Gaming machine having a player time-selectable bonus award scheme
AssigneeWMS Gaming Inc.
InventorAlfred Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a gaming machine having a player time-selectable bonus award scheme whereby the player may redeem, at a time of the player's choosing winning outcomes accrued during base game play. Redemption of each of the accrued winning outcomes is accomplished when a player selects an option to display a winning symbol combination associated with the winning outcome. Selection of the option to display the winning symbol combination associated with the winning outcome always yields an award and sometimes yields another winning outcome, again redeemable at a time of the player's choosing. A counter display on the gaming machine increments a number as each winning outcome is accrued, and decrements the number as each winning outcome is redeemed.
Claims30
A method of conducting a wagering game comprising:
- in response to receiving a wager to play a current play of the wagering game, randomly selecting a current game outcome from a plurality of game outcomes;
- displaying at least a portion of the current game outcome;
- in response to the current game outcome meeting a predetermined criterion, accruing but not displaying a winning outcome associated with the current game outcome;
- after the current play is concluded and the player of the wagering game is allowed to place another wager to play another play subsequent to the current play, providing an option to a player of the wagering game to redeem the accrued winning outcome at a time of the player's choice;
- in response to the option being exercised by the player, displaying a winning symbol combination of the winning outcome to the player;
- and
- awarding a value payout associated with the winning symbol combination.
A method of conducting a wagering game, the wagering game including a pay table defining a plurality of value payouts and a corresponding plurality of winning symbol combinations associated with the respective value payouts, the method comprising:
- displaying a first symbol array in response to receiving a wager from a player;
- accruing a winning outcome if the first symbol array includes a predetermined symbol or combination of symbols;
- incrementing a number on a counter display viewable by the player in response to accruing the winning outcome, the number on the counter display indicating the number of winning outcomes that the player has accrued;
- providing an option to the player to redeem the accrued winning outcome at a time of the player's choice;
- in response to the option being exercised by the player, displaying a winning symbol combination and decrementing the number on the counter display;
- and
- awarding a value payout associated with the winning symbol combination.
A gaming machine having a wagering game including a player time-selectable bonus award scheme, the gaming machine comprising:
- a value input device;
- a display device;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the value input device and the display device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the controller being programmed to
- allow a player to make a wager to play a current play of a wagering game using the value input device,
- in response to a current game outcome of the current play meeting a predetermined criterion, accrue, but not display, a winning outcome associated with the current game outcome,
- after the current play is concluded and the player of the wagering game is allowed to place another wager to play another play subsequent to the current play, provide an option to the player to redeem the accrued winning outcome at a time of the player's choosing,
- display a winning symbol combination of the winning outcome in response to the option being exercised by the player, and
- award a value payout associated with the winning symbol combination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.