# US 8,784,181 B2 · Gaming system and method for providing a casual wagering game

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- Number: US 8,784,181 B2
- Document ID: US8784181B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/541,649
- Filed: 2009-08-14
- Published: 2011-02-17
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-14
- Assignees: Igt
- Applicants: Scott A. Caputo; Gregory F. Frank; Ernest M. Lafky
- Inventors: Scott A. Caputo; Gregory F. Frank; Ernest M. Lafky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784181B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/55: Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
- A63F 13/335: using Internet
- G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F 17/3295: {Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking}
- A63F 9/24: Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
- A63F 13/00: Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})

## Abstract

Various embodiments of the disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a casual wagering game which includes a matrix having a plurality of positions. A plurality of path endpoints are positioned along a perimeter of the matrix. In various embodiments, each of the path endpoints are associated with one of an award, a symbol indicating advancement to a subsequent level or a terminator symbol. Each position of the matrix, except a starting position, is configured to accommodate one of a plurality of tiles. Each tile includes one or a plurality of path segments. When the tiles are placed in certain configurations, path segments of bordering tiles form a complete path between the starting position and one or more of the path endpoints. The general objective of the game is for a player to place tiles at positions in the matrix such that connecting path segments form a complete path between the start position and one or more path endpoints in order to win the path endpoint awards.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gaming system including:
at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
(A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
(B) display a first one of a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles including a plurality of distinct non-intersecting path segments;
(C) receive a selection of one of the positions not displaying any of the tiles, and display said first tile at said selected position;
(D) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints;
(E) when a complete path has not been formed and at at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, display another one of the tiles and repeat (C) to (F) for said other displayed tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions; and
(F) when a complete path has been formed:
(a) determine any awards associated with the one or more path endpoints;
(b) display and provide any determined awards to the player; and
(c) when at least one of the plurality of positions does nto display any of the tiles, display another one of the tiles and repeat (C) to (F) for said other displayed tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to cause the starting position to be selected by one selected from the group consisting of: selection of one of the positions by the player, and selection of one of the positions by the at least one processor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to prevent the display of any of the tiles at the starting position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to instruct the player to select one of the positions that is adjacent to the starting position or that is adjacent to a previously-selected position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one of the path endpoints is associated with a terminator symbol.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to end said play of the game when a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the terminator symbol.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide the player with a respective award associated with one of the path endpoints and end said play of the game when a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the terminator symbol and from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the respective award.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The gaming system of claim 4, wherein one of the path endpoints is associated with a symbol indicating advancement to a subsequent level.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to advance the player to the subsequent level when a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the symbol indicating advancement to the subsequent level.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide the player with a respective award associated with one of the path endpoints and advance the player to the subsequent level when a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the symbol indicating advancement to the subsequent level and from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the respective award.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the subsequent level includes a plurality of subsequent level path endpoints associated with relatively higher awards than path endpoints in a prior level.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game is a bonus game which is provided upon an occurrence of a triggering event in a base game.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game is a multi-player game played by a plurality of players.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to enable each of the players to select one of the positions in an alternating fashion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to enable each of the players to select one of the positions in an alternating fashion until: (a) a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with an award; (b) a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with a terminator symbol; or (c) a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with advancement to a subsequent level.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with an award, provide the award to the player who selected the position at which the tile which completed the complete path was displayed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when the complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with an award, split the award among each of the players who selected at least one of the positions at which one of the tiles that is part of the complete path is displayed.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to end said play of the game for all of the players when a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with a terminator symbol.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with a terminator symbol, end said play of the game for the player who caused the complete path to be formed.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with advancement to a subsequent level, cause the player that caused the complete path to be formed to advance to the subsequent level.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when a complete path is formed from the starting position to one of the path endpoints associated with advancement to a subsequent level, cause all of the players to advance to the subsequent level.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display one of the tiles to the player at a time.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display a plurality of the tiles to the player at a time.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one of the tiles is a wild tile.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to rotate said first tile prior to selecting one of the positions.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to provide the player with a hint regarding selection of one of the positions.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the path endpoints about a perimeter of the matrix.

