Electronic game method and apparatus with hierarchy of simulated wheels

• US 5,947,820 A
• Filed: 07/11/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Crowder, Robert W. Jr., Morro, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/891,476
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/11-13, 463/16-20, 463/25, 463/26, 463/29-30, 463/36, 463/40-42, 364/410.1, 364/412.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143 R, 273/153 R, 273/293, 273/299
• US Class Current: 463/9
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A computer implemented electronic game provides a game portion which includes a puzzle completion game. In one instance, the puzzle is a word phrase. The first area displays regions for each letter in the phrase. A payline of an electronic slot machine display is associated with one of a plurality of letter indicia, with a bonus value associated with each of the letter indicia. After a simulated slot machine reel spin, if the slot machine portion shows a winning combination, any letters associated with the winning paylines which match uncovered letters of the phrase will be revealed in the phrase region and a bonus value is implemented equal to the product of the bonus points associated with that letter times the number of occurrence of that letter in the phrase times the number of coins bet on the particular payline.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented gaming method comprising:

providing a computer coupled to a display screen;

controlling said display screen, using said computer, to display a first puzzle having a plurality of puzzle pieces;

receiving in a wager acceptor coupled to said computer, a wager of a first number of coins from a user;

controlling said display screen, using said computer, to display a first image simulating a first number of random events by displaying a first number of symbols in a first number of configurations, wherein at least a first puzzle piece is associated with each configuration;

designating a puzzle piece as a selected puzzle piece if a predefined combination of said first number of symbols is positioned in a configuration associated with said selected puzzle pieces; and

controlling said display screen, using said computer, to display an image which reveals puzzle pieces of said first puzzle which are identical to said selected puzzle pieces.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a bonus total; and

incrementing said bonus total by a value which results from multiplying the puzzle piece value associated with said selected puzzle piece times a number of occurrences of said selected puzzle piece in said puzzle times said first number of coins.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving, in said gaming terminal, input from said user to select a first number of screen regions as a function of the bonus total after all puzzle pieces of said puzzle are revealed, wherein each of said first number of screen portions is associated with a screen region value and wherein the screen region value associated with the regions selected by the user are provided to the user as credits.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling said display screen to display a simulated value range if at least a first number of predetermined symbols are displayed, wherein said simulated value range display is controlled by said computer to permit playing of a simulated value range portion of said game.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a top award represented by a top award indicium in the simulated value range progresses as a function of coin in deposited.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the top award represented by the top award indicium progresses as a function of coin in deposited from a plurality of devices on which the method is being conducted.

7. A computer implemented method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said simulated value range portion of said game comprises:

displaying at least a portion of a first simulated value range, said first simulated value range including a plurality of indicia and including indicia associated with values and at least a first next level indicium, said simulated value range being controlled to simulate selection such that a first indicated indicium is indicated by an indicator;

wherein if said first indicated indicium in said first simulated value range is a first next level indicium said display is controlled to simulate the selection of a second indicated indicium from a second simulated value range, including indicia associated with values and at least a second next level indicium;

wherein if said indicator is aligned with said second next level indicium, said display screen is controlled to simulate the selection of a third simulated value range, said third simulated value range including a third plurality of indicia including indicia associated with values and at least a top award jackpot indicium;

wherein if said indicator indicates a third wheel indicium other than said third top award jackpot indicium, a credit total is incremented by an amount associated with said indicium times a first number of coins played; and

wherein if said indicator indicates said third top award jackpot indicium, a progressive prize is awarded if said number of coins played equals a first maximum number of coins and otherwise a prize is reported equal to a first factor times said first number of coins played.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein if said first simulated value range includes at least one bankrupt indicium, and if a bankrupt indicium is selected, the user experiences a first event.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein if said first indicated indicium is neither a bankrupt indicium nor a first next level indicium, a credit total is incremented by an amount associated with the indicated indicium times said first number of coins played.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein if said second indicated indicium is not a second next level indicium, a credit total is incremented by an amount associated with said indicated indicium times said first number of coins played.