High low series gambling game

• US 7,338,371 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cheng, Theodore, Nicely, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US10/886,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/13, 463/17, 463/19, 463/22, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 game method includes a player placing a wager. A sub-game includes the selection of N challenge indicia from a set of ranked indicia. After each challenge indicia is displayed, a player predicts the relative ranking of the next challenge indicia. If a player qualifies based on his performance during the sub-game, the player is issued a reward and moves to another sub-game. A device for executing a game method includes a data processor communicating with a display, a wager device, a reward dispenser, and a input device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wagering game comprising:

enabling a player to provide a wager;

providing an opportunity for the player to play a series of sub-games based on the wager, each one of the sub-games being a part of the wagering game, wherein, for a play of at least a first one of the sub-games, the providing step comprises;

(a) selecting at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicium from a set of ranked indicia;

(b) singly displaying each one of the first and second selected challenge indicia;

(c) after each one of the first and second challenge indicium is displayed, enabling the player to predict a relative ranking of a subsequent challenge indicium with respect to said displayed challenge indicium; and

(d) displaying the third selected challenge indicium after the prediction is received for the third selected challenge indicium;

determining whether each one of the player'"'"'s predictions is a correct prediction or an incorrect prediction;

determining a performance based on how many of the correct predictions occur in comparison to how many of the incorrect predictions occur; and

determining whether to repeat steps (a) through (d) for a play of a second one of the sub-games, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the performance which has at least one incorrect prediction.

2. The method of claim 1 which includes associating a first reward with the first sub-game and associating a second reward with the second sub-game, the second reward being greater than the first reward.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

enabling said player to provide an optional side wager, and rewarding said player based on said side wager when one or more selected challenge indicia match one or more predetermined values irrespective of ranking or relative ranking.

4. The method of claim 2 which includes enabling the player to parlay at least a portion of the first reward into the wager for the second sub-game.

5. The method of claim 4 which includes associating a first reward with the first sub-game and issuing at least a portion of the first reward to the player for the second sub-game.

6. The method of claim 1 which includes a reward issued to said player for the first or second sub-game, the reward being based solely on the player'"'"'s wager.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

designating at least one of the sub-games as a final sub-game; and

if the player qualifies based on the results of said final sub-game, triggering a final sub-game feature.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said final sub-game feature is a final sub-game reward.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said final sub-game reward is based on a distribution of possible rewards.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said final sub-game feature is a progressive jackpot pay based at least in part on a progressive jackpot pool funded by one or more wagers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said final sub-game feature comprises:

contributing to a progressive jackpot pool; and

conducting a progressive jackpot mechanism to award said progressive jackpot pay.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said game method is conducted over a computer network for a plurality of players, said final sub-game feature being a pari-mutual pay based at least in part on a pari-mutual pool funded by the wagers of said plurality of players.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said final sub-game feature is a bonus game.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said final sub-game feature comprises:

contributing to a bonus accumulator, said bonus game initiated upon the bonus accumulator reaching a predetermined level.

15. A method for operating a wagering game comprising:

enabling a player to provide a wager;

conducting a first play of the wagering game based on the wager, the conducting step comprising;

(a) selecting at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicia from a first set of ranked indicia;

(b) singly displaying each one of the first and second selected challenge indicia;

(c) after each one of the first and second challenge indicium is displayed, enabling the player to predict whether a subsequent challenge indicium will have a ranking higher or lower than said displayed challenge indicium; and

(d) displaying the third selected challenge indicium after the prediction is received for the third selected challenge indicium;

determining whether each one of the player'"'"'s predictions is a correct prediction or an incorrect prediction;

determining a performance based on how many of the correct predictions occur in comparison to how many of the incorrect predictions occur; and

determining whether to repeat steps (a) through (d) for a second play of the wagering game, the second play being based, at least in part, on the wager, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the performance which has at least one incorrect prediction.

16. The method of claim 15 which includes terminating the wagering game depending upon the performance.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first set and said second set are the same.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the condition is met after:

(a) at least two predictions have been made; and

(b) it has been determined that a greater percentage of said predictions are correct predictions versus incorrect predictions.

19. A method for operating a wagering game comprising:

enabling a player to provide a wager;

conducting at least a first sub-game of the wagering game, the conducting step comprising;

(a) randomly selecting at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicia from a set of ranked indicia;

(b) displaying the first selected challenge indicium;

(c) after the first selected challenge indicium is displayed, enabling the player to predict whether the second selected challenge indicium will have a ranking higher or lower than the first displayed selected challenge indicium, the player'"'"'s prediction being correct or incorrect;

(d) displaying the second selected challenge indicium; and

(e) after the second selected challenge indicium is displayed, enabling the player to predict whether the third selected challenge indicium will have a ranking higher or lower than the second displayed selected challenge indicium, wherein the player is enabled to provide said prediction regardless of whether the player'"'"'s prediction of the second selected challenge indicium was correct or incorrect; and

determining whether to repeat steps (a) through (e) for a play of a second sub-game of the wagering game, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the player'"'"'s predictions.

