Gaming device with multiple levels which determine the number of indicators of a symbol generator

• US 7,500,914 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Brill, Zeke, Elias, Hans, Rodgers, Paulina
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCulloch; William
• Application Number:
  US10/951,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/19, 463/20, 463/25, 463/42, 273/138.1
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A gaming device including at least one award generator which is operable to indicate and provide a player one or more awards associated with the award generator. In one embodiment, based on one or more selections picked by a player, the gaming device is operable to indicate one or more activator symbols from one or more sets of activator symbols. Each activator symbol set includes at least one and preferably a plurality of activator symbols. The award generator is activated and based on the indicated activator symbol, the activated award generator generates one or more awards which are provided to the player.

Claims

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

a game controlled by the processor;

a plurality of awards in said game;

an award generator in said game, said award generator operable to generate said plurality of awards;

a plurality of award indicators in said game, said plurality of award indicators associated with said award generator;

a plurality of activator symbol sets, each symbol set including a plurality of activator symbols and at least two of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set are different, wherein each activator symbol is associated with at least one of said award indicators and at least one activator symbol in at least one of the symbol sets is associated with at least two award indicators; and

a plurality of selections sets in said game, each selection set associated with one of said plurality of activator symbol sets and each selection set including a plurality of selections, wherein for at least one selection set, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator; and

a display device adapted to display at least part of said game;

wherein said processor is operable with said display device to control a play of said game by;

(a) displaying one of the selection sets;

(b) determining the activator symbol set associated with said displayed selection set;

(c) causing one of the selections in said displayed selection set to be picked;

(d) revealing if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators or one of said initiators;

(e) if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators;

(i) displaying another one of said selection sets,

(ii) determining said activator symbol set associated with said other displayed selection set, and

(iii) repeating (b) to (d) at least once; and

(f) if the picked selection is associated with one of said initiators;

(i) displaying said determined activator symbol set,

(ii) indicating one of said activator symbols in said displayed activator symbol set,

(iii) activating any of said award indicators associated with said indicated activator symbol,

(iv) causing said award generator to generate at least one of said awards, and

(v) providing a player any generated award indicated by each activated award indicator.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said activator symbols in each of a plurality of said symbol sets is associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said activator symbols in at least one of the symbol sets are each associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said activator symbols in at least one of the symbol sets is associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said activator symbols is associated with each of said award indicators.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each selection set is associated with a different activator symbol set.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of selection sets are each associated with the same activator symbol set.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein for a plurality of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein for each of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with initiators.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with advance indicators.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to control the play of the game by displaying the determined activator symbol set associated with the displayed selection set.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the award generator includes a wheel.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an activator symbol indicating device operable with said processor to indicate one of said activator symbols in one of said activator symbol sets.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein if (b) and (d) are repeated a designated number of times, the processor is operable to control the play of the game by providing the player an award and terminating said game.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein each of the awards is associated with a characteristic and the processor is operable to control the play of the game by causing said award generator to generate at least one of said awards and by providing the player the generated award and any non-generated award associated with the same characteristic as the generated award.

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

a game controlled by the processor;

a plurality of awards in said game;

an award generator in said game, said award generator operable to generate said plurality of awards;

a plurality of award indicators in said game, said plurality of award indicators associated with said award generator;

a plurality of activator symbol sets, each symbol set including a plurality of activator symbols and at least two of activator symbols in at least one symbol are different, wherein each activator symbol is associated with at least one activation of said award generator and at least one activator symbol in at least one of the symbol sets is associated with a plurality of activations of said award generator;

a plurality of selections sets in said game, each selection set associated with one of said plurality of activator symbol sets and each selection set including a plurality of selections, wherein for at least one of the selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator; and

a display device adapted to display at least part of said game;

wherein said processor is operable to control a play of said game by;

(a) displaying one of the selection sets;

(b) determining said activator symbol set associated with said displayed selection set;

(c) causing one of the selections in said displayed selection set to be picked;

(d) revealing if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators or one of said initiators;

(e) if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators;

(i) displaying another one of said selection sets and said activator symbol set associated with said other displayed selection set, and

(ii) repeating (b) to (d) at least once; and

(f) if the picked selection is associated with one of said initiators;

(i) displaying said determined activator symbol set,

(ii) indicating one of said activator symbols in said displayed activator symbol set,

(iii) determining a number of activations of said award generator, wherein said number of activations is based on said indicated activator symbol,

(iv) causing said award generator to generate at least one of said awards,

(v) providing a player each award generated by said award generator, and

(vi) repeating (iii) to (v) until no activations of said award generator remain.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein at least one of said activator symbols in a plurality of symbol sets is associated with a plurality of activations of said award generator.

19. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein a plurality of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set are each associated with a plurality of activations of said award generator.

20. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein each of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set is associated with a plurality of activations of said award generator.

21. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein each selection set is associated with a different activator symbol set.

22. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein a plurality of selection sets are each associated with the same activator symbol set.

23. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein for a plurality of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

24. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein for each of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

25. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with initiators.

26. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with advance indicators.

27. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said processor is operable to control the play of the game by displaying the determined activator symbol set associated with the displayed selection set.

28. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the award generator includes a wheel.

29. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes an activator symbol indicating device operable with said processor to indicate one of said activator symbols in one of said activator symbol sets.

30. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein if (b) and (d) are repeated a designated number of times, the processor is operable to control the play of the game by providing the player an award and terminating said game.

31. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein each of the awards is associated with a characteristic and the processor is operable to control the play of the game by causing said award generator to generate at least one of said awards and by providing the player the generated award and any non-generated award associated with the same characteristic as the generated award.

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

(a) displaying one of a plurality of selection sets, each selection set including a plurality of selections, wherein for at least one selection set, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator and each selection set is associated with one of a plurality of activator symbol sets,

(b) determining said activator symbol set associated with said displayed selection set, each symbol set including a plurality of activator symbols and at least two of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set are different, wherein each activator symbol is associated with at least one of a plurality of award indicators and at least one activator symbol in at least one of the symbol sets is associated with at least two award indicators;

(c) causing one of the selections in said displayed selection set to be picked;

(d) revealing if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators or one of said initiators;

(e) if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators;

(i) displaying another one of said selection sets,

(ii) determining said activator symbol set associated with said other displayed selection set, and

(iii) repeating (b) to (d) at least once; and

(f) if the picked selection is associated with one of said initiators;

(i) displaying said determined activator symbol set,

(ii) indicating one of said activator symbols in said displayed activator symbol set,

(iii) activating any of said award indicators associated with said indicated activator symbol,

(iv) generating at least award, and

(v) providing a player any generated award indicated by each activated award indicator.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of said activator symbols in a plurality of said symbol sets is associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein a plurality of said activator symbols in at least one of the symbol sets are each associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein each of said activator symbols in at least one of the symbol sets is associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of said activator symbols is associated with each of said award indicators.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein each selection set is associated with a different activator symbol set.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein a plurality of selection sets are each associated with the same activator symbol set.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein for a plurality of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein for each of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with initiators.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with advance indicators.

43. The method of claim 32, which includes displaying the determined activator symbol set associated with the displayed selection set.

44. The method of claim 32, which includes providing the player an award and performing a terminating event if (b) and (d) are repeated a designated number of times.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein each of the awards is associated with a characteristic and which includes providing the player the generated award and any non-generated award associated with the same characteristic as the generated award.

46. The method of claim 32, which is provided to the player through a data network.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) displaying one of a plurality of selection sets, each selection set including a plurality of selections, wherein for at least one selection set, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator and each selection set is associated with one of a plurality of activator symbol sets,

(b) determining said activator symbol set associated with said displayed selection set, each symbol set including a plurality of activator symbols and at least two of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set are different, wherein each activator symbol is associated with at least award generation and at least one activator symbol in at least one of the symbol sets is associated with a plurality of award generations;

(c) causing one of the selections in said displayed selection set to be picked;

(d) revealing if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators or one of said initiators;

(e) if the picked selection is associated with one of said advance indicators;

(i) displaying another one of said selection sets,

(ii) determining said activator symbol set associated with said other displayed selection set, and

(iii) repeating (b) to (d) at least once; and

(f) if the picked selection is associated with one of said initiators;

(i) displaying said determined activator symbol set,

(ii) indicating one of said activator symbols in said displayed activator symbol set,

(iii) determining a number of award generations, wherein said number of award generations is based on said indicated activator symbol,

(iv) generating at least one award,

(v) providing a player each generated award, and

(vi) repeating (iii) to (v) until no award remains.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein at least one of said activator symbols in a plurality of symbol sets is associated with a plurality of award generations.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein a plurality of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set are each associated with a plurality of award generations.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein each of said activator symbols in at least one symbol set is associated with a plurality of award generations.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein each selection set is associated with a different activator symbol set.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein a plurality of selection sets are each associated with the same activator symbol set.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein for a plurality of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

55. The method of claim 48, wherein for each of said selection sets, at least one selection is associated with an advance indicator and at least one selection is associated with an initiator.

56. The method of claim 48, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with initiators.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein for at least one selection set, each of the selections are associated with advance indicators.

58. The method of claim 48, which includes displaying the determined activator symbol set associated with the displayed selection set.

59. The method of claim 48, which includes providing the player an award and performing a terminating event if (b) and (d) are repeated a designated number of times.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein each of the awards is associated with a characteristic and which includes providing the player the generated award and any non-generated award associated with the same characteristic as the generated award.

61. The method of claim 48, which is provided to the player through a data network.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the data network is an internet.