Abstract:
A gaming machine and method of conducting a wagering game are disclosed. The method comprises displaying a plurality of selectable elements and an indicator defining an area having a size adapted to contain at least one of the plurality of selectable elements. The size of the area defined by the indicator is variable during the wagering game. The variation of the size of the area defined by the indicator varies a quantity of the selectable elements contained within the indicator. The indicator is moved to vary which of the plurality of selectable elements are contained within the indicator. The indicator is stopped with one or more of the plurality of selectable elements contained within the indicator. An award is provided based on the one or more selectable elements contained within the indicator when the indicator is stopped.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/599,211, filed on Aug. 5, 2004. The disclosure of the aforementioned provisional application is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT  
       [0002]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more particularly, to a gaming machine including an element selection feature.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by increasing the entertainment value and excitement for the player.  
         [0005]     One concept employed to increase the entertainment value of a reel spinning game is a bonus feature, providing the player with a different game experience occurring randomly during play of the basic game. Typically, a predetermined symbol or set of symbols in the basic reel game triggers a bonus feature. Bonus features take on a variety of themes and in many cases require the player to make choices that typically instill a feeling of control or self-destiny. Often times, games make random selections during bonus features and this method offers excitement because the player anticipates the outcome but cannot be sure because the result is controlled by the element of chance.  
         [0006]     A concept often found in bonus features today is the random selection of individual animated characters or elements that potentially provide the player with a winning outcome. In many cases, the element selection results in immediate feedback to the player of an award, a loss, or the completion of the bonus feature. In many games, the player is awarded a certain number of selections and when the selections are completed, the bonus feature ends.  
         [0007]     An alternative to the individual element selection method that allows multiple elements to be selected at one time would increase the entertainment value of the bonus feature.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a plurality of selectable elements and an indicator defining an area having a size adapted to contain at least one of the plurality of selectable elements. The size of the area defined by the indicator is variable during the wagering game. The variation of the size of the area defined by the indicator varies a quantity of the selectable elements contained within the indicator. The indicator is moved to vary which of the plurality of selectable elements are contained within the indicator. The indicator is stopped with one or more of the plurality of selectable elements contained within the indicator. An award is provided based on the one or more selectable elements contained within the indicator when the indicator is stopped.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment of the present invention a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming machine comprises at least one display and a controller coupled thereto. The at least one display displays the wagering game that includes a game feature. The game feature includes a plurality of selectable elements and an indicator defining an area having a size adapted to contain at least one of the plurality of selectable elements. The size of the area defined by the indicator being variable and determining a quantity of the selectable elements contained within the indicator. The controller is operative to vary the size of the area defined by the indicator, (ii) move the indicator to vary which of the plurality of selectable elements are contained within the indicator, and (iii) stop the indicator with one or more of the plurality of selectable elements contained within the indicator.  
         [0010]     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a plurality of selectable elements and an indicator defining an area for containing one or more of the plurality of selectable elements. The size of the area is varied to vary a quantity of the plurality of selectable elements identified with the indicator. The plurality of selectable elements that are identified with the indicator is changed. An award is provided after the varying and changing based on the one or more selectable elements identified by the indicator.  
         [0011]     Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a display image associated with a basic slot game and showing a symbol combination for triggering a bonus feature;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a display image showing a bonus feature with a group of elements and an individual, randomly selected element;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a display image showing the bonus feature and a special element that was randomly selected that increases the number of elements to be randomly selected;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a display image showing the bonus feature and the increased number of elements selected based on the special element selected in  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a range meter used to display a winning outcome in a range boundary. 
     
    
       [0020]     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a gaming machine  10  is used in gaming establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present invention, the gaming machine  10  may be any type of gaming machine and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For example, the gaming machine  10  may be an electromechanical gaming machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game, such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, etc.  
         [0023]     The gaming machine  10  comprises a housing  12  and includes input devices, including a value input device  18  and a player input device  24 . For output the gaming machine  10  includes a primary display  14  for displaying information about the basic wagering game. The primary display  14  can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine  10  may also include a secondary display  16  for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine  10  are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine  10 .  
         [0024]     The value input device  18  may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing  12 . The value input device  18  receives currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value input device  18  may include a coin acceptor  20  for receiving coin currency (see  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, or in addition, the value input device  18  may include a bill acceptor  22  for receiving paper currency. Furthermore, the value input device  18  may include a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming machine  10 .  
