Patent Publication Number: US-2004048649-A1

Title: Gaming device having a bonus game with multiple player selectable award opportunities

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to the gaming device having a bonus event and specifically, to a bonus event with multiple player selectable award opportunities.  
       [0003] Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment and excitement as possible. Providing a secondary or bonus game which a player has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits in addition to the awards associated with the primary or base game of the gaming device is one known method for enhancing player enjoyment and excitement.  
       [0004] Gaming devices having bonus games generally employ a triggering event that occurs during the operation of the base game of the gaming device. The triggering event temporary stalls or halts the base game play and enables a player to enter a second, different game, which is the secondary or bonus game. The player plays the bonus game, likely receives an award, and returns to the base game.  
       [0005] Bonus games exist that display multiple selections or options to a player. The player picks one of the options to obtain an award in the bonus game. Thus, the player&#39;s award depends on which option the player selects in the bonus game. One such bonus game is included in the “Jazzy Jackpots™” gaming device manufactured by Atronic Americas, LLC. In this game, the gaming device displays five reels to a player. Each reel includes several symbols including a coin symbol having a sun pattern on one side of the coin symbol. When three or more coin symbols occur in any position on the reels, the coin symbols begin to flip or turn. If three or more coin symbols display the sun pattern when the coin symbols stop flipping, the gaming device initiates the Jazzy Jackpots™ bonus game or secondary game. In the bonus game, the gaming device displays two predetermined options to the player. One option includes a video of a wheel, which the player spins to obtain free spins of the reels in the primary game and a multiplier. The other option is a video of an antique slot machine having a set of three reels where the player spins the reels to obtain credits. The player is provided with five free spins of the reels. The player spins the reels to obtain credits, which are multiplied by a multiplier based on the player&#39;s wager. The player chooses one of these two games to obtain an award in the bonus game. Thus, the player receives either free spins or credits depending on the particular game selected by the player in the bonus game.  
       [0006] Gaming devices that increase the opportunities to obtain awards and increase the size of the awards are desirable. Additionally, gaming devices that enable players to choose between different award selections or options increases the player&#39;s excitement and enjoyment of the game. Players are attracted to games that provide additional awards and different options to the player. Therefore, to increase player enjoyment and excitement, it is desirable to provide new games for gaming devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention is directed to a gaming device having a bonus game and specifically, a gaming device having a bonus game with multiple player selectable award opportunities. The award opportunities may provide predetermined or randomly determined outcomes. In one preferred embodiment, the award opportunities are divided or grouped in groups such as pairs of award opportunities, which are related to one another. In this embodiment, a processor randomly selects and causes an indicator to indicate one of the groups such as a pair of award opportunities. A player then chooses one of the award opportunities in the indicated group to obtain the award opportunity and receive the outcome associated with the selected award opportunity. The outcome may be a value provided to the player or it may not have a value. Therefore, the player picks one of the indicated award opportunities and receives the value of the outcome, if any, associated with that award opportunity. If the player receives an award, which results from the picked award opportunity, the award is added to the player&#39;s total award in the game. In one embodiment, the outcomes of the award opportunities in the group or pair of award opportunities each have approximately the same average expected value.  
       [0008] In another embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes for the award opportunities in a group are different. Therefore, the player attempts to pick the award opportunity from the group of award opportunities that generates the higher average expected value. In one embodiment, when the player picks the award opportunity including the lower average expected value, the gaming device determines the difference between the average expected values of the two award opportunities in the group and transfers the value difference to a progressive jackpot or award. The gaming device provides the progressive jackpot to a player when a triggering event occurs in the game. In one embodiment, the triggering event includes a progressive award opportunity, symbol or combination of symbols being indicated by the indicator. In another embodiment, the processor automatically picks the progressive award opportunity when a particular award opportunity or group of award opportunities are indicated by the indicator.  
       [0009] In one embodiment, a probability of being indicated by the indicator is associated with each group of the award opportunities in the game. In one embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes associated with at least one group of the award opportunities are relatively large values. In this embodiment, a probability of being indicated is associated with each of the award opportunities having the outcomes with relatively large average expected values such that the probability of being indicated associated with the award opportunities having outcomes with relatively large average expected values is less than the probabilities of being indicated associated with the other award opportunities having outcomes with smaller average expected values. In another embodiment, the probability of being indicated associated with the award opportunities vary inversely with the average expected values of the outcomes associated with the award opportunities.  
