Method of playing a multi-stage video wagering game

• US 6,312,334 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clayton, Sheila
• Application Number:
  US09/157,651
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/20-24, 463/16-19, 463/12-13, 463/26, 463/30-32, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/269
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of playing a video wagering game is disclosed. The method includes at least a first and second segment, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to participate in a video wagering game;

playing the first segment of the video wagering game;

continuing play of the first segment until at least one predetermined condition has been met;

assigning a payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment;

playing the second segment of the video wagering game when the at least one predetermined condition has been met;

wherein at least a portion of said payout of the first segment is used as a wager in a second segment video wagering game in which a visually different screen format is used in play of a different game in the play of the second segment; and

after play of the second segment video wagering game, a second segment payout is assigned based on at least a predetermined outcome of play of the second segment video wagering game.

Claims

1. A method of playing a video wagering game, the game comprising at least a first segment and a second segment, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to participate in a first video wagering game having a first screen format;

playing the first segment of the video wagering game;

continuing play of the first segment until at least one predetermined condition has been met;

assigning a payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment;

playing the second segment of the video wagering game when the at least one predetermined condition has been met;

wherein at least a portion of said payout of the first segment is directly used as a wager in a second segment video wagering game in which a second screen format is used in the play of the second segment, which second screen format is visually different from the first screen format, and the second screen format is used in the play of a different wagering game than that played in said first segment; and

after play of the second segment video wagering game, a second segment payout is assigned based on at least a predetermined outcome of play of the second segment video wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first segment comprises poker.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first segment comprises stud poker.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first segment comprises draw poker.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first segment comprises Let It Ride®

poker.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first segment comprises Caribbean Stud®

poker.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second segment comprises two card high low.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second segment comprises poker.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second segment is Let It Ride®

poker, wherein the predetermined winning outcomes and corresponding factors are as follows;

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment is Let It Ride®

poker, wherein the set of predetermined winning outcomes and corresponding factors comprise;

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a payout from at least one predetermined winning outcome from the second segment is augmented with a progressive jackpot.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the progressive jackpot payout is 100 percent of the progressive jackpot when the player obtains a royal flush, and a maximum bet has been placed.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said first segment comprises a video reel slot game.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the video format of said second segment does not display a video reel slot game.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the video format of said second segment does not automatically display a number of cards equal to the number of cards initially displayed in the play of said poker in said first segment.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein each said first segment and said second segment provide formats on a screen which do not include playing cards.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein only one video format of said first segment and said second segment displays playing cards.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a feature of providing a meter for keeping track of a number of winning outcomes which is independent of credits for play retained or awards from a single play of any segment.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first segment is selected from the group consisting of:

video poker, video reel slot, video blackjack, solitaire, bingo, tick tack toe, hangman and video keno.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the second segment is selected from the group consisting of:

video poker, video reel slot, video blackjack, solitaire, a door game, bingo, tick tack toe, hangman and video keno, play of which second segment is associated with a visually different screen format as compared to a video screen format used with said first segment.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein video displays of said first segment and said second segment are thematically continuous.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least a portion of said payout of the first segment which is directly used as a wager in a second segment video wagering game is placed at least in part at risk of being diminished by play in said second segment.

33. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least a portion of said payout of the first segment which is directly used as a wager in a second segment video wagering game is placed at least in part at risk of being diminished by play in said second segment.

39. The method of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of said payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment is placed at risk in said second segment.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein the second segment payout is equal to a product of a randomly selected multiplier and an amount comprising the wager to participate in a first video wagering game.

42. The method of claim 1 wherein a meter displays an amount of the payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment.

19. A method of scoring a video wagering game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a wager to participate in a video wagering game;

providing a video display cabinet, a device for accepting wagers mounted in the cabinet, a visual display mounted in the cabinet, a plurality of player controls mounted in the cabinet, a microprocessor located in the cabinet, RAM and ROM storage;

wherein a program is stored in the ROM for playing a video wagering game with a first segment and a second segment, and a device for dispensing payouts;

wherein the visual display, player controls and device for dispensing payouts is in electronic communication with the microprocessor;

the player activating a player control which causes the microprocessor to display the first segment of the game;

a player playing the first segment of the game, wherein the player controls are optionally manipulated by the player to participate in the game;

