Gaming machine with selection feature

[0001] The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more particularly, to a slot machine including a selection feature.

[0002] Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several 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 each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by increasing the entertainment value and excitement for the player.

[0003] One concept originally employed to increase the entertainment value of a reel spinning game is a bonus round, providing the player with a different game experience occurring randomly during play of the basic game. Typically, a predetermined set of symbols on the basic reel game triggers a bonus round. Bonus games take on a variety of themes and in many cases require the player to make choices that typically instill a feeling of control or self-destiny.

[0004] A concept often found in bonus games today is the selection of animated characters or objects that potentially provide the player with a winning outcome. In many cases, the selection results in immediate feedback to the player of an award, a loss, or the completion of the bonus round. Another example of this concept is the requirement or ability to match objects or characters to realize or enhance a winning outcome, or, in some cases, to end the bonus game. Typically, this involves choosing an object or character to reveal a particular characteristic, then attempting to choose (or avoid) another object with identical or similar characteristics to create a matched set. Often times this type of bonus selection is ended when an object is chosen to reveal a bonus ending symbol or result. Bonus selections can also take the form of a simple quota or maximum quantity. When the player selects the maximum number of allowed choices, the bonus round ends and the player is returned to the basic slot game.

[0005] An alternative to the matching concept and the maximum number of objects chosen would increase the entertainment value of the bonus game and increase the feeling of control for the player.

[0006] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of conducting a wagering game, comprising displaying a plurality of selectable elements and selecting a fixed number of the selectable elements. If the selected elements form a predefined set, the game awards an additional number of selections of the selectable elements. The game provides an award based on the selected elements. An apparatus for conducting the wagering game is also disclosed.

[0007] In another embodiment, a medium is encoded with a program for implementing a method. The program directs a device to perform the steps of displaying a plurality of selectable elements and selecting a fixed number of the selectable elements. The program further directs the device to perform the steps of awarding an additional number of selections of the selectable elements if the selected elements form a predefined set and providing an award based on the selected elements.

[0020] 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. However, it should be understood 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.

[0021] FIG. 1 depicts a gaming machine 10 operable to conduct a video reel slot game. In operation, the gaming machine receives a wager from a player to purchase a “play” of the game. In a “play” of the game, the gaming machine generates at least one random event using a random number generator and provides an award to the player for a winning outcome of the random event. To portray the random event and outcome to the player, the gaming machine includes a video display 12. For a video reel slot game, the video display 12 portrays a plurality of simulated reels that are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with one or more pay lines.

[0022] The video display 12 is preferably in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma, or other type of video display known in the art. The display 12 preferably includes a touch screen 18 overlaying the monitor. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the display 12 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the display 12 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10. In addition to the display 12, the gaming machine 10 may include a secondary display 14 for displaying additional game information such as a bonus feature. The game may be operated by the touch screen 18 or by a button panel 16.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine. Money/credit detector 22 signals a central processing unit (CPU) 20 when a player has inserted money or played a number of credits. The money may be provided by coins, bills, tickets, coupons, cards, etc. Using a button panel 16 and/or the touch screen 18, the player may select any variables associated with the wagering game and place his/her wager to purchase a play of the game. In a play of the game, the CPU 20 generates at least one random event using the random number generator and provides an award to the player for a winning outcome of the random event. Alternatively, the random event may be generated by a remote computer using an RNG or pooling schema and then transmitted to the gaming machine. The CPU 20 operates the display 12 to represent the random event(s) and outcome(s) in a visual form that can be understood by the player. In addition to the CPU 20, the control system may include one or more additional slave control units for operating one or more of the displays 12 and 14.

[0024] System memory 24 stores control software, operational instructions and data associated with the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the system memory 24 comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random-access memory (RAM). However, it will be appreciated that the system memory 24 may be implemented on any of several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure. A payoff mechanism 26 is operable in response to instructions from the CPU 20 to award a payoff to the player. The payoff may, for example, be in the form of a number of credits. The number of credits is determined by one or more math tables stored in the system memory 24.

[0025] Referring back to FIG. 1, to play the reel slot game, a player selects a number of pay lines and places a wager on the selected lines using the button panel 16 and/or the touch screen 18. In response to pressing a “Spin Reels” button, the CPU spins and randomly stops the plurality of simulated reels on the display 12 to place symbols on the reels in visual association with the pay lines. Other mechanisms, such as a handle, may be used to set the reels in motion. The number of reels and pay lines may be varied to be more or less than what is illustrated. The CPU 20 uses the random number generator to select a game outcome (e.g., “basic” game outcome) corresponding to a particular set of reel “stop positions.” The CPU 20 then causes each of the reels to stop at the appropriate stop position. Symbols are displayed on the reels to graphically illustrate the reel stop positions and indicate whether the stop positions of the reels represent a winning game outcome.

[0026] Winning basic game outcomes (e.g., symbol combinations resulting in payment of coins or credits) are identifiable to the player by a pay table. The pay table may be affixed to the machine 10 and/or displayed by the display 12 in response to a command by the player (e.g., by pressing a “Pay Table” key). A winning basic game outcome occurs when the symbols appearing on the reels along a pay line correspond to one of the winning combinations on the pay table. A winning combination, for example, could be a number of matching symbols along an active pay line, where the award is greater as the number of matching symbols along the pay line increases. If the displayed symbols stop in a winning combination, the game credits the player an amount corresponding to the award in the pay table for that combination multiplied by the number of credits wagered on the active pay line. The player may collect the amount of accumulated credits by pressing a “Collect” key.

