Abstract:
A method and device for gaming, in which a primary game is played toward a winning outcome, and in which a secondary game is played concurrently with the primary game, using outcomes on the primary game to determine the outcome of the secondary game. The secondary game is entirely different from the primary game, and play continues on the secondary game through successive primary games. The player may increase the chances of winning the secondary game by either increasing the wager, which increases the total number of outcomes that apply to the secondary game, or by choosing a variation of the secondary game that has more winning outcomes possible.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The following invention is generally related to instrumentalities and methodologies in gaming devices. More specifically, the instant invention is directed to a gaming device having a primary game and a secondary game, with the play of the secondary game dependent on the outcome of the primary game. Play of the secondary game continues over successive gaming sessions of the primary game until the player wins or until the player chooses a different version of the secondary game. The primary game contains indicia of various types that affect the secondary game differently. Most specifically, the instant invention is directed to a gaming device in which the chances of achieving a desired outcome, with respect to the secondary game, may be maximized by a player. This is accomplished by either choosing a secondary game with greater chances of winning, and/or by increasing the wager, which puts more indicia into play on the primary game.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The primary purpose of playing any game is to win the game. While a player may initially find enjoyment in trying to win a particular game, tedium sets in if no further stimulus is offered to entertain the player. Accordingly, several games have been developed that offer a “bonus” game for attaining a particular outcome, allowing the player the prospect of engaging in a different gaming proposition. Generally, such bonus games are enabled by a “triggering” outcome. When the triggering outcome appears, a secondary game screen appears, and the secondary game is played independently of the primary game. When the secondary game ends, the player returns to the primary game, with no further incentive to continue play, except for the prospect of another chance at the bonus game. Secondary games are usually not triggered very often; even if the player enjoys playing the secondary game, there are not many chances to do so. Additionally, most games, whether primary or secondary, do not allow a player to control any aspects of the game, except in the case of enabling several paylines by making additional wagers. These factors, embodying much passivity, combine to produce stagnation, in which the player succumbs to a short attention span, and ends the gaming session.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention is distinguishable over the prior art in a multiplicity of ways. For example, the instant invention rewards a player for winning outcomes on a primary game, and affords an opportunity to engage in a completely different type of gaming proposition.  
           [0004]    Further, the instant invention allows a player to engage in a second gaming proposition concurrently with the primary game.  
           [0005]    Further, the instant invention provides a player with the opportunity to engage in a more involved secondary gaming proposition, in which play continues through successive sessions of the primary game.  
           [0006]    Further, the instant invention encourages a player to affect the possible outcome of the secondary game by increasing the wager.  
           [0007]    Further, the instant invention permits a player to maximize the chance of winning by allowing the player to choose a secondary game which will win more often.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and novel device and method for gaming, in which a player has the opportunity to play a secondary game for more chances at success.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and method as characterized above which provides a player with the prospect of engaging in different types of gaming propositions concurrently in one gaming session.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and method as characterized above, in which play of a secondary game spans several successive sessions of the primary game.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and method as characterized above to offer a player the opportunity to increase the chance of winning by allowing the player to choose which secondary game is played.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device and method as characterized above to allow the player to increase the chance of winning by placing additional wagers, which affect the total number of favorable outcomes in the secondary game.  
           [0013]    Viewed from a first vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for gaming, comprising, in combination a display, a wagering means, and a processor operatively coupled to said display and activated by said wagering means, said display when enabled including a plurality of indicia having means for bestowing credits, said indicia categorized into classes, each said class having differing said credit-bestowing means associated with said class.  
           [0014]    Viewed from a second vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for gaming, the steps including receiving a wager, enabling a display upon receipt of the wager, providing a plurality of indicia, categorizing the indicia as a function of classes, and bestowing on the classes different attributes leading to credits, whereupon during play the classes affect outcome.  
           [0015]    These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the methodology according to the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a depiction of the apparatus associated therewith.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a depiction of the display of FIG. 2, depicting a primary row and column (RXC) matrix located above a plurality of randomly-numbered positions in a secondary row and column (RXC) matrix.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    Considering the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  as shown in FIG. 2 is directed to the device according to the present invention.  
         [0020]    In its essence, the device  10  includes a housing  16  which supports a visual display  2 , preferably a video monitor, therewithin. The display  2  may include a window  8  for special messages or for incrementing counting of credits accumulated by the player. The device also includes an LED or other readout  4  for prompting the player and can provide similar verbiage as the window  8  or in lieu thereof, to stimulate the player. The device includes an inlet  6  for the reception therein for coins, currency or the like to auger in the inception of play. A plurality of decision-making buttons  12  are located on the face of the apparatus  10 , preferable below the display  2 , and a pull handle  14  can be used to initiate play as an alternative to supplement the decision-making buttons  12 . A coin hopper  18  or other payment methods, i.e., ticket printers, may be included to effectuate an output of an award due the player. The device  10  may have a top portion  32  with a display thereon having a motif correlative with the game to be played and can include a paytable. A plurality of speakers  34  may be included on the device for aural interaction with the player. The apparatus also includes a processor P coordinating all functions and a random number generator G operatively coupled thereto for generating outcomes. A card  9 , having a read/write instrumentality  17  thereon, can be read via input  7  as a substitute for or supplement to credit transfers as well as player identification.  
