Gaming System, Gaming Device and Method for Providing a Player an Opportunity to Win a Designated Award Based on One or More Aspects of the Player's Skill

• US 20110053676A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Popovich, Alexander, Wolf, Bryan D., Filipour, Cameron A., Singer, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and method disclosed herein maintains a designated award which is associated with a variable score for a skill-based game. In one such embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to play a game, wherein the gaming system forms a score for the player. The player'"'"'s formed score is based on zero, one or more inputs made by the player during the play of the skill-based game (i.e., which tends to measure one or more aspects of that player'"'"'s skills). If the player'"'"'s score does not reach the variable score associated with the designated award, the gaming system modifies the variable score associated with the designated award of that skill-based game. If the player'"'"'s score reaches or exceeds the variable score associated with the designated award, the gaming system provides the player a designated quantity of opportunities to win the maintained designated award.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming device, said at least one gaming device including at least one input device;

at least one display device associated with said at least one gaming device; and

at least one controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming device and said at least one display device to;

(a) maintain a progressive award associated with a first designated score;

(b) cause a wager to be placed;

(c) if a point modification event occurs during a play of a skill-based game, determine a quantity of points to form a score for a player;

(d) if the formed score for the player has not reached said first designated score, modify said first designated score based on a designated criteria; and

(e) if the formed score for the player has reached said first designated score;

(i) set the formed score for the player as a second designated score;

(ii) determine and provide to the player a quantity of opportunities to win said progressive award, wherein the quantity of provided opportunities is based, at least in part, on a margin by which the formed score for the player is different than said first designated score;

(iii) for each of said quantity of opportunities, randomly determine whether to provide the progressive award to the player;

(iv) if the determination is not to provide the progressive award to the player, reset the formed score for the player; and

(v) if the determination is to provide the progressive award to the player;

(A) provide the player the progressive award;

(B) reset the progressive award to a reset value; and

(C) reset the formed score for the player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of different point modification events occur in association with the play of the game, and at least two different quantities of points are determined in association with said plurality of point modification events.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the point modification event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

at least one quantifiable input of a mental skill, and at least one quantifiable input of a physical skill.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each of said provided opportunities is associated with a probability of the player winning the progressive award, wherein the probability is determined based, at least in part, on the margin by which the formed score for the player is different than said first designated score.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wager that is caused to be placed enables the player to play the skill-based game for a designated period of time, wherein the designated period of time includes a plurality of plays of the game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the quantity of provided opportunities to win said progressive award is one.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the formed score for the player reaches said first designated score, said at least one controller is configured to cause the player to be provided an award in addition to any provided progressive award.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the designated criteria includes an amount of time elapsed since said first designated score was reached.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the designated criteria includes a quantity of games played since said first designated score was reached.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the formed score for the player has not reached said first designated score, the controller is configured to provide the player any award for any winning outcomes which occur in association with the play of the skill-based game.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to cause the player to be provided any awards for any winning outcomes which occurred in association with the play of the skill-based game in addition to any provided progressive award.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the quantity of opportunities provided is based on the wager placed.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to modify said first designated score by different designated amounts at different points in time.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to maintain a plurality of different progressive awards, and wherein each maintained progressive award is associated with a separate high score.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said point modification event is a point reduction event and said first designated score is a low score and if said formed score for the player does not reach said first designated score, said controller is configured to cause said first designated score to increase based on said designated criteria.

16. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming device, said at least one gaming device including at least one input device;

at least one display device associated with said at least one gaming device; and

at least one controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming device and said at least one display device to;

(a) maintain a progressive award;

(b) upon each occurrence of a point modification event, modify a first quantity of points for the player;

(c) if said first quantity of points for the player reaches a first designated quantity of points, determine whether to provide the progressive award to the player, wherein said determination is associated with a first probability of the gaming system providing the progressive award to the player, said probability is based, at least in part, on a first margin by which said first quantity of points is different than said first designated quantity of points; and

(d) if said first quantity of points for the player reaches a second, different designated quantity of points, determine whether to provide the progressive award to the player, wherein said determination is associated with a second, different probability of the gaming system providing the progressive award to the player said second, different probability is based, at least in part, on a second margin by which said first quantity of points is different than said second, different designated quantity of points.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein if said first quantity of points for the player does not reach said first designated quantity of points, said at least one controller is configured to modify said first designated quantity of points based on a designated criteria.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein if said first quantity of points for the player does not reach said second designated quantity of points, said at least one controller is configured to modify said second designated quantity of points based on a designated criteria.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein said at least one controller is configured to maintain a plurality of different progressive awards, and wherein each maintained progressive award is associated with a separate high score.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein each point modification event is a point reduction event and said first designated quantity of points is a low quantity of points and if said first quantity of points for the player does not reach said first designated quantity of points said controller is configured to cause said first designated quantity of points to increase based on a designated criteria.

21. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including at least one input device;

at least one display device associated with at least one of said gaming devices; and

at least one controller configured to operate with each of said gaming devices and said at least one display device to;

(a) maintain a progressive award;

(b) at a first point in time, determine and associate a first designated score with said progressive award, wherein at said first point in time, a first player playing a skill-based game at a first one of said gaming devices has a greater probability of being provided at least one opportunity to win said progressive award than a second, different player playing the skill-based game at a second, different one of said gaming devices;

(c) modify said first designated score based on a designated criteria; and

(d) at a second, subsequent point in time, determine and associate a second, different designated score with said progressive award, wherein at said second point in time, the first player playing the skill-based game at said first one of said gaming devices has substantially a same probability of being provided at least one opportunity to win said progressive award as the second player playing the skill-based game at said second, different one of said gaming devices.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the designated criteria is an amount of time elapsed since said first designated score was reached.

23. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the designated criteria is an amount of games played since said first designated score was reached.

24. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein at said first point in time, the probability of the first player being provided said at least one opportunity to win said progressive award is based on at least one quantifiable input made by the first player playing the skill-based game at said first one of said gaming devices.

25. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein at said first point in time, the probability of the second player being provided said at least one opportunity to win said progressive award is based on at least one quantifiable input made by the second player playing the skill-based game at said second one of said gaming devices.

26. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein said at least one controller is configured to maintain a plurality of different progressive awards, and wherein each maintained progressive award is associated with a separate designated score.