Gaming device having a first game scheme involving a symbol generator, a second game and first game terminator

• US 20060094496A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Webb, Bayard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,046 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming device including a primary game having one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games associated with the symbol generators. The gaming device activates the symbol generators for a number of activations. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more of the secondary games associated with the symbol generators. In one embodiment, the gaming device continues to activate the symbol generators until at least one of the symbol generators generates one or more termination symbols, or until there are no activations remaining in the primary game.

Claims

1. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) provide a predetermined number of activations of a first game, the first game including a plurality of reels, each of said reels having a plurality of symbols thereon;

(b) cause an activation of the first game and subtracting one activation from said predetermined number of activations;

(c) terminate the first game when a termination trigger occurs during the first game or when said predetermined number of activations have been exhausted, the termination trigger being associated with one of the reels;

(d) initiate at least one independently operated second game when a predetermined event occurs during the first game, each second game being associated with a different one of the reels, wherein each second game is initiated when the predetermined event occurs on the respective associated reel; and

(e) repeat (b) to (d) until the first game is terminated.

2. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to select the first game from the group consisting of a primary game and a bonus game, and the second game includes a bonus game.

3. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include at least one win condition in each second game.

4. The memory device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include a plurality of predetermined second game symbols in the win condition.

5. The memory device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide an award when the win condition occurs in one of the second games.

6. The memory device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to add an additional predetermined number of activations to said predetermined number of activations.

7. The memory device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to select the award from the group consisting of a value and an opportunity to gain a value.

8. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to enable a player to choose at least one of a plurality of displayed choices included in each second game, wherein at least one of the displayed choices has an award associated therewith.

9. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to add an additional predetermined number of activations to said predetermined number of activations.

10. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to select the award from the group consisting of a value and an opportunity to gain a value.

11. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the second game after a random number of activations of the first game.

12. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the second game after a predetermined number of activations of the first game.

13. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include at least one occurrence of a termination symbol on the reel associated with the termination trigger.

14. The memory device of claim 1, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.

15. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) initiate a first game, the first game including a plurality of reels, each of said reels having a plurality of symbols thereon;

(b) cause an activation of the reels;

(c) terminate the first game when a termination trigger occurs during the first game, the termination trigger being associated with one of the reels;

(d) initiate at least one independently operated second game when a predetermined event occurs during the first game, each second game being associated with a different one of the reels, each second game being initiated when the predetermined event occurs on the respective associated reel; and

(e) repeat (b) to (d) at least once.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to select the first game from the group consisting of a primary game and a bonus game, and the second game includes a bonus game.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include at least one win condition in each second game.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include a plurality of predetermined second game symbols in the win condition.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide an award when the win condition occurs in one of the second games.

20. The memory device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to select the award from the group consisting of a predetermined number of free activations of the first game, a value, and an opportunity to gain a value.

21. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include a plurality of displayed choices for each second game and enable a player to choose at least one of the displayed choices, wherein at least one of the displayed choices has an award associated therewith.

22. The memory device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to select the award from the group consisting of a predetermined number of free activations of the first game, a value, and an opportunity to gain a value.

23. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the second game after a random number of activations of the first game.

24. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the second game after a predetermined number of activations of the first game.

25. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to include at least one occurrence of a termination symbol on the reel associated with the termination trigger.

26. The memory device of claim 15, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.

27. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) display a first game, said first game including a plurality of symbol generators, each of said symbol generators including a plurality of symbols, at least one of said symbol generators including a terminator symbol and at least one of said symbol generators including a second game triggering symbol;

(b) associate a termination condition with said symbol generator including said terminator symbol, said termination condition occurring when a designated number of the terminator symbols are generated by said symbol generator having said terminator symbol;

(c) activate the symbol generators;

(d) initiate and display an independently operated second game when the second game triggering symbol is generated by said symbol generator which has the second game triggering symbol; and

(e) repeat (c) to (d) for a designated number of activations of the symbol generators until the termination condition occurs or until there are no activations remaining.

28. The memory device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide a plurality of selections, at least one of said selections including an award.

29. The memory device of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide the award when a player picks said selection including said award.

30. The memory device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide a plurality of selections, a plurality of said selections including an award.

31. The memory device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to enable a player to pick at least one selection and provide the awards associated with the picked selections.

32. The memory device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to display a terminator display, wherein the terminator display indicates the number of terminator symbols generated by the symbol generator including said terminator symbol.

