Gaming device having a first game scheme involving a symbol generator, a second game and a first game terminator

• US 7,824,262 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Webb, Bayard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Allen
• Application Number:
  US11/627,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/10, 463/11, 463/16, 463/19
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming device including a primary game having one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games associated with the symbol generators. The gaming device activates the symbol generators for a number of activations. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more of the secondary games associated with the symbol generators. In one embodiment, the gaming device continues to activate the symbol generators until at least one of the symbol generators generates one or more termination symbols, or until there are no activations remaining in the primary game.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one input device configured to enable a player to make wagers on plays of a primary game, said primary game at least including;

(a) a first reel,

(b) a second reel,

(c) a third reel, and

(d) a plurality of symbols on said reels, each of said reels having at least one predetermined secondary game triggering symbol;

at least one display device configured to display;

(a) at least one play of the primary game,

(b) at least a portion of a first secondary game in association with the first reel, said first secondary game configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a first secondary game award, said first secondary game award provided to the player when a first secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the first secondary game, wherein said first secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the first secondary game when a first predetermined number of markers in a first particular pattern occur in said play of the first secondary game,

(c) at least a portion of a second secondary game in association with the second reel, said second secondary game being distinct from the first secondary game and configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a second secondary game award, said second secondary game award provided to the player when a second secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the second secondary game, wherein said second secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the second secondary game when a second predetermined number of markers in a second particular pattern occur in said play of the second secondary game, and

(d) at least a portion of said third secondary game in association with the third reel, said third secondary game being distinct from the first and second secondary games and configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a third secondary game award, said third secondary game award provided to the player when a third secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the third secondary game, wherein said third secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the third secondary game when a third predetermined number of markers in a third particular pattern occur in said play of the third secondary game; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, when executed by said at least one processor, said instructions cause, for at least one of the plays of the primary game when one of the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols occurs on said first reel, said second reel, and said third reel during said play of the primary game and without enabling the player to make any wager on any of the secondary games, the at least one processor to provide and cause a display of;

(i) the play of the first secondary game associated with the first reel, wherein said play of the first secondary game includes a first random determination of whether the first predetermined number of markers occurs in the first particular pattern,

(ii) the play of the second secondary game associated with the second reel, wherein said play of the second secondary game includes a second random determination of whether the second predetermined number of markers occurs in the second particular pattern, said second random determination being separate from the first random determination, and

(iii) the play of the third secondary game associated with the third reel, wherein said play of the third secondary game includes a third random determination of whether the third predetermined number of markers occurs in the third particular pattern, said third random determination being separate from the first random determination and the second random determination.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first grid,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second grid, and

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third grid.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first row,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second row, and

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third row.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein ,the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols include:

(a) a first cross game symbol on the first reel, said first cross game symbol functioning in said first secondary game,

(b) a second cross game symbol on the second reel, said second cross game symbol functioning in said second secondary game, and

(c) a third cross game symbol on the third reel, said third cross game symbol functioning in said third secondary game.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the first random determination for the play of the first secondary game can result in no first secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the first secondary game;

(b) the second random determination for the play of the second secondary game can result in no second secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the second secondary game; and

(c) the third random determination for the play of the third secondary game can result in no third secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the third secondary game.

5. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one input device configured to enable a player to make wagers on plays of a primary game, said primary game at least including;

(a) a first reel,

(b) a second reel,

(c) a third reel,

(d) a fourth reel,

(e) a fifth reel, and

(f) a plurality of symbols on said reels, each of said reels having at least one predetermined secondary game triggering symbol;

at least one display device configured to display;

(a) at least one play of the primary game,

(b) at least a portion of a first secondary game in association with the first reel, said first secondary game configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a first secondary game award, said first secondary game award provided to the player when a first secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the first secondary game, wherein said first secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the first secondary game when a first predetermined number of markers in a first particular pattern occur in said play of the first secondary game,

(c) at least a portion of a second secondary game in association with the second reel, said second secondary game being distinct from the first secondary game and configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a second secondary game award, said second secondary game award provided to the player when a second secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the second secondary game, wherein said second secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the second secondary game when a second predetermined number of markers in a second particular pattern occur in said play of the second secondary game,

(d) at least a portion of a third secondary game in association with the third reel, said third secondary game being distinct from the first and second secondary games and configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a third secondary game award, said third secondary game award provided to the player when a third secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the third secondary game, wherein said third secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the third secondary game when a third predetermined number of markers in a third particular pattern occur in said play of the third secondary game,

(e) at least a portion of a fourth secondary game in association with the fourth reel, said fourth secondary game being distinct from the first, second and third secondary games and configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a fourth secondary game award, said fourth secondary game award provided to the player when a fourth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fourth secondary game, wherein said fourth secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the fourth secondary game when a fourth predetermined number of markers in a fourth particular pattern occur in said play of the fourth secondary game, and

