Method and apparatus for bonus round play

• US 7,275,990 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US10/414,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20040038733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for enabling a player to take a tour of a secondary game at a game machine. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes offering to enable entry of a player into a bonus round of a game machine in exchange for a fee, receiving the fee from the player, and enabling entry of the player into the bonus round. The method further includes receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round, and determining an outcome based on the at least one player selection. In other embodiments, the method includes providing a prize to the player based on the outcome.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an outcome in a bonus round of a slot machine game,

in which the outcome is associated with a first prize,

in which the outcome is associated with a second prize, and

in which a value of the second prize is greater than a value of the first prize;

determining whether a player is taking a tour of the bonus round,

wherein the tour comprises at least one lesson regarding the bonus round, the lesson being output in response to an event of the bonus round and being relevant to an aspect of the bonus round currently being output; and

if the player is taking a tour of the bonus round, providing the first prize to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the player is not taking a tour of the bonus round, providing the second prize to the player.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the value of the first prize is greater than zero.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the player a fee in exchange for the tour of the bonus round.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the player a fee in exchange for the tour of the bonus round and for at least one play of the slot machine game.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an indication of the first prize value to the player; and

transmitting an indication of the second prize value to the player.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the transmitting steps is performed after the outcome is determined, such that the player is informed of the second prize that could have been provided had the outcome not been determined while the player was taking the tutorial.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an indication to the player that the second prize value is not provided for the outcome during the tour.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the at least one lesson; and

transmitting the at least one lesson to the player during the tour of the bonus round.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one lesson comprises a message that informs the player at least one of a rule, strategy, operation or value of the bonus round.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises at least one of a game-related event, an indication provided by a player, a time-related condition or a malfunction of the slot machine.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one lesson is output as at least one of a text message, an audio message and a video message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one lesson is output along with a visual cue that draws a player'"'"'s attention to the lesson.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor operable to facilitate a primary wagering game and a bonus game;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor and storing a program, the program and the processor together operable to;

determine an outcome in a bonus round of a slot machine game,

in which the outcome is associated with a first prize,

in which the outcome is associated with a second prize, and

in which a value of the second prize is greater than a value of the first prize;

determine whether a player is taking a tour of the bonus round,

wherein the tour comprises at least one lesson regarding the bonus round, the lesson being output in response to an event of the bonus round and being relevant to an aspect of the bonus round currently being output; and

if the player is taking a tour of the bonus round, provide the first prize to the player.

16. A computer readable medium for directing a processor, the computer readable medium storing instructions which, when read by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine an outcome in a bonus round of a slot machine game,

in which the outcome is associated with a first prize,

in which the outcome is associated with a second prize, and

in which a value of the second prize is greater than a value of the first prize;

determine whether a player is taking a tour of the bonus round,

wherein the tour comprises at least one lesson regarding the bonus round, the lesson being output in response to an event of the bonus round and being relevant to an aspect of the bonus round currently being output; and

if the player is taking a tour of the bonus round, provide the first prize to the player.