U.S. patent application number 12/511391 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-03 for methods and devices for reel-type wagering with bonus games.
This patent application is currently assigned to WATERLEAF LIMITED. Invention is credited to Terence Igesund, Theo Naicker.
Application Number | 20110028202 12/511391 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42830225 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110028202 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Naicker; Theo ; et
al. |
February 3, 2011 |
Methods and Devices for Reel-Type Wagering with Bonus Games
Abstract
One or more client machines may engage in the play of reel-type
games with a gaming server, where each gaming session may include
one or more spins of a reel in the reel-type game. Certain outcomes
of these spins may include a bonus token, or some other type of
indication that bonus credits have been awarded. Once a given
client machine has accumulated a sufficient number of bonus tokens,
the client machine may have the option to engage in a bonus
game.
Inventors: |
Naicker; Theo; (Durban,
ZA) ; Igesund; Terence; (Durban, ZA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP
300 S. WACKER DRIVE, 32ND FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
WATERLEAF LIMITED
Douglas
GB
|
Family ID: |
42830225 |
Appl. No.: |
12/511391 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/20 ;
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3244
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/20 ;
463/25 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for a gaming server to facilitate play of bonus games,
wherein the gaming server is communicatively coupled to a client
machine playing a reel-type game, wherein the client machine uses a
user account to play the reel-type game, wherein the gaming server
generates results of a spin of each of a plurality of reels in the
reel-type game for the client machine and transmits the results to
the client machine, and wherein the gaming server maintains bonus
credits associated with the user account, the method comprising:
the gaming server transmitting a first result of a first spin of
the reel-type game to the client machine; the gaming server
receiving, from the client machine, a first request to play a first
bonus game, wherein playing the first bonus game is associated with
a first amount of bonus credits; in response to receiving the first
request, the gaming server debiting the bonus credits associated
with the user account by the first amount; and the gaming server
engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus game.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on the bonus
credits associated with the user account, the gaming server also
transmitting, to the client machine, a list of at least one bonus
game available to the user account, wherein the first bonus game is
in the list.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming server maintains the
bonus credits between spins of the reel-type game.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein a gaming session of the reel type
game, facilitated by the gaming server, consists of the client
machine logging on to the user account, a number of turns of the
reel-type game being played by the client machine, and the client
machine logging off of the user account, and wherein the gaming
server maintains the bonus credits between gaming sessions.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first result of the first
spin of the reel-type game is transmitted as part of a screen
display, wherein the screen display includes a reel display area,
and the indication of the result also includes a bonus token.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bonus token is displayed in
any position in the reel display area.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the bonus token is displayed
outside of the reel display area.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the reel display area includes a
centre pay line position, and wherein the bonus token is displayed
in the centre pay line position.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: after engaging the
client machine in play of the first bonus game, the gaming server
transmitting a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine, wherein the second result includes a bonus
deactivation indication, wherein the bonus deactivation indication
is associated with a second amount of bonus credits; and the gaming
server debiting the bonus credits associated with the user account
by the second amount.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second amount is all bonus
credits associated with the user account.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming server allows no more
than a threshold number of bonus credits to be associated with the
user account.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after engaging the
client machine in play of the first bonus game, the gaming server
transmitting a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine; the gaming server receiving, from the client
machine, a second request to play a second bonus game, wherein
playing the second bonus game is associated with a second amount of
bonus credits; in response to receiving the second request to play
the second bonus game, the gaming server debiting the user account
by the second amount; and the gaming server engaging the client
machine in play of the second bonus game.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second amount is greater
than the first amount.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus game is chosen from
the group consisting of free spins of the reel-type game, free
spins of a different reel-type game, and a pick-until-pop type
game.
15. A method for a gaming server to facilitate play of bonus games,
wherein the gaming server is communicatively coupled to a client
machine playing a reel-type game, wherein the client machine uses a
user account to play the reel-type game, wherein the gaming server
generates results of spins of each of a plurality of reels in the
reel-type game for the client machine, and transmits results of the
spins to the client machine, and wherein the gaming server
maintains bonus credits associated with the user account, the
method comprising: the gaming server determining an outcome of a
first spin of the reel-type game, wherein the outcome includes the
user account being awarded at least one bonus credit; the gaming
server crediting the user account by the at least one bonus credit;
the gaming server transmitting, to the client machine, a first
result of the first spin of the reel-type game, and a first
indication of the award of the at least one bonus credit; if the
gaming server receives, from the client machine, a first request to
play a first bonus game, then the gaming server debiting the bonus
credits in the user account by a first amount and engaging the
client machine in play of the first bonus game, wherein the first
amount is the cost to play the first bonus game; and if the gaming
server receives, from the client machine, a second request to not
play any bonus game, then the gaming server maintaining the bonus
credits in the user account.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: after the first
spin of the reel-type game, the gaming server also transmitting, to
the client machine, a list of at least one bonus game available to
play, wherein the first bonus game is in the list.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the gaming server maintains the
bonus credits between spins of the reel-type game.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein a gaming session of the reel
type game consists of the client machine logging on to the user
account, a number of turns of the reel-type game being played by
the client machine, and the client machine logging off of the user
account, and wherein the gaming server maintain the bonus credits
between gaming sessions.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first result of the first
spin of the reel-type game is transmitted as part of a screen
display, wherein the screen display includes a reel display area,
and the first result includes a bonus token.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising: the gaming server
transmitting a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine, wherein the second result includes a bonus
deactivation indication, wherein the bonus deactivation indication
is associated with a second amount of bonus credits; and the gaming
server debiting the bonus credits associated with the user account
by the second amount.
21. The method of claim 15, further comprising: after engaging the
client machine in play of the first bonus game, the gaming server
transmitting a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine; the gaming server receiving, from the client
machine, a second request to play a second bonus game, wherein
playing the second bonus game is associated with a second amount of
bonus credits; in response to receiving the second request, the
gaming server debiting the user account by the second amount; and
the gaming server engaging the client machine in play of the second
bonus game.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second amount is greater
than the first amount.
23. A gaming server, communicatively coupled to at least one client
machine, wherein the gaming server allows the client machine to
play a reel-type game, wherein the gaming server generates results
of spins of each of a plurality of reels in the reel-type game for
the client machine and transmits results of the spins to the client
machine, the gaming server comprising: a processor capable of
executing program instructions; and a memory containing data and
the program instructions, wherein the data includes a
representation of a user account, wherein the client machine plays
the reel-type game via the gaming server with the user account,
wherein the representation of the user account contains a quantity
of bonus credits, wherein the program instructions are executable
by the processor to (i) transmit a first result of a first spin of
the reel-type game to the client machine, (ii) receive, from the
client machine, a first request to play a first bonus game, wherein
playing the first bonus game is associated with a first amount of
bonus credits, (iii) in response to receiving the first request,
debit the user account by the first amount, and (iv) engage the
client machine in play of the first bonus game.
24. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein the memory further
contains program instructions executable by the processor to, based
on the bonus credits associated with the user account, also
transmit, to the client machine, a list of at least one bonus game
available to the user account, wherein the first bonus game is in
the list.
25. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein the memory further
contains program instructions executable by the processor to
maintain the bonus credits between spins of the reel-type game.
26. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein a gaming session of the
reel type game, facilitated by the gaming server, consists of the
client machine logging on to the user account, a number of turns of
the reel-type game being played by the client machine, and the
client machine logging off of the user account, and wherein the
memory further contains program instructions executable by the
processor to maintain the bonus credits between gaming
sessions.
27. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein the memory further
contains program instructions executable by the processor to (i)
after engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus game,
transmit a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game to
the client machine, wherein the second result includes a bonus
deactivation indication, wherein the bonus deactivation indication
is associated with a second amount of bonus credits, and (ii) debit
the bonus credits associated with the user account by the second
amount.
28. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein the memory further
contains program instructions executable by the processor to (i)
after engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus game,
the gaming server transmitting a second result of a second spin of
the reel-type game to the client machine, (ii) the gaming server
receiving, from the client machine, a second request to play a
second bonus game, wherein playing the second bonus game is
associated with a second amount of bonus credits, (iii) in response
to receiving the second request, the gaming server debiting the
user account by the second amount, and (iv) the gaming server
engaging the client machine in play of the second bonus game.
29. The gaming server of claim 23, wherein the second amount is
greater than the first amount.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to the field of wager
games and more particularly to methods and apparatuses for
initiating bonus games during play of a reel-type wager game. The
methods are applicable in a variety of game playing formats, for
example physical slot machines, electronic video gaming terminals,
and computer workstations playing wager games over a computer
network.
SUMMARY
[0002] In a first aspect, a client machine configured to play a
reel-type wager game featuring a bonus game is described. The
client machine can take the form of a video slots machine, a
general purpose computer or other type of client machine used to
play games. The client machine may include a display configured to
display two or more reels of a reel-type wager game, a memory
storing program instructions for facilitating a user to play the
reel-type wager game, and a processor for executing the program
instructions. The program instructions may be arranged to display
bonus tokens accumulated by the user during play of the game. A
bonus token, which may take the form of an icon or graphical device
of any sort, may be accumulated when the reels display a symbol or
combination of symbols that are associated with an award of a bonus
token. The symbol may take any form and could for example be a coin
symbol, the letter "B" or the word "Bonus". The bonus game is
typically triggered by the player at any time after accumulating
one or more of the bonus tokens.
[0003] The number of accumulated bonus tokens may be initially set
to none when the player starts play of the game for the first time.
The player may accumulate bonus token(s) when the symbol associated
with the bonus game appears on the pay line on any one of the
reels. The player may accumulate further bonus token(s) when the
bonus symbol again appears on the pay line on any one of the reels.
The player may continue to accumulate bonus tokens in this manner
indefinitely, or up to a predefined maximum number of tokens, for
example five such tokens.
[0004] In one embodiment, the client machine may be connected to a
computer network, and the client machine may be configured to
receive results of spins of the reels from a gaming server over the
computer network. In other forms of the invention, the client
machine can be a completely stand alone machine and have program
instructions resident that determine results of spins of the reels.
As one further example, the client machine may take the form of a
video gaming terminal. In some forms of the game, the display may
be configured to display N reels, where N is an integer greater
than zero. In other forms, the results of a spin or turn of the
reel-type game may be displayed in the form of an array of symbols
in M rows and N columns, each column of the N columns is in the
form of a reel. In one specific form of the game, if the symbol
associated with the bonus game appears on any of the M rows in any
of the N columns (any of the reels), the user may accumulate a
bonus token. In another form of the game, the user may accumulate a
bonus token only when the symbol associated with the bonus game
appears on a centre row of the array of symbols.
[0005] In another aspect, a gaming server is disclosed which
communicates with a client machine playing a reel-type game over a
computer network. The gaming server generates results of a spin of
each of a plurality of reels in the reel-type game for the client
machine and transmits such results to the machine as a datagram
over the computer network. The gaming server features a memory
storing data representing potential results for each of the reels
(e.g., an array of symbols such as Cherries, Bar, Bar Bar, 7,
etc.), with the potential results also including a result in the
form of a symbol which is associated with the award of a bonus
token that can be applied to trigger a bonus game. Should a given
spin of the reels for a machine result in this symbol associated
with award of the bonus token, when the machine receives the result
from the gaming server the machine will then display the bonus
token, as described herein.
[0006] In one particular embodiment, a player can "bank" any
accumulated bonus tokens in the event that the player leaves the
game. Thus, in this embodiment the gaming server may be further
provided with a memory storing data (e.g., a flag or bit)
indicating whether a result of a spin of the reels for the client
machine has included the symbol associated with the bonus game. The
gaming server stores such data in the memory after the client
machine has ceased play of the game. Should the player later rejoin
the game, the server retrieves the data and sends it in a datagram
to the client machine. The client machine then displays the number
of previously-accumulated bonus tokens and the player basically
starts play again with their accumulated bonus tokens displayed on
the display.
[0007] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a potential result for
each of the reels may be a forfeiture symbol. Should this symbol be
the result for a given spin, previously-accumulated bonus token(s)
may be forfeited.
[0008] In still another aspect, a method is disclosed of playing a
reel-type game using a client machine having a display. The method
includes the steps of providing on the display a plurality of reels
and providing a mechanism by which bonus tokens can be accumulated
progressively over multiple turns of the game. All or part of the
accumulated bonus tokens can be consumed by the player at any time
to trigger a bonus game. In one embodiment, the method further
includes the step of providing on the display a visible indication
of the number of accumulated bonus tokens, with a bonus token being
accumulated when a symbol associated with the award of a bonus
token appears on any one of the plurality of reels as a result of a
turn of the play of the reel-type game. As noted above, accumulated
bonus tokens may be displayed on the display.
[0009] In a yet further aspect, a user can trigger a bonus game at
any time after having accumulated one or more bonus tokens. The
bonus game may have an associated cost in bonus tokens and the
total of the user's accumulated bonus tokens may be decremented by
the corresponding cost of the bonus game. As an example, the user
may trigger the bonus game only when the user has accumulated
sufficient bonus tokens to cover the corresponding cost of the
bonus game. In another example, the user may trigger any one of a
number of different bonus games, each bonus game having a
corresponding, but different, associated cost in bonus tokens. The
user may only be able to trigger those bonus games for which the
user has accumulated a sufficient number of tokens. It is
anticipated that a user can win a prize from a bonus game that is,
on average, proportional to the corresponding number of accumulated
bonus tokens that are consumed in triggering the bonus game.
[0010] These and other aspects and advantages will become apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following
detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the
accompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that the
foregoing overview is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit
the scope of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an illustration of the display of a machine used
to play a reel-type wager game;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the pay lines and a partial pay
table of the reel-type wager game of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a further partial pay table of
a reel-type wager game, where the pay table illustrates a symbol
that is associated with an award of a bonus token.
