GAMING DEVICE HAVING PERCEIVED SKILL

• US 20060205474A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Bansemer, Mark W., Nolz, James G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/142 with pay-out or rewarding with a prize
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A gaming device wherein a player'"'"'s skill at an action or event determines or appears to determine the player'"'"'s success or failure. In reality, a database of information stores a number of successful results, and the game selects an award for each successful result. The action or event involves skill in real life, which requires the player to estimate the time an action will require and/or requires the player to aim at an object or estimate the direction necessary to successfully produce a result. The game can employ software adapted to determine if a player'"'"'s aim or timing is successful. The game can alternatively randomly determine the player'"'"'s success. The game displays the player'"'"'s attempt or action on the screen depicting success or failure and awards gaming device credits or multipliers for successful results.

Claims

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

a display device controlled by the processor;

a player interface operable to communicate with the processor;

a game controlled by the processor and operable upon a wager by a player; and

a bonus round, said bonus round controlled by the processor and including;

(i) a number of successful outcomes provided to the player, said number being at least two,

(ii) a number of attempts at producing the successful outcomes individually determined in the bonus round, said number of attempts determined by how many attempts are needed for the processor to produce said number of successful outcomes in the bonus round, each attempt including the player activating the player interface, wherein the processor'"'"'s determination if each attempt is successful is without regard to correct timing or correct aiming by the player using the player interface and wherein the number of attempts can be greater than the number of successful outcomes, and

(iii) an individual award provided to the player for each successful outcome.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein for each attempt, the processor randomly determines whether said attempt results in one of the successful outcomes.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein for each attempt, the processor employs a probability of determining whether said attempt results in one of said successful outcomes.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an attempt producing device displayed by the display device which initiates the attempt on the display device after the player activates the player interface.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an object displayed by the display device which is effected by one of the attempts which results in one of the successful outcomes.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the awards is a wild symbol.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the wild symbol increases an average value of subsequently obtained awards.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of successful outcomes is determined by at least one designated symbol appearing on at least one reel in the game.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of successful outcomes is determined by at least one designated card appearing in the game.

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

(a) initiating a game upon a wager by a player;

(b) initiating a bonus round upon a triggering event, said bonus round including a number of successful outcomes provided to the player, said number being at least two;

(c) providing a number of attempts at producing the successful outcomes individually determined in the bonus round, said number of attempts determined by how many attempts are needed to produce said number of successful outcomes in the bonus round, each attempt including the player activating a player interface, wherein the determination if each attempt is successful is made without regard to correct timing or correct aiming by the player using the player interface, and wherein the number of attempts can be greater than the number of successful outcomes; and

(d) providing an individual award to the player for each successful outcome.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes, for each attempt, randomly determining whether said attempt results in one of the successful outcomes.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes, for each attempt, said determination of whether said attempt results in one of said successful outcomes is based on a probability of generating one of the successful outcomes.

13. The method of claim 10, which includes displaying an attempt-producing device which initiates the attempt after the player activates the player interface.

14. The method of claim 10, which includes displaying an object which is effected by one of the attempts which results in one of the successful outcomes.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the awards is a wild symbol.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wild symbol increases an average value of subsequently obtained awards.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the number of successful outcomes is determined by at least one designated symbol appearing on at least one reel in the game.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the number of successful outcomes is determined by at least one designated card appearing in the game.

19. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a data network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is an internet.