(f) at least a portion of a fifth secondary game in association with the fifth reel, said fifth secondary game being distinct from the first, second, third and fourth secondary games and configured to provide an opportunity for the player to win a fifth secondary game award, said fifth secondary game award provided to the player when a fifth secondary game win condition occurs in a play of the fifth secondary game, wherein said fifth secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the fifth secondary game when a fifth predetermined number of markers in a fifth particular pattern occur in said play of the fifth secondary game; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions, when executed by said at least one processor when one of the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols occurs on each of the reels during at least one of the plays of the primary game and without enabling the player to make any wager on any of the secondary games, said instructions cause the at least one processor to provide and cause a display of;

(a) the play of the first secondary game associated with the first reel, wherein said play of the first secondary game includes a first random determination of whether the first predetermined number of markers occurs in the first particular pattern,

(b) the play of the second secondary game associated with the second reel, wherein said play of the second secondary game includes a second random determination of whether the second predetermined number of markers occurs in the second particular pattern, said second random determination being separate from the first random determination,

(c) the play of the third secondary game associated with the third reel, wherein said play of the third secondary game includes a third random determination of whether the third predetermined number of markers occurs in the third particular pattern, said third random determination being separate from the first random determination and the second random determination,

(d) the play of the fourth secondary game associated with the fourth reel, wherein said play of the fourth secondary game includes a fourth random determination of whether the fourth predetermined number of markers occurs in the fourth particular pattern, said fourth random determination being separate from the first random determination, the second random determination and the third random determination, and

(e) the play of fifth secondary game associated with the fifth reel, wherein said play of the fifth secondary game includes a fifth random determination of whether the fifth predetermined number of markers occurs in the fifth particular pattern, said fifth random determination being separate from the first random determination, the second random determination, the third random determination and the fourth random determination.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first grid,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second grid,

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third grid,

(d) said fourth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fourth secondary game when the fourth predetermined number of markers occur in the fourth particular pattern in a fourth grid, and

(e) said fifth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fifth secondary game when the fifth predetermined number of markers occur in the fifth particular pattern in a fifth grid.

7. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first row,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second row,

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third row,

(d) said fourth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fourth secondary game when the fourth predetermined number of markers occur in the fourth particular pattern in a fourth row, and

(e) said fifth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fifth secondary game when the fifth predetermined number of markers occur in the fifth particular pattern in a fifth row.

8. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols include:

(a) a first cross game symbol on the first reel, said first cross game symbol functioning in said first secondary game,

(b) a second cross game symbol on the second reel, said second cross game symbol functioning in said second secondary game,

(c) a third cross game symbol on the third reel, said third cross game symbol functioning in said third secondary game,

(d) a fourth cross game symbol on the fourth reel, said fourth cross game symbol functioning in said fourth secondary game, and

(e) a fifth cross game symbol on the fifth reel, said fifth cross game symbol functioning in said fifth secondary game.

18. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein:

(a) the first random determination for the play of the first secondary game can result in no first secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the first secondary game;

(b) the second random determination for the play of the second secondary game can result in no second secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the second secondary game;

(c) the third random determination for the play of the third secondary game can result in no third secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the third secondary game;

(d) the fourth random determination for the play of the fourth secondary game can result in no fourth secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the fourth secondary game; and

(e) the fifth random determination for the play of the fifth secondary game can result in no fifth secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the fifth secondary game.

9. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, when executed by said at least one processor, said instructions cause said at least one display device to display;

(a) a primary game configured to operate upon a wager by a player, said primary game at least including;

(i) a first video reel,

(ii) a second video reel,

(iii) a third video reel, and

(iv) a plurality of symbols on said video reels, each of said video reels having at least one predetermined secondary game triggering symbol,

(b) at least a portion of a first secondary game associated with the first video reel,

(c) at least a portion of a second secondary game associated with the second video reel, said second secondary game being distinct from the first secondary game,

(d) at least a portion of a third secondary game associated with the third video reel, said third secondary game being distinct from the first and second secondary games, and

(e) when one of the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols occurs on said first video reel, said second video reel, and said third video reel during a play of the primary game and without enabling the player to make any wager on any of the secondary games;

(i) a play of the first secondary game associated with the first video reel, said play of the first secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a first secondary game award when a first secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the first secondary game, wherein said play of the first secondary game includes a first random determination of whether a first predetermined number of markers occurs in a first particular pattern,

(ii) a play of the second secondary game associated with the second video reel, said play of the second secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a second secondary game award when a second secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the second secondary game, wherein said play of the second secondary game includes a second random determination of whether a second predetermined number of markers occurs in a second particular pattern, said second random determination being separate from the first random determination, and

(iii) a play of the third secondary game associated with the third video reel, said play of the third secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a third secondary game award when a third secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the third secondary game, wherein said play of the third secondary game includes a third random determination of whether a third predetermined number of markers occurs in a third particular pattern, said third random determination being separate from the first random determination and the second random determination.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first grid,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second grid, and

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third grid.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first row,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second row, and

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third row.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols include:

(a) a first cross game symbol on the first video reel, said first cross game symbol functioning in said first secondary game,

(b) a second cross game symbol on the second video reel, said second cross game symbol functioning in said second secondary game, and

(c) a third cross game symbol on the third video reel, said third cross game symbol functioning in said third secondary game.

19. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein:

(a) the first random determination for the play of the first secondary game can result in no first secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the first secondary game;

(b) the second random determination for the play of the second secondary game can result in no second secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the second secondary game; and

(c) the third random determination for the play of the third secondary game can result in no third secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the third secondary game.

13. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, when executed by said at least one processor said instructions cause said at least one display device to display;

(a) a primary game configured to operate upon a wager by a player, said primary game at least including;

(i) a first video reel,

(ii) a second video reel,

(iii) a third video reel,

(iv) a fourth video reel,

(v) a fifth video reel, and

(vi) a plurality of symbols on said video reels, each of said video reels having at least one predetermined secondary game triggering symbol,

(b) at least a portion of a first secondary game associated with the first video reel,

(c) at least a portion of a second secondary game associated with the second video reel, said second secondary game being distinct from the first secondary game,

(d) at least a portion of a third secondary game associated with the third video reel, said third secondary game being distinct from the first and second secondary games,

(e) at least a portion of a fourth secondary game associated with the fourth video reel, said fourth secondary game being distinct from the first, second and third secondary games,

(f) at least a portion of a fifth secondary game associated with the fifth video reel, said fifth secondary game being distinct from the first, second, third and fourth secondary games, and

(g) when one of the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols occurs on said first video reel, said second video reel, said third video reel, said fourth video reel, and said fifth video reel during a play of the primary game and without enabling the player to make any wager on any of the secondary games;

(i) a play of the first secondary game associated with the first video reel, said play of the first secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a first secondary game award when a first secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the first secondary game, wherein said play of the first secondary game includes a first random determination of whether a first predetermined number of markers occurs in a first particular pattern,

(ii) a play of the second secondary game associated with the second video reel, said play of the second secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a second secondary game award when a second secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the second secondary game, wherein said play of the second secondary game includes a second random determination of whether a second predetermined number of markers occurs in a second particular pattern, said second random determination being separate from the first random determination,

(iii) a play of the third secondary game associated with the third video reel, said play of the third secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a third secondary game award when a third secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the third secondary game, wherein said play of the third secondary game includes a third random determination of whether a third predetermined number of markers occurs in a third particular pattern, said third random determination being separate from the first random determination and the second random determination,

(iv) a play of the forth secondary game associated with the fourth video reel, said play of the fourth secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a fourth secondary game award when a fourth secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the fourth secondary game, wherein said play of the fourth secondary game includes a fourth random determination of whether a fourth predetermined number of markers occurs in a fourth particular pattern, said fourth random determination being separate from the first random determination, the second random determination and the third random determination, and

(v) a play of the fifth secondary game associated with the fifth video reel, said play of the fifth secondary game includes an opportunity for the player to win a fifth secondary game award when a fifth secondary game win condition occurs in said play of the fifth secondary game, wherein said play of the fifth secondary game includes a fifth random determination of whether a fifth predetermined number of markers occurs in a fifth particular pattern, said fifth random determination being separate from the first random determination, the second random determination, the third random determination and the fourth random determination.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first grid,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second grid,

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third grid,

(d) said fourth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fourth secondary game when the fourth predetermined number of markers occur in the fourth particular pattern in a fourth grid, and

(e) said fifth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fifth secondary game when the fifth predetermined number of markers occur in the fifth particular pattern in a fifth grid.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein:

(a) said first secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the first secondary game when the first predetermined number of markers occur in the first particular pattern in a first row,

(b) said second secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the second secondary game when the second predetermined number of markers occur in the second particular pattern in a second row,

(c) said third secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the third secondary game when the third predetermined number of markers occur in the third particular pattern in a third row,

(d) said fourth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fourth secondary game when the fourth predetermined number of markers occur in the fourth particular pattern in a fourth row, and

(e) said fifth secondary game win condition occurs in the play of the fifth secondary game when the fifth predetermined number of markers occur in the fifth particular pattern in a fifth row.

16. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the predetermined secondary game triggering symbols include:

(a) a first cross game symbol on the first video reel, said first cross game symbol functioning in said first secondary game,

(b) a second cross game symbol on the second video reel, said second cross game symbol functioning in said second secondary game,

(c) a third cross game symbol on the third video reel, said third cross game symbol functioning in said third secondary game,

(d) a fourth cross game symbol on the fourth video reel, said fourth cross game symbol functioning in said fourth secondary game, and

(e) a fifth cross game symbol on the fifth video reel, said fifth cross game symbol functioning in said fifth secondary game.

20. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein:

(a) the first random determination for the play of the first secondary game can result in no first secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the first secondary game;

(b) the second random determination for the play of the second secondary game can result in no second secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the second secondary game;

(c) the third random determination for the play of the third secondary game can result in no third secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the third secondary game;

(d) the fourth random determination for the play of the fourth secondary game can result in no fourth secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the fourth secondary game; and

(e) the fifth random determination for the play of the fifth secondary game can result in no fifth secondary game win condition occurring in the play of the fifth secondary game.