[0014] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are further partial pay tables of a
reel-type wager game, each illustrating one or more bonus games
that can be triggered against a corresponding cost in accumulated
bonus tokens;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a display of a reel-type wager
game after a spin of the reels, where a single bonus token is
displayed due to the presence on the far right-hand reel of a
symbol associated with the award of a bonus token;
[0016] FIG. 8 is another illustration of the display of a reel-type
wager game after a spin of the reels;
[0017] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a menu of bonus games available
to a user after a bonus game icon has been activated to trigger a
bonus game;
[0018] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an environment in which a
reel-type game can be played by a video gaming terminal in a casino
or like establishment;
[0019] FIG. 11 is an illustration of an environment in which a
reel-type game can be played by client machines connected to a
gaming server over a network such as the Internet; and
[0020] FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are flow charts in accordance with
example embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Reel-type games are disclosed which enable qualifying
players to trigger a bonus game on demand, thereby providing a
player with flexibility and increasing the excitement of the
playing experience. This may be achieved by providing a mechanism
for accumulating or collecting assets over multiple turns or spins
of the video slot game until a predetermined threshold is reached,
thereby qualifying to trigger the bonus game, or multiple bonus
games, when desired against consumption of all or part of the
accumulated assets.
I. Game Description
[0022] In reel-type games such as slots, one or more reels are
provided, each of which contain a multitude of symbols distributed
around the circumference of the reel. When a player places a wager
(e.g., by placing a coin in the machine) they may be permitted to
spins the reels. Each reel comes to rest, with typically with
either one of the symbols, or a space in between the symbols, in
alignment with a pay line. The player wins according to whether a
particular winning symbol or combination of symbols is present on a
pay line. In a simple three-reel slot machine game, the pay line
may be a horizontal line going across the middle of the reels. In
other reel-type games, such as an array of 5.times.3 symbols which
all "spin" during a turn of play, the "pay line" refers to a
particular combination of positions of symbols in the 5.times.3
array which are used to determine if a winning result was
achieved.
[0023] The game of slots can be played on a video gaming terminal
with a graphical user interface, e.g., a dedicated gaming machine
such as found in a casino. In the case of a video gaming terminal,
the user interface displays an image of a set of reels. Animation
effects are used to simulate the spinning action. Program
instructions, which may be resident in the video gaming terminal,
randomly generate a result for a simulated spin of the reels, and
the result may be presented on the user interface.
[0024] Slots games may also be played over a computer network,
e.g., by a player using a personal computer which has established a
connection to a gaming server. In this later situation, the gaming
server generates results of play and transmits the results over the
computer network to the personal computer for display.
[0025] The popularity of video slot games has increased due to the
incorporation of bonus games into such video slot games. A bonus
game may be distinct from the underlying video slot game and may
provide a player with entertainment, and also additional
opportunities to win game prizes. The play of bonus games may
utilize the reels of the video slot game itself ("reel-based bonus
games"), or, alternatively, may occur on a separate bonus screen
("non-reel-based bonus games").
[0026] One type of reel-based bonus game consists of an award of
"free spins", in which the player may be provided with a quantity
of further play of the underlying video slot game at no cost to the
player, while at the same time allowing the player to win game
prizes in the usual manner. For purposes of determining a payout
for a winning result in accordance with a pay table, the amount
wagered per spin during a "free spins" game is typically fixed,
e.g. at $1.00, but again, the "free spins" do not result in the
player's account being debited.
[0027] Other types of reel-based bonus games feature the addition
of wild multipliers in the reels, randomly-changing symbols,
cascading features where winning combinations of symbols disappear
and are replaced by further symbols, "expanding wilds" where a wild
symbol replicates to cover an entire reel of the video slot game on
which it appears, and slide features in which a reel symbol
replicates across multiple reels.
[0028] Non-reel-based bonus games allow game designers unlimited
scope for creativity. One possible such bonus game is a
"pick-a-box" feature in which the player is presented with a number
of choices and has to select items in order to win prizes. A
variation of this bonus game is the so-called "Pick until Pop" game
in which the player continues to select items until a terminating
item is selected. A further category of non-reel-based bonus games
is based on a wheel spin in which a player is awarded a prize that
is a function of a position at which the wheel comes to rest.
Another category of non-reel-based bonus games is multi-level games
in which selection of a correct item allows the player to progress
to a higher level of prizes that may also include a progressive
jackpot. The bonus game may also be a combination game comprising
both reel-based bonus features and non-reel-based bonus
features.
[0029] The underlying video slot game may require a trigger event
to occur in order to launch the bonus game. One such type of
trigger event may be the occurrence of a predefined combination of
trigger symbols on a pay line of the underlying video slot game.
This combination of trigger symbols which must be present to
trigger the launch of the bonus game is usually included in the pay
table of the video slot game. For example, the bonus game may be
triggered by a game outcome in which three or more trigger symbols
appear on any active pay line of the underlying video slot game.
Alternatively, the required number of trigger symbols need not all
appear on a single pay line, but could be scattered in any
positions in the reel display area of the video slot game. As a
further alternative, the bonus game may be triggered randomly. As a
yet further alternative, the bonus game may be triggered by the
occurrence of a "wind-up" in which the appearance of a
predetermined combination of symbols on a subset of the reels of
the video slots game initiates a random outcome on the remaining
reels of the game. In all of these prior art scenarios, the bonus
game may be triggered based on the results of a single play or spin
of the underlying video slot game.
[0030] The games of this disclosure are typically played on a
client machine which is configured to play a reel-type wager game
featuring a bonus game. The client machine may include a display
configured to display two or more reels of a reel-type wager game,
a memory storing program instructions for facilitating a user to
play the reel-type wager game, and a processor for executing the
program instructions.
[0031] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/513,140 discloses an
example gaming system whereby multiple distributed client machines
may engage in gaming activity via a gaming server over a computer
network such as the Internet or a private network. The entire
contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/513,140 are
incorporated by reference herein, as if fully set forth in this
description. Furthermore, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/978,876 discloses another example gaming system wherein play of
reel-type games is facilitated. The entire contents of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/978,876 are also incorporated by reference
herein, as if fully set forth in this description. In various
embodiments, the methods described herein may be implemented in a
gaming system of the type disclosed in the U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/513,140 or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/978,876.
However, other embodiments may involve other arrangements of client
machines and gaming servers.
[0032] The program instructions at the client machine may include
features for displaying assets in the form of bonus tokens as they
are accumulated during play of the game. A bonus token, which may
take the form of an icon or graphical device of any sort, is
accumulated when a symbol associated with an award of a bonus token
appears on any one of the reels. The symbol may take any form and
could for example be a coin symbol, the letter "B" or the word
"Bonus." The bonus game can typically be triggered on demand when
at least one bonus token has been accumulated.
