U.S. patent application number 11/493416 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-01 for video poker wagering game with card substitution feature.
Invention is credited to John D. Flint, Joel R. Jaffe, Michael W. Mastropietro, Larry J. Pacey.
Application Number | 20070026920 11/493416 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37695070 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070026920 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Flint; John D. ; et
al. |
February 1, 2007 |
Video poker wagering game with card substitution feature
Abstract
A gaming system for playing a video poker game includes a
wager-input device, a display, and a controller. The wager-input
device receives a wager input from a player and the display
displays the video poker game having a plurality of cards. The
controller is coupled to the display and the wager-input device,
and is programmed to provide an initial poker hand that is randomly
selected from the plurality of cards. In response to a bonus
feature being triggered, a certain card in the initial poker hand
is replaced with at least two substitute cards from the plurality
of cards to form two distinct final poker hands.
Inventors: |
Flint; John D.; (Sharon,
MA) ; Jaffe; Joel R.; (Glenview, IL) ;
Mastropietro; Michael W.; (Chicago, IL) ; Pacey;
Larry J.; (Northbrook, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JENKENS & GILCHRIST, P.C.
225 WEST WASHINGTON
SUITE 2600
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
37695070 |
Appl. No.: |
11/493416 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60702876 |
Jul 26, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3293 20130101; G07F 17/3206 20130101; G07F 17/3267
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/013 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming system for playing a video poker game, comprising: a
wager-input device for receiving a wager input; a display for
displaying said video poker game having a plurality of cards; and a
controller coupled to said display and said wager-input device and
programmed to provide an initial poker hand that is randomly
selected from said plurality of cards, in response to a bonus
feature being triggered, replace a certain card in said initial
poker hand with at least two substitute cards from said plurality
of cards to form two distinct final poker hands.
2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said bonus feature is
triggered based on a predetermined criterion that is unrelated to
said initial poker hand.
3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein said predetermined
criterion includes at least one of a predetermined number of a dice
roll and a side wager received from said player,
4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein said controller is further
programmed to randomly select said certain card from said initial
poker hand.
5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said certain card is a
plurality of cards.
6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said certain card is a
player-selected card from said initial poker hand.
7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further
programmed to determine whether each of said final poker hands is a
winning hand.
8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said two
substitute cards is a wild card.
9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller is further
programmed to trigger said bonus feature when a bonus card is
included in said initial poker hand.
10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein said bonus card is said
certain card.
11. A method for playing a video poker game having a plurality of
cards, comprising: receiving a wager input from a player for
playing said video poker game; in response to receiving said wager,
forming an initial poker hand that is randomly selected from said
plurality of cards; substituting a first card for one of said cards
in said initial poker hand to form a first final poker hand; and
substituting a second card for said one of said cards in said
initial poker hand to form a second final poker hand.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising triggering said
substituting of said first card and second card based on a
predetermined criterion that is unrelated to said forming of said
initial poker hand.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said triggering includes at
least one of selecting a predetermined number of a dice roll and
receiving a side wager from said player.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising randomly selecting
said first card and said second card from said plurality of
cards.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether
each of said first final poker hand and said second final poker
hand is a winning hand.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a player
selection for selecting said one of said cards from said initial
poker hand.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising triggering said
bonus feature when a bonus card is included in said initial poker
hand.
18. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions
for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim
11.
19. A method for playing a video poker game having a plurality of
cards, comprising: receiving a wager input for playing said video
poker game; in response to receiving said wager, forming an initial
poker hand that is randomly selected from said plurality of cards,
said initial poker hand having a plurality of initial cards;
substituting a wild card for a first one of said plurality of
initial cards to form a first final poker hand, said wild card and
any unsubstituted cards of said first final poker hand resulting in
a predetermined ranking for said first final poker hand; and
substituting said wild card for a second one of said plurality of
initial cards to form a second final poker hand, said wild card and
any unsubstituted cards of said second final poker hand resulting
in another predetermined ranking for said second final poker
hand.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising substituting all
remaining ones of said plurality of initial cards, one at a time.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/702,876 filed Jul. 26,
2005, titled "Video Poker Wagering Game With Card Substitution
Feature," which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
COPYRIGHT
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to gaming machines,
and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to a
gaming machine for playing a video poker game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines
and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for
several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with
players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of
winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value
of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where
the available gaming options include a number of competing machines
and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same
(or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to
the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators
consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting
machines, features, and enhancements available because such
machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to
the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming
machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and
improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play
through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
[0005] One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance
the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a "secondary"
or "bonus" game that may be played in conjunction with a "basic"
game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar
to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered
upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic
game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of
winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more
attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may
additionally award players with "progressive jackpot" awards that
are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the
gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines.
