Gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections

• US 9,449,467 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Leupp, Jon M., Nicely, Mark C., Isaacson, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US13/626,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a first set of selections and a second set of selections, and initiates a selection round. If a designated selection of the first set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the first set. If a designated selection of the second set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the second set. If the designated ones of the first and second sets of selections have both been picked, the gaming system determines an award based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds. If not, the gaming system ends the selection round, initiates a subsequent selection round, and repeats the above process.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

at least one processor;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including an acceptor; 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 display device and the plurality of input devices to;

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

(b) for a play of a selection game, display a first set of a plurality of selections and a second set of a plurality of selections;

(c) initiate a selection round;

(d) for said selection round;

(i) if a designated one of the first set of selections remains unpicked, enable the player to pick one of the displayed selections of the first set of selections;

(ii) if a designated one of the second set of selections remains unpicked, enable the player to pick one of the displayed selections of the second set of selections; and

(iii) after receiving any player picks;

(A) if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections have both been picked, determine one of a set of a plurality of awards associated with the selection game based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds, display the determined award, and increase the credit balance based on the determined award; and

(B) if at least one of the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections remains unpicked, end said selection round and repeat (d) for another selection round; and

(e) if a cashout input is received by a cashout button, initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at last one processor to, upon an occurrence of a bonus triggering event:

(1) select one of a plurality of bonus games including the selection game, wherein each of the bonus games is associated with a set of a plurality of awards, the sets of awards associated with at least two of the bonus games are different, and the sets of awards each include at least one same award; and

(2) provide (b) to (d) for said play of the selection game when the selected bonus game is the selection game.

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 operate with the at least one display device to:

(a) display the first set of selections in a first selection set display area;

(b) display the second set of selections in a second selection set display area; and

(c) remove any picked non-designated selections of the first set of selections from the first selection set display area and any picked non-designated selections of the second set of selections from the second selection set display area.

4. 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, for each initiated selection round, provide the player a designated quantity of picks, each of which is usable in said selection round.

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 provide an additional award if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a designated quantity of selection rounds.

6. 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 provide an additional award if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a same selection round.

7. 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 provide an additional award opportunity if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a designated quantity of selection rounds.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the additional award opportunity is another play of the selection game.

9. 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 provide the selection game for a designated quantity of selection rounds.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are not picked within the designated quantity of selection rounds, end said play of the selection game; and

(b) for a subsequent play of the selection game for the player, resume the selection game at the point at which said previous play of the selection game ended.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to select the designated quantity of selection rounds from a plurality of different quantities of selection rounds, wherein the set of awards associated with the selection game is based on the selected designated quantity of selection rounds.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein a first designated quantity of selection rounds is associated with a more valuable set of awards than a second, greater designated quantity of selection rounds.

13. 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 display the first set of selections and the second set of selections simultaneously.

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

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item;

(b) for a play of a selection game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a first set of a plurality of selections and a second set of a plurality of selections;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a selection round;

(d) for said selection round;

(i) if a designated one of the first set of selections remains unpicked, enabling the player to pick one of the displayed selections of the first set of selections;

(ii) if a designated one of the second set of selections remains unpicked, enabling the player to pick one of the displayed selections of the second set of selections; and

(iii) after receiving any player picks;

(A) if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections have both been picked, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine one of a set of a plurality of awards associated with the selection game based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds, operate with the at least one display device to display the determined award, and increase the credit balance based on the determined award; and

(B) if at least one of the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections remains unpicked, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to end said selection round and repeating (d) for another selection round; and

(e) if a cashout input is received by a cashout button, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

15. The method of claim 14, which includes:

(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select one of a plurality of bonus games including the selection game, wherein each of the bonus games is associated with a set of a plurality of awards, the sets of awards associated with at least two of the bonus games are different, and the sets of awards each include at least one same award; and

(2) providing (b) to (d) for said play of the selection game when the selected bonus game is the selection game.