[0033] This is illustrated by example with reference to a sequence
of screen shots shown in FIGS. 1-9. These screen shots show a
display on a user interface (10) of a game playing machine used for
playing a reel-type game. The machine may take the form of a video
gaming terminal, a slot machine, general purpose computer, personal
digital assistant, cellular telephone, or other electronic device.
The device includes a memory storing program instructions (not
shown but conventional in such machines) and a processing unit
(e.g., CPU or microprocessor) which executes the instructions
stored in the machine, which again is conventional. The sequence
and organization of the program instructions will be apparent to
persons skilled in the art from the description and illustrated
examples of operation of the various embodiments of the invention
set forth below.
[0034] In particular, FIG. 1 is a representation of a five-reel
video slot game which is presented on the display (10) of the game
playing machine. The symbols (14) are displayed in an array of
symbols (14) in M rows and N columns, here M=3 and N=5. Each column
is in the form of a reel (12). Each reel (12) displays three
symbols after a turn of the game. The game has up to twenty pay
lines, each comprising a unique sequence of array elements (14)
going from left to right across the display, each pay line having
an associated number. The pay lines in a game of this type are
known in the art and the details are not particularly
important.
[0035] FIGS. 2 to 6 represent, collectively, a pay table of the
five-reel video slot game. FIG. 2 shows the unique sequences of
array elements (16), going from left to right, that make up the
twenty pay lines. The pay table indicates that the set of symbols
(14) of the video slot game contains a "passport" symbol associated
with an award of a bonus token, represented in FIG. 3 by the coin
symbol (22). During regular play of the video slot game, whenever a
passport symbol (22) appears on the centre pay line (23) of the
reel display area, a bonus token is awarded. According to the rules
of the present embodiment the player may accumulate a maximum of 5
bonus tokens. In FIG. 7, the passport symbol (22) has appeared on
the fifth reel (12A) of the video slot game and a bonus token (20A)
has been awarded. The bonus token (20A) is represented by a coin
symbol that appears outside of the reel display area. The manner of
representing an awarded bonus token (20A) is not particularly
important and can vary widely. Note that a "PLAY BONUS" icon (26)
is also displayed. The PLAY BONUS icon (26) can be used to trigger
a bonus game as will be described in more detail below.
[0036] As game play progresses and further spins of the reels
occur, the awarded bonus token (20A) and the PLAY BONUS icon (26)
remain displayed. In other words, the game is structured such that
accumulated bonus tokens (20A) may be preserved from spin to
successive spin. In theory, accumulated bonus tokens (20A) could be
preserved as long as the player continues to play in one continuous
session. It is also possible to "bank" accumulated bonus tokens
(20A) should the player quit the game and resume playing later, as
will be described in further detail later on.
[0037] Suppose, in this example, that the player continues to play.
Consider now FIG. 8. In this particular spin of the game the
passport symbol (22) has once again appeared on the fifth reel
(12A) of the video slot game and a further bonus token (20A) has
been awarded. By this stage the player has, through play of the
game, accumulated 4 bonus tokens (20A) represented by four coin
symbols that appear outside of the reel display area. The PLAY
BONUS icon (26) remains displayed. In this particular version of
the game, the rules of the game may be such that the player
requires a minimum of one bonus token in order to trigger a bonus
game. Since the player has accumulated four bonus tokens (20A), the
player may elect to trigger the bonus game when desired. The
eligibility of the player to trigger the bonus game may optionally
be indicated by a message (not shown) informing the player of such
eligibility.
[0038] Although the trigger conditions for bonus play have been met
(situation in FIGS. 7 and 8), the game may not automatically
transition into a bonus game mode, but instead may require the
player to enter the bonus game mode by activating the PLAY BONUS
icon (26). Upon activating the PLAY BONUS icon, the player may be
presented with a menu of 5 different bonus games, for example named
SMOOTHIE (30), HOT STONE (32), BODY WAX (34), BATH OIL (36) and
MASSAGE (38), respectively, as represented in FIG. 9. Each bonus
game has an associated "cost" in terms of bonus tokens that will be
consumed when the particular bonus game is triggered. In
particular, the SMOOTHIE bonus game (30) may consume 1 bonus token
(20A) when triggered by the player. The HOT STONE, BODY WAX, BATH
OIL and MASSAGE bonus games may consume 2, 3, 4 and 5 bonus tokens,
respectively, when triggered. The cost of, and rules associated
with, each one of the bonus games are represented in FIGS. 4, 5,
and 6. In the present example, the player has accumulated only 4
bonus tokens and will therefore be unable to trigger the MASSAGE
bonus game (38), i.e. the first four bonus games in the menu are
feasible, while the last bonus game is non-feasible and is
greyed-out. The player may be able to selectively trigger any of
the feasible bonus games, on demand.
[0039] When the player triggers a selected one of the feasible
bonus games, the player's bonus token balance (20A) may be reduced
by the associated cost of that bonus game. For example, if the
player triggers the BATH OIL bonus game (36), which will consume 4
bonus tokens (20A), the player's bonus token balance may reduce to
zero and, once play of the bonus game terminates, neither bonus
tokens (20A) nor the PLAY BONUS icon (26) may be visible outside of
the reel display area.
[0040] Alternatively, if the player elects to trigger the SMOOTHIE
bonus game (30), for example, the player's bonus token balance may
reduce from 4 to 3. In this instance, once play of the bonus game
terminates, 3 bonus tokens (20A) may still be displayed (one bonus
token having been consumed to trigger the SMOOTHIE bonus game), in
addition to the PLAY BONUS icon (26). The player may immediately
re-activate the PLAY BONUS icon (26), in which case the bonus game
menu will show that the SMOOTHIE, HOT STONE and BODY WAX bonus
games are still feasible, while both the BATH OIL and MASSAGE bonus
games are non-feasible.
[0041] The particular bonus games that are provided to the player
may vary widely and are not particularly important. The bonus games
may take the form of free spins of the underlying reel-type game,
free spins of a new type reel-type game, a "pick until pop" type
game, or any other form. It is envisaged that the probability of
achieving a winning payout in any bonus game, and the magnitude of
such a winning payout, is proportional to the corresponding cost in
bonus tokens consumed in triggering that bonus game.
[0042] Whenever the player has consumed all available bonus tokens
(20A) to trigger one or more bonus games, the player may be
required to accumulate at least one further bonus symbol in the
manner described above in order to again qualify for bonus play,
and the player's eligibility for such bonus play is presented using
the indicators in the manner described above.
[0043] In the above embodiment, the essence of the triggering
mechanism is that bonus tokens (20A) are accumulated over time as
game play progresses and different bonus games can be triggered
when the player has accumulated sufficient bonus tokens to meet
different corresponding thresholds, 1 to 5 in this example. It is
anticipated that player interest in the video slot game will be
sustained, particularly in circumstances where a player has
accumulated a substantial number of bonus tokens (20A).
[0044] Numerous variations and permutations are possible to this
embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For
example, a bonus token (20A) may be accumulated when a passport
symbol (22) occurs in any position in the viewable portion of the
associated slot reel (12) instead of only on the centre pay line
position (line 23 in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8).
