Gaming device having an offer and acceptance game with a termination limit wherein the offer is picked by a player

• US 7,470,184 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Webb, Bayard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deodhar; Omkar A.
• Application Number:
  US11/256,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 17/3262 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 gaming device having a plurality of player selectable selections, steps towards termination associated with each selection, a termination limit and an offer associated with each number of steps. The steps are associated with or determine the offers provided to the player. The game provides no further offers when the maximum number of offers have been awarded, the player accepts an offer, or the player'"'"'s accumulated steps meet or exceed the termination limit. The game preferably provides a consolation award to the player when the player'"'"'s steps meet or exceed the termination limit.

Claims

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

a display device in communication with the processor;

an input device in communication with the processor;

a game displayable by the display device;

a plurality of steps in the game;

a plurality of awards in the game, wherein said plurality of awards are each associated with a different accumulated number of said steps; and

a plurality of selections in the game, wherein each of said plurality of selections is associated with a number of the plurality of steps, wherein at least two of said selections are each associated with a different number of the plurality of steps;

wherein the processor is configured with the display device and the input device to control a play of the game by;

(a) displaying the plurality of selections;

(b) receiving at least an input of at least two selected selections by a player playing the game;

(c) accumulating the number of steps associated with the selected selections; and

(d) providing to the player the award based on the accumulated number of steps.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is a progressive award.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one additional selection not associated with a number of the plurality of steps.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a first number of accumulated steps is associated with a first one of the awards and a second number of accumulated steps is associated with a second one of the awards, wherein the first number of accumulated steps is greater than the second number of accumulated steps and the first one of the awards is greater than the second one of the awards.

5. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device in communication with the processor;

an input device in communication with the processor;

a game displayable by the display device;

a plurality of steps in the game;

a plurality of different ranges of said steps in the game, wherein a plurality of the ranges each include a number of said steps;

a plurality of awards in the game, wherein each of said awards is associated with a different one of the ranges of said steps; and

a plurality of selections in the game, wherein each of said plurality of selections is associated with a number of said steps, and at least two of said selections are associated with different numbers of said steps;

wherein the processor is configured with the display device and the input device to control a play of the game by;

(a) displaying the plurality of selections;

(b) receiving at least an input of at least two selected selections by a player playing the game;

(c) accumulating the number of steps associated with the selected selections; and

(d) providing to the player the award based on the range of steps which includes the accumulated number of steps.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is a progressive award.

7. The gaming device of claim 5, which includes at least one additional selection not associated with a number of the plurality of steps.

8. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein a first range of said steps is associated with a first one of the awards and a second range of said steps is associated with a second one of the awards, the first range of said steps includes a greater number of steps than the second range of said steps and the first one of the awards is greater than the second one of the awards.

9. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein a plurality of said ranges of steps are each associated with a different number of steps.

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

a game;

a plurality of steps in the game, wherein;

(i) a first number of said steps and a greater second number of said steps are associated with a first range of steps,

(ii) the second number of said steps and a third number of said steps are associated with a second range of steps, wherein the third number of said steps is greater than the first number of said steps, greater than the second number of said steps and each number of steps in the second range of steps is greater than each number of steps in the first range of steps, and

(iii) the third number of said steps and a fourth number of said steps are associated with a third range of steps, wherein the fourth number of said steps is greater than the first number of said steps, greater than the second number of said steps, greater than the third number of said steps and each number of steps in the third range of steps is greater than each number of steps in the second range of steps and greater than each number of steps in the first range of steps;

a plurality of values in the game, a first of the values is associated with the first range of steps, a second of the values is associated with the second range of steps and a third of the values is associated with the third range of steps, wherein the second value is greater than the first value and the third value is greater than the second value and the first value;

a plurality of selections in the game, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with at least one of said steps and at least one of said selections is associated with a plurality of said steps;

a display device operable to display said game; and

a triggering event associated with said game;

wherein upon the occurrence of said triggering event and in at least one play of the game, the processor is operable with the display device to;

(a) display the plurality of values associated with the plurality of ranges of steps;

(b) cause at least one of said selections to be picked;

(c) accumulate the number of steps associated with each of the picked selection;

(d) determine which range of steps is associated with the number of accumulated steps; and

(e) provide to a player the value based on the determined range of steps.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the fourth number of said steps and a fifth number of said steps are associated with a fourth range of steps, wherein the fifth number of said steps is greater than the first number of said steps, greater than the second number of said steps, greater than the third number of said steps, greater than the fourth number of said steps and each number of steps in the fourth range of steps is greater than each number of steps in the third range of steps, greater than each number of steps in the second range of steps, greater than each number of steps in the first range of steps.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, which includes a fourth of the values associated with the fourth range of steps, wherein the fourth value is greater than the third value, the second value and the first value.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the processor is operable to enable the player to pick said selections.

14. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of values is a progressive value.

15. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes at least one additional selection not associated with at least one of said steps.

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

(a) displaying a plurality of selections, wherein each of said plurality of selections is associated with a number of a plurality of steps, wherein at least two of said selections are each associated with a different number of the plurality of steps;

(b) receiving at least an input of at least two selected selections by a player playing a game;

(c) accumulating the number of steps associated with the selected selections; and

(d) providing to the player an award based on the accumulated number of steps, wherein a plurality of awards are each associated with a different accumulated number of said steps.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is a progressive award.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes at least one additional selection not associated with a number of the plurality of steps.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein a first number of accumulated steps is associated with a first one of the awards and a second number of accumulated steps is associated with a second one of the awards, wherein the first number of accumulated steps is greater than the second number of accumulated steps and the first one of the awards is greater than the second one of the awards.

20. The method of claim 16, which is provided through a data network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) displaying a plurality of selections, wherein each of said plurality of selections is associated with a number of a plurality steps, at least two of said selections are associated with different numbers of said steps and said plurality of steps form a plurality of ranges of said steps wherein a plurality of the ranges each include a number of the steps;

(b) receiving an input of at least two selected selections by a player playing a game;

(c) accumulating the number of said steps associated with the selected selections; and

(d) providing to the player an award based on the range of said steps which includes the accumulated number of steps, wherein each of a plurality of awards is associated with a different one of the ranges of said steps.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of awards is a progressive award.

24. The method of claim 22, which includes at least one additional selection not associated with a number of the plurality of steps.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein a first range of said steps is associated with a first one of the awards and a second range of said steps is associated with a second one of the awards, wherein the first range of said steps includes a greater number of steps than the second range of said steps and the first one of the awards is greater than the second one of the awards.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein a plurality of said ranges of steps are each associated with a different number of steps.

27. The method of claim 22, which is provided through a data network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) displaying a game including a plurality of values associated with a plurality of ranges of a plurality of steps, wherein;

(i) a first number of said steps and a greater second number of said steps are associated with a first range of steps,

(ii) the second number of said steps and a third number of said steps are associated with a second range of steps, wherein the third number of said steps is greater than the first number of said steps, greater than the second number of said steps and each number of steps in the second range of steps is greater than each number of steps in the first range of steps,

(iii) the third number of said steps and a fourth number of said steps are associated with a third range of steps, wherein the fourth number of said steps is greater than the first number of said steps, greater than the second number of said steps, greater than the third number of said steps and each number of steps in the third range of steps is greater than each number of steps in the second range of steps and greater than each number of steps in the first range of steps, and

(iv) a first of the values is associated with the first range of steps, a second of the values is associated with the second range of steps and a third of the values is associated with the third range of steps, wherein the second value is greater than the first value and the third value is greater than the second value and the first value;

(b) in at least one play of the game, causing at least one of a plurality of selections to be picked, wherein a plurality of said selections are each associated with at least one of said steps and at least one of said selections is associated with a plurality of said steps;

(c) accumulating the number of steps associated with each of the picked selection;

(d) determining which range of steps is associated with the number of accumulated steps; and

(e) providing to a player the value based on the determined range of steps.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the fourth number of said steps and a fifth number of said steps are associated with a fourth range of steps, wherein the fifth number of said steps is greater than the first number of said steps, greater than the second number of said steps, greater than the third number of said steps, greater than the fourth number of said steps and each number of steps in the fourth range of steps is greater than each number of steps in the third range of steps, greater than each number of steps in the second range of steps, greater than each number of steps in the first range of steps.

31. The method of claim 30, which includes a fourth of the values associated with the fourth range of steps, wherein the fourth value is greater than the third value, the second value and the first value.

32. The method of claim 29, which includes enabling the player to pick said selections.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the plurality of values is a progressive value.

34. The method of claim 29, which includes at least one additional selection not associated with at least one of said steps.

35. The method of claim 29, which is provided through a data network.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data network is an internet.