Method and apparatus for play of a game with negative outcomes

• US 7,815,503 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rogers, Andrew D., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Zucker, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINHEIRO, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/787,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,427 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 273/143.R, 273/236
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

Method and apparatus are described for conducting a secondary game at a gaming device. In various embodiments, a player may acquire equity in the secondary game in such forms as a location of a game character, a number of symbols aggregated, a degree of completion of a puzzle, or a defensive provision. Certain symbols or outcomes in a primary game, however, may cause the player to lose equity in the secondary game.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to initiate a secondary game at a gaming device;

(b) at a first point in time, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a first amount of time available for completing the secondary game;

(c) during the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) randomly determine, based on a random number generator, a first outcome of a first play of a primary game;

(ii) display the randomly determined first outcome of the first play of the primary game;

(iii) determine a primary game award associated with the randomly determined first outcome of the first play of the primary game; and

(iv) provide any determined primary game award associated with the randomly determined first outcome of the first play of the primary game;

(d) at a second, subsequent point in time, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game and the randomly determined first outcome of the first play of the primary game, a second amount of time available for completing the secondary game, wherein a difference between the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game and the second amount of time available for completing the secondary game is different than an amount of elapsed time between the first point in time and the second point in time; and

(e) upon completing the secondary game;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether to provide any awards for any secondary game outcomes; and

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the secondary game to end.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first randomly determined outcome is associated with a reduction of the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game, said reduction of the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game being independent of any amount of time elapsed in the secondary game.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the difference between the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game and the second amount of time available for completing the secondary game is greater than the amount of elapsed time between the first point in time and the second point in time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the difference between the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game and the second amount of time available for completing the secondary game is equal to the sum of:

(i) the amount of time reduced from the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game, and (ii) the amount of elapsed time between the first point in time and the second point in time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game is a first amount of time available for completing a first number of additional plays of the primary game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second amount of time available for completing the secondary game is a second amount of time available for completing a second number of additional plays of the primary game.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a difference between the second number of additional plays of the primary game and the first number of additional plays of the primary game is one additional play of the primary game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game is a first amount of time available for a game character to reach a destination in the secondary game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount of time available for completing the secondary game is a first amount of time available to obtain a target number of game indicia.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first randomly determined outcome includes:

receiving an initiation signal from a player;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of different random numbers;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine one of a plurality of different outcomes based on the generated random number, the determined outcome being associated with at least one symbol of a set of symbols;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a set of reels to spin, the set of reels being associated with the set of symbols; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the set of reels to stop spinning such that the at least one symbol of the set of symbols that is associated with the determined outcome is displayed to the player.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a prepayment for the plurality of plays of the primary game is received prior to an initiation of the secondary game, the prepayment being distinct from an addition of credits to a balance of credits available for wagering on the primary game.