33. The memory device of claim 27, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.

34. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) display a first game, said first game including a plurality of symbol generators, each of said symbol generators including a plurality of symbols, at least one of said symbol generators including a terminator symbol and at least one of said symbol generators including a predetermined symbol;

(b) display a plurality of independently operable second games, each of said second games being associated with at least one of said symbol generators including said predetermined symbol;

(c) associate a termination condition with said symbol generator including said terminator symbol, said termination condition occurring when a designated number of the terminator symbols are generated by said symbol generator having said terminator symbol;

(d) activate the symbol generators;

(e) initiate the second games associated with any symbol generators which generated the predetermined symbol; and

(f) repeat (d) to (e) for a designated number of activations of the symbol generators until the termination condition occurs or until there are no activations remaining.

35. The memory device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide a plurality of selections for at least one of the initiated second games.

36. The memory device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate an award with one of the selections, wherein the award is when a player picks the selection including the award.

37. The memory device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate a plurality of awards with the selections, enable a player to pick at lest one of the selections and provide the awards associated with the picked selection.

38. The memory device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate awards with all of the selections, enable a player to pick at lest one of the selections and provide the awards associated with the picked selection.

39. The memory device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the picked selections after a randomly determined number of activations of the first game.

40. The memory device of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the picked selections after a predetermined number of activations of the first game.

41. The memory device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to display a terminator display, wherein the terminator display indicates the number of terminator symbols generated by the symbol generator including said terminator symbol.

42. The memory device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to randomly determine the designated number of activations.

43. The memory device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to pre-determine the designated number of activations.

44. The memory device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to randomly determine the designated number of terminator symbols.

45. The memory device of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to pre-determine the designated number of terminator symbols.

46. The memory device of claim 34, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.

47. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) display a first game, said first game including a plurality of symbol generators, each of said symbol generators including a plurality of symbols, at least one of said symbol generators including a terminator symbol and at least one of said symbol generators including a second game triggering symbol;

(b) associate a termination condition with said symbol generator including said terminator symbol, said termination condition occurring when a designated number of the terminator symbols are generated by said symbol generator having said terminator symbol;

(c) activate the symbol generators;

(d) initiate and display an independently operated second game when the second game triggering symbol is generated by said symbol generator which has the second game triggering symbol; and

(e) repeat (c) to (d) for a designated number of activations of the symbol generators until the termination condition occurs.

48. The memory device of claim 47, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to display a plurality of selections to the player, at least one of said selections including an award.

49. The memory device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide the award when a player picks said selection including said award.

50. The memory device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to display a plurality of selections, each of said selections including an award.

51. The memory device of claim 50, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to enable a player to pick at least one of the selections and provide the awards associated with the picked selections.

52. The memory device of claim 48, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate a termination indicator with the symbol generator including the terminator symbol, wherein the termination indicator indicates when the terminator symbol summary of the invention generated by the symbol generator.

53. The memory device of claim 47, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.

54. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) display a first game, said game including a plurality of symbol generators, each of said symbol generators including a plurality of symbols, at least one of said symbol generators including a terminator symbol and at least one of said symbol generators including a predetermined symbol;

(b) display a plurality of independently operable second games, each of said second games being associated with at least one of said symbol generators including said predetermined symbol;

(c) associate a termination condition with said symbol generators including said terminator symbol, said termination condition occurring when a designated number of the terminator symbols are generated by said symbol generator having said terminator symbol;

(d) activate the symbol generators;

(e) initiate the second games associated with any symbol generators which generated the predetermined symbol; and

(f) repeat (d) to (e) for a designated number of activations of the symbol generators until the termination condition occurs.

55. The memory device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide a plurality of selections for at least one of the initiated second games.

56. The memory device of claim 55, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate an award with one of the selections, wherein the award is provided when a player picks the selection including the award.

57. The memory device of claim 55, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate a plurality of awards with the selections, enable a player to pick at least one of the selections and provide the awards associated with the picked selections.

58. The memory device of claim 55, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to associate awards with all of the selections, enable a player to pick at least one of the selections and provide the awards associated with the picked selections.

59. The memory device of claim 55, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the picked selections after a randomly determined number of activations of the first game.

60. The memory device of claim 55, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the picked selections after a predetermined number of activations of the first game.

61. The memory device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to display a terminator, wherein the terminator display indicates the number of terminator symbols generated by the symbol generated including said terminator symbol.

62. The memory device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to randomly determine the designated number of activations.

63. The memory device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to pre-determine the designated number of activations.

64. The memory device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to randomly determine the designated number of terminator symbols.

65. The memory device of claim 54, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to pre-determine the designated number of terminator symbols.

66. The memory device of claim 54, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, a read only memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.