[0045] In another example, the symbol set of the video slot game
may also include a deactivation symbol (not shown), e.g., the word
"bonus" with a line through it. When the deactivation symbol
appears on any one of the reels, one accumulated bonus token (20A)
may be forfeited. Alternatively, all accumulated bonus token may be
forfeited when the deactivation symbol appears. This feature can be
used to discourage the player from "warehousing" or hording
accumulated bonus tokens.
[0046] In yet another example, at the commencement of a playing
session, the player starts with no accumulated bonus tokens (20A).
Alternatively, in order to encourage a player to return to the
game, all accumulated bonus tokens at the end of a playing session
could be carried forward to the player's next playing session. In
other words, when a player plays the game and accumulates one or
more bonus tokens (20A), the accumulated bonus tokens are "banked"
until the player logs back in and continues playing the game. The
"banking" of the accumulated bonus tokens (20A) can take the form
of storing data in memory local to the client machine indicating
the identity of the player and the number of accumulated bonus
tokens at the time of termination of play. Such information may
also be stored in a gaming server that functions to generate
results of play and transmits results of play to the player's
client machine.
II. Game Playing Environments
[0047] As noted previously, the features of this disclosure can be
implemented in a variety of game playing formats. Several
representative examples of these formats will be described in this
section.
[0048] In one format, a personal computer may be loaded with game
playing program instructions which includes a reel-type game. The
game can be played solely for amusement, in which case the computer
is typically not interacting with any external resource which logs
wagers, determines and communicates results, or adjusts a player's
credit account. The game software may present the reels such as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 7-8. When a "passport symbol" (22) is present
on a pay line, a bonus token (20A) is accumulated as described
above. When one or more bonus tokens (20A) have been accumulated in
this manner, the program instructions for the game may enable the
player to trigger a bonus game in exchange for a predetermined
number of bonus tokens.
[0049] In another format, the game may be played in a video gaming
terminal, such as found in a land or ship-borne casino. One example
of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 10. A casino (40) includes a
plurality of game playing machines (50) (in this example, four reel
video slot machines) which are connected to a local area network
(60). A player inserts a card having a magnetic strip storing a
credit amount into a slot (54) in the machine (50). The card is
read and wager amounts are deducted from the value carried by the
card. The machine (50) includes a display (52) showing four reels
(12). The display (52) may also include features which are not
shown, such as wager controls, which are conventional and not
important. A turn of the game is made by pulling on the handle (56)
or by pressing a spin button, or in some other fashion.
[0050] In this example, the results of play may be generated by a
gaming server (62) using a random number generator (or other
process to generate a set of reel symbols randomly). The gaming
server may communicate the results of play to the client
machine(50) (e.g., a video gaming terminal) over the network (60)
as one or more packets or datagram containing data indicating which
symbols are to be displayed on the reels (12). The datagram(s) are
processed by program instructions on the client device (50) and
presented on the display (52) in known fashion. When the gaming
server's randomly generated results include the passport symbol
(22) (in this example a star symbol), the gaming server includes
with the datagram(s) containing the results of the spin a flag or
bit which indicates that an accumulated bonus token (20A) and the
PLAY BONUS icon (26) are to be displayed, since one of the results
for reel (12B) is the star symbol (22). Alternatively, the program
instructions in the terminal (50) may include logic or code which
searches the datagram for a data indicating that the star symbol
was returned as a result, and if it finds such data a bonus token
(20A) is displayed outside of the reel display area.
[0051] In this example, suppose the player accumulated two bonus
tokens and decided to play poker at a table in the casino (40), or
some other wager game on a different machine (50). The player's
accumulated bonus tokens stored in the gaming server (62) or,
alternatively, in the player's client machine or locally on the
player's magnetic card. The player ejects their card from the slot
(54) and then proceeds to play wager games elsewhere in the casino.
At a later time, they may return to a client machine (50) (need not
be the same machine they previously played at) and insert their
card. The card includes a unique code such as a card number which
is correlated at the server (62) with the stored results when the
player previously exited the game. The display of the reels reverts
to the display of the accumulated bonus tokens (20A) that were
present when the player previously exited the game on the previous
client machine (50). In this example, the player continues the game
where they left off. In one variation, accumulated bonus tokens
(20A) are not carried over and when they exit the play on the
client machine (50) any accumulated bonus tokens are lost.
[0052] Aspects for this invention are also particularly suited for
use in the context of playing of wager games over a computer
network. Referring to FIG. 11, a gaming system suitable for use in
wager games and promotions of this disclosure is indicated
generally by reference numeral (100). The gaming system (100)
includes a central gaming server (102), and a number of portals
(103a, 103b) in the form of portal websites on the World Wide Web
of the Internet. In this embodiment, each one of the portal
websites may be an online casino website hosted on a corresponding
casino web server (not shown). For convenience, embodiments of the
invention will be described with particular reference to only two
such online casino websites (103a, 103b). Other online casino
websites may be present, or, alternatively, just one casino website
may be present.
[0053] Each one of the online casino websites (103a, 103b) may be
accessible by a would-be player (not shown) through a player gaming
client machine (104) in the form of an Internet-enabled client
machine (e.g., general purpose computer) having a display monitor
(105) and an associated pointing device (105a) such as a mouse or,
alternatively, a touchpad. In this embodiment, online casino
website (103a) is shown as having one client machine (104)
logically connected thereto, whereas casino website (103b) is shown
as being logically connected to two client machines (104). It
should be appreciated that such online casino websites (103a, 103b)
can be logically connected to any desired number of such client
machines (104) simultaneously, which number is physically limited
only by considerations of processing power and Internet access
bandwidth.
[0054] The gaming server (102), the online casino web servers (not
shown) corresponding to the online casino websites (103a, 103b),
and the client machines (104) are capable of communicating with
each other by means of an open communication network, which, in
this embodiment, may be the Internet. The Internet is represented
in FIG. 11 as separate logical communication networks (106, 107,
108, and 110). The particular networking topology used and presence
of intermediate networks or switching equipment is not important,
and may make use of intervening communications network such as the
public switched telephone network, cable networks, cellular
wireless networks, WiFi, WiMax, etc.
[0055] Each online casino operates an account facility (114a and
114b, respectively) with a credit account corresponding to each
player who participates in a game offered by the online casino. In
the illustrated embodiment, therefore, the credit account facility
(114a) has one player credit account associated with it, while
credit account facility (114b) has two associated, but separate,
player credit accounts.
[0056] Stored program instructions (not shown) may be resident in
the client machine (104) which enables a participating player to
browse a casino website and to interact with the gaming server
(102) to play wager games such as slots, poker, Black Jack,
Roulette and other games. The program instructions may include
display tools for displaying on the user interface display (105)
gaming symbols (e.g., slot machine reels, cards, Roulette wheels,
etc.), display gaming controls by which the player can place
wagers, spin the reels, etc., and display the results of play. The
program instructions may also include gaming logic for facilitating
the execution of a turn of a game, and communications facilities
for communicating player actions using the user interface to the
central gaming server, and receiving datagrams from the gaming
server containing results of play. The data representing results of
play is translated to graphical symbols which are presented on the
user interface display (105). Further details are known in the art
and described in the patent literature, see e.g., U.S. application
Ser. No. 10/550,744 filed Sep. 23, 2005, and incorporated by
reference in its entirety herein.
