Method and apparatus for setting game parameters

• US 8,353,756 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tedesco, Daniel E., Santisi, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/299,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20120064963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

The present invention allows gaming devices to set or modify game parameters through the use of random events such as spinning slot machine reels or random number generators. In some embodiments, game parameters may be established with various initial values, and then, by spinning the gaming devices'"'"' reels, for example, random reel values lining up on the payline may be used as new game parameter values. Parameter values may be used to control or initialize almost any aspect of the gaming device play experience, ranging from the types of symbols seen on the reels, to the appearance or behavior of game characters, to the rate at which “complementary” points are awarded.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor for each play of a game, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, prior to any random determinations associated with the play of the game;

(a) determine a game parameter, the determined game parameter serving to control at least one element of the game such that it affects a manner in which a play of the game will be conducted,

(b) determine a range of values associated with the determined game parameter,

(c) display at least one of a plurality of symbols on a reel, each symbol representing a potential value within the range of values associated with the determined game parameter,

(d) randomly select at least one of the symbols,

(e) set an actual value of the determined game parameter based on the randomly selected symbol, and

(f) control the at least one element of the game using the actual value such that the manner in which the play of the game is conducted subsequent to the setting of the actual value is affected by the actual value.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to initiate the play of the game using the actual value of the determined game parameter.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to continue the play of the game using the actual value of the determined game parameter.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to end the play of the game using the actual value of the determined game parameter.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined game parameter represents at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a number of game symbols with which to start a session, a number by which payouts will be multiplied for a designated number of plays of the game, a maximum number of spins allowed before a player is ineligible for a puzzle completion bonus, a number of reels used in the play of the game, a number of bonus symbols on each reel which initiate a bonus game, a rate of expiration of player collected symbols, a rate of accumulation of complementary points, a progression rate of a progressive jackpot, a payout for a particular symbol combination, a probability of a designated symbol combination occurring, an amount of wager required per play of the game, a probability of the player getting into a bonus round, a number of puzzle pieces that need to be collected by the player during a puzzle game, and a probability of at least one bonus round payout occurring.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game parameter serves to control the at least one element of the game such that it affects a manner in which rewards are awarded for the play of the game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to repeat (a) to (f) for a plurality of game parameters.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable a player to select the game parameter.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the game parameter based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

at least one action by a player, at least one event occurring in association with at least one play of the game, and an accumulation of a designated quantity of events occurring in association with at least one play of the game.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to store the set actual value of the determined game parameter in association with a player identification number.

11. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one processor;

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor for each play of a game, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) prior to any random determinations associated with a play of the game;

(i) determine a game parameter,

(ii) determine a range of different values associated with the determined game parameter,

(iii) randomly select at least one of the different values, and

(iv) set an actual value of the determined game parameter based on the at least one randomly selected value, and

(b) after setting the actual value of the game parameter for the play of the game;

(i) determine an outcome, said outcome being determined;

(A) at least in part based on at least one random determination which occurs after the actual value of the determined game parameter is set, and

(B) at least in part based on the set actual value of the determined game parameter,

(ii) display said determined outcome,

(iii) thereafter, determine any award associated with the determined outcome, and

(iv) display to a player any determined award associated with the determined outcome.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the determined game parameter represents at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a number of game symbols with which to start the game,

a number by which any payouts will be multiplied for the play of the game,

a maximum number of spins of the reels displayed before the player is ineligible for a puzzle completion bonus,

a number of said reels used in the play of a reel game,

a number of bonus symbols on each of the reels which initiate a bonus game,

a rate of expiration of player collected symbols,

a rate of accumulation of complementary points,

a progression rate of a progressive jackpot,

a payout for a particular symbol combination,

a probability of a particular symbol combination occurring,

an amount of wager required per spin of the reels,

a probability of the player participating in a bonus round,

a number of puzzle pieces that need to be collected by the player during

a puzzle game, and

a probability of any bonus round payouts occurring.

13. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to repeat (a) for a plurality of game parameters.

14. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to select the determined game parameter.

15. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the game parameter based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

at least one action by the player, at least one event occurring in association with at least one play of the game, and an accumulation of a designated quantity of events occurring in association with at least one play of the game.

16. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to store the set actual value of the determined game parameter in association with a player identification number.

17. A method of operating a gaming system for each play of a game, said method comprising:

(a) prior to any random determinations associated with a play of the game;

(i) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a game parameter,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a range of different values associated with the game parameter,

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly select at least one of the different values, and

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to set an actual value of the game parameter based on the at least one randomly selected value, and

(b) after setting the actual value of the game parameter for the play of the game;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an outcome, said outcome being determined;

(A) at least in part based on at least one random determination which occurs after the actual value of the game parameter is set, and

(B) at least in part based on the set actual value of the game parameter,

(ii) causing at least one display device to display said determined outcome,

(iii) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award associated with the determined outcome, and

(iv) causing the at least one display device to display to a player any determined award associated with the determined outcome.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the game parameter represents at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a number of game symbols with which to start the game,

a number by which any payouts will be multiplied for the play of the game,

a maximum number of spins of the reels displayed before the player is ineligible for a puzzle completion bonus,

a number of said reels used in the play of a reel game,

a number of bonus symbols on each of the reels which initiate a bonus game,

a rate of expiration of player collected symbols,

a rate of accumulation of complementary points,

a progression rate of a progressive jackpot,

a payout for a particular symbol combination,

a probability of a particular symbol combination occurring,

an amount of wager required per spin of the reels,

a probability of the player participating in a bonus round,

a number of puzzle pieces that need to be collected by the player during a puzzle game, and

a probability of any bonus round payouts occurring.

19. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to repeat (a) for a plurality of game parameters.

20. The method of claim 17, which includes enabling the player to select the determined game parameter.

21. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the game parameter based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

at least one action by the player, at least one event occurring in association with at least one play of the game, and an accumulation of a designated quantity of events occurring in association with at least one play of the game.

22. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store the set actual value of the determined game parameter in association with a player identification number.

23. The method of claim 17, which is operated via a data network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network is an internet.