Slot machine bonus game providing awards for manual dexterity

• US 9,165,419 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Games Global Operations Limited
• Original Assignee: Etasse Limited
• Inventors: Heymann, Jorge
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/874,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,924 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/7, 463 10- 14, 463 16- 23, 463 25- 27, 463 29- 34, 463/42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/141.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.J, 273/317.1, 273/453, 273460-461
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A slot machine method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a bonus round for a slot machine game that allows players to use manual dexterity in order to earn prizes in a bonus round. Moving elements can be selected (e.g., shot, touched, etc.) and if successfully selected, the player can earn a bonus award. Bonus awards can accumulate until the bonus round is over. The bonus round can end when either a predefined time is over or the player selects a termination element.

Claims

1. A method to implement and terminate a bonus round on a slot machine, the method comprising:

displaying, by a display device connected to a processing unit, a plurality of moving elements selectable during at least part of the bonus round, wherein a size and speed of at least some of the plurality of moving elements change while displayed by the display device;

receiving by the processing unit from an input unit during the bonus round, a player selection of a first moving element from among the plurality of moving elements;

determining, randomly by the processing unit, that the first moving element is a termination element, wherein the first moving element is not predetermined to be the termination element prior to receiving the player selection; and

terminating the bonus round in response to the processing unit determining the first moving element is the termination element.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein selection of a moving element from among the plurality of moving elements comprises the element being touched on a touch screen input/output device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein selection of a moving element from among the plurality of moving elements comprises shooting a projectile from a shooter displayed on the display device, and wherein shooting the projectile occurs in response to pressing a button.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processing unit from the input unit during the bonus round, but prior to receiving the player selection of the first moving element, a player selection of a second moving element from among the plurality of moving elements;

determining, by the processing unit after receiving the player selection of the second element, that the second moving element is not the termination element;

determining, by the processing unit, an award for the player selection of the second element, wherein an amount of the award is dependent upon a size and speed of the selected second element at a time the second element is selected; and

outputting the award for the player selection of the second element.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the award is selected from a set of selectable awards,

wherein the set of selectable awards include multiple awards associated with a common speed, but associated with a different size,

wherein a largest award of the multiple awards is associated with the smallest size of the different sizes, and

wherein a smallest award of the multiple awards is associated with the largest size of the different sizes.

6. The method of claim 4,

wherein the award is selected from a set of selectable awards,

wherein the set of selectable awards include multiple awards associated with a common size, but associated with a different speed,

wherein a largest award of the multiple awards is associated with the slowest speed of the different speeds, and

wherein a smallest award of the multiple awards is associated with the fastest speed of the different speeds.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the processing unit determines the award for the player selection of the second element using a formula that includes at least a constant, a speed value determined at a time the second element is selected by the input unit, and a size value determined at the time the second element is selected by the input unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the moving elements disappears from the display device randomly.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the moving elements appears on the display device randomly.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, by the display device, a stationary element selectable to cause the processing unit to determine whether the stationary element is a termination element or an award.

11. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the award dependent upon the size and the speed of the selected second element is a multiplier which results in a cash award determined by multiplying an award won during a game that triggers entry into the bonus round by the multiplier.

12. A slot machine to implement and terminate a bonus round, the slot machine comprising:

a processing unit;

a non-transitory computer-readable data storage unit comprising computer-readable program instructions executable by the processing unit;

a display device connected to the processing unit, wherein the display device is configured to display a plurality of moving elements selectable during at least a part of the bonus round, wherein a size and speed of at least some of the plurality of moving elements change while displayed by the display device; and

an input unit connected to the processing unit, wherein the input unit is configured to receive a player selection of a first moving element from among the plurality of moving elements displayed via the display device during at least the part of the bonus round,

wherein the processing unit is programmed to execute the computer-readable program instructions so as to determine randomly that the first moving element is a termination element and to terminate the bonus round in response to the processing unit determining the first moving element is the termination element, wherein the first moving element is not predetermined to be the termination element prior to receiving the player selection.

13. The slot machine of claim 12, wherein the processing unit, the data storage unit, the display device, and the input unit are part of a multi-reel slot machine.

14. The slot machine of claim 12, wherein the processing unit determines an award awarded for a player selection of a second element using a formula that includes at least a constant, a speed value determined at a time the second element is selected by the input unit, and a size value determined at the time the second element is selected by the input unit.

15. The slot machine of claim 12, wherein one or more of the moving elements disappears from the display device randomly.

16. The slot machine of claim 12, wherein one or more of the moving elements appears on the display device randomly.

17. The slot machine of claim 12, wherein the display device is further configured to display a stationary element selectable to cause the processing unit to determine whether the stationary element is a termination element or an award.

18. The slot machine system of claim 14,

wherein the award awarded for the player selection of the second element equals the constant times the speed value divided by the size value.

19. The slot machine system of claim 18,

wherein a size of the second element is specified in terms of pixels, and

wherein a speed of the second element is specified as a ratio of pixels per seconds of motion.

20. The slot machine system of claim 14, wherein the award awarded for the player selection of the second element equals the constant times the speed value divided by the size value.