[0006] Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages
in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and
because such games are attractive to both players and operators,
there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new
types of bonus games or other feature to satisfy the demands of
players and operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming
system for playing a video poker game includes a wager-input
device, a display, and a controller. The wager-input device
receives a wager input from a player and the display displays the
video poker game having a plurality of cards. The controller is
coupled to the display and the wager-input device, and is
programmed to provide an initial poker hand that is randomly
selected from the plurality of cards. In response to a bonus
feature being triggered, a certain card in the initial poker hand
is replaced with at least two substitute cards from the plurality
of cards to form two distinct final poker hands.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for
playing a video poker game having a plurality of cards includes
receiving a wager input from a player for playing the video poker
game. The method further includes forming, in response to receiving
the wager, an initial poker hand that is randomly selected from the
plurality of cards. In addition, the method includes substituting a
first card for a card in the initial poker hand to form a first
final poker hand, and substituting a second card for the card in
the initial poker hand to form a second final poker hand.
[0009] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
for playing a video poker game having a plurality of cards includes
receiving a wager input for playing the video poker game. The
method further includes forming, in response to receiving the
wager, an initial poker hand that is randomly selected from the
plurality of cards, wherein the initial poker hand includes a
plurality of initial cards. A wild card is substituted for a first
one of the plurality of initial cards to form a first final poker
hand, wherein the wild card and any unsubstituted cards of the
first final poker hand results in a predetermined ranking for the
first final poker hand. The wild card is substituted for a second
one of the plurality of initial cards to form a second final poker
hand, the wild card being selected such that a combination of the
wild card and any unsubstituted cards of the second final poker
hand results in another predetermined ranking for the second final
poker hand.
[0010] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer
readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing
a gaming device to perform the above methods.
[0011] Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed
description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to
the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for
operating the gaming machine;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a stampede feature, according
to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4A is an illustration of a triggering event for a
stampede feature, according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4B is an illustration of the stampede feature of FIG.
4A; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a roving wild feature,
according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gaming
establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present
invention, the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine
and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For
example, the gaming machine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming
machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an
electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game,
such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, etc. In
particular, the present invention is directed to poker games.
[0020] The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes
input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input
device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary
display 14 for displaying information about the basic wagering
game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a
bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming
machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying
game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these
typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described
below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may
exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create
various forms of a gaming machine 10.
[0021] The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms,
individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the
front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives
currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value
input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin
currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, or in addition, the value
input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22 for receiving paper
currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 may include a
ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored
on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit
storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access
to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming
machine 10.
[0022] The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push
buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10.
In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may
comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like
over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch
screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the
underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming
machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an
alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function
either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key
30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button
panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same
functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26
may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while
the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of
the game.
[0023] The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be
connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen
in FIG. 1, or may be located outboard of the housing 12 and
connected to the housing 12 via a variety of different wired or
wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises
these components whether housed in the housing 12, or outboard of
the housing 12 and connected remotely.
[0024] The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the
player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also
display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The
primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a
high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of
display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the
primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the
entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make
game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of
the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to
display the outcome in visual association to at least one payline
32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an
"upright" version in which the primary display 14 is oriented
vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming
machine may be a "slant-top" version in which the primary display
14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of
the gaming machine 10.
[0025] A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a
wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A
player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the
buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of
a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least
one payline 32 that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic
game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the
wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of
randomly selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can
include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering
a bonus game.
[0026] In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include
a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a
player by reading a card with information indicating his or her
true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1
as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket
reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable
storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally
used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary
services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled
in the gaming establishment's loyalty club and may be awarded
certain complimentary services as that player collects points in
his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her
card into the player information reader 52, which allows the
casino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming
machine 10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16
or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player
with information about his or her account or other player-specific
information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52
may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and
saved during a previous game session.
