METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BONUS ROUND PLAY

• US 20120108322A1
• Filed: 01/04/2012
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,957 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 of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

causing at least one gaming system processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the play of the primary game;

when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, causing the at least one gaming system processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a play of a bonus round;

causing the at least one gaming system processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round on a game machine; and

enabling the player to take the tour, wherein an entity provides a payment to an operator of the game machine in exchange for the player taking the tour, the tour is taken without any occurrence of the triggering event and the gaming system processor, the player, the entity, and the operator of the game machine are distinct from each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity includes at least one of a merchant, a vendor and a game manufacturer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon a cost of the tour.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon at least one of ownership, rental, and usage of the game machine.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes disenabling the player to take the tour based upon the occurrence of a condition.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the condition includes a predetermined level of demand for the game machine.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the condition includes a predetermined time period.

8. The method of claim 1, which is executed through a data network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

cause at least one display device to display the play of the primary game;

when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, cause the at least one display device to display a play of a bonus round;

receive an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round on a game machine; and

enable the player to take the tour, wherein an entity provides a payment to an operator of the game machine in exchange for the player taking the tour, the tour is taken without any occurrence of the triggering event, and the gaming system processor, the player, the entity, and the operator of the game machine are distinct from each other.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the entity includes at least one of a merchant, a vendor and a game manufacturer.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon a cost of the tour.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon at least one of ownership, rental, and usage of the game machine.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, which includes disenabling the player to take the tour based upon the occurrence of a condition.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the condition includes a predetermined level of demand for the game machine.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the condition includes a predetermined time period.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a gaming system processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the gaming system processor and storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

display the play of the primary game;

when a triggering event occurs in association with the play of the primary game, display a play of a bonus round;

receive an indication of a request by the player to take a tour of the bonus round on a game machine; and

enable the player to take the tour, wherein an entity provides a payment to an operator of the game machine in exchange for the player taking the tour, the tour is taken without any occurrence of the triggering event, and the gaming system processor, the player, the entity, and the operator of the game machine are distinct from each other.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the entity includes at least one of a merchant, a vendor and a game manufacturer.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon a cost of the tour.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an amount of the payment is based in part upon at least one of ownership, rental, and usage of the game machine.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, which includes disenabling the player to take the tour based upon the occurrence of a condition.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the condition includes a predetermined level of demand for the game machine.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the condition includes a predetermined time period.