Multi-opportunity play with option to forfeit on a platform

• US 20080058099A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gloria F. Mitchell, Marc B. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Gloria F. Mitchell, Marc B. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Marc B., Mitchell, Gloria F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,011,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 17/3262 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A multi-opportunity, risk vs. reward, playfield-style gaming platform grants players the ability to evaluate gaming situations and decide whether to risk current assets for greater rewards throughout the course of a game. Players have multiple opportunities to make risk versus reward decisions that ultimately affect the financial outcome of game play. Positive impact squares, negative impact squares and indifferent impact squares are assigned to the game playfield though the software platform based upon manufacturer and casino specified odds for each “Coin-In” credit level and value of game play. A status and information area legend is updated through the software platform and reports important game play information to players, allowing them to make more informed decisions throughout the course of their gaming experience.

Claims

1. A method of providing a wagering game on a video wagering system comprising:

a player placing value at risk in exchange for a first number of player usable selections;

the selections comprising two categories of selections, a first category of selection having a first effect upon at least some selection results and a second category of selection having a second effect upon at least some selection results;

the player exercising at least some but less than all player usable selections of frames to reveal at least one symbol for each selection made, symbols being able to provide a player with potentially positive award results, positive award results, potential negative results, negative results or neutral results;

at least the first effect of the first category of selection can at least reduce a negative effect or potential negative effect by at least some degree;

wherein the player makes an election to forfeit at least one player usable selection after having exercised at least some of the player usable selections, whether or not an award has been accumulated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a selection of a negative effect is made and the first effect nullifies the negative effect completely.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a selection of a negative effect is made and the first effect reduces the negative effect by a fixed degree.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein after making at least one selection, the player may forfeit at least one additional selection.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein all first category of selections must be used before any of the second category of selections are exercised.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the player may elect which category of selection to use on each selection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at any time during play, if a player has accumulated an award amount, the player may forfeit any remaining second category selections and retain all award amounts accumulated at that time.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second category of selections has no impact on any effects of selections.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the player is given a number of selections fewer than a total number of frames from which selections may be made.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein there are at least ten frames from which selections may be made.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein there are at least 25 frames and the player receives at least five selections and at least one selection is a first category of selection and at least one selection is a second category selection.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein there are at least 50 and no more than 150 frames which may be selected by a player.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein there are at least 10 frames and the player receives at least two selections and at least one selection is a first category of selection and at least one selection is a second category selection.