Abstract:
Methods of playing games and gaming devices useful with playing games whereby the gaming device comprises a first gaming unit for displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia and the means for generating at least one signal corresponding to the first gaming unit. The gaming device also comprises a second gaming unit for displaying an interactive driving video game whereby the second gaming unit is operatively connected to the first gaming unit and the second gaming unit becomes actuable or is activated in response to the signal generated by the first gaming unit.

Description:
The present invention is directed to methods of playing wagering games and gaming devices comprising a second gaming unit for displaying a randomly determined interactive video driving game which also allows a player to interact with the gaming device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Games of chance have been enjoyed by people for thousands of years and have enjoyed widespread popularity in recent times. Many people enjoy playing variations of games that they have not previously played before. Playing new variations of games adds to the excitement of this recreational activity particularly when some form of gaming is involved. As used herein, the term “gaming and gaming devices” are used to indicate that some form of wagering is involved, and that players must make wagers of value, whether actual currency or some equivalent of value, e.g., token or credit. 
     Players involved in games of wagering often enjoy new games or variations of old games with relatively simple rules that can be readily learned by a beginner or casual player. Variations to a game with respect to the method of wagering and the ability to increase winnings attracts more players and is highly desired in the industry. The ability to increase winnings where risk is involved based on the selection of a possible random outcome is also highly desired. Therefore, it is desirable to offer players new variations of games that allow players additional opportunities to increase winning payouts. It would be particularly desirable to provide opportunities to increase winning payouts and also allow a player to interact with a gaming device in the form of a video game. For example, offering a player the opportunity to play a video game and increase his winnings by playing such a video game is also desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments of the present invention comprise gaming devices having a first gaming unit for displaying randomly selected indicia and means for generating a signal corresponding to some signal from the first gaming unit, for example, input by the player, the randomly displayed indicia, or some interim event occurring during the play of the first gaming unit. The gaming device also includes a secondary unit for displaying an interactive driving video wherein the second gaming unit is connected to the first gaming unit and becomes operational in response to a signal generated by the first gaming unit. According to one embodiment, a first payout indicator is responsive to the first gaming unit of the gaming device, and a second payout indicator is responsive to the second gaming unit. 
     In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the displayed indicia of the first gaming unit may be in the form of reels, indicia of reels, playing cards, indicia of playing cards, dice, indicia of dice, numbers, indicia of numbers, and combinations thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts a typical configuration of a slot machine version of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a typical configuration of a video poker game version of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various embodiments of the present invention are designed to provide added excitement to a gaming device in order to increase the enjoyment of players and to serve as an added attraction to potential players. One embodiment of the present invention provides a novel concept to gaming wherein a player&#39;s award on a primary game may be changed or supplemented by a secondary unit which comprises an interactive video driving display, but which has at least one outcome which is randomly determined. 
     One embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIG. 1, shows a gaming device  10  comprising a three-reel slot  14 . Three-reel slot  14  comprises three rotatable reels, each of which comprise a plurality of indicia on the periphery thereof. Gaming device  10  further includes instructions  44  and video instructional prompt  46 , for playing gaming device  10 . 
     Total credit window  70  displays a player&#39;s available credit and wager amount window  72  displays a player&#39;s wager. Gaming device  10  comprises housing  12  which encases components, as known in the art, to facilitate operation of gaming device  10 . Gaming device  10  further includes a second gaming unit comprising an interactive video display  100  for a driving game that is activated or becomes activatable in response to a signal from the first gaming unit. 
     A player may place a wager to play a game through coin or token acceptor  20  and collect winnings through coin receptacle  24 . Gaming device  10  further comprises a first payout indicator  30  that He indicates to a player that a winning preselected combination of indicia has been displayed. A second payout indicator  40  indicates that a player has obtained a successful or losing outcome with the interactive video game and such play has resulted in a winning payout. Gaming device  10  receives input for play through “SPIN” button  50 , “CANCEL” button  54 , “BET ONE” button  58 , “BET MAX” button  62  and joystick  66 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming device  10  comprises a game for playing a three-reeled slot game, as shown by the three reeled slot indicia  14 . To begin play, a player places coins or tokens in coin or token acceptor  20 . The total amount of the coins or tokens is displayed in total credit window  70 . A player then inputs a wagering amount using “BET ONE” button  58  or “BET MAX” button  62 , as represented in wager amount window  72 . Subsequent to wagering, a player is then prompted, through video instructional prompt  46 , to actuate “SPIN” button  50  to activate rotation of the of three-reeled slots  14 . Gaming device  10  subsequently generates randomly selected indicia as displayed on rotatable reels  14 . The displayed indicia of rotatable reels  14  is compared to a preselected winning combination of rotatable reels (not shown, contained within housing  12  as is commonly known in the art). If the displayed indicia  14  does not match a pre-selected winning combination of indicia, a player may: 1) cash out and collect the remaining available credit through coin receptacle  24 ; or 2) play again and wager from the remaining available credit displayed in total credit window  70 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, gaming device  10  includes a second gaming unit comprising an interactive video display  110  which displays a video driving game. The video driving game, in this embodiment, prompts a player to maneuver a vehicle through a driving course, preferably the Las Vegas Strip. A player maneuvers the vehicle displayed from video screen  110  by manually manipulating joystick  66 . Joystick  66  and the corresponding electronics and appropriate software which are programmed to effect use of joystick  66  and play of the video driving game displayed from video screen  110  of this invention are included within housing  12  of gaming device  10 . The particular electronic elements and software programming format could be readily assembled and performed by one skilled in the art in light of the present description provided herein, therefore, further detailed explanation of the specific electronics and programming is not provided herein. 
