Patent Publication Number: US-2005130732-A1

Title: Random bonus delivery mechanism for a gaming system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is generally directed to gaming systems and is more particularly directed to systems and methods for awarding bonuses.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      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 on each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines available. 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 enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.  
      A feature employed in some prior games is a bonus feature that awards bonus awards to a player in addition to the awards available on a gaming machine&#39;s pay table. Bonus features of gaming machines may include special graphical and audio features that are in the style of a gaming machine&#39;s theme. Bonus features enhance the gaming experience for the player because they add to the entertainment value of the game and also represent an opportunity for greater rewards. Further, bonus features attract onlookers with attention-grabbing performances and the promise (or apparent promise) of additional awards from particular gaming machines. Because of this twofold effect on players and onlookers, there is an ongoing demand for enhanced bonus features.  
      Though bonus features improve the experience of playing a gaming machine, gaming machines are perceived by some players as having shortcomings in comparison to other gaming options. For example, in a casino environment table games such as roulette and blackjack offer the additional experience of interacting with other players in a more social way through the shared gaming experience. Gaming machines, in contrast, have traditionally been perceived as offering a more solitary gaming experience lacking in the fun and excitement of interacting with other players.  
      There exists a need for enhanced bonus features and for gaming elements that will add to a more socially-interactive gaming experience for players and observers of gaming machines.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A number of gaming machines feature a random bonus delivery mechanism. In response to gaming activity on gaming machines, a bonus feature is delivered to one or more gaming devices within a gaming environment. The bonus feature is accompanied by a visual display of bonus feature activity across multiple gaming machines, some or all of which may share in a bonus with one or more receiving a larger bonus than others.  
      Bonuses awarded in connection with visual bonus indicators on gaming machines may be awarded in connection with bonus award symbols left on gaming machine displays, and bonus awards according to the present invention may take a variety of forms.  
      According to some embodiments of the present invention, visual bonus indicators interact with display elements of a wagering game to alter outcomes or apparent outcomes of wagering games.  
      The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. This is the purpose of the figures and the detailed description which follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a gaming machine embodying the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine.  
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a plurality of gaming machines showing a visual bonus indicator.  
       FIG. 4  is another front view of a plurality of gaming machines showing a bonus animation.  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a gaming machine display having two display areas.  
       FIG. 6  is a front view of a gaming machine display showing interaction between a visual bonus indicator and a gaming element.  
       FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  are block diagrams showing gaming machine communication with a visual bonus indicator controller. 
    
    
      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. It should be understood, however, 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.  
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS  
      Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a gaming machine  10  executing a game of chance that may be used to implement a random bonus delivery according to the present invention. The gaming machine  10  includes a visual display  12  preferably in the form of a dot matrix, CRT, LED, LCD, electro-luminescent, plasma, or other type of video display known in the art. The display  12  preferably includes a touch screen overlaying the monitor. Gaming machines according to the present invention may include video displays combined with mechanical wagering games. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine  10  is an upright version in which the display  12  is oriented approximately vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine  10  may have another form factor such as a “slant-top” version in which the display  12  is oriented at an angle (for example, about a 30-degree angle) toward a player of the gaming machine  10 .  
      The gaming machine  10  allows the play of games of chance by a player. In one embodiment, the gaming machine  10  is operable to play a game entitled “Duck Duck Goose,” having a group game theme. The display  12  shows first, second and third reels (respectively,  14 ,  16 , and  18 ), which spin in response to a wager and a player&#39;s pull of a spin handle  20  or push of a “play” button  22 . A player is awarded an award when symbols  24  on the reels align with selected pay lines  26 , in accordance with a pay table (not shown). A visual bonus indicator  28 , in the form of a goose, indicates participation in a bonus feature (or potential bonus feature) as explained in greater detail below.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine  10 . Coin/credit detector  30  signals a central processing unit (“CPU”)  32  when a player has inserted a number of coins or played a number of credits. Then, the CPU  32  operates to execute a game program that causes the display  12  to display the basic game that includes symbol-bearing reels, such as reels  14 ,  16 , and  18  of  FIG. 1 . The player may select the number of pay lines  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to play and the amount to wager via touch screen inputs or other controls whose signals are forwarded to the CPU  32  via an input/output controller  34 . The basic game commences in response to the player activating a play switch  36  (e.g., by pulling the spin handle  20  or pushing the play button  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 ), causing the CPU  32  to set the reels in motion, randomly select a game outcome, and then stop the reels to display symbols corresponding to the game outcome. In one embodiment, one or more game outcomes may cause the CPU  32  to enter a bonus mode whereby a bonus game is displayed.  
      A system memory  38  stores control software, operational instructions, and data associated with the gaming machine  10 . In one embodiment, the system memory  38  comprises a separate read only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random access memory (RAM). It will be appreciated, however, that the system memory  38  may be implemented on any of several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure. A payoff mechanism  40  is operable in response to instructions from the CPU  32  to award a payoff of coins or credits to the player in response to certain winning outcomes which may occur in the basic or bonus games. The payoff amounts corresponding to certain combinations of symbols in the basic game may be predetermined according to a pay table in the system memory  38 . The payoff amounts corresponding to certain outcomes of the bonus game may also be stored in the system memory  38 .  
