Method and apparatus for providing an advantage to a player in a bonus game

• US 7,357,714 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Tessmer, Michael T., Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B.
• Application Number:
  US11/328,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16
• 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 17/326 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match

Abstract

A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus comprising:

one or more display units;

a wager input device; and

a processor operably coupled to at least one of the one or more display units, the wager input device, and a memory,

the processor receiving a wager via the wager input device from a player,

the processor causing one of the one or more display units to display an image representative of a primary game,

the processor determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred,

the processor causing one of the one or more display units to display an image representative of a bonus game playable between a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and

the processor offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option capable of changing the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent,

the processor determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bonus event trigger is an outcome associated with the primary game.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bonus event trigger is a quantity of advantage credits.

4. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the processor receives a selection of an advantage option; and

the processor deducts from the quantity of advantage credits based on the selection.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor causes one of the one or more display units to display the quantity of advantage credits.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor alters the quantity of advantage credits based on a primary game outcome.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor alters the quantity of advantage credits based on the bonus game outcome.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opponent is a computer-generated opponent.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming apparatus, the gaming apparatus comprising one or more display units, a wager input device, and a gaming apparatus processor operably coupled to at least one of the one or more display units, the wager input device, and a memory,

the gaming apparatus processor receiving a wager via the wager input device from a player,

the gaming apparatus processor causing one of the one or more display units to display an image representative of a primary game; and

a bonus event computer operably coupled to the gaming apparatus,

the bonus event computer determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred at the gaming apparatus,

the bonus event computer causing one of the one or more display units to display an image representative of a bonus game playable between a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and

the bonus event computer offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option capable of changing the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent,

the bonus event computer determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, comprising another gaming apparatus, the bonus event computer operably coupled to the another gaming apparatus and the opponent being another player located at the another gaming apparatus.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the gaming apparatus and the another gaming apparatus are operably coupled to the bonus event computer via LAN, WAN, Intranet or Internet.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the bonus event computer offers the another player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the another player.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the bonus event trigger is an outcome associated with the primary game.

14. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the bonus event trigger is a quantity of advantage credits.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein:

the processor receives a selection of an advantage option; and

the processor deducts from the quantity of advantage credits based on the selection.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the processor causes one of the one or more display units to display the quantity of advantage credits.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the processor alters the quantity of advantage credits based on a primary game outcome.

18. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the processor alters the quantity of advantage credits based on the bonus game outcome.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying an image representative of a primary game;

determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred;

displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs,

offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option capable of changing the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent, and

determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the bonus event trigger is an outcome associated with the primary game.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the bonus event trigger is a quantity of advantage credits.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an advantage option; and

deducting from the quantity of advantage credits based on the selection.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying the quantity of advantage credits.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising altering the quantity of advantage credits based on a primary game outcome.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising altering the quantity of advantage credits based on the bonus game outcome.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the opponent is a computer-generated opponent.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the opponent is a player opponent.