[0027] Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming
machine 10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34,
also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a
microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions,
the controller 34 executes one or more game programs stored in a
computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory 36. The
controller 34 performs the random selection (using a random number
generator (RNG)) of an outcome from the plurality of possible
outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may
be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use
either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a
game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller 34 may
include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a
master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel
processor.
[0028] The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36
and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a
volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a
non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may
include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The
money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or
credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably,
these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming
machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be
located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder
of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of
different wired or wireless connection methods.
[0029] As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to,
and controls, the primary display 14, the player input device 24,
and a payoff mechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in
response to instructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff
to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might
occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be
provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards,
etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoff mechanism 40 includes both
a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44. However, any of a variety
of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the art may be implemented,
including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff
amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40 are determined by
one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 36.
[0030] Communications between the controller 34 and both the
peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems
50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More
specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from
the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the
input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates
with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a
communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10 bT, etc.).
The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming
machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of
other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits
46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated
that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of
different types of I/O circuits.
[0031] Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of
hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or
resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may
communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the
gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device
and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise
one or more controllers or processors. In FIG. 2, the controller 34
in the gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the
controller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with
other components, such as the I/O circuits 46, 48 and the system
memory 36.
[0032] Turning now to FIG. 3, the primary display 14 includes a
plurality of poker cards, a pay table 60, and a plurality of
indicators 62-68 (including a credits indicator 62, a wager
indicator 64, a bonus indicator 66, and an award indicator 68). The
plurality of poker cards include a standard poker card set and at
least one Stampede card for providing a Stampede feature, or bonus,
when playing a video poker game. The Stampede feature allows a
player of video poker to replace one or more of initial poker cards
with a plurality of poker cards, reevaluating the cards to
determine the rank of the poker hand for each replacement round. As
described in more detail below, the Stampede feature can be
triggered in various ways.
[0033] In response to receiving a wager input from a player, an
initial poker hand 69 is provided to the player at the bottom of
the main display 14. The poker hand is one of the many variations
of poker hands that are typically achieved in a poker game. In this
case, however, the initial poker hand 69 includes four standard
poker cards (i.e., a Queen of Spades, a Queen of Hearts, a King of
Diamonds, and a King of Clubs) and a bonus card (the Stampede card
displayed as a "Stampede .times.5" card). The Stampede card
indicates the number of cards, i.e., ".times.5," that are included
in the Stampede feature.
[0034] The Stampede feature, as shown at the top of the main
display 14, causes five replacement cards to be substituted for the
Stampede card. The five replacement cards are a 10 of Spades, a 5
of Hearts, a King of Spades, and a Queen of Diamonds. The
combination of the four standard poker cards and a respective one
of the five replacement cards is reevaluated for each one of the
five replacement cards to determine a respective ranking of the
poker hand. Thus, each time a replacement card is "stampeded"
through the poker hand, the poker hand is treated like a new final
poker hand. The replaced card from the initial poker hand 69 is the
Stampede card. Alternatively, the replaced card can be selected by
the player and the Stampede card is replaced by another card before
the "Stampede" occurs. Optionally, at least one of the replacement
cards is a wild card.
[0035] For example, for the first replacement card, the 10 of
Spades, the ranking of the poker hand is two pairs--two Queens and
two Kings. For the second replacement card, the 5 of Hearts, the
ranking of the poker hand is still two pairs--two Queens and two
Kings. For the third replacement card, the King of Spades, the
ranking of the poker hand is a full house--two Queens and three
Kings. For the fourth replacement card, the Ace of Spades, the
ranking of the poker hand is again two pairs--two Queens and two
Kings. For the fifth replacement card, the Queen of Diamonds, the
ranking of the poker hand is again a full house--three Queens and
two Kings. Accordingly, the player has achieved three two pair
rankings and two full house rankings.
