Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing a multi-stage dice bonus game

• US 8,795,048 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Schaefer, Craig M., Smith, Vincent P., Johnson, Brian A., Planet, Mathew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William M.
• Application Number:
  US13/312,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20130143645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 463/10, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/10
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure provides gaming systems, devices, and methods providing a multi-stage bonus game. When a first stage triggering event occurs, the gaming system initiates a first bonus game stage. During the first stage, the gaming system enables the player to roll dice, and determine any first stage awards based on the outcome or outcomes of the rolls. When a second stage triggering event occurs, the gaming system initiates a second bonus game stage. During the second stage, the gaming system enables the player to roll dice, and may provide the player with elements, which the player accumulates during the second stage, based on the outcome or outcomes of the rolls. When a second stage termination event occurs, the gaming system determines any second stage awards based on a total quantity of elements accumulated by the player, provides the player with any determined awards, and terminates the bonus game.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

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

(a) receive a wager from a player for a play of a primary game;

(b) initiate a first stage of a bonus game upon an occurrence of a first stage triggering event;

(c) for the first stage of the bonus game;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different potential first stage outcomes, the potential first stage outcomes including a first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes and a second quantity of the potential first stage outcomes, each of the first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes being different from each of the second quantity of the potential first stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined first stage outcome is one of the first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes;

(A) determine a first stage award based on the determined first stage outcome;

(B) determine whether a quantity of first stage outcome determinations has reached a designated quantity of first stage outcome determinations;

(C) if the quantity of first stage outcome determinations has not reached the designated quantity of first stage outcome determinations;

(1) modify the quantity of first stage outcome determinations, and

(2) repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii); and

(D) if the quantity of first stage outcome determinations has reached the designated quantity of first stage outcome determinations;

(1) determine a threshold second stage outcome, the threshold second stage outcome being one of a plurality of different second stage outcomes; and

(2) initiate a second stage of the bonus game; and

(iii) if the determined first stage outcome is one of the second quantity of the potential first stage outcomes;

(A) determine the threshold second stage outcome, and

(B) initiate the second stage; and

(d) for the second stage;

(i) determine one of the potential second stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined second stage outcome is the threshold second stage outcome, repeat (d)(i) to (d)(iv);

(iii) if the determined second stage outcome is greater than the threshold second stage outcome;

(A) modify a total quantity of elements;

(B) determine whether the total quantity of elements has reached a designated quantity of elements;

(C) if the total quantity of elements has not reached the designated quantity of elements, repeat (d)(i) to (d)(iv);

(D) if the total quantity of elements has reached the designated quantity of elements;

(1) determine any second stage awards based on the total quantity of elements, and

(2) provide any determined first stage awards and any determined second stage awards; and

(iv) if the determined second stage outcome is less than the threshold second stage outcome;

(A) determine any second stage awards based on the total quantity of elements, and

(B) provide any determined first stage awards and any determined second stage awards to the player.

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a primary game;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a first stage of a bonus game upon an occurrence of a first stage triggering event;

(c) for the first stage of the bonus game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different potential first stage outcomes, the potential first stage outcomes including a first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes and a second quantity of the potential first stage outcomes, each of the first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes being different from each of the second quantity of the potential first stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined first stage outcome is one of the first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes;

(A) determine a first stage award based on the determined first stage outcome;

(B) determine whether a quantity of first stage outcome determinations has reached a designated quantity of first stage outcome determinations;

(C) if the quantity of first stage outcome determinations has not reached the designated quantity of first stage outcome determinations;

(1) modify the quantity of first stage outcome determinations, and

(2) repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii); and

(D) if the quantity of first stage outcome determinations has reached the designated quantity of first stage outcome determinations;

(1) determine a threshold second stage outcome, the threshold second stage outcome being one of a plurality of different second stage outcomes; and

(2) initiate a second stage of the bonus game; and

(iii) if the determined first stage outcome is one of the second quantity of the potential first stage outcomes;

(A) determine the threshold second stage outcome, and

(B) initiate the second stage; and

(d) for the second stage, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) determine one of the potential second stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined second stage outcome is the threshold second stage outcome, repeat (d)(i) to (d)(iv);

