Awards based on multiplicity of game events

• US 20050159200A1
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark C., Bolich, Kathleen
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,620 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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

Methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes. In one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game. The method includes placing a bet by a player, playing of a game to produce a game outcome, evaluating a primary game outcome, paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it, advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it, and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a game, comprising:

placing a bet by a player;

playing of a game to produce a game outcome;

evaluating a primary game outcome;

paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it;

advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it; and

if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of independent bonus accumulators, each independent bonus accumulator being independently evaluated and acted upon.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of dependent bonus accumulators, the awarding of any one bonus award resetting all bonus accumulators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of players share a same accumulator.

5. A method for providing a game, comprising:

placing a bet by a player;

playing of a game to produce a game outcome;

advancing a bonus attempt count;

evaluating a primary outcome;

paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it;

advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it;

paying the player a bonus award if the bonus accumulator has sufficiently advanced; and

resetting the bonus accumulator and the bonus attempt count if the player has been awarded a bonus award or if the bonus attempt count has been exceeded.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of players share a same bonus accumulator and bonus attempt count.

7. An electronic device for playing a betting game, comprising:

a display;

a data structure operable to store data corresponding to a plurality of game elements for a game;

a means for a player to make a bet and initiate a game play; and

a processor, the processor operable to;

generate and evaluate a primary game outcome;

pay an award to the player if the primary outcome merits it;

advance a bonus accumulator if primary outcome merits it; and

pay a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of independent bonus accumulators, the plurality of independent bonus accumulators operable to be independently evaluated and acted upon.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of dependent bonus accumulators, the awarding of any one bonus resetting the plurality of dependent bonus accumulators.

10. An electronic device for playing a betting game, comprising:

a display;

a data structure storing data corresponding to game elements for the game;

a means for a player to make a bet and initiate a game play; and

a processor, the processor operable to;

advance a bonus attempt count;

generate and evaluate a primary game outcome;

pay an award to the player if the primary outcome merits it;

advance a bonus accumulator if primary outcome merits it; and

pay a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator and the bonus attempt count if a bonus award is paid or if the bonus attempt count has been exceeded.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein a plurality of players share a same accumulator and bonus attempt count.

12. A computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium, for providing a game, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

place a bet by a player;

play a game to produce a game outcome;

evaluate a primary game outcome;

pay a direct award if the primary outcome merits it;

advance a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it; and

if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, pay a bonus award to the player and clear the bonus accumulator.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising instructions to:

provide a plurality of independent bonus accumulators, each independent bonus accumulator being independently evaluated and acted upon.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising instructions to:

provide a plurality of dependent bonus accumulators, the awarding of any one bonus award resetting all bonus accumulators.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein a plurality of players share a same accumulator.

16. A computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium, for providing a game, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

place a bet by a player;

play of a game to produce a game outcome;

advance a bonus attempt count;

evaluate a primary outcome;

pay a direct award if the primary outcome merits it;

advance a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it;

pay the player a bonus award if the bonus accumulator has sufficiently advanced; and

reset the bonus accumulator and the bonus attempt count if the player has been awarded a bonus award or if the bonus attempt count has been exceeded.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein a plurality of players share a same bonus accumulator and bonus attempt count.

18. A computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium, for providing a game, comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

obtain a current game outcome;

retrieve another game outcome; and

determine whether a player receives an award, the determining being based on the current game outcome and the other game outcome.