Patent Abstract:
A method of playing a card game, including dealing at least one hand of cards from at least one card deck to a player upon a wager by the player and providing the player a first draw from the at least one card deck. The method further includes, if one of the at least one hand of cards includes a triggering hand after the first draw, enabling the player to replace one or more cards in the one of the at least one hand of cards which includes the triggering hand through a free second draw, and providing the player an award for any winning hand occurring after the free second draw. A gaming device for carrying out the method is also provided.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/852,830, filed May 25, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/754,450, filed Jan. 4, 2001, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety in the present application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to gaming methods and apparatus and, more specifically, to gaming methods and apparatus that include primary games and bonus events. In particular, the gaming methods and apparatus of the present invention are configured to award one or more bonus events upon the occurrence of a triggering event in the form of a selected image in one or more predetermined locations of an array of image sites.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Gaming devices for playing games of chance, including mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electronic slot machines, or reel type gaming devices, electronic card game devices, and their methods of operation are well known.  
         [0006]     Initiating a game can be done by simply inserting into a gaming device some means of payment, such as currency (i.e., a coin or paper money), a coupon, by electronic funds transfer, such as by use of a credit or debit card, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,983, or by use of a so-called “smart card” that includes a programmed microchip or magnetic strip coded with the cardholder&#39;s identification and credit totals, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,874, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference.  
         [0007]     Some gaming devices and methods entice and retain players with the possibility of receiving a bonus of increased award amounts or additional play in the way of bonus games. These bonus awards and games, which take a variety of forms, are available in many types of gaming devices and methods, including slot machines and other reel type gaming devices, as well as in card gaming devices.  
         [0008]     Among known slot machines are gaming devices that include bonus components for determining whether an award to a player based on the results of a primary game will be increased and, if so, the amount such an award will be increased. Such bonus components include ancillary spinning wheels, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,848,932, 5,823,874, and 6,059,658, and pinball type devices including ancillary spinning wheels, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,261. The spinning wheels of these devices indicate whether an award based on the primary slot game of these devices will be increased and, if so, the amount of award increase that will be provided to the player.  
         [0009]     Slot machine payouts may also be increased in accordance with bonus events of other types of games of chance, such as the player-interactive video game disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,097 and the automated game-of-chance video of U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,925. In each of these devices and their accompanying methods, the bonus event is triggered by the appearance of a trigger symbol or a certain combination of symbols on a payline.  
         [0010]     Another type of slot machine and method in which a bonus event may be made available to a player is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,033,307 and 6,059,289. This type of slot machine includes a single payline in which the appearance of a trigger symbol initiates a bonus game, in this case another single slot machine payline.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,120,378 and 5,976,016 disclose electronic, reel type gaming methods in which a player is permitted to select, by way of placing wagers, a number of paylines, up to a maximum number, that will be played. Symbols are randomly assigned to a first payline and an award is granted to the player if one of several predetermined winning combinations of symbols is present along the payline. One or more symbols from the first payline may be selected by the player to be held over to the remaining paylines upon which wagers were previously placed. The remaining symbols of each payline are then replaced with randomly selected symbols. Awards for each additional payline are also provided to the player based on the combinations of symbols present thereon.  
         [0012]     Bonus awards are also available in card game type devices. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,418, a video poker game and accompanying method are described in which an award may be increased based on the results of a spin of an ancillary spinning wheel.  
         [0013]     In conventional “double-down stud” gaming devices and methods, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,820,460, 5,411,257, 5,251,897, and 5,167,413, a hand of five cards is dealt, with the faces of one or more of the cards not being shown to the player. Based on the cards that are made visible to the player and prior to making the remaining cards visible to the player, the player may choose to wager an additional amount, thereby increasing the amount of winning that are available to the player.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,148 discloses a single hand poker gaming device and method in which the number of cards of each face value that have been dealt is recorded. Bonus awards are provided upon reaching certain milestones, such as upon the dealing of a certain number of cards of one or more face values over the course of a series of games.  
