Gaming device having a weighted probability for selecting a bonus game

• US 6,565,436 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/680,346
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/28
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

The present invention provides a bonus scheme that has more than one and preferably at least three bonus games contained in one bonus scheme. Each bonus game provides excitement and enjoyment to the player via creative visual and audio displays. Each bonus game also has its own theme and may or may not be based upon schemes already known in the art of gaming devices. While the individual bonus games are not necessarily related to each other, the overall bonus scheme, preferably in the initial screen, ties the bonus games together in a master theme that provides flexibility for the individual bonus games to have their own themes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention automatically activates the bonus scheme upon a bonus triggering event. The game selects for the player one of three bonus games contained in the bonus scheme. The player plays the selected game and receives an award and the game returns the player to the base game.

Claims

1. A gaming device having a bonus scheme comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of bonus games, wherein at least two of said bonus games are different;

a probability associated with each of said plurality of bonus games; and

a display connected to said controller and adapted to display images associated with each of said plurality of bonus games;

whereby after an occurrence of a triggering event, said controller selects one of said bonus games based on the probabilities and the display displays the image associated with the selected bonus game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the sum of the probabilities of all the bonus games equals 100.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the probabilities are predetermined.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein at least two of said predetermined probabilities are different.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein each of said predetermined probabilities are different.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined probability associated with one of the bonus games decreases as a maximum payout of said bonus game increases.

7. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined probability associated with one of the bonus games increases as a maximum payout of said bonus game increases.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each probability is in the range of 1% to 99%.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a start bonus input device connected to said controller.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each bonus game provides a different bonus award.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the display displays a maximum bonus award for each bonus game.

12. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein said bonus award for each bonus game increases when a bet by the player increases.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein said bonus award is a multiplier.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a player input device connected to said controller for causing the controller to select one of said bonus games.

27. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games are different.

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

(a) triggering said bonus round;

(b) displaying a plurality of different bonus games, wherein each bonus game has an associated probability;

(c) selecting one of said plurality of bonus games based upon said probabilities after the triggering of said bonus round; and

(d) enabling a player to play said selected bonus game.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the probability associated with each bonus game is predetermined.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a different predetermined probability is associated with each bonus game.

18. The method of claim 17, which includes displaying a maximum bonus award for each bonus game.

19. The method of claim 18, which includes decreasing said predetermined probability for one of the bonus games as said maximum bonus award for said bonus game increases.

20. The method of claim 15, which includes enabling the player to start said bonus round after displaying the plurality of bonus games.

21. The method of claim 15, which includes awarding said player a bonus award after playing said selected bonus game.

22. The method of claim 21, which includes repeating steps (b) to (d) at least once when said player obtains a bonus award having a value less than a predetermined value.

23. The method of claim 21, which includes increasing a value of said bonus award based on a player'"'"'s bet.

24. The method of claim 21, which includes awarding said player a multiplier.

25. The method of claim 21, which includes awarding said player a number of base game credits.

26. The method of claim 21, which includes awarding said player a series of free games.

28. The method of claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games are different.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein the bonus round is provided to the player through a data network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data network is an internet.

31. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a plurality of secondary games, wherein at least two of the secondary games are different;

a probability associated with each of said plurality of secondary games;

a display device;

a triggering event in the primary game; and

a processor in communication with said display device, said processor operable after the occurrence of said triggering event in said primary game to randomly select one of said secondary games based on said probabilities associated with said secondary games and provide said selected secondary game to a player.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein each of said secondary games are different.

33. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the probabilities are predetermined.

34. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein at least two of said probabilities are different.

35. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein at least two of said probabilities are equal.

36. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein each of said probabilities are different.

37. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein each of said probabilities are equal.

38. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the sum of the probabilities associated with all of the secondary games equals 100%.

39. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein each probability is in the range of 1% to 99%.

40. The gaming device of claim 31, which includes a player input device connected to said processor for causing the processor to select one of the secondary games.

41. The gaming device of claim 31, which includes a start secondary game selection input device connected to said processor.

42. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said processor enables the player to play said selected secondary game.

43. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said processor is operable to display at least one image associated with each of said plurality of secondary games prior to the selection of one of said secondary games.

44. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein said processor is operable to award the player a secondary award after providing said secondary game.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein said processor is operable to randomly select another of said secondary games based on said probabilities associated with said secondary games if the player'"'"'s awarded secondary award has a value less than a predetermined value.

46. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

at least two different secondary games;

a different probability associated with each of said secondary games; and

a triggering event in the primary game, wherein after the occurrence of said triggering event in the primary game, a random selection of one of said secondary games based on the probabilities associated with said secondary games occurs, and wherein said selected secondary game is provided to a player.

47. The gaming device of claim 46, which enables the player to play said provided secondary game.

48. The gaming device of claim 46, wherein each of said secondary games are different.

49. A gaming device comprising:

a first game;

a plurality of different second games;

a probability associated with each second game;

a triggering event in the first game;

a display device; and

a processor in communication with said display device, said processor operable after the occurrence of said triggering event in the first game to randomly select one of said second games based on said probabilities associated with said second games, and to provide said selected second game to a player.

50. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein at least two of said probabilities are different.

51. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein at least two of said probabilities are equal.

52. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein each of said probabilities are different.

53. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein each of said probabilities are equal.

54. A gaming device comprising:

a first game;

a plurality of different second games, wherein a different probability is associated with each second game; and

a triggering event in said first game, wherein after the occurrence of the triggering event in said first game, a random selection of one of said second games based on the probabilities associated with said second games occurs, and wherein said selected second game is provided to a player.

55. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein the player is enabled to play said provided second game.

56. A method for operating a gaming device comprising:

(a) displaying a primary game;

(b) displaying a plurality of different bonus games, wherein each bonus game has an associated probability;

(c) after an occurrence of a triggering event in the primary game, randomly selecting one of said plurality of bonus games based upon said probabilities; and

(d) providing said selected bonus game to a player.

57. The method of claim 56, which includes the step of enabling the player to play said provided bonus game.

58. The method of claim 56, which includes awarding the player a bonus award, if any, which occurs in the selected bonus game.

59. The method of claim 58, which includes increasing said bonus award for each bonus game based on a player'"'"'s wager.

60. The method of claim 58, which includes repeating steps (b) to (d) at least once when the awarded bonus award has a value less than a predetermined value.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein the selected bonus game is provided to the player through a data network.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the data network is an internet.