Gaming device having a primary game outcome employed in a bonus game

• US 20050026679A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Palchetti, Johnny L., Webb, Bayard S., Lucchesi, Matthew, Mead, Randall D., Gilliland, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,613 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 17/3267 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 primary game with a bonus triggering event that affects the outcome of a secondary or bonus game. The number of symbols in the bonus game is dependant on the number of bonus triggering symbols in the bonus triggering event. After generating a number of bonus triggering symbols in the base or primary game, the gaming device animates the bonus triggering symbols and generates a related number of bonus symbols. The gaming device provides an award based on the combination of the bonus symbols.

Claims

1. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) activating a plurality of reels, said reels having a plurality of symbols including at least two bonus triggering symbols;

(b) displaying a plurality of the symbols after the activation of said reels; and

(c) if at least one bonus triggering symbol is generated on said reels;

(i) randomly generating a number of bonus symbols from a set of bonus symbols, wherein the number of bonus symbols is based on the number of bonus triggering symbols displayed on the reels, wherein each said bonus triggering symbol causes at least one of said bonus symbols to be generated;

(ii) displaying the generated bonus symbols;

(iii) determining if at least one award associated with a predefined combination of bonus symbols is formed by the generated bonus symbols; and

(iv) providing any determined award to a player.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes changing each bonus triggering symbol to one of the bonus symbols randomly generated after the generation of a predefined number of bonus triggering symbols.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes generating a different number of bonus symbols than the number of bonus triggering symbols generated on the reels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of bonus symbols includes an amount of different bonus symbols equal to an amount of the bonus triggering symbols required to generate the bonus symbols.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of bonus symbols includes an amount of different bonus symbols that is not equal to the amount of the bonus triggering symbols required to generate the bonus symbols.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined combination of bonus symbols associated with the award includes no like bonus symbols, two like bonus symbols, two pairs of like bonus symbols, three like bonus symbols, three like first bonus symbols and two like second bonus symbols, four like bonus symbols and five like bonus symbols.

7. The method of claim 1, which is provided to the player through a data network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data network is an internet.

9. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) randomly generating a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols including at least one bonus triggering symbol and at least one non-bonus triggering symbol;

(b) displaying said generated symbols including any generated said bonus triggering symbols and said non-bonus triggering symbols; and

(c) if at least a predefined number of the bonus triggering symbols are generated by said random generation;

(i) randomly generating a number of bonus symbols from a set of bonus symbols, wherein the number of bonus symbols is dependent upon the number of generated bonus triggering symbols, wherein each said bonus triggering symbol causes a generation of at least one of said bonus symbols;

(ii) determining if an award is associated with the generated bonus symbols;

(iii) displaying the generated bonus symbols and any said award; and

(iv) providing any said award to a player.

10. The method of claim 9, which includes randomly changing each bonus triggering symbol to one of the set of bonus symbols upon the generation of a predefined number of bonus triggering symbols.

11. The method of claim 9, which includes generating a different number of bonus symbols than the number of bonus triggering symbols that were generated by the first random generation.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of bonus symbols includes an amount of different bonus symbols equal to the amount of the bonus triggering symbols required to generate the bonus symbols.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of bonus symbols Includes an amount of different bonus symbols that is not equal to the amount of the bonus triggering symbols required to generate the bonus symbols.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the bonus symbols associated with said award include no like bonus symbols, two like bonus symbols, two pairs of like bonus symbols, three like bonus symbols, three like first bonus symbols and two like second bonus symbols, four like bonus symbols and five like bonus symbols.

15. The method of claim 9, which is provided to the player through a data network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network in an internet.

17. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) activating a primary game, said primary game having a plurality of primary game symbols including a plurality of bonus triggering symbols and a plurality of non-bonus triggering symbols;

(b) displaying a plurality of the primary game symbols after the activation of said primary game; and

(c) if a minimum number of at least two of the bonus triggering symbols is generated in said primary game;

(i) randomly generating a plurality of secondary game symbols based on the number of bonus triggering symbols generated in the primary game, wherein each said bonus triggering symbol causes at least one of said secondary game symbols to be generated;

(ii) displaying the generated secondary game symbols;

(iii) determining if an award is associated with the generated secondary game symbols; and

(iv) providing any determined award to a player.