      Visual display of gaming events may be accomplished with a single display  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a primary display  42  may display some components of a game&#39;s visual elements and a secondary display  44  may display other components. For example, a primary display  42  may be used to show the general game play of a basic game and a secondary display  44  may be used for bonus game displays.  
      A communications module  46  allows a gaming machine  10  to communicate with other gaming machines or with a central controller over a communications network. The communications module  46  may be a networking card (for example, an Ethernet card), a modem, a wireless networking module, or the like. The communications module  46  allows the gaming machine  10  to communicate its status to a network and to receive instructions from a network. The communications module  46  allows for several gaming machines to be monitored and/or controlled from a central point.  
      Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a three-machine bank  48  is shown, having first, second, and third gaming machines ( 50 ,  52 , and  54 , respectively). Each gaming machine is provided with a communications module  46  connected to a communications conduit  56  for communicating in a communications network  57 . First, second, and third displays ( 58 ,  60 , and  62 , respectively) are provided on the gaming machines  50 ,  52 , and  54 . Similarly to the gaming machine  10  of  FIG. 1 , the gaming machines  50 ,  52 , and  54  of  FIG. 3  are adapted to play a “Duck Duck Goose” game having a group game theme. Responsive to a visual bonus indicator controller  64  provided on the communications network  57 , a visual bonus indicator  28  is shown proceeding from the first display  58  to the second display  60 .  
      The visual bonus indicator  28  is an indicator to a player of a gaming machine that a probability exists of being awarded a bonus award. In the “Duck Duck Goose” game shown in  FIG. 3 , the visual bonus indicator  28  is a goose image. The visual bonus indicator  28  is animated on each of the displays that it is displayed on.  
      Visual bonus indicators  28  according to the present invention enable a variety of techniques for increasing the appeal of gaming machines to players. A visual bonus indicator  28  may leave behind bonus award symbols  68  on one or more of the gaming machines upon which the visual bonus indicator  28  has appeared. For example, in  FIG. 3 , the visual bonus indicator  28  having the image of a goose has left behind a bonus award symbol  68  having the image of a golden egg on the first display  58 . The bonus award symbol  68  is an indication that a bonus award is available to a player or has been awarded to the player. The bonus award may be awarded immediately upon a bonus award symbol  68  being displayed, or it may be activated at a later time by a player (for example, by the player touching the bonus award symbol  68  in a touch-screen enabled gaming machine). Bonus awards awarded with the bonus award symbol  68  may include bonus awards such as free plays of a gaming machine, free credits or coins, the ability to lock a displayed reel in place or to otherwise confer an advantage upon the player, a grant of spins or plays that are incapable of losing, and the like. Bonus awards may also take the form of prizes awarded to the player—or an indication that a prize is available to a player. Prizes that may be awarded to a player include physical objects, meals, prizes such as ice cream or show tickets, and the like. In combination with visual displays of a visual bonus indicator  28 , audio performance of gaming machines may also change when a visual bonus indicator is shown. A game&#39;s entire audio performance or soundtrack may be replaced with sounds particular to a visual bonus indicator  28 , or sounds particular to the visual bonus indicator  28  may be played along with a gaming machine&#39;s normal sounds to indicate a bonus event.  
      The visual bonus indicator  28  may be displayed as traveling from gaming machine to gaming machine in a bank  48  of gaming machines. In such a display, the bonus indicator  28  may be displayed partially on the second gaming machine  52  before its display has completely terminated from the first gaming machine  50 . Such a display is shown in  FIG. 3 , in which the head of the goose visual bonus indicator  28  is shown on the second display  60  while the tail of the goose visual bonus indicator  28  remains on the first display  58 . Alternatively, the visual bonus indicator  28  may randomly or apparently randomly be displayed on non-contiguous displays, providing a more random (or apparently random) award of bonus awards to players. For example, in  FIG. 3 , a visual bonus indicator  28  could first be shown on the third display  62  and next shown on the first display  58 .  
      The sequential movement of the visual bonus indicator  28  from one display to a contiguous display, such as movement from the first display  58  to the second display  60 , is advantageous in that it can provide an incentive for players to play gaming machines that the visual bonus indicator  28  appears to be heading toward. In one embodiment, the visual bonus indicator  28  is only displayed on gaming machines having an active wagering session in progress, so that only players who are actively playing a gaming machine may be awarded a bonus award. In another embodiment, the visual bonus indicator  28  may be displayed on idle machines which are not being wagered upon, even though idle machines may or may not be able to win. Random or apparently random display of the visual bonus indicator  28  is advantageous in that it provides an indication to players that a bonus award, in addition to the bonus awards that are generally available on gaming machines, may be available at any time. A player&#39;s engaging in a bonus award according to the present invention may be dependent on player-specific factors, including the number of coins per minute bet, the number of credits on the gaming machine, or other player status such as historical play data for a player to be awarded a bonus.  