         [0015]     As another example of bonus awards or other bonus events in card games, U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,521 describes a gaming device in which a poker hand is dealt. Certain awards may be provided to a player upon receiving certain hands, or winning combinations of cards. The award may be increased based on another card that has been dealt with certain winning combinations. For example, if a winning combination of four-of-a-kind is dealt to a player, the base award for such a winning combination may be multiplied by a value assigned to the remaining card of the hand (e.g., the face value of a numbered card, 11 for a Jack, 12 for a Queen, 13 for a King, and 15 for an Ace).  
         [0016]     Other poker type gaming methods, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,098,985, 6,007,066, 5,823,873, 5,816,916, and 5,732,950, allow a player to select, by way of placing wagers, a number of “hands” of cards, up to a maximum number, that will be played. A first, “five card stud” hand of cards is dealt to the player. An award for the first hand is determined based on the combination of cards present in the hand. The player is also permitted to select one or more cards, up to four cards, from the first hand that will be held over to any additional hands of cards upon which a wager was previously placed. The remaining cards for each hand are then replaced with other, undealt cards that remain in the deck. In a variation of this method, the remaining cards for each additional hand may be correspondingly positioned cards that are provided from hands that are dealt at roughly the same time as the first hand. Each additional hand, therefore, is a “five card draw” hand, in which the held cards are some of the cards that were dealt in the original hand. Awards for each additional hand are also provided to the player based on the results of the additional hands.  
         [0017]     Gaming devices or methods are not known in which two different types of bonus events, such as bonus games and the bonus of increased awards, may be made available to a player. Nor are gaming devices or methods in which the results of multiple, concurrently played primary games may be monitored for a triggering event and a bonus game similar in type to the primary game may be awarded if the triggering event occurs in one or more of the concurrently played primary games.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The present invention includes a gaming method providing a primary game in conjunction with one or more bonus games, as well as apparatus for effecting the method. In the primary game, a player selects, from an array of symbols to be randomly generated, one or more paylines along which the game will be played. The array of symbols is then generated and displayed. If a trigger symbol is present along one or more of the selected paylines, one or more bonus games may be initiated. In addition, the presence of a trigger symbol in a specified location within the array, such as at the center, may cause another bonus event to occur. For example, a part of the payout or the total payout of game may be increased as a result of the additional bonus event.  
         [0019]     In order to initiate the primary game on an apparatus according to the invention, a player first selects certain paylines by, for example, placing wagers, or bets, on each selected payline of an array of symbols, such as poker card symbols or reel type slot machine type symbols. Once the player has indicated that each desired payline has been selected, the symbols from a predetermined set of symbols are randomly generated and displayed in an array of fixed size comprising, for example, one or more rows and columns of symbols. The symbols present along each payline are examined to determine whether any winnings, such as tournament qualification points, tournament points, or a monetary payout, will be awarded to the player.  
         [0020]     Each payline is also examined to determine whether the trigger symbol is present along that payline. If so, the game progresses to one or more bonus rounds. For example, the gaming method may award to the player a single round of bonus play if the trigger symbol is present in at least one payline that was previously selected by the player. Alternatively, a bonus round of play may be awarded to the player for each payline in which the trigger symbol is present. While the game of each bonus round is preferably related in some way to the primary game (i.e., a card type bonus game resulting form a card type primary game), types of bonus round games differing from the primary game are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0021]     In addition to the possibility of receiving the opportunity to play a bonus game based on the presence of a trigger symbol in a selected payline, a bonus event may also occur if the trigger symbol appears in one or more specified locations (e.g., at the center) of the array of symbols. The bonus event may comprise one or more bonus games, an increase in the player&#39;s winnings along one or more of the selected paylines of the primary game, or a combination thereof.  
         [0022]     Gaming machines and other apparatus for effecting gaming methods of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. Such apparatus may be electronic or electromechanical systems which include or communicate with a processor under control of a suitable computer program, as well as components for displaying to a player the array of symbols and other information associated with the primary game and bonus event, player interface components, and components for receiving payment from a player and for providing payment of monetary awards to the player. Apparatus incorporating teachings of the present invention may comprise individual player stations of the stand-alone type, or player stations that are networked with a central computer or with one or more other player stations.  