[0027] The present invention provides a feature allowing the player to collect sets of objects or animated characters during a bonus round and to continue bonus play until all sets have been collected or the allowable number of selections has been exhausted. In the following embodiment, an entertaining video reel slot game called “Double Stampede Deluxe” provides a bonus round allowing the player to choose six animated cattle to realize additional credits. FIG. 3 displays a reel combination from “Double Stampede Deluxe” that triggers a bonus game. In this example, the display 12 reveals bonus symbols 30 on the first, second, and third reels along an active pay line. As will be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art, the manner in which the bonus is triggered can be determined by any combination of any number of bonus symbols as defined by the reel slot video game and presented in the pay table or game instructions.

[0028] Display 12 in FIG. 4 now allows the player to choose one of the bonus symbols (animated steer) from a “corral” 32. The player's choice is moved to a visual position, separating it to identify it as selected. In this example, the separate position is displayed as a “holding pen” 34. Display 12 also identifies the types of “brands” 36 associated with the animated steer and the number needed to complete a set. In this example, an animated steer 38 has been initially selected from “corral” 32 and placed in “holding pen” 34. The Steer 38 displays an animated “gem” brand that corresponds to one of the sets of available brands 36. Steer 38 also displays a credit amount that is added to a “Bonus Won” meter 42. A “Picks Remaining” meter 40 identifies to the player the number of remaining selections allowed during this bonus round. In this example, a total of six picks were allowed to the player when the bonus round started and after the initial pick (steer 38), five picks remain. The “Bonus Won” meter 42 identifies the total number of credits won based on adding the credits displayed on each steer in “holding pen” 34.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the results of all six of the player's choices. The player has chosen a matched set of animated steer 38 based on the animated “brand” displayed on each. The “Picks Remaining” meter now displays a zero indicating that all selections have been completed.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows the matched set of steer 38 moved from the “holding pen” 34. In this example, a set comprises three steer. Because the three steer 38 were moved from the “holding pen” 34, three additional spaces are available in the “holding pen” 34 allowing three additional picks from the “corral” 32 to the player. This is also represented on the “Picks Remaining” meter 40. An animated “cowboy” character 44 announces the completion of the set and the availability of additional picks to the player.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows another example of a matched set. As steer are selected from the “corral” 32, the “holding pen” 34 becomes “full”. Credits revealed on selected steer are again added to the “Bonus Won” meter 42. Because the “brand” on three of the steer 46 in the “holding pen” 34 comprise a match, these steer are moved out of the “holding pen” 34 creating an additional three picks for the player. The bonus game continues in this manner until the “holding pen” 32 is full (without another completion of a matched set) or all of the steer have been selected from the “corral” 32.

[0032] Another embodiment of this invention is presented in the reel slot game “MONOPOLY Own It All”. FIG. 8 is a display image of the basic reel slot game “MONOPOLY Own It All” showing a bonus triggering combination of animated reel images 48. As will be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art, the manner in which the bonus is triggered can be determined by any combination of any number of bonus symbols as defined by the reel slot video game and presented in the pay table or game instructions.

[0033] FIGS. 9a and 9b are presented simultaneously on top box display 14 and main game display 12, respectively. FIG. 9a displays the available objects in sets comprising the bonus game. In this example, the objects are property cards from the popular board game MONOPOLY. FIG. 9b shows the reverse side of all the property cards 50. The property cards 50 are randomly placed in a grid format.

[0034] FIGS. 10a and 10b are presented simultaneously on top box display 14 and main game display 12, respectively. In this example, the player has begun selecting or picking property cards from the grid of cards on display 12. FIG. 10a is an image of display 14 showing all property cards with the player selected property cards 56 highlighted. Completed sets of property cards are identified with the word “MONOPOLY” 57. FIG. 10b displays the remaining available property cards 50, the selected property cards not forming a set 52 and an entertaining representation of the selected property cards forming a set 54. The selected set 54 was previously positioned with the other selected property cards 52 but have been moved freeing up three spaces and allowing three additional selections for the player. Credit values associated with each property card are displayed on the selected cards 52 and an accumulated value for all selected cards is displayed in a “Bonus Won” meter 57.

[0035] FIGS. 11a and 11b are presented simultaneously on top box display 14 and main game display 12, respectively. In this example, the player has continued selecting or picking property cards from the grid of cards on display 12. FIG. 11a is an image of display 14 showing all property cards with the player selected property cards 56 highlighted. FIG. 11b displays the remaining available property cards 50, the selected property cards not forming a set 52 and an entertaining representation of another set of selected property cards 54. The selected set 54 was previously positioned with the other selected property cards 52 but has been moved freeing spaces and allowing additional selections for the player. In a variation to the matched set, “wild” cards are also available. FIG. 11b shows a “wild” card 58 being selected. A “wild” card in addition to other like property cards can complete sets.

[0036] 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.

[0037] For example, the number of objects comprising a set may vary depending on the math table and entertainment requirements of the game. The number of sets needed to free up additional selections may also vary. Another variation is a method for providing an unlimited number of selectable objects and limiting the time allowed to make selections to create sets. The number of objects available with like characteristics in the selectable group of objects may be more than the number required to create a group. For instance, there may be four or more like objects in a selectable group but only three are required to make a set. Awards presented can vary from credits to free reel spins to multipliers. The number of added selections can also vary such that any set created, no matter how many objects are required to create that set, can provide any number of additional selections including a varied number.

[0038] 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.