Gaming device having multiple interrelated secondary games

• US 20050054419A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Souza, Roman A., Vorias, William E., Mead, Randall D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device including interrelating bonus games in a bonus round by providing outcomes which transfer the player to one of the other interrelated bonus games. Each bonus game includes a different set of outcomes depending on what order the bonus game is selected by the gaming device or the player. Once an initial bonus game is selected, the player is presented with a plurality of selections which can include awards, award digits, modifiers, terminators, and other outcomes in addition to transfers to other bonus games.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager;

a plurality of bonus games including at least three different bonus games;

a plurality of selections associated with each bonus game, wherein picks of the selections yield a plurality of outcomes; and

a processor operable to select one of the bonus games as a first bonus game for a player, wherein the outcomes for said first bonus game include transfers to each of the other bonus games, wherein at least one of the outcomes in each of said other bonus games include at least one transfer to any of the bonus games that have not been previously selected, and wherein at least one outcome in one of the bonus games includes an award adapted to be provided to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outcomes for each bonus game include different sets of outcomes associated with said bonus game, wherein only one of said sets of outcomes is available in each said bonus game.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the set of outcomes available in each said bonus game is based on an order in which said bonus game is selected.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first bonus game to be selected is predetermined.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first bonus game to be selected is randomly determined.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of outcomes associated with the selections of the bonus game which includes a transfer to the selected bonus game is based on a probability associated with said selected bonus game.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the probability associated with said selected bonus game is based on an order in which said bonus game is selected.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of selections of one of the bonus games includes a transfer to one of the other bonus games.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outcomes includes a terminator.

10. A gaming device comprising:

a base game operable upon a wager;

a plurality of different bonus games, wherein said bonus games are selected in a sequential order; and

a plurality of outcomes associated with each bonus game, wherein the outcome available in each bonus game is based on the order of selection of said bonus game, and at least one outcome in one of the bonus games includes an award adapted to be provided to the player.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein one of the bonus games is selected if a transfer to said bonus game is generated.

12. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the sequential order of selection of the bonus games is random.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the sequential order of selection of bonus games is based on a probability associated with each bonus game.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the probability associated with each bonus game is based on the order the bonus game is selected.

15. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein each bonus game has an equal probability of being selected.

16. The gaming device of claim 10, which is operable to enable the player to select a first one of the bonus games.

17. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a processor operable to select a first one of the bonus games.

18. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a plurality of selections associated with each bonus game, wherein said selections include at least one outcome associated with each of said selections.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, which includes an input device operable to enable the player to pick at least one selection in at least one of the bonus games.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the outcomes are associated with masked selections.

21. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of outcomes is different from the other outcomes.

22. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of outcomes is different from the other outcomes.

23. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the outcome associated with at least one of the bonus games includes transferring a player to one of said bonus games which has not been selected.

24. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the outcome associated with at least one of the bonus games includes terminating the bonus game.

25. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the outcomes associated with each of the bonus games includes an award adapted to be provided to the player.

26. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein one of the outcomes associated with at least one of the bonus games includes another pick.

27. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein said another pick includes picking from a different plurality of selections, wherein at least one outcome associated with at least one of said selections is different from the outcomes previously associated with said selections.

28. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a plurality of bonus games, wherein said bonus games are selected in a sequential order; and

a plurality of different sets of outcomes associated with each bonus game, wherein the set of outcomes available to a player in each said bonus game is based on the order of selection of said bonus game, and wherein at least one outcome in one of the bonus games includes an award adapted to be provided to the player.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein each of the bonus games is different from the other bonus games.

30. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein at least one of the bonus game is different from at least one other bonus game.

31. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the sequential order of selection of bonus games is random.

32. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the order of selection of bonus games is based on a probability associated with each bonus game.

33. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein a probability of being selected associated with one of the bonus games is based on the first bonus game selected.

34. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein each bonus game has an equal probability of being selected.

35. The gaming device of claim 28, which includes an input device operable to enable the player to select a first one of the bonus games.

36. The gaming device of claim 28, which includes a processor operable to select a first bonus game.

37. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein a probability is associated with each set of outcomes for each bonus game, said probability based on the order said bonus game is selected.

38. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein each set of outcomes includes different outcomes.

39. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein each outcome in at least one set of outcomes is different.

40. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein at least one of the outcomes in at least one set of outcomes is different from the other outcomes in said set.

41. The gaming device of claim 28, which includes a plurality of selections associated with each bonus game, wherein said selections include at least one outcome from the set of outcomes associated with said bonus game.

42. The gaming device of claim 41, which includes an input device operable to enable the player to pick at least one selection in at least one of the bonus games.

43. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the outcome associated with at least one of the bonus games includes transferring the player to one of said bonus games which has not been selected.

44. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the outcome associated with at least one of the bonus games includes terminating the bonus game.

45. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the outcome associated with at least one of the bonus games includes providing the player an award value.

46. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the outcome associated with at least one of the bonus games includes another pick.

47. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of bonus games;

a plurality of selections associated with each bonus game, wherein each selection includes an outcome;

a display device operable to display said bonus games and the selections associated with said bonus games; and

a processor operable to;

(a) randomly select one of the bonus games as a first bonus game,

(b) associate an outcome with each of the selections associated with said selected bonus game, at least one of said outcomes including a transfer outcome operable to transfer the player to a second one of the bonus games,

(c) enable the player to pick one of said selections,

(d) transfer the player to said second bonus game if the selection including said transfer outcome is picked, and

(e) provide the player any award associated with any of the selected selections of the bonus games.

48. The gaming device of claim 47, which includes a plurality of selections in said second bonus game, wherein the outcomes associated with said selections include at least one transfer outcome operable to transfer the player to one of the bonus games that has not been selected.

49. A gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

a plurality of bonus games, said bonus games being selected in a sequential order; and

a plurality of different outcomes associated with each bonus game, wherein the outcome provided to a player in each said bonus game is based on a probability, wherein the probability for each outcome is based on the order of selection of said bonus game.

50. A method of operating a gaming device including a base game operable upon a wager, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of different bonus games, wherein each of said bonus games includes a plurality of selections;

(b) selecting one of the bonus games as a first bonus game;

(c) associating a plurality of first bonus game outcomes with said selections, wherein at least one of said outcomes associated with said selections includes a transfer outcome, said transfer outcome adapted to advance a player to another one of the bonus games;

(d) enabling the player to select one of said selections in the first bonus game;

(e) transferring the player to a second one of the bonus games if a transfer outcome is associated with the selected selection; and

(f) associating a plurality of second bonus game outcomes with the selections associated with the said second bonus game, wherein at least one of the outcomes associated with said selections includes a transfer outcome, said transfer outcome adapted to advance the player to another of said bonus games that has not been selected.

51. The method of claim 50, which includes associating a probability with each bonus game, wherein the order in which each said bonus game is selected is based on said probability.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein each bonus game has an equal probability of being selected.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein selecting the order of the plurality of bonus games includes randomly selecting the first bonus game.

54. The method of claim 50, which includes associating a plurality of different outcomes with each bonus game based on the order the bonus game is selected.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one outcome of the bonus games selected first is different from at least one outcome of another one of the bonus games.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein the plurality of outcomes in at least one set of outcomes are available to the player in one of the bonus games based on an order in which said bonus game is selected.

57. The method of claim 50, which includes associating a plurality of different outcomes with a plurality of different bonus games based on a probability associated with each outcome, wherein said probability is based on the order the bonus game is selected.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the outcomes of one of the bonus games includes terminating the bonus game.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the outcomes of each the bonus games includes another pick.

60. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the outcomes of one of the bonus games includes providing the player an award.

61. The method of claim 50, wherein the steps (a) to (f) are provided to the player through a data network.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the data network is an internet.

63. A method of operating a gaming device including a base game operable upon a wager, said method comprising:

(a) selecting a plurality of different bonus games in a sequential order;

(b) providing at least one outcome in each bonus game based on said order of selection; and

(c) providing an award to a player as at least one outcome in one of the bonus games.

64. The method of claim 63, which includes associating a probability with each bonus game, wherein the order in which each said bonus game is selected is based on said probability.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein each bonus games has an equal probability of being selected.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein selecting the sequential order of the plurality of bonus games includes causing a random selection of the first bonus game.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein selecting the sequential order of the plurality of bonus games includes enabling a player to pick a first one of the bonus games.

68. The method of claim 63, which includes associating at least one outcome with each bonus game based on the order each said bonus game is selected.

69. The method of claim 63, wherein at least one outcome provided in each bonus game is different.

70. The method of claim 63, which includes associating a plurality of different outcomes with a plurality of different bonus games based on a probability associated with each outcome, wherein said probability is based on the order the bonus game is selected.

71. The method of claim 63, wherein at least one of the outcomes of each of the bonus games includes an award adapted to be provided to the player.

72. The method of claim 63, wherein at least one of the outcomes of one of the bonus games includes terminating the bonus game.

73. The method of claim 63, wherein at least one of the outcomes of at least one of the bonus games includes another pick.

74. The method of claim 63, which includes associating a plurality of selections with each bonus game, wherein picking at least one selection determines the outcome of the bonus game.

75. The method of claim 63, which includes enabling a player to select at least one of said selections in the selected bonus game.

76. The method of claim 63, wherein the steps (a) to (c) are provided to a player through a data network.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the data network is an internet.