Progressive wagering game having symbol-triggering award feature

• US 9,159,200 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aoki, Dion K.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US14/101,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20140094266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming device is presented that includes a wager input device, a display, and at least one controller. The controller executes the wagering game, which includes first and second progressive awards each associated with a respective symbol-based outcome. Each symbol-based outcome has a respective frequency of occurrence. The controller randomly determines an outcome of the wagering game. The controller initiates a progressive-award-determination sequence in response to displaying the first and/or second symbol-based outcomes. There is a first probability of awarding the first progressive award, and a second probability of awarding the second progressive award. The first initial-award amount is greater than the second initial-award amount, the first frequency of occurrence is lower than the second frequency of occurrence, and the first probability is greater than the second probability.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of conducting a wagering game having a multi-player bonus feature, the method comprising:

detecting, via an input device on a first gaming terminal, a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that changes based on play of the wagering game at the first gaming terminal;

receiving, at the first gaming terminal, an input indicative of a wager to initiate the wagering game on the first gaming terminal, the wager being deducted from the credit balance;

in response to randomly selecting, via at least one of one or more processors, a bonus feature trigger during the wagering game on the first gaming terminal, initiating a play of the multi-player bonus feature on the first gaming terminal;

in response to achieving a first bonus outcome during the play of the multi-player bonus feature, determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, whether to award a first bonus award selected from a plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal or to increase a probability of awarding the first bonus award in a subsequent play of the multi-player bonus feature; and

in response to achieving a second, different bonus outcome during the play of the multi-player bonus feature, determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, whether to award a second bonus award selected from a plurality of bonus awards primarily available in response to a first bonus outcome achieved during play at a second, different gaming terminal or to increase a probability of awarding the second, different bonus award in a subsequent play of the multi-player bonus feature at the first gaming terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein awarding either of the first bonus award or the second bonus award includes setting the probability of winning the respective first or second bonus award to a non-zero default probability.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second bonus awards is a progressive award, and further wherein awarding the at least one of the first and second bonus awards includes resetting the respective progressive award value to a predetermined, non-zero initial value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a visual indication of a current probability of awarding at least one of the first and second bonus awards.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bonus outcome includes displaying one or more designated bonus symbols, and wherein the displayed one or more designated bonus symbols determine which of the plurality of awards associated with the first gaming terminal is the first bonus award.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to award the second bonus award includes randomly determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, whether to award the second bonus award.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to award the second bonus award includes starting a catapult sequence on the first gaming terminal in which a catapult shoots at a structure displayed on the second gaming terminal, and wherein the second bonus award is awarded if the structure is knocked down or destroyed by the catapult shot.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bonus must be awarded on the next first bonus outcome after achieving a predetermined number of first bonus outcomes.

9. A gaming system configured to conduct a wagering game having a multi-player bonus feature, the gaming system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to;

detect, via at least one of one or more input devices on a first gaming terminal, a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that changes based on play of the wagering game at the first gaming terminal;

receive, at the first gaming terminal, an input indicative of a wager to initiate the wagering game on the first gaming terminal, the wager being deducted from the credit balance;

randomly select a game outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes of the wagering game;

in response to the selected game outcome including a bonus feature trigger, initiate a play of the multi-player bonus feature on the first gaming terminal;

in response to achieving a first bonus outcome during the play of the multi-player bonus feature, determine whether to award a first bonus award selected from a plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal;

in response to achieving a second, different bonus outcome during the play of the multi-player, determine whether to award a second bonus award selected from a plurality of bonus awards primarily available in response to a first bonus outcome achieved during play at a second, different gaming terminal;

in response to failing to award the first bonus award, increase a probability of awarding the first bonus award in a subsequent play of the multi-player bonus feature; and

in response to failing to award the second bonus award, increase a probability of awarding the second bonus award in a subsequent play of the multi-player bonus feature on the first gaming terminal.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the bonus feature trigger is a mystery trigger.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the bonus feature includes one or more free spins of a plurality of reels displayed on at least one of one or more display devices of the gaming system.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the first bonus outcome determines which bonus award of the plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal is the first bonus award.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the first bonus outcome includes displaying one or more designated bonus symbols, and wherein the displayed one or more designated bonus symbols determine which bonus award of the plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal is the first bonus award.

14. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the second bonus outcome starts a catapult sequence in which a catapult shoots at a structure displayed on the second gaming terminal.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the second bonus award must be awarded on the next catapult shot outcome after the structure receives predetermined number of catapult shots.

16. A gaming system for conducting wagering game having a multi-player bonus feature, the gaming system comprising:

a first, a second, and a third gaming terminal;

a random element generator configured to generate one or more random elements; and

one or more processors configured to;

detect, via an electronic input device on the first gaming terminal, a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that changes based on play of the wagering game at the first gaming terminal;

receive, at the first gaming terminal, an input indicative of a wager to initiate the wagering game on the first gaming terminal, the wager being deducted from the credit balance;

select, based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements, a game outcome from a plurality of possible outcome of the wagering game;

in response to the selected game outcome including a bonus feature trigger, initiate a play of the multi-player bonus feature on the first gaming terminal;

in response to receiving a first bonus outcome during the play of the multi-player bonus feature, determine whether to award a first bonus award selected from a plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal;

in response to achieving a second, different bonus outcome during the play of the multiplayer bonus feature, determine whether to award a second, different bonus award selected from a plurality of bonus awards primarily available in response to a first bonus outcome achieved during play at the second gaming terminal;

in response to failing to award the first bonus award, increase a probability of awarding the first bonus award in a subsequent play of the multi-player bonus feature; and

in response to failing to award the second bonus award, increase a probability of awarding the second bonus award to either of the first and third gaming terminals in a subsequent play of the multi-player bonus feature.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the bonus feature trigger is a mystery trigger.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the multi-player bonus feature includes one or more free spins of a plurality of reels displayed on an electronic display device of the gaming system.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first bonus outcome determines which bonus award of the plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal is the first bonus award.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first bonus outcome includes displaying one or more designated bonus symbols, and wherein the displayed one or more designated bonus symbols determine which bonus award of the plurality of bonus awards associated with the first gaming terminal is the first bonus award.