U.S. patent application number 10/860197 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for methods for a customized casino game.
Invention is credited to Vancura, Olaf.
Application Number | 20040219962 10/860197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25509550 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040219962 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vancura, Olaf |
November 4, 2004 |
Methods for a customized casino game
Abstract
A method of customizing a casino game of chance has the steps of
depicting to the player, before the base game, information about a
plurality of aspects for playing the bonus game and allowing the
player to pre-select one of the aspects before the bonus play. The
step of basing the play of the bonus game upon the pre-selected
aspect of the bonus game is a step. The method allows for a
question and answer bonus game with choices of answers about
trivia. The method has the step of choosing one of a plurality of
categories for questions or the difficulty and/or monetary awards
of the questions.
Inventors: |
Vancura, Olaf; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert C. Dorr, Esq.
Dorr, Carson, Sloan, Birney & Kramer, P.C.
3010 East 6th Avenue
Denver
CO
80206
US
|
Family ID: |
25509550 |
Appl. No.: |
10/860197 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10860197 |
Jun 3, 2004 |
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09965165 |
Sep 26, 2001 |
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6769986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3267 20130101;
G07F 17/323 20130101; G07F 17/3262 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/009 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1) A method for playing a casino game of chance for a bet with
random entry from a base game to a bonus game of the casino game of
chance, the method comprising the steps of play: depicting to the
player, before play of the base game, information about a plurality
of aspects for playing the bonus game; allowing the player to
pre-select one of the plurality of aspects for playing the bonus
game before play of the base game, and basing the play of the bonus
game upon the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game so that the
playing of the bonus game is customized by the player in accord
with the pre-selected aspect.
2) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 1 with
the step of playing the bonus game including presenting questions
and permitting choices of answers about trivia to the player.
3) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 1 with
the step of allowing pre-selection of one of a plurality of aspects
including the step of choosing one of a plurality of categories for
questions.
4) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 2 with
the step of allowing pre-selection of one of a plurality of aspects
including the step of choosing one of a plurality of categories
including the difficulty of the questions.
5) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 1 with
the step of allowing pre-selection including choosing the aspect
based on the player adeptness for answering trivia questions from a
group of different categories.
6) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 1 with
the step of allowing pre-selection also changing at least the
triggering symbols required during play of the base game on a slot
machine for entry into the bonus game.
7) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 6 with
the step of allowing pre-selection also changing the symbols to be
thematic with the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game.
8) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 1 with
the step of allowing pre-selection of sets for choosing by the
player on the video touch screen of the casino game of chance.
9) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 8 with
the step of allowing pre-selection having wedges of a circle for
the plurality of aspect for choosing by the player.
10) The method of playing the casino game of chance of claim 1 with
the step of allowing pre-selection having a menu list wherein the
plurality of aspects appear for choosing by the player.
11) A method for playing a casino game of chance for a bet with
random entry from a base game to a bonus game of the casino game of
chance, the method comprising the steps of play: depicting to the
player information about a plurality of aspects for playing the
bonus game; allowing the player to pre-select one of the plurality
of aspects for playing the bonus game and basing the play of the
bonus game upon the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game so that
the playing of the bonus game is customized by the player in accord
with the pre-selected aspect.
12) The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of depicting and
allowing occur during play of the base game.
13) The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of depicting and
allowing occur upon entry to the play of the bonus game.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A "MICROFICHE APPENDIX"
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to casino games of chance and,
in particular, to improvements in the methods of players being able
to customize the bonus play of casino games on slot machines by
pre-selection.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 AND 1.98
[0007] Slot machines have become the most important contributor to
revenue on casino floors. Among slot machines, those with a bonus
game have become especially popular. Typically in these machines, a
player plays the underlying game (sometimes referred to as the base
game) with the usual pays for predefined combinations of
symbols.
