Gaming device and method for individual, head to head and tournament play

• US 6,309,299 B1
• Filed: 09/13/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Steve Weiss
• Inventors: Weiss, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores R.
• Application Number:
  US09/395,449
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/16-19, 463/21-23, 463/25-27, 273/138, 273/143, 273/85, 273/274, 273/237, 273/269
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A gaming device which allows individual play, head to head play and tournament play and involves the utilization of at least three chance means, including a plurality of reels, a video display configured as a matrix upon which scores can accumulate and icons located upon the grid itself provided for additional scoring.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

means for displaying three distinct gaming propositions including reels which control ordinance means,

and means for electing three types of player interaction.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said displaying means includes plural sector grids each having an address location,

some of said address locations having nautical icons thereon,

means responsive to gaming machine outcomes for firing ordnance upon said sector grids,

means for tabulating hits on said nautical icons,

means for tabulating hits which miss said nautical icons,

and means for awarding credits to a player as a function of said tabulating means.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said displaying means includes a plurality of reels which controls said means for firing ordnance, said ordnance firing means configured as artillery pieces located at a periphery of sector grids on said display means and operatively linked to indicia on said reels.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said nautical icons are visible during normal play.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said three types of player interaction comprise:

tournament play;

head to head competition with another player;

or individual play.

14. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said three distinct gaming propositions comprises:

a first gaming proposition defined by a plurality of reels having a series of outcomes some of which bestow an award;

second and third gaming propositions defined by a display having at least a two dimensional Cartesian coordinate system upon which plural icons are to be contacted such that contact with said icons fulfills said second gaming proposition and failure to contact said icons fulfills said third gaming proposition.

5. A gaming method, including the steps of:

initializing at least one machine,

accepting a wager,

electing group gaming or head to head competition in addition to individual gaming,

enabling a first chance means,

said first chance means triggering events in second and third chance means and rewarding outcomes of said chance means, said chance means including or chance means.

6. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

a plurality of reels,

means to actuate said reels,

means responsive to displays on said plurality of reels to actuate a keno game having a kenotype and a nautical ordnance game having nautied icons.

15. The gaming machine of claim 6 wherein said keno game and said nautical ordnance game are simultaneously actuated whereby nautical ordnance misses constitute keno plays having a potential winning outcome.

7. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

means for displaying three distinct gaming propositions,

and means for electing three types of player interaction,

wherein said displaying means includes plural sector grids each having an address location,

some of said address locations having nautical icons thereon,

means responsive to gaming machine outcomes for firing ordnance upon said sector grids,

means for tabulating hits on said nautical icons,

means for tabulating hits which miss said nautical icons,

and means for awarding credits to a player as a function of said tabulating means,

wherein said displaying means includes a plurality of reels which controls means for firing ordnance, said ordnance firing means configured as artillery pieces located at a periphery of said sector grids on said display means and operatively linked to indicia on said reels.

16. The machine of claim 7 wherein said nautical icons are obscured during bonus play and a player controls sector grid ordnance firing.

17. The machine of claim 16 wherein the player is allotted a predetermined number of ordnance during bonus play.

18. The machine of claim 17 wherein said displaying means further includes plural nautical icons susceptible to hits or misses wherein said misses on said nautical icons correlates to a keno outcome.

19. The machine of claim 18 wherein said electing means enables solitary play.

20. The machine of claim 19 wherein said electing means enables head to head play.

21. The machine of claim 20 wherein said electing means enables tournament play.

8. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

means for displaying three distinct gaming propositions,

and means for electing three types of player interaction,

wherein said displaying means includes a plurality of reels which controls means for firing ordnance, said ordnance firing means configured as artillery pieces located at a periphery of sector grids on said display means and operatively linked to indicia on said reels.

9. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

means for displaying three distinct gaming propositions,

and means for electing three types of player interaction,

further including said displaying means includes plural nautical icons susceptible to hits or misses wherein said misses on said nautical icons correlates to a keno outcome.

10. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

a display including a plurality of reels,

ordnance means for deploying said ordnance on said display,

said plurality of reels controlling said ordnance means.

11. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

a display having plural nautical icons thereon,

said nautical icons correlate to a keno outcome.

12. A gaming machine, comprising, in combination:

means for displaying three distinct gaming propositions,

and means for electing three types of player interaction,

said displaying means having a nautical theme including nautical icons located on a display and correlating to a keno outcome,

means for firing ordnance,

said display including a plurality of reels which controls said ordnance firing means.