       [0010] In one embodiment, a mechanical wheel having a plurality of sections is displayed to a player. Groups of opportunities are associated with the sections on the wheel. The groups include related award opportunities, which are positioned on opposing sections of the wheel. An indicator simultaneously indicates two of the sections having related award opportunities. The player chooses one of the indicated award opportunities associated with the indicated sections on the wheel. The player then receives the outcome which results from the picked award opportunity. The outcome may or may not provide an award to the player. Thus, the player receives the award or value, if any, from the outcome of the award opportunity picked by the player and the game ends.  
       [0011] The groups, such as groups including pairs of related award opportunities, could be arranged or displayed in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, for instance, the award opportunities are arranged in two groups such as columns. Each column includes several sections and each section includes an award opportunity. An indicator is positioned between the columns and simultaneously indicates one of the sections in each column. The player picks one of the two award opportunities associated with the indicated sections on the wheel. The player receives the outcome, which results from the award opportunity picked by the player.  
       [0012] Although the present invention is primarily discussed relative to a bonus game of a gaming device, it should be appreciated that the present invention could be employed as a primary game in a gaming device. In one embodiment of a primary game, groups of award opportunities are displayed to the player. The award opportunities include several related pairs of bonus events such as bonus games. The indicator indicates two of the bonus games in one of the groups and the player picks one of the indicated bonus games. The player receives the value, if any, of the outcome, which results from the picked bonus game. It should be appreciated that the award opportunities in the primary game may include any suitable types of award opportunities.  
       [0013] In another embodiment, the award opportunities include several bonus events where at least one of the award opportunities in each group of award opportunities includes a bonus event. In this embodiment, the bonus events are bonus games selected from one or more groups of bonus games. A probability of being selected by the processor is associated with each of the bonus games in the groups. In one embodiment, the processor selects a bonus game from one group of bonus games based on the probabilities when an award opportunity including a bonus game symbol is indicated by the indicator. In another embodiment, the processor selects the bonus game from a plurality of groups of bonus games based on the probabilities. In a further embodiment, the probabilities associated with each of the bonus games in the groups change after each bonus game is indicated by the indicator. In another embodiment, the probabilities associated with each of the bonus games in the groups change after a plurality of bonus games are indicated by the indicator. It should be appreciated that the probabilities associated with each of the bonus games may change after one or more bonus game symbols are indicated by the indicator.  
       [0014] It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device having a bonus event with multiple player selectable award opportunities where the player chooses between at least two indicated award opportunities.  
       [0015] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide more award opportunities to players to increase player excitement and entertainment.  
       [0016] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanied sheets and drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
     [0017]FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 1B is a front perspective of another embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention.  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration of one embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view of one of the display devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation view of one of the display devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating an example of the embodiment of FIG. 3 where two award opportunities are indicated on the wheel.  
     [0022]FIGS. 5A and 5B are enlarged front elevation views of one of the display devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating two different bonus events which may be initiated when the player chooses one of the indicated award opportunities in FIG. 4.  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevation view of one of the display devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating one embodiment of a bonus event such as a bonus game that is initiated when the player chooses the other indicated award opportunity in FIG. 4.  
     [0024]FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevation view of one of the display devices of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     Gaming Device and Electronics  
     [0025] Referring now to the drawings, two embodiments of the gaming device of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B as gaming device  10   a  and gaming device  10   b , respectively. Gaming device  10   a  and/or gaming device  10   b  are generally referred to herein as gaming device  10 . Gaming device  10  in one embodiment has the controls, displays and features of a conventional slot machine. It is constructed so that a player can operate it while standing or sitting, and gaming device  10  is preferably mounted in a cabinet. However, it should be appreciated that gaming device  10  can be constructed as a pub-style table-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably while sitting. Furthermore, gaming device  10  can be constructed with varying cabinet and display designs, as illustrated by the designs shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Gaming device  10  can also be implemented as a program code stored in a detachable cartridge for operating a hand-held video game device. Also, gaming device  10  can be implemented as a program code stored on a disk or other memory device which a player can use in a desktop or laptop personal computer or other computerized platform.  
