Gaming bonus apparatus and method with player interaction

• US 6,309,300 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Glavich, Paulina
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/564,493
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/13, 463/12, 463/6, 463/25, 463/21, 463/26, 463/27, 463/42, 273/292, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/118.D, 273/118.R, 273/123.A, 273/118.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.R, 273/121.B, 273/144.R, 273/269, 273/274, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/26
• 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 17/3262 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A gaming system provides a main game and a bonus feature with the bonus feature providing for user interaction. In one aspect, user interaction involves allowing a player to select at least some of a plurality of selectable items. When a selectable item is selected, a prize, multiplier or other item associated with the selectable item is revealed and a total bonus prize is based on the prizes, multipliers or other items associated with the selectable items selected by the player.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a bonus in a gaming system played by a player, comprising:

a gaming terminal having a wager receiver and input and output devices;

electronic circuitry which

associates associated items with at least some of a plurality of user-selectable items, said associated items including at least a first prize and a prize increaser;

displays at least some said selectable items, in response to a bonus trigger in a main game of said gaming system;

receives, from said player, selections of up to a predetermined number of said selectable items, said predetermined number being less than all selectable items;

credits said player with a bonus prize when an associated item associated with a selected item includes a prize; and

increases all current bonus prizes when an associated item associated with a selected item includes said prize increaser.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 which further:

shows the player at the end of the game the prizes associated with the player-selectable items not selected by the player.

2. Apparatus for playing a game by a player, comprising:

a gaming terminal in putting a wager acceptor, and input and output devices; and

a microprocessor configured to;

control play of a main game in response to receipt of a wager;

initiate a bonus procedure in response to occurrence, in said main game, of a bonus trigger event, wherein, during said bonus procedure, said microprocessor is configured to

display a plurality of player-selectable items, each associated with a prize or a multiplier;

display a number indicating the number of picks which the player can exercise, said number of picks being less than the total plurality of player selectable items;

display, in response to each picked player-selectable item, said prize or multiplier associated with said picked item;

adding a prize amount to a prize total when a prize is associated with said picked item; and

multiplying said prize total by a multiplier value when a multiplier is associated with said picked item;

display items associated with all said player-selectable items after said number of picks has been exercised by said player.

3. A game-playing method comprising:

receiving a wager in a gaming terminal;

playing a main game portion at said gaming terminal;

initiating a bonus portion in response to a main game portion;

associating each of a plurality of player-selectable items with an associated item, said associated item being at least one of a prize, a multiplier, a demerit or a combination thereof;

displaying said plurality of player-selectable items;

receiving, from said player, input indicating up to a predetermined number of picks of said player-selectable items;

said number of picks being less than the total plurality of player selectable items;

increasing a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a prize; and

multiplying a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a multiplier.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said step of associating comprises randomly associating.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting one number of a number of a variable number of player-selectable items.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5 wherein said step of selecting the number of player-selectable items is performed according to at least one of:

a random selection process within a range;

a wager-based selection process;

an average-hold selection process.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 3 wherein said step of associating includes selecting said associated items according to at least one of:

a random selection process within a range;

a wager-based selection process;

an average-hold selection process.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 3 further comprising selecting said predetermined number of picks.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 8 wherein said step of selecting said predetermined number of picks is performed according to at least one of:

a random selection process within a range;

a wager-based selection process;

an average-hold selection process.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 3, further comprising displaying said predetermined number of picks.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 3, further comprising randomly selecting locations for display of said player-selectable items.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said step of displaying said plurality of player-selectable items includes displaying at least one of said plurality of player-selectable items to provide the appearance of motion.

26. The method of claim 3 including the further step of:

at the end of the game showing the player the prizes associated with player-selectable items not selected by the player.

13. A device for game-playing comprising:

a gaming terminal having apparatus for receiving a wager and having input and output apparatus for playing a main game portion;

apparatus for initiating a bonus procedure;

apparatus for associating each of a plurality of displayable player-selectable items with an associated item, said associated item including at least of a prize, a multiplier, a demerit, or a combination thereof;

apparatus for displaying said plurality of player-selectable items;

apparatus for receiving, from said player, input indicating up to a predetermined number of picks of said player-selectable items, said number of picks being less than the total plurality of player selectable items;

apparatus for increasing a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a prize; and

apparatus for multiplying a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a multiplier.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said apparatus for associating comprises apparatus for randomly associating.

15. The device of in claim 13 further comprising apparatus for selecting the number of player-selectable items.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said apparatus for selecting the number of player-selectable items comprises apparatus for selecting according to at least one of:

a random selection process within a range;

a wager-base selection process;

an average-hold selection process.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein said apparatus for associating includes apparatus for selecting said associated items according to at least one of:

a random selection process within a range;

a wager-base selection process;

an average-hold selection process.

18. The device of claim 13 further comprising apparatus for selecting said predetermined number of picks.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said apparatus for selecting said predetermined number of picks includes apparatus for selecting according to at least one of:

a random selection process within a range;

a wager-base selection process;

an average-hold selection process.

20. The device of claim 13, further comprising apparatus for displaying said predetermined number of picks.

21. The device of claim 13, further comprising apparatus for randomly selecting locations for a display of said player-selectable items.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein said apparatus for displaying said plurality of player-selectable items includes apparatus for displaying at least one of said plurality of player-selectable items to provide the appearance of motion.

23. A game-playing method comprising:

receiving a wager in a gaming terminal;

playing a main game portion at said gaming terminal;

initiating a bonus portion in response to a main game portion;

associating each of a plurality of player-selectable items with an associated item, said associated item being at least one of a prize, a multiplier, a demerit, or combination thereof;

displaying said plurality of player-selectable items;

receiving, from said player, input indicating up to a predetermined number of picks of said player-selectable items;

increasing a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a prize;

multiplying a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a multiplier; and

decreasing said prize total for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a demerit.

27. The method of claim 23 in which:

at the end of the game showing the player the prizes associated with player-selectable items not selected by the player.

28. The method of claim 23 in which said predetermined number of picks is less than the total plurality of player-selectable items.

24. A device for game playing comprising:

a gaming terminal having apparatus for receiving a wager and having input and output apparatus for playing a main game portion;

apparatus for initiating a bonus procedure;

apparatus for associating each of a plurality of displayable player-selectable items with an associated item, said associated item including at least one of a prize, a multiplier, a demerit, or a combination thereof;

apparatus for displaying said plurality of player-selectable items;

apparatus for receiving, from said player, input indicating up to a predetermined number of picks of said player-selectable items;

apparatus for increasing a prize by a prize value for each picked player selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a prize;

apparatus for multiplying a prize total by a prize value for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a multiplier; and

apparatus for decreasing said prize total for each picked player-selectable item associated with an associated item which includes a demerit.

29. The device of claim 24 in which the predetermined number of picks is less than the total plurality of player selectable items.