Method and apparatus for bonus round play

• US 8,105,156 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/121,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20080214263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/43, 273/138.1, 705/53, 705/78, 705/14.12, 705/14.21, 705/14.46, 705/14.7
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• 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
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for enabling a player to take a tour of a secondary game at a game machine. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes offering to enable entry of a player into a bonus round of a game machine in exchange for a fee, receiving the fee from the player, and enabling entry of the player into the bonus round. The method further includes receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round, and determining an outcome based on the at least one player selection. In other embodiments, the method includes providing a prize to the player based on the outcome.

Claims

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

enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the play of the primary game;

when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a play of a bonus round;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of times the player has previously taken the tour within a designated period of time, wherein said determination of the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is independent of any amount of credits associated with any credit balance;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is greater than a predetermined maximum number of tours allowed; and

when the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is not greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed, without any occurrence of the triggering event, enabling the player to take the tour.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to prevent the player from taking the tour.

3. The method of claim 1, which comprises causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of times the player has previously taken the tour at a game machine within the designated period of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein an entity provides a payment to an operator of a game machine in exchange for the player taking the tour on the game machine.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the entity comprises at least one of a merchant, a vendor and a game manufacturer.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon a cost of the tour.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon at least one of ownership, rental, and usage of the game machine.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to provide the player with an indication that a tour mode is enabled.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises superimposing verbiage over at least one reel of a video slot machine.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises displaying verbiage using a neon sign on a video blackjack machine.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises altering the appearance of a payout table for a game machine.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the indication comprises information transmitted via an output device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the output device comprises at least one of the at least one display device and an audio speaker.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

displaying the play of the primary game;

when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, displaying a play of a bonus round;

receiving an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round;

determining a number of times the player has previously taken the tour within a designated period of time, wherein said determination of the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is independent of any amount of credits associated with any credit balance;

determining whether the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is greater than a predetermined maximum number of tours allowed; and

when the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is not greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed, without any occurrence of the triggering event, enabling the player to take the tour.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

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

display the play of the primary game;

when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, display a play of a bonus round;

receive an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round;

determine a number of times the player has previously taken the tour within a designated period of time, wherein said determination of the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is independent of any amount of credits associated with any credit balance;

determine whether the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is greater than a predetermined maximum number of tours allowed; and

when the number of times the player has previously taken the tour within the designated period of time is not greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed, without any occurrence of the triggering event, enable the player to take the tour.