[0008] Occasionally, the player will qualify for a bonus game. This
is usually triggered through the alignment of one or more special
symbols (sometimes referred to as trigger symbols) as an event that
initiates the bonus game. Hence, the bonus game is generally a
somewhat rare and special occurrence that affords the player an
opportunity to participate in an ancillary component of the slot
machine with an associated award. Usually, no additional wager is
required; the bonus game is an opportunity for the player to earn
an additional award risk-free.
[0009] By use of the terms bonus game, there is intended no
limitations to any particular form of bonus award. Rather,
reference to a "bonus game" as one which is different than the
traditional base game play, be that slot or table game or other
game of chance. The bonus game may be housed separately from the
slot reels (for example, in a spinning-reel slot machine with a
top-box bonus), or may be simply on an additional screen (for
example, in a video-reel slot machine). Too, for the purposes of
the teachings herein, the manner and equipment that initiates a
bonus game (e.g., combination of special symbols as described above
or other methods) are varied in implementation.
[0010] There continues to be a need to enhance the bonus experience
for slot machine players. In particular, players desire a feeling
of control over the outcome of a bonus game. Typically, the feeling
of control is in reality an illusion of control, as the player
selects an object with a random award. Mathematically, the choice
of object is not relevant to the overall expected value for the
game.
[0011] Alternatively, in some bonus games, qualification occurs via
an accumulation of something (e.g., symbols) in order to receive
the award. In such games the astute player can choose a game
wherein the accumulation has already begun such that the
opportunity to win seems quicker.
[0012] IGT's game "Fortune Cookie" allows the player to touch an
on-screen symbol which changes from "MSG" to "No MSG." Whether
"MSG" or "No MSG" is selected does not affect game play.
[0013] Slots institute a process in which the player first
qualifies (via trigger symbols) for a bonus game. In some slots a
bonus game to be played is randomly selected before initiation of
play of the randomly-chosen bonus game, e.g., WMS's game, "Money
Grab" and "The Big Win" from Silicon Gaming.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,097 has a gaming machine wherein a bonus
game includes a video-type display controlled by the processor and
displaying a plurality of player-selectable elements, at least one
of which represents a winning bonus game outcome. During bonus
play, a player successively picks until the winning element is
obtained. In response to the pick of the winning element, the bonus
game awards the player a bonus payout. The value of the bonus
payout successively decreases in response to the player
successively picking the non-winning elements prior to picking the
winning element.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,897 has the bonus game triggered in
response to start-bonus symbols from the respective stopped reels
appearing in the spinning reel display. The bonus game has
different expected values based on different arrangements of the
start-bonus symbols in the base game.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,481 has a base game with start-bonus
outcome that may include a predetermined combination of trigger
symbols on the reels. The linked image may illustrate an action. A
first portion of the action may be shown on one of said displays
and a second portion of the action may be shown on another of said
displays. The action may be an object moving from one display to
another display.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,255 has a gaming machine including a
processor operable in a basic mode and a bonus mode for controlling
game play. In the basic mode, the processor selects a basic game
outcome from among a plurality of possible basic game outcomes. The
possible basic game outcomes include a start-bonus outcome the
occurrence of which causes the processor to shift operation from
the basic mode to the bonus mode. The processor is operable to
define a plurality of player-selectable bonus game outcomes. In the
bonus mode, a player selects one or more of the bonus game outcomes
and credits are awarded based upon which ones of the bonus game
outcomes are selected.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,955 has a game with a bonus feature that
includes strategy. The player plays a dice game for awards listed
in a paytable. Dice to be held, or not held, must be decided upon,
and the player's choices have a meaningful impact on the game's
expected value.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] While the foregoing have attempted various methods of
increasing player appeal and control, none of them satisfactorily
gives the player control over the type of bonus game to be played.
What is proposed herein is an entirely different approach in which
the player customizes the play of the game. The player proactively
chooses an aspect of the bonus game (such as, one of several games
or one of several options within a game) preferably before
initiating play on the base game, during play of the base game or
at entry to bonus play.
