Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicator

• US 6,334,814 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Anchor Gaming (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Adams, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US09/157,996
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143.R, 273/138.2, 273/138.1, 273/138.A, 273/138.R, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

Gaming devices comprising a standard gaming unit, e.g., three reels, and a discernible additional payout indicator, e.g., a rotatable wheel. A preferred bonus payout indicator is clearly visible by the player and is actuatable when the reels of the slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. A preferred embodiment further comprises a payout multiplier which displays a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a game of chance, comprising:

providing an opportunity to place a wager to play a primary game;

responsive at least in part to placement of a wager, randomly generating in primary game a combination of indicia selected from a plurality of possible indicia and displaying the combination of indicia on a display associated with the primary game, the display comprising a visible representation of a plurality of reels, only one of the reels bearing an indicia for enabling play of a secondary game comprising a TIC-TAC-TOE game having a three-by-three matrix display associated therewith; and

responsive to display on the one reel of the indicia for enabling play of the secondary game, randomly selecting indicia of a TIC-TAC-TOE game in the secondary game and displaying the selected indicia on the three-by-three matrix display.

2. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising providing a player with one of a plurality of potential prizes responsive to one of a plurality of outcomes of the secondary game.

3. A method of conducting a game of chance, comprising:

providing an opportunity to place a wager to play a primary game;

responsive at least in part to placement of a wager, randomly generating in the primary game a combination of indicia selected from a plurality of possible indicia and displaying the combination of indicia on a display associated with the primary game, the plurality of indicia including at least one indicia for enabling play of a secondary game comprising a TIC-TAC-TOE type game having a matrix display associated therewith; and

responsive to display of the at least one indicia for enabling play of the secondary game and without further input by a player once the secondary game has commenced, randomly generating indicia of the TIC-TAC-TOE type game in the secondary game and displaying the generated indicia on the matrix display.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising selecting the at least one indicia for enabling play of the secondary game to consist of either a single indicia for enabling play of the secondary game or a preselected combination of indicia.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising enabling play of the secondary game only in response to placement of a wager greater than a minimum wager required to play the primary game.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the TIC-TAC-TOE type game employs at least two different symbols for display and further comprising randomly generating a symbol for each location of a plurality of locations on the matrix display for display thereon prior to randomly generating a next symbol for display on another location of the plurality of locations on the matrix display.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the TIC-TAC-TOE type game employs at least two different symbols for display and further comprising randomly generating a sequence of symbols for display and subsequently displaying the symbols of the sequence in a predetermined order on each of a plurality of locations on the matrix display.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the TIC-TAC-TOE type game employs at least two different symbols for display and further comprising differently illuminating each of at least two of the at least two symbols on the matrix display.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the TIC-TAC-TOE type game employs at least two different symbols for display, wherein the matrix display includes a plurality of locations and each location of the plurality has a number associated therewith and further comprising, responsive to selection of one of the at least two different symbols for display in a line of locations extending across the matrix, providing an award consisting of the sum of the numbers associated with the locations in the line.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising employing a fixed number in association with each location of the plurality.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the TIC-TAC-TOE type game employs at least two different symbols for display, wherein the matrix display includes a plurality of locations and each location of the plurality has a number associated therewith, further comprising enabling a player to select one symbol from the at least two different symbols and providing an award consisting of the sum of the numbers associated with each location on the matrix display wherein the selected symbol appears.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising employing a fixed number in association with each location of the plurality.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the TIC-TAC-TOE type game employs at least two different symbols for display, wherein the matrix display includes a plurality of locations and further comprising providing an award when a plurality of occurrences of a single symbol is generated for display in a line of locations extending across the matrix, the award being inversely related in magnitude to the number of symbols required to be generated on the matrix display until the line of locations is completed.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a consolation award to a player if, after all of the locations of the matrix display have a symbol displayed thereon and there is no line of locations extending across the display wherein a single symbol is displayed.