Gaming device having a bonus scheme with multiple potential award sets

• US 7,867,074 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gerrard, Peter, Baerlocher, Anthony J., Randall, Dov L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Andrew
• Application Number:
  US10/652,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,693 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 19, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys
• 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

Abstract

A gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device including several groups displayed by a display device and at least one component associated with each group. Several selections are displayed by the display device having multiple components of the groups associated with the selections. A player completes a group and receives a prize for that group when the player picks selections and generates each component associated with a group.

Claims

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

at least one input device; and

at least one display device, said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device, for a single play of a game, to;

(a) before a player selects any of a plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections, simultaneously display;

(i) a plurality of sets of components, each set including a plurality of components, each component of each set of components displayed at a respective display area separate from each of the components of the other sets of components, and

(ii) the plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections separate from the plurality of sets of components, each selection being associated with a plurality of said components, said plurality of components including at least one, but not all, of the components of at least one of said sets of components, wherein each component of each of the plurality of sets of components is associated with one or more of said selections and a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of components,

(b) thereafter, enable the player to sequentially pick a plurality of the selections in the single play of the game until a predetermined number of the components of at least one of the sets of components is selected, wherein the predetermined number is greater than one, and causing each of the plurality of components of each picked selection to be displayed at the display area of its respective set of components in addition to the set of components before a subsequent selection is picked, wherein for at least one of the player'"'"'s sequential picks, each of a plurality of selections that are not yet picked by the player in the single play of the game are simultaneously eligible to be picked, and

(c) if the predetermined number of the components associated with said set is selected;

(i) determine at least one outcome associated with said set based on the components included in said set, and

(ii) display and provide the player the at least one determined outcome associated with said set.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sets of components include a predetermined number of components.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of components in one of the sets of components is based on the outcome associated with said set.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the components of one of the sets of components is a modifier, said modifier operable to modify the outcome associated with said set.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the modifier includes a multiplier.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of picks of the selections is predetermined.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of picks of the selections is based on a previous event in the single play of the game.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the components are randomly associated with the selections.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said selections includes components from more than one set of components.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the selections includes a plurality of components from the same set of components.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two different components are associated with each selection.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of components of one set of components associated with the selections is based on the outcome associated with said set.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of components of one set of components associated with the selections is based on a probability associated with said set.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a modifier is associated with at least one of the selections.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the modifier includes a multiplier.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the modifier associated with said selection modifies the number of components associated with said selection.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a modifier is associated with at least one of the components.

18. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein an outcome is associated with each set of components.

19. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of outcomes are associated with at least one of the sets of components.

20. The gaming device of claim 19, wherein the outcome provided to said player is randomly selected from the plurality of the outcomes associated with said set of components.

21. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein different outcomes are associated with each of the different sets of components.

22. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein outcomes are randomly associated with the sets of components.

23. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outcomes associated with at least one of the sets of components is an award.

24. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein the player is provided the outcome associated with the last set of components selected.

25. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the single play of the game ends when all of the components of at least one set of components are selected.

26. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the single play of the game ends when all of the components of multiple sets of components are selected.

27. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the single play of the game ends when the player has made a predetermined number of selections.

28. The gaming device of claim 1, which is operated through a data network.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.

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

at lease one input device; and

at least one display device, said at least one processor programmed to operate with the input device and the display device, for a single play of a game, to;

(a) before a player selects any of a plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections, simultaneously display;

(i) a plurality of sets of components, each set of components including a plurality of components, each component of each set of components displayed at a respective display area separate from each of the components of the other sets of components, and

(ii) the plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections separate from the plurality of sets of components, each selection being associated with a plurality of said components, said plurality of components including at least one, but not all, of the components of at least one of the sets of components, wherein each component of a plurality of the sets of components is associated with one or more of said selections and a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of components,

(b) thereafter, enable the player to pick a plurality of the selections in the single play of the game until a predetermined number of the components of at least one of the sets of components is selected, wherein the predetermined number is greater than one, wherein the plurality of picked selections are picked sequentially, and causing each of the plurality of components of each picked selection to be displayed at the display area of its respective set of components in addition to the set of components before a subsequent selection is picked, wherein for at least one of the player'"'"'s sequential picks, each of a plurality of selections that are not yet picked by the player in the single play of the game are simultaneously eligible to be picked, and

(c) if at least one predetermined component of said set is selected;

(i) determine at least one outcome associated with said set based on the components included in said set, and

(ii) display and provide to the player the determined outcome associated with said set.

31. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of sets of components include a predetermined number of components.

32. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the number of components in a set of components is based on the outcome associated with said set.

33. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the components of one of the sets is a modifier, said modifier operable to modify the outcome associated with said set.

34. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein the modifier includes a multiplier.

35. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the number of picks of the selections is predetermined.

36. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the number of picks of the selections is based on a previous event in the single play of the game.

37. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the components are randomly associated with the selections.

38. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein at least one of said selections includes components from more than one set of components.

39. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the selections includes a plurality of components from the same set of components.

40. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein at least two different components are associated with each selection.

41. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the number of components of one set associated with the selections is based on the outcome associated with said set.

42. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the number of components of one set of components associated with the selections is based on a probability associated with said set.

43. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein a modifier is associated with at least one of the selections.

44. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the modifier includes a multiplier.

45. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein the modifier associated with one of the selections modifies the number of components associated with said selection.

46. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein a modifier is associated with at least one of the components.

47. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein an outcome is associated with each set of components.

48. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein a plurality of outcomes are associated with at least one of the sets of components.

49. The gaming device of claim 48, wherein the outcome provided to said player is randomly selected from the plurality of the outcomes associated with said set of components.

50. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein different outcomes are associated with each of the different sets of components.

51. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein outcomes are randomly associated with the sets of components.

52. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the outcomes associated with at least one of the sets of components is an award.

53. The gaming device of claim 52, wherein the player is provided the outcome associated with the last set of components selected.

54. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the single play of the game ends when all of the components of at least one set of components are selected.

55. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the single play of the game ends when all of the components of multiple sets of components are selected.

56. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the single play of the game ends when the player has made a predetermined number of selections.

57. The gaming device of claim 30, which is operated through a data network.

58. The gaming device of claim 57, wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.

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

at least one input device; and

at least one display device, said at least one processor programmed to operate with the input device and the display device, for a single play of a game, to;

(a) before a player selects any of a plurality of individually selectable selections, simultaneously display;

(i) the plurality of individually selectable selections, and

(ii) a plurality of different sets of components, each set of components including a predetermined number of components, each component of each set of components displayed at a respective display area separate from each of the components of the other sets of components and the plurality of individually selectable selections, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of said components, and

(b) thereafter, display and provide a plurality of awards associated with the sets of components, said awards including at least two of the different awards associated with at least two different sets of components, wherein the number of components of each of said sets of components associated with said selections is based on the awards associated with each of said sets of components, wherein if the predetermined number of the components of one of the sets of components is selected, said award associated with said set is provided to the player, wherein for the single play of the game the player individually selects a first individually selectable selection of the individually selectable selections prior to selecting a second individually selectable selection of the individually selectable selections, and wherein each of the components associated with the first individually selectable selection is displayed at the symbol display area of its respective set of components prior to the player selecting the second individually selectable selection, wherein the second individually selectable selection is eligible for selection by the player when the first individually selectable selection is selected.

60. The gaming device of claim 59, wherein more than one component of one set of components is associated with at least one selection.

61. The gaming device of claim 59, wherein the number of components of one set of components associated with the selections is greater than the predetermined number of components which must be selected for the player to receive the award associated with said set of components.

62. The gaming device of claim 59, wherein the single play of the game ends when a predetermined number of selections have been made by the player.

63. The gaming device of claim 59, wherein the single play of the game ends when the predetermined number of components of at least one set of components have been selected.

64. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising, for a single play of a game:

causing a processor to operate with a device and an input device to;

(a) before enabling a player to select any of a plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections, simultaneously display;

(i) a plurality of sets of components, wherein each of said sets includes a predetermined number of components, each component of each set of components displayed at a respective display area separate from each of the components of the other sets of components, and

(ii) the plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections separate from the plurality of sets of components, each selection being associated with a plurality of said components, said plurality of components including at least one, but not all, of the components of at least one of the sets of components;

(b) associate at least one component of at least one of a plurality of the sets of components with each of the selections, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of components;

(c) associate at least one outcome with at least one of said sets; and

(d) enable the player to sequentially select a plurality of said selections in the single play of the game, and causing each of the components associated with the selected selections to be displayed at the display area of its respective set of components in addition to the set of components prior to subsequent selections being made, until a predetermined number of the components of at least one of the sets of components is selected wherein the predetermined number is greater than one, wherein for at least one of the player'"'"'s sequential selections each of a plurality of selections that are not yet selected by the player in the single play of the game are simultaneously eligible to be selected; and

causing the processor to operate with the display device to;

if the predetermined number of the components associated with said set of components is selected;

(i) determine at least one outcome associated with said set of components based on the components included in said set of components, and

(ii) display at least one of the determined outcomes associated with said set of components.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the number of components of one set of components associated with the selections is based on the outcome associated with said set of components.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the number of components of one set of components associated with the selections is based on a probability associated with said set of components.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein all of the components associated with each selection are masked from the player until the selection is picked.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein selecting a plurality of said selections includes revealing the components associated with the picked selections.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the outcome provided to the player is the outcome associated with the set of components having the predetermined number of components of said set of components selected.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein providing a player at least one of the outcomes associated with at least one of said sets of components includes randomly selecting one of a plurality of outcomes associated with said set of components.