      In addition to or in lieu of the awarding of a bonus award with the bonus award symbol  68  as shown in  FIG. 3 , a visual bonus indicator  28  may award bonus awards by other techniques. For example, several different types of bonus award symbols  68  may be available, and more minor bonuses may be granted to every gaming machine upon which the visual bonus indicator  28  appears, with greater awards granted to players of only selected ones of the gaming machine upon which the visual bonus indicator  28  appears. Greater awards may be accompanied by more extensive animations and more attractive or larger bonus award symbols  68 . In the “Duck Duck Goose” example, a goose may be shown laying a golden egg in a first animation and building an entire nest of golden eggs in a second animation. The bonus award symbols of a golden egg and an entire nest of golden eggs may be associated with different bonus award levels.  
      Further, visual bonus indicators  28  according to the present invention may be animated in an even more eye-catching manner to award greater bonus awards on certain gaming machines. Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a bank  48  of three gaming machines  50 ,  52 , and  54  is shown with first, second, and third displays  58 ,  60 , and  62 . The first display  58  displays a bonus award symbol  68 , indicating that the visual bonus indicator  28  has already been displayed upon the first display  58 . The visual bonus indicator  28  is shown in a bonus animation on the third display  62 , indicating a greater bonus award to the player of the third gaming machine  54 . According to some embodiments of the present invention, different bonus animations may be provided tailored to different types of bonus awards.  
      Displays for use with the present invention may be modified to maximize the impact of visual bonus indicators. For example, displays may be provided with multiple display screens or display areas, with particular screens or areas specified for displaying visual bonus indicators.  FIG. 5  shows a display  12  having a primary display area  70  for displaying basic gaming events and a secondary display area  72  for displaying a visual bonus indicator  28 . In this embodiment, the display of a visual bonus indicator  28  is visually separate from the display of basic gaming events, giving the player more than one image to focus on. Alternatively, a visual bonus indicator  28  may overlap graphics associated with standard gaming events (e.g., a visual bonus indicator  28  may be overlaid on visual displays of reels as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), or the display of a visual bonus indicator  28  may temporarily replace the display of standard gaming elements (such as reels) during a bonus animation or during any time a visual bonus indicator  28  is shown on a display.  
      Visual bonus indicators  28  may be used to interact with gaming elements, as shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  shows a visual bonus indicator  28 , again in the form of a goose, nudging a final reel  74  on a display  12  of a five-reel game so that a winning symbol  76  aligns with other winning symbols to result in a win for a player. Such an interactive event may occur randomly (such as in response to signals from a visual bonus indicator controller, not shown) or may occur as a result of a player&#39;s selection, for example, of a button such as the bonus interaction button  78 . Such an option may be given to a player in conjunction with a previous visual bonus indicator event, such as a previous bonus animation or the appearance of a bonus award symbol  68  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). Thus, the bonus award symbol  68  may serve as an indicator of a future bonus award. Likewise, referring once again to  FIG. 3 , a bonus award symbol  68  such as the golden egg may eventually “hatch” into an additional visual bonus indicator  28 , which may go on to be displayed on gaming machines  10  in a gaming environment as described herein. In such an embodiment, animations and other events involving visual bonus indicators  28  may increase throughout the day so that peak times for gaming correspond with peak activity of visual bonus indicators  28 .  
      Visual bonus indicators  28  according to the present invention may be controlled and used in a variety of gaming environments using a variety of types of communication between gaming machines  10 .  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  are block diagrams illustrating different ways in which visual bonus indicators  28  may be implemented and controlled. In the embodiment of  FIG. 7   a , a visual bonus indicator controller  64  is directly connected to one gaming machine  10 , and communications directed to individual gaming machines  10  are routed through other gaming machines  10 . Thus, the visual bonus indicator  28  may be controlled via signals sent to all gaming machines  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7   b , a visual bonus indicator controller  64  is connected to network connectors  80 , which in turn are connected to individual gaming machines  10 . The visual bonus indicator  28  may be controlled by signals sent to all gaming machines  10  or to individual gaming machines  10  or subsets of gaming machines  10  by the visual bonus indicator controller  64 .  
       FIG. 7   c  shows a visual bonus indicator controller  64  adapted for wirelessly controlling a visual bonus indicator  28  on a plurality of gaming machines  10 . Wireless signals  82  may be sent from and received by the visual bonus indicator controller  64 . Additionally, if communication between gaming machines  10  is desired, wireless signals  82  may be sent between gaming machines.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7   d , a visual bonus indicator controller  64  may be provided within a gaming machine  10 , with network connections  80  provided between gaming machines  10  to allow the visual bonus indicator controller  64  to control the visual bonus indicator  28  across multiple gaming machines  10 . While  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d  each show three gaming machines  10 , it is to be understood that the present invention may be used in gaming environments having two or more gaming machines  10 .  
      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. For example, while the present invention has been described with respect to gaming machines operable to play slot games, it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention can be applied to gaming machines operable to play other games such as poker, blackjack, and keno. In addition, bonus indicator controllers according to the present invention may be implemented as part of a more comprehensive gaming machine management system. Further, while certain methods have been described above as being executed in sequences, it is to be understood that certain steps may be performed in a different order or performed concurrently without departing from the scope of the present invention. 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.