Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-25
2001-05-22
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C273S14300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234897
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to gaming machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slot machine having a spinning reel display and a secondary bonus game, wherein the bonus game has different expected values based on different arrangements of start-bonus symbols shown on the spinning reel display.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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 each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.
One concept which has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game which 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 base game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome of the base game. The bonus game concept is the subject of U.S. parent patent application Ser. Nos. 08/835,840 (“the '840 application”) filed Apr. 23, 1997 and 09/140,947 (“the '947 application”) filed Aug. 27, 1998, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The '840 and '947 applications disclose an embodiment wherein the base game is a reel-type slot machine and the bonus game is a simulated reel-type slot machine implemented on a video-type display. The bonus game is entered upon the appearance of a special symbol combination of start-bonus symbols on the reels of the slot machine in the base game. In the bonus game, the probability of winning combinations appearing on the reels, or the “hit rate,” is much greater than that of the base game. The player is permitted to keep playing and accumulate winnings from the bonus game until a losing trial occurs. Such a bonus game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the base game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the base game and is accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio.
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 new features for bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators. Preferably, such new bonus game features will maintain, or even further enhance, the level of player excitement offered by bonus games heretofore known in the art. The present invention is directed to satisfying these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, a slot machine comprises a spinning reel display and a bonus game. The spinning reel display shows a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels. The reels are rotated and stopped to place the symbols of each reel in visual association with a pay line. The pay line is associated with at least one of the symbols on each of the reels. The bonus game is triggered in response to start-bonus symbols from the respective stopped reels appearing in the spinning reel display. The bonus game having different expected values based on different arrangements of the start-bonus symbols in the spinning reel display. The provision of different expected values for the bonus game based on different arrangements of start-bonus symbols shown on the spinning reel display is believed to enhance the level of player excitement and appeal.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment, or every aspect of the present invention. This is the purpose of the figures and detailed description which follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3281149 (1966-10-01), Miller
patent: 4095795 (1978-06-01), Saxton et al.
patent: 4306768 (1981-12-01), Egging
patent: 4335809 (1982-06-01), Wain
patent: 4448419 (1984-05-01), Telnaes
patent: 4508345 (1985-04-01), Okada
patent: 4624459 (1986-11-01), Kaufman
patent: 4721307 (1988-01-01), Okada
patent: 4763256 (1988-08-01), DeMar
patent: 4772023 (1988-09-01), Okada
patent: 4805907 (1989-02-01), Hagiwara
patent: 4871171 (1989-10-01), Rivero
patent: 5083785 (1992-01-01), Okada
patent: 5167147 (1992-12-01), Hamano
patent: 5205555 (1993-04-01), Hamano
patent: 5259616 (1993-11-01), Bergmann
patent: 5292127 (1994-03-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5342047 (1994-08-01), Heidel et al.
patent: 5342049 (1994-08-01), Wichinsky et al.
patent: 5380008 (1995-01-01), Mathis et al.
patent: 5393057 (1995-02-01), Marnell, II
patent: 5401024 (1995-03-01), Simunek
patent: 5415404 (1995-05-01), Joshi et al.
patent: 5429361 (1995-07-01), Raven et al.
patent: 5449173 (1995-09-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5456465 (1995-10-01), Durham
patent: 5456466 (1995-10-01), Miles
patent: 5542669 (1996-08-01), Charron et al.
patent: 5547192 (1996-08-01), Ishibashi
patent: 5624119 (1997-04-01), Leake
patent: 5647798 (1997-07-01), Falciglia
patent: 5664781 (1997-09-01), Feola
patent: 5697843 (1997-12-01), Manship et al.
patent: 5704835 (1998-01-01), Dietz, II
patent: 5722891 (1998-03-01), Inoue
patent: 5749580 (1998-05-01), Lopez
patent: 5779545 (1998-07-01), Berg et al.
patent: 5788573 (1998-08-01), Baerlocher et al.
patent: 5823874 (1998-10-01), Adams
patent: 5848932 (1998-12-01), Adams
patent: 5951397 (1999-09-01), Dickinson
patent: 37 00 861 (1988-07-01), None
patent: 40 14 477 (1991-07-01), None
patent: 0 142 371 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 0 148 001 (1985-07-01), None
patent: 0 333 338 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 0 577 415 A2 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 1 474 617 (1966-04-01), None
patent: 1129607 (1968-10-01), None
patent: 1 476 848 (1977-06-01), None
patent: 1 591 623 (1981-06-01), None
patent: 2 066 991 (1981-07-01), None
patent: 2 072 395 (1981-09-01), None
patent: 2 083 936 (1982-03-01), None
patent: 2 084 371 (1982-04-01), None
patent: 2 097 160 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 2 096 376 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 2 106 685 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 2 117 952 (1983-10-01), None
patent: 2 147 442 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 2 147 773 (1985-05-01), None
patent: 2 152 262 (1985-07-01), None
patent: 2 153 572 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 2 157 047 (1985-10-01), None
patent: 2 165 385 (1986-04-01), None
patent: 2 170 636 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 2 180 087 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 2 181 589 (1987-04-01), None
patent: 2 183 882 (1987-06-01), None
patent: 2 191 030 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 2 197 974 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 2 202 984 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 2 204 436 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 2 210 191 (1989-06-01), None
patent: 2 222 712 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 2 226 907 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 2 229 565 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 2 230 373 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2 233 806 (1991-01-01), None
patent: 2 242 300 (1991-09-01), None
patent: 2 253 154 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 2 105 891 (1993-03-01), None
patent: 2 262 642 (1993-06-01), None
patent: 2 270 787 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 2 273 384 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 2 287 567 (1995-09-01), None
patent: 2 297 857 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 2 298 508 (1996-09-01), None
patent: WO 8808179 (1
Demar Lawrence E.
Frohm Erica A.
Thomas Alfred
Wilson, Jr. Robert J.
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Layno Benjamin H.
WMS Gaming Inc.
LandOfFree
Gaming device with variable bonus payout feature does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gaming device with variable bonus payout feature, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gaming device with variable bonus payout feature will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2491612