         [0023]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through a consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and in which like reference characters denote like elements:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart depicting a broad aspect of one embodiment of the method of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are schematic representations illustrating basic, possible events that may occur in effecting the embodiment of the method depicted in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of a primary game of an exemplary, poker embodiment of the method of the invention, wherein the primary game is stud poker;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are schematic representations of a variation of the method of  FIG. 4 , wherein the method includes a primary game of draw poker;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are schematic representations of a bonus game of the exemplary, poker embodiment of the methods illustrated in  FIG. 4  and in  FIGS. 4A-4B , wherein the bonus game is draw poker;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic representation of another bonus game of the exemplary, poker embodiment of the methods illustrated in  FIG. 4  and in  FIGS. 4A-4B , wherein the bonus game is stud poker;  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of an exemplary gaming device by which the poker embodiment of the inventive method, depicted in  FIGS. 4-6 , may be effected;  
         [0032]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are schematic representations of another exemplary, reel type embodiment of the method of the invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of another exemplary gaming device by which the reel type embodiment of the inventive method, depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , may be effected; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 11  is a schematic representation of a gaming system incorporating teachings of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]     The flow chart of  FIG. 1 , along with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , illustrate a broad, exemplary aspect of the gaming method of the present invention. In the gaming method, a player initiates a primary game, at reference character  10  of  FIG. 1  and as shown in  FIG. 2 , by selecting one or more paylines  34  on an array  30  of image sites  32 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , there are nine different paylines  34 , identified for clarity by various broken lines, across array  30 , each including five image sites  32 . While a 3×5 rectangular array is depicted, arrays with different numbers of symbols and of other arrangements are also within the scope of the present invention. Once the desired paylines  34 , which are referred to herein as “selected” paylines  35 , have been chosen by the player, a symbol  36  from a predetermined set of symbols is randomly generated and displayed at each image site  32  of array  30 , as shown at reference character  12  of  FIG. 1 . The symbols  36  along each selected payline  35  may be fixed at the initial display or the player may be provided with an opportunity to have symbols  36  at one or more image sites  32  along one or more selected paylines  35  randomly replaced with different or other symbols  36  from the predetermined set.  
         [0036]     At reference character  14 , each symbol  36  along each selected payline  35  is examined to determine whether the player should receive a predetermined award. If a winning combination of symbols  36  is present on a given payline, process flows to reference character  16  of  FIG. 1 , where the player may receive an award based upon the particular winning combination of symbols  36 . Exemplary awards include, but are not limited to, cash, monetary credits, tournament qualification points, or tournament points. An award for the presence of a certain combination of symbols  36  on a selected payline  35  may be granted immediately or withheld until a determination is made as to whether the payline qualifies the player for a bonus round or until a bonus round, if awarded, is complete.  
         [0037]     Next, at reference character  18  of  FIG. 1 , each selected payline  35  is “examined” for the presence of an established trigger symbol  36 T ( FIG. 2 ) or other bonus round triggering event, such as one or more predetermined triggering combinations of symbols  36  thereon. If trigger symbol  36 T is present along any selected payline  35  or another triggering event occurs, play proceeds to a bonus round, at reference character  20  of  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, for the possibility of receiving a substantially increased award, the player may be provided with the opportunity to proceed to the bonus round in lieu of receiving an award based on the combination of symbols  36  present (e.g., by wagering the primary game award for the corresponding selected paylines  35 ) along each selected payline  35  in which trigger symbol  36 T is present or in which another triggering event occurs.  
         [0038]     In the bonus round, an exemplary embodiment of which is depicted in  FIG. 3 , play continues along a single bonus payline  38 . As will be discussed hereinafter in further detail, none, one or more symbols  36  from the selected payline  35  in the primary game that qualified the player for the bonus round may be retained in bonus payline  38 , while at least one symbol  36  from selected payline  35  is replaced, through random generation, with another symbol from the predetermined set or from a “fresh” set of symbols  36 , which preferably includes the same symbols  36  as the predetermined set. As an alternative, a different set of symbols may be used in the bonus round, such as the symbols typically associated with a slot machine or other reel type game. Bonus payline  38  is examined, in a similar manner as that in which each selected payline  35  is examined, to determine whether or not a “winning” combination of symbols  36  is present thereon. If so, the player may be granted a bonus award in addition to or in lieu of any award based on the results of the primary game, or the award from the primary game may be increased. The amount of the bonus award or the amount of the award increase that occurs as a result of the bonus game is preferably based on the results of the bonus game.  
