Computer system communicable with one or more gaming devices having a matching game with multiple rounds

• US 7,341,512 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Dolloff, Jan K., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Hostetler, John D., Mead, Randall D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US11/381,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/15, 463/29, 273/138.1, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

A computer system operable to communicate with one or more gaming devices. The computer system has a processor and a data storage device. The data storage device stores instructions associated with a multi-round game. The instructions are executable to cause the gaming device to display a base, selections and characteristics associated therewith. The instructions are executable to enable one or more selections to be picked in multiple rounds to match characteristics of the base.

Claims

1. A computer system operable to communicate with at least one gaming device, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor operatively coupled to a network, the network being operatively accessible to the gaming device; and

at least one data storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage device storing a plurality of instructions associated with at least one game which is playable by a player using the gaming device, the instructions being executable to;

(a) cause the gaming device to display of a plurality of rounds;

(b) cause the gaming device to display a base in each round including at least two characteristics;

(c) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of selections, each of the selections having at least two characteristics;

(d) enable a player in an initial round to pick selections in the round until none of the characteristics of the unpicked selections match one of the characteristics of the base;

(e) cause a determination of an award based on the number of picked selections which include at least one characteristic that matches one of the characteristics of the base;

(f) cause a subsequent round to initiate in the game when none of the characteristics of the unpicked selections match at least one of the characteristics of the base; and

(g) cause a total award to be provided to the player associated with the determined award in each of the rounds after a designated event occurs.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processor and the data storage device are portions of a server.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the network includes a network selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network and an Internet.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the gaming device has at least one processor and at least one data storage device storing at least one instruction, said instruction being executable by the processor of the gaming device to:

(a) store the plurality of instructions; and

(b) execute the plurality of instructions to control the game.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one additional instruction which enables the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to control the game over the network.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the designated event includes an absence of rounds remaining in the game.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to:

(a) determine an additional award which is associated with how many rounds were completed in the game; and

(b) include the determined additional award as part of the total award.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause each of the picked selections to replace the base for subsequent selections when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause a randomly generated selection to replace each of the picked selections when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause each of the picked selections to be removed when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the game includes a plurality of modifiers associated with the rounds, the data storage device storing at least one instruction executable to modify at least one of the determined awards with at least one of the modifiers, the modified award being included as part of the total award.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein each one of the rounds is associated with a different one of the modifiers.

13. A computer system operable to communicate with at least one gaming device, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor operatively coupled to a network, the network being operatively accessible to the gaming device; and

at least one data storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage device storing a plurality of instructions associated with a game which is playable by a player using the gaming device, the instructions being executable to;

(a) cause the gaming device to display of a plurality of rounds;

(b) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of selections in each one of the rounds, each of the selections having at least two characteristics wherein one of the selections is picked to initially function as a base;

(c) enable a player to pick one of the selections in an initial one of the rounds;

(d) enable the player to continue to pick the selections in the initial round when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base or a previously picked selection which replaces the base;

(e) replace the base in the initial round with each one of the picked selections in the initial round;

(f) cause a determination of an award based on the number of picked selections which include at least one characteristic that matches one of the characteristics of the base;

(g) cause a subsequent round to initiate in the game when none of the characteristics of the unpicked selections in the initial round match at least one of the characteristics of the base in the initial round; and

(h) cause a total award to be provided to the player associated with the determined award in each of the rounds after a designated event occurs.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the processor and the data storage device are portions of a server.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the network includes a network selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network and an Internet.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the gaming device has at least one processor and at least one data storage device storing at least one instruction, said instruction being executable by the processor of the gaming device to:

(a) store the plurality of instructions; and

(b) execute the plurality of instructions to control the game.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data storage device stores at least one additional instruction which enables the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to control the game over the network.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the designated event includes an absence of rounds remaining in the game.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to:

(a) determine an additional award which is associated with how many rounds were completed in the game; and

(b) include the determined additional award as part of the total award.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause each of the picked selections to replace the base for subsequent selections when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

21. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause a randomly generated selection to replace each of the picked selections when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

22. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause each of the picked selections to be removed when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

23. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the game includes a plurality of modifiers associated with the rounds, the data storage device storing at least one instruction executable to modify at least one of the determined awards with at least one of the modifiers, the modified award being included as part of the total award.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein each one of the rounds is associated with a different one of the modifiers.

25. A data storage device comprising:

a storage medium; and

a plurality of instructions stored on the storage medium and associated with at least one game which is playable by a player using a gaming device, the instructions being executable to;

(a) cause the gaming device to display of a plurality of rounds;

(b) cause the gaming device to display a base in each round including at least two characteristics;

(c) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of selections, each of the selections having at least two characteristics;

(d) enable a player in an initial round to pick selections in the round until none of the characteristics of the unpicked selections match one of the characteristics of the base;

(e) cause a determination of an award based on the number of picked selections which include at least one characteristic that matches one of the characteristics of the base;

(f) cause a subsequent round to initiate in the game when none of the characteristics of the unpicked selections match at least one of the characteristics of the base; and

(g) cause a total award to be provided to the player associated with the determined award in each of the rounds after a designated event occurs.

26. The data storage device of claim 25, wherein the designated event includes an absence of rounds remaining in the game.

27. The data storage device of claim 25, which stores at least one instruction executable to:

(a) determine an additional award which is associated with how many rounds were completed in the game; and

(b) include the determined additional award as part of the total award.

28. The data storage device of claim 25, which stores at least one instruction executable to cause each of the picked selections to replace the base for subsequent selections when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

29. The data storage device of claim 25, which stores at least one instruction executable to cause a randomly generated selection to replace each of the picked selections when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

30. The data storage device of claim 25, which stores at least one instruction executable to cause each of the picked selections to be removed when at least one of the characteristics of each of the picked selections matches one of the characteristics of the base.

31. The data storage device of claim 25, wherein the game includes a plurality of modifiers associated with the rounds, the data storage device storing at least one instruction executable to modify at least one of the determined awards with at least one of the modifiers, the modified award being included as part of the total award.

32. The data storage device of claim 31, wherein each one of the rounds is associated with a different one of the modifiers.