Configurable gaming device with player selectable award profile

• US 20080146321A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Parente, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method for configuring a gaming device that provides a player selectable award profile. The award profile is further selectable by the player with respect to a payout scheme, a bonusing option or both. A player may select a preferred bonusing option form a group of available bonusing options prior to commencing play of the gaming device. A gaming device is provided that offers the player a choice of several bonusing options from a single source gaming device. Additionally, the player may also select a modified payout scheme that suits the player'"'"'s preferences.

Claims

1. A gaming device configured for player selectable bonus options, the gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a display within the housing for displaying, to a player, a game and one or more award profiles;

a network interface for communication of an award profile over a network link;

a user interface configured to receive player selections from the player;

a processor configured to cause the display to present one or more award profiles for player selection.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the one or more award profiles comprises a first award profile and a second award profile, wherein the first award profile has no bonusing options and the second award profile has a plurality of bonusing options.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the first award profile further comprises a player selection option of a modified payout scheme in which the player may choose a first modification that provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, or the player may choose a second modification that provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.

4. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the first award profile includes a non-modified payout scheme.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit a selected award profile to a controller to thereby include or associate the gaming device with the selected award profile.

6. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the bonusing option comprises a mystery award.

7. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the bonusing option comprises an award of physical goods.

8. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the bonusing option comprises a progressive award.

9. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the bonusing option comprises a wheel bonus round.

10. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the bonusing option comprises a quest bonus round.

11. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the bonusing option comprises a pick and win bonus round.

12. A method of presenting a game to a player comprising:

providing a gaming device having player selectable two or more bonusing options;

accepting at least one bonusing option selection from the player;

integrating the selected bonusing option with the gaming device;

providing a base game on the gaming device with eligibility to win the player selected bonusing option.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a wager on the base game;

presenting a game to a player;

determining a game outcome;

determining a bonusing option outcome based on the bonusing option selection from the player.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a player selected bonusing option which further comprises a modified payout scheme in which the player may choose a first modification that provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, or the player may choose a second modification that provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected bonusing option is communicated over a game network to a controller associated with the selected bonusing option.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the bonusing options are selected from the group consisting of a progressive award, a mystery award, a tangible prize and a service award.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the selection of a bonusing option is randomly determined and configured by the game network.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of providing a plurality of bonusing options is determined by player tracking identification.

19. A method of presenting a game to a player comprising:

providing a gaming device having player selectable two or more bonusing schemes, wherein a first bonusing scheme is directed to modifications of a payout scheme and a second bonusing scheme providing a plurality of bonusing options;

accepting at least one bonusing scheme selection from a player, wherein the player is permitted to select a payout scheme, a bonusing option or both;

integrating the selected payout scheme and bonusing option with the gaming device;

providing a base game on the gaming device with a modified payout scheme and eligibility to win the player selected bonusing option.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the player selectable first bonusing scheme comprises a modified payout scheme in which the player may choose a first modification that provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, or the player may choose a second modification that provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising communicating the player selected bonusing options over a game network to a controller or server associated with the player selected bonusing option to thereby link the gaming device with the selected bonusing option.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the gaming device randomly selects a bonusing option for the player.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein a bonusing option comprises a progressive award.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a bonusing option comprises a mystery award.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of providing a plurality of bonusing options or integrating the selected bonusing option is determined by player tracking identification.

26. A gaming device configured with a player selectable bonusing scheme, the gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a display within the housing for displaying, to a player, a game and one or more player selectable bonusing schemes;

a network interface for communication of a bonusing scheme over a network link;

a user interface configured to receive player selections from the player;

a processor configured to cause the display to present one or more bonusing schemes for player selection.

27. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein the one or more bonusing schemes comprises a first bonusing scheme and a second bonusing scheme, wherein the first bonusing scheme has no bonusing options and the second bonusing scheme has a plurality of bonusing options.

28. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the first bonusing scheme further comprises a player selection option of a modified payout scheme in which the player may choose a first modification that provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, or the player may choose a second modification that provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.

29. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the first bonusing scheme includes a non-modified payout scheme.

30. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein the network interface is configured to transmit a selected bonusing scheme to a controller to thereby include or associate the gaming device with the selected bonusing scheme.

31. A gaming device configured for player selectable bonus options, the gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a display within the housing for displaying, to a player, a game and one or more player selectable payout schemes;

a network interface for communication of a payout scheme over a network link;

a user interface configured to receive player selections from the player;

a processor configured to cause the display to present one or more payout schemes for player selection.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the selected payout scheme further comprises a player selection option of a modified payout scheme in which the player may choose a first modification that provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, or the player may choose a second modification that provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.

33. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the player selectable payout schemes includes a non-modified payout scheme.