     [0026] Gaming device  10  can incorporate any primary game such as slot, poker, blackjack or keno, and any of the bonus triggering events and bonus games associated with these primary games. The symbols and indicia used on and in gaming device  10  may be in mechanical, electrical, electronic or video form.  
     [0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, gaming device  10  includes a coin slot  12  and bill acceptor  14  where the player inserts money, coins or tokens. The player can place coins in the coin slot  12  or paper money or ticket vouchers in the bill acceptor  14 . Other devices could be used for accepting payment such as readers or validators for credit cards or debit cards. When a player inserts money in gaming device  10 , a number of credits corresponding to the amount deposited is shown in a credit display  16 . After depositing the appropriate amount of money, a player can begin the game by pulling arm  18  or pushing play button  20 . Play button  20  can be any play activator used by the player which starts any game or sequence of events in the gaming device.  
     [0028] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, gaming device  10  also includes a bet display  22  and a bet one button  24 . The player places a bet by pushing the bet one button  24 . The player can increase the bet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button  24 . When the player pushes the bet one button  24 , the number of credits shown in the credit display  16  decreases by one, and the number of credits shown in the bet display  22  increases by one. Other bet or wager indicators such as a bet max button may also be employed in the gaming device of present invention.  
     [0029] A player may cash out and thereby receive a number of coins corresponding to the number of remaining credits by pushing a cash out button  26 . When the player cashes out, the player receives the coins in a coin payout tray  28 . The gaming device  10  may employ other payout mechanisms such as credit slips redeemable by a cashier or electronically recordable cards which keep track of the player&#39;s credits.  
     [0030] Gaming device  10  also includes one or more display devices. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1A includes a central display device  30  and a mechanical wheel  100 , and the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1B includes a central display device  30  as well as an upper display device  32 , which includes a video image of the wheel  100 . Gaming device  10  in one embodiment displays a plurality of reels  34  such as three to five reels  34  in mechanical or video form at one or more of the display devices. However, it should be appreciated that the display devices can display any visual representation or exhibition, including but not limited to movement of physical objects such as mechanical reels and wheels, dynamic lighting and video images. A display device can be any viewing surface such as glass, a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal display or any other display mechanism. If the reels  34  are in video form, the display device for the video reels  34  is preferably a video monitor. Each reel  34  displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which preferably correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device  10 . Furthermore, gaming device  10  preferably includes speakers  36  for producing sounds such as music.  
     [0031] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the general electronic configuration of gaming device  10  preferably includes: a processor  38 ; a memory device  40  for storing program code or other data; a central display device  30 ; an upper display device  32 ; a wheel  100 ; a sound card  42 ; a plurality of speakers  36 ; and one or more input devices  44 . The processor  38  is preferably a microprocessor or microcontroller-based platform which is capable of displaying images, symbols and other indicia such as images of people, characters, places, things and faces of cards. One or more secondary processors may also be employed in conjunction with the primary processor to control certain aspects of the game function. The memory device  40  can include random access memory (RAM)  46  for storing event data or other data generated or used during a particular game. The memory device  40  can also include read only memory (ROM)  48  for storing program code which controls the gaming device  10  so that it plays a particular game in accordance with applicable game rules and pay tables.  
     [0032] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the player preferably uses the input devices  44 , such as pull arm  18 , play button  20 , the bet one button  24  and the cash out button  26  to input signals into gaming device  10 . In certain instances it is preferable to use a touch screen  50  and an associated touch screen controller  52  instead of a conventional video monitor display device. Touch screen  50  and touch screen controller  52  are connected to a video controller  54  and processor  38 . A player can make decisions and input signals into the gaming device  10  by touching touch screen  50  at the appropriate places. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the processor  38  can be connected to coin slot  12  or bill acceptor  14 . The processor  38  can be programmed to require a player to deposit a certain amount of money in order to start the game.  
     [0033] It should be appreciated that although a processor  38  and memory device  40  are preferable implementations of the present invention, the present invention can also be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC&#39;s) or other hard-wired devices, or using mechanical devices (collectively or alternatively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor  38  and memory device  40  preferably reside on each gaming device  10  unit, it is possible to provide some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like. The processor  38  and memory device  40  are generally referred to herein as the “computer” or “controller.” 