         [0039]     At reference character  22  of  FIG. 1 , a determination is made as to whether trigger symbol  36 T is present at a specified image site within array  30 , which is referred to herein as trigger site  32 T. If so, at reference character  24  of  FIG. 1 , a bonus event may occur automatically, or the player may decide to proceed to a bonus event in lieu of an award based on the results of the primary game. The bonus event may include a bonus round of play, as described with reference to both  FIG. 3  and reference character  20  of  FIG. 1 , or an increase of an award based on results of one or both of the primary game and any bonus games. This bonus event may be granted even if trigger site  32 T in which trigger symbol  36 T appears is not located in a selected payline  35 .  
         [0040]     While the flow chart of  FIG. 1  illustrates the elements of the inventive method in a particular, exemplary order, any order of execution that is suitable for effecting the broadest aspects of the method of the present invention is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIGS. 4-10  depict specific, exemplary embodiments of the methods and gaming devices of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment of a method incorporating teachings of the present invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , the predetermined set of symbols  36  includes one of each card  36 ′ of a deck of playing cards (e.g., poker cards), with each card  36 ′ comprising a different symbol  36 . In the example of a deck of poker cards, the number of symbols  36  in the predetermined set may be fifty-two different symbols  36 , or cards  36 ′, if no jokers or other “wild cards” are included, or one additional symbol  36  for each joker or other wild card included in the deck.  
         [0042]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the primary game is in the form of single deck stud poker, although the primary game may, alternatively, be draw poker. The displayed array  30  includes three rows  31  of image sites  32 , each row including five image sites  32 . As shown, a player can select from one or more of fifteen different paylines  34 , each of which includes five image sites  32 , although variations of this embodiment could include different numbers of available paylines  34  with different paths through array  30  of image sites  32 . The one or more paylines  34  are selected as known in the art, such as by wagering, or betting, at least a fixed minimum amount of money credits (e.g., one credit) or tournament points to pick each selected payline  35 . Once a player indicates that all of the desired paylines  34  have been selected, cards  36 ′ are dealt from the single, digital deck of cards, with one card  36 ′ from the deck being assigned to each image site  32  of array  30 .  
         [0043]     When the primary game is stud poker, once a “hand” of cards  36 ′ have been dealt, each selected payline  35  is examined to determine whether the combination of cards  36 ′ thereon comprises a winning hand. For example, certain known combinations of winning cards, including, without limitation, an ordered royal flush (a type of winning poker hand unique to gaming devices), a royal flush, a straight flush, four-of-a-kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three-of-a-kind, two pair, and certain pairs of cards, may comprise a winning hand. The amount of award provided to the player for receiving a winning hand on a particular selected payline  35  preferably corresponds to the combination of cards  36 ′ along that selected payline  35 , and may be determined by referring to a pay table  40 , such as that depicted in  FIG. 4 , suitable for the type of primary game being played.  
         [0044]     Optionally, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , if the primary game is draw poker, the player may discard one or more cards  36 D′ along one or more of selected paylines  35 , which are then replaced with other cards  36 R′ from the deck. Again, an award may be provided to the player based on the combination of cards  36 ′ present along each selected payline  35 .  
         [0045]     If, in the primary game, a trigger card  36 T′ is present in a selected payline  35 , play may automatically proceed to a bonus round or the player may decide to proceed to the bonus round in lieu of receiving all or part of an award based on the results of the primary game. For example, if the player chooses to proceed to a bonus round, the player may be required to “wager” all or part of an award for one or more of the selected paylines  35  in which trigger card  36 T′ appears, or the player may have to bet all or part of a cumulative award based on all of the selected paylines  35  for a given hand. Although trigger card  36 T′ is depicted in  FIG. 4  as the “Ace of Spades”, trigger card  36 T′ may be any other predetermined card  36 ′ and may be preselected by the player. As an alternative to the use of a trigger card, another predetermined triggering event, such as the presence of a certain combination of cards  36 ′ along a selected payline  35 , may qualify a player for a bonus round.  
