Gaming system and method employing a player-selected feature for a play of a game or using the player-selected feature to modify another feature for a subsequent play of the game

• US 9,280,874 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Caputo, Scott A., Saunders, Brian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/895,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20140329591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game employing a player-selected one of a plurality of different features. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a set of a plurality of different features, and enables a player to select one of the features for a play of the game. In certain instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game in accordance with the selected feature. In other instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game without the selected feature, and uses the selected feature to modify one of the other, non-selected features that has a designated relationship with the selected feature. The gaming system subsequently enables the player to select the modified feature for a subsequent play of the game.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display 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 input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) initiate a first bonus round upon a first occurrence of a bonus triggering event, said first bonus round having a first quantity of free plays of a bonus game;

(b) for said first bonus round;

(i) for each of a plurality of different locked features, display a partially-obscured representation of said locked feature;

(ii) receive a selection of a first one of the displayed partially-obscured representations associated with a locked first one of the features;

(iii) unlock said locked first feature and display an unobscured representation of said unlocked first feature; and

(iv) for each of the first quantity of free plays of the bonus game, display said free play of said bonus game in accordance with said unlocked first feature;

(c) initiate a second subsequent bonus round upon a second occurrence of the bonus triggering event, said second bonus round having a second quantity of free plays of the bonus game; and

(d) for said second bonus round;

(i) display the unobscured representation of the unlocked first feature;

(ii) for each remaining locked feature, display the partially-obscured representation of said locked feature;

(iii) receive a selection of a second one of the displayed partially-obscured representations associated with a locked second one of the features;

(iv) unlock said locked second feature and display an unobscured representation of said unlocked second feature; and

(v) for each of the second quantity of free plays of the bonus game;

(1) randomly determine whether to use the unlocked first feature, the unlocked second feature, or both for said free play of the bonus game; and

(2) display said free play of the bonus game in accordance with the determined unlocked first feature, the determined unlocked second feature, or both.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, for each locked feature, the partially-obscured representation of said locked feature provides incomplete information associated with said locked feature.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to select the plurality of different locked features from a pool of features.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon initiation of a later bonus round after each of the features has been unlocked, select another, different plurality of features from the set and, for said later bonus round, repeat (b)(i) to (b)(iv).

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) select one of a plurality of different pools of features based on virtual currency accumulated by a player, and

(b) select at least one of the plurality of different features from the selected pool.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the pools includes at least one feature not included in at least one of the other pools.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each unlocked feature is usable in each free play of each subsequent bonus round until all locked features have been unlocked.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device includes an acceptor, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to:

establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item after the physical item is received by the acceptor;

place a first wager on a first play of a primary game after a first actuation of a wager button is received, the credit balance being decreasable by the first wager;

randomly determine and display an outcome of the first play of the primary game, the first bonus triggering event occurring in association with the first play of the primary game;

display any awards associated with the outcome of the first play of the primary game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards;

place a second wager on a second play of a primary game after a second actuation of the wager button is received, the credit balance being decreasable by the second wager;

randomly determine and display an outcome of the second play of the primary game, the second bonus triggering event occurring in association with the second play of the primary game;

display any awards associated with the outcome of the second play of the primary game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards; and

initiate a payout associated with the credit balance after an actuation of a cashout button is received.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for each free play of the bonus game in each bonus round:

randomly determine and display an outcome of said free play of the bonus game; and

display any awards associated with the outcome of said free play of the bonus game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards.

10. 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 initiate a first bonus round upon a first occurrence of a bonus triggering event, said first bonus round having a first quantity of free plays of a bonus game;

(b) for said first bonus round;

(i) for each of a plurality of different locked features, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a partially-obscured representation of said locked feature;

(ii) receiving a selection of a first one of the displayed partially-obscured representations associated with a locked first one of the features;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to unlock said locked first feature and operate with the at least one display device to display an unobscured representation of said unlocked first feature; and

(iv) for each of the first quantity of free plays of the bonus game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display said free play of said bonus game in accordance with said unlocked first feature;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a second subsequent bonus round upon a second occurrence of the bonus triggering event, said second bonus round having a second quantity of free plays of the bonus game; and

(d) for said second bonus round;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the unobscured representation of the unlocked first feature;

(ii) for each remaining locked feature, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the partially-obscured representation of said locked feature;

(iii) receiving a selection of a second one of the displayed partially-obscured representations associated with a locked second one of the features;

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to unlock said locked second feature and operate with the at least one display device to display an unobscured representation of said unlocked second feature; and

(v) for each of the second quantity of free plays of the bonus game;

(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine whether to use the unlocked first feature, the unlocked second feature, or both for said free play of the bonus game; and

(2) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display said free play of the bonus game in accordance with the determined unlocked first feature, the determined unlocked second feature, or both.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, for each locked feature, the partially-obscured representation of said locked feature provides incomplete information associated with said locked feature.

