Modified poker with bonus match card
View Patent ↗A system and method for adding a bonus round to any poker-style card game on a Nevada-style gaming machine. The bonus round is characterized by the existence of a match card. The match card is not part of the traditional poker hand (the “in-hand” cards) of the player, and only comes into play during a bonus round. The suit and value of the match card may be generated by the game machine or a remote game controller or backend server. The match card is then displayed in a manner visually associating the match card with one of the player's “in-hand” cards. A bonus is determined by evaluating the associated pair. Alternatively a bonus may be determined first, in which case the game machine determines a match card and associated card from the player's in-hand cards that is the equivalent of the predetermined bonus.
1. A method for providing an enhanced player experience on a video poker game device configured to play at least one game of poker whose outcome is based at least partially on a random event, the method comprising:
displaying an initial set of cards comprising an initial hand in accordance with the at least one game of poker on a video display on the video poker game device;
allowing player interactions with the game device via game buttons where the player interactions are in accordance with the at least one game of poker;
determining and displaying a final set of cards and an associated win value, if any, on the video display by generating replacement cards for any cards indicated as replaceable in accordance with the at least one game of poker and the player interactions;
generating and displaying on the video display a next single card after the win value, if any, is determined;
associating the next single card with one card from the final set of cards on the video display, wherein the next single card apparently moves on the video screen in a manner visible to the player and the next single card stops in a manner that visually associates the next single card with one card of the final set of cards; and,
awarding a bonus amount based on the associated cards where the bonus amount is not primarily based on a poker value of the final set of cards in combination with the next single card, and where eligibility to the bonus is not based on a wager specific to the bonus.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the next single card with one card from the final set of cards further comprises allowing the player to interactively enter a stop request after the next single card is apparently moving and before the match card stops apparent movement, and wherein the apparently moving next single card further stops apparent movement after the game device receives a stop request, and in a manner visually associating the next single card with one of the final set of cards.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the next single card with one card from the final set of cards further comprises having a moveable element on a screen visible to a player having a first end and a second end connected by a visible connector portion, wherein the first end is in visual association with the next single card and the second end and the connector portion move on the screen and then stop moving such that the second end is in visible association with the one card from the final set of cards.
4. A method for generating a bonus while playing poker on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
providing at least one poker game on the gaming machine, wherein results of the poker game are at least partially determined by a random event;
starting the game of poker in response to player input received from a play button on the gaming machine;
obtaining and presenting a video display of the gaming machine a final set of cards with a win value, if any, for the game of poker;
generating a match card using a random event after the final set of cards is reached;
associating the match card with one card from the final set of cards, wherein the match card moves on the video screen in a manner visible to a player and stops in a manner that visually associates the match card with one card from the final set of cards; and,
determining a bonus amount using the two associated cards, wherein the bonus amount is not primarily based on a poker value of the final set of cards in combination with the next single card, and wherein eligibility to the bonus is not based on a wager specific to the bonus.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein associating the match card with the one final set card further comprises allowing the player to interactively enter a stop request after the match card is moving, and wherein the moving match card further stops moving as quickly as possible after the game device receives an stop request and in a manner visually associated the match card with the one final set card.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein associating the match card with the one final set card further comprises having a moveable element on a screen visible to the player having a first end and a second end connected by a visible connector portion, wherein the first end is in visual association with the match card, and wherein the second end and the connector portion show apparent movement to the player and then stop moving such that the second end is in visible association with the one final set card.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein associating the match card with the one final set card further comprises allowing the player to interactively enter a stop request after the second end is moving, and wherein the second end stops moving after the game device receives an stop request in a manner visually associating the second end with the one final set card.
8. A method for generating a bonus while playing poker on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
providing at least one poker game on the gaming machine, wherein results of the poker game are at least partially determined by a random event;
starting the game of poker in response to player input received from a play button on the gaming machine;
obtaining and presenting a video display of the gaming machine a final set of cards with a win value, if any, for the game of poker;
generating a bonus;
generating a match card after the final set of cards is reached, wherein the match card is associable with one of the final set of cards to indicate the bonus to a player, wherein the bonus amount is not primarily based on a poker value of the final set of cards in combination with the next single card, and wherein eligibility to the bonus is not based on a wager specific to the bonus;
presenting the match card with the one final set of cards on the video display, wherein the match card moves relative tot the final set of cards; and
receiving a stop request after the match card is moving on the video display, wherein the moving match card further stops moving after the game device receives the stop request and in a manner that visually associates the match card and one final set card in a manner correctly indicating the bonus.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising associating the match card with one card from the final set of cards using a moveable element on a screen visible to the player having a first end and a second end connected by a visible connector portion, wherein the first end is in visual association with the match card and where the second end and the connector portion show apparent movement to the player and stop moving such that the second end visually associates the match card and one final set card in a manner correctly indicating the bonus.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein associating the match card with the one final set card further comprises allowing the player to interactively enter a stop request after the second end is moving, and wherein the second end stops moving after the game device receives an stop request in a manner that visually associates the match card and one final set card in a manner correctly indicating the bonus.