Computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game
A computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game includes: a) playing a main game that is associated with a predetermined first prize combination including a set of virtual prizes, and that is further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria; c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination. A gaming apparatus for performing the computer-implemented method is also disclosed.
This application claims priority of Taiwanese application no. 093122096, filed on Jul. 23, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game that includes main and bonus games.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer-implemented methods and apparatus for playing bingo are known in the art.
The aforesaid gaming apparatus is disadvantageous in that it is monotonous and lacks variety, and is unable to keep the interest of a player who has been playing the bingo game for some time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game so as to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game, comprising:
a) playing a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;
b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria;
c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and
d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit, and a game processor coupled to the user input unit and the display unit. The computer program product configures the gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game, and comprises a computer readable storage medium comprising:
a first code that directs the game processor to allow the player to play a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;
a second code that directs the game processor to award the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game matches the first winning criteria;
a third code that directs the game processor to repeat execution of the first and second codes until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and
a fourth code that directs the game processor to allow the player to play a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming apparatus that comprises a user input unit, a display unit, a game processor coupled to the user input unit and the display unit, and a computer program product for configuring the gaming apparatus to perform consecutive steps of a computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game. The computer-implemented method comprises:
a) playing a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;
b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria;
c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and
d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
The user input unit 21 includes a BET key 24, a CHANGE key 25, a CONFIRM key 26 and a PAYOUT key 27.
The game processor 22 is the core of the gaming apparatus 2. In this embodiment, the game processor 22 is disposed on a game motherboard (circuit board). The computer program product 20 includes a computer readable storage medium (i.e., a memory unit) that is also disposed on the game motherboard and that comprises program codes for configuring the gaming apparatus for playing the progressive game. When the gaming apparatus 2 is powered on, the game processor 22 executes the program codes for performing the following steps of the computer-implemented method for playing the progressive game according to this invention:
Step a): Playing a main game
In this embodiment, the main game of the progressive game is a bingo game. Referring to step 41 in
The graphical user interface 200 further includes an odds table 29. The odds table 29 includes fifteen rows of five number spaces. Each of the rows of the odds table 29 is associated with a corresponding payout multiplier that is marked at a left end thereof. The payout multipliers decrease in a descending order of the rows. The graphical user interface 200 further includes a smaller virtual bingo card 30 having the same content as the virtual bingo card 28, a remainder column 31 showing remaining points of the player, a payout column 32 showing a payout amount to be awarded to the player, and a bet column 33 showing a bet placed by the player.
Next, referring to step 42 in
Subsequently, referring to step 46 in
When the predefined winning bingo pattern is formed, the player is required to operate the CONFIRM key 26 in step 48 in
In step 61 in
The multi-liner pattern includes a plurality of distinct images, such as a crown, a necklace, a bracelet, a belt, a figurine, a specter, etc. In this instance, the game processor 22 selects the crown, the necklace, the bracelet and the belt to form a set of virtual prizes of a first prize combination.
Step b): Awarding of a virtual prize
After step 61, the flow goes to step 62 in
When the main game outcome matches the first winning criteria, the flow goes to step 63 in
In step 62, when the game processor 22 determines that the main game outcome does not match the first winning criteria, the flow goes to step 65 in
Referring to step 81 in
Step c): Repeating Steps a) and b) until the Player has Collected All of the Virtual Prizes in the First Prize Combination
When the flow goes back to
Step d): Playing a bonus game
As shown in
Referring to step 91 in
Therefore, the first time the virtual dancer 409 selects one of the prize windows 404, 405, 406, 407, the player is guaranteed to win one of the bonus prizes. However, since the selected prize window 404, 405, 406, 407 will be emptied subsequently, the probability of winning another one of the bonus prizes will be lowered accordingly.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game, said computer-implemented method comprising:
- a) playing a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;
- b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria;
- c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and
- d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.
2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step d),
- the bonus game is associated with a predetermined second prize combination that includes a set of bonus prizes, and is further associated with a set of predefined second winning criteria for winning one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination,
- the player being awarded one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination when the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.
3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in step d), playing of the bonus game is continued as long as the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.
4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in step a), the main game is a bingo game.