[0020] Prior to initiating play on the base game, the player may
choose one of a plurality of aspects for the play of the bonus
game. For example, consider a bonus game in which the player will
be asked a trivia question from one of six categories. In the
approach taught herein, the category of trivia may be pre-selected
(e.g., prior to or concurrently with wagering on the base game) by
means of choices presented on a video touch screen. One manner in
which this may be done is to have all six categories on-screen, see
FIGS. 1 or 2, and have the current category blinking. Blinking can
not be shown on the FIGS. 1 or 2. If the player wishes to change
the category, he/she may touch one of the other categories, which
instead would blink, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment, there
is a color assigned to each category. After pre-selecting,
preferably all of a special set of triggering, or qualification,
symbols (on the reels) for that bonus game also modify (via
different colors) to reflect the current selected category. In this
manner, the player has customized the bonus game play, and is
reminded of that fact while playing the base game. Thus, this video
slot machine allows play of a pre-selected bonus game provided with
questions directed to the player's customized pre-selection being a
preferred or favorite category or subject.
[0021] In a more general form, the idea is implemented as follows.
On the reels, there are special symbols that trigger the bonus game
play. Prior to play of the base game, the player pre-selects the
type of bonus game play that will be played. In a preferred
embodiment, a touch-screen is used. In principle, the player may
pre-select the type or any aspect of bonus game play. The
pre-selection is depicted to the player during play of the base
game, for example by modifying the reel symbols that trigger the
bonus game to reflect the pre-selection.
[0022] A preferred embodiment is a video slot machine based on the
Trivial Pursuit.RTM. home game, a Horn Abbot, Ltd. property. For a
bonus game based on questions from the Trivial Pursuit.RTM.
archives, the bonus play includes trivia and multiple choice
answers, but the player may first pre-select the category of the
trivia question that will be displayed. The preferred method has,
as trigger symbols, "pie wedges" as may be found in the home game.
The pie wedges are color-coded as to the categories, e.g. Red is
Sports & Leisure but as shown in FIG. 1 the green areas of
selection are shown in black and white with "SL" wherein the color
Red would appear. Green is Science & Nature, likewise "SN"
appears in FIG. 2 wherein the color red would appear, Blue is
Geography, and so forth. When a new player sits down at the slot
machine, he/she notices that the pie wedge symbols on the reels are
Red. The player knows that if qualifying for this particular bonus
(e.g., by aligning 3 or more pie wedge symbols on an active
payline), a Sports & Leisure query will be given. If this new
player instead would prefer a Science & Nature query, he/she
may touch the pie wedge symbols on-screen, which then cycle through
all possible colors, hence categories, available. The player may
stop when all pie wedge symbols are Green, signifying Science &
Nature. As such, the player may pre-select Science & Nature and
know that when qualified for this bonus game play, he/she will
always get a Science & Nature query.
[0023] The implementation, as disclosed herein, may include a
player pre-selectable trigger symbol for entry into bonus game.
However, the trigger symbols themselves need not necessarily
change. What is desirable, however, is that the aspect selected by
the player be readily apparent to the player.
[0024] As another example, consider a game with a Las Vegas theme.
As one of the bonus features, the player will play a casino table
game. Prior to initiating play on the machine, under the teachings
of this disclosure, the player is allowed to select which casino
game will be played for the bonus. For example, on-screen the
triggering symbol may be a casino chip. In the top right-hand
corner of the video screen, the currently selected bonus game may
be depicted, e.g., Craps. On the base game screen, by touching
either an on-reel casino chip symbol or the currently selected
bonus game depicted in the corner, the possible bonus games (e.g.,
Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Baccarat, Caribbean Stud) are cycled
through. The player simply stops touching the screen when he/she
sees the bonus game desired.
[0025] Clearly, many other themes and manners of depiction are
possible, as will be apparent to skilled artisans. The salient
features required are a depiction of the currently selected aspect
to the player, and a means for the player to modify this currently
selected aspect. The aspect itself may be the entire bonus game
(e.g., Blackjack vs. Roulette) or may be a subset of the entire
bonus game (e.g., Trivia Sports vs. Trivia Entertainment).
