Gaming device having award generation with multiple indicators and indicator determination device

• US 7,794,317 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Kaminkow, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/956,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 463 11- 21
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A gaming device including a wheel and multiple award indicators. The wheel includes a plurality of sections having awards associated with each of the sections. The section indicators associated with the wheel simultaneously indicate sections on the wheel. The number of activated section indicators is determined based on at least one award indicator activator symbol generator which is adapted to generate one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols that are each associated with zero, one or more of the award indicators of the wheel. The awards associated with the sections indicated by the activated section indicators are summed and provided to a player.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores 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 input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game; and

(b) after the placement of the wager and upon a random occurrence of a triggering event in the play of said primary game;

(i) cause a displayed award indicator activator symbol generator to randomly generate at least one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols, wherein;

(A) each award indicator activator symbol is associated with at least one of a plurality of displayed award indicators associated with a displayed award generator,

(B) for each award indicator activator symbol;

 

(I) which of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol are individually displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

 

(II) the quantity of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol is displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol,

(C) the award generator is distinct from the award indicator activator symbol generator, and

(D) at least one of said award indicator activator symbols is associated with a plurality of said award indicators;

(ii) activate, after the random generation of said at least one award indicator activator symbol, any award indicators associated with said generated award indicator activator symbol, said activation being distinct from the placement of the wager;

(iii) cause said award generator to randomly generate a plurality of awards;

(iv) for each activated award indicator, determine the generated award indicated by said activated award indicator;

(v) determine a total award associated with the award generator, said total award based on the generated award indicated by each activated award indicator; and

(vi) display to the player the determined total award associated with the award generator.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said award indicator activator symbol generator is a reel and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the award indicator activator symbol generator.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said award generator is a wheel and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the award generator.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are each associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with each of said award indicators.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, cause said award indicator activator symbol generator to generate a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols upon the triggering event in the play of said primary game.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of award indicator activator symbol generators and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with said award indicator activator symbol generators.

9. A gaming device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one award indicator activator symbol generator;

an award generator distinct from the at least one award indicator activator symbol generator;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores 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 input device, the at least one award indicator activator symbol generator, the award generator and the at least one display device to;

(a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game; and

(b) after the placement of the wager and upon a random occurrence of a triggering event;

(i) cause said at least one award indicator activator symbol generator to randomly generate at least one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols, wherein;

(A) each award indicator activator symbol is associated with at least one of a plurality of displayed award indicators associated with said award generator,

(B) for each award indicator activator symbol;

(I) which of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol are individually displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(II) the quantity of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol is displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(C) at least one of said award indicator activator symbols is associated with a plurality of said award indicators;

(ii) cause, after the random generation of said at least one award indicator activator symbol, the award generator to randomly generate a plurality of awards, said random generation being distinct from the placement of the wager;

(iii) for each of the award indicators associated with the generated award indicator activator symbols, determine the generated award indicated by said award indicator;

(iv) determine a total award associated with the award generator, said total award based on the generated awards indicated by the award indicators associated with the generated award indicator activator symbols; and

(v) display to the player the determined total award associated with the award generator.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said award indicator activator symbol generator is a reel.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said award generator is a wheel.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are each associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

13. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein each of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

14. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with each of said award indicators.

15. The gaming device of claim 9, which includes a plurality of award indicator activator symbol generators.

16. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores 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 input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game; and

(b) after the placement of the wager and upon a random occurrence of a triggering event in said play of the primary game;

(i) cause at least one of a plurality of displayed award indicator activator symbol generators to randomly generate at least one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols, each of said award indicator activator symbol generators configured to generate a different award indicator activator symbol, wherein;

(A) each different award indicator activator symbol is associated with one of a plurality of displayed award indicators associated with a displayed award generator,

(B) for each award indicator activator symbol;

(I) which award indicator associated with said award indicator activator symbol is individually displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(II) the quantity of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol is displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(C) the award generator is distinct from each of the award indicator activator symbol generators;

(ii) activate, after the random generation of said at least one award indicator activator symbol, said award indicator associated with said generated award indicator activator symbol, said activation being distinct from the placement of the wager;

(iii) cause said award generator to randomly generate a plurality of awards;

(iv) for each activated award indicator, determine the generated award indicated by said activated award indicator;

(v) determine a total award associated with the award generator, said total award based on the generated award indicated by each activated award indicator; and

(vi) display to the player the determined total award associated with the award generator.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein each of said award indicator activator symbol generators is a reel and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with each of the award indicator activator symbol generators.

18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein said award generator is a wheel and when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the award generator.

19. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause a plurality of said award indicator activator symbol generators to each generate at least one of said award indicator activator symbols upon the triggering event in said play of the primary game.

20. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause each of said award indicator activator symbol generators to generate at least one of said award indicator activator symbols upon the triggering event in said play of the primary game.

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

(a) after a random occurrence of a triggering event in a play of a primary game, randomly generating at least one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols, wherein;

(i) each award indicator activator symbol is associated with at least one of a plurality of displayed award indicators,

(ii) for each award indicator activator symbol;

(A) which of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol are individually displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(B) the quantity of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol is displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(iii) at least one of said award indicator activator symbols is associated with a plurality of said award indicators;

(b) activating, after the random generation of said at least one award indicator activator symbol, the award indicators associated with said generated award indicator activator symbol, said activation being distinct from the placement of the wager;

(c) distinct from the generation of the plurality of award indicator activator symbols, randomly generating a plurality of awards;

(d) causing a display device to display the generated plurality of awards;

(e) for each activated award indicator, determining the generated award indicated by said activated award indicator;

(f) determining a total award associated with the generated plurality of awards, said total award based on the generated award indicated by each activated award indicator; and

(g) causing the display device to display to the player the determined total award associated with the generated plurality of awards.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are each associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein each of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with each of said award indicators.

25. The method of claim 21, which includes generating a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols.

26. The method of claim 21, which is provided to the player through a data network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) after a random occurrence of a triggering event in a play of a primary game, causing at least one of a plurality of displayed award indicator activator symbol generators to randomly generate at least one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols, wherein;

(i) each of said award indicator activator symbol generators is associated with a different award indicator activator symbol,

(ii) each different award indicator activator symbol is associated with one of a plurality of displayed award indicators,

(iii) for each award indicator activator symbol;

(A) which award indicator associated with said award indicator activator symbol is individually displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(B) the quantity of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol is displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol,

(iv) each of said award indicators is associated with a displayed award generator which includes a plurality of award symbols,

(v) the award generator is distinct from each of said award indicator activator symbol generators, and

(vi) each of said award symbols is associated with one of a plurality of awards;

(b) activating, after the random generation of said at least one award indicator activator symbol, said award indicator associated with any generated award indicator activator symbol, said activation being distinct from the placement of the wager;

(c) causing said award generator to randomly generate a plurality of said award symbols;

(d) causing a display device to display the generated plurality of said award symbols;

(e) determining any generated award symbols indicated by said activated award indicators;

(f) determining a total award associated with the award generator, said total award based on the generated award symbols indicated by said activated award indicators; and

(g) displaying to the player the determined total award associated with the award generator.

29. The method of claim 28, which includes causing a plurality of said award indicator activator symbol generators to each generate at least one of said award indicator activator symbols.

30. The method of claim 28, which includes causing each of said award indicator activator symbol generators to generate at least one of said award indicator activator symbols.

31. The method of claim 28, which is provided to the player through a data network.

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

33. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores 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) enable a player to play a primary game upon a wager by a player, said play of the primary game including a displayed award indicator activator symbol generator randomly generating at least one of a plurality of award indicator activator symbols, said award indicator activator symbol generator including said plurality of award indicator activator symbols, wherein;

each award indicator activator symbol is associated with at least one of a plurality of displayed award indicators associated with a displayed award generator,

(ii) for each award indicator activator symbol;

(A) which of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol are individually displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol, and

(B) the quantity of the award indicators associated with said award indicator activator symbol is displayed in association with said award indicator activator symbol,

(iii) the award generator is distinct from the award indicator activator symbol generator, and

(iv) at least one of said award indicator activator symbols is associated with a plurality of said award indicators; and

(b) after the placement of the wager and upon a random occurrence of a triggering event in said play of the primary game, display a play of a secondary game by;

(i) activating any award indicators associated with said generated award indicator activator symbol, said activation occurring after the random generation of said at least one award indicator activator symbol and being distinct from the placement of the wager,

(ii) causing said award generator to randomly generate a plurality of awards,

(iii) for each activated award indicator, determining the generated award indicated by said activated award indicator;

(iv) determining a total award associated with the award generator, said total award based on the generated award indicated by each activated award indicator; and

(v) displaying to the player the determined total award associated with the award generator.

34. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein said award indicator activator symbol generator is selected from the group consisting of a reel and a wheel.

35. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are each associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

36. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein each of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with a plurality of said award indicators.

37. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols are associated with each of said award indicators.

38. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to generate a plurality of said award indicator activator symbols for the play of the primary game.

39. The gaming system of claim 33, which includes a plurality of award indicator activator symbol generators.