Gaming device having a primary game scheme involving a symbol generator and secondary award triggering games

• US 6,682,420 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Webb, Bayard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wellington, A. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US10/174,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/9, 463/18-22, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/148.B, 273/85, 273/459, 273/460, 273/269, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The present invention involves a gaming device with a primary game scheme which includes one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more secondary games. If the player reaches a win condition in one or more secondary games, the gaming device provides the player with an award. This type of game scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game including a plurality of cards, wherein in each activation of the primary game, a plurality of cards are randomly selected and displayed to a player;

a plurality of independently operated secondary games which are each associated with a different one of a plurality of said displayed cards;

at least one display device for displaying the primary game and the secondary games; and

a processor for controlling the display device, the primary game and the secondary games, wherein when a predetermined card is randomly selected and displayed, the processor only operates the secondary game associated with said displayed card or any card which replaces said displayed card.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the win condition includes a plurality of predetermined secondary game symbols.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the processor provides an award to a player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the award is a value.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the award is an opportunity to gain a value.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the secondary games is a symbol generator.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of the secondary games is the same type of game.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the display device displays each secondary game adjacent to the displayed card said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each of said plurality of displayed cards.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the display device simultaneously displays all of the secondary games.

11. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a plurality of cards in the primary game, wherein a plurality of the cards include at least one predetermined symbol;

a separate independently operated secondary game associated with each of a plurality of the cards displayed to a player;

at least one display device for displaying the secondary games; and

a processor for controlling the display device, primary game and the secondary games, wherein when one of the predetermined symbols is displayed on one of the cards, the processor independently operates the secondary game associated with said card without operating the other secondary games associated with the other cards.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the display device simultaneously displays all of the secondary games, wherein each secondary game is displayed adjacent to the card said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each of said plurality of cards.

13. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a plurality of symbol generators in the primary game, each said symbol generator having a plurality of symbols thereon including at least one predetermined symbol;

a plurality of independently operated secondary games which are each associated with a different one of said symbol generators;

at least one display device for displaying the secondary games; and

a processor in communication with the symbol generators and for controlling the display device and the secondary games, wherein when one of the predetermined symbols occurs on one of symbol generators, the processor only operates the secondary game associated with said symbol generator.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the win condition includes a plurality of predetermined secondary game symbols.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the processor provides an award to a player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the award is a value.

18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the award is an opportunity to gain a value.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein at least one of the secondary games includes a symbol generator.

20. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the symbol generators includes a cross-game symbol which functions on said symbol generator and in the secondary game associated with said symbol generator.

21. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein each of the secondary games are of a same type of game.

22. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the secondary games includes a path.

23. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the secondary games includes at least one secondary game symbol movable in increments.

24. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the secondary games includes a plurality of secondary game symbols movable in increments.

25. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the display device displays each secondary game adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator.

26. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the display device simultaneously displays all of the secondary games.

27. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein each symbol generator includes a plurality of predetermined symbols, wherein when one of the plurality of predetermined symbols occurs on one of symbol generators, the processor only operates the secondary game associated with said symbol generator.

28. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a plurality of symbol generators in the primary game, each said symbol generator having a plurality of symbols including at least one predetermined symbol;

a separate independently operated secondary game associated with each of said symbol generators;

at least one display device for displaying the secondary games; and

a processor in communication with the symbol generators and for controlling the display device and the secondary games, wherein when one of the predetermined symbols occurs on one of symbol generators, the processor independently operates the secondary game associated with said symbol generator without operating the other secondary games associated with the other symbol generators.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition.

30. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the processor provides an award to a player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

31. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the award is a value.

32. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the award is an opportunity to gain a value.

33. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein each of the secondary games are of a same type of game.

34. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the display device simultaneously displays all of the secondary games, wherein each secondary game is displayed adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator.

35. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a plurality of symbol generators in the primary game, each said symbol generator adapted to generate a plurality of symbols including at least one predetermined symbol.

a separate independently operated secondary game associated with each of said symbol generators, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition;

at least one display device for displaying the secondary games, wherein the display device simultaneously displays all of the secondary games, each secondary game adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator; and

a processor in communication with the symbol generators and for controlling the display device and the secondary games, wherein when one of the predetermined symbols occurs on one of symbol generators, the processor independently operates the secondary game associated with said symbol generator without operating the other secondary games associated with the other symbol generators, and wherein the processor provides an award to the player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

36. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game;

a plurality of symbol generators in the primary game, each said symbol generator adapted to generate a plurality of symbols including at least one predetermined symbol;

a separate independently operated secondary game associated with each of said symbol generators.

a single display device for simultaneously displaying the symbol generators and each of the secondary games; and

a processor for controlling the display device, the primary game and the secondary games, wherein when one of the predetermined symbols occurs on one of symbol generators, the processor independently operates the secondary game associated with said symbol generator without operating the other secondary games associated with the other symbol generators.

37. The gaming device of claim 36, wherein each of the secondary games are the same type of game.

38. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein the display device simultaneously displays each secondary game adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator.

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

(a) providing a primary game including a plurality of symbol generators, each said symbol generator having a plurality of symbols thereon including at least one predetermined symbol;

(b) providing a plurality of independently operated secondary games which are each associated with a different one of said symbol generators;

(c) initiating the primary game; and

(d) when one of the predetermined symbols occurs on one of the symbol generators, operating only the secondary game associated with said symbol generator.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition, and which includes the step of providing an award to a player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

41. The method of claim 39, which includes the step of causing a cross-game symbol to function on one of the symbol generators and in the secondary game associated with said symbol generator.

42. The method of claim 39, which includes the step of displaying each secondary game adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator.

43. The method of claim 39, which includes the step of simultaneously displaying all of the secondary games.

44. The method of claim 39, which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the data network is an internet.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein computer instructions for implementing steps (a) to (d) are stored in a memory device.

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

(a) providing a primary game including a plurality of symbol generators, each said symbol generator having a plurality of symbols thereon including at least one predetermined symbol;

(b) providing a separate independently operated secondary game associated with each of said symbol generators;

(c) initiating the primary game; and

(d) when one of the predetermined symbols occur on one of the symbol generators, independently operating the secondary game associated with said symbol generator without operating the other secondary games associated with the other symbol generators.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition, and which includes the step of providing an award to a player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

49. The method of claim 47, which includes the step of causing a cross-game symbol to function on one of the symbol generators and in the secondary game associated with said symbol generator.

50. The method gaming device of claim 47, which includes the step of displaying each secondary game adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator.

51. The method of claim 47, which includes the step of simultaneously displaying all of the secondary games.

52. The method of claim 47, which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the data network is an internet.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein computer instructions for implementing steps (a) to (d) are stored in a memory device.

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

(a) providing a primary game including a plurality of symbol generators, each said symbol generator having a plurality of symbols thereon including at least one predetermined symbol;

(b) providing a separate independently operated secondary game associated with each of said symbol generators, wherein each secondary game includes at least one win condition;

(c) simultaneously displaying all of the secondary games, each secondary game adjacent to the symbol generator said secondary game is associated with to clearly distinguish to a player which secondary game is associated with each symbol generator

(d) initiating the primary game;

(e) when one of the predetermined symbols occurs on one of the symbol generators in the primary game, independently operating the secondary game associated with said symbol generator without operating the other secondary games associated with the other symbol generators; and

providing an award to the player when the win condition in one of the secondary games occurs.

56. The method of claim 55, which includes operating the gaming device through a data network.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the data network is an internet.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein computer instructions for implementing steps (a) to (f) are stored in a memory device.