Gaming device and method

• US 6,875,106 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Incorporated (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Weiss, Lawrence, Tempest, Kim, Weiss, Steven A., Stone, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim
• Application Number:
  US09/967,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/13, 463 16- 22, 463/25, 463 30- 31, 463/37, 273/269, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/143.R
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3265 Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a gaming device in which a player is awarded outright for a winning combination and is eligible for a reward if the displayed outcome can be manipulated by the gaming device to produce a winning combination. A special bar symbol can be coupled with a certain bar subset of the universe of symbols to initiate a further award, perhaps coupled with a multiplier. Preferably, a bonus is provided which includes overlapping exhibitors such as wheels having a sector defining the overlap indicating a bonus element which is placed on an array. A series of elements on the array, when forming a pattern which is recognized by the game results in added credits.

Claims

1. A gaming device, comprising in combination:

a primary game,

a secondary game enabled by an outcome occurring on said primary game,

said secondary game including a plurality of overlapping exhibitors,

means to change said exhibitors such that an area of overlap on said exhibitors defines a bonus element, and

an array which registers each bonus element as each bonus element appears, said array providing a bonus according to a rule set.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said overlapping exhibitors comprise plural discs, having a common area of overlap with one another, each said disc has a facet of said bonus element, such that said facets collectively define said bonus element.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said array records said bonus elements as a function of each said facet.

4. A gaming device, comprising, in combination:

a plurality of independent exhibitors having an area of coincidence;

means to repeatedly engage each of said plurality of exhibitors to produce an output in said area of coincidence;

a playfield having positions that correspond to said outputs, wherein said outputs are designated on said playfield; and

means to compare said outputs, only as said outputs are designated on said playfield, to a rule set.

5. A method for gaming, the steps including:

providing a primary game; and

providing a secondary game, said secondary game independent of said primary game, and said secondary game enabled by an outcome from said primary game and including the steps of;

providing a plurality of independent, changeable exhibitors, said plurality of changeable exhibitors having an area of coincidence, wherein values in said area of coincidence define indicia,

transferring said indicia to a playfield, said playfield having positions that correspond to said indicia,

rewarding a player only for said transferred indicia on said playfield according to a rule set.

6. A method of gaming, the steps including:

generating single indicia from a plurality of independent changeable exhibitors having an area of coincidence, wherein said indicia represents a combination of values present on said plurality of independent changeable exhibitors in said area of coincidence;

transferring said indicia to a playfield;

repeating the generating step a plurality of times; and

comparing said playfield according to a rule set.

7. A gaming device, comprising, in combination:

a playfield, said playfield configured as an array having a plurality of axes;

a plurality of independent changeable exhibitors having an area of coincidence, each said exhibitor representing values present on a different axis, wherein a one-to-one correspondence exists between said axes and said changeable exhibitors;

transfer means to transfer values in said area of coincidence to corresponding positions on said playfield;

award means to award a player based on a rule set.