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US 6,908,383 B2Granted
Gaming device with a bonus scheme involving movement along paths with path change conditions
AssigneeIgt
InventorsAnthony J. Baerlocher, Peter Gerrard, Dov L. Randall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bonus scheme for a gaming device which involves a symbol marker which advances along one or more paths. The paths include a plurality of symbols and one or more path change conditions. If a path change condition occurs, the symbol marker moves from one path to a different path. While advancing along certain paths, the player has the opportunity to gain bonus value depending upon which symbol the symbol marker visits. This type of bonus scheme increases player excitement for gaming devices.
Claims46
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a symbol marker;
- at least one path change condition associated with at least the first path, wherein the path change condition is selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) the symbol marker moving to a designated symbol on the first path at least twice, (b) the symbol marker moving to a designated type of symbol on the first path at least twice, and (c) the symbol marker completing at least two trips through the first path;
- and
- a display device operable to display:
- (a) the first path, the second path and the symbols to a player upon an event associated with the game;
- (b) the symbol marker moving, on at least one occasion, from one of the symbols on the first path to another one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) after the path change condition occurs in association with the first path, the symbol marker at one of the symbols on the second path;
- and (d) the symbol marker moving, on at least one occasion, from one of the symbols on the second path to another one of the symbols on the second path.
8 more elements
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a symbol indicator operable to sequentially indicate a plurality of the symbols;
- at least one path change condition associated with at least the first path, wherein the path change condition is selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the first path at least twice, (b) the symbol indicator indicating a designated type of symbol on the first path at least twice, and (c) the symbol indicator indicating a plurality of symbols on the first path in at least two trips through the first path;
- and
- a display device operable to:
- (a) display the first path, the second path and the symbols to a player;
- (b) display the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) display, after a first event occurs, the symbol indicator indicating a different one of the symbols on the first path;
- (d) display, after the path change condition occurs, the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the second path;
- and (e) display, after a second event occurs, the symbol indicator indicating a different one of the symbols on the second path.
9 more elements
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols, the first path further including a plurality of identical type symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a path change condition associated with the first path, the path change condition including an association of a designated quantity of the identical type symbols with a change from the first path to the second path, wherein the designated quantity is at least two;
- and
- a display device operable to:
- (a) display the first path, the second path and the symbols to a player;
- (b) graphically indicate one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) graphically indicate one of the identical type symbols on the first path and maintain said indication for a period of time;
- (d) graphically indicate at least one of the other identical type symbols on the first path and maintain said indication for a period of time;
- and (e) graphically indicate one of the symbols on the second path after the path change condition occurs.
7 more elements
A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the method comprising:
- (a) beginning the game;
- (b) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a first path;
- (c) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a second path;
- (d) displaying a symbol marker, at least once, at one of the symbols on the first path and then at another one of the symbols on the first path;
- (e) enabling a path change condition to occur which is selected from the group consisting of:
- (i) enabling the symbol marker to move to one of the symbols on the first path a designated number of times, wherein the designated number of times is at least two;
- (ii) enabling the symbol marker to move to a designated type of symbol on the first path a designated number of times, wherein the designated number of times is at least two;
- and
- (iii) enabling the symbol marker to make a designated number of trips through the first path, wherein the designated number of trips is at least two;
- (f) displaying the symbol marker at one of the symbols on the second path after the path change condition occurs;
- (g) displaying the symbol marker, at least once, at one of the symbols on the second path and then at another one of the symbols on the second path;
- and
- (h) providing to a player an outcome associated with at least one of the symbols.
10 more elements
A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the method comprising:
- (a) beginning the game;
- (b) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a first path;
- (c) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a second path;
- (d) indicating one of the symbols on the first path;
- (e) enabling a first event to occur;
- (f) indicating a different one of the symbols on the first path;
- (g) enabling a path change condition to occur which is selected from the group consisting of:
- (i) determining one of the symbols on the first path a designated number of times, wherein the designated number of times is at least two;
- (ii) determining a designated type of symbol on the first path a designated number of times, wherein the designated number of times is at least two;
- and
- (iii) determining a designated number of trips through the first path, wherein the designated number of trips is at least two;
- (h) indicating one of the symbols on the second path after the path change condition occurs;
- (i) enabling a second event to occur;
- (j) indicating a different one of the symbols on the second path;
- and
- (k) providing to a player an outcome associated with at least one of the symbols.
13 more elements
A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the method comprising:
- (a) beginning the game;
- (b) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a first path, the symbols including a plurality of identical type symbols;
- (c) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a second path;
- (d) indicating one of the symbols on the first path;
- (e) enabling a first event to occur;
- (f) indicating at least two of the identical type symbols on the first path and maintaining said indication for a period of time;
- (g) enabling a second event to occur;
- (h) indicating at least one of the other identical type symbols on the first path and maintaining said indication for a period of time;
- (i) indicating one of the symbols on the second path if at least two identical type symbols on the first path have been indicated;
- and
- (j) providing to a player an outcome associated with at least one of the symbols.