upon the happening of at least one predetermined condition, the microprocessor assigning a payout to the first segment and causing the second segment of the game to be displayed;

the player, upon electing to participate in the second segment of the game, places at least a portion of the award from play of the first segment, which second segment is a different game than the first segment of the game and which second segment is played in association with a visually different formatted screen than was associated with the play of the first segment; and

wherein an award outcome of the second segment is determined by accomplishing a predetermined outcome in the second segment; and

paying the player an amount based upon the award achieved by the outcome of the second segment.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the award outcome of said second segment includes a non-monetary award which may be accumulated towards a special feature.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said special feature comprises play of a segment for a chance to win ajackpot.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the first segment of the game comprises Let It Ride®

poker.

23. A video wagering device for play of a video wagering game having at least a first and second segment, comprising:

a cabinet;

a screen display mounted in the cabinet;

player controls mounted in the cabinet;

a device for receiving wagers mounted in the cabinet;

a payout device for paying player winnings mounted in the cabinet;

a microprocessor located within the cabinet RAM and ROM memory, where a program is stored in the ROM memory which comprises a video wagering game with at least a first segment and a second segment, wherein the program generates a first screen display corresponding to the first segment and a second screen display corresponding to the second segment, wherein player instructions received from the player controls are acted upon by the microprocessor, wherein an outcome from the first segment is used to allow a player an option of playing said second segment video wagering game, and a video format used in association with play of said second segment video wagering game is visually different from a video screen format used in association with play of said first segment video wagering game.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to play video poker as the first segment, and blackjack as the second segment.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein a video display format used in association with play of said second segment video wagering game is thematically continuous with respect to a video display of said first segment.

29. A method of scoring a video wagering game, the game comprising at least a first and second segment, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to participate in a video wagering game;

playing the first segment of the video wagering game;

continuing play of the first segment until at least one award-achieving condition has been met;

assigning a payout based on said at least one award-achieving condition of the first segment;

playing the second segment of the video wagering game when the at least one award-achieving condition has been met;

wherein at least a portion of said payout of the first segment is directly carried into said second segment as a wager in a second segment video wagering game in which a visually different screen format is used in play of a different game in the play of the second segment; and

after play of the second segment video wagering game, a second segment payout is assigned based on at least a predetermined outcome of play of the second segment video wagering game.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein a portion of said payout based on said at least one award-achieving condition of the first segment must be carried forward as a wager in said second segment.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein a portion of said payout based on said at least one award-achieving condition of the first segment is retained as a credit or paid out to a player.

34. A method of playing a video wagering game, the game comprising at least a first segment and a second segment, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to participate in a first video wagering game having a first screen format including a game show theme;

playing the first segment of the video wagering game;

continuing play of the first segment until at least one predetermined condition has been met;

assigning a payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment;

playing the second segment of the video wagering game when the at least one predetermined condition has been met;

wherein at least a portion of said payout of the first segment is directly used as a wager in a second segment video wagering game in which a second screen format is used in the play of the second segment, which second screen format is visually different from the first screen format and also represents a segment of a game show, and the second screen format is used in the play of a different wagering game than that played in said first segment; and

after play of the second segment video wagering game, a second segment payout is assigned based on at least a predetermined outcome of play of the second segment video wagering game.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said first video wagering game having a first screen format representing a game show, represents Let'"'"'s Make a Deal®

.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein said first video wagering game having a first screen format representing a game show, represents a different theatrical segment of Let'"'"'s Make a Deal®

than that represented in said first segment.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein said first segment and said second segment display thematic continuity.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein at least a portion of said payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment must be wagered in the play of said second segment and said second segment must be played.

40. A method of playing a video wagering game, the game comprising at least a first segment and a second segment, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to participate in a first video wagering game having a first screen format;

playing the first segment of the video wagering game;

continuing play of the first segment until at least one predetermined condition has been met;

assigning a payout based on at least one predetermined winning outcome of the first segment;

playing the second segment of the video wagering game when the at least one predetermined condition has been met;

wherein at least a portion of said payout of the first segment is used as a wager in a second segment video wagering game in which a second screen format is used in the play of the second segment, which second screen format is visually different from the first screen format, and the second screen format is used in the play of a different wagering game than that played in said first segment; and

after play of the second segment video wagering game, a second segment payout is assigned based on at least a predetermined outcome of play of the second segment video wagering game.