Alternative bonus games associated with slot machine

• US 6,960,134 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Litman, Mark A., Hartl, Josef Alexander, Halvorson, Michael C., Dunn, R. Brooke
• Primary Examiner(s): Brocketti, Julie
• Application Number:
  US10/244,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 273/273.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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A method of playing a game on a gaming machine is performed by placing a wager on an underlying wagering game and playing the underlying wagering game according to the rules of the underlying game. When a predetermined event occurs in the underlying game, the player enters at least one bonus game. The bonus game may have at least one event where a) an animated event proceeds to a conclusion and an original bonus that increments or decrements with the proceeding of that animated event, and b) using a sequential set of displays to determine a number of spins to be used in a bonus round and to determine a multiplication factor to be used in spins to be used in the bonus round.

Claims

1. A method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to place a wager on a primary game having a plurality of reels, thereby causing a first number of the reels in the primary game to spin;

(b) enabling the player to reach an award amount in the primary game according to a plurality of rules of the primary game;

(c) when a predetermined event occurs in the primary game;

(i) spinning a first one of the reels and a second one of the reels on at least one occasion, the first reel displaying a first symbol indicating a number of spins to be used in a bonus round, the second reel displaying a second symbol indicating at least one multiplication factor;

(ii) initiating the bonus round, thereby causing a plurality of the reels to spin as many times as is specified by the number of spins indicated by the first symbol, each of said spins resulting in a display of a plurality of symbols;

(iii) determining, for each of said spins, whether an award amount is associated with the display of symbols resulting from said spin in the bonus round; and

(iv) applying the indicated multiplication factor to at least one of said determined award amounts, if any; and

(d) providing the player with an award including the award amount of the primary game and an amount resulting from the indicated multiplication factor applied to at least one of the determined award amounts of the bonus round.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes positioning a plurality of the reels between the first reel and the second reel.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes using a selected payline to indicate:

(a) a winning event in the primary game; and

(b) the first symbol.

4. The method of claim 3, which includes using the selected payline to indicate:

(a) a winning event in the primary game;

(b) the first symbol; and

(c) the second symbol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the award includes applying the indicated multiplication factor to each of the bonus award amounts determined during the bonus round.

6. A gaming device comprising:

a game having a plurality of reels including a group of reels and at least one designated reel;

a first set of symbols displayed on the group of reels and the designated reel during the game;

an award amount associated with a designated one or more of the first set of symbols displayed in the game;

a second set of symbols displayed on the designated reel after a bonus triggering event occurs;

a plurality of multiplication factors associated with the second set of symbols;

a bonus round including a plurality of the reels, said reels displaying a plurality of symbols;

at least one bonus award amount associated with a designated one or more of the symbols displayed in the bonus round;

a display device displaying the reels; and

a processor, in control of the display device, the processor operable to;

(a) cause the group of reels and the designated reel to spin on one or more occasions during the game so as to display a plurality of the first set of symbols;

(b) determine whether any award amount is associated with said displayed symbols during the game;

(c) cause the designated reel to spin at least once after the bonus triggering event occurs so as to indicate at least one of the multiplication factors;

(d) cause the reels of the bonus round to spin resulting in a display of a plurality of the symbols of the bonus round;

(a) determine whether any bonus award amount is associated with said displayed symbols during the bonus round;

(f) apply the indicated multiplication factor to the determined bonus award amount, if any; and

(g) provide an award to the player, the award including the award amount of the game and an amount resulting from the indicated multiplication factor applied to the bonus award amount of the bonus round.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, which includes another designated reel, said another designated reel displaying at least one symbol of a third set of symbols after the bonus triggering event occurs, the third set of symbols associated with a plurality of numbers, each of the numbers representing a quantity of spins for the reels of the bonus round.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the reels of the bonus round are positioned between the designated reels.

9. A method for operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to place a wager;

(b) initiating a game having a plurality of reels including a group of reels and at least one designated reel;

(c) causing the group of reels and the designated reel to spin on one or more occasions during the game so as to display a plurality of a first set of symbols;

(d) determining whether an award amount is associated with said displayed symbols during the game;

(e) determining a bonus triggering event;

(f) causing the designated reel to spin at least once after the bonus triggering event occurs so as to display at least one of a second set of symbols associated with a plurality of multiplication factors;

(g) indicating the multiplication factor associated with said displayed symbol;

(h) initiating a bonus round including a plurality of the reels;

(i) causing the reels of the bonus round to spin resulting in a display of a plurality of symbols during the bonus round;

(j) determining whether a bonus award amount is associated with said displayed symbols during the bonus round;

(k) applying the indicated multiplication factor to the determined bonus award amount, if any; and

(I) providing an award to the player, the award including the award amount of the game and an amount resulting from the indicated multiplication factor applied to the bonus award amount of the bonus round.

10. The method of claim 9, which includes displaying another designated reel in the game and causing said another designated reel to spin at least once after the bonus triggering event occurs so as to display at least one of a third set of symbols associated with a plurality of numbers, each of the numbers representing a quantity of spins for the bonus round.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes positioning the reels of the bonus round between the designated reels.