Slot machine using a count valve to award bonus game
The invention relates to a bonus feature in a slot machine. This bonus feature may be used in stand-alone slot machines as well as linked slot machines. The preferred embodiment is directed to a system of linked gaming machines. In one embodiment, each linked gaming machines operates like a conventional machine where the generation and display of certain combinations of symbols within a first group of combinations provide awards to the individual players whose machines generate such combinations. In addition to this normal mode of play, a bonus feature is added where the generation and display of combinations of symbols within a second group of combinations are used in the awarding of a bonus. In such a feature, the generation of a combination of symbols within the second group of combinations is used in a bonus award game. The display on each machine may be a video display that displays the main game as well as the bonus game. Since both games can be run using the same electrical circuitry (e.g., memory and a processor), no additional hardware is needed. A single machine, as opposed to linked machines, may incorporate all elements to play the main game and the bonus game. This is equivalent to a single machine in a linked system being operated.
1. A gaming method, comprising the steps of:
generating a first game, wherein a play in the first game comprises randomly generating a first game result;
associating a first particular game result with a win of the first game;
generating a bonus game, wherein the bonus game comprises non-randomly generating a bonus game result, and wherein non-randomly generating the bonus game result comprises associating a second particular first game result with generating a count value; and
associating exceeding a particular count value with a win of the bonus game.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein non-randomly generating the bonus game result comprises:
associating a bonus hit value with the second particular first game result; and
generating the count value by combining the bonus hit value with a common bonus counter value, wherein the common bonus counter value is associated with bonus hit values generated by one or more gaming machines in a system of linked gaming machines.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein non-randomly generating the bonus game result comprises:
associating a bonus hit value with the second particular first game result;
incrementing a hit counter value in a particular gaming machine; and
generating the count value by combining the bonus hit value, the hit counter value, and a common bonus counter value, wherein the common bonus counter value is associated with bonus hit values generated by one or more gaming machines in a system of linked gaming machines, and wherein the system of linked gaming machines comprises the particular gaming machine.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
associating a bonus hit value with the second particular first game result;
incrementing a hit counter in a particular gaming machine;
generating a first count value by combining the bonus hit value with a common bonus counter value, wherein the common bonus counter value is associated with bonus hit values generated by one or more gaming machines in a system of linked gaming machines, wherein the system of linked gaming machines comprises the particular gaming machine; and
generating a second count value by combining the bonus hit value, the hit counter value, and a common bonus counter value, wherein the common bonus counter value is associated with bonus hit values generated by one or more gaming machines in the system of linked gaming machines, and wherein associating exceeding a particular count value with a win of the bonus game comprises exceeding the second particular count value;
wherein associating exceeding the particular count value with the win of the bonus game comprises the first count value exceeding a first particular count value or the second count value exceeding a second particular count value.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the generating and displaying the bonus game result is performed without requiring input from a player of a slot machine.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the generating the bonus game result is performed without requiring input from a player of the first game.
7. A method for playing a gaming apparatus, comprising the steps of;
generating a first game, wherein a play in the first game comprises randomly generating a first game result;
if the first game result matches a predetermined value, then initiating a bonus game, wherein said bonus game includes the steps of:
incrementing a count value;
determining if the count value exceeds a predetermined threshold;
generating and displaying a bonus game result associated with the count value; and
awarding a win of the bonus game, if the count value exceeds the predetermined value,
wherein generating the first game result and generating and displaying the bonus game result are performed in the gaming apparatus so as to require no additional hardware to generate and display the bonus game result.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of incrementing the count value includes the steps of:
retrieving a previous count value;
adding a predetermined amount to the previous count value to generate an incremented count value; and
retaining the incremented count value.
9. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
resetting the count value to a predetermined amount if the win of the bonus game is awarded.
10. A networked gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines connected together;
a central counter coupled with each gaming machine; and
each gaming machine including:
circuitry configured to generate a first game result by displaying a randomly selected combination of symbols;
a video display screen for displaying the first game result;
an individual counter;
said circuitry configured to initiate a bonus game if said first game result matches a predetermined value, said bonus game being other than a random game, which increments the individual counter; and
said circuitry further configured to compare the sum of the individual counter and the central counter to a predetermined threshold and either award a bonus game win if the threshold is satisfied or increment the central counter if the threshold is not satisfied.
11. The networked gaming system according to claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the award of the bonus game win and the increment of the central counter without requiring input from a player of any of the gaming machines.