Gaming machine and method for providing a bonus award

• US 8,272,934 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technological Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Aruze Gaming America Incorporated (Aruze Gaming America, Inc. /Okada/)
• Inventors: Olive, Scott Christopher, Young, Kent Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Hsien Ming
• Application Number:
  US12/410,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 436 16- 22, 273/138.1, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/107497 Preparation composition [e.g., lysing or precipitation, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/109163 Inorganic standards or controls

Abstract

A game device and a method allow a player to play a game on the gaming machine. The gaming machine has a main display and a user interface. The game has a main game and a bonus game. The method includes the steps of (i) allowing the player to place a wager on the main game, (ii) playing the main game and randomly establishing a result of the main game, and (iii) awarding the player an award as a function of a paytable if the result of the main game is a win. The method further includes the steps of (iv) detecting an appearance of a predetermined bonus trigger symbol during the play of the main game and responsively, randomly selecting a bonus symbol from a set of bonus symbols, repeating steps (i)-(iv), and awarding the player a bonus award if a predetermined number of unique bonus symbols are selected.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a player to play a game on a gaming machine, the gaming machine having a main display and a user interface, the game having a main game and a bonus game, the method comprising the steps of:

allowing the player to place a wager on the main game;

playing the main game and randomly establishing a result of the main game;

awarding the player an award as a function of a paytable if the result of the main game is a win;

detecting the occurrence of a bonus trigger event during the play of the main game and awarding the player a number of free plays of the main game in response to detecting the occurrence of the bonus trigger event;

playing the free plays of the main game;

detecting an appearance of a trigger bonus symbol during the free plays of the main game and randomly selecting one unique bonus symbol of a set of unique bonus symbols;

displaying an animation in place of the appearance of the trigger bonus symbol;

displaying the randomly selected one of a set of bonus symbols in place of the animation; and

awarding the player a bonus award if all of the unique bonus symbols are selected during the free plays of the main game.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, the method including the steps of displaying the set of unique bonus symbols and providing an indication when each unique bonus symbol has been selected.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the animation after the appearance of the trigger bonus symbol shows the collection of the randomly selected unique bonus symbol.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 3, the gaming machine includes a secondary display, wherein the unique bonus symbols and the indication of when the unique bonus symbols have been selected are displayed on the secondary display.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of awarding the player an intermediate award when the unique bonus symbol is randomly selected.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the intermediate award is chose from a fixed amount award, a standalone jackpot, a link progressive jackpot, free games, multiplier, a bonus game, increased chance of winning, additional wilds, additional bonus symbols, or additional scatter symbols.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the size of the intermediate award is dependent on the unique bonus symbol randomly selected.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including the step of awarding the player an intermediate award when a combination of unique bonus symbols are randomly selected.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bonus award is a fixed amount.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bonus award is one of a standalone jackpot or a linked progressive jackpot.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bonus award is one of:

a number of free games, an award multiplier, a bonus game, increased chance of winning the main game, an increased number of wild symbols in the main game, a scatter win, increased paytable for the main game and group or tournament play.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main game is a video slot game.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main game is a mechanical stepper slot game with a secondary video display overlay.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the main game is a video poker game.

4. A method, as set forth in 3, wherein the gaming machine includes a main display, the main game being displayed on the main display.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the unique bonus symbols and the indication of when the unique bonus symbols have been selected are displayed on the main display.