         [0046]     When play proceeds to a bonus round, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a bonus game is played. In the example depicted in  FIG. 5 , the bonus game is draw poker, with cards  36 ′ of the original, dealt draw poker hand on bonus payline  38  being the same cards  36 ′ as those that were present in a corresponding selected payline  35  from the primary game. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the player may then decide which cards  36 H′ to hold, while discarding the remaining cards  36 D′, which may then be randomly replaced with other, previously undealt cards  36 R′ from the same deck or from a “fresh” deck which may include the same number and types of cards  36 ′ as the deck use in the primary game. Again, the amount of the award or award increase provided to the player based on the results of each bonus game may correspond to the final combination of cards  36 ′ present in the bonus game, and may be determined by referring to a pay table  40  associated with the type of bonus game being played. The same or different pay tables  40  may be used for the primary and bonus games.  
         [0047]     Optionally, the player may be permitted to wager an additional amount on the bonus game before the bonus game is played.  
         [0048]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a stud poker variation of the bonus game shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , wherein one or more cards  36 ′ on the corresponding selected payline  35  from the primary game are replaced with another, previously unused card  36 ′ from the deck. Alternatively, a new stud poker hand may be dealt from a “fresh” deck.  
         [0049]     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , if, as shown, a trigger card  36 T′, in this case the “Ace of Spades”, is present at a predetermined, specified trigger site  32 T, here the image site  32  located at the center of array  30 , another bonus event may be triggered. This additional bonus event may be triggered even if trigger site  32 T is not located in a selected payline  35 . The availability of this additional bonus event to a player may be dependent upon the player&#39;s placement of an additional wager. As one example of an additional bonus event, the presence of trigger card  36 T′ at trigger site  32 T may result in an increase (e.g., doubling) of the winnings awarded during one or both of the primary game and any bonus games. If an additional wager is required to make this additional bonus event available, the amount any winnings are increased may depend on the additional amount of credits or tournament points wagered. As an alternative, a bonus game of draw poker or stud poker may be made available, either automatically or by choice, to the player, as described with reference to  FIGS. 5, 5A , and  6 .  
         [0050]     While trigger card  36 T′ is depicted in  FIG. 4  as being the “Ace of Spades”, any other card  36 ′ may be predetermined or preselected to be the trigger card. Similarly, although trigger site  32 T is depicted as being the center image site  32  of array, any other image site  32  may be predetermined or preselected. As another alternative, more than one trigger card or trigger site may be selected if an additional amount is wagered by the player.  
         [0051]     An example of an electronic gaming device  40  in which the poker embodiment of the method of the present may be effected is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Gaming device  40  includes one or more processors  42  under control of programming (e.g., software or firmware) that effects the method disclosed herein with reference to  FIGS. 4-6 . While a single processor  42  may be used in gaming device  40 , different processors  42  may be used, for example, to effect the primary game and the bonus game. Each processor  42  communicates, as known in the art, by way of signals transported along carrier waves, with memory  43  of a known type, including read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, or CD-ROM, a display  44  of a known type (e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, a plasma monitor, a liquid crystal display, or other flat panel display, etc.), input elements  46  of a known type, such as the illustrated buttons or touch-sensitive locations on display  44 , as well as with other known types of output devices, such as sirens, bells, whistles, other alarms, and audio devices. Data are input into and output from each processor  42  of gaming device  40  in accordance with the method of the present invention. Of course, gaming device  40  may also include one or more wagering input components  48  of known types, such as a currency receptacle, a credit or debit card reader, or a smart card reader, to permit a player to wager money on the games being played, as well as one or more payout components  49 , as known in the art. The various elements of gaming device  40  and their association with each processor  42  and with one another are well known in the art.  
         [0052]     As each processor  42  is under control of programming that effects the method of the present invention, the programming causes various logic circuits or groups of logic circuits of one or more processors  42  to execute various functions, or elements of the method. As used herein, the term “logic circuit” may encompass a single logic circuit of a processor  42  or a group of logic circuits of one or more processors  42  that together perform a specific function. Moreover, different logic circuits of one or more processors  42 , as defined by a program or portion thereof, may utilize one or more of the same elements as other logic circuits of one or more processors  42 .  
