Granted Patent B2

US 8,162,740 · App. 11/663,698 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player via a player input device;

displaying, on one or more displays, a plurality of first locations in a first formation, each of the first locations having a single associated symbol, and a plurality of second locations in a second formation, each of the second locations initially corresponding to a respective assigned one of the first locations;

selecting at least one first location from the plurality of first locations, the first location yielding a first outcome;

automatically selecting the second location corresponding to the selected first location, the second location yielding a second randomly determined outcome;

wherein the first outcome includes an award amount and the second outcome includes a multiplier;

combining, via one or more processors, the first and second outcomes to yield a combined outcome; and

awarding, via one or more processors, an award based solely on the combined outcome.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second formations are respective matrices, each matrix including a plurality of rows and columns.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second formations are each selected from a group consisting of a circle, ellipse, triangle, rectangle, or other polygonal shape, wherein the first plurality of locations occupies only a periphery of the first formation, and wherein the second plurality of locations occupies a periphery of the second formation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second formations are each a trail or board game.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting the first location is responsive to player input.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a number of first locations in the first formation is equal to a number of second locations in the second formation, and the plurality of first locations and the plurality of second locations are arranged in a substantially similar manner in the respective formations.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating the selecting, automatically selecting, combining, and awarding until a termination condition occurs.

8. A method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player via a player input device;

displaying, on one or more displays, a plurality of first locations in a first formation, each of the first locations having a single associated symbol, and a plurality of second locations in a second formation, each of the second locations initially corresponding to a respective assigned one of the first locations;

selecting at least one first location from the plurality of first locations, the first location yielding a first outcome;

automatically selecting the second location corresponding to the selected first location, the second location yielding a second randomly determined outcome;

combining, via one or more processors, the first and second outcomes to yield a combined outcome;

awarding, via one or more processors, an award based solely on the combined outcome; and

wherein the first and second outcomes include respective award amounts, wherein the combining adds the award amounts to yield the award.

9. A method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player via a player input device;

displaying, on one or more displays, a plurality of first locations in a first formation and a plurality of second locations in a second formation, each of the second locations initially corresponding to a respective assigned one of the first locations;

selecting first and second locations from respective associated sets of locations to yield respective first and second outcomes, wherein the first outcome includes an award amount and the second outcome includes a multiplier and wherein each of the second locations are automatically selected to correspond to a respective corresponding selected first location;

combining the first and second outcomes to yield a combined outcome via one or more processors; and

providing an award based on the combined outcome via one or more processors.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each set of locations is arranged in a respective array.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each array includes a plurality of rows and columns.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first location is selected in response to player input.

13. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

a value input device for receiving a wager from a player;

a display for displaying a first plurality of first locations in a first formation and a second plurality of second locations in a second formation, each of the second locations initially corresponding to a respective assigned one of the first locations; and

a processor operative to:

select at least one first location from the first plurality of locations to yield a first outcome;

automatically select at least one second location from the second plurality of locations to yield a second outcome, wherein the first outcome includes an award amount and the second outcome includes a multiplier;

combine the first and second outcomes to yield a combined outcome; and

provide an award based on the combined outcome.

14. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the first and second formations are respective matrices, each matrix including a plurality of rows and columns.

15. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the processor is operative to select the first location in response to player input.

Assignments (12)