Gaming device having games with variable game functions

• US 6,986,709 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hughs-Baird, Andrea C., Cuddy, Ryan William, Swift, Brian Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/960,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 9- 11, 463/13, 463 16- 20, 463/21, 463/22, 463 25- 31, 463/37, 463/43, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/269, 273/292, 273/293, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 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 includes a gaming device which includes a plurality of game functions for a single game and a probability associated with each game function. After a predetermined event occurs, the processor uses the probabilities to generate a particular game function for a player to use. Preferably, the predetermined event is a game triggering event. The processor can generate different game functions for a single game from predetermined event to predetermined event. This type of gaming device increases the interest and entertainment of gaming device players.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, the gaming device comprising:

at least one input device operable to communicate with the processor;

at least one display device controlled by the processor;

a primary game controlled by the processor, operable upon a wager and displayable by the at least one display device;

a secondary game controlled by the processor and displayable by the at least one display device;

a plurality of secondary game functions, at least two of said secondary game functions being different, wherein at least two of the different secondary game functions include;

(a) different predetermined numbers of player inputs which a player can make using the at least one input device, or

(b) different predetermined secondary game scenarios which are displayable by the at least one display device;

a plurality of probabilities, at least two of said probabilities being different, wherein each one of the secondary game functions is associated with one of the probabilities;

a plurality of outcomes, at least two of said outcomes being different, and wherein for each play of the primary game and each play of the secondary game, one of said outcomes is selected and said processor causes the at least one display device to display the selected outcome and provides the selected outcome to a player for said play of the primary game or the play of said secondary game; and

a secondary game triggering event, wherein for each occurrence of said secondary game triggering event the processor selects, independent of any of the outcomes of any play of the primary game, at least one of the secondary game functions based on the probabilities associated with the secondary game functions, and said processor operates a play of the secondary game using said selected secondary game function.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the secondary game triggering event is based on a primary game outcome.

3. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

providing a primary game operable upon a wager;

providing a secondary game;

providing a plurality of secondary game functions, at least two of said secondary game functions being different, wherein at least two of the different secondary game functions include;

(a) different predetermined numbers of player inputs which a player can make using the at least one input device, or

(b) different predetermined secondary game scenarios which are displayable by the at least one display device;

providing a plurality of probabilities, at least two of said probabilities being different, wherein each one of the secondary game functions is associated with one of the probabilities;

providing a plurality of outcomes, at least two of said outcomes being different,

for each play of the primary game and each play of the secondary game, selecting one of said outcomes, displaying the selected outcome, and providing the selected outcome to a player for said play of the primary game or the play of said secondary game; and

providing a secondary game triggering event, wherein for each occurrence of said secondary game triggering event, selecting, independent of any outcome of any play of the primary game, at least one of the secondary game functions based on the probabilities associated with the secondary game functions, and operating a play of the secondary game using said selected secondary game function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the secondary game triggering event is based on a primary game outcome.