     [0034] With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B and  2 , to operate the gaming device  10 , in one embodiment the player must insert the appropriate amount of money or tokens at coin slot  12  or bill acceptor  14  and then pull the arm  18  or push the play button  20 . The reels  34  will then begin to spin. Eventually, the reels  34  will come to a stop. As long as the player has credits remaining, the player can spin the reels  34  again. Depending upon where the reels  34  stop, the player may or may not win additional credits.  
     [0035] In addition to winning credits in this manner, in one embodiment gaming device  10  also gives players the opportunity to win credits in a bonus round. This type of gaming device  10  will include a program which will automatically initiate a bonus round when the player has achieved a qualifying condition in the game. This qualifying condition can be a particular arrangement of indicia on a display device. The gaming device  10  may use mechanical devices or a video-based central display device  30  to enable the player to play the bonus round. In one embodiment, the qualifying condition is a predetermined combination of indicia appearing on a plurality of reels  34 . As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the qualifying condition could be the number seven appearing on three adjacent reels  34  along a payline  56 . It should be appreciated that the present invention can include one or more paylines, such as payline  56 , wherein the paylines can be horizontal, diagonal or any combination thereof.  
     Bonus Game  
     [0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, if a player achieves a bonus triggering or qualifying condition during the primary game, the gaming device  10  initiates the secondary or bonus game of the present invention.  
     [0037] The bonus game of the present invention includes a game having multiple player selectable award opportunities. The award opportunities may be any suitable award opportunities including but not limited to bonus games, predetermined awards, randomly determined awards, progressive awards, progressive numbers of free spins, free spins or free games in a primary game, free spins or free games in bonus game, or modifiers such as multipliers. In one presently preferred embodiment, the award opportunities are grouped or divided into groups of related award opportunities. Each group may include one or more of the related award opportunities and the award opportunities are related in any suitable manner. The award opportunities may provide predetermined or randomly determined outcomes. The outcomes may include awards, values, free spins, free games, progressive awards, progressive numbers of free spins, modifiers such as multipliers or credits. It should be appreciated that the outcomes do not have to be associated with an award or value. Accordingly, some of the outcomes do not have a value or produce a zero value.  
     [0038] In one embodiment, the award opportunities are grouped into pairs of related award opportunities where at least one outcome is associated with each award opportunity. An indicator indicates one of the groups of related award opportunities. A player then chooses or picks one of the award opportunities in the indicated group and receives the outcome associated with the picked award opportunity. The outcome may be an award such as a value or credit, or no award or value.  
     [0039] In one embodiment, the indicator simultaneously indicates pairs of related award opportunities. In one embodiment, the related award opportunities are positioned opposite to each other. In another embodiment, the related award opportunities are positioned adjacent to each other. An indicator simultaneously indicates one of the related pairs of award opportunities. In another embodiment, separate indicators independently indicate the pair of related award opportunities. After one of the pairs of award opportunities are indicated by the indicator, the player chooses one of the two award opportunities in the indicated pair of award opportunities. Then the player receives the outcome associated with or which results from the indicated award opportunity picked by the player.  
     [0040] In the presently preferred embodiment, the outcomes with result from the indicated award opportunities include an expected value or values. The expected value of the outcome varies and depends on the type of award opportunity which produces the particular outcome. In one embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities are approximately equal. Therefore, the player will receive approximately the same expected value for either of the outcomes associated with the indicated award opportunities regardless of which award opportunity is picked by the player.  
     [0041] In another embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities are different. In this embodiment, the player chooses one of the award opportunities from the indicated pair of award opportunities. If the picked award opportunity includes a greater average expected value that the non-picked award opportunity, the gaming device provides the value associated with the picked award opportunity. If the unpicked award opportunity includes the greater average expected value (i.e., an incorrect choice), the amount of the difference between the average expected values is credited or transferred to a progressive jackpot or award. The progressive jackpot or award increases until the gaming device indicates the progressive award symbol.  