[0057] Each client machine (104) may take the form of a
conventional personal computer operating under a Windows Vista, XP,
ME, 2000 or other operating system, which is well known and
commercially available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,
Wash., or other operating system such as provided by Apple Computer
or a Linux operating system. The client machine (104) may also take
the form of a portable computing device such as personal digital
assistant or cellular telephone. The client machine (104) may also
take the form of an electronic gaming terminal.
[0058] The gaming server (102) may operate under control of program
instructions (not shown) that co-operates with the client machine
program instructions in order to enable a player at the client
machine (104) to play a wager game. The gaming server (102) may
operate, for example, under the Windows NT operating system.
[0059] The client machine program instructions or application (not
shown) and the corresponding gaming server program instructions
will be referred to, for convenience, as a client process and a
server process, respectively. The server process may generate one
or more random events that determine the outcome of turns of the
game, such as determining the outcome of spins of the slot machine
reels in the various slots games of the participating players. The
client process of any particular client machine (104) obtains the
result of the random events from the gaming server (102) along the
communication network (108) and displays the outcome of the game on
the display monitor (105) of the client machine in an intelligible
manner, by causing the player's set of slots reels to spin and to
come to rest at a position corresponding to the outcome. If a slot
machine reel includes a symbol (22) associated with an award of a
bonus token, such as the star symbol of FIG. 11 or the "passport"
symbol (22) of FIGS. 7 and 8, then an accumulated bonus token (20A)
may be displayed outside of the reel display area. As noted, the
instruction to display the bonus token could come from the gaming
server (102) in the form of a flag or bit in the datagram with the
results of the spin, or alternatively the client machine program
instructions may detect the presence of the bonus symbol in the
datagram and activate the indicator (20A).
[0060] The gaming server (102) thus may generate results of spins
of the reels for the client machines (104) and send datagram(s) to
the client machines indicating such results. In one possible
embodiment, to generate the results of a spin of the reels, the
gaming server (102) includes a memory (not shown, but conventional)
storing data representing potential results for each of the reels.
The gaming server may use a random process (e.g., random number
generator) to select one of the results from memory. One of the
results stored in the gaming server memory is data representing a
result in the form of a symbol which is associated with award of a
bonus token, e.g., the coin symbol (22) shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The
memory may also store data representing a potential result in the
form of a deactivation symbol (e.g., the letter B or the word
"Bonus" with a line through it). Should the deactivation symbol be
returned, at least some previously accumulated bonus symbols may be
lost.
[0061] The gaming server can also "bank" the progress made towards
a bonus game in the event that a player ceases playing the
reel-type game, e.g., logs out of the casino or elects to play
other games such as poker. The gaming server is further provided
with a memory storing data (e.g., a flag or bit) indicating whether
a result of a spin of the reels for the client machines has
included the symbol associated with accumulation of a bonus token.
The gaming server may store such data in the memory after the
client machine has ceased play of the game. Should the player
return to playing the reel-type game, the gaming server (102)
consults the memory and returns a datagram to the player's client
machine which includes such data. The player's client machine
display then shows the accumulated or "banked" bonus tokens (20A)
and starts play where they previously left off.
[0062] In order to play the games from any particular client
machine (104), the client process (not shown) may first be
downloaded to that client machine from the gaming server (102) or,
alternatively, from a separate web server (not shown), and then
installed on the client machine.
[0063] In use, a player wishing to participate in a wager game uses
a client machine (104) to access an online casino website (103a,
103b) of his choice. When the player navigates using a Web browser
to a home page of a casino, a promotional message may be displayed
(described below). The player may be presented with an icon on the
user interface on his client machine (104), which the player can
activate in order to download the client process and register with
the casino operator. Following these tasks, the player may request
to play games provided on the casino website by clicking on an
appropriate icon or taking other similar action.
[0064] The online casino websites (103a, 103b) may be provisioned
as a virtual slots room where slots is the only game available to
would-be players, rather than one where a variety of different
games are offered to a player. It will be noted again that a system
implementing the methods of this invention need not include two (or
more) separate casino websites (103a, 103b), and that only one
website (103) may be linked to the gaming server (102).
III. Example Gaming Methods
[0065] FIGS. 12-15 are flow charts of methods in accordance with
example embodiments of this invention. It should be understood that
each of the methods illustrated by these figures may include more
or fewer steps. Furthermore, the steps of any two or more of these
flow charts can be combined with one another, in whole or in part,
without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0066] FIG. 12 illustrates a method for a gaming server, that
supports play of a reel-type game with a client machine, to also
engage in play of a bonus game. At step (202), the gaming server
may transmit a first result of a first spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine. The reel-type game may comprise any number
of reels and each reel may be marked with any number of
symbols.
[0067] Preferably, the client machine accesses a user account on
the gaming server, and the user account contains a representation
of a number of bonus credits that may be used by the user account
when playing bonus games. The number of bonus credits may be
positive, indicating a surplus, or negative, indicating a deficit
that the user account may "pay back" at some point in the future.
Of course, there also may be zero bonus credits associated with the
user account.
[0068] The gaming server may maintain these bonus credits between
spins of the reel-type game, or between gaming sessions of the
reel-type game. Gaming sessions of the reel-type game may be
defined as, for example, a sequence of events involving the client
machine logging on to the user account, a number of turns of the
reel-type game being played by the client machine, and the client
machine logging off of the user account.
[0069] Furthermore, the gaming server and the client machine may
either be integrated with one another or communicatively coupled by
a network. For instance, the gaming server and client machines may
be components of the same physical machine, in communication with
one another by a local network, or in communication with one
another by a wide area network such as the Internet.
[0070] Regardless, at step (204), the gaming server may receive,
from the client machine, a first request to play a first bonus
game. The first bonus game may be one of various game types, such
as, but not limited to, free spins of the reel-type game, free
spins of a different reel-type game, or a pick-until-pop type game.
Preferably, playing the first bonus game is associated with a first
amount of bonus credits.
[0071] At step (206), the gaming server may debit the bonus credits
associated with the user account by the first amount. In this way,
the client machine "pays" for the privilege of playing the first
bonus game. Then, at step (208), the gaming server may engage the
client machine in play of the first bonus game.
[0072] The outcome of the first bonus game may vary. For instance,
the client machine may win something of value, such as money,
virtual money, more bonus tokens, or some other form of prize. Of
course, some outcomes of the first bonus game may be negative
outcomes, in the sense that the client machine may lose something
of value.
[0073] As discussed above, between spins of the reel type game, the
gaming server preferably stores and maintains the bonus tokens
accumulated by the client machine. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 13
and 14, further spins of the reel-type game may decrease or
increase the number of these stored bonus tokens.
