Gaming device having regenerating multiple award opportunities

• US 7,066,814 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Glavich, Paulina, Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/960,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 20- 25, 463 40- 42, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

The present invention involves an apparatus and method for regenerating or awarding extra chances or opportunities to a player in connection with a gaming device and preferably in a bonus round of a gaming device. The present invention contemplates regenerating or awarding a plurality of extra chances or opportunities upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. More specifically, the present invention contemplates regenerating or awarding a number of extra chances or opportunities equal to the number of chances or opportunities with which the player enters or begins the game or bonus round of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an initial indicator in a base game controlled by the processor for displaying a plurality of symbols;

an initial number of at least two award opportunities determined if at least one designated symbol or symbol combination is displayed by said initial indicator in a play of the base game, and the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of the base game;

a bonus game caused by the processor to provide the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

a secondary mechanical indicator in the bonus game controlled by the processor, the secondary mechanical indicator caused by the processor to;

(a) display award outcomes resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(b) provide a player with a number of at least two additional award opportunities after at least one of the initial number of award opportunities is initiated, the number of additional award opportunities being directly based on the determined initial number of award opportunities in said play of the base game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is equal to said initial number of award opportunities.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial number of award opportunities is randomly determined.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is predetermined based on the symbol or symbol combination displayed by the initial indicator.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said initial indicator includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said secondary mechanical indicator includes a wheel having a plurality of sections.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the secondary mechanical indicator includes a plurality of re-spin sections, at least two of said re-spin sections providing a different number of additional award opportunities.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes means controlled by said processor for indicating the number of award opportunities and additional award opportunities to a player.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a limit to accumulated award opportunities and additional award opportunities.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, which includes a consolation award provided to a player upon reaching said limit.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the player is provided additional award opportunities upon an occurrence of an award opportunity outcome.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is based on the initial number of award opportunities which have not been used before the generation of the award opportunity outcome.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is based on the initial number of award opportunities which have been used before the generation of the award opportunity outcome.

14. A gaming device comprising:

a processor for providing on a first display to a player, an initial number of at least two award opportunities in a play of a base game, said initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities upon generation of an award opportunity outcome in a play of the base game;

a bonus game caused by the processor to provide the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

a secondary mechanical indicator in the bonus game, the secondary mechanical indicator caused by the processor to;

(a) display at least one award outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(b) provide a number of at least two additional award opportunities after at least one of the initial number of award opportunities is initiated, the number of additional award opportunities being directly based on the determined initial number of award opportunities in said play of the base game.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein said number of additional award opportunities is equal to the initial number of award opportunities.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the first display includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one symbol or symbol combination generates the initial number of award opportunities.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the first display includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols.

18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein said secondary mechanical indicator includes a wheel having a plurality of sections.

19. The gaming device of claim 14, which includes means controlled by the processor for indicating the initial number of award opportunities to said player.

20. The gaming device of claim 14, which includes means controlled by the processor for a player to initiate an outcome indicated by the secondary mechanical indicator.

21. The gaming device of claim 14, which includes a limit to an accumulated number of award opportunities and additional award opportunities.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, which includes a consolation award provided to the player upon reaching the limit.

23. A gaming device comprising:

a processor for providing a number of at least two additional award opportunities in a play of a bonus game upon generation of an opportunity outcome in the bonus game, the number of additional award opportunities being based on an initial number of at least two award opportunities determined in a base game, the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities available in a play of the base game;

a first indicator controlled by the processor for displaying a plurality of symbols in the base game, the processor causing at least one symbol or symbol combination in a play of said base game to generate the initial number of award opportunities in the base game; and

a second indicator controlled by the processor for displaying at least one award outcome and at least one award opportunity outcome in the bonus game, the processor causing the second indicator to;

(a) display at least one award outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(b) indicate the number of additional award opportunities after at least one of the initial number of award opportunities is initiated.

24. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an initial indicator including a plurality of reels in a base slot game controlled by the processor for displaying of a plurality of symbols;

at least two initial award opportunities associated with at least one symbol or symbol combination of the initial indicator in a play of the game, the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of the game;

a bonus game caused by the processor to provide the determined initial number of award opportunities;

a secondary mechanical indicator in the bonus game controlled by the processor, said secondary mechanical indicator including a wheel having a plurality of sections for displaying award outcomes resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities, the bonus game providing at least one award opportunity outcome, the award opportunity outcome providing a player with a plurality of additional award opportunities equal to said initial number of award opportunities in said play of the base game; and

means controlled by said processor for indicating the number of award opportunities, additional award opportunities, and a limit to accumulated award opportunities and additional award opportunities provided to the player.

25. A method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to play a first game;

(b) providing an initial number of at least two award opportunities for a second game to the player during play of said first game wherein the initial number of award opportunities is determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of the first game upon generation of an award opportunity outcome in a play of the first game;

(c) enabling the player to play the second game wherein;

(i) the second game provides the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(ii) the second game displays at least one award opportunity outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(d) providing to the player a number of at least two additional award opportunities based on the initial number of award opportunities in said play of the base game upon the generation of the award opportunity outcome during the second game.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein playing said second game includes rotating a wheel or a cursor.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein playing said second game includes generating an accompanying award.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein providing additional award opportunities includes providing a predetermined number of additional award opportunities.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein providing additional award opportunities includes providing a number of additional award opportunities equal to the initial number of award opportunities.

30. A method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to play a base game;

(b) providing an initial number of at least two award opportunities for a bonus game to said player during play of the base game wherein the initial number of award opportunities for said bonus game is determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of the bonus game upon the generation of an award opportunity outcome in a play of the base game;

(c) enabling the player to play said bonus game wherein;

(i) the bonus game provides the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(ii) the second game displays at least one award opportunity outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(d) providing a number of at least two additional award opportunities equal to the initial number of award opportunities to the player upon generation of the award opportunity outcome during the bonus game.

31. A method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a plurality of symbols in a play of a first game;

(b) determining an initial number of at least two award opportunities in said play of the first game wherein the initial number of award opportunities is;

(i) determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities; and

(ii) is designated for a play of a second game upon generation of an award opportunity outcome in the first game;

(c) providing the determined initial number of award opportunities in the play of the second game;

(d) displaying at least one award opportunity outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(e) providing a number of at least two additional award opportunities upon generation of said award opportunity outcome, said number of additional award opportunities being based on the determined initial number of award opportunities in the play of the first game.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the symbols are identical.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the symbols are adjacent to one another along a payline.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the number of additional award opportunities provided to the player is equal to the number of predetermined symbols displayed.

35. The method of claim 31, which includes selecting the number of additional award opportunities from a plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with each number of predetermined symbols displayed.

36. The method of claim 35, which includes associating a probability with each of said plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities wherein the likelihood of a number of additional award opportunities being selected is based on the number of predetermined symbols displayed.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the number of additional award opportunities associated with at least one of the numbers of predetermined symbols displayed is different from at least one of the numbers of additional award opportunities associated with another number of predetermined symbols.

38. A gaming device comprising:

a first game and a second game;

a processor controlling the first game and the second game;

an initial number of at least two award opportunities for a second game determined for the player during play of said first game based on an award opportunity outcome generated in said first game, the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of the first game or the second game, the processor causing the second game to;

(a) display award opportunity outcomes resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(b) provide a number of at least two additional award opportunities based on said initial number of award opportunities, said additional award opportunities being provided to the player upon the generation of at least one of the award opportunity outcomes during the second game.

