Gaming device having a multiple selection group bonus round

• US 6,511,375 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kaminkow, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHBURN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US09/605,107
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9-13, 463/16-20, 463/25-27, 463/30, 463/31, 463/35, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273/236, 273/237, 273/273, 283/903
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

Abstract

The present provides a gaming device bonus round that contains a plurality of groups each having a plurality of selections that the player can pick and receive an award. The groups and selections form a theme that provides enjoyment and excitement to the player. The game enables the player to pick a predetermined number of selections from each group. After the player picks from each selection group, the game uncovers, reveals and awards an award hidden underneath and the awards of selections that the player did not choose. The bonus round includes audio and visual displays, in accordance with the game theme, that either direct or follow along with the player'"'"'s progress of the bonus round. As the player proceeds through the bonus round, the game accumulates the awards and displays the accumulation at the end of the round.

Claims

1. A gaming device having a bonus round comprising:

a controller;

a display connected to said controller;

a plurality of selection groups simultaneously displayed in said display;

a plurality of selections in simultaneously displayed each selection group;

an award individually associated with each of said selections; and

a number of picks for each selection group, wherein said number of picks for each selection group is less than said number of selections in said group;

whereby a player picks the number of selections from each selection group.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said number of picks from each selection group is predetermined.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an audio production that directs said player to pick from each selection group.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, which includes a visual display that directs said player to pick from each selection group.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a single screen displays said plurality of selection groups.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of screens display said plurality of selection groups.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said bonus round includes a theme, wherein said selection groups have selections which relate to said theme.

8. A method for playing a bonus round of a gaming device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) triggering said bonus round;

(b) simultaneously displaying a plurality of selection groups each having a plurality of simultaneously displayed selections;

(c) enabling a player to pick a predetermined number of selections from each of said selection groups, the number of picks for each group being less than the number of selections in said group;

(d) awarding said player an award individually associated with each of the selections picked by the player; and

(e) ending said bonus round.

9. The method of claim 8, which includes the step of displaying each of said awards.

10. The method of claim 9, which includes the step of revealing the awards in each selection group not picked by said player.

11. The method of claim 8, which includes the step of producing an audio production after triggering said bonus round that directs said player to pick from said selection groups.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes the step of displaying a visual display after triggering said bonus round that directs said player to pick from said selection groups.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the gaming device is operated through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.

15. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a plurality of selection group simultaneously displayed by the display device;

a plurality of selections simultaneously displayed in each of said plurality of selection groups;

an award individually associated with each selection;

a predetermined number of picks for each selection group, said predetermined number being less than said plurality of selections in said group; and

a processor which enables a player to pick the predetermined number of selections from each selection group and provides the awards associated with the picked selections to the player.

16. A gaming device having a game comprising:

a plurality of simultaneously displayed selection groups;

plurality of selections simultaneously displayed in each said plurality of selection groups;

an award individually associated with each selection;

a number of picks for each selection group, said number being at least one and less than said plurality of selections in said group; and

a total award provided to a player based on the awards associated with the picked selections from said selection groups.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the number of picks for at least one of the selection groups is predetermined.

18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the number of picks for a plurality of the selection groups are predetermined.

19. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the number of picks for each selection group is predetermined.

20. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the total award includes the sum of the awards associated with the picked selections from said selection groups.

21. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) triggering a game;

(b) individually associating an award with each selection in each of a plurality of selection groups, wherein each of said plurality of simultaneously displayed selection groups includes a plurality of simultaneously displayed selections;

(c) enabling a player to pick a number of selections from each of the plurality of selection groups, said number of picks for each said group being at least one and less than said plurality of selections in said selection group;

(d) providing a player the award associated with the picked selections from said selection groups; and

(e) ending the game.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the number of picks for at least one selection group is predetermined.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the number of picks for a plurality of the selection groups are predetermined.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the number of picks for each selection group is predetermined.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the gaming device is operated through a data network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data network is an internet.