[0026] Too, the monetary value and/or difficulty of the bonus game
may also be aspects available for the player to choose. Consider a
trivia game in which the player may choose both the category and
difficulty. For example, as pre-selectable aspects of the bonus
game, the player may choose from among "Easy Sports for 50.times.
wager," "Medium Sports for 75.times. wager," and "Hard Sports for
100.times. wager." That is, the player may be given an easy
question (potentially returning less) or a harder question
(possibly paying more). This is player pre-selection. Or, the
question may have 3 possible answers and the pre-selectable aspects
may be "1 Response for 100.times. wager" and "2 Responses for
50.times. wager." In this case, the player will be given a
multiple-choice question with three answers, and may pre-select
whether to play for more with fewer responses, or play for less
with more responses. As still another alternative, the player may
be given only one response, but may pre-select the number of
possible answers to a multiple-choice question. E.g., the player
may choose from "2 Answers for 50.times. wager," "3 Answers for
75.times. wager," and "4 Answers for 100.times. wager."
[0027] A player's chance of beating the dealer in a game of
Blackjack is a function of the dealer's face up card. As such,
alternatively, consider a Blackjack game in which the player may
choose "Dealer with 5 face up cards for 100.times. wager" or
"Dealer with Queen face up card for 200.times. wager." In this
manner the difficulty of succeeding in the bonus game is also
correlated to its potential monetary value to be won.
[0028] Multiple aspects are provided to give the player
pre-selection of the nature of the bonus play upon the entry into
the bonus game. In this fashion, the player is empowered, a
desirable attribute including perhaps control over the subject or
even difficulty and/or monetary value of the bonus play and, as
will be described more thoroughly, the nature of the play of the
casino game.
[0029] It is an advantage of the present invention that the player
is given distinct meaningful choices, while the outcome is
nevertheless controlled in such a fashion as to ensure the
operator's house advantage. The casino operator, meanwhile, retains
its house advantage that assures a viable casino game. It is
required by the regulatory agencies that oversee gaming that the
overall house advantage of any slot machine be calculated.
[0030] It is a further advantage of the present invention that the
improvement described herein has almost no learning curve yet still
affords considerable player empowerment and thus replay value.
[0031] As a preferred embodiment, the player is offered the choice
of a plurality of aspects of bonus play from which to pre-select
before the play of the base game. Trigger symbols being those
typically aligned or otherwise appearing on the reels are used to
signify entry to the bonus play and can be keyed to the
pre-selected aspect for reinforcement of the pre-selection and
enhancement of the experience and challenge. Herein alignment can
take many forms such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,053
describing many arrangements for multi-line gaming on a plurality
of slot reels or a video virtual reel simulation.
[0032] The play may include depicting to the player, before play of
the base game, information about a plurality of aspects for playing
the bonus game. In a preferred embodiment, the step of allowing the
player to pre-select one of the plurality of aspects for playing
the bonus game occurs before the play of the base game. In
practice, it is desirable to have this option available to the
player also while the game is idle, or in between games. This is so
that a new player may immediately be able to select his/her desired
aspects for the bonus games, and then initiate play.
[0033] An advantage of this disclosure involves the step of basing
the play of the bonus game upon the pre-selected aspect of the
bonus game so that the playing of the bonus game may be player
customized with a pre-selected aspect. Also possible to include are
the following: The method of playing the casino game of chance
wherein the step of playing the bonus game includes presenting
questions and permitting choices of answers about trivia to the
player. The method of playing the casino game of chance with the
step of allowing pre-selection of one of a plurality of aspects
including the step of choosing one of a plurality of categories for
questions. The method of playing the casino game of chance with the
step of allowing pre-selection of one of a plurality of aspects
might have the step of choosing the difficulty and/or potential
monetary value of the questions. The method of playing the casino
game of chance with the step of allowing pre-selection also
changing at least the triggering symbols required during play of
the base game on a slot machine for entry into the bonus game. The
method of playing the casino game of chance with the step of
allowing pre-selection also changing the symbols to be thematic
with the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game. The method of
playing the casino game of chance with the step of allowing
pre-selection of sets for choosing by the player on the video touch
screen of the casino game of chance. The method of playing the
casino game of chance with the step of allowing pre-selection
having wedges of a circle for the plurality of aspect for choosing
by the player. The method of playing the casino game of chance with
the step of allowing pre-selection having a menu list wherein the
plurality of aspects appear for choosing by the player.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0034] FIG. 1 is front view of a video slot machine for a casino
game of chance having the player pre-selectable aspects symbols
with one pre-selected for practice of the method.