5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 4, wherein step a) includes:
- a1) generating a virtual bingo card with a numerical bingo pattern;
- a2) generating an odds table that includes fifteen rows of five number spaces, each of the rows of the odds table being associated with a corresponding payout multiplier;
- a3) randomly drawing a bingo number, filling in one of the number spaces of the odds table with the drawn bingo number according to drawing sequence of the bingo number, and marking the virtual bingo card accordingly when the drawn bingo number is present in the numerical bingo pattern of the virtual bingo card;
- a4) repeating sub-step a3) until a predefined winning bingo pattern is formed on the marked virtual bingo card; and
- a5) determining a payout amount based on a bet placed beforehand by the player and the payout multiplier associated with one of the rows of the odds table containing a latest one of the bingo numbers that was drawn in sub-step a3) and that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card.
6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first winning criteria is one in which said one of the rows of the odds table containing the latest one of the bingo numbers that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card is located in a predefined winning area of the odds table.
7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said one of the virtual prizes awarded to the player in step b) is chosen randomly from the first prize combination.
8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 7, wherein step a) further includes:
- a6) generating an animated object, the virtual prizes in the first prize combination being ornaments to be put on the animated object upon collection by the player.
9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 8, wherein a door frame having a pair of jambs is further generated in sub-step a6), the animated object being disposed in the door frame between the jambs, a number of prize windows being formed in the jambs.
10. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 9, wherein step d) includes:
- d1) arranging the bonus prizes among the prize windows;
- d2) enabling the animated object to select one of the prize windows within a predetermined time period;
- d3) when the prize window selected in step d2) is not empty, awarding the bonus prize in the selected one of the prize windows to the player, and subsequently emptying the selected one of the prize windows; and
- d4) when the prize window selected in step d2) has been emptied, terminating the bonus game.
11. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 10, wherein sub-step d2) includes causing the animated object to point to different ones of the prize windows within the predetermined time period, the selected one of the prize windows being that pointed to by the animated object at an instant the predetermined time period expired.
12. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, in sub-step d2), the animated object is a virtual dancer that dances and that points to the different ones of the prize windows using its hands.
13. A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit, and a game processor coupled to the user input unit and the display unit, said computer program product configuring said gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game, and comprising:
- a computer readable storage medium comprising: a first code that directs the game processor to allow the player to play a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; a second code that directs the game processor to award the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game matches the first winning criteria; a third code that directs the game processor to repeat execution of said first and second codes until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and a fourth code that directs the game processor to allow the player to play a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.
14. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13, wherein:
- the bonus game is associated with a predetermined second prize combination that includes a set of bonus prizes, and is further associated with a set of predefined second winning criteria for winning one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination;
- said fourth code directing the game processor to award the player one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination when the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.
15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 14, wherein said fourth code directs the game processor to allow the player to continue playing the bonus game as long as the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.
16. The computer program product as claimed in claim 15, wherein the main game is a bingo game.
17. The computer program product as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first code includes:
- a first sub-code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate a virtual bingo card with a numerical bingo pattern;
- a second sub-code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate an odds table including fifteen rows of five number spaces, each of the rows of the odds table being associated with a corresponding payout multiplier;
- a third sub-code that directs the game processor to randomly draw a bingo number, to enable the display unit to fill in one of the number spaces of the odds table with the drawn bingo number according to drawing sequence of the bingo number, and to enable the display unit to mark the virtual bingo card accordingly when the drawn bingo number is present in the numerical bingo pattern of the virtual bingo card;
- a fourth sub-code that directs the game processor to repeat execution of said third sub-code until a predefined winning bingo pattern is formed on the marked virtual bingo card; and
- a fifth sub-code that directs the game processor to determine a payout amount based on a bet placed beforehand by the player through the user input unit and the payout multiplier associated with one of the rows of the odds table containing a latest one of the bingo numbers that was drawn and that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card.
18. The computer program product as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first winning criteria is one in which said one of the rows of the odds table containing the latest one of the bingo numbers that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card is located in a predefined winning area of the odds table.
19. The computer program product as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second code directs the game processor to chose randomly said one of the virtual prizes to be awarded to the player from the first prize combination.