8 more elements
A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the method comprising:
- (a) triggering the game;
- (b) displaying at least a first path including a plurality of symbols;
- (c) causing a symbol marker to visit at least one of the symbols on the first path;
- (d) indicating to a player a quantity of designated symbols on the first path which have been visited by the symbol marker;
- and
- (e) causing the symbol marker to move to a second path having a plurality of second symbols when the symbol marker visits:
- (i) one or more of the designated symbols more than once;
- or (ii) more than one designated symbol in the first path.
5 more elements
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a symbol marker, which includes a graphical representation which indicates to a player how many symbols of the identical type the symbol marker has moved to;
- at least one path change condition associated with at least the first path, wherein the path change condition occurs upon the symbol marker moving to a designated quantity of symbols on the first path which are identical in type;
- and
- a display device operable to display:
- (a) the first path, the second path and the symbols to the player upon an event associated with the game;
- (b) the symbol marker moving, on at least one occasion, from one of the symbols on the first path to another one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) after the path change condition occurs in association with the first path, the symbol marker at one of the symbols on the second path;
- and (d) the symbol marker moving, on at least one occasion, from one of the symbols on the second path to another one of the symbols on the second path.
7 more elements
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a symbol marker;
- at least one path change condition associated with at least the first path, wherein the path condition occurs upon the symbol marker moving to a designated quantity of symbols on the first path which are identical in type;
- and
- a display device operable to display:
- (a) the first path, the second path and the symbols to a player upon an event associated with the game;
- (b) the symbol marker moving, on at least one occasion, from one of the symbols on the first path to another one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) a graphical representation which indicates to the player how many symbols of the identical type the symbol marker has moved to;
- (d) after the path change condition occurs in association with the first path, the symbol marker at one of the symbols on the second path;
- and (e) the symbol marker moving, on at least one occasion, from one of the symbols on the second path to another one of the symbols on the second path.
8 more elements
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a symbol indicator operable to sequentially indicate a plurality of the symbols, wherein the symbol indicator includes a graphical representation which indicates to a player how many symbols of the identical type the symbol indicator has moved to;
- at least one path change condition associated with at least the first path, wherein the path change condition occurs upon the symbol indicator indicating a designated quantity of symbols on the first path which are identical in type;
- and
- a display device operable to:
- (a) display the first path, the second path and the symbols to the player;
- (b) display the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) display, after a first event occurs, the symbol indicator indicating a different one of the symbols on the first path;
- (d) display, after the path change condition occurs, the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the second path;
- and (e) display, after a second event occurs, the symbol indicator indicating a different one of the symbols on the second path.
8 more elements
A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the gaming device comprising:
- a plurality of paths including a first path and a second path, each of the paths including a plurality of symbols;
- at least one outcome associated with at least one of the symbols;
- a symbol indicator operable to sequentially indicate a plurality of the symbols;
- at least one path change condition associated with at least the first path, wherein the path change condition occurs upon the symbol indicator indicating a designated quantity of symbols on the first path which are identical in type;
- and
- a display device operable to:
- (a) display the first path, the second path and the symbols to a player;
- (b) display the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the first path;
- (c) display, after a first event occurs, the symbol indicator indicating a different one of the symbols on the first path;
- (d) display a graphical representation which indicates to the player how many symbols of the identical type the symbol indicator has moved to;
- (e) display, after the path change condition occurs, the symbol indicator indicating one of the symbols on the second path;
- and (f) display, after a second event occurs, the symbol indicator indicating a different one of the symbols on the second path.
9 more elements
A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the method comprising:
- (a) beginning the game;
- (b) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a first path;
- (c) displaying a plurality of symbols in a form of a second path;
- (d) displaying the symbol marker, at least once, at one of the symbols on the first path and then at another one of the symbols on the first path, wherein displaying the symbol marker includes displaying a graphical representation which indicates to a player how many symbols the symbol marker has moved to, wherein displaying the graphical representation includes displaying an indicator positioned on or adjacent to each of the symbols of identical type;
- (e) enabling a path change condition to occur which is selected from the group consisting of:
- (i) enabling the symbol marker to move to a designated symbol on the first path;
- (ii) enabling the symbol marker to move to one of the symbols on the first path a designated number of times;
- (iii) enabling the symbol marker to move to a designated type of symbol on the first path a designated number of times;
- (iv) enabling the symbol marker to move to a designated combination of symbols on the first path;
- and
- (v) enabling the symbol marker to make a designated number of trips through the first path;
- (f) displaying the symbol marker at one of the symbols on the second path after the path change condition occurs;
- (g) displaying the symbol marker, on at least once, at one of the symbols on the second path and then at another one of the symbols on the second path;
- and
- (h) providing to the player an outcome associated with at least one of the symbols.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.