Wagering game for implementing game-enhancement parameters with a guaranteed bonus

• US 20060189377A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred, Gomez, Benjamin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. A wager-input device receives a wager from a player. A display displays symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. The plurality of outcomes include at least one special-event outcome that awards additional game play at a time selectable by the player. The additional game play provides a guaranteed winning outcome. A special-event input device initiates the additional game play in response to the player activating the special-event input device. The additional game play is implemented with a game-enhancement parameter such that the guaranteed winning outcome has an enhanced payout.

Claims

1. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player;

a display for displaying symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including at least one special-event outcome that awards additional game play at a time selectable by the player, the additional game play providing a guaranteed winning outcome; and

a special-event input device for initiating the additional game play in response to the player activating the special-event input device, wherein the additional game play is implemented with a game-enhancement parameter such that the guaranteed winning outcome has an enhanced payout.

2. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein the display indicates an accumulated amount of the at least one special-event outcome.

3. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of:

mechanical slots, video slots, video poker, video blackjack, video keno and video bingo.

4. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein the game-enhancement parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a random multiplier;

(b) an automatic nudge feature; and

(c) an upgrade win feature causing a winning symbol combination to move up winning symbol combinations on a pay table.

5. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein the game-enhancement parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) an addition of a wild symbol during the additional game play;

(b) a conversion from a single-line payline to a scatter award during the additional game play; and

(c) a re-spin of a moveable reel.

6. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein the game-enhancement parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a morphing of a symbol on a moveable reels into another symbol that is more beneficial;

(b) allowing a player to hold a symbol in a certain location so that a winning combination in the additional game play has to take into account the held symbol; and

(c) a movement of symbols on symbol-bearing moveable reels from an initial location to a second location along a payline to form a modified symbol combination if the modified symbol combination would result in a better outcome than an initial symbol combination on the symbol-bearing moveable reels.

7. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein in response to the additional game play being initiated, the game-enhancement parameter is selected from a symbol-bearing moveable reel, the symbols on the symbol-bearing moveable reel being representative of a plurality of game-enhancement parameters.

8. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein the game-enhancement parameter is randomly assigned to the player from a plurality of game-enhancement parameters.

9. The gaming terminal of claim 1, wherein a winning combination during standard game play is exchangeable for the additional game play.

10. A method of conducting a wagering game, the method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

randomly selecting a game outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, the plurality of outcomes including at least one special-event outcome that awards additional game play at a time selectable by the player, the additional game play providing a guaranteed winning outcome;

displaying the game outcome on a display; and

in response to the player activating a special-event input device, initiating the additional game play, wherein the additional game play is implemented with a game-enhancement parameter such that the guaranteed winning outcome has an enhanced payout.

11. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 10.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in response to the additional game play being initiated, the game-enhancement parameter is selected from a symbol-bearing moveable reel, the symbols on the symbol-bearing moveable reel being representative of a plurality of game-enhancement parameters.

13. The method of claim 10, further including randomly assigning the game-enhancement parameter to the player from a plurality of game-enhancement parameters.

14. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

at least one display; and

a controller coupled to the display and programmed to

initiate the wagering game in response to detection of a wager from a player, wherein the wagering game displays symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including at least one special-event outcome that awards additional game play at a time selectable by the player, the additional game play providing a guaranteed winning outcome; and

initiate the additional game play in response to a special-event input by the player, the additional game play being implemented with a game-enhancement parameter such that the guaranteed winning outcome has an enhanced payout.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the display and the controller are both located within a gaming terminal.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the display is located within a gaming terminal and the controller is located outside of the gaming terminal.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the display indicates an accumulated amount of the at least one special-event outcome.

18. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of:

mechanical slots, video slots, video poker, video blackjack, video keno and video bingo.

19. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the game-enhancement parameter is randomly assigned to the player from a plurality of game-enhancement parameters.

20. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein in response to the additional game play being initiated, the game-enhancement parameter is selected from a symbol-bearing moveable reel, the symbols on the symbol-bearing moveable reel being representative of a plurality of game-enhancement parameters.