Gaming machine and method involving a selectable bonus evaluation system

• US 7,699,698 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barcrest Group Limited (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Randall, Dov Liam
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US10/861,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20040259625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/16, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A coin-operated player operable entertainment machine has a main display device, such as rotatable symbol-bearing reels, which selects a combination of symbols at a win zone after a game-play stake has been credited. Some symbols are bonus symbols which can initiate a bonus feature if at predetermined win zone positions. The game-play stake can be changed by the player to change options for attaining the bonus feature. The arrangement may be such that an increase in stake value results in an increase in the number of predetermined positions which correspond to initiation of the bonus feature.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

at least one display device supported by the cabinet;

a memory device;

an input device operable by a player; and

a control unit, in communication with the memory device and input device, the control unit configured to operate with the at least one display device to;

(a) display a plurality of reels associated with a main game, each one of the reels having a plurality of symbols which are displayable at a plurality of symbol display areas, each one of the symbol display areas being designatable as a bonus evaluation area, the plurality of symbols including a plurality of bonus symbols, the plurality of symbols being combinable to form a plurality of different symbol combinations displayable on the reels, the symbol combinations including at least one winning combination;

(b) access wager data stored in the memory device, the wager data corresponding to a plurality of wager levels including a first wager level and a greater, second wager level, each one of the wager levels being sufficient for starting a play of the main game;

(c) receive a wager input signal, the wager input signal corresponding to a wager received from the player to start the play of the main game;

(d) designate for said play of the main game a quantity of one or more win zones associated with a plurality of the symbol display areas, wherein the quantity of win zones designated for said play of the main game is independent of whether the received wager is at the first or second wager level;

(e) display an indication of said designated win zones for said play of the main game;

(f) if the received wager is at the first wager level, randomly select a first quantity of the plurality of symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the first quantity being at least one, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with any designated win zones;

(g) if the received wager is at the second wager level, randomly select a second quantity of the plurality of symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the second quantity being greater than the first quantity, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with any designated win zones;

(h) randomly generate a plurality of the symbols of the reels for said play of the main game;

(i) display the randomly generated symbols at a plurality of the symbol display areas, including any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(j) perform a first evaluation to determine whether the symbols displayed in any of said designated win zones form the at least one winning combination, the at least one winning combination having a winning combination probability of occurrence;

(k) provide a main game award in response to the occurrence of the at least one winning combination;

(l) perform a second evaluation to determine whether any bonus symbols are displayed at any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(m) if at least one bonus symbol is displayed at at least one of said designated bonus evaluation areas, start a bonus game, the bonus game having a probability of occurrence which is;

(1) independent of the winning combination probability; and

(2) dependent upon the quantity of symbol display areas which are randomly selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game; and

(n) provide a bonus award as a result of a winning bonus outcome occurring in the bonus game.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein each one of the win zones corresponds to a pay line.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the memory device stores data associated with at least one bonus start condition, the bonus start condition being selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a bonus start condition requiring a designated combination of the bonus symbols to be displayed at the bonus evaluation areas of a plurality of the reels; and

(b) a bonus start condition requiring at least one of the bonus symbols to be displayed at one of the bonus evaluation areas of at least one of the reels.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second wager levels is associated with a designated quantity of bonus start conditions and the second wager level is associated with a higher quantity of bonus start conditions.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reels include a reel selected from the group consisting of a mechanical reel and a video-simulated reel.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the main game award and the bonus award are each associated with a payout.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, which includes an indicator displayed by the at least one display device, wherein, after the player inputs the desired wager level and before the play of the main game, the indicator indicates information to the player related to one or more bonus start conditions.

8. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

at least one display device supported by the cabinet;

a memory device;

an input device operable by a player; and

a control unit, in communication with the memory device and input device, the control unit configured to operate with the at least one display device to;

(a) display a plurality of reels associated with a main game, each one of the reels having a plurality of symbols which are displayable at a plurality of symbol display areas, each one of the symbol display areas being designatable as a bonus evaluation area, the plurality of symbols including a plurality of bonus symbols, the plurality of symbols being combinable to form a plurality of different symbol combinations displayable on the reels, the symbol combinations including at least one winning combination;

(b) access wager data stored in the memory device, the wager data corresponding to a plurality of wager levels including a first wager level and a greater, second wager level, each one of the wager levels being sufficient for starting a play of the main game;

(c) receive a wager input signal, the wager input signal corresponding to a wager received from the player to start the play of the main game;

(d) receive a pay line input from the player, the pay line input corresponding to a selected quantity of one or more pay lines, each of said pay lines associated with a plurality of the symbol display areas, the quantity of pay lines being selectable independent of whether the received wager is at the first or second wager level;

(e) if the received wager is at the first wager level, randomly select a first quantity of the plurality of symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the first quantity being at least one, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with the selected quantity of pay lines for said play of the main game;

(f) if the received wager is at the second wager level, randomly select a second quantity of the plurality of symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the second quantity being greater than the first quantity, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with the selected quantity of pay lines for said play of the main game;

(g) randomly generate a plurality of the symbols of the reels for said play of the main game;

(h) display the randomly generated symbols at a plurality of the symbol display areas, including any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(i) perform a first evaluation to determine whether the symbols displayed on any of the selected quantity of pay lines form the at least one winning combination, the at least one winning combination having a winning combination probability of occurrence;

(j) provide a main game award in response to the occurrence of the at least one winning combination;

(k) perform a second evaluation to determine whether any bonus symbols are displayed at any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(l) if at least one bonus symbol is displayed at at least one of said bonus evaluation areas, start a bonus game, the starting of the bonus game having a probability of occurrence which is;

(1) independent of the winning combination probability; and

(2) dependent upon the quantity of symbol display areas which are randomly selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game; and

(m) provide a bonus award as a result of a winning bonus outcome occurring in the bonus game.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein a plurality of the symbol display areas associated with the selected quantity of pay lines are designatable as bonus evaluation areas.

10. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to operate with the at least one display device to produce a graphical indication of each one of the bonus evaluation areas.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to operate with the at least one display device to produce a different graphical indication at any one of the bonus evaluation areas which displays one of the bonus symbols.

12. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the reels include a reel selected from the group consisting of a mechanical reel and a video-simulated reel.

13. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the main game award and the bonus award are each associated with a payout.

14. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the first and second wager levels include a plurality of different levels of stake values.

15. A method for operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:

causing a control unit to operate with an input device and a display device to;

(a) display a plurality of reels associated with a main game, each one of the reels having a plurality of symbols which are displayable at a plurality of symbol display areas, each one of the symbol display areas being designatable as a bonus evaluation area, the plurality of symbols including a plurality of bonus symbols, the plurality of symbols being combinable to form a plurality of different symbol combinations displayable on the reels, the symbol combinations including at least one winning combination;

(b) access wager data stored in the memory device, the wager data corresponding to a plurality of wager levels including a first wager level and a greater, second wager level, each one of the wager levels being sufficient for starting a play of the main game;

(c) receive a wager input signal, the wager input signal corresponding to a wager received from the player to start the play of the main game;

(d) designate for said play of the main game a quantity of one or more win zones associated with a plurality of the symbol display areas, the quantity of win zones being independent of whether the received wager is at the first or second wager level;

(e) display an indication of said designated win zones for said play of the main game;

(f) if the received wager is at the first wager level, randomly selecting a first quantity of the plurality of symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the first quantity being at least one, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with any designated win zones;

(g) if the received wager is at the second wager level, randomly selecting a second quantity of the symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the second quantity being greater than the first quantity, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with any designated win zones;

(h) randomly generate a plurality of the symbols for play of the main game;

(i) display the randomly generated symbols at a plurality of the symbol display areas, including any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(j) perform a first evaluation to determine whether the symbols displayed in any of the designated quantity of win zones form the at least one winning combination, the at least one winning combination having a winning combination probability of occurrence;

(k) provide a main game award in response to the occurrence of the at least one winning combination;

(k) perform a second evaluation to determine whether any bonus symbols are displayed at any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(l) if at least one bonus symbol is displayed at at least one of said bonus evaluation areas, start a bonus game, the starting of the bonus game having a probability of occurrence which is;

(1) independent of the winning combination probability; and

(2) dependent upon the quantity of symbol display areas which are randomly selected to be designated as the bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game; and

(m) provide a bonus award as a result of a winning bonus outcome occurring in the bonus game.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of selectable win zones include a plurality of selectable pay lines.