     [0042] In a further embodiment, the processor selects a bonus event such as a bonus game associated with an indicated pair of award opportunities based on a probability of being selected by the processor associated with each award opportunity. In one embodiment, the processor selects one bonus game from a group of bonus games based on the probabilities. In another embodiment, the processor selects the bonus game from at least two groups of bonus games, where a probability of being indicated is associated with each of the bonus games in the groups. In a further embodiment, the probabilities associated with the bonus games in the groups change after each selection in an indicated group by the player. In another embodiment, the probabilities associated with the bonus games in the groups change after a plurality of selections from the groups. It should be appreciated that the indicated bonus game may be selected from one or more groups of bonus games based on the probabilities.  
     [0043] In one embodiment, the expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities vary based on the desires of the game implementor. Thus, a probability of being indicated by the indicator is associated with each of the pairs of award opportunities. In one embodiment, one pair of award opportunities includes outcomes which have higher average expected values than another pair or pairs of award opportunities. In this embodiment, the probability of being indicated associated with that pair of award opportunities having the greater average expected value is higher than the probability of being indicated associated with the other pairs of award opportunities. In another embodiment, the probability of being indicated associated with the award opportunities vary inversely with the average expected values of the outcomes associated with the award opportunities. Therefore, the greater the average expected values of the outcomes associated with the award opportunities, the lower the probabilities of being indicated associated with those award opportunities.  
     [0044] In one alternative embodiment, the award opportunities are arranged in two separate groups such as columns. The groups or columns include several sections wherein each section includes an award opportunity. The award opportunities are preferably related such that the sections including related award opportunities are positioned opposite to each other in the columns or groups. An indicator is positioned between the groups or columns and simultaneously indicates one of the sections in each of the groups or columns. It should be appreciated that the pairs of award opportunities may be related in any suitable manner.  
     [0045] In another alternative embodiment, the present invention is employed in a primary game, where the award opportunities are a plurality of bonus events or bonus games. The bonus games or award opportunities are related such that pairs of related bonus games are positioned opposite to each other. An indicator simultaneously indicates one of the pairs of bonus events or games. The player then picks one of the bonus games in the pair of indicated bonus games. The bonus game picked by the player is initiated and the player receives the outcome associated with that bonus game. In one embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes associated with the bonus games are approximately equal. Therefore, the player will receive approximately the same average value from the bonus games regardless of which bonus game is picked by the player.  
     [0046] Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated where the bonus game includes a wheel  100  having a plurality of sections  102   a . A plurality of groups of award opportunities are associated with the sections  102   a  on the wheel. The groups of award opportunities are positioned on the wheel so that related award opportunities in the groups are positioned opposite to each other on the wheel. An indicator  112  indicates one of the groups or pairs of related award opportunities in each spin.  
     [0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the award opportunities include a plurality of bonus game symbols  104   a  and a plurality of opportunities in a sub-game such as a subsequent bonus game. Additionally, one of the award opportunities includes a progressive award  108   a  and another of the award opportunities  110   a  associated with the sub-game includes a progressive number of free spins  111  and a multiplier.  
     [0048] An indicator  112  is rotatably connected to the gaming device in the center of the wheel  100 . The indicator  112  rotates in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow  114  and simultaneously indicates two award opportunities or one pair of award opportunities associated with the sections  102   a  on the wheel. In this embodiment, the indicator  112  is a single indicator that simultaneously indicates two of the sections on the wheel. The indicator  112  may rotate in a clockwise direction, counter-clockwise direction, or any combination of clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. Also, in this embodiment the wheel  100  remains stationary while the indicator  112  rotates to indicate sections on the wheel. In another embodiment, the indicator  112  remains stationary while the wheel  100  rotates. It should be appreciated that the wheel may rotate, the indicator may rotate, or both the wheel and indicator may rotate in the same direction or in different directions. A total award display  118   a  indicates the total award accumulated by the player in the bonus game. The award indicated in the total award display at the end of the bonus game is the award provided to the player.  
     [0049] Referring to FIG. 3, the award opportunities including bonus game symbols  104   a  are positioned opposite to the award opportunities including opportunities in the sub-game  106   a . Thus, the indicator  112  indicates one bonus event or bonus game symbol  104   a  and one of the opportunities in the sub-game  106   a . It should be appreciated that the award opportunities may be positioned in any suitable manner desired by the game implementor. In one embodiment described above, the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities are equal or approximately equal.  