         [0025]     The player input device  24  comprises a plurality of push buttons  26  on a button panel for operating the gaming machine  10 . In addition, or alternatively, the player input device  24  may comprise a touch screen  28  mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display  14  and/or secondary display  16 . The touch screen  28  contains soft touch keys  30  denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display  14  and used to operate the gaming machine  10 . The touch screen  28  provides players with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen  28  at an appropriate touch key  30  or by pressing an appropriate push button  26  on the button panel. The touch keys  30  may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons  26 . Alternatively, the push buttons  26  may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys  30  may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game.  
         [0026]     The various components of the gaming machine  10  may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , or may be located outboard of the housing  12  and connected to the housing  12  via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine  10  comprises these components whether housed in the housing  12 , or outboard of the housing  12  and connected remotely.  
         [0027]     The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display  14 . The primary display  14  can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display  14  may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine  10 . As shown, the primary display  14  includes the touch screen  28  overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display  14  of the gaming machine  10  may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual associated to at least one payline  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine  10  is an “upright” version in which the primary display  14  is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display  14  is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine  10 .  
         [0028]     A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device  18  of the gaming machine  10 . A player can select play by using the player input device  24 , via the buttons  26  or the touch screen keys  30 . The basic game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one payline  32  that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game.  
         [0029]     In some embodiments, the gaming machine  10  may also include a player information reader  52  that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader  52  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled in the gaming establishment&#39;s loyalty club and may be awarded certain complimentary services as that player collects points in his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her card into the player information reader  52 , which allows the casino&#39;s computers to register that player&#39;s wagering at the gaming machine  10 . The gaming machine  10  may use the secondary display  16  or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player with information about his or her account or other player-specific information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader  52  may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and saved during a previous game session.  
         [0030]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the various components of the gaming machine  10  are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU)  34 , also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions, the controller  34  executes one or more game programs stored in a computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory  36 . The controller  34  performs the random selection (using a random number generator (RNG)) of an outcome from the plurality of possible outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller  34  may include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel processor.  
         [0031]     The controller  34  is also coupled to the system memory  36  and a money/credit detector  38 . The system memory  36  may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory  36  may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector  38  signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device  18 . Preferably, these components are located within the housing  12  of the gaming machine  10 . However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing  12  and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine  10  via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.  
         [0032]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the controller  34  is also connected to, and controls, the primary display  14 , the player input device  24 , and a payoff mechanism  40 . The payoff mechanism  40  is operable in response to instructions from the controller  34  to award a payoff to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards, etc. For example, in  FIG. 1 , the payoff mechanism  40  includes both a ticket printer  42  and a coin outlet  44 . However, any of a variety of payoff mechanisms  40  well known in the art may be implemented, including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism  40  are determined by one or more pay tables stored in the system memory  36 .  
         [0033]     Communications between the controller  34  and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine  10  and external systems  50  occur through input/output (I/O) circuits  46 ,  48 . More specifically, the controller  34  controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine  10  through the I/O circuits  46 . Further, the controller  34  communicates with the external systems  50  via the I/O circuits  48  and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.). The external systems  50  may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits  46 ,  48  may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits  46 ,  48  may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.  
         [0034]     Controller  34 , as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine  10  that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine  10  and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller  34  may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In  FIG. 2 , the controller  34  in the gaming machine  10  is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the controller  34  may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with other components, such as the I/O circuits  46 ,  48  and the system memory  36 .  
         [0035]     Referring back to  FIG. 1  and also to  FIG. 3 , to play the reel slot game, a player selects a number of pay lines to play and places a wager on the selected lines using the player input device  24  and/or the touch screen  28 . In response to pressing a “Spin Reels” button  64 , the controller  34  ( FIG. 2 ) spins and randomly stops a plurality of simulated reels  62   a - e  on a game screen  60  to place a plurality of symbols  66  on the reels in visual association with the at least one pay line  32 . Other mechanisms, such as a handle, may be used to set the reels  62   a - e  in motion. The number of reels and pay lines may be varied to be more or less than what is illustrated. The controller  34  uses a random number generator to select a game outcome (e.g., “basic” game outcome) corresponding to a particular set of reel  62   a - e  “stop positions.” The controller  34  then causes each of the reels  62   a - e  to stop at the appropriate stop position. The symbols  66  are displayed on the reels to graphically illustrate the reel  62   a - e  stop positions and indicate whether the stop positions of the reels  62   a - e  represent a winning game outcome.  