20. The computer program product as claimed in claim 19, wherein said first code further includes:
- a sixth sub-code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate an animated object, the virtual prizes in the first prize combination being ornaments to be put on the animated object upon collection by the player.
21. The computer program product as claimed in claim 20, wherein said sixth sub-code further directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate a door frame having a pair of jambs, the animated object being disposed in the door frame between the jambs, a number of prize windows being formed in the jambs.
22. The computer program product as claimed in claim 21, wherein said fourth code includes:
- a first secondary code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to arrange the bonus prizes among the prize windows;
- a second secondary code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit such that the animated object is able to select one of the prize windows within a predetermined time period; and
- a third secondary code that directs the game processor to award the bonus prize in the selected one of the prize windows to the player and to subsequently empty the selected one of the prize windows when the selected one of the prize windows is not empty, and to terminate the bonus game when the selected one of the prize windows has been emptied.
23. The computer program product as claimed in claim 22, wherein said secondary sub-code directs the game processor such that the display unit causes the animated object to point to different ones of the prize windows within the predetermined time period, the selected one of the prize windows being that pointed to by the animated object at an instant the predetermined time period expired.
24. The computer program product as claimed in claim 23, wherein the animated object generated by the display unit is a virtual dancer that dances and that points to the different ones of the prize windows using its hands.
25. A gaming apparatus comprising a user input unit, a display unit, a game processor coupled to said user input unit and said display unit, and a computer program product for configuring said gaming apparatus to perform consecutive steps of a computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game, said computer-implemented method comprising:
- a) playing a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;
- b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria;
- c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and
- d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.
26. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein, in step d),
- the bonus game is associated with a predetermined second prize combination that includes a set of bonus prizes, and is further associated with a set of predefined second winning criteria for winning one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination,
- the player being awarded one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination when the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.
27. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein, in step d), playing of the bonus game is continued as long as the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.
28. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein, in step a), the main game is a bingo game.
29. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein step a) includes:
- a1) generating a virtual bingo card with a numerical bingo pattern;
- a2) generating an odds table that includes fifteen rows of five number spaces, each of the rows of the odds table being associated with a corresponding payout multiplier;
- a3) randomly drawing a bingo number, filling in one of the number spaces of the odds table with the drawn bingo number according to drawing sequence of the bingo number, and marking the virtual bingo card accordingly when the drawn bingo number is present in the numerical bingo pattern of the virtual bingo card;
- a4) repeating sub-step a3) until a predefined winning bingo pattern is formed on the marked virtual bingo card; and
- a5) determining a payout amount based on a bet placed beforehand by the player and the payout multiplier associated with one of the rows of the odds table containing a latest one of the bingo numbers that was drawn in sub-step a3) and that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card.
30. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first winning criteria is one in which said one of the rows of the odds table containing the latest one of the bingo numbers that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card is located in a predefined winning area of the odds table.
31. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein said one of the virtual prizes awarded to the player in step b) is chosen randomly from the first prize combination.
32. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein step a) further includes:
- a6) generating an animated object, the virtual prizes in the first prize combination being ornaments to be put on the animated object upon collection by the player.
33. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein a door frame having a pair of jambs is further generated in sub-step a6), the animated object being disposed in the door frame between the jambs, a number of prize windows being formed in the jambs.
34. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein step d) includes:
- d1) arranging the bonus prizes among the prize windows;
- d2) enabling the animated object to select one of the prize windows within a predetermined time period;
- d3) when the prize window selected in step d2) is not empty, awarding the bonus prize in the selected one of the prize windows to the player, and subsequently emptying the selected one of the prize windows; and
- d4) when the prize window selected in step d2) has been emptied, terminating the bonus game.
35. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein sub-step d2) includes causing the animated object to point to different ones of the prize windows within the predetermined time period, the selected one of the prize windows being that pointed to by the animated object at an instant the predetermined time period expired.
36. The gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein, in sub-step d2), the animated object is a virtual dancer that dances and that points to the different ones of the prize windows using its hands.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2006
Inventor: Arden Yang (San-Chung City)
Application Number: 11/075,139
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);