Gaming device having multiple selection large award bonus scheme

• US 6,749,504 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hughs-Baird, Andrea C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHBURN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/155,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/2, 463/7, 463/9-13, 463/16-21, 463/25, 463/26, 463/30, 463/31, 463/35-38, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/236, 273/237, 273/143.R, 273/292, 273/242
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• 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 device including a plurality of selections, a plurality of credit symbols associated with the selections, a plurality of awards symbols associated with the selections, and a winning combination of award symbols. A player is awarded credits when the player selects a selection having an associated credit symbol and player accumulates award symbols when the player selects a selection associated with an award symbol. The player wins a preferably large award when the player accumulates said winning combination of award symbols. The number of player selections is determined based on the player'"'"'s wager in the primary game wherein the player obtains a specified number of player selections which are necessary to achieve the winning combination and thereby win the large award.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a primary wagering game including a wager limit and at least one wager less than the wager limit;

a secondary game which includes a plurality of player selectable selections, a plurality of value symbols associated with said selections, a plurality of award symbols associated with said selections, a winning combination of award symbols, and a jackpot award associated with said winning combination of award symbols;

a display device adapted to display the selections, value symbols and award symbols to a player; and

a processor which controls the primary and secondary games, and operable with the display device during the secondary game, to provide the player a number of selections from said plurality of player selectable selections at least equal to the number of award symbols if the player wagered the wager limit in the primary game, to provide the player a number of selections from said plurality of player selectable selections which is less than the number of award symbols in said winning combination of award symbols if the player wagered less than the wager limit in the primary game, to provide a value to the player when the player chooses each of the selections having an associated value symbol, to accumulate the award symbols when the player chooses each selection having an associated award symbol, and to provide the player the jackpot award when the accumulated award symbols reach said winning combination of award symbols.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one functional symbol associated with one of the selections.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the functional symbol changes the total number of the player'"'"'s selections.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a player selection confirmation indication connected to the processor which enables the player to confirm the selections chosen by the player.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the activation of said player selection confirmation indication enables the player to confirm the players selections after the player chooses all of the player'"'"'s selections before the selections are revealed.

6. A gaming device comprising:

a base game including at least one wager limit and at least one wager less than the wager limit;

a bonus game triggered upon the occurrence of a triggering event in the base game, said bonus game including a plurality of player selectable selections, a plurality of value symbols associated with said selections, a plurality of award symbols associated with said selections, a winning combination of award symbols and an award associated with said winning combination of award symbols;

a display device adapted to display the selections, value symbols and award symbols to a player;

a player selection indicator which enables the player to choose the selections;

a player selection confirmation indication which enables the player to confirm the player'"'"'s chosen selections; and

a processor which controls the base and bonus games, communicates with the display device, the selection indicator and the selection confirmation indication wherein during the bonus game, provides the player a number of selections from said plurality of player selectable selections at least equal to the number of award symbols if the player wagered the wager limit in the base game, provides the player a number of selections less than the number of award symbols if the player wagered less than the wager limit in the base game, provides a value to the player when the player chooses and confirms each of the selections having an associated value symbol, accumulates the award symbols when the player chooses and confirms each selection having an associated award symbol, and provides the player the award when the accumulated award symbols reach said winning combination of award symbols.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, which includes at least one functional symbol associated with one of the selections.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the functional symbol changes the total number of the players selections.

9. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the activation of said player selection confirmation indication enables the player to confirm the players selections after the player chooses all of the players selections.

10. A method of operating a bonus round of a gaming device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) associating a plurality of value symbols and a plurality of award symbols with a plurality of selections and displaying said selections;

(b) enabling a player to choose a number of the selections at least equal to the number of said award symbols lithe player wagered a wager limit in a base game;

(c) enabling the player to choose a number of the selections from said plurality of selections less than the number of award symbols if the player wagered less than the wager limit in the base game;

(d) providing the player an award symbol if the chosen selection is associated with one of said award symbols and accumulating said award symbol;

(e) providing the player a value if the chosen selection has an associated value symbol; and

(f) providing the player a jackpot award based upon the accumulated award symbols matching a winning combination of award symbols.

11. The method of claim 10, which is operated through a data network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data network is an internet.

13. A method of operating a bonus round of a gaming device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) associating a plurality of value symbols and a plurality of award symbols with a plurality of selections and displaying said selections;

(b) enabling a player to choose a number of the selections at least equal to the number of said award symbols if the player wagered a wager limit in a base game;

(c) enabling the player to choose a number of the selections from said plurality of selections less than the number of award symbols if the player wagered less than the wager limit in the base game;

(d) enabling the player to confirm the chosen selections;

(e) providing the player an award symbol if the chosen selection is associated with one of said award symbols and accumulating said award symbol;

(f) providing the player a value if the chosen selection has an associated value symbol; and

(g) providing the player a jackpot award upon the accumulation of the award symbols matching a winning combination of award symbols.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said gaming device enables the player to confirm the chosen selections after the player chooses all of the players selections.

15. The method of claim 13, which is operated through a data network.

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