### Claim 28

A gaming system including:
at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
(A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
(B) display a plurality of path endpoints in association with the positions of the matrix, wherein each of a plurality of the path endpoints is associated with one of a plurality of different award symbols;
(C) display a first one of a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles including a plurality of distinct non-intersecting path segments:
(D) receive a selection of one of the positions not displaying any of the tiles, and display said first tile at said selected position;
(E) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions between two of the path endpoints that are associated with a same one of the award symbols;
(F) when a complete path has not been formed and at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, display another one of the tiles and repeat (D) to (G) for said other displayed tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions; and
(G) when a complete path has been formed:
(a) determine an award associated with said one of the award symbols associated with the two path endpoints; and
(b) display and provide said determined award to the player.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, when a complete path has been formed and at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, display another one of the tiles a tile and repeat (D) to (G) in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to designate a starting position at which a designated one of the tiles is displayed.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to select the starting position for the player.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to instruct the player to select one of the positions that is adjacent to the starting position or that is adjacent to a previously-selected position.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The gaming system of claim 28, wherein one or more of the path endpoints are each associated with a terminator symbol.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to end said play of the game when the two path endpoints are each associated with the terminator symbol.

### Claim 35 (depends on 28)

The gaming system of claim 28, wherein one or more of the path endpoints are each associated with a symbol indicating advancement to a subsequent level.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The gaming system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to advance the player to the subsequent level when the two path endpoints are each associated with the symbol indicating advancement to the subsequent level.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The gaming system of claim 36, wherein the subsequent level includes a plurality of subsequent level path endpoints associated with relatively higher awards than path endpoints in a prior level.

### Claim 38 (depends on 28)

The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the game is a bonus game which is provided upon an occurrence of a triggering event in a base game.

### Claim 39 (depends on 28)

The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the game is a multi-player game played by a plurality of players.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to enable each of the players to select one of the positions in an alternating fashion until: (a) a complete path is formed between two of the path endpoints associated with a same one of the award symbols; (b) a complete path is formed between two of the path endpoints associated with a terminator symbol; or (c) a complete path is formed between two of the path endpoints associated with advancement to a subsequent level.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when a complete path is formed, provide any resulting award to the player who selected the position at which the tile which completed the complete path was displayed.

### Claim 42 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when a complete path is formed, split any resulting award among the players who selected at least one of the positions at which one of the tiles that is part of the complete path is displayed.

### Claim 43 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to end said play of the game for all of the players when the two path endpoints are each associated with a terminator symbol.

### Claim 44 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to end said play of the game for the player who caused a complete path to be formed when the two path endpoints are each associated with a terminator symbol.

### Claim 45 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the player who caused the complete path to be formed to advance to a subsequent level when the two path endpoints are each associated with advancement to the subsequent level.

### Claim 46 (depends on 39)

The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause all of the players to advance to a subsequent level when the two path endpoints are each associated with advancement to the subsequent level.

### Claim 47

A gaming system including:
at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
(A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions; and
(B) for one of a plurality of tiles which each include a plurality of path segments:
(i) display the tile;
(ii) receive a signal from the at least one input device causing the at least one display device to display the tile at a selected position of the matrix;
(iii) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints, one of the path endpoints being associated with a terminator symbol, another one of the path endpoints being associated with an award;
(iv) if a complete path has not been formed, display another one of the tiles and repeat (ii) to (vi) for said other displayed tile;
(v) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from: (1) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, and (2) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the terminator symbol, end said play of the game without providing the player the award; and
(vi) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, display and provide the award to the player.

### Claim 48

A gaming system including:
at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to, for a play of a game:
(A) display a matrix including a plurality of positions; and
(B) for one of a plurality of tiles which each include a plurality of path segments:
(i) display the tile;
(ii) receive a signal from the at least one input device causing the at least one display device to display the tile at a selected position of the matrix;
(iii) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints, one of the path endpoints being associated with advancement to a subsequent level, another one of the path endpoints being associated with an award;
(iv) if a complete path has not been formed, display another one of the tiles and repeat (ii) to (vi) for said other displayed tile;
(v) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from: (1) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, and (2) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with advancement to the subsequent level, display and provide the award to the player without advancing the player to the subsequent level; and
(vi) if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with advancement to the subsequent level, advance the player to the subsequent level.