Gaming system and method for providing a selection game

• US 8,795,066 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Slomiany, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US13/793,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20130196746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 463 11- 13, 463 16- 21, 463 25- 27, 463 39- 43
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3262 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

Abstract

A game for a gaming machine having a plurality of different items to be selected by a player, each item having a value in an amount preset for a given bonus round, and a respective initial quantity in a preset amount. The player selects an item, such as one of many items for purchase in a store, and the value for that item is registered, along with subtraction of a unit from the quantity of that item. Provided that the quantity for that item selected is not then zero, the player continues to select another item, with registration of the value for that item and subtraction until an item is selected thereby having a zero quantity.

Claims

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

(a) receiving a first wager in association with a first play of a game, said first play of the game having a first average expected value;

(b) for the first play of the game;

(i) for each of a first plurality of selections, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine an initial quantity of outcomes from a plurality of different initial quantities of outcomes, said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said first plurality of selections being greater than one, and said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said first plurality of selections being different than another initial quantity of outcomes determined for another one of said first plurality of selections;

(ii) thereafter, causing one of the first plurality of selections to be picked;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the quantity of outcomes associated with said selection picked from said first plurality of selections prior to and independent of another one of said selections of said first plurality of selections being picked; and

(iv) repeating steps (ii) to (iii) until the quantity of outcomes associated with at least one of said selections picked from said first plurality of selections is modified to a first designated quantity of outcomes, such that at least one of said selections of said first plurality of selections is pickable a plurality of times;

(c) receiving a second, different wager in association with a second, different play of the game, said second play of the game having a second, different average expected value; and

(d) for the second play of the game;

(i) for each of a second plurality of selections, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an initial quantity of outcomes from the plurality of different initial quantities of outcomes, said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said second plurality of selections being greater than one, and said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said second plurality of selections being different than another initial quantity of outcomes determined for another one of said second plurality of selections;

(ii) thereafter, causing one of the second plurality of selections to be picked;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the quantity of outcomes associated with said selection picked from said second plurality of selections prior to and independent of another one of said selections of said second plurality of selections being picked; and

(iv) repeating steps (ii) to (iii) until the quantity of outcomes associated with at least one of said selections picked from said second plurality of selections is modified to a second designated quantity of outcomes, such that at least one of said selections of said second plurality of selections is pickable a plurality of times.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said first plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the first received wager, and the initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said second plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the second received wager.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said outcomes of said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said first plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the first received wager, and at least one of said outcomes of said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said second plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the second placed wager.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification of said quantity of outcomes is an increase in the quantity of outcomes.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes:

causing at least one display device to display at least one of the outcomes of the initial quantity of outcomes determined for each picked selection for each play of the game,

providing each displayed outcome to a first player for the first play of the game, and

providing each displayed outcome to a second player for the second play of the game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first player and the second player are the same player.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first designated quantity of outcomes and the second designated quantity of outcomes are different.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first designated quantity of outcomes and the second designated quantity of outcomes are each zero.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outcomes associated with at least one of the selections includes an amount of non-monetary credits.

10. The method of claim 1, which is provided through a data network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) receiving a wager in association with a play of a primary game;

(b) if a first triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, for a play of a secondary game having a first average expected value;

(i) for each of a first plurality of selections, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine an initial quantity of outcomes from a plurality of different initial quantities of outcomes, said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said first plurality of selections being greater than one, and said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said first plurality of selections being different than another initial quantity of outcomes determined for another one of said first plurality of selections;

(ii) thereafter, causing one of the first plurality of selections to be picked;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the quantity of outcomes associated with said selection picked from said first plurality of selections prior to and independent of another one of said selections of said first plurality of selections being picked; and

(iv) repeating steps (ii) to (iii) until the quantity of outcomes associated with at least one of said selections picked from said first plurality of selections is modified to a first designated quantity of outcomes, such that at least one of said selections of said first plurality of selections is pickable a plurality of times; and

(c) if a second, different triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, for a different play of the secondary game having a second, different average expected value;

(i) for each of a second plurality of selections, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an initial quantity of outcomes from the plurality of different initial quantities of outcomes, said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said second plurality of selections being greater than one, and said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of said second plurality of selections being different than another initial quantity of outcomes determined for another one of said second plurality of selections;

(ii) thereafter, causing one of the second plurality of selections to be picked;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the quantity of outcomes associated with said selection picked from said second plurality of selections prior to and independent of another one of said selections of said second plurality of selections being picked; and

(iv) repeating steps (ii) to (iii) until the quantity of outcomes associated with one of said selections picked from said second plurality of selections is modified to a second designated quantity of outcomes, such that at least one of said selections of said second plurality of selections is pickable a plurality of times.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said first plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the first triggering event, and the initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said second plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the second triggering event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said first plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the received wager, and the initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said second plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the received wager.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of said outcomes of said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said first plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the first triggering event, and at least one of said outcomes of said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said second plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the second triggering event.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of said outcomes of said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said first plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the received wager, and at least one of said outcomes of said initial quantity of outcomes determined for at least one of the selections of said second plurality of selections is determined based, at least in part, on the received wager.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said modification of said quantity of outcomes is an increase in the quantity of outcomes.

18. The method of claim 12, which includes:

causing at least one display device to display at least one of the outcomes of the initial quantity of outcomes determined for each picked selection for each play of the game,

providing each displayed outcome to a first player for the first play of the game, and

providing each displayed outcome to a second player for the second play of the game.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first player and the second player are the same player.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the first designated quantity of outcomes and the second designated quantity of outcomes are different.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the first designated quantity of outcomes and the second designated quantity of outcomes are each zero.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the outcomes associated with at least one of the selections includes an amount of non-monetary credits.

23. The method of claim 12, which is provided through a data network.

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