     [0050] For example, the average expected value of the outcome which results from the award opportunity including the progressive award  108   a  is approximately equal to the average expected value of the outcome which results from the award opportunity having the opportunity in the sub-game  110   a . Therefore, if the player picks the indicated progressive award  108   a , the player receives the outcome from that award which is the progressive award value of $1,084.35. If the player picks the opportunity in the sub-game  110   a , the player receives a progressive number of free spins  111  (i.e., 27 free spins) and a “10×” multiplier to be used by the player in the sub-game. The player then uses the free spins and multiplier in the sub-game to obtain an outcome from the sub-game. The outcome may be any suitable award or no award. However, since the average expected value of the outcome from the sub-game is approximately equal to the outcome from the progressive award (i.e., $1,084.35), the average expected value of the outcome which results from the sub-game is approximately equal to $1,084.35. As a result, the player receives approximately the same average expected value regardless of which indicated award opportunity the player picks in the bonus event. Preferably, the player does not know that the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities are approximately equal.  
     [0051] Referring to FIG. 3, if the player chooses the award opportunity including the bonus game symbol, the gaming device initiates the bonus event or game associated with that symbol. The player plays the bonus event or bonus game and receives the value of the outcome which results from that bonus event. If the player picks the award opportunity including the opportunity in the sub-game  106   a , the player obtains the outcome which results from the sub-game. In this particular embodiment, the player receives a number of free spins and a multiplier to use in the sub-game. The player receives the value of the outcome, if any, which results from using the free spins and the multiplier in the sub-game.  
     [0052] Referring now to FIG. 4, an example of the embodiment of FIG. 3 is illustrated where the bonus event or bonus game is initiated or triggered from the primary game. In FIG. 4, the gaming device or the player spins the indicator  112  to indicate sections on the wheel  100 . The indicator stops and simultaneously indicates two related award opportunities in one of the groups of award opportunities. One of the indicated award opportunities in the group includes a bonus game symbol which initiates BONUS GAME  4  ( 120 ) if the player picks this award opportunity. The other indicated award opportunity in the group provides an opportunity in a sub-game. Specifically, the gaming device provides two free spins and a “6×” multiplier for the player to use in the sub-game. The player uses the spins and multiplier in the sub-game to obtain an outcome from the sub-game. In FIG. 4, the player picks the award opportunity  122 , which provides the player with an opportunity in the sub-game. In this example, the award opportunity  122  initiates a sub-game where the player uses the two free spins and “6×” to obtain an outcome which results from the sub-game.  
     [0053] Referring to FIG. 5A, the sub-game is illustrated where the player receives the two free spins as indicated in the spins remaining display  116   a  and the “2×” multiplier as indicated by the multiplier display  117   a . The gaming device displays a wheel  124  including a plurality of sections  125 . The sections on the wheel include award symbols  130 , a bonus symbol  132 , and a free spin symbol  134 . A plurality of awards are associated with the award symbols  130 . An indicator  126  indicates sections on the wheel  124 . In this embodiment, the wheel  124  spins in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow  128 . The player uses the free spins to spin the wheel  124  and obtain an outcome. The indicated awards in each spin are multiplied by the multiplier indicated in multiplier display  117   a . The multiplied award is then transferred to the total award display  118   a . The player spins the wheel  124  until the player does not have any spins remaining in the game. The player then receives the total award indicated in the total award display  118   a  as the outcome for picking the award symbol  122  in FIG. 4. It should be appreciated that the sub-game may be any suitable game.  
     [0054] Referring to FIG. 5B, another example of a sub-game is illustrated where the sub-game includes a plurality of reels  142  that are displayed to the player. The reels include award symbols  143 . In addition, three paylines  142   a ,  142   b  and  142   e  are associated with the reels. The spins obtained by the player for picking the award symbol  122  in FIG. 4 are indicated in the spins remaining display  116   a . Similarly, the multiplier associated with the award symbol  122  is displayed in multiplier display  117   a . In this example, the player spins the reels  142  and obtains an award in each spin. The awards are based on winning combinations of symbols indicated on the reels. Any awards obtained by the player are multiplied by the multiplier indicated in multiplier display  117   a  and then added or transferred to the total award display  118   a . The player spins the reels for the number of spins indicated in the spins remaining display  116   a . When the player does not have any spins remaining, the player receives the total award indicated in the total award display  118   a . Therefore, in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the player receives an outcome, which may be any suitable value or no value, and returns to the primary game.  
