Gaming device having a selection game with multiple groups of potential outcomes

• US 20050054416A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hostetler, John D., Mead, Randall D., Ngan, Wing Yee
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 with a selection game that enables a player to pick one of a plurality of selections. An award, terminator or modifier associated with the picked selection is revealed to the player. If the picked selection is associated with a terminator, the selection game ends. If the picked selection is associated with an award or value, the revealed award or value is modified by each activated modifier to form at least one modified award. The modified award is then provided to the player. If the picked selection is associated with a modifier, then the revealed modifier is activated. Once activated, the modifier will modify each of the awards that are subsequently revealed during the selection game. Moreover, once a modifier is activated, the gaming device retroactively applies the activated modifier to each of the previously revealed awards or values. That is, each activated modifier will modify each of the revealed awards regardless of the order in which each modifier is activated or the order in which each award is revealed.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

a plurality of different awards in said game;

a plurality of different modifiers in said game, wherein at least one of said modifiers is initially activated and at least one of said modifiers is initially inactivated;

a plurality of selections in said game, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with said plurality of awards and at least one of said selections is associated with said inactivated modifier;

a display device adapted to display said game; and

a processor operable with said display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) causing one of said selections to be picked;

(b) revealing any award or modifier associated with the picked selection;

(c) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said awards, modifying the revealed award by each of said activated modifiers, wherein each activated modifier and said revealed award form a separate modified award;

(d) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said inactivated modifiers, activating the revealed modifier;

(e) displaying any modified award to a player;

(f) repeating steps (a) to (e) until a termination event occurs;

(g) providing any modified award to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said termination event occurs when a number of picks of said selections is reduced to a designated number.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one terminator associated with at least one of said selections, wherein if said terminator is associated with the picked selection, said processor is operable to reveal the terminator associated with the picked selection.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein said termination event occurs if said terminator is associated with the picked selection.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is revealed.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of initially activated modifiers.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein if one of said revealed inactivated modifier is activated, said processor is operable to control the play of said game by retroactively modifying any previously revealed award by said activated modifier, wherein each previously revealed award and said activated modifier form a separate modified award.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said modifiers are different.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of boards displayed to the player, wherein each board is associated with a different one of said modifiers.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by activating each board associated with each activated modifier, wherein each activated board displays any modified award that is based on the associated activated modifier.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by enabling the player to pick said selections.

12. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

a plurality of different awards in said game;

a plurality of different modifiers in said game, wherein at least one of said modifiers is initially activated and at least one of said modifiers is initially inactivated;

a display device adapted to display said game; and

a processor operable with said display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) causing the selection of at least one of said awards or at least one of said initially inactivated modifiers;

(b) if one of said awards is selected, modifying said selected award by each of said activated modifiers to form at least one modified award;

(c) if one of said inactivated modifiers is selected, activating said selected modifier;

(d) displaying any modified award to a player;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until a termination event occurs; and

(f) providing any modified award to the player;

13. The gaming device of claim 12, which includes at least one terminator, wherein said processor is operable to control the play of the game by causing the selection of said terminator.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein said processor is operable to control the play of said game by causing said termination event to occur if said terminator is selected.

15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is selected.

16. The gaming device of claim 12, which includes a plurality of initially activated modifiers.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein if one of said inactivated modifiers is selected and activated, said processor is operable to control the play of said game by retroactively modifying any previously selected awards by said activated modifier to form at least one modified award.

18. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein each of said modifiers are different.

19. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

a plurality of different awards in said game;

a plurality of different initially inactivated modifiers in said game;

a plurality of selections in said game, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with said plurality of awards and a plurality of said selections are associated with said plurality of inactivated modifiers;

a display device adapted to display said game; and

a processor operable with said display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) causing one of said selections to be picked;

(b) revealing any award or modifier associated with the picked selection;

(c) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said initially inactivated modifiers, activating the revealed modifier;

(d) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said awards, modifying the revealed award by each of any activated modifiers, wherein each activated modifier and said revealed award form a separate modified award;

(e) displaying any modified award to a player;

(f) repeating steps (a) to (e) until a termination event occurs; and

(g) providing any modified award to the player.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by enabling the player to pick said selections.

21. The gaming device of claim 19, which includes at least one terminator associated with at least one of said selections, wherein if said terminator is associated with the picked selection, said processor is operable to reveal the terminator associated with the picked selection.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein said termination event occurs if said terminator is associated with the picked selection.

23. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is revealed.

24. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein if one of said revealed inactivated modifiers is activated, said processor is operable to control the play of said game by retroactively modifying any previously revealed award by said activated modifier, wherein any previously revealed award and said activated modifier form a separate modified award.

25. The gaming device of claim 19, which includes a plurality of boards displayed to the player, wherein each board is associated with a different one of said modifiers.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by activating each board associated with any activated modifier, wherein each activated board displays any modified award that is based on any associated activated modifier.

27. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

a plurality of different symbols in said game;

a plurality of different levels in said game, wherein each of said levels includes a plurality of said symbols, at least one of said symbols is in a plurality of said levels, at least one of said levels is initially activated and at least one of said levels is initially inactivated;

a plurality of awards in said game, wherein each award is associated with one of said symbols included in one of said levels;

a plurality of selections in said game, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with said plurality of symbols and at least one of said selections is associated with said inactivated level;

a display device adapted to display said game; and

a processor operable with said display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) causing one of said selections to be picked;

(b) revealing any symbol or level associated with the picked selection;

(c) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said symbols, displaying and accumulating each award associated with said revealed symbol for each activated level,

(d) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated level, activating the revealed level;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until a termination event occurs; and

(f) providing any accumulated awards to a player.

28. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said inactivated levels, said processor is operable to control the play of said game by displaying and retroactively accumulating the award associated with any previously revealed symbol and said activated level.

29. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by enabling the player to pick said selections.

30. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein said termination event occurs when a number of picks of said selections is reduced to a designated number.

31. The gaming device of claim 27, which includes at least one terminator associated with at least one of said selections, wherein if said terminator is associated with the picked selection, said processor is operable to reveal the terminator associated with the picked selection.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said termination event occurs if said terminator is associated with the picked selection.

33. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is revealed.

34. The gaming device of claim 27, which includes a plurality of initially activated levels.

35. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with one of said inactivated levels.

36. The gaming device of claim 27, which includes a plurality of boards displayed to the player, wherein each board is associated with one of said levels.

37. The gaming device of claim 36, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by activating each board associated with each activated level, wherein each activated board displays any modified award that is based on the associated activated level.

38. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the processor is operable to display the relationship between each revealed symbol and each of said activated levels.

39. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

a plurality of different awards in said game;

a plurality of separate different award levels in said game, wherein each level includes a plurality of said awards;

a plurality of award level activators in said game, wherein each award level activator is associated with one of said plurality of award levels;

a display device adapted to display said game; and

a processor operable with the display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) causing the selection of one of said awards or one of said award level activators;

(b) activating the award level associated with any selected award level activator;

(c) determining any total award for any activated level wherein the total award for each activated level is based on the selected awards in each activated level;

(d) displaying any determined total award for any activated level to a player;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until a termination event occurs, and

(f) providing the player any determined total award for any activated level.

40. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein at least one of said awards is in more than one of said award levels.

41. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein a plurality of said awards are in more than one of said award levels.

42. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein at least one of said awards is in each of said award levels.

43. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein a plurality of said awards are in each of said award levels.

44. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

a plurality of different symbols in said game;

a plurality of different initially inactivated levels in said game, wherein each of said levels includes a plurality of said symbols and at least one of said symbols is in a plurality of said levels;

a plurality of awards in said game, wherein each award is associated with one of said symbols included in one of said levels;

a plurality of selections in said game, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with said plurality of symbols and a plurality of said selections are associated with said initially inactivated levels;

a display device adapted to display said game; and

a processor operable with said display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) causing one of said selections to be picked;

(b) revealing any symbol or level associated with the picked selection;

(c) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said symbols, displaying and accumulating any award associated with said revealed symbol for any activated level,

(d) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said inactivated levels, activating the revealed level;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until a termination event occurs; and

(f) providing any accumulated awards to a player.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein if one of said initially inactivated levels is activated, said processor is operable to control the play of said game by displaying and retroactively accumulating the award associated with any previously revealed symbol and said activated level.

46. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the game by enabling the player to pick said selections.

47. The gaming device of claim 44, which includes at least one terminator associated with at least one of said selections, wherein if said terminator is associated with the picked selection, said processor is operable to reveal the terminator associated with the picked selection.

48. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein said termination event occurs if said terminator is associated with the picked selection.

49. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is revealed.

50. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the processor is operable to display the relationship between each revealed symbol and each of said activated levels.

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

(a) activating at least one of a plurality of different modifiers;

(b) displaying a plurality of selections, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with a plurality of different awards and at least one of said selections is associated with at least one remaining inactivated modifier;

(c) causing one of the plurality of selections to be picked,

(d) revealing any award or inactivated modifier associated with the picked selection;

(e) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said awards, modifying the revealed award by each of said activated modifiers, wherein each activated modifier and said revealed award form a separate modified award;

(f) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated modifier, activating the revealed modifier;

(g) displaying any modified award to a player;

(h) repeating steps (c) to (g) until a termination event occurs; and

(i) providing any modified award to the player.

52. The method of claim 51, which includes enabling the player to pick said selections.

53. The method of claim 51, which includes retroactively modifying any previously revealed award by said activated modifier if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated modifier, wherein each previously revealed award and said activated modifier form a separate modified award

54. The method of claim 51, wherein said termination event occurs if a number of picks of said selections is reduced to a designated number.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein said termination event occurs if a terminator is associated with the picked selection, wherein if a terminator is associated with the picked selection, said terminator is revealed.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is revealed.

57. The method of claim 51, which includes displaying said modified awards to the player on a plurality of boards, wherein each board is associated with one of said modifiers.

58. The gaming device of claim 57, which includes activating each board associated with each activated modifier, wherein each activated board displays any modified award that is based on the associated activated modifier.

59. The method of claim 51, which is provided to the player through a data network.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) activating at least one of a plurality of different modifiers;

(b) selecting at least one of a plurality of different awards or at least one of any remaining inactivated modifiers;

(c) if one of said awards is selected, modifying said selected award by each of said activated modifiers to form at least one modified award;

(d) if one of said remaining inactivated modifiers is selected, activating said selected modifier;

(e) displaying any modified award to a player;

(f) repeating steps (b) to (e) until a termination event occurs; and

(g) providing said modified award to the player.

62. The method of claim 61, which includes retroactively modifying any previously selected awards by each subsequently activated modifier to form at least one modified award if one of said remaining inactivated modifiers is selected.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein said termination event occurs if a terminator is selected.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein said termination event occurs if each of said plurality of awards and each modifier is selected.

65. The method of claim 61, which is provided to the player through a data network.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) displaying a plurality of selections, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with a plurality of different awards and a plurality of said selections are associated with a plurality of initially inactivated modifiers;

(b) causing one of the plurality of selections to be picked,

(c) revealing any award or inactivated modifier associated with the picked selection;

(d) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said awards, modifying the revealed award by each of any activated modifiers, wherein each activated modifier and said revealed award form a separate modified award;

(e) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said inactivated modifiers, activating the revealed modifier;

(f) displaying any modified award to a player;

(g) repeating steps (b) to (f) until a termination event occurs; and

(h) providing any modified award to the player.

68. The method of claim 67, which includes enabling the player to pick said selections.

69. The method of claim 67, which includes retroactively modifying any previously revealed award by any activated modifier if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated modifier, wherein each previously revealed award and any activated modifier form a separate modified award

70. The method of claim 67, wherein said termination event occurs if a terminator is associated with the picked selection, wherein if a terminator is associated with the picked selection, said terminator is revealed.

71. The method of claim 67, which is provided to the player through a data network.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) activating at least one of a plurality of different levels;

(b) displaying a plurality of selections, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with a plurality of different symbols, at least one of said symbols is in a plurality of said levels and at least one of said selections is associated with at least one remaining inactivated level;

(c) causing one of the plurality of selections to be picked,

(d) revealing any symbol or level associated with the picked selection;

(e) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said symbols, displaying and accumulating each award associated with said revealed symbol for each activated level,

(f) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated level, activating the revealed level;

(g) repeat steps (c) to (f) until a termination event occurs; and

(h) providing any accumulated awards to a player.

74. The method of claim 73, which includes displaying and retroactively accumulating the award associated with any previously revealed symbol and the activated level if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated level, activating the revealed level.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein said termination event occurs if a terminator is associated with the picked selection.

76. The method of claim 73, which includes displaying a plurality of boards, wherein each board is associated with one of said levels.

77. The method of claim 76, which includes activating each board associated with each activated level, wherein each activated board displays any modified award that is based on the associated activated level.

78. The method of claim 76, which includes displaying a relationship between each revealed symbol and each of said activated boards.

79. The method of claim 73, which is provided to the player through a data network.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) causing the selection of one of a plurality of different awards or one of a plurality of different award level activators, wherein each award level activator is associated with one of a plurality of award levels and each award level includes a plurality of said awards;

(b) activating the award level associated with any selected award level activator;

(c) determining any total award for any activated level wherein the total award for each activated level is based on the selected awards in each activated level;

(d) displaying any determined total award for any activated level to a player;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) until a termination event occurs, and

(f) providing the player any determined total award for any activated level.

82. The method of claim 81, which is provided to the player through a data network.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) displaying a plurality of selections, wherein a plurality of said selections are associated with a plurality of different symbols, a plurality of said selections are associated with a plurality of initially inactivated different levels and at least one of said symbols is in at least one of initially inactivated different levels;

(b) causing one of the plurality of selections to be picked,

(c) revealing any symbol or level associated with the picked selection;

(d) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said symbols, displaying and accumulating any award associated with said revealed symbol for each of any activated levels;

(e) if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with one of said inactivated levels, activating the revealed level;

(f) repeating steps (b) to (e) until a termination event occurs; and

(g) providing any accumulated awards to a player.

85. The method of claim 84, which includes displaying and retroactively accumulating the award associated with any previously revealed symbol and the activated level if said picked selection is revealed to be associated with said inactivated level, activating the revealed level.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein said termination event occurs if a terminator is associated with the picked selection.

87. The method of claim 84, which is provided to the player through a data network.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the data network is an internet.