[0036] A pay table 60 indicates the corresponding awards for
winning ranked hands. For example, a Jacks-Or-Better ranking pays
one credit, a Two Pairs ranking pays two credits, a Three-Of-A-Kind
ranking pays three credits, etc. According to the pay table 60, the
player has won 6 credits for the three pair rankings (3.times.2
credits) and 18 credits for the two full house rankings (2.times.9
credits), for a total of 24 credits.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, alternative ways of triggering
and representing the Stampede feature are shown. One way to trigger
the Stampede feature is using a random event that is unrelated to a
base game, e.g., a poker game. For example, a random occurrence of
a pair of dice can indicate to a player the possibility of playing
a Stampede bonus game. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a message
instructs the player to "ROLL DICE FOR STAMPEDE BONUS." If the
rolled dice result in an odd number, then the player is awarded a
number of stampede cards that is equal to the number of the rolled
dice. If the rolled dice result in an even number, then a stampede
bonus is not awarded. After rolling the dice, it is assumed that
the first dice yields the number 3 and the second dice yields the
number 2, for a total number of 5. Consequently, the player is
awarded 5 Stampede cards.
[0038] Alternatively, the player can purchase a Stampede feature
using a side wager. Thus, the player can purchase an X number of
cards for a Stampede feature. Optionally, the player can purchase
an option for potentially playing a Stampede feature. For example,
the player can purchase one or more rolls of dice for determining
whether the player will be awarded a Stampede bonus. Each roll of
dice that meets a predetermined criteria, e.g., a predetermined
number, results in a Stampede bonus. After a Stampede bonus has
been awarded, additional rolls of dice can optionally determine the
number of Stampede cards available in the Stampede bonus.
[0039] After the Stampede bonus has been awarded, the Stampede
replacement cards can be used to replace a single card, as shown
and described in reference to FIG. 3, or a plurality of cards. For
example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a plurality of randomly selected
cards from the initial hand 69 are replaced with the Stampede
replacement cards. Alternatively, a number of the Stampede
replacement cards can be used to replace a first card of the
initial hand 69 and another number of the Stampede replacement
cards can be used to replace a second card of the initial hand 69.
For example, assuming a total of ten Stampede replacement cards,
the first five Stampede replacement cards can be used to replace
the Queen of Spades and the last five Stampede replacement cards
can be used to replace the Queen of Hearts. Optionally, the
replaced cards can be selected by the player.
[0040] As shown in the 1.sup.st Row, the 10 of Spades replaces the
King of Diamonds to achieve a poker ranking of Two Pairs--two
Queens and two 10s. In the 2.sup.nd Row, the 5 of Hearts replaces
the Queen of Hearts to achieve a poker ranking of one pair--two
Kings. In the 3.sup.rd Row, the King of Spades replaces the Queen
of Spades to achieve a poker ranking of Three-Of-A-Kind--three
Kings. In the 4.sup.th Row, the Ace of Hearts replaces the 10 of
Clubs to achieve a poker ranking of Two Pairs--two Queens and two
Kings. In the 5.sup.th Row, the Queen of Diamonds replaces the King
of Clubs to achieve a poker ranking of Three-Of-A-Kind --three
Queens. Accordingly, the player has achieved the following ranked
rankings: two Two Pairs, each of which pays 2 credits, and two
Three-Of-A-Kind, each of which pays 3 credits. Thus, the player has
won 10 credits during the Stampede bonus represented in FIG.
4B.
[0041] In alternative embodiments, a Stampede replacement card
replaces a card based on the position of the card. For example, a
first Stampede replacement card replaces a first card located in a
leftmost location of an initial poker hand and a second Stampede
replacement card replaces a second card located in a rightmost
location of the initial poker hand. The locations are pre-selected
(e.g., the controller 34 selects a card located in a specific
location), randomly selected (e.g., the controller 34 selects a
card located in a random location), or player selected (e.g., the
player selects the location of the replaced card). Optionally, a
triggering criterion can be used to determine whether a specific
position, a random position, or a specific card are replaced.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 5, a Roving Wild feature includes a
plurality of initial poker cards and a Roving Wild card. A bottom
section 168 of the primary display 14 shows in the bottom row the
initial poker cards, which include the Queen of Hearts, the King of
Diamonds, and the Ace of Hearts. The Roving Wild card is randomly
awarded in the initial poker cards. Alternatively, the Roving Wild
card can be awarded based on any triggering event as described
above in reference to FIGS. 3-4B.