39. A gaming device comprising:

a first game and a second game;

a processor controlling the first game and the second game;

an indicator for displaying a plurality of symbols;

an initial number of at least two award opportunities, the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities upon the generation of an award opportunity outcome upon a play of the first game, the determined initial number of award opportunities being provided in a play of the second game,the processor causing;

(a) said initial number of award opportunities provided in the second game to result in at least one award outcome in said second game; and

(b) the second game to provide a number of at least two additional award opportunities, the number of additional award opportunities being based on the initial number of award opportunities determined in the first game; and

at least one predetermined symbol displayed by the indicator in said play of the first game.

40. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the number of additional award opportunities provided to the player is based on the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the indicator.

41. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the predetermined symbols are identical.

42. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the predetermined symbols are adjacent to one another along a payline.

43. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is equal to the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the indicator.

44. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is selected from a plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with each number of predetermined symbols displayed by the indicator.

45. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein a probability is associated with each of said plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities, wherein the likelihood of a number of additional award opportunities being selected is based on the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the indicator.

46. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein at least one of the numbers of additional award opportunities of said plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the indicator is different from at least one of the plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with another number of predetermined symbols.

47. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an initial indicator in a base game controlled by the processor for displaying a plurality of symbols;

an initial number of at least two award opportunities determined if at least one designated symbol or symbol combination is displayed by said initial indicator in a play of the base game, the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of the game; and

a bonus game caused by the processor to provide the determined initial number of award opportunities;

a secondary mechanical indicator in the bonus game caused by the processor to;

(a) display award outcomes resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(b) provide the player with a number of at least two additional award opportunities after at least one of the initial number of award opportunities is initiated, the number of additional award opportunities being based on the determined initial number of award opportunities in the play of the base game.

48. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein the symbols are identical.

49. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein the symbols are adjacent to one another along a payline.

50. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is equal to the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the secondary mechanical indicator.

51. The gaming device of claim 47, wherein the number of additional award opportunities is selected from a plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with each number of predetermined symbols displayed by the secondary mechanical indicator.

52. The gaming device of claim 51, wherein a probability is associated with each of said plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities wherein the likelihood of a number of additional award opportunities being selected is based on the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the secondary mechanical indicator.

53. The gaming device of claim 51, wherein at least one of the numbers of additional award opportunities of said plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with the number of predetermined symbols displayed by the secondary mechanical indicator is different from at least one of the plurality of numbers of additional award opportunities associated with another number of predetermined symbols.

54. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an indicator for displaying a plurality of symbols;

an initial number of at least two award opportunities in a play of a first game, the initial number of award opportunities being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of a first game; and

a second game caused by the processor to;

(a) provide the determined initial number of award opportunities;

(b) display at least one award outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(c) provide a number of at least two additional award opportunities after at least one of the initial number of award opportunities is initiated, the number of additional award opportunities being based on the number of initial award opportunities determined in the first game.

55. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an indicator for displaying a plurality of symbols;

an initial number of at least two award opportunities determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities for different plays of a first game upon generation of an award opportunity outcome in the first game;

a second game caused by the processor to;

(a) provide the determined initial number of award opportunities;

(b) display at least one award opportunity outcome resulting from the determined initial number of award opportunities; and

(c) provide a number of at least two additional award opportunities after at least one of the initial number of award opportunities is initiated, the number of additional award opportunities provided to the player being based on the number of initial award opportunities which have been determined in the first game before the display of the award opportunity outcome in the second game.

56. A gaming device comprising:

a first game and a second game;

a processor controlling the first game and the second game;

a number of first game award opportunities provided to the player during the first game, the number of first game award opportunities being at least two and being determined from a plurality of different possible numbers of award opportunities;

a first game award opportunity outcome provided by the processor;

a number of second game award opportunities provided to the player during the second game; and

a second game award opportunity outcome resulting from the determined number of first game award opportunities, said number of second game award opportunities being at least two and being provided to the player upon the generation of said second game award opportunity outcome after at least one of the first game award opportunities is initiated, the number of second play award opportunities being based on the number of the first play award opportunities determined in the first game.