18. The method of claim 17, which is provided to the player through a data network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data network is an internet.

20. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) activating a plurality of reels, said reels having a plurality of symbols, including at least two bonus triggering symbols;

(b) displaying a plurality of the symbols after the activation of said reels; and

(c) if at least a number of the bonus triggering symbols is generated on the reels, said number being at least one;

(i) randomly generating a number of bonus symbols from a set of bonus symbols, wherein the number of bonus symbols is based on the number of bonus triggering symbols displayed on the reels, wherein each said bonus triggering symbol causes at least one of said bonus symbols to be generated;

(ii) associating the generated bonus symbols with at least one selection to be made by a player;

(iii) displaying said selections;

(iv) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed selections;

(v) determining if an award is associated with said picked selections; and

(vi) providing any determined award to the player.

21. The method of claim 20, which is provided to the player through a data network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

a plurality of reels controlled by the processor and having a plurality of symbols including a plurality of bonus triggering symbols;

a plurality of bonus symbols;

a plurality of outcomes associated with said bonus symbols; and

a display controlled by the processor, wherein the processor is operable with the reels and the display and after a generation of a number of bonus triggering symbols on the reels, to cause;

(i) a random generation of a number of bonus symbols, said number of bonus symbols based on the number of bonus triggering symbols displayed on the reels, wherein each said bonus triggering symbol causes at least one of said bonus symbols to be generated,

(ii) a display of the generated bonus symbols, and

(iii) display of any outcome associated with the generated bonus symbols.

24. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the number of the bonus triggering symbols on the reels must be along more than one payline to trigger the generation of the bonus symbols.

25. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the number of the bonus triggering symbols on the reels in any position on the display device trigger the generation of the bonus symbols.

26. The gaming device of claim 23 wherein the number of the bonus triggering symbols on the reels must be on different reels to trigger the generation of the bonus symbols.

27. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the number of the bonus triggering symbols on the reels must be on adjacent reels to trigger the generation of the bonus symbols.

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

a plurality of reels controlled by the processor and having a plurality of symbols including at least two bonus triggering symbols;

a set of bonus symbols;

at least one award associated with a predefined combination of bonus symbols;

a plurality of modifiers associated with the bonus symbols;

a plurality of selections;

a selector for enabling the player to pick a plurality of said selections; and

a display device controlled by the processor,

wherein the processor is operable with the display device, the selector, and the reels upon a generation and display of at least a number of the bonus triggering symbols on the reels to cause;

(i) a random generation of a number of bonus symbols from the set of bonus symbols, the number of bonus symbols based on the number of bonus triggering symbols displayed on the reels,

(ii) associate at least one of said plurality of modifiers with at least one of said generated bonus symbols,

(iii) associate said generated bonus symbols with said selections to be made by a player and cause the display device to display said selections,

(iv) enable the player to select at least one of said displayed selections, and

(v) provide the player any award associated with the selected selections, altering the award if the players selection included said bonus symbols associated with said modifiers.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the modifier associated with the bonus symbols multiplies the award by a predetermined amount.

30. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) activating a plurality of reels, said reels having a plurality of symbols, including at least two bonus triggering symbols;

(b) displaying a plurality of the symbols after the activation of said reels; and

(c) upon the generation of at least one of the bonus triggering symbols on the reels;

(i) randomly generating a number of bonus symbols from a set of bonus symbols, wherein the number of bonus symbols is based on the number of bonus triggering symbols displayed on the reels, wherein each said bonus triggering symbol causes at least one of said bonus symbols to be generated;

(ii) associating at least one modifier with at least one of said bonus symbols;

(iii) associating the generated bonus symbols with a selection made by the player;

(iv) displaying said selections;

(v) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed selections;

(vi) determining if an award is associated with the selection made by the player; and

(vii) providing any determined award to the player, altering the award if the player selected any of said bonus symbols associated with said modifiers.

31. The method of claim 30, which is provided to the player through a data network.

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