Gaming device having a selectively accessible bonus scheme
First Claim
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1. A gaming system comprising:
- a housing;
at least one display device supported by the housing;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;
(i) an acceptor, and(ii) a cashout device; and
a controller configured to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;
(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,(b) for each of at least one play of a primary game;
(i) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, one of a plurality of different wager amounts on said play of the primary game, said credit balance being decreasable based on said received wager amount on said play of the primary game,(ii) randomly determine, via the controller, a primary game outcome,(iii) display, via the at least one display device, the randomly determined primary game outcome,(iv) determine, via the controller, any primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome,(v) display, via the at least one display device, any determined primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, said credit balance being increasable based on any displayed primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome,(vi) determine, via the controller, whether to accumulate any bonus award symbols, and(vii) if the determination is to accumulate any bonus award symbols, accumulate, via the controller, at least one bonus award symbol, wherein;
(A) a first quantity of accumulated bonus award symbols is associated with an availability of a first selectively accessible random bonus award determination, said first random bonus award determination having a first predetermined average expected payout, and(B) a second, different quantity of accumulated bonus award symbols is associated with an availability of a second, different selectively accessible random bonus award determination, said second, different random bonus award determination having a second, different predetermined average expected payout, and(c) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming device having a bonus scheme, wherein the player may choose when to play a bonus scheme, so long as the player is qualified to do so. The method of qualifying the player to enter the bonus round connects or links the base game operation of the gaming device with the bonus scheme. The reels of the base game contain symbols which alone or in combination with other symbols yield one or more bonus awards to a player. The bonus awards are escrowed and displayed a bonus award escrow display. Once the player obtains a single bonus award, the player becomes eligible or qualified to play the bonus round and the player may choose to do so at any time. The player can accumulate bonus awards and use multiple bonus awards at one time.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a housing; at least one display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device; and a controller configured to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, (b) for each of at least one play of a primary game; (i) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, one of a plurality of different wager amounts on said play of the primary game, said credit balance being decreasable based on said received wager amount on said play of the primary game, (ii) randomly determine, via the controller, a primary game outcome, (iii) display, via the at least one display device, the randomly determined primary game outcome, (iv) determine, via the controller, any primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, (v) display, via the at least one display device, any determined primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, said credit balance being increasable based on any displayed primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, (vi) determine, via the controller, whether to accumulate any bonus award symbols, and (vii) if the determination is to accumulate any bonus award symbols, accumulate, via the controller, at least one bonus award symbol, wherein; (A) a first quantity of accumulated bonus award symbols is associated with an availability of a first selectively accessible random bonus award determination, said first random bonus award determination having a first predetermined average expected payout, and (B) a second, different quantity of accumulated bonus award symbols is associated with an availability of a second, different selectively accessible random bonus award determination, said second, different random bonus award determination having a second, different predetermined average expected payout, and (c) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A gaming system comprising:
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a housing; at least one display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device; and a controller configured to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, (b) for each of at least one play of a primary game; (i) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, one of a plurality of different wager amounts on said play of the primary game, said credit balance being decreasable based on said received wager amount on said play of the primary game, (ii) randomly determine, via the controller, a primary game outcome, (iii) display, via the at least one display device, the randomly determined primary game outcome, (iv) determine, via the controller, any primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, (v) display, via the at least one display device, any determined primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, said credit balance being increasable based on any displayed primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, (vi) determine, via the controller, whether to accumulate any bonus award symbols, and (vii) if the determination is to accumulate any bonus award symbols, accumulate, via the controller, at least one bonus award symbol, (c) if a first quantity of bonus award symbols are accumulated and if an input to selectively access a first bonus award determination having a first predetermined average expected payout is received; (i) randomly determine, via the controller, a first bonus award determination outcome, (ii) display, via the at least one display device, the randomly determined first bonus award determination outcome, (iii) determine, via the controller, any bonus award associated with the displayed first bonus award determination outcome, and (iv) display, via the at least one display device, any determined award associated with the displayed first bonus award determination outcome, said credit balance being increasable based on any displayed award associated with the displayed first bonus award determination outcome, (d) if a second, different quantity of bonus award symbols are accumulated and if an input to selectively access a second bonus award determination having a second, different predetermined average expected payout is received; (i) randomly determine, via the controller, a second bonus award determination outcome, (ii) display, via the at least one display device, the randomly determined second bonus award determination outcome, (iii) determine, via the controller, any bonus award associated with the displayed second bonus award determination outcome, and (iv) display, via the at least one display device, any determined award associated with the displayed second bonus award determination outcome, said credit balance being increasable based on any displayed award associated with the displayed second bonus award determination outcome, and (e) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gaming system comprising:
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a housing; at least one display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device; and a controller configured to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, (b) for each of at least one play of a primary game; (i) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, one of a plurality of different wager amounts on said play of the primary game, said credit balance being decreasable based on said received wager amount on said play of the primary game, (ii) randomly determine, via the controller, a primary game outcome, (iii) display, via the at least one display device, the randomly determined primary game outcome, (iv) determine, via the controller, any primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, (v) display, via the at least one display device, any determined primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, said credit balance being increasable based on any displayed primary game award associated with the displayed primary game outcome, (vi) determine, via the controller, whether to accumulate any bonus award symbols, and (vii) if the determination is to accumulate any bonus award symbols, accumulate at least one bonus award symbol, wherein a first quantity of accumulated bonus award symbols is associated with a first locked award determination having a first predetermined average expected payout and a second, different quantity of accumulated bonus award symbols is associated with a second, different locked award determination having a second, different predetermined average expected payout, (c) upon an occurrence of a triggering event; (i) if the first quantity of bonus award symbols are accumulated; (A) unlock, via the controller, the first award determination, and (B) receive an input, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, to cause one of a first plurality of awards associated with the first award determination to be randomly determined, and (ii) if the second quantity of bonus award symbols are accumulated; (A) unlock, via the controller, at least the second award determination, and (B) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, at least one of;
(I) an input to cause one of the first plurality of awards associated with the first award determination to be randomly determined, and
(II) an input to cause one of a second plurality of awards associated with the second award determination to be randomly determined, and(d) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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Original AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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InventorsBaerlocher, Anthony J., Gerrard, Peter
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Primary Examiner(s)Elisca, Pierre E
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Application NumberUS14/619,852Publication NumberTime in Patent Office356 DaysField of Search463/16, 463/20, 463/25US Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesG07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or...G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming...G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determ...G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determi...G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play...G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping o...