[0074] For instance, FIG. 13 illustrates the operation of a bonus
deactivation feature. After engaging the client machine in play of
the first bonus game, the client machine may engage in subsequent
spins of the reel-type game. At step (302), the gaming server may
transmit a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game to
the client machine. This second result may include a bonus
deactivation indication, and the bonus deactivation indication may
be associated with a second amount of bonus credits. At step (304),
the gaming server may debit the bonus credits associated with the
user account by the second amount. This second amount may be a
predetermined amount, or may be all of the bonus credits associated
with the user account.
[0075] One useful aspect of this bonus deactivation feature is to
discourage the client machine from "warehousing" or otherwise
hording bonus credits. Additionally or alternatively, the gaming
server may discourage such behaviour by allowing a user account to
accumulate no more than a threshold number of bonus credits.
Accordingly, once this threshold is reached, the gaming server may
prohibit the further accumulation of bonus credits in the user
account.
[0076] FIG. 14 illustrates the client machine accumulating
additional bonus credits, and using its accumulated bonus credits
to play a second bonus game. At step (402), after engaging the
client machine in play of the first bonus game, the gaming server
may transmit a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine. At step (404), the gaming server may
receive, from the client machine, a second request to play the
second bonus game. Preferably playing the second bonus game is
associated with a second amount of bonus credits. Then, at step
(406), the gaming server may debit the bonus credits associated
with the user account by the second amount, and at step (408) may
engage the client machine in play of the second bonus game.
[0077] The second amount of bonus credits may be greater than the
first amount of bonus credits, therefore making the second bonus
game more "expensive" to play than the first bonus game. Thus,
among other aspects of the method illustrated in FIG. 14, the
client machine may be able to accumulate bonus credits in the user
account. At any given point, the client machine may have
accumulated sufficient bonus credits to play one or more bonus
games, but not all bonus games. By continuing to accumulate bonus
credits, the client machine may eventually be able to play any
available bonus game.
[0078] Other aspects and embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 12-14
may be possible as well. For instance, in addition to transmitting
the indication of the result of the first spin to the client
machine, the gaming server may also transmit a list of at least one
bonus game available to the user account, wherein the first bonus
game is in the list. The decision to transmit the list may be based
on the bonus credits associated with the user account. Upon
receiving the list, the client device may choose a bonus game from
the list.
[0079] Additionally, the results any of the spins of the reel-type
game may be transmitted as part of a screen display, and the screen
display may include a reel display area. The result may also
include a bonus token. This bonus token may appear in various
places on the screen display, including but not limited to, inside
the reel display area, outside the reel display area, or on a
centre play line position in the reel display area.
[0080] FIG. 15 illustrates another method for a gaming server to
support a bonus game. Similar to the discussion in reference to
FIG. 12, a client machine may access a user account on the gaming
server, and the user account may contain a representation of a
number of bonus credits that may be used by the user account when
playing bonus games. The gaming server may maintain these bonus
credits between spins of the reel-type game, or between gaming
sessions of the reel-type game. Furthermore, the gaming server and
the client machine may either be integrated with one another or
communicatively coupled by a network.
[0081] At step (502), the gaming server may determine an outcome of
a first spin of the reel-type game. The outcome may include the
user account being awarded at least one bonus credit. Accordingly,
at step (504), the gaming server may credit the user account by the
at least one bonus credit. Additionally, at step (506), the gaming
server may transmit, to the client machine, a first result of the
first spin of the reel-type game, and a first indication of the
award of the at least one bonus credit.
[0082] At step (508), the gaming server may determine whether it
receives, from the client machine, a first request to play a first
bonus game. At step (510), if the gaming server receives the first
request to play a first bonus game, then the gaming server may
debit the bonus credits in the user account by a cost to play the
first bonus game and engage the client machine in play of the first
bonus game. At step (512) however, if the gaming server instead
receives a second request to not play any bonus game, then the
gaming server may maintain the bonus credits in the user account.
In other words, the gaming server may leave the user account's
balance unchanged.
IV. Additional Description
[0083] The following clauses are offered as further description of
the disclosed inventions.
[0084] 1. A method for a gaming server to facilitate play of bonus
games, wherein the gaming server is communicatively coupled to a
client machine playing a reel-type game, wherein the client machine
uses a user account to play the reel-type game, wherein the gaming
server generates results of a spin of each of a plurality of reels
in the reel-type game for the client machine and transmits the
results to the client machine, and wherein the gaming server
maintains bonus credits associated with the user account, the
method comprising:
[0085] the gaming server transmitting a first result of a first
spin of the reel-type game to the client machine;
[0086] the gaming server receiving, from the client machine, a
first request to play a first bonus game, wherein playing the first
bonus game is associated with a first amount of bonus credits;
[0087] in response to receiving the first request, the gaming
server debiting the bonus credits associated with the user account
by the first amount; and
[0088] the gaming server engaging the client machine in play of the
first bonus game.
[0089] 2. The method of clause 1, further comprising:
[0090] based on the bonus credits associated with the user account,
the gaming server also transmitting, to the client machine, a list
of at least one bonus game available to the user account, wherein
the first bonus game is in the list.
[0091] 3. The method of any previous clause, wherein the gaming
server maintains the bonus credits between spins of the reel-type
game.
[0092] 4. The method of any previous clause, wherein a gaming
session of the reel type game, facilitated by the gaming server,
consists of the client machine logging on to the user account, a
number of turns of the reel-type game being played by the client
machine, and the client machine logging off of the user account,
and wherein the gaming server maintains the bonus credits between
gaming sessions.
[0093] 5. The method of any previous clause, wherein the result of
the first spin of the reel-type game is transmitted as part of a
screen display, wherein the screen display includes a reel display
area, and the indication of the result also includes a bonus
token.
[0094] 6. The method of clause 5, wherein the bonus token is
displayed in any position in the reel display area.
[0095] 7. The method of clause 5, wherein the bonus token is
displayed outside of the reel display area.
[0096] 8. The method of clause 5, wherein the reel display area
includes a centre pay line position, and wherein the bonus token is
displayed in the centre pay line position.
[0097] 9. The method of any previous clause further comprising:
[0098] after engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus
game, the gaming server transmitting a second result of a second
spin of the reel-type game to the client machine, wherein the
second result includes a bonus deactivation indication, wherein the
bonus deactivation indication is associated with a second amount of
bonus credits; and
[0099] the gaming server debiting the bonus credits associated with
the user account by the second amount.
[0100] 10. The method of clause 9, wherein the second amount is all
bonus credits associated with the user account.
[0101] 11. The method of any previous clause, wherein the gaming
server allows no more than a threshold number of bonus credits to
be associated with the user account.
[0102] 12. The method of any previous clause, further
comprising:
[0103] after engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus
game, the gaming server transmitting a second result of a second
spin of the reel-type game to the client machine;
[0104] the gaming server receiving, from the client machine, a
second request to play a second bonus game, wherein playing the
second bonus game is associated with a second amount of bonus
credits;
[0105] in response to receiving the second request to play the
second bonus game, the gaming server debiting the user account by
the second amount; and
[0106] the gaming server engaging the client machine in play of the
second bonus game.