         [0053]     In the exemplary embodiment described herein with reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , one logic circuit of processor  42  ( FIG. 7 ) may identify selected paylines  35 ′ upon placement of a wager thereon of the money credits or tournament points indicated by memory  43  ( FIG. 7 ) to be available. Another logic circuit may randomly generate or “assign” cards  36 ′ of a deck set to image sites  32 ′ of an array  30 ′. Yet another logic circuit of processor  42  may determine whether a winning hand of cards  36 ′ is present along any selected payline  35 ′ and, if so, determine the corresponding award, while another logic circuit may cause the credit stored in memory  43  to be increased by an appropriate amount. Still another logic circuit may determine whether a bonus triggering event has occurred, either in or along a selected payline  35 ′ or at a trigger site  32 T′. Logic circuits of processor  42 , under control of appropriate programming, may also effect the appropriate bonus events, including both bonus games and increases in awards, as well as other process elements that are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein symbols  36 ″ are of a type typically associated with a slot machine or other reel type gaming device. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , an array  30 ″ of image sites  32 ″ includes several columns  33 ″ of symbols  36 ″. Each column  33 ″ may be formed from the visible symbols  36 ″ of a corresponding reel, which are the symbols that match up with image sites  32 ″ of array  30 ″ as the reel ceases independent “rotation” relative to the other reels that make up array  30 ″. Each reel may include a fixed number of symbols  36 ″ that are in a predetermined sequence, as on the mechanical reels of a conventional slot machine. Alternatively, the sequence of symbols on each reel may be randomly determined, as may the number of symbols that may be assigned to the image sites  32 ″ of each column  33 ″ of array  30 ″. As another alternative, images from a predetermined set may be randomly assigned to image sites  32 ″ of array  30 ″. Preferably, a set of symbols  36 ″ includes a fixed number of symbols  36 ″, as well as a fixed number of each type of symbol  36 ″.  
         [0055]     In the primary game illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a player selects one or more available paylines  34 ″ along array  30 ″, which are referred to as “selected” paylines  35 ″. A payline  34 ″ may be selected, as known in the art, for example, by placing a wager of money, money credits, or tournament points thereon. Once a player indicates that all of the desired paylines  34 ″ have been selected, symbols  36 ″ are randomly assigned to each image site  32 ″ of array  30 ″.  
         [0056]     After each image site  32 ″ of array  30 ″ has a symbol  36 ″ assigned thereto, each selected payline  35 ″ across array  30 ″ is evaluated to determine whether it includes a winning combination of symbols  36 ″. For example, in a reel type game with four columns  33 ″, a winning combination may include four of the same symbols  36 ″ along a selected payline  35 ″ or a combination including a “wild” symbol  36 ″ and one other type of symbol  36 ″ along a selected payline. Optionally, similar, three-image site  32 ″ combinations may also comprise lesser winning combinations, for which a lesser award would be granted to the player.  
         [0057]     If a particular, predetermined or prespecified (e.g., by the player) trigger symbol  36 T″ is present in a selected payline  35 ″, play may proceed to a bonus round. Entry into the bonus round may be automatic, or may be optional to the player. If entry into the bonus round is optional, in order to play the bonus game, the player may be required to make an additional wager or to contribute all or part of an award from at least the corresponding selected payline(s)  35 ″ of the primary game (i.e., each selected payline in which trigger symbol  36 T″ was present). As an alternative to the use of a single trigger symbol, another predetermined or preselected triggering event, such as the presence of a certain combination of symbols  36 ″ along a selected payline  35 ″, may qualify the player for a bonus round.  
         [0058]     As depicted in  FIG. 9 , at least one symbol  36 ″ from the corresponding selected payline  35 ″ of the primary game is replaced with a randomly selected replacement symbol  36 R″. A player may be given the option to hold over one or more symbols  36 ″ from the corresponding selected payline  35 ″ ( FIG. 8 ) to the bonus payline  38 ″. Alternatively, a new, replacement symbol  36 R″ may be randomly assigned to each image site  32 ″ of bonus payline  38 ″. Replacement symbol  36 R″ may be a previously undisplayed symbol from the set of symbols that was previously used in the primary game. Alternatively, replacement symbol  36 R″ may comprise a previously displayed symbol, such as a symbol of the same, recirculated reel that displayed the discarded symbol  36 D″ ( FIG. 8 ). As another alternative, replacement symbol  36 R″ may be selected from a new set of symbols  36 ″. Of course, the amount of award or the amount of increase in award granted to the player is based upon the combination of symbols  36 ″ that appears along bonus payline  38 ″.  
