Granted Patent B2

US 8,690,664 · App. 11/764,689 · Granted Apr 8, 2014

Abstract

Claims (54)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a wager for a turn of a game to be played using a slot machine;

spinning, using the slot machine, a set of reels;

stopping the set of reels at a first reel combination;

awarding a first prize based on the first reel combination and the wager;

prior to activating an additional award indicator at the slot machine a first time during the turn of the game, determining, by processing unit, a number of times to activate the additional award indicator prior to ending the turn of the game, wherein the additional award indicator is configured to indicate at least one of a plurality of awards;

activating, during the turn of the game, the additional award indicator the first time of the determined number of times so as to animate the additional award indicator until the additional award indicator stops and displays a first award selected from the plurality of awards, and then awarding a second prize determined using (i) the first prize based on the first reel combination and the wager, and (ii) the first award displayed by the additional award indicator in response to activating the additional award indicator the first time;

after activating the additional award indicator the first time during the turn of the game, activating, during the turn of the game, the additional award indicator a second time of the determined number of times so as to animate the additional award indicator a second time during the turn of the game until the additional award indicator stops and displays a second award selected from the plurality of awards, and then awarding a third prize determined using (i) the same first prize used to determine the second prize, and (ii) the second award displayed by the additional award indicator in response to activating the additional award indicator the second time; and

ending the turn of the game after the additional award indicator is activated the number of times during the turn of the game.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein activating the additional award indicator the number of times further includes determining whether to activate the additional award indicator the first time, and

wherein determining whether to activate the additional award indicator the first time is based on a random determination.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein determining the number of times to activate the additional award indicator prior to ending the turn of the game occurs after stopping the set of reels at the first reel combination, and

wherein determining the number of times to activate the additional award indicator prior to ending the turn of the game is based on the first reel combination.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein activating the additional award indicator the number of times further includes determining whether to activate the additional award indicator the first time, and

wherein determining whether to activate the additional award indicator the first time is based on a number of previous spins of the set of reels of the slot machine.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the number of times to activate the additional award indicator prior to ending the turn of the game is based on the wager.

6. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the number of times to activate the additional award indicator is based on the first reel combination.

7. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the number of times to activate the additional award indicator is based on a number of previous spins of the set of reels of the slot machine.

8. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the number of times to activate the additional award indicator is based on an additional wager associated with the additional award indicator.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

freezing the set of reels at the first reel combination while the additional award indicator is activated.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of awards includes at least one of (i) a zero multiplier award, (ii) a non-zero multiplier award, (iii) a free spin award, (iv) a fixed dollar amount award, and (v) a bonus round entry.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional award indicator is one of (i) a perimeter prize wheel, (ii) an additional reel associated with the set of reels, (iii) a separate reel, or (iv) a separate window configured to display a determined award.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second prize and the third prize is zero.

13. An article of manufacture including tangible non-transitory computer readable media with instructions encoded therein, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a wager for a turn of a game to be played using a slot machine having a set of reels:

instructions for spinning the set of reels;

instructions for stopping the set of reels at a first reel combination;

instructions for awarding a first prize based on the first reel combination and the wager;

instructions for determining, prior to activating an additional award indicator at the slot machine a first time during the turn of the game, a number of times to activate the additional award indicator prior to ending the turn of the game, wherein the additional award indicator is configured to indicate at least one of a plurality of awards;

instructions for activating, during the turn of the game, the additional award indicator the first time of the determined number of times so as to animate the additional award indicator until the additional award indicator stops and displays a first award selected from the plurality of awards, and then awarding a second prize determined using (i) the first prize based on the first reel combination and the wager, and (ii) the first award displayed by the additional award indicator in response to activating the additional award indicator the first time;

instructions for activating during the turn of the game, after activating the additional award indicator the first time during the turn of the game, the additional award indicator a second time of the determined number of times so as to animate the additional award indicator a second time during the turn of the game until the additional award indicator stops and displays a second award selected from the plurality of awards, and then awarding a third prize determined using (i) the same first prize used to determine the second prize, and (ii) the second award displayed by the additional award indicator in response to activating the additional award indicator the second time; and

ending the turn of the game after the additional award indicator is activated the number of times during the turn of the game.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13 ,

wherein the number of times to activate the additional award indicator is based on at least one of (i) a random number determination, (ii) the first reel combination, (iii) a number of previous spins of the set of reels of the slot machine, and (iv) the wager.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for freezing the set of reels at the first reel combination while the additional award indicator is activated.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of awards includes at least one of (i) a zero multiplier award, (ii) a non-zero multiplier award, (iii) a free spin award, (iv) a fixed dollar amount award, and (v) a bonus round entry.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the additional award indicator is one of (i) a perimeter prize wheel, (ii) an additional reel associated with the set of reels, (iii) a separate reel, or (iv) a separate window configured to display a determined award.

18. A slot machine system comprising:

a money collection unit configured to receive a wager for a turn of a game to be played using a slot machine;

an input unit configured to accept commands from a player of the slot machine;

a processing unit configured to (i) spin a set of reels at the slot machine, (ii) stop the set of reels at a first reel combination, (iii) award a first prize based on the first reel combination and the wager, (iv) determine, prior to activating an additional award indicator at the slot machine a first time during the turn of the game, a number of times to activate the additional award indicator prior to ending the turn of the game, wherein the additional award indicator is configured to indicate at least one of a plurality of awards, (v) activate, during the turn of the game, the additional award indicator the first time of the determined number of times so as to animate the additional award indicator until the additional award indicator stops and displays a first award selected from the plurality of awards and then awarding a second prize determined using the first prize based on the first reel combination and the wager and the first award displayed by the additional award indicator in response to activating the additional award indicator the first time, (vi) activate, during the turn of the game after activating the additional award indicator the first time during the turn of the game, the additional award indicator a second time of the determined number of times so as to animate the additional award indicator a second time during the turn of the game until the additional award indicator stops and displays a second award selected from the plurality of awards, and then awarding a third prize determined using the same first prize used to determine the second prize and the second award displayed by the additional award indicator in response to activating the additional award indicator the second time; and

one or more output devices configured to display the set of reels, the additional award indicator, awards, and prizes.

19. The slot machine system of claim 18 , wherein the processing unit is configured to determine whether to activate the additional award indicator the first time based on at least one of (i) a random number determination, (ii) the first reel combination, (iii) a number of previous spins of the set of reels of the slot machine, and (iv) the wager; and

wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine whether to activate the additional award indicator the second time based on at least one of (i) a random number determination, (ii) the first reel combination, (iii) a number of previous spins of the set of reels of the slot machine, (iv) the wager, and (v) an additional wager associated with the additional award indicator.

20. The slot machine system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of awards includes at least one of (i) a zero multiplier award, (ii) a non-zero multiplier award, (iii) a free spin award, (iv) a fixed dollar amount award, and (v) a bonus round entry.

21. The slot machine system of claim 18 , wherein the additional award indicator is one of (i) a perimeter prize wheel, (ii) an additional reel associated with the set of reels, (iii) a separate reel, or (iv) a separate window configured to display a determined award.

Assignments (8)