[0035] FIG. 2 is front view of a video slot machine for a casino
game of chance having the player pre-selectable aspects symbols
with another one pre-selected for practice of the method.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a preferred method of play
wherein an aspect of bonus play may be pre-selected.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of another method of play wherein
an aspect of bonus play may be pre-selected.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] While the examples illustrating the play and different
options for the casino games are explained herein, skilled artisans
will appreciate that many variations of the execution of
pre-selection of bonus play will be possible. The specific examples
presented should not be considered limiting and the particular
casino game equipment shown in FIG. 1 is merely for illustration of
but one example of form of a video slot machine for a base game and
a bonus game played on the same touch screen. U.S. Pat. No.
6,210,279 has a touch screen directly applied; e.g. bonded, to the
CRT screen exposed surface so a limited number of push-button
actuators control play and select one of several games that can be
played on the machine. The player of the game of the video slot
machine can use either the touch screen or the push-button
actuators to change the playable game elements, such as discarding
and drawing new cards when playing poker. The touch screen and
associated electronics are arranged and programmed so that multiple
touch fields are defined on the surface of the screen by manually
touching for playing games, such as keno, which require more
actuators than there are push buttons on the machine. Touch fields
on screen are identified by appropriately located instruction seen
the video display through the transparent touch screen. All the
disclosures of the patents cited throughout this disclosure are now
made a part hereof and are incorporated by reference.
[0039] A preferred casino game of chance 10 for at least one player
is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The casino game of chance 10 has a game
surface 11 accessible and visible to the player to play the casino
game of chance 10. A plurality of player pre-selectable bonus play
aspects 12 are shown on the game surface arranged for the players'
access to choose the nature of the bonus play be that a category or
level of difficulty. Triggering symbols 13 for alignment as entry
into bonus play can by computer control be changed to represent the
aspect pre-selected by the player. A display 14, for example a menu
list, a circle of wedges, or other suitable depiction, presents a
plurality of aspects so one may be preferentially pre-selected by
the player prior to the outcome of the game. The plurality of
player pre-selectable aspects shown at display 14 can be depicted
in any the form on a video screen 15. In a known manner in gaming
the game surface 11 may be an interactive structure such as a touch
screen application on the video screen 15, see FIGS. 1 and 2. If
not as the video screen 15, for the purpose of pre-selection or a
series of identified controls can in a manner known to, for
example, hold cards in a video poker machine can be used. As
disclosed throughout the prior patents noted there may be player
bonus play entry triggering symbols 12 as part of a particular
game.
[0040] During play there is a need to show the currently
pre-selected aspect at, for example, display 14 the particular
bonus play pre-selected. One form of that could use the bonus entry
triggering symbol 13 which may also be representative of the theme
of the underlying base game and bonus play. In the preferred
embodiment, indicia 17 on the base game can follow the theme of the
pre-selected aspect. For example, if the pre-selection were Sports
and Leisure as shown in FIG. 1. The indicia 17 on the video reels
of the underlying base slot machine might display tennis, baseball,
basketball, hockey and football sporting goods on the game surface
11. Thus, the player's pre-selection of that aspect as a category
of Sports and Leisure would during base game play be reinforced by
the reel symbols used during slot play. Upon alignment of say, for
instance, tennis rackets entry to the bonus play is achieved, the
player would perhaps be presented with a question about tennis and
given several answer from which to choose. Preferably one answer of
the several presented would be correct and if that were picked by
touching display 14 in the appropriate place to choose that answer
the player would win the bonus play returning the display 14 to the
underlying base game and showing credits won. In the physical
embodiments of the casino game of chance 10, the indicia can
include graphic representation, icons and video depictions
depending on the chosen interactive structure for the casino game
of chance 10 and more especially, the aspects pre-selected for the
bonus play.