     [0055] Referring back to FIG. 4, if the player picks the indicated award opportunity that includes the bonus game symbol referring to BONUS GAME 4 ( 120 ), the picked bonus game is initiated by the gaming device. In FIG. 6, BONUS GAME 4 is displayed to the player when the player picks the indicated award opportunity having the bonus game symbol  120 . It should be appreciated that BONUS GAME 4 may be any type of bonus game desired by the game implementor. In this example, BONUS GAME 4 is a bonus game that displays a plurality of selections  150  to the player. Each selection  152  in the plurality of selections  150  includes an award  153 . The awards  153  are initially masked or hidden from the player. Once the player picks a selection  152 , the associated award  153  is revealed and provided to the player. The player may be provided with one or more picks from the plurality of selections as indicated by the picks remaining display  154 . The player picks selections from the plurality of selections  150  until the player does not have any picks remaining. The player then receives the total accumulated award as indicated in the total award display  156 . The total award or outcome which results from BONUS GAME 4 is provided to the player and the player returns to the primary game.  
     [0056] As described above, the average expected value of the outcomes associated with the award opportunities are approximately equal. Thus, in FIG. 4, the outcomes which result from the award opportunity in the sub-game  122  and the BONUS GAME 4 ( 120 ) are approximately equal. If the player receives an outcome having a value of one hundred by selecting the award symbol  122 , then the average expected value of the outcome which results from the bonus game associated with the bonus game symbol  120  will be approximately equal to one hundred. In another embodiment the outcomes which result from the award opportunities produce different average expected values.  
     [0057] In one embodiment, the award opportunities are associated with a probability of being indicated by the indicator  112 . Therefore, the probability of one group or pair of award opportunities being indicated by the indicator  112  is greater than another group or pair of award opportunities being indicated by the indicator. In another embodiment, the award opportunities which produce outcomes with greater average expected values such as the progressive award and the award opportunity having the progressive number of free spins, are associated with probabilities of being indicated. In this embodiment, the probability of the award opportunities which produce outcomes with greater average expected values, such as the progressive award and the award opportunity having the progressive number of free spins, being indicated is less than the probability of any other group or pair of award opportunities being indicated by the indicator.  
     [0058] Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated where the bonus game includes groups of award opportunities positioned in two columns  104   b  and  106   b  having several sections  102   b . In column  104   b , the sections  102   b  include several award opportunities wherein each award opportunity in column  104   b  produces an outcome based on a particular bonus game. Additionally, a progressive award  108   b  is associated with one of the sections in column  104   b . In column  106   b , several award opportunities  110   b  are associated with the sections  102   b . Each award opportunity  110   b  in column  106   b  produces an outcome that is based on an opportunity in a sub-game. The player receives a number of free spins and a multiplier to use in the sub-game. One number of free spins is a progressive number of free spins  111 . It should be appreciated that the outcomes may be based on any type of awards or games as desired by the game implementor. Each of the groups of related award opportunities includes one of the award opportunities in column  104   b  and one of the award opportunities in column  106   b.    
     [0059] In FIG. 7, the indicator  112   b  simultaneously indicates one group which includes one of the sections in column  104   b  and one of the sections in  106   b . In another embodiment, one or more indicators  112   b  separately indicate one of the groups including sections in columns  104   b  and  106   b . The sections may be indicated simultaneously or at different times in the game as long as the player is able to choose from at least two related award opportunities in one or more of the groups. The total award display  118   b  indicates the total value of the outcomes which result from the award opportunity picked by the player in the game. The player obtains or receives the total award displayed in the total award display  118   b  when the game ends.  
     [0060] In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is employed as a primary game in a gaming device. In one embodiment of a primary game, a limited number of groups of award opportunities are displayed to the player. In this embodiment, the player may or may not obtain an award in the primary game. The award opportunities include several pairs of bonus games. The indicator indicates one group of award opportunities or two of the related bonus games. Then, the player picks one of the bonus games in the indicated group to receive the outcome, if any, associated with the picked bonus game. In a further alternative embodiment, a probability of being indicated is associated with the groups of award opportunities such that the probability of one group or pair of award opportunities having bonus games being indicated is less than the probabilities of other groups or pairs of award opportunities being indicated.  
     [0061] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.