17. The method of claim 15, which includes providing a plurality of different bonus start conditions selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a bonus start condition requiring a display of a designated combination of the bonus symbols at the bonus evaluation areas of a plurality of the reels; and

(b) a bonus start condition requiring a display of at least one of the bonus symbols at one of the bonus evaluation areas of at least one of the reels.

18. The method of claim 15, which includes:

(a) associating each of the first and second wager levels with a designated quantity of bonus start conditions and (b) associating the second wager level with a higher quantity of the bonus start conditions.

19. The method of claim 15, which includes providing a payout based on any provided main game award and any provided bonus award.

20. The method of claim 15, which includes indicating information after the player inputs the wager and before a play of the main game, the information relating to one or more bonus start conditions.

21. A method for operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:

causing a control unit to operate with an input device and a display device to;

(a) display a plurality of reels associated with a main game, each one of the reels having a plurality of symbols which are displayable at a plurality of symbol display areas, each one of the symbol display areas being designatable as a bonus evaluation area, the plurality of symbols including a plurality of bonus symbols, the plurality of symbols being combinable to form a plurality of different symbol combinations displayable on the reels, the symbol combinations including at least one winning combination;

(b) access wager data stored in the memory device, the wager data corresponding to a plurality of wager levels including a first wager level and a greater, second wager level, each one of the wager levels being sufficient for starting a play of the main game;

(c) receive a wager input signal, the wager input signal corresponding to a wager received from the player to start the play of the main game;

(d) receive a pay line input from the player, the pay line input corresponding to a selected quantity of one or more pay lines, each of said pay lines associated with a plurality of the symbol display areas, the quantity of pay lines being selectable independent of whether the received wager is at the first or second wager level;

(e) if the received wager is at the first wager level, randomly selecting a first quantity of the symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the game, the first quantity being at least one, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with the selected quantity of a lines for said play of the main game;

(f) if the received wager is at the second wager level, randomly selecting a second quantity of the symbol display areas to designate as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game, the second quantity being greater than the first quantity, wherein which of said plurality of symbol display areas are selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas is determined independent of the symbol display areas associated with the selected quantity of pay lines for said play of the main game;

first or second wager level;

(g) randomly generate a plurality of the symbols for play of the main game;

(h) display the randomly generated symbols at a plurality of the symbol display areas, including any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(i) perform a first evaluation to determine whether the symbols displayed on any of the selected quantity of pay lines form the at least one winning combination, the at least one winning combination having a winning combination probability of occurrence;

(j) provide a main game award in response to the occurrence of the at least one winning combination;

(k) perform a second evaluation to determine whether any bonus symbols are displayed at any of the bonus evaluation areas;

(l) if at least one bonus symbols is displayed at at least one of the bonus evaluation areas, start a bonus game, the starting of the bonus game having a probability of occurrence which is;

(1) independent of the winning combination probability; and

(2) dependent upon the quantity of the symbol display areas which are randomly selected to be designated as bonus evaluation areas for said play of the main game; and

(m) provide a bonus award as a result of a winning bonus outcome occurring in the bonus game.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a plurality of the symbol display areas associated with the selected quantity of pay lines are designatable as bonus evaluation areas.

23. The method of claim 21, which includes causing the control unit to operate with the display device to produce a graphical indication of each one of the bonus evaluation areas.

24. The method of claim 21, which includes causing the control unit to operate with the display device to produce a different graphical indication at any one of the bonus evaluation areas which displays one of the bonus symbols.

25. The method of claim 21, which includes associating the main game award and the bonus award with a payout.

26. The method of claim 21, which, includes associating the plurality of the first and second wager levels with a plurality of different levels of stake values.