     The path, through which a player maneuvers with joystick  66 , is intended to have various random events which are beyond the player&#39;s control. Therefore, though a player may select which path to maneuver a vehicle as displayed on video screen  110 , the player&#39;s skill does not determine the outcome of the secondary game. For example, a typical game scenario displayed from video screen  110  involves a vehicle coming to an intersection where randomly controlled events happen. The vehicle could get into an accident, could be engulfed in lava from an erupting volcano, or could have the stratosphere tower fall down on top of him (as seen through a sun roof). Mishaps such as these would result in destruction of the vehicle and/or have a negative effect on a player&#39;s winning payout. 
     In the alternative, if a player is permitted to maneuver the vehicle safely down the Las Vegas strip, the player&#39;s winning payout will be affected. According to one aspect of the present invention, payouts increase as the player gets further down Las Vegas Boulevard. The player may also be provided the option of stopping his “trip” at any time and taking the payout corresponding to his present location. The awards can be used to change an award on the base game by increasing it by displayed amounts, multiplying it by a multiplier, or both. Alternatively, an independent award/payout can be provided by the secondary game. 
     In FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention shows gaming device  115  comprising a video poker game as the first gaming unit. Video screen  114  displays an indicia of playing cards. Gaming device  115  also comprises housing  112  which encases components to facilitate operation of gaming device  115 . Similar to the features illustrated in FIG. 1 for gaming device  10 , gaming device  115  also comprises instructions  144 , video instructional prompt  146 , total credit window  170 , wager amount window  172 , coin or token acceptor  120  and coin receptacle  24 . Gaming device  115  also includes a second gaming unit comprising an interactive video driving game display  200 , similar to the interactive video game  100  illustrated and described in FIG.  1 . 
     A player will be prompted from video prompt  146 , to enter a wagering amount through coin and/or token acceptor  120 , the total being displayed in total credit window  170 . A player will then be prompted from video prompt  146  to place a wagering amount for that game. A player may then select the amount of her wager for that game, using bet “ONE” button  158  or bet “MAX” button  162 , from her total amount of credits as displayed in total credit window  170 . This amount of wager will be displayed in wager amount window  172 . Upon selecting a wagering amount, player will then be prompted to activate the “deal” button  150 , which activates gaming device  115  to display indicia of playing cards displayed from video screen  114 . After the initial display of indicia of playing cards, buttons  157  allow a player to hold or discard any of the indicia of cards displayed from video screen  114 . A player will then actuate “deal” button  150  to display new cards for those indicia of playing cards discarded. 
     Similar to the manner of playing the three-reeled slot game, shown in FIG. 1, the video poker game illustrated in FIG. 2 displays an indicia of playing cards from video screen  114  that is compared to a preselected winning combination of indicia of playing cards (not shown, contained within housing  12 , as is commonly known in the art). If the displayed indicia displayed from video screen  114  does not match a preselected winning combination of indicia, a player may: 1) cash out and collect the remaining available credits through coin receptacle  124 ; or 2) play again and wager from the remaining available credits displayed in total credit window  170 . 
     Upon generation of a winning combination of indicia, a player may choose: 1) to cash out and collect her winnings; 2) add to her winnings; or 3) play the interactive video game  200 . 
     Similar to the gaming device of FIG. 1, gaming device  115  includes a second gaming unit comprising an interactive video display of a driving game. The video driving game, prompts a player to maneuver a vehicle through a driving course, preferably the Las Vegas strip. Similar to FIG. 1, a player maneuvers the vehicle displayed from video screen  210  by manually manipulating joystick  166 . The corresponding electronics and appropriate software which are programmed to allow use of joystick  166  and play of the video driving game displayed on screen  210  are included within housing  112  of gaming device  115 . The manner of play effectuated by the video driving game of gaming device  115  is similar to the method used for gaming device  10  in FIG.  1 . If the randomly determined result of the video driving game is the destruction of the vehicle, preferably a negative effect is imparted to the player&#39;s winning payout. In the alternative, if a player is permitted to maneuver the vehicle safely down the Las Vegas strip, the player&#39;s winning payout will be increased.