[0107] 13. The method of clause 12, wherein the second amount is
greater than the first amount.
[0108] 14. The method of any previous clause, wherein the bonus
game is chosen from the group consisting of free spins of the
reel-type game, free spins of a different reel-type game, and a
pick-until-pop type game.
[0109] 15. A method for a gaming server to facilitate play of bonus
games, wherein the gaming server is communicatively coupled to a
client machine playing a reel-type game, wherein the client machine
uses a user account to play the reel-type game, wherein the gaming
server generates results of spins of each of a plurality of reels
in the reel-type game for the client machine, and transmits results
of the spins to the client machine, and wherein the gaming server
maintains bonus credits associated with the user account, the
method comprising:
[0110] the gaming server determining an outcome of a first spin of
the reel-type game, wherein the outcome includes the user account
being awarded at least one bonus credit;
[0111] the gaming server crediting the user account by the at least
one bonus credit;
[0112] the gaming server transmitting, to the client machine, a
first result of the first spin of the reel-type game, and a first
indication of the award of the at least one bonus credit;
[0113] if the gaming server receives, from the client machine, a
first request to play a first bonus game, then the gaming server
debiting the bonus credits in the user account by a first amount
and engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus game,
wherein the first amount is the cost to play the first bonus game;
and
[0114] if the gaming server receives, from the client machine, a
second request not to play any bonus game, then the gaming server
maintaining the bonus credits in the user account.
[0115] 16. The method of clause 15, further comprising:
[0116] after the first spin of the reel-type game, the gaming
server also transmitting, to the client machine, a list of at least
one bonus game available to play, wherein the first bonus game is
in the list.
[0117] 17. The method of any of clauses 15 and 16, wherein the
gaming server maintains the bonus credits between spins of the
reel-type game.
[0118] 18. The method of any of clauses 15, 16, and 17, wherein a
gaming session of the reel type game consists of the client machine
logging on to the user account, a number of turns of the reel-type
game being played by the client machine, and the client machine
logging off of the user account, and wherein the gaming server
maintain the bonus credits between gaming sessions.
[0119] 19. The method of any of clauses 15, 16, 17, and 18, wherein
the first result of the first spin of the reel-type game is
transmitted as part of a screen display, wherein the screen display
includes a reel display area, and the indication includes a bonus
token.
[0120] 20. The method of any of clauses 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19,
further comprising:
[0121] the gaming server transmitting a second result of a second
spin of the reel-type game to the client machine, wherein the
second result includes a bonus deactivation indication, wherein the
bonus deactivation indication is associated with a second amount of
bonus credits; and
[0122] the gaming server debiting the bonus credits associated with
the user account by the second amount.
[0123] 21. The method of any of clauses 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20,
further comprising:
[0124] after engaging the client machine in play of the first bonus
game, the gaming server transmitting a second result of a second
spin of the reel-type game to the client machine;
[0125] the gaming server receiving, from the client machine, a
second request to play a second bonus game, wherein playing the
second bonus game is associated with a second amount of bonus
credits;
[0126] in response to receiving the second request, the gaming
server debiting the user account by the second amount; and
[0127] the gaming server engaging the client machine in play of the
second bonus game.
[0128] 22. The method of clause 21, wherein the second amount is
greater than the first amount.
[0129] 23. A gaming server, communicatively coupled to at least one
client machine, wherein the gaming server allows the client machine
to play a reel-type game, wherein the gaming server generates
results of spins of each of a plurality of reels in the reel-type
game for the client machine and transmits results of the spins to
the client machine, the gaming server comprising:
[0130] a processor capable of executing program instructions;
and
[0131] a memory containing data and the program instructions,
[0132] wherein the data includes a representation of a user
account, wherein the client machine plays the reel-type game via
the gaming server with the user account, wherein the representation
of the user account contains a quantity of bonus credits,
[0133] wherein the program instructions are executable by the
processor to (i) transmit a first result of a first spin of the
reel-type game to the client machine, (ii) receive, from the client
machine, a first request to play a first bonus game, wherein
playing the first bonus game is associated with a first amount of
bonus credits, (iii) in response to receiving the first request,
debit the user account by the first amount, and (iv) engage the
client machine in play of the first bonus game.
[0134] 24. The gaming server of clause 23, wherein the memory
further contains program instructions executable by the processor
to, based on the bonus credits associated with the user account,
also transmit, to the client machine, a list of at least one bonus
game available to the user account, wherein the first bonus game is
in the list.
[0135] 25. The gaming server of any of clauses 23 and 24, wherein
the memory further contains program instructions executable by the
processor to maintain the bonus credits between spins of the
reel-type game.
[0136] 26. The gaming server of any of clauses 23, 24, and 25,
wherein a gaming session of the reel type game, facilitated by the
gaming server, consists of the client machine logging on to the
user account, a number of turns of the reel-type game being played
by the client machine, and the client machine logging off of the
user account, and wherein the memory further contains program
instructions executable by the processor to maintain the bonus
credits between gaming sessions.
[0137] 27. The gaming server of any of clauses 23, 24, 25, and 26,
wherein the memory further contains program instructions executable
by the processor to (i) after engaging the client machine in play
of the first bonus game, transmit a second result of a second spin
of the reel-type game to the client machine, wherein the second
result includes a bonus deactivation indication, wherein the bonus
deactivation indication is associated with a second amount of bonus
credits, and (ii) debit the bonus credits associated with the user
account by the second amount.
[0138] 28. The gaming server of any of clauses 23, 24, 25, 26, and
27, wherein the memory further contains program instructions
executable by the processor to (i) after engaging the client
machine in play of the first bonus game, the gaming server
transmitting a second result of a second spin of the reel-type game
to the client machine, (ii) the gaming server receiving, from the
client machine, a second request to play a second bonus game,
wherein playing the second bonus game is associated with a second
amount of bonus credits, (iii) in response to receiving the second
request, the gaming server debiting the user account by the second
amount, and (iv) the gaming server engaging the client machine in
play of the second bonus game.
[0139] 29. The gaming server of any of clauses 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,
and 28, wherein the second amount is greater than the first
amount.
V. Conclusion
[0140] As used herein, the term "reel" is intended to be
interpreted to include any device displaying one or more symbols in
which the one or more symbols displayed are randomly determined.
Furthermore, for the embodiments described herein, the terms
"random" or "randomly" shall refer to any realizable process of
randomly generating events. Such processes shall include, but not
be limited to, generating events without a deterministic pattern of
occurrences. Additionally, these processes may be pseudo-random,
thus resulting in a deterministic pattern of occurrences that
exhibit some form of statistical randomness.
[0141] Variation from the disclosed embodiments may of course be
made without departure from the scope of the invention. All
questions concerning scope are to be answered by reference to the
appended claims.
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