[0043] After the Roving Wild card has been awarded, the Roving Wild
card is replaced with another card from a deck of cards. Thus, in
the top row of the bottom section 168 the Roving Wild card has been
replaced with a Queen of Diamonds. The Roving Wild card is
represented as a sixth card in the top row of the initial poker
cards. The replacement card for the Roving Wild card can be
randomly selected, pre-selected, or player selected.
[0044] In a top section 169 of the primary display 14, the Roving
Wild card is used to evaluate each of the five different positions
of the initial poker cards. Each one of the five rows, the 1.sup.st
Row-5.sup.th Row, shows the Roving Wild being evaluated in a
different position of the initial poker hand. For each evaluation,
the Roving Wild card is assumed to have a card value that would
provide the highest possible ranking for the poker hand.
[0045] In the 1.sup.st Row, the Roving Wild card is evaluated in
combination with the Queen of Hearts, the Queen of Diamonds, the
King of Diamonds, and the Ace of Hearts. The highest possible
ranking would be achieved if the Roving Wild card has a Queen rank
to achieve a Three-Of-A-Kind poker ranking. Thus, the Roving Wild
card is replaced with one of the Queen of Spades or the Queen of
Clubs to achieve the Three-Of-A-Kind ranking, which provides an
award of 3 credits.
[0046] In the 2.sup.nd Row, the Roving Wild card is evaluated in
combination with the Queen of Spades, the Queen of Diamonds, the
King of diamonds, and the Ace of Hearts. The highest possible
ranking would be achieved if the Roving Wild card has a Queen rank.
Thus, similar to the 1.sup.st Row, the Roving Wild card is replaced
with one of the Queen of Spades or the Queen of Clubs to achieve
the Three-Of-A-Kind ranking, which provides another award of 3
credits.
[0047] In the 3.sup.rd Row, the Roving Wild card is evaluated in
combination with the Queen of Spades, the Queen of Hearts, the King
of Diamonds, and the Ace of Hearts. As in the 1.sup.st and 2.sup.nd
rows, the highest possible ranking would be achieved if the Roving
Wild card has a Queen rank. Thus, the Roving Wild card is replaced
with one of the Queen of Spades or the Queen of Clubs to achieve
the Three-Of-A-Kind ranking, which provides another award of 3
credits.
[0048] In the 4.sup.th Row, the Roving Wild card is evaluated in
combination with the Queen of Spades, the Queen of Hearts, the
Queen of Diamonds, and the Ace of Hearts. The highest possible
ranking would be achieved if the Roving Wild card has a Queen rank
to achieve a Four-Of-A-Kind poker ranking, which provides an award
of 25 credits.
[0049] In the 5.sup.th Row, the Roving Wild card is evaluated in
combination with the Queen of Spades, the Queen of Hearts, the
Queen of Diamonds, and the King of Diamonds. The highest possible
ranking would be achieved if the Roving Wild card has a Queen rank
to achieve a Four-Of-A-Kind poker ranking, which provides an award
of 25 credits. Thus, the player has been awarded a total award of
59 credits, as indicated in the award indicator 68, for the Roving
Wild bonus game.
[0050] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
Roving Wild feature includes a plurality of Roving Wild cards. For
example, the player may trigger two Roving Wild cards that randomly
replace, generally simultaneously, cards of the initial poker hand.
Thus, referring to FIG. 5, instead of substituting one Roving Wild
card per each row, two Roving Wild cards are randomly substituted
per each row.
[0051] Optionally, the ranking of the initial poker hand, after
being evaluated with the Roving Wild card, can be randomly selected
from a plurality of rankings. For example, if the Roving Wild can
be used to achieve a Two Pair ranking, a Three-Of-A-Kind ranking,
and a Full House ranking, the Two Pair ranking can be randomly
selected as the current hand ranking.
[0052] In the examples described above in reference to FIGS. 3-5,
it is assumed that all the cards are selected from the same deck of
cards, i.e., a standard deck of 52 cards. Alternatively, the cards
are selected from a plurality of decks of cards. For example, an
initial poker hand can include cards that are selected from a first
deck of cards, while at least some of a plurality of stampeding
cards are selected from a second deck of cards. Optionally, a deck
of cards includes one or more Jokers that are designated as wild
cards. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the ranks,
e.g., deuces, are designated as wild cards.
[0053] Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is
contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed
invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *