Wagering game having bonus payout based on similarity of objects
A gaming machine and a method for conducting a wagering game at the gaming machine includes a bonus payout based on a similarity of objects that are accumulated by a player. The accumulated objects are compared with a final object and a player is awarded a first bonus payout based on identical matching of objects and a second bonus payout based on the similarity of objects.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a gaming machine and a method of playing a wagering game at the gaming machine, and more particularly, to a gaming machine and method of playing a wagering game having a bonus game that awards a bonus payout based on similarity of objects. The wagering game also includes an object-reducing feature that removes one or more objects that are assigned to a player while playing the bonus game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
One concept successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may, additionally, award players with “progressive jackpot” awards funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a controller that is operative to accumulate at least one of a plurality of player-assigned objects. The controller is operative to compare at least one of the player-assigned objects to a final object that is revealed during the wagering game. The controller awards a first payout in response to at least one of the player-assigned objects matching the final object to a first extent and a second payout in response to at least one of the player-assigned objects matching the final object to a second extent that is different from the first extent.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming machine is disclosed. The method includes, in response to receiving a wager input from a player at the gaming machine, conducting the wagering game and accumulating at least one of a plurality of player-assigned objects. The method further includes comparing at least one of the player-assigned objects to a final object and awarding a first payout in response to at least one of the player-assigned objects identically matching the final object. Additionally, the method includes awarding a second payout in response to at least one of the player-assigned objects being only similar to the final object.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal is disclosed. The wagering game has a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The randomly selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes. The method includes the steps of, in response to receiving a wager input from a player at the gaming terminal, conducting the wagering game and triggering a bonus game having a plurality of objects. The method also includes accumulating at least one of the plurality of objects. The plurality of objects are associated with a credit amount. The method further includes reducing the number of accumulated objects during the course of the bonus game based on predetermined criteria and, after reducing, achieving an award based on matching of the remaining accumulated objects.
In other embodiments, a gaming machine for playing a wagering game is comprised of a basic game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome that has been selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input. The gaming machine also includes a bonus game having a plurality of objects that are accumulated by a player. The number of accumulated objects is reduced during the course of said wagering game based on predetermined criteria. After the reduction of accumulated objects, a payout is awarded based on matching of the remaining accumulated objects.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. The detailed description and Figures will describe many of the embodiments and aspects of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSThe present invention is directed to a gaming machine and a method of playing a wagering game at the gaming machine that includes player-attractive features that enhance game-play and offer players more and greater ways to win. The wagering game of the present invention includes a feature for matching similar objects that have been assigned to or collected by a player during a bonus game. Additionally, the wagering game includes an object-reducing feature that removes some of the assigned or collected objects during play of the bonus game. Once a player reaches the end of the bonus game, he or she may be awarded a bonus payout based on the matching of similar objects.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and is herein described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure shall be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. For output, the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 for showing information about the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 can also show information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for showing game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine 10.
The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits inserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see
player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 used to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key 30, or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26 may provide inputs for one aspect of game operation while the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of game operation.
The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12 as seen in
The operation of the basic wagering game is shown to the player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also show the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual associated to at least one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle towards the player of the gaming machine 10.
A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 32 indicating one or more outcomes of the basic game; such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player.
In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a player information reader 52 allowing for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in
Turning now to
The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatile memory (i.e., a random-access memory [RAM]) and a non-volatile memory (i.e., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or credits were input via the value input device 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.
As seen in
Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, the controller 34 manages and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (i.e., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Even though the I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be noted that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.
Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or reside inside and/or outside the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In
The primary display 14 of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in more detail in
In the embodiment shown in
Once a player places a wager, the randomly selected outcome is displayed via the primary display 14 on reels 136, 138, 140, 142, 144. The symbols displayed on the reels 136, 138, 140, 142, 144 indicate the randomly selected outcome to the player. One of the randomly selected outcomes may correspond to a start-bonus-game outcome and may include any number of symbols or symbol combinations on one or more active paylines. For example, three “Big City Bonus” symbols on reels 136, 138, 140 along a center payline 146 correspond to a start-bonus-game outcome and trigger a bonus game in the “Cat's Meow” wagering game, as depicted in
Once triggered, the bonus game may prompt a player to make certain selections at various times throughout the bonus game. These selections may include selecting certain objects that are player-selectable objects. These player-selectable objects may include player-assigned objects. The player-assigned objects may be assigned by the controller 34 or collected by a player at the beginning of the bonus game or at various times throughout the bonus game.
At the beginning of the bonus game, the player may be allowed to select player-selectable objects from a plurality of objects as shown in
In some embodiments, upon selection of a player-selectable object, i.e., 165b, the player may be assigned at least one player-assigned object 167. For example, in
As the bonus game proceeds, the player-assigned objects may be displayed for use with other player-selectable objects. For example, as shown in
Each of the player-assigned objects 167a-167f and the player-selectable objects 169a-169e may be associated with an award, a bonus game feature or some other item that advances the bonus game. As the player progresses through the bonus game, some of these awards, features, etc. may be revealed to the player. For example, in
In the embodiment depicted in
As the bonus game progresses, the player may be allowed to make additional selections from additional sets of player-selectable objects to further increase his or her bonus payout. As mentioned above, in addition to revealing other credit awards, some of the player-selectable objects, if selected, may reveal additional player-assigned objects, i.e., “presents,” that can be added to the player's existing collection of player-assigned objects.
In addition to credit awards and non-credit awards (i.e., player-assigned objects), other features may be revealed that are less desirable. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a second set of player-selectable objects 175a-175d are displayed to a player. The player makes a selection hoping that additional credit awards (such as credit awards 177a-177c in
Once a player makes a selection of one of the player-assigned objects 167a-167f, the item associated with the selected player-assigned object is revealed to the player. In the embodiment depicted in
As the player advances through the bonus game, the successive screens may include a fewer number of play-selectable objects. In the embodiment described herein, the number of player-selectable objects, i.e., the number of trash cans, clothes line items and balconies, continues to decrease as the player moves to the final bonus screen. For example,
Once the player reaches the end of the bonus scenes, all of the player-assigned objects 167 that are still held by the player are revealed. Along with revealing the player-assigned objects 167, a final object 187 is also revealed (see
For example, in
Even if the player-assigned objects 167 do not match the final object 187 identically, the player may receive a second multiplier 191 if any of the player-assigned objects 167 are similar to the final object 187 (the daisies). For example, in
As described above, “similar” objects are objects that are not identical but share similarly-themed items, such as a flower pot or bouquet of roses, daises, or other flowers. Other items that may be “similar” may include necklaces, rings, earrings, and other jewelry-related items. Further examples are food-related items, such as fish and fish bones and/or a candy bar and piece of candy. It is contemplated that there are many other items that may be considered to be “similar” items and these particular examples are not meant to limit the types of items that may be considered similar.
In some embodiments, the first multiplier 189 is larger than the second multiplier 191. However, the first multiplier 189 may be the same as or smaller than the second multiplier 191. The final bonus payout is reflected in the bonus payout meter 173 which includes first and second bonus payouts (i.e., 300 credits), as well as the credit awards earned from selections of the player-selectable objects (i.e., 35 credits) and the remaining non-matched player-assigned objects (i.e., 230 credits). Thus, the total credit award reflected in the bonus payout meter 173 is 565 credits.
In other embodiments, a gaming machine for playing a wagering game is comprised of a basic game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome that has been selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input. The gaming machine also includes a bonus game having a plurality of objects that are accumulated by a player. The number of accumulated objects is reduced during the course of said wagering game based on predetermined criteria. After the reduction of accumulated objects, a payout is awarded based on matching of the remaining accumulated objects.
The wagering game as described herein may be played via a computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing the gaming machine 10.
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
- a value input device for receiving a wager; and
- a controller operative to accumulate at least one of a plurality of player-assigned objects; compare said at least one player-assigned object to a final object revealed during the wagering game; award a first payout in response to said at least one player-assigned object matching said final object to a first extent; award a second payout in response to said at least one player-assigned object matching said final object to a second extent different from said first extent.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said first payout is larger than said second payout.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1, further including at least one display for displaying said wagering game.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said first payout and said second payout correspond to a credit amount associated with said player-assigned objects being multiplied by at least one multiplier.
5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein said multiplier for said first payout is greater than said multiplier for said second payout.
6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to accumulate said at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects in response to player input.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to initially assign said plurality of player-assigned objects to said player.
8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein said plurality of player-assigned objects that are initially assigned to said player are selected from an array of player-selectable objects.
9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said controller is operative to eliminate one or more of said player-assigned objects prior to awarding said first or second payout.
10. A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming machine, said method comprising:
- in response to receiving a wager input from a player at said gaming machine, conducting said wagering game;
- accumulating at least one of a plurality of player-assigned objects;
- comparing said at least one player-assigned object to a final object;
- in response to said at least one player-assigned object identically matching said final object, awarding a first payout; and
- in response to said at least one player-assigned object being only similar to said final object, awarding a second payout.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first payout is larger than said second payout.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising multiplying a credit amount associated with said player-assigned objects by at least one multiplier to obtain said first payout and said second payout.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said multiplier for said first payout is greater than said multiplier for said second payout.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein said accumulating of at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects includes initially assigning said at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects to said player.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects that are initially assigned to said player are selected from an array of player-selectable objects.
16. The method of claim 10, further including, after said accumulating, eliminating one or more of said plurality of player-assigned objects during play of said wagering game.
17. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing said gaming machine to perform the method of claim 10.
18. A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal, said wagering game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, said randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes, said method comprising:
- in response to receiving a wager input from a player at said gaming terminal, conducting said wagering game;
- triggering a bonus game having a plurality of objects;
- accumulating at least one of said plurality of objects, said plurality of objects being associated with a credit amount;
- reducing the number of said accumulated objects during the course of said bonus game based on predetermined criteria;
- after said reducing, achieving an award based on matching of said remaining accumulated objects.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said accumulating includes assigning said at least one of said plurality of objects to said player upon starting said bonus game.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein said achieving said award includes receiving a first payout based on identical matching of at least one of said remaining accumulated objects with a final object.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein said achieving said award includes receiving a second payout based on having at least one of said remaining accumulated objects that is similar to a final object.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 10, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 15, 2007
Inventors: Benjamin Gomez (Chicago, IL), Michael Casey (Chicago, IL), Bradley Rose (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/201,010
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);