Method of scoring a video wagering game

• US 7,780,518 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/936,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20050037839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 463 9- 13, 463 16- 22, 463 25- 27, 463/31, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/138.2, 273/148.R, 273/149.R, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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
• 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 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of scoring a video wagering game is disclosed. The method includes placing a wager to participate in a video wagering game, and playing a first segment of the game. The first segment is played until a set of predetermined conditions has been met. A payout value is assigned to a winning outcome of the first segment. When the predetermined conditions have been met, the player plays a second segment of the game. The outcome of the second segment determines a factor that is at least equal to one. The payout value assigned to the first segment is multiplied by the factor to determine the game payout.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one processor;

at least one input device; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive at least one wager;

(b) provide an opportunity to conduct a series of plays of a primary game;

(c) determine whether a predetermined number of winning outcomes is achieved from the series of plays of the primary game, said predetermined number being at least two; and

(d) after said predetermined number of winning outcomes is achieved from the series of plays of the primary game;

(i) determine a payout value having an amount, said payout value being associated with one of the plays of the primary game;

(ii) start a bonus game, an operation of the bonus game resulting in one of a plurality of bonus game outcomes, the bonus game being associated with a plurality of different factors, each one of the factors being associated with at least one of the plurality of bonus game outcomes;

(iii) determine an enhanced award by applying one of the plurality of different factors to the amount of the determined payout value, the enhanced award always being equal to or greater than the amount of the determined payout value; and

(iv) provide the enhanced award.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of different factors includes a multiplier which is equal to or greater than one.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the primary game includes a game selected from the group consisting of a card game, a slot reel game, a bingo game, a keno game, a hangman game and a tick-tac-toe game.

4. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to input a wager to begin playing a primary game;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide an opportunity to conduct a series of plays of the primary game;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether a predetermined number of winning game outcomes is achieved from the series of plays of primary game, said predetermined number being at least two; and

(d) after said predetermined number of winning game outcomes is achieved from the series of plays of the primary game;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a payout value having an amount, said payout value being associated with one of the plays of the primary game;

(ii) enabling the player to play a bonus game, wherein the bonus game results in at least one of a plurality of bonus game outcomes, the bonus game being associated with a plurality of different factors associated with the bonus game, wherein each one of the plurality of different factors is associated with at least one of the plurality of bonus game outcomes;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an enhanced award by applying one of the plurality of different factors to the amount of the determined payout value, the determined enhanced award always being equal to or greater than the amount of the determined payout value; and

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the determined enhanced award.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of different factors includes a multiplier which is equal to or greater than one.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the primary game includes a game selected from the group consisting of a card game, a slot reel game, a bingo game, a keno game, a hangman game and a tick-tac-toe game.

7. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one processor;

at least one input device; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) provide an opportunity to conduct a series of plays of a primary game operable upon a wager;

(b) determine whether a predetermined number of winning outcomes is achieved from the series of plays of the primary game, said predetermined number being at least two; and

(c) after said predetermined number of winning outcomes is achieved from the series of plays of the primary game;

(i) determine a payout value having an amount, said payout value being associated with one of the plays of the primary game;

(ii) start a bonus game, the bonus game having a plurality of bonus symbols associated with a plurality of bonus game outcomes, the bonus game being associated with a plurality of different factors, each one of the plurality of different factors being associated with at least one of the plurality of bonus game outcomes;

(iii) receive an input from the player during the bonus game, the input corresponding to a selection of at least one of the bonus game symbols; and

(iv) determine an enhanced award, said enhanced award being;

(A) based, at least in part, on the selection of at least one of the bonus game symbols;

(B) determined by applying one of the plurality of different factors to the amount of the determined payout value; and

(C) always equal to or greater than said amount.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of different factors includes a multiplier which is equal to or greater than one.

9. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the primary game includes a game selected from the group consisting of a card game, a slot reel game, a bingo game, a keno game, a hangman game and a tick-tac-toe game.