Game with bonus display

• US 5,851,148 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 12/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Brune, Chris T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/723,136
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 463/30, 463/31, 463/33, 463/34, 463/13, 463/12
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A game such as a video poker or other card game is provided with a feature providing an incentive for multiple hand or multiple game play. In one embodiment, some or all of the cards of each hand, such as only necessary winning cards, are used to increment the value in corresponding memory locations. When a given memory location reaches a predetermined value, an indicator corresponding to that memory location and the corresponding card is illuminated. When all indicators are illuminated, the player wins a bonus which may be based on the amount wagered.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing series of games, each series having a plurality of games, comprising:

a computer configured to display indications of simulated gaming pieces;

an input device for receiving gaming input from a player and providing said input to said computer;

said computer configured to control a display to provide an indication, to said player, of progress towards a multi-game goal, wherein, in at least one of said series, reaching said multi-game goal requires playing at least two games in said at least one of said series,

wherein said computer calculates, during or after at least some of said series of games, a credit total potentially available to said player, and wherein a multi-game prize based on said credits is awarded said player when said multi-game goal is reached;

said credit total and said indication of progress being reset to beginning credit and initial progress values, respectively, when said prize is awarded to said player.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said series of games include simulated card games.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said simulated card games comprise simulated poker games.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said multi-game goal comprises accumulating indicators corresponding to at least some cards used in said series of simulated card games.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer is configured to control a display to display an indication of said total credits.

6. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an input device for receiving a wager from said player.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said total credits are incremented an amount based on the amount of wagers received from said player.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said beginning credit value is zero.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a display controlled to provide an indication of the size of said multi-game prize, wherein said indication of the size of said multi-game prize different from said indication of progress towards said multi-game goal.

10. Apparatus for playing series of games, each series having a plurality of games, comprising:

display means for displaying, under control of a computer, indications of gaming pieces;

input means for receiving gaming input from said player and providing said input to said computer;

said computer configured to control a display to provide an indication, to said user, of progress towards a multi-game goal wherein, in at least one of said series, reaching said multi-game goal requires playing at least two games in said at least one of said series;

wherein, said computer calculates, during or after at least some of said series of games, a credit total potentially available to said player, and wherein a multi-game prize based on said credits is awarded said player when said multi-game goal is reached.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said credit total and said indication of progress are reset to beginning credit and progress values, respectively, when said prize is awarded to said player.

12. A computer-implemented method for playing a series of games, comprising:

a) providing a computer coupled to a display, an input device and a wager-acceptor;

b) accepting at least a first wager from a player;

c) incrementing a credit total and displaying on indication of a multi-game prize based on said credit total;

d) playing one of said series of games;

e) displaying an indication of progress towards a multi-game goal, different from said indication of a multi-game prize;

f) repeating steps b) through c) and playing a second one of said series of games;

g) incrementing or decrementing said indication of progress in response to said second one of said series of games;

h) awarding said multi-game prize, based on said credit total, to said player when said multi-game goal is reached.

13. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said step of incrementing a credit total comprises incrementing by a predetermined portion of said wager.

14. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 12, when said games include simulated card games, and wherein said step of incrementing a credit total comprises incrementing by an amount based on the number of games played, the number of winning cards or the number of non-winning games.

15. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said computer is configured to provide a plurality of counters corresponding to at least some cards used in said series of simulated card games and wherein said step of displaying an indication of progress comprises:

incrementing said counters corresponding to simulated cards received by the user during play of said simulated card game which were necessary to a winning hand;

providing a display which indicates at least those cards having a corresponding counter that has reached a predetermined minimum value.

16. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said simulated card game comprises play of N simulated cards and wherein said computer is configured to provide N counters, each corresponding one of said simulated cards and wherein said step of displaying an indication of progress comprises

providing N illuminatable regions, each providing an indication of a corresponding one of said N simulated cards,

incrementing said counters corresponding to simulated cards received by the user during play of said simulated card game which were necessary to a winning hand;

illuminating at least those regions corresponding to a simulated card which has a corresponding counter that has reached a predetermined minimum value.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 16, wherein N is 52.

18. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said computer is configured to provide a plurality of counters and wherein said step of awarding a multi-game prize comprises awarding an amount equal to said credit total when all of at least a predetermined subset of said plurality of counters has reached said predetermined minimum value.

19. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 18 wherein a plurality of subsets of said plurality of counters are defined, and wherein said display includes a discrete region corresponding to each said subset of said plurality of counters.

20. A computer-implemented method, as claimed in claim 19, wherein said display indicates a prize amount associated with each subset of said plurality of counters.

21. A computer-implemented method, as claimed in claim 20, wherein said display further indicates a prize amount associated with said plurality of counters.

22. Networked gaming apparatus for playing a series of games, comprising:

at least first and second gaming terminals configured to display indications of simulated gaming pieces, said first and second gaming terminals each having an input device for receiving gaming input from first and second players, respectively, and providing said input to a computer;

said computer coupled to at least a first display to provide an indication of progress towards a common multi-game goal,

wherein play on each of said first and second gaming terminals generates a plurality of events, and wherein at least a first sub-plurality of events generated by either said first gaming terminal or said second gaming terminal result in progress towards said common multi-game goal,

wherein said computer calculates, during or after at least some of said series of games, a credit total potentially available to at least one of said first and second players, and wherein a linked prize based on said credits is awarded to at least one of said first and second players when said common multi-game goal is reached.

23. Networked gaming apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, wherein a second sub-plurality of events generated by said first gaming terminal results in progress towards a non-common multi-game goal and wherein a local prize is awarded to said first player when said non-common multi-game goal is reached.

24. Networked gaming apparatus, as claimed in claim 23, wherein said first display provides an indication of progress towards said non-common multi-game goal and provides an indication of said local prize.

25. A computer-implemented method for playing a series of simulated poker games which involves play of N simulated cards, comprising:

providing a computer coupled to a display, an input device and a wager-acceptor;

providing N counters, each corresponding one of said simulated cards accepting at least a first wager from a player;

incrementing a credit total by a predetermined portion of said wager;

playing one of said series of simulated poker games;

providing N regions, each providing an indication of a corresponding one of said N simulated cards and each being controllable to provide a first indication that the counter corresponding to the corresponding card has reached a predetermined minimum value,

determining if said one of said series of simulated poker games resulted in a win for said player, and when there has been a win

(a) incrementing said counters corresponding to simulated cards received by the user during play of said simulated card game which were necessary to said win;

(b) controlling at least those regions corresponding to a simulated card which has a corresponding counter that has reached a predetermined minimum value to provide said first indication; and

(c) awarding a prize having an amount equal to said credit total when all of said N counters has reached said predetermined minimum value.

26. A method, as claimed in claim 25, wherein N is 52.

27. A method, as claimed in claim 25, wherein said first indication comprises illuminating said region.

28. A method, as claimed in claim 25, wherein said first indication comprises unilluminating said region.