(iii) if the determined second stage outcome is greater than the threshold second stage outcome;

(A) modify a total quantity of elements;

(B) determine whether the total quantity of elements has reached a designated quantity of elements;

(C) if the total quantity of elements has not reached the designated quantity of elements, repeat (d)(i) to (d)(iv);

(D) if the total quantity of elements has reached the designated quantity of elements;

(1) determine any second stage awards based on the total quantity of elements, and

(2) cause any determined first stage awards and any determined second stage awards to be provided; and

(iv) if the determined second stage outcome is less than the threshold second stage outcome;

(A) determine any second stage awards based on the total quantity of elements, and

(B) cause any determined first stage awards and any determined second stage awards to be provided.

3. The method of claim 2, which is provided through a data network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data network is an internet.

5. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

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

(a) receive a wager from a player for a play of a primary game;

(b) upon an occurrence of a first stage triggering event, initiate a first stage of a bonus game;

(c) for the first stage;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different potential first stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined first stage outcome satisfies a first stage continuation condition, determine a first stage award and repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii);

(iii) if the determined first stage outcome satisfies a first stage termination condition, initiate a second stage of the bonus game; and

(d) for the second stage;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different potential second stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined second stage outcome satisfies a second stage continuation condition, modify a total quantity of elements and repeat (d)(i) to (d)(iii); and

(iii) if the determined second stage outcome satisfies a second stage termination condition;

(A) determine a second stage awards based on the total quantity of elements, and

(B) provide any determined first stage awards and any determined second stage awards.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the potential first stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential first stage outcomes, and the first stage continuation condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes for the first stage.

7. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the potential first stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential first stage outcomes, and the first stage termination condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the second different quantity of the potential first stage outcomes for the first stage.

8. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the first stage termination condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines a designated quantity of first stage outcomes for the first stage.

9. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the potential second stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential second stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential second stage outcomes, and the second stage continuation condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the first quantity of the potential second stage outcomes for the second stage.

10. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii) when an alternative second stage continuation condition occurs.

11. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the potential second stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential second stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential second stage outcomes, and the second stage termination condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the second different quantity of the potential second stage outcomes for the second stage.

12. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to modify the total quantity of elements by increasing the total quantity of elements by a designated quantity of elements.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the second stage termination condition is satisfied when the total quantity of elements reaches a maximum quantity of elements.

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a primary game;

(b) upon an occurrence of a first stage triggering event, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a first stage of a bonus game;

(c) for the first stage, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different potential first stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined first stage outcome satisfies a first stage continuation condition, determine a first stage award and repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii);

(iii) if the determined first stage outcome satisfies a first stage termination condition, initiate a second stage of the bonus game; and

(d) for the second stage, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different potential second stage outcomes;

(ii) if the determined second stage outcome satisfies a second stage continuation condition, modify a total quantity of elements and repeat (d)(i) to (d)(iii); and

(iii) if the determined second stage outcome satisfies a second stage termination condition;

(A) determine a second stage awards based on the total quantity of elements, and

(B) cause any determined first stage awards and any determined second stage awards to be provided.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the potential first stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential first stage outcomes, and the first stage continuation condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes for the first stage.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the potential first stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential first stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential first stage outcomes, and the first stage termination condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the second different quantity of the potential first stage outcomes for the first stage.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first stage termination condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines a designated quantity of first stage outcomes for the first stage.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the potential second stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential second stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential second stage outcomes, and the second stage continuation condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the first quantity of the potential second stage outcomes for the second stage.

19. The method of claim 14, which includes repeating (c)(i) to (c)(iii) when an alternative second stage continuation condition occurs.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the potential second stage outcomes include a first quantity of the potential second stage outcomes and a second different quantity of the potential second stage outcomes, and the second stage termination condition is satisfied when the at least one processor determines one of the second different quantity of the potential second stage outcomes for the second stage.

21. The method of claim 14, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the total quantity of elements by increasing the total quantity of elements by a designated quantity of elements.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second stage termination condition is satisfied when the total quantity of elements reaches a maximum quantity of elements.

23. The method of claim 14, which is provided through a data network.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the data network is an Internet.