US 6,780,111 B2 · Method, apparatus and system for perpetual bonus game

Abstract

Methods of playing games and gaming systems and devices useful for playing games. Gaming devices include a first gaming unit for randomly selecting and displaying indicia associated with play of a primary game and for generating a signal relating to play on the first gaming unit. The gaming device also includes a second gaming unit connected to the first gaming unit for conducting an ongoing bonus game and enabling participation by a player in the ongoing bonus game in response to a signal generated by the first gaming unit. The ongoing bonus game may be administered by and communicated from a second gaming unit in the form of a host server to a number of networked gaming devices. Players may enter and exit play of the ongoing bonus game while it is still in progress, participating only in a segment thereof.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of playing a game, the method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player displaying an image associated with a primary game;
determining a game outcome associated with the primary game;
determining if a qualifying activity has occurred during the primary game;
altering an image associated with a bonus game independent of an input from the player until a qualifying activity is determined to have occurred;
altering the image associated with the bonus game according to an input from the player independent of the game outcome of the primary game if the qualifying activity is determined to have occurred;
receiving a termination input;
and
altering the image associated with the bonus game independent of an input from the player after the termination input is received until a qualifying activity is determined to have occurred again.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method, apparatus and system for perpetual bonus game

Life of this patent

Method, apparatus and system for perpetual bonus game

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8