Method and apparatus for bonus round play

• US 20040038733A1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0272 Period of advertisement exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for enabling a player to take a tour of a secondary game at a game machine. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes offering to enable entry of a player into a bonus round of a game machine in exchange for a fee, receiving the fee from the player, and enabling entry of the player into the bonus round. The method further includes receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round, and determining an outcome based on the at least one player selection. In other embodiments, the method includes providing a prize to the player based on the outcome.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

offering to enable entry of a player into a bonus round of a game machine in exchange for a fee;

receiving the fee from the player;

enabling entry of the player into the bonus round;

receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round;

determining an outcome based on the at least one player selection; and

providing a prize to the player based on the outcome.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling entry of the player into the bonus round without requiring that the player first achieve a qualifying outcome.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting at least one lesson to the player during the bonus round.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining the at least one lesson based on the at least one player selection.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the game machine is a slot machine.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the game machine is a video poker machine.

7. The method of claim 1, in which offering comprises:

in exchange for the fee, offering (i) to enable entry of the player into the bonus round, and (ii) at least one play of a primary game.

8. The method of claim 7,

in which the primary game comprises a slot machine game, and

in which the at least one play of the primary game comprises at least one handle pull.

9. A method comprising:

determining an outcome in a bonus round of a slot machine game,

in which the outcome is associated with a first prize,

in which the outcome is associated with a second prize, and

in which a value of the second prize is greater than a value of the first prize;

determining whether a player is taking a tour of the bonus round; and

if the player is taking a tour of the bonus round,

providing the first prize to the player.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the player is not taking a tour of the bonus round,

providing the second prize to the player.

11. The method of claim 9, in which the value of the first prize is greater than zero.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving from the player a fee in exchange for the tour of the bonus round.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving from the player a fee in exchange for the tour of the bonus round and for at least one play of the slot machine game.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting an indication of the first prize value to the player; and

transmitting an indication of the second prize value to the player.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting an indication to the player that the second prize value is not provided for the outcome during the tour.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one player selection during the bonus round.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining at least one lesson; and

transmitting the at least one lesson to the player during the tour of the bonus round.

18. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a request by a player to take a tour of a bonus round;

determining a number of times the player has taken the tour;

determining whether the number of times is greater than a predetermined maximum number of tours allowed; and

if the number of times is not greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed,

enabling the player to take the tour.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if the number of times is greater than the predetermined maximum number of tours allowed,

preventing the player from taking the tour.

20. The method of claim 18, in which determining the number of times the player has taken the tour comprises:

determining a number of times the player has taken the tour at a game machine.

21. The method of claim 18, in which determining the number of times the player has taken the tour comprises:

determining a number of times the player has taken the tour within a predetermined period of time.