Gaming device having a symbol accumulation game with a physical prize

• US 20050043082A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cregan, Karen M., Peterson, Lance R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,862,420 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 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys

Abstract

A gaming device including a free spins game having a plurality of reels with a plurality of symbols. The symbols include at least one prize symbol, where a physical prize is associated with the prize symbol. In one embodiment, the gaming device activates or spins the reels for a designated number of spins in a game. The gaming device spins the reels in the game and accumulates any prize symbols indicated on the reels. If the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches a designated number of prize symbols necessary to win the physical prize, the gaming device awards the physical prize to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of reels;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including at least one prize symbol and at least one re-trigger symbol;

an initial designated number of spins of the reels, said designated number being greater than one;

a designated number of the prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a physical prize, wherein the designated number of prize symbols is greater than the number of prize symbols which can possibly be accumulated in the initial designated number of spins of the reels; and

a processor operable to control the reels, activate the reels for the initial designated number of spins, re-trigger at least one spin of the reels if the re-trigger symbol occurs on the reels, accumulate any prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels, and award the physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches the designated number of prize symbols.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the designated number of prize symbols is greater than the initial designated number of spins of the reels.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one payline associated with the reels.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the processor accumulates any prize symbols which occur on any of the paylines in each spin of the reels.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the accumulated number of prize symbols is reset when no spins remain.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial designated number of spins are obtained in a primary game activated upon a wager by the player.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the accumulated number of prize symbols is reset after a plurality of primary games.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the prize symbol includes an image which represents the physical prize.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial designated number of spins is randomly determined.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial designated number of spins is predetermined.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the designated number of prize symbols is randomly determined.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the designated number of prize symbols is predetermined.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of different physical prizes, wherein the processor is operable to provide one of said physical prizes to the player when the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches the designated number of prize symbols necessary to win the physical prize.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least two of the physical prizes have different values.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, which includes a probability of being selected by the processor associated with each of the physical prizes, wherein the processor is operable to select and provide one of the physical prizes to the player based on said probabilities.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of different physical prizes, wherein the processor is operable to enable the player to pick one of said physical prizes if the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches the designated number of prize symbols.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a prize symbol display operable to indicate the number of accumulated prize symbols.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the prize symbol display includes a plurality of prize symbol indicators.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes at least one illumination device associated with the prize symbol indicators.

20. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the prize symbol display includes an integer which represents the accumulated number of prize symbols.

21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the integer increments by at least one for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels.

22. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial designated number of spins are free spins.

23. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial designated number of spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

24. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the designated number of the prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

25. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of prize symbols which are accumulated based on each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

26. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

27. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to enable the player to select the physical prize.

28. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of reels;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including at least one first prize symbol, at least one second prize symbol and at least one re-trigger symbol;

an initial designated number of spins of the reels, said designated number being greater than one;

a designated number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a first physical prize, wherein the designated number of first prize symbols is greater than the number of first prize symbols which can possibly be accumulated in the initial designated number of spins of the reels;

a designated number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a second different physical prize, wherein the designated number of second prize symbols is greater than the number of second prize symbols which can possibly be accumulated in the initial designated number of spins of the reels; and

a processor operable to control the reels, activate the reels for the initial designated number of spins, re-trigger at least one spin of the reels when the re-trigger symbol occurs on the reels, accumulate any first prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels, accumulate any second prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels, award the first physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of first prize symbols reaches the designated number of first prize symbols, and award the second physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of second prize symbols reaches the designated number of second prize symbols.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the designated number of first prize symbols is greater than the initial designated number of spins of the reels and the designated number of second prize symbols is greater than the initial designated number of spins of the reels.

30. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the accumulated number of first and second prize symbols is reset when no spins remain.

31. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the initial designated spins are obtained in a primary game activated upon a wager by the player.

32. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the first physical prize is of a higher value than the second physical prize.

33. The gaming device of claim 32, which includes a higher probability of obtaining the second physical prize than the first physical prize.

34. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the initial designated number of spins are free spins.

35. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the initial designated number of spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

36. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the designated number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the first physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

37. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the designated number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the second physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

38. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the number of prize symbols accumulated for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

39. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

40. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a secondary game;

at least one triggering event associated with the primary game, wherein the secondary game is initiated upon the occurrence of the triggering event in the primary game;

a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols in the secondary game, the symbols including at least one prize symbol and at least one re-trigger symbol;

a physical prize associated with the secondary game;

a designated number of prize symbols necessary to be accumulated in the secondary game to win the physical prize, wherein the designated number of prize symbols is greater than the number of prize symbols that can possibly be accumulated in an initially designated number of spins of the reels in the secondary game; and

a processor operable to control the reels, activate the set of reels for said initial designated number of spins in the secondary game after the triggering event occurs in the primary game, re-trigger the activation of the reels for at least one activation of the reels if the re-trigger symbol occurs on the reels in the secondary game, accumulate any prize symbols which occur on the reels in the activations of the reels in the secondary game, and award the physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches the designated number of prize symbols.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the designated number of prize symbols necessary to be accumulated in the secondary game is greater than the designated number of spins.

42. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the triggering event includes a combination of symbols occurring on a set of reels in the primary game.

43. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the initial designated number of spins are free spins.

44. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the initial designated number of spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

45. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the designated number of the prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

46. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the number of prize symbols accumulated for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

47. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

48. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of reels;

a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including at least one first prize symbol, at least one second prize symbol and at least one re-trigger symbol;

an initial designated number of free spins of the reels, said designated number being greater than one;

a designated number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a first physical prize;

a designated number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a second different physical prize, wherein the first physical prize is of a higher value than the second physical prize; and

a processor operable to control the reels, activate the reels for the initial designated number of spins, re-trigger at least one spin of the reels if the re-trigger symbol occurs on the reels, accumulate any first prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels, accumulate any second prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels, award the first physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of first prize symbols reaches the designated number of first prize symbols, and award the second physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of second prize symbols reaches the designated number of second prize symbols.

49. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the initial designated number of free spins are obtained in a primary game activated upon a wager by the player.

50. The gaming device of claim 48, which includes a higher probability of obtaining the second physical prize than obtaining the first physical prize.

51. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the initial designated number of free spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

52. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the designated number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the first physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

53. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the designated number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the second physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

54. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the number of prize symbols which are accumulated for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

55. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

56. A method for operating a gaming device;

said method comprising;

(a) displaying a primary game to a player;

(b) initiating a secondary game upon the occurrence of a triggering event in the primary game;

(c) designating an initial number of spins of a plurality of reels in the secondary game;

(d) designating a number of prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a physical prize in the secondary game, wherein the designated number of prize symbols is greater than the number of prize symbols which can possibly be accumulated in the designated initial number of spins of the reels in the secondary game;

(e) activating the reels for the designated initial number of spins in the secondary game;

(f) accumulating any prize symbols which occur on the reels;

(g) re-activating the reels at least one time if a triggering event occurs in the secondary game; and

(h) awarding a physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of prize symbols reaches the designated number of prize symbols necessary to win the physical prize in the secondary game.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein accumulating any prize symbols which occur on the reels includes accumulating any prize symbols indicated on at least one payline associated with the reels.

58. The method of claim 56, which includes randomly determining the designated initial number of spins.

59. The method of claim 56, which includes pre-determining the designated initial number of spins.

60. The method of claim 56, which includes randomly determining the designated number of prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the physical prize in the secondary game.

61. The method of claim 56, which includes pre-determining the designated number of prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the physical prize in the secondary game.

62. The method of claim 56, which includes displaying the accumulated number of prize symbols on a prize symbol display.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein providing a physical prize to the player includes providing a physical prize from a plurality of different physical prizes.

64. The method of claim 56, wherein providing a physical prize to the player includes enabling the player to pick one of a plurality of physical prizes.

65. The method of claim 56, wherein awarding the physical prize to the player includes generating a prize code.

66. The method of claim 65, which includes placing the prize code on at least one of:

a receipt, a ticket, a printing medium and a recording medium.

67. The method of claim 56, wherein the designated initial number of spins are free spins.

68. The method of claim 56, wherein the initial designated initial number of spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

69. The method of claim 56, wherein the designated number of the prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

70. The method of claim 56, wherein the number of prize symbols accumulated for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

71. The method of claim 56, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

72. The method of claim 56, wherein the steps (a) to (h) are controlled through a data network.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) displaying a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including at least one first prize symbol, at least one second prize symbol and at least one re-trigger symbol;

(b) designating an initial number of spins of the reels, said designated number being greater than one;

(c) designating a number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a first physical prize, wherein the designated number of first prize symbols is greater than the number of first prize symbols which can possibly be accumulated in the designated initial number of spins of the reels;

(d) designating a number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a second different physical prize, wherein the designated number of second prize symbols is greater than the number of second prize symbols which can possibly be accumulated in the designated initial number of spins of the reels;

(e) activating the reels for the designated initial number of spins;

(f) re-triggering at least one spin of the reels if the re-trigger symbol occurs on the reels;

(g) accumulating any first prize symbols which occurs on the reels in each spin of the reels;

(h) accumulating any second prize symbols which occurs on the reels in each spin of the reels;

(i) awarding the first physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of first prize symbols reaches the designated number of first prize symbols; and

(j) awarding the second physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of second prize symbols reaches the designated number of second prize symbols.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the first physical prize is of a higher value than the second physical prize.

76. The method claim 75, which includes a higher probability of obtaining the second physical prize than the first physical prize.

77. The method claim 74, wherein the designated initial number of spins are free spins.

78. The method claim 74, wherein the designated initial number of spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

79. The method claim 74, wherein the designated number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the first physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

80. The method claim 74, wherein the designated number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the second physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

81. The method claim 74, wherein the number of prize symbols accumulated for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

82. The method claim 74, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

83. The method of claim 74, wherein the steps (a) to (j) are controlled through a data network.

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

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

(a) displaying a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols on the reels, said symbols including at least one first prize symbol, at least one second prize symbol and at least one re-trigger symbol;

(b) designating an initial number of free spins of the reels, said designated number being greater than one;

(c) designating a number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a first physical prize;

(d) designating a number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win a second different physical prize, wherein the first physical prize is of higher value than the second physical prize;

(e) activating the reels for the designated initial number of spins;

(f) re-triggering at least one spin of the reels if the re-trigger symbol occurs on the reels;

(g) accumulating any first prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels;

(h) accumulating any second prize symbols which occur on the reels in each spin of the reels;

(i) awarding the first physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of first prize symbols reaches the designated number of first prize symbols; and

(j) awarding the second physical prize to the player if the accumulated number of second prize symbols reaches the designated number of second prize symbols.

86. The gaming device of claim 85, which includes a higher probability of obtaining the second physical prize than the first physical prize.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the designated initial number of free spins of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

88. The method of claim 85, wherein the designated number of the first prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the first physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

89. The method of claim 85, wherein the designated number of the second prize symbols necessary to be accumulated to win the second physical prize is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

90. The method of claim 85, wherein the number of prize symbols accumulated for each prize symbol which occurs on the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

91. The method of claim 85, wherein odds of obtaining a re-trigger of the reels is at least in part based on a wager made by the player.

92. The method of claim 85, wherein the steps (a) to (j) are controlled through a data network.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the data network is an internet.