         [0021]    More specifically, and with reference to FIG. 3, greater details with respect to the video display  2  can be explored. The display  2  features a plurality of symbols  20  arranged in a primary row and column (RXC) matrix  21 , corresponding to a primary game. Paylines  22  correspond to areas on the primary matrix  21  in which winning combinations may be located. The primary game is preferably a reel-type game, well known in the art, with multiple paylines, displaying three rows on five reels (a 3×5 matrix). Winning on the primary game involves aligning symbols on a payline  22  recognized in a paytable (e.g. three cherries). Below the primary matrix  21 , the display  2  features a plurality of randomly-numbered positions  33  in a secondary row and column (RXC) matrix  30 . Numbers for play by the device are randomly generated for play on the matrix  30 . Preferably, the matrix defines a 5×5 array, correlative of BINGO, and above row one depicts the letters “BINGO,” defining with positions  33  an alphanumeric display. Also located on the display  2 , preferably in a lower corner, a BINGO game-type indicator  35  displays the variation of BINGO currently in play.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 1, the flow chart associated with the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3 can be explored. Initially, the display is as shown in FIG. 2, with a primary game matrix  21  positioned above a secondary game matrix  30 . Initially, a player makes a wager to initialize the game. If the previous secondary game ended because of a winning outcome, or if the player so desires, a BINGO game with a different winning outcome is chosen at this time. Choosing a variation with a lower probability of success may result in a larger award to the player. Preferably, the variations of the secondary game include, but are not limited to, BINGO outcomes such as five-in-a-row any way, any vertical row, any horizontal row, four corners, any postage stamp (block of four), any kite (diagonal five with block of four at one corner), small or large diamonds, small or large picture frames, a plus sign, letter T, letter X, letter L, letter N, and covering the entire card.  
         [0023]    In addition to indicia that produce winning outcomes on the primary game matrix  21 , the primary game also contains secondary indicia  24  that only relate to the secondary game. The secondary game is played on the secondary game matrix  30 . Each secondary indicium may reveal a value correlative of a possible value on the secondary game matrix  30 . Initially, however, BINGO ball indicia  24  need to be “enabled” prior to exposing their face value (i.e. I24). Indicia that are “enabled” animate after appearing on the primary game matrix  21 , spinning 180° to reveal a numeric or alphanumeric value. For example, secondary indicia  24  shown in FIG. 3 reveals B1, I25, N37 and G59. Only G59 matches a corresponding value on matrix  30 . If indicia appear that are not “enabled,” a message appears, instructing the player to deposit additional wagers to enable more indicia, and play continues. In the preferred embodiment, the secondary indicia are of two types, “red” and “blue” BINGO balls. The “red” secondary indicia are always enabled, that is, they always display values for possible matching on the secondary game matrix  30 . The “blue” secondary indicia are only enabled, or will only display such values, if a supplemental (maximum) wager is employed. A subset of “blue” (or other color) indicia may also be enabled for intermediate-level wagers.  
         [0024]    If the value displayed on the “enabled” secondary indicium matches a position  33  on the secondary game matrix  30 , the indicium, or ball, travels from the primary game matrix  21  to the corresponding position  33  on the secondary game matrix  30 , and that corresponding position  33  appears marked, or “covered,” preferably in green. Additionally, the indicium, or ball, takes on a green “halo” to indicate that its value has already been matched on the secondary game matrix  30 . As mentioned, the player engages in a gaming proposition on the primary game matrix  21  for which rewards are given for specific outcomes according to a paytable. As the player continues play on the primary game, e.g., by making additional wagers, any values on enabled secondary game indicia that appear are applied to the same secondary game. Play of the particular secondary game continues in this manner until a winning outcome appears on the secondary game matrix  30  or until the player chooses to play a different variation of the secondary game. Alternatively, a particular secondary game may be of fixed duration, e.g., lasting for a predetermined number of primary game sessions or until the occurrence of a specified event. Whenever the player chooses to play a different variation of the secondary game, the current secondary game matrix is cleared, and new randomly-generated positions  33  appear on the secondary game matrix  30 . Additionally, if five specially colored (e.g. “blue” ) secondary indicia  24  appear simultaneously on the primary game matrix  21 , the player wins. In this circumstance, the player wins whether or not a maximum wager was employed, and whether or not any of the values displayed on the indicia match positions displayed on the secondary game matrix  30 .  
         [0025]    If a winning outcome is attained on the secondary game matrix  30 , an animated award screen appears, in which five BINGO balls animate, one for each letter of BINGO. The player is allowed to choose a BINGO ball. The chosen ball displays a value, which is the award credited to the player. The value is prominently displayed, accompanied by fanfare and celebratory animation, such as fireworks.  
         [0026]    Moreover, having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims.