Gaming device having a player selection game

• US 20050059461A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Brill, Zeke, Ching, Erick T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,981 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 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys
• 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 that includes a plurality of elements or symbols which are each in one or more of a plurality of element groups or sets. The gaming device also includes a plurality of player selectable selections. Each player selectable selection is associated with one of the plurality of element groups or sets. In one embodiment, the player is enabled to pick one of the selections and each element in the element group or set associated with the picked selection is flagged or marked. If a designated element or combination of elements are not flagged, the player is enabled to pick at another one of the selections, one at a time, until a designated element or combination of elements are flagged or marked. Once a designated element or combination of elements are flagged or marked, the player is provided an award based, at least in part, on the specific element or combination of elements which are flagged or marked.

Claims

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

a game controlled by the processor;

a plurality of elements in said game;

a plurality of different element groups in said game, wherein each of said element groups includes at least one of said elements and at least one of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements;

a plurality of selections in said game, wherein each of said selections is associated with one of said different element groups and at least one of said selections is associated with a plurality of said different element groups;

at least one designated pattern of elements, said designated pattern of elements including at least two of said elements; and

a display device adapted to display said game;

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

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

(b) flagging each of said elements in said element group associated with said picked selection;

(c) determining if all of the elements in one of said designated patterns of elements has been flagged;

(d) repeating (a) to (c) if all of the elements in one of said designated patterns of elements has not been flagged; and

(e) if all of the elements in one of said designated patterns of elements has been flagged, providing a player an award, wherein said award is based, at least in part, on said designated pattern of flagged elements.

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

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said element groups each include a plurality of said elements.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said element groups includes each of said elements.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said selections are associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said award includes a value.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said award is based, at least in part, on a multiplier.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of different designated patterns of elements.

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

a game controlled by the processor;

a plurality of awards in said game;

a plurality of elements in said game, wherein a plurality of said elements are associated with said plurality of awards;

a plurality of different element groups in said game, wherein each of said element groups includes at least one of said elements and at least one of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements;

a plurality of selections in said game, wherein each of said selections is associated with one of said different element groups and at least one of said selections is associated with a plurality of said different element groups;

at least one designated pattern of elements, each designated pattern of elements including at least two of said elements; and

a display device adapted to display said game;

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

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

(b) flagging each of said elements in said element group associated with said picked selection;

(c) displaying any of said awards associated with said flagged elements;

(d) determining if all of the elements in one of said designated patterns of elements has been flagged;

(e) repeating (a) to (d) if all of the elements in one of said designated patterns of elements has not been flagged; and

(f) if all of the elements in one of said designated patterns of elements has been flagged, providing a player a total award, wherein said total award is based, at least in part, on any awards which are associated with said flagged elements in said designated pattern of flagged elements.

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

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said element groups each include a plurality of said elements.

14. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements.

15. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least one of said element groups includes each of said elements.

16. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

17. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of said selections are associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

18. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of said elements is associated with one of said awards.

19. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least one of said awards is based, at least in part, on a multiplier.

20. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least one of said awards includes a value.

21. The gaming device of claim 11, which includes a plurality of different designated patterns of elements.

22. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the processor is operable to control the player of said game by modifying the displayed award associated with at least one of said elements if said element is flagged a plurality of times.

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

(a) causing one of a plurality of selections to be picked, each of said selections associated with one of a plurality of different element groups and at least one of said selections associated with a plurality of said different element groups, wherein each of said element groups includes at least one of a plurality of elements and at least one of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements;

(b) flagging each of said elements in said element group associated with said picked selection;

(c) determining if all of the elements in at least one of a plurality of designated patterns of elements has been flagged;

(d) repeating steps (a) to (c) if all of the elements in at least one of the designated patterns of elements has not been flagged; and

(e) if all of the elements in at least one of the designated patterns of elements has been flagged, providing a player an award, wherein said award is based, at least in part, on said designated pattern of flagged elements.

24. The method of claim 23, which includes enabling the player to pick said selections.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a plurality of said element groups each include a plurality of said elements.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein each of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of said element groups includes each of said elements.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein each of said selections is associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said award includes a value.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein said award is based, at least in part, on a multiplier.

32. The method of claim 23, which is provided through a data network.

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

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

(a) causing one of a plurality of selections to be picked, each of said selections associated with one of a plurality of different element groups and at least one of said selections associated with a plurality of said different element groups, wherein each of said element groups includes at least one of a plurality elements, at least one of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements and a plurality of said elements are associated with a plurality of awards;

(b) flagging each of said elements in said element group associated with said picked selection;

(c) displaying any of said awards associated with said flagged elements;

(d) determining if all of the elements in at least one of a plurality of designated patterns of elements has been flagged;

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) if all of the elements in at least one of the designated patterns of elements has not been flagged; and

(f) if all of the elements in at least one of the designated patterns of elements has been flagged, providing a player a total award, wherein said total award is based, at least in part, on any awards which are associated with said flagged elements in said designated pattern of flagged elements.

35. The method of claim 34, which includes enabling the player to pick said selections.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein a plurality of said element groups each include a plurality of said elements.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein each of said element groups includes a plurality of said elements.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of said element groups includes each of said elements.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein each of said selections is associated with a plurality of said different element groups.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein each of said elements is associated with one of said awards.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of said awards is based, at least in part, on a multiplier.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein at least one of said awards includes a value.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein if one of said elements is flagged a plurality of times, the award associated with that element increases at least once.

45. The method of claim 34, which is provided through a data network.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the data network is an internet.