Gaming device having matching game with improved display

• US 7,553,230 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US10/953,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 10- 13, 463 16- 21, 463/23, 463 25- 27, 463 29- 34, 273/138.1, 273/148.R, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/141.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.J
• US Class Current: 463/18
• 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

Abstract

An improved number matching game is provided. The game includes a base matching game. A bonus game is played using randomly determined numbers from the base game that are compared to bonus numbers for a first bonus type and compared to bonus numbers for a second bonus type. An award may be provided depending on the outcome of the bonus comparisons. A display is provided to show the matches in a two dimensional or grid arrangement.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device and said at least input device for a play of a game to;

(a) display a base game operable upon a wager, said base game including a set of symbols, said set of symbols including a plurality of symbols;

(b) enable a player to select a first subset of symbols from the set of symbols, said first subset of symbols including at least one of the symbols of the set of symbols;

(c) display a second subset of symbols from the set of symbols, said second subset of symbols including at least one of the symbols of the set of symbols;

(d) determine if the player is entitled to a base award, said base award based at least in part on how many symbols from the first subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols;

(e) display a third subset of symbols from the set of symbols and a fourth subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

(f) determine if the player is entitled to a first number of free plays of the base game based on whether a first number of symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the third subset of symbols;

(g) determine if the player is entitled to a second different number of free plays of the base name based on whether a second different number of symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the third subset of symbols;

(h) determine how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols;

(i) if the player is entitled to the first number or second number of free plays of the base game, display the free games and determine and display an award value for each free play of the base game based at least in part on a benefit based on the determination of how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols; and

(j) if the player is entitled to the award value for each free play of the base game, display the award value.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the benefit is a multiplier that multiplies an amount of credits associated with each free play of the base game, the multiplier determined based on how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the base award includes a paytable payout based on how many symbols from the first subset match symbols from the second subset multiplied by a number of credits wagered.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the third subset of symbols has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

being static;

being static for a period of time;

being randomly generated prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

being player selected prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

being displayed to the player prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

having at least partially the same symbols as the first subset of symbols;

having at least partially the same symbols as the fourth subset of symbols; and

any combination thereof.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the fourth subset of symbols has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

being static;

being static for a period of time;

being randomly generated prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

being player selected prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

being displayed to the player prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

having at least partially the same symbols as the first subset of symbols;

having at least partially the same symbols as the third subset of symbols; and

any combination thereof.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbols include numbers.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said at least one display device and said at least one input device are supported by a housing.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein said at least one processor is remote from said housing.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one display device displays a visual movement indicating at least one of:

(i) how many symbols from the third subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols; and

(ii) how many symbols from the fourth subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the visual movement is displayed on a first display device separate from a second display device that displays the generation of the second subset of symbols.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the visual movement is displayed on a same display that displays the generation of the second subset of symbols.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the visual movement is displayed after and in lieu of a display of the generation of the second subset of symbols.

13. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the visual movement is displayed substantially simultaneously with a display of the generation of the second subset of symbols.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one display device displays a visual movement in a first direction indicating how many symbols from the third subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols and in a second direction indicating how many symbols from the fourth subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the first and second directions are substantially perpendicular to each other.

16. A method of operating a gaming device including at least one input device, at least one display device and at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device and said at least input device for a play of a game, said method comprising:

enabling a player to select a subset of symbols from a set of symbols using the at least one input device;

causing the at least one processor to;

designate a first bonus subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

designate a second bonus subset of symbols from the set of symbols; and

randomly generate a subset of symbols from the set of symbols; and

causing the at least one display device to display a base award, said base award based at least in part on how many of the player selected and randomly generated symbols match, and

after causing the at least one display device to display the base award;

displaying a first type of bonus award based on how many of the symbols from the first bonus subset of symbols and randomly generated symbols match in the at least one display device, wherein the first type of bonus award is a number of free plays of the game; and

displaying a second type of bonus award based on how many of the symbols from the second bonus subset of symbols and randomly generated symbols match in the at least one display device, wherein the second type of bonus award is a multiplier which is applied to any award resulting from each free play of the game.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the at least one processor to designate the first and second bonus subsets of the symbols includes an action selected from the group consisting of:

