Gaming machine with concealed image bonus feature

• US 6,347,996 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Casey, Michael P., Gilmore, Jason C.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US09/660,106
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 273/139, 273/242, 273/243, 273/236, 273/237, 463/17, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/17
• 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

A gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprises a basic game and a bonus feature. The basic game includes a plurality of basic game outcomes. The plurality of basic game outcomes include a start-bonus outcome. The bonus feature is triggered by the start-bonus outcome and indicated on a visual display. The bonus feature includes a selection stage succeeded by a bonus stage. In the selection stage, the visual display initially depicts an assemblage of selectable elements that conceal a unified image. The elements are successively selected by the player and/or processor to generate bonus-opportunity outcomes until an element is selected that produces a stop-selection outcome. The elements associated with each bonus-opportunity outcome are removed from the assemblage to reveal those portions of the unified image concealed by those elements. In response to the stop-selection outcome, the bonus feature proceeds to the bonus stage. In the bonus stage, each bonus-opportunity outcome generated in the selection stage earns the player an opportunity to win a respective bonus in the bonus stage.

Claims

1. A gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising a special feature indicated on a visual display, the visual display initially depicting an assemblage of selectable elements that conceal a unified image, the elements being successively selected and being selectively removed from the assemblage based on predetermined criteria to reveal part of the unified image, the special feature awarding bonus opportunities based upon a number of the selected elements removed from the assemblage.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, further including a basic game including a plurality of basic game outcomes, the plurality of basic game outcomes including a start-feature outcome, the special feature being triggered by the start-feature outcome.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the visual display is a video display.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the selectable elements are associated with respective symbols that are revealed upon selection, the selected elements removed from the assemblage being associated with symbols that form one or more matches.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the special feature awards a bonus based upon the number of the selected elements removed from the assemblage.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the assemblage is arranged as a matrix.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the selected elements removed from the assemblage are grouped into one or more matches, each match yielding a respective one of the bonus opportunities.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the selected elements are selectively removed from the assemblage in groups.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein each group includes matching ones of the selected elements.

10. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein each group yields a respective one of the bonus opportunities.

11. A special feature for a gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, the special feature being indicated on a visual display, the special feature comprising:

a selection stage including an assemblage of selectable elements that conceal a unified image, the elements being successively selected to generate bonus-opportunity outcomes until an element is selected that produces a stop-selection outcome, the elements associated with each bonus-opportunity outcome being removed from the assemblage to reveal those portions of the unified image concealed by those elements; and

a bonus stage triggered by the stop-selection outcome, each bonus-opportunity outcome generated in the selection stage earning the player an opportunity to win a respective bonus in the bonus stage.

12. The special feature of claim 11, wherein the elements associated with each bonus-opportunity outcome are linked with matching symbols of a first type, while the elements associated with the stop-selection outcome are linked with matching symbols of a second type.

13. The special feature of claim 11, wherein the bonus stage is comprised of a plurality of selectable bonus-generating elements indicated on the unified image, the unified image being completely revealed for the bonus stage, each bonus-opportunity outcome generated in the selection stage earning a corresponding selection of one of the bonus-generating elements.

14. The special feature of claim 11, wherein the visual display is a video display.

15. The special feature of claim 11, wherein the elements associated with each bonus-opportunity outcome are associated with matching symbols.

16. A gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising a special feature indicated on a visual display, the visual display initially depicting an assemblage of selectable elements that conceal a unified image, the elements being successively selected and being selectively removed from the assemblage in groups based on predetermined criteria to reveal part of the unified image, the special feature awarding a bonus based on the selective removal of the selected elements.

17. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein each group includes matching ones of the selected elements.

18. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager;

indicating, under control of a processor, a special feature of chance on a visual display, the visual display initially depicting an assemblage of selectable elements that conceal a unified image;

receiving successive selections of the elements;

selectively removing the selected elements from the assemblage based on predetermined criteria to reveal part of the unified image; and

awarding a bonus based on the selective removal of the selected elements.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the selected elements are selectively removed from the assemblage in groups.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each group includes matching ones of the selected elements.