         [0036]     Winning basic game outcomes (e.g., symbol combinations resulting in payment of coins or credits) are identifiable to the player by a pay table. The pay table may be affixed to the gaming machine  10  and/or displayed by the primary display  14  and/or the secondary display  16  in response to a command by the player (e.g., by pressing a “Pay Table” button  68 ). A winning basic game outcome occurs when the plurality of symbols  66  appearing on the reels  62   a - e  along a pay line  32  correspond to one of the winning combinations on the pay table. A winning combination, for example, could be a number of matching symbols  66  along an active pay line  32 , where the award is greater as the number of matching symbols  66  along the pay line  32  increases. If the displayed symbols  66  stop in a winning combination, the game credits the player an amount corresponding to the award in the pay table for that combination multiplied by the number of credits wagered on the active pay line  32 . The player may collect the amount of accumulated credits by pressing a “Collect” button  70 .  
         [0037]     The present invention provides a feature that increases the number of elements randomly selected in a bonus feature.  FIG. 3  is a game screen  60  of a five-reel video slot game. According to one embodiment, a bonus feature is triggered when three or more identical bonus symbols  72  of a certain type are displayed on an active pay line  32 . In this example, the bonus symbols  72  are lassoed dollar signs that have appeared in the correct position and the bonus feature is started. The bonus feature is announced to the player either visually, audibly, or both.  
         [0038]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , once the bonus feature has been initiated, a secondary game screen  80  is displayed on one or both of the primary display  14  and the secondary display  16 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a group of selectable elements  82  is displayed in a selection area  84  represented as a circle area or ring in the illustrated embodiment. The selectable elements  82  are represented as barrels according to one embodiment. An identifier  86 , such as a circle or “lasso,” begins moving randomly around the selection area  84 . The identifier  86  indicates to the player which of the selectable elements  82  have been designated at any particular time. Each time the indicator  86  stops on a selectable element  82 , the award associated with the selectable element is added to the player&#39;s cumulative credit total. A special selectable element  88  is displayed within the selection area  84 . In the illustrated embodiment, the special selectable element  88  is presented in the middle of the group of selectable elements  82 . However, it should be readily apparent that the position of this special selectable element  88  can be displayed in any position within the selection area  84  in any relation to the selectable elements  82 . According to one embodiment, a secondary display area  90  may be used to define the purpose of the special selectable element  88 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the special selectable element  88  awards the player fifteen credits and increases the next random selection to three selectable elements  82 .  FIG. 5  shows the indicator  88  having selected the special selectable element  88 .  
         [0039]     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the indicator  86  is illustrated after having expanded to allow the random selection of a group of three  92  of the selectable elements  82 . In this example, three of the selectable elements  82  have been selected by the indicator  86  resulting in an award of  2270  credits being provided to the player. Depending on the number of selections awarded the player at the beginning of the bonus feature, the selections either continue or the bonus feature ends and the cumulative total from the bonus feature is added to the player&#39;s credit meter.  
         [0040]     As will be appreciated by those with ordinary skill in the art, the element selection feature could also be presented in a basic game. Both basic and bonus features could present selectable elements  82  with a number of prizes containing null or zero values.  
         [0041]     While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0042]     For example, the awards contained on the selectable elements  82  could be hidden and the player could control the selection of the elements  82 —including the expanded selection—by utilizing the player input device  24  and/or the touch screen  28  for example. One of the selectable elements  82  could have an additional selection number, multipliers, or an end bonus feature symbol displayed thereon. The indicator  86  could be presented as a randomly sized selection image, either from the beginning of the bonus feature or dynamically throughout the round. The selectable elements  82  can be stationary or move in a static or random fashion. In this embodiment, the indicator  86  could be controlled by the player using personal skill to try and select the moving selectable elements  82 .  
         [0043]     In another embodiment, a range device is used to specify a group of numbers on a bonusing meter. Turning now to  FIG. 7 , a range meter  100  with a displayed number range  102  is depicted. In the illustrated embodiment, the number range  102  is displayed on a vertical meter post  104 . A range boundary  106  is positioned to move up and down the meter post  10  in accordance to events occurring on the wagering game. When the range boundary stops in a certain position, in this example, over a range of numbers including the number “600”  108 , the player is awarded one or more prizes from within the range boundary  106 . While this example depicts a method of winning a prize, the range meter  100  could be used for other purposes such as collecting points for a certain bonus feature, specifying a range of numbers, one of which must be matched to be awarded a prize, or as a random group selection device to be used in a variety of bonus features.  
         [0044]     Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.