(i) causing the at least one processor to designate the subsets for all time;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to designate the subsets for a number of game plays;

(iii) enabling the player to pick the subsets using the at least one input device;

(iv) causing the at least one processor to generate the subsets randomly;

(v) causing the at least one processor to enable at least some of the symbols in the first and second subsets to be shared;

(vi) causing the at least processor to use at least some of the symbols from the player selected symbols as symbols in one of the first and second bonus subsets of symbols; and

(vii) any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one display device to display visual content selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the selections of the player subset;

(ii) the designation of the first and second bonus subsets;

(iii) the randomly generated subset;

(iv) an indication of how many of the player selected symbols match the randomly generated symbols;

(v) an indication of how many of the first bonus subset symbols match the randomly generated symbols;

(vi) the award provided;

(vii) the first type of bonus award provided;

(viii) the second type of bonus award provided; and

(ix) any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 16, which operates through a data network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is an internet.

21. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device for a play of a game to;

(a) display a set of symbols;

(b) enable a player to select a first subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

(c) randomly generate and display a second subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

(d) determine if the player is entitled to a base award, said base award at least in part based on how many symbols from the first subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols;

(e) display any determined base award; and

(f) after displaying any determined base award;

(i) display a third subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

(ii) display a fourth subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

(iii) display a first type of bonus award based on how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the third subset of symbols, wherein the first type of bonus award is a number of free plays of the game; and

(iv) display a second type of bonus award based on how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols, wherein the second type of bonus award is a benefit that occurs in connection with at least one of the free plays of the game.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the benefit is a multiplier.

23. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the third subset of symbols has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

being static;

being static for a period of time;

being randomly generated prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

being player selected prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols; and

being displayed to the player prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols.

24. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the fourth subset of symbols has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

being static;

being static for a period of time;

being randomly generated prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols;

being player selected prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols; and

being displayed to the player prior to the random generation of the second subset of symbols.

25. A method of operating a gaming device including at least one input device, at least one display device and at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device for a play of a base game, the method comprising:

causing the at least one display device to display a set of symbols;

enabling a player to select a first subset of symbols from the set of symbols using the at least one input device;

causing the at least one processor to randomly generate and cause the at least one display device to display a second subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

causing the at least one processor to determine if the player is entitled to a base award, said base award at least in part based on how many symbols from the first subset of symbols match symbols from the second subset of symbols; and

causing the at least one display device to display any determined base award, and

after displaying any determined base award;

displaying a third subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

displaying a fourth subset of symbols from the set of symbols;

displaying a first type of bonus award based on how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the third subset of symbols, wherein the first type of bonus award is a number of free plays of the base game; and

displaying a second type of bonus award based on how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols, wherein the second type of bonus award is a benefit that occurs in connection with at least one of the free plays of the base game.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the benefit is a multiplier.

27. The method of claim 25, which is operated 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 including at least one input device, at least one display device and at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device for a play of a game, the method including:

causing the at least one display device to display a base game operable upon a wager, said base game including a set of symbols, said set of symbols including a plurality of symbols;

enabling a player to select a first subset of symbols from the set of symbols using said at least one input device, said first subset including at least one of the symbols of the set of symbols;

causing the at least one display device to displaying a second subset of symbols from the set of symbols, said second subset including at least one of the symbols of the set of symbols;

causing the at least one processor to determine if the player is entitled to a base award, said base award based at least in part on how many symbols from the first subset match symbols from the second subset;

causing the at least one display device to display a third subset of symbols from the set of symbols and a fourth subset of symbols from the set of symbols; and

causing the at least one processor to;

determine if the player is entitled to a first number of free plays of the base game based on whether a first number of symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the third subset of symbols;

determine if the player is entitled to a second different number of free plays of the base name based on whether a second different number of symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the third subset of symbols;

determine how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols;

if the player is provided the first number or second number of free plays of the base game, determine an award value for each free play of the base game based at least in part on a benefit based on the determination of how many symbols from the second subset of symbols match symbols from the fourth subset of symbols; and

if the player is entitled to the award value for each free play of the base game, display the award value on the at least one display device.

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

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is an internet.