Bonus with proximity of occurrence related to base game outcomes or payback percentage
AssigneePatent Investment & Licensing Company
InventorJOHN F. ACRES
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Each play of a base game increases the likelihood of winning a bonus award. A display provides a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of winning the bonus award. In one aspect, the bonus award comprises the opportunity to play a secondary game. In another aspect, winning the bonus award may be based on payback percentage or outcomes of the base game. In yet another aspect, the timing of the next bonus award can be configured, or otherwise based on one or more conditions.
Claims26
A gaming device comprising:
- a base game;
- at least one number generator configured to select a trigger threshold;
- a secondary game;
- at least one counter configured to count the occurrence of at least one base game event, the counter being operatively connected to the secondary game, which is configured to be enabled when the count bears a predefined relationship to the trigger threshold;
- and
- a process configured to modify the count by a number that is a function of a payback percentage of the base game.
A method of operating a gaming device comprising:
- selecting at least one trigger threshold;
- generating at least one count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event;
- modifying the count by a number that is a function of a payback percentage of a base game of the gaming device;
- and
- enabling a secondary game when the modified count is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold.
The method of 2 wherein modifying the count by a number that is a function of the base game payback percentage comprises adding the count to a function of 1 minus the base game payback percentage.
The method of 3 wherein the function of 1 minus the game payback percentage comprises K·(1−the game payback percentage), wherein K is a constant.
The method of 2 wherein modifying the count by a number that is a function of the base game payback percentage comprises adding the count to a function of 1 plus the base game payback percentage.
The method of 5 wherein the function of 1 plus the game payback percentage comprises K·(1+the game payback percentage), wherein K is a constant.
A gaming device comprising:
- a base game;
- and
- a secondary game configured to be randomly enabled when a count reaches a predefined threshold on an average frequency that is related to a payback percentage of the base game.
A gaming device comprising:
- a base game;
- at least one counter configured to generate a count related to the occurrence of at least one base game event;
- and
- a secondary game associated with the base game, the secondary game configured to be randomly enabled on an average frequency that is related to the count.
A gaming device comprising:
- a base game;
- at least one number generator configured to select at least one trigger threshold;
- at least one bonus award mechanism configured to award a bonus award;
- and
- at least one counter configured to generate a count related to base game outcomes, the counter being operatively connected to the bonus award mechanism, which is configured to award the bonus award when the count bears a predefined relationship to the trigger threshold.
A gaming device comprising:
- a base game;
- at least one number generator configured to select a trigger threshold;
- a secondary game;
- and
- at least one counter configured to generate a count related to base game outcomes, the counter being operatively connected to the secondary game, which is configured to be enabled when the count bears a predefined relationship to the trigger threshold.
A method of operating a gaming device comprising:
- selecting at least one trigger threshold;
- generating at least one count related to gaming device outcomes;
- and
- enabling a secondary game when the count substantially equals the trigger threshold.
The method of 11 wherein the gaming device outcomes are related to a predefined combination of symbols.
The method of 11 wherein each gaming device outcome comprises a predefined combination of symbols.
The method of 11 wherein the gaming device outcomes include winning and losing combinations of symbols and wherein the count relates to the occurrence of the winning combinations.
The method of 11 wherein the gaming device outcomes include winning and losing combinations of symbols and wherein the count relates to the occurrence of the losing combinations.
A gaming device comprising:
- a base game having outcomes that include winning outcomes and losing outcomes;
- and
- a secondary game configured to be randomly enabled on an average frequency that is related to the occurrence of at least one losing outcome.
A method of operating a plurality of gaming devices, the method comprising:
- selecting at least one trigger threshold;
- generating a count related to the occurrence of an event associated with at least one of a first gaming device and a second gaming device;
- modifying the count by a number that is a function of a payback percentage of a base game of at least one of the first and second gaming devices;
- and
- enabling a secondary game when the modified count is greater than or equal to the trigger threshold.
A gaming system comprising:
- a first base game associated with a first gaming system;
- a second base game associated with a second gaming system;
- a counter configured to generate a count related to base game outcomes of at least one of the first and second gaming systems;
- a secondary game associated with the first and second base games, the secondary game configured to be enabled based on the count.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.