12. The method of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select the plurality of different locked features from a pool of features.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, upon initiation of a later bonus round after each of the features has been unlocked, select another, different plurality of features from the set and, for said later bonus round, repeating (b)(i) to (b)(iv).

14. The method of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

(a) select one of a plurality of different pools of features based on virtual currency accumulated by a player, and

(b) select at least one of the plurality of different features from the selected pool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the pools includes at least one feature not included in at least one of the other pools.

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

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data network is an internet.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein each unlocked feature is usable in each free play of each subsequent bonus round until all locked features have been unlocked.

19. The method of claim 10, which includes:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item after the physical item is received by an acceptor of the gaming system;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to place a first wager on a first play of a primary game after a first actuation of a wager button is received, the credit balance being decreasable by the first wager;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine and operate with the at least one display device to display an outcome of the first play of the primary game, the first bonus triggering event occurring in association with the first play of the primary game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the outcome of the first play of the primary game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to place a second wager on a second play of a primary game after a second actuation of the wager button is received, the credit balance being decreasable by the second wager;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine and operate with the at least one display device to display an outcome of the second play of the primary game, the second bonus triggering event occurring in association with the second play of the primary game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the outcome of the second play of the primary game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance after an actuation of a cashout button is received.

20. The method of claim 19, which includes, for each free play of the bonus game in each bonus round:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine and display an outcome of said free play of the bonus game; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the outcome of said free play of the bonus game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) initiate a first bonus round upon a first occurrence of a bonus triggering event, said first bonus round having a first quantity of free plays of a bonus game;

(b) for said first bonus round;

(i) for each of a plurality of different locked features, cause at least one display device to display a partially-obscured representation of said locked feature;

(ii) operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of a first one of the displayed partially-obscured representations associated with a locked first one of the features;

(iii) unlock said locked first feature and cause at least one display device to display an unobscured representation of said unlocked first feature; and

(iv) for each of the first quantity of free plays of the bonus game, cause at least one display device to display said free play of the bonus game in accordance with said unlocked first feature;

(c) initiate a second subsequent bonus round upon a second occurrence of the bonus triggering event and, said second bonus round having a second quantity of free plays of the bonus game; and

(d) for said second bonus round;

(i) cause at least one display device to display the unobscured representation of the unlocked first feature;

(ii) for each remaining locked feature, cause at least one display device to display the partially-obscured representation of said locked feature;

(iii) operate with the at least one input device to receive a selection of a second one of the displayed partially-obscured representations associated with a locked second one of the features;

(iv) unlock said locked second feature and cause at least one display device to display an unobscured representation of said unlocked second feature; and

(v) for each of the second quantity of free plays of the bonus game;

(1) randomly determine whether to use the unlocked first feature, the unlocked second feature, or both for said free play of the bonus game; and

(2) cause at least one display device to display said free play of the bonus game in accordance with the determined unlocked first feature, the determined unlocked second feature, or both.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein, for each locked feature, the partially-obscured representation of said locked feature provides incomplete information associated with said locked feature.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to select the plurality of different locked features from a pool of features.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, upon initiation of a later bonus round after each of the features has been unlocked, select another, different plurality of features from the set and, for said later bonus round, repeat (b)(i) to (b)(iv).

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) select one of a plurality of different pools of features based on virtual currency accumulated by a player, and

(b) select at least one of the plurality of different features from the selected pool.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein at least one of the pools includes at least one feature not included in at least one of the other pools.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein each unlocked feature is usable in each free play of each subsequent bonus round until all locked features have been unlocked.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item after the physical item is received by an acceptor;

place a first wager on a first play of a primary game after a first actuation of a wager button is received, the credit balance being decreasable by the first wager;

randomly determine and cause the at least one display device to display an outcome of the first play of the primary game, the first bonus triggering event occurring in association with the first play of the primary game;

cause the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the outcome of the first play of the primary game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards;

place a second wager on a second play of a primary game after a second actuation of the wager button is received, the credit balance being decreasable by the second wager;

randomly determine and cause the at least one display device to display an outcome of the second play of the primary game, the second bonus triggering event occurring in association with the second play of the primary game;

cause the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the outcome of the second play of the primary game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards; and

initiate a payout associated with the credit balance after an actuation of a cashout button is received.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for each free play of the bonus game in each bonus round:

randomly determine and cause the at least one display device to display an outcome of said free play of the bonus game; and

cause the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the outcome of said free play of the bonus game, the credit balance being increasable by any awards.