attempt is successful based on how or when the player activates the player input device,

(c) if said attempt is successful, provide one of the monetary awards to the player, and

(d) sequentially repeat (a) to (c) until said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

17. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a number of potential successful outcomes in the game, said number being randomly determined and being at least two;

a player input device in communication with by the processor;

a plurality of different values in the game; and

at least one display device operable with the processor to;

(a) display a plurality of sequential attempts at an apparent skill event to a player, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by the player, and

(b) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the apparent skill event, sequentially randomly determine if said attempt is successful without regard to how or when the player activates the player input device, and if said attempt is successful increasing an award to be provided to the player to a higher one of the values, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the apparent skill event is at least the number of potential successful outcomes in the game or the award is increased to a highest one of the values.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the number of values is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

19. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor;

a number of potential successful outcomes in the game, said number being randomly determined and being at least two;

an apparent skill event in the game;

a player input device in communication with the processor;

a plurality of different values in the game; and

at least one display device operable with of the processor to;

(a) display an attempt at the apparent skill event to a player, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by the player, and randomly determine if said attempt is successful without regard to how or when the player activates the player input device,

(b) if said attempt is successful, display an increase in an award to be provided to the player to a higher one of the values, and

(c) repeat (a) to (b) until said plurality of attempts at the apparent skill event is at least equal to the number of successful attempts or the award is increased to a highest one of the values.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein the number of values is equal to the number of potential successful outcomes.

21. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of successful outcomes being at least two and a plurality of monetary awards;

(b) displaying a plurality of sequential attempts at an apparent skill event wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of a player input device by a player, and

(c) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the apparent skill event, sequentially randomly determining if said attempt is successful without regard to when or how the player activates the player input device, and if said attempt is successful providing one of the monetary awards to the player, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the apparent skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

26. The method of claim 21, which is provided through a data network.

27. The method of claim 26, where the data network is an internet.

28. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game having a number of successful outcomes being at least two, an apparent skill event, and a plurality of monetary awards;

(b) displaying an attempt at the apparent skill event to a player, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of a player input device by a player;

(c) randomly determining if said attempt is successful without regard to when or how the player activates the player input device;

(d) if said attempt is successful, providing one of the monetary awards to the player; and

(e) repeating (b) to (d) until said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

33. The method of claim 28, which is provided through a data network.

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

35. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of successful outcomes being at least two, said number being randomly determined, and a plurality of monetary awards;

(b) displaying a plurality of sequential attempts at a skill event, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of a player input device by a player; and

(c) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the skill event, sequentially determining if said attempt is successful based on how or when the player activates the player input device, and if said attempt is successful providing one of the monetary awards to the player, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

38. The method of claim 35, which is provided through a data network.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the data network is an internet.

40. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of successful outcomes, said number being randomly determined and being at least two, a skill event, and plurality of monetary awards;

(b) displaying an attempt at the skill event, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of a player input device by a player;

(c) determining if said attempt is successful based on how or when the player activates the player input device;

(d) if said attempt is successful, providing one of the monetary awards to the player; and

(e) repeating (b) to (d) until said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein at least two of the monetary awards are different.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the number of monetary awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

43. The method of claim 40, which is provided through a data network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data network is an internet.

45. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of potential successful outcomes, said number being randomly determined and being at least two, and a plurality of different values;

(b) displaying a plurality of sequential attempts at an apparent skill event, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of a player input device by a player; and

(c) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the skill event, sequentially randomly determining if said attempt is successful without regard to how or when the player activates the player input device, and if said attempt is successful increasing an award to be provided to the player to a higher one of the values, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the apparent skill event is at least the number of potential successful outcomes in the game or the award is increased to a highest one of the values.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the number of values can be greater than the number of successful outcomes.

47. The method of claim 45, which is provided through a data network.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the data network is an internet.

49. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of potential successful outcomes, said number being randomly determined and at least two, an apparent skill event, and a plurality of different values;

(b) displaying an attempt at the apparent skill event, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of the player input device by a player;

(c) randomly determining if said attempt is successful without regard to how or when the player activates the player input device;

(d) if said attempt is successful, increase an award to be provided to the player to a higher one of the values; and

(e) sequentially repeating (b) to (d) until said plurality of attempts at the apparent skill event is at least equal to the number of successful attempts or the award is increased to a highest one of the values.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the number of values is equal to the number of potential successful outcomes.

51. The method of claim 49, which is provided through a data network.

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