20. The method of claim 19 which includes associating a first reward with the first sub-game and associating a second reward with the second sub-game, wherein each one of the first and second rewards is based, at least in part, on the wager.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the condition is met after:

(a) at least two predictions have been made; and

(b) it has been determined that a greater percentage of said predictions are correct predictions versus incorrect predictions.

22. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

at least one input device;

a data storage device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the display device, the at least one input device and the data storage device, the processor being programmed to;

(a) receive an input from a player, the input corresponding to a wager;

(b) conduct at least a first sub-game of a wagering game based on the wager, the conduct step comprising;

(i) producing at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicium from a first set of ranked indicia;

(ii) causing the display device to singly displaying each one of the first and second produced challenge indicia;

(iii) after each one of the first and second challenge indicium is displayed, enabling the player to predict whether a subsequent challenge indicium will have a ranking higher or lower than said displayed challenge indicium; and

(iv) causing the display device to display the third challenge indicium after the prediction is received for the third challenge indicium; and

(c) determine whether each one of the player'"'"'s predictions is a correct prediction or an incorrect prediction;

(d) determine a performance based on how many of the correct predictions occur in comparison to how many of the incorrect predictions occur; and

(e) determine whether to repeat steps (i) through (iv) for a play of a second sub-game of the wagering game, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the performance which has at least one incorrect prediction.

23. The gaming device of claim 22 which includes associating a first reward with the first sub-game and associating a second reward with the second sub-game, wherein each one of the first and second rewards is based, at least in part, on the wager.

24. The gaming device of claim 22 wherein the condition is met after:

(a) at least two predictions have been made; and

(b) it has been determined that a greater percentage of said predictions are correct predictions versus incorrect predictions.

25. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

at least one input device;

a data storage device;

a processor operatively coupled to the display device, the at least one input device and the data storage device, the processor being programmed to;

(a) receive an input from a player, the input corresponding to a wager;

(b) conduct at least a first play of a wagering game based on the wager, the conduct step comprising;

(i) producing at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicium from a first set of ranked indicia;

(ii) causing the display device to singly display each one of the first and second produced challenge indicia;

(iii) after each one of the first and second challenge indicium is displayed, enabling the player to predict whether a subsequent challenge indicium will have a ranking higher or lower than said displayed challenge indicium; and

(iv) causing the display device to display the third challenge indicium after the prediction is received for the third challenge indicum;

(c) determine whether each one of the player'"'"'s predictions is a correct prediction or an incorrect prediction;

(d) determine a performance based on how many of the correct predictions occur in comparison to how many of the incorrect predictions occur; and

(e) determine whether to repeat steps (i) through (iv) for a second play of the wagering game, the second play being based, at least in part, on the wager, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the performance which has at least one incorrect prediction.

26. A device operable upon a wager, the device comprising:

a data processor;

a display operatively coupled to said data processor;

an input device operable by a player and operatively coupled to said data processor;

a wagering game providing the player with an opportunity to play a plurality of sub-games of the wagering game;

a plurality of computer-readable instructions executable by said data processor, for a play of at least a first one of the sub-games, to;

(I) conduct a plurality of steps comprising;

(a) causing a selection of at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicium from a set of ranked indicia,

(b) causing the display to display the first selected challenge indicia,

(c) after the first selected challenge indicium is displayed, receiving an input from said player at said input device to receive a prediction of a relative ranking of the second selected challenge indicium with respect to the first selected challenge indicium,

(d) causing the display device to display the second selected challenge indicium so as to indicate whether the prediction for the second selected challenge indicium is correct or incorrect,

(e) after the second selected challenge indicum is displayed, receiving an input from said player at said input device to receive a prediction of a relative ranking of the third selected challenge indicium with respect to the second selected challenge indicium, said prediction being received regardless of whether the prediction of the second selected challenge indicium was correct or incorrect, and

(f) causing the display device to display the third selected challenge indicium so as to indicate whether the prediction for the third selected challenge indicium is correct or incorrect; and

(II) determine whether to repeat steps (a) through (f) for a play of a second one of the sub-games of the wagering game, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the player'"'"'s predictions.

27. A gaming system comprising:

enabling a player to provide a wager;

conducting one or more plays of a wagering game, a first one of the plays comprising;

(a) providing a set of ranked indicia;

(b) selecting at least a first, a second and a third challenge indicium from said set;

(c) singly displaying the second and third selected challenge indicia;

(d) after each one of the second and third challenge indicia is displayed, enabling the player to predict a relative ranking of a next subsequent challenge indicium with respect to said displayed challenge indicium, the player being enabled to provide the prediction for the third challenge indicium regardless of whether the prediction for the second challenge indicium is incorrect; and

determining whether to repeat steps (a) through (d) for a second play of the wagering game, the second play being based, at least in part, on the wager, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the player'"'"'s predictions.

28. The gaming system of claim 27 which includes associating a first reward with the first play and associating a second reward with the second play, wherein each one of the first and second rewards is based, at least in part, on the wager.

29. The gaming system of claim 27 wherein the condition is met after:

(a) at least two predictions have been made; and

(b) it has been determined that a greater percentage of said predictions are correct predictions versus incorrect predictions.