16. The method of claim 14, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to:

(a) display the first set of selections in a first selection set display area;

(b) display the second set of selections in a second selection set display area; and

(c) remove any picked non-designated selections of the first set of selections from the first selection set display area and any picked non-designated selections of the second set of selections from the second selection set display area.

17. The method of claim 14, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each initiated selection round, provide the player a designated quantity of picks, each of which is usable in said selection round.

18. The method of claim 14, which includes providing an additional award if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a designated quantity of selection rounds.

19. The method of claim 14, which includes providing an additional award if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a same selection round.

20. The method of claim 14, which includes providing an additional award opportunity if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a designated quantity of selection rounds.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the additional award opportunity is another play of the selection game.

22. The method of claim 14, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the selection game for a designated quantity of selection rounds.

23. The method of claim 22, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

(a) if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are not picked within the designated quantity of selection rounds, end said play of the selection game; and

(b) for a subsequent play of the selection game for the player, resume the selection game at the point at which said previous play of the selection game ended.

24. The method of claim 22, which includes enabling the player to select the designated quantity of selection rounds from a plurality of different quantities of selection rounds, wherein the set of awards associated with the selection game is based on the selected designated quantity of selection rounds.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein a first designated quantity of selection rounds is associated with a more valuable set of awards than a second, greater designated quantity of selection rounds.

26. The method of claim 14, which includes causing the at least one processor execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the first set of selections and the second set of selections simultaneously.

27. The method of claim 14, which is provided through a data network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is an internet.

29. 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) following receipt by an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item;

(b) for a play of a selection game, cause at least one display device to display a first set of a plurality of selections and a second set of a plurality of selections;

(c) initiate a selection round;

(d) for said selection round;

(i) if a designated one of the first set of selections remains unpicked, enable the player to pick one of the displayed selections of the first set of selections;

(ii) if a designated one of the second set of selections remains unpicked, enable the player to pick one of the displayed selections of the second set of selections; and

(iii) after receiving any player picks;

(A) if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections have both been picked, determine one of a set of a plurality of awards associated with the selection game based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds, cause the at least one display device to display the determined award, and increase the credit balance based on the determined award; and

(B) if at least one of the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections remains unpicked, end said selection round and repeat (d) for another selection round; and

(e) if a cashout input is received by a cashout button, initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at last one processor to, upon an occurrence of a bonus triggering event:

(1) select one of a plurality of bonus games including the selection game, wherein each of the bonus games is associated with a set of a plurality of awards, the sets of awards associated with at least two of the bonus games are different, and the sets of awards each include at least one same award; and

(2) provide (b) to (d) for said play of the selection game when the selected bonus game is the selection game.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the at least one display device to:

(a) display the first set of selections in a first selection set display area;

(b) display the second set of selections in a second selection set display area; and

(c) remove any picked non-designated selections of the first set of selections from the first selection set display area and any picked non-designated selections of the second set of selections from the second selection set display area.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for each initiated selection round, provide the player a designated quantity of picks, each of which is usable in said selection round.

33. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide an additional award if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a designated quantity of selection rounds.

34. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide an additional award if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a same selection round.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide an additional award opportunity if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are both picked within a designated quantity of selection rounds.

36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the additional award opportunity is another play of the selection game.

37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide the selection game for a designated quantity of selection rounds.

38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) if the designated one of the first set of selections and the designated one of the second set of selections are not picked within the designated quantity of selection rounds, end said play of the selection game; and

(b) for a subsequent play of the selection game for the player, resume the selection game at the point at which said previous play of the selection game ended.

39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to select the designated quantity of selection rounds from a plurality of different quantities of selection rounds, wherein the set of awards associated with the selection game is based on the selected designated quantity of selection rounds.

40. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein a first designated quantity of selection rounds is associated with a more valuable set of awards than a second, greater designated quantity of selection rounds.

41. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the at least one display device to display the first set of selections and the second set of selections simultaneously.