Gaming machine having multiple level progressive feature with player controlled outcome

• US 7,963,846 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jaffe, Joel R., Pacey, Larry J., Englman, Allon G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US10/612,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20050003880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,911 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 20, 463/22, 463 25- 29, 463/31, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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 new type of progressive game can be used in conjunction with wagering games. A gaming terminal is capable of playing a progressive game that is triggered during or after the typical wagering game that is played at the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal includes an input device for receiving inputs from a player during the wagering game. Such inputs include a wager amount. A display displays a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game in response to receiving the wager amount from the player. In response to the progressive game being triggered, the display then displays a plurality of player-selectable game elements. The player selects one or more of the player-selectable game elements. The progressive game payoff is determined based on his or her selection.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a progressive feature triggered during play of a wagering game played at a gaming terminal, the progressive feature including a first progressive award funded at least partially by a portion of wagers received at the gaming terminal, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display, player-selectable icons concealing respective elements in a first field of elements including progressive award elements, fixed award elements, and end-feature elements;

allowing a player to non-randomly, successively select, via a player input device, one or more of the icons to reveal the respective concealed elements until a predetermined number of progressive award elements or at least one end-feature element is revealed, whichever occurs first;

awarding, via one or more processors, the first progressive award and any fixed awards associated with any selected fixed award elements, if the predetermined number of progressive award elements are selected prior to the at least one end-feature element; and

awarding, via the one or more processors, any fixed awards associated with any selected fixed award elements but not awarding the first progressive award, if the at least one end-feature element is selected prior to the predetermined number of progressive award elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the progressive feature includes a second progressive award funded at least partially by a portion of wagers received at the gaming terminal, and wherein if and only if the first progressive award is awarded, repeating the displaying, allowing, awarding, and awarding steps with respect to a second field of elements and the second progressive award.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second progressive award is greater than the first progressive award.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the elements include a continue-game element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting one of the continue-game elements increases the first progressive award.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising awarding a second progressive award, the second progressive award being higher than the first progressive award, by selecting a predetermined number of the continue-game elements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the progressive feature includes selecting from a plurality of progressive game qualifying items, at least one of the plurality of progressive game qualifying items permitting entry to said progressive game.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the progressive game qualifying items are video envelopes that are selectable by a player at the gaming terminal, the at least one of the plurality of progressive game qualifying items including an invitation therein that is displayed in response to the player selecting the at least one of the plurality of progressive game qualifying items.

9. A gaming system for conducting a progressive feature triggered during play of a wagering game played at a gaming terminal, the progressive feature including a first progressive award funded at least partially by a portion of wagers received at the gaming terminal, the system comprising:

a display for displaying player-selectable icons concealing respective elements in a first field of elements including progressive award elements, fixed award elements, and end-feature elements;

a player input device allowing a player to non-randomly, successively select one or more of the icons in the first field to reveal the respective concealed elements until a predetermined number of progressive award elements or at least one end-feature element is revealed, whichever occurs first; and

one or more processors coupled to the display and the player input device, the processor operative to;

award the first progressive award and any fixed awards associated with any selected fixed award elements if the predetermined number of progressive award elements are selected prior to the at least one end-feature element; and

award any fixed awards associated with any selected fixed award elements but not awarding the first progressive award if the at least one end-feature element is selected prior to the predetermined number of progressive award elements.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the progressive feature includes a second progressive award funded at least partially by a portion of wagers received at the gaming terminal, and wherein if and only if the first progressive award is awarded, the display displays player-selectable icons concealing respective elements in a second field of elements including progressive award elements, fixed award elements, and end-feature elements, the player input device allows the player to successively select one or more of the icons in the second field to reveal the respective concealed elements until a predetermined number of progressive award elements or at least one end-feature element is revealed, and the processor is operative to award the second progressive award and any fixed awards associated with any selected fixed award elements if the predetermined number of progressive award elements are selected prior to the at least one end-feature element, and award any fixed awards associated with any selected fixed award elements but not awarding the second progressive award if the at least one end-feature element is selected prior to the predetermined number of progressive award elements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second progressive award is greater than the first progressive award.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the elements include a continue-game element.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is operative to increase the first progressive award in response to selecting one of the continue-game elements.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is operative to award a second progressive award, the second progressive award being higher than the first progressive award, in response to selecting a predetermined number of the continue-game elements.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein triggering the progressive feature includes selecting from a plurality of progressive game qualifying items on the display, at least one of the plurality of progressive game qualifying items permitting entry to said progressive game.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the progressive game qualifying items are video envelopes that are selectable by a player at the gaming terminal, the at least one of the plurality of progressive game qualifying items including an invitation therein that is displayed in response to the player selecting the at least one of the plurality of progressive game qualifying items.