71. The method of claim 64, which includes ending the single play of the game when a predetermined number of selections have been made.

72. The method of claim 64, which includes ending the single play of the game when the predetermined number of components of at least one of the sets of components have been selected.

73. The method of claim 64, which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.

75. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising, for a single play of a game:

causing a processor to operate with a display device and an input device to;

(a) before enabling a player to select any of a plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections, simultaneously display;

(i) each component of each of a plurality of sets of components at a different respective display area, wherein each set includes a predetermined number of components, and wherein the predetermined number is greater than one, and

(ii) the plurality of individually selectable player-selectable selections separate from the plurality of sets of components, each selection being associated with a plurality of said components, said plurality of components including at least one, but not all, of the components of at least one of the sets of components, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of components;

(b) associate at least one outcome with at least one of said sets of components;

(c) enable the player to sequentially select a predetermined number of said selections in the single play of the game, wherein for at least one of the player'"'"'s sequential selections each of a plurality of selections that are not yet selected by the player in the single play of the game are simultaneously eligible to be selected; and

(d) reveal each of the components associated with each selected selection and display it at the symbol display area of its respective set of components in addition to the set of components prior to a subsequent selection being made; and

causing the processor to operate with the display device to;

if the predetermined number of the components associated with said set of components is selected;

(i) determine at least one outcome associated with said set of components based on the components included in said set of components, and

(ii) provide the player the determined outcome.

76. The method of claim 75, which includes ending the single play of the game when a predetermined number of selections have been made.

77. The method of claim 75, which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.

79. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising, for a single play of a game:

causing a processor to operate with a display device and an input device to;

(a) before enabling a player to select any of a plurality of individually selectable selections, simultaneously display;

(i) each component of each of a plurality of sets of components at a different respective display area, wherein at least one outcome is associated with at least one of said sets of components, and

(ii) the plurality of individually selectable selections separate from the plurality of sets of components, wherein each selection is associated with at least one of said components and wherein each selection includes less than the predetermined number of components of each of the sets of components and a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of components; and

(b) enable the player to sequentially select a plurality of said selections in the single play of the game until a predetermined number of components of at least one of said sets of components is selected, causing each of the components associated with each of the selected selections to be displayed at the display area of its respective set of components in addition to the set of components prior to a subsequent selection being selected, wherein for at least one of the player'"'"'s sequential selections each of a plurality of selections that are not yet selected by the player in the single play of the game are simultaneously eligible to be selected; and

causing the processor to operate with the display device to;

if the predetermined number of the components associated with said set of components is selected;

(i) determine at least one outcome associated with said set of components based on the components included in said set of components, and

(ii) provide the player the determined outcome.

80. The method of claim 79, which includes ending the single play of the game when a predetermined number of components of at least one of said sets of components is selected.

81. The method of claim 79, which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.

83. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising, for a single play of a game:

causing a processor to operate with a display device and an input device to;

(a) associate a plurality of components with each of a plurality of sets of components;

(b) display each of the components of each of the plurality of sets of components at a different respective display area simultaneous with a plurality of masked selections before a player selects any of the masked selections;

(c) associate an outcome with at least one of said sets of components;

(d) associate the components of each set of components with a plurality of individually selectable masked selections, wherein each selection is associated with a plurality of said components, said plurality of components including at least one, but not all, of the components of at least one of the sets of components, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with a different number of components, and wherein the plurality of the masked selections are displayed separate from the plurality of sets of components; and

(e) enable the player to select the plurality of selections in the single play of the game, causing each of the components associated with each selected selection to be displayed at the display area of its respective set of components in addition to the set of components before the player is enabled to select a subsequent selection, until a predetermined number of the components of at least one of the sets of components is selected, wherein the predetermined number is greater than one, wherein for at least one of the player'"'"'s selections each of a plurality of selections that are not yet selected by the player in the single play of the game are simultaneously eligible to be selected; and

causing the processor to operate with the display device to;

if the predetermined number of the components associated with said set of components is selected;

(i) determine at least one outcome associated with said set of components based on the components included in said set of components, and

(ii) provide the player the determined outcome.

84. The method of claim 83, which includes associating at least one predetermined component of a set of components with at least one of said selections based on the outcome associated with said set of components.

85. The method of claim 83, which includes operating said gaming device through a data network.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the data network is selected from the group consisting of a playing station network, a local area network, a wide area network and an internet.