Gaming device having a weighted probability for selecting a bonus game

• US 7,131,908 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Ross A.
• Application Number:
  US10/414,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 25- 28, 463/31, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/FOR.138 A, 273/FOR.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 provides a bonus scheme that has more than one and preferably at least three bonus games contained in one bonus scheme. Each bonus game provides excitement and enjoyment to the player via creative visual and audio displays. Each bonus game also has its own theme and may or may not be based upon schemes already known in the art of gaming devices. While the individual bonus games are not necessarily related to each other, the overall bonus scheme, preferably in the initial screen, ties the bonus games together in a master theme that provides flexibility for the individual bonus games to have their own themes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention automatically activates the bonus scheme upon a bonus triggering event. The game selects for the player one of three bonus games contained in the bonus scheme. The player plays the selected game and receives an award and the game returns the player to the base game.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a base game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of bonus games, wherein at least two of said bonus games are different;

a probability associated with each of said bonus games;

at least one image associated with each of said bonus games;

a display device; and

a processor operable with said display device to display the images associated with at least two of said bonus games after the occurrence of a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the base game, to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities, to display the image associated with the selected bonus game and to provide the selected bonus game to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities after displaying the images associated with at least two of said bonus games.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities after displaying the images associated with each of said plurality of bonus games.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities prior to displaying the images associated with at least two of said bonus games.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities prior to displaying the images associated with each of said plurality of bonus games.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to display the image associated with each of said plurality of bonus games after the occurrence of said triggering event.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to display the image associated with each of said plurality of bonus games prior to the occurrence of said triggering event.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable with said display device to display a graphic representation of the selection of one of said bonus games.

9. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein said graphic representation includes displaying, one at a time, a plurality of said images.

10. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein said graphic representation includes displaying, one at a time, each of said images.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of said probabilities are different.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said probabilities are different.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said bonus games are different.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to enable the player to initiate the selection of one of said bonus games.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each bonus game provides a different bonus award.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each bonus game is associated with a different range of bonus awards.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each bonus game is associated with a different range of outcomes.

18. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each bonus game has a different maximum payout award.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the higher the maximum payout award of one of said bonus games, the lower the probability associated with said bonus game.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the higher the maximum payout award of one of said bonus games, the higher the probability associated with said bonus game.

21. A gaming device comprising:

a base game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of bonus games, wherein at least two of said bonus games are different;

a probability associated with each of said bonus games;

at least one image associated with each of said bonus games; and

a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the base game, wherein after the occurrence of said triggering event, the images associated with at least two of said bonus games are displayed, a selection of one of said bonus games occurs based on the probabilities associated with the bonus games, and wherein the image associated with the selected bonus game is displayed and the selected bonus game is provided to the player.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein prior to the occurrence of said triggering event the image associated with at least two of said plurality of bonus games are displayed.

23. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein prior to the occurrence of said triggering event the image associated with each of said bonus games is displayed.

24. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the selection of one of said bonus games occurs after the displaying of said different images.

25. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the selection of one of said bonus games is displayed to the player.

26. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein at least two of said probabilities are different.

27. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein each of said probabilities are different.

28. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein each of said bonus games are different.

29. A gaming device comprising:

at least two different bonus games;

a probability associated with each of said different bonus games;

a different image associated with each of said different bonus games;

a display device; and

a processor operable with said display device to display the different images associated with said different bonus games after the occurrence of a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols, to select one of said different bonus games based on the probabilities, to display the image associated with the selected bonus game and to provide the selected bonus game to a player.

30. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities after displaying the images associated with said different bonus games.

31. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein the processor is operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities prior to displaying the images associated with said different bonus games.

32. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein at least two of said probabilities are different.

33. The gaming device of claim 29, wherein each of said probabilities are different.

34. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

at least two different bonus games;

a probability associated with each of said different bonus games;

a different image associated with each of said different bonus games; and

a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the primary game, wherein after the occurrence of said triggering event, the different images associated with said different bonus games are displayed, a selection of one of said different bonus games occurs based on the probabilities associated with the different bonus games, the image associated with the selected bonus game is displayed and the selected bonus game is provided to the player.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein prior to the occurrence of said triggering event the image associated with each of said bonus games is displayed.

36. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the selection of one of said different bonus games occurs after the displaying of said different images.

37. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the selection of one of said bonus games is displayed to the player.

38. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein at least two of said probabilities are different.

39. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein each of said probabilities are different.

40. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of different secondary games;

a probability associated with each of said different secondary games;

a secondary game initiation device operable by the player;

a display device; and

a processor operable with said display device and said secondary game initiation device, after the occurrence of a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the primary game to enable the player to initiate the selection of one of said secondary games using the secondary game initiation device which causes the processor to select one of said secondary games based on the probabilities associated with said secondary games and to provide the selected secondary game to the player.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the probabilities associated with at least two secondary games are different.

42. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein the probability associated with each secondary game is different.

43. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of secondary games, wherein at least two of said secondary games are different, and wherein each of said secondary games has a probability of being selected;

a display device; and

a processor operable with the display device to randomly select based on said probabilities one of said secondary games after the occurrence of a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in play of the primary game and to provide the selected secondary game to the player.

44. The gaming device of claim 43, wherein each of said secondary games are different.

45. A gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of different secondary games, wherein each of said secondary games has a probability of being selected; and

a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the primary game, wherein after the occurrence of said triggering event in the primary game, one of the different secondary games is randomly selected based on said probabilities and said selected secondary game is provided to the player.

46. A gaming device comprising:

a first game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of second games, wherein at least two of said second games are different;

a probability associated with each second game; and

a triggering event in said first game, wherein after the occurrence of the triggering event in the first game a random selection of one of said second games based on the probabilities occurs, said selected second game is provided to the player wherein the selected second game awards the player a second game award and if the second game award has a value less than a predetermined value, another random selection of one of said second games based on the probabilities occurs and said selected game is provided to the player.

47. The gaming device of claim 46, wherein the probabilities associated with at least two second games are different.

48. The gaming device of claim 46, wherein the probability associated with each second game is different.

49. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of different bonus games, wherein each bonus game has a different range of possible payouts;

a different probability associated with each of said bonus games, wherein the probability associated with each bonus game is related to the associated range of payouts of said bonus game;

a display device; and

a processor operable with said display device to select one of said bonus games based on the probabilities after the occurrence of a triggering event, wherein the triggering event includes an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols, to provide the selected bonus game to a player and to award the player a payout, if any, from the range of payouts associated with the selected bonus game.

50. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein the higher the range of payouts of one of said bonus games, the lower the probability associated with said bonus game.

51. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein the higher the range of payouts of one of said bonus games, the higher the probability associated with said bonus game.

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

(a) providing a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

(b) providing a plurality of secondary games upon a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the primary game, wherein at least two of the secondary games are different and a probability is associated with each secondary game;

(c) randomly selecting one of the secondary games based on the probabilities associated with the secondary games; and

(d) providing the selected secondary game to the player.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the steps are provided through a data network.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) providing a first game operable upon a wager by a player;

(b) providing a plurality of second games upon a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the primary game, wherein each of the second games are different and a different probability is associated with each second game;

(c) randomly selecting one of the second games based on the probabilities associated with the second games; and

(d) providing the selected second game to the player.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the operation of the gaming device is provided through a data network.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) enabling a player to initiate a bonus round upon the occurrence of a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols, wherein the bonus round includes a plurality of different bonus games that are each associated with a probability;

(b) displaying an image associated with each of at least two of said bonus games;

(c) randomly selecting one of said bonus games based on said associated probabilities;

(d) displaying the image associated with said selected bonus game; and

(e) providing the selected bonus game to the player.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the probability associated with each bonus game is different.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the image associated with each of said plurality of bonus games is displayed prior to the selection of one of said bonus games.

61. The method of claim 58, which includes the step of displaying a representation of the selection of one of said bonus games.

62. The method of claim 61, which includes enabling the player to initiate said representation.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the bonus round is provided through a data network.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) triggering a bonus round upon a triggering event including a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols, wherein said bonus round includes a plurality of different secondary games;

(b) randomly selecting one of said secondary games based on probability data, wherein said secondary game is selected by a processor; and

(c) providing the selected secondary game to a player.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the bonus round is provided through a data network.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the data network is an internet.

68. A method of operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

(b) providing a plurality of different secondary games upon a triggering event including an occurrence of a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols in a play of the primary game, wherein each secondary game is associated with a probability and each secondary game is associated with a different range of awards;

(c) randomly selecting one of the secondary games based on the probabilities associated with the secondary games;

(d) providing the selected secondary game to the player; and

(e) awarding the player an award from the range of awards associated with the selected secondary game.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the operation the gaming device is provided through a data network.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the data network is an internet.