[0041] The particular preferred pre-selection mechanism carried on
the game surface 11 is position to be visible and available to the
player is not critical. The pre-selection mechanism is for choosing
the triggering symbol 13 and/or indicia for bonus play aspects is
perhaps more a function of the type of casino game of chance 10
than anything else. As set forth herein before, the pre-selection
mechanism can include, any interactive structure such as the
display 15 having the touch screen, if a video, for the purpose of
pre-selection or a series of specifically identified control
buttons mounted apart from the display 14.
[0042] What is particularly material is the use of player choice to
empower the player. Pre-selection of aspect and entry to selected
bonus play preferred by and deemed favorable to the player of the
casino game of chance 10.
[0043] A method is disclosed for playing a casino game of chance
for a bet with random entry from a base game to a bonus game of the
casino game of chance as in flow diagrams of FIGS. 3 and 4. The
method has the step of depicting to the player, before play of the
base game, information about a plurality of aspects for playing the
bonus. Allowing the player to pre-select one of the plurality of
aspects for playing the bonus game before play of the base game is
a method step in FIG. 3 in particular. Consequently the play of the
bonus game is based upon the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game
so that the player in accord with the pre-selected aspect
customizes the playing of the bonus game.
[0044] The method step of playing the bonus game includes
presenting questions and permitting choices of answers about trivia
to the player. The method step of allowing pre-selection of one of
a plurality of aspects includes the step of choosing one of a
plurality of categories for questions. The method step of allowing
pre-selection of one of a plurality of aspects includes the step of
choosing one of a plurality of categories including the difficulty
of the questions. The method step of allowing pre-selection
includes choosing the aspect based on the player's believed
adeptness for answering trivia questions from a group of different
categories. The method step of allowing pre-selection also changes
at least the triggering symbols required during play of the base
game of a slot machine and for entry into the bonus game. The
method step of allowing pre-selection also changes the symbols to
be thematic with the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game.
[0045] The method step of allowing pre-selection of sets for
choosing by the player on the video touch screen of the casino game
of chance. The method step of allowing pre-selection has wedges of
a circle shoeing the plurality of aspect for choosing by the
player. The method step of allowing pre-selection has a menu list
of the plurality of aspects appear for choosing by the player.
[0046] A method for playing a casino game of chance for a bet with
random entry from a base game to a bonus game of the casino game of
chance has steps of play. In this method the step of depicting to
the player information about a plurality of aspects for playing the
bonus game happens upon the start of the base game. The player is
allowed to then pre-select one of the plurality of aspects for
playing the bonus game. The play of the bonus game is based upon
the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game so that the playing of
the bonus game is pre-customized according to a chosen aspect. The
method steps of depicting and allowing occur before play of the
base game or occur upon entry to the play of the bonus game.
[0047] Another method for playing a casino game of chance for a bet
with random entry from a base game to a bonus game of the casino
game of chance, the method has the steps of play. In this alternate
method depicting to the player information about a plurality of
aspects for playing the bonus game happens during or after the base
game or upon entry into the bonus game in accord with flow diagram
of FIG. 4. The player is allowed to pre-select one of the plurality
of aspects for playing the bonus game. The play of the bonus game
is based upon the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game so that the
playing of the bonus game is customized by the player in accord
with the pre-selected aspect. The method steps of depicting and
allowing occur during play of the base game. The method steps of
depicting and allowing occur upon entry to the play of the bonus
game.
[0048] The method allows customization of bonus play to include
pre-selection of any presented bonus game change that is preferred
by the player. When the pre-selection is made or what can be
pre-selected should not limit the claims that follow as those
details are within the skill of artisans.
* * * * *