         [0059]     Referring again to  FIG. 8 , if a predetermined or preselected (e.g., player selected) trigger symbol  36 T″ appears at a predetermined or prespecified (e.g., player-selected) trigger site  32 T″ of array  30 ″, the player may be awarded another bonus event. As one example of an additional bonus event, the award provided to the player based upon the results of each primary game and/or any bonus games may be increased (e.g., doubled). In another example of an additional bonus event, the player may be awarded a bonus round, such as that described previously herein with reference to  FIG. 9 .  
         [0060]     Turning now to  FIG. 10 , another exemplary embodiment of gaming device  50  incorporating teachings of the present invention is depicted. Gaming device  50  effects the reel type gaming method described herein with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Accordingly, gaming device  50  may be either an electronic device or an electromechanical device.  
         [0061]     Gaming device  50  includes one or more processors  52  under control of programming (e.g., software or firmware) that effects the method disclosed herein with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . While a single processor  52  may be used in gaming device  50 , different processors  52  may be used, for example, to effect the primary game and the bonus game. Each processor  52  communicates, by way of signals transported along carrier waves, with memory  53  of a known type, including read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a CD-ROM, or the like, a display  54  of a known type (e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, a plasma monitor, a liquid crystal display, or other flat panel display, etc. in an electronic device or mechanical reels in an electromechanical device), input elements  56  of a known type, such as the illustrated lever, or pull arm, and buttons or touch-sensitive locations on an electronic display  54 , as well as with other known types of output devices, such as bells, whistles, other alarms, and audio devices. Of course, gaming device  50  may also include one or more wagering input components  58  and payout components  59  of known types. The various ways in which the various elements of gaming device  50  may be associated with processor  52  and with each other are well known in the art.  
         [0062]     The programming that controls processor  52  causes various logic circuits or groups of logic circuits of processor  52  to execute various functions, or elements of the inventive method. In the exemplary reel type embodiment of the inventive method, which is described herein with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , one logic circuit of processor  52  ( FIG. 10 ) may identify selected paylines  35 ″ as a wager of the money credits or tournament points indicated by memory  53  ( FIG. 7 ) to be available is placed thereon. Another logic circuit may randomly assign symbols  36 ″ of a predetermined set to image sites  32 ″ of array  30 ″ or cause adjacent reels with series of symbols  36 ″ thereon to spin and stop in random positions, with the shown, adjacent symbols  36 ″ of each reel forming a column of symbols  36 ″ of array  30 ″. Yet another logic circuit of processor  52  may determine whether a winning combination of symbols  36 ″ is present along any selected payline  35 ″ and, if so, determine the corresponding award, while another logic circuit may cause the amount credit stored in memory  53  to be increased accordingly. Still another logic circuit may determine whether a bonus triggering event has occurred, either in or along a selected payline  35 ″ or at a trigger site  32 T″. Logic circuits of processor  52 , under control of appropriate programming, may also effect the appropriate bonus events, including both bonus games and increases in awards, as well as other elements of the inventive methods.  
         [0063]     The apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 10  may comprise stand-alone gaming devices  40 ,  50  or stand-alone computers, or may (see  FIG. 11 ) be networked to a central computer  60  (e.g., a server or game controlling computer) of a casino, or directly to other gaming devices  40 ,  50 , by way of a network card  61  and appropriate links  62  therefor (i.e., a local area network (LAN)), by use of a modem or other communication component that facilitates the use of broadband telecommunications between gaming devices  40 ,  50  or of gaming devices  40 ,  50  with a central computer  60  (i.e., a wide area network (WAN) or the World-Wide Web (WWW)), or otherwise, as known in the art. Accordingly, gaming devices  40 ,  50  may be linked to a central computer  60  and/or other gaming devices  40 ,  50  that are located at the same site or at remote sites (e.g., in other casinos or even other geographic locations). Exemplary ways in which gaming devices  40 ,  50  may be linked to one another are described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/675,829, filed on Sep. 29, 2000 (which discloses linking gaming devices for the purpose of tournament play), and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,648, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties by this reference.  
         [0064]     Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Moreover, features from different embodiments of the invention may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions, and modifications to the invention, as disclosed herein, which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6