Gaming system with challenge feature

• US 20070060263A1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Pacey, Larry, Hornik, Jeremy, Englman, Allon
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game comprises a value input device for receiving a wager from a player, a display, and a controller coupled to the display and operable to cause the display to present a challenge feature in response to a triggering event. The challenge feature includes a series of possible challenges of different types and having different objectives for successful completion. The series of challenges includes an outcome for awarding a progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpot is preferably displayed in terms of credits instead of currency. The controller successively advances the player from challenge to challenge in the series of challenges until the objective of the currently played challenge is not met.

Claims

1. A gaming system for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

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

a display; and

a controller coupled to the display and operable to cause the display to present a challenge feature in response to a triggering event, the challenge feature including a series of possible challenges of different types and having different objectives for successful completion, the series of challenges including an outcome for awarding a progressive jackpot, the controller successively advancing the player from challenge to challenge in the series of challenges until the objective of the currently played challenge is not met.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is independent of an outcome of a basic game being played by the player at a gaming terminal.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the objectives includes finding a certain symbol, finding a certain number of symbols, exceeding at least a minimum number of points or credits, or not exceeding a maximum number of points or credits.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the challenges includes a plurality of symbol-bearing reels that are rotated and stopped in visual association with a display area.

5. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the challenges includes a plurality of player-selectable elements that, in response to selection, reveal associated indicia.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the outcome for awarding the progressive jackpot includes meeting the objective of each challenge in the series.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each of the challenges in the series is associated with a respective progressive jackpot, and wherein the outcome for awarding the progressive jackpot includes meeting the objective of at least one challenge in the series, the progressive jackpot being the progressive jackpot associated with the at least one challenge.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wager affects one or more of the following:

(i) a probability of triggering the challenge feature;

(ii) an award multiplier assigned to the player upon entering the challenge feature, the award multiplier multiplying awards won during the challenge feature;

(iii) a sequence in which the challenges are played; and

(iv) a probability of meeting the objectives of one or more of the challenges.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the progressive jackpot is displayed in terms of game credits and not currency.

10. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying a challenge feature in response to a triggering event, the challenge feature including a series of possible challenges of different types and having different objectives for successful completion, the series of challenges including an outcome for awarding a progressive jackpot; and

successively advancing the player from challenge to challenge in the series of challenges until the objective of the currently played challenge is not met.

11. The method of claim 10, further including conducting a basic game, and wherein the triggering event is independent of an outcome of the basic game.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the objectives includes finding a certain symbol, finding a certain number of symbols, exceeding at least a minimum number of points or credits, or not exceeding a maximum number of points or credits.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the challenges includes a plurality of symbol-bearing reels that are rotated and stopped in visual association with a display area.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the challenges includes a plurality of player-selectable elements that, in response to selection, reveal associated indicia.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the outcome for awarding the progressive jackpot includes meeting the objective of each challenge in the series.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the challenges in the series is associated with a respective progressive jackpot, and wherein the outcome for awarding the progressive jackpot includes meeting the objective of at least one challenge in the series, the progressive jackpot being the progressive jackpot associated with the at least one challenge

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the wager affects one or more of the following:

(i) a probability of triggering the challenge feature;

(ii) an award multiplier assigned to the player upon entering the challenge feature, the award multiplier multiplying awards won during the challenge feature;

(iii) a sequence in which the challenges are played; and

(iv) a probability of meeting the objectives of one or more of the challenges.

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

19. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals coupled to a progressive jackpot, each gaming terminal including a display and a value input device for receiving a wager; and

a controller coupled to a presentation apparatus and operable to cause the presentation apparatus to display a challenge feature in response to a triggering event, the challenge feature including a series of possible challenges of different types and having different objectives for successful completion, the series of challenges including an outcome for awarding the progressive jackpot, the controller successively advancing a player from challenge to challenge in the series of challenges until the objective of the currently played challenge is not met.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the presentation apparatus includes at least one of the following:

(i) the display of the gaming terminal on which the challenge feature is triggered and (ii) a community display associated with the plurality of gaming terminals.