Method, apparatus, and program product for displaying gaming results through variable prize progressions
View Patent ↗A prize progression graphic displayed at a gaming machine includes a number of prize progressions with each respective prize progression including a respective prize and a respective set of progression segments. The respective prize associated with a prize progression represents a prize that may be won if all of the steps are taken, that is, all of the progression segments for the given prize progression are completed. In addition to displaying the prize progression graphic, a number of player selectable objects are displayed at the gaming machine. In the course of play, a player is enabled to select from among the player selectable objects to reveal prize progression affecting elements. Some prize progression affecting elements cause a corresponding change in progress along of one or more prize progressions, while other such elements modify the prize progressions such as by shifting prizes associated with the prize progressions.
1. A method of displaying a gaming result, the method including:
(a) displaying a prize progression graphic on a display device of a gaming machine for a player, the prize progression graphic being displayed under the control of at least one processor associated with the gaming machine and including a number of prize progressions with each respective prize progression including a respective prize and a respective set of progression segments;
(b) displaying a number of objects on the display device or an additional display device of the gaming machine, each object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element;
(c) in response to a selection of a respective object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element comprising a progress varying value, and under the control of the at least one processor, modifying the prize progression graphic displayed on the display device by modifying the respective set of progression segments for one or more prize progressions to indicate a different level of progress along the respective set of progression segments toward the prize included for the respective prize progression;
(d) in response to a selection of a respective object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element comprising a prize shifting value, and under the control of the at least one processor, modifying the prize progression graphic displayed on the display device by shifting at least one respective prize from being included with one prize progression to being included with another one of the prize progressions; and
(e) awarding to the player the respective prize included with each prize progression for which progress in the respective progression segments is completed on a given selection of one of the objects, the respective prize being awarded through the gaming machine.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein each object conceals the corresponding prize progression affecting element and further including revealing the respective prize progression affecting element on the display device or additional display device in response to the selection of the corresponding object.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein each prize progression also includes a respective prize level symbol and further including, in response to the selection of a respective object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element comprising a prize level symbol shifting value, modifying the prize progression graphic displayed on the display device by shifting at least one respective prize level symbol from being included with one prize progression to being included with a different one of the prize progressions.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least one of the prize level symbols includes a prize enhancer symbol and further including applying the prize enhancer symbol to increase a respective one of the prizes awarded to the player.
5. The method of claim 3 further including changing a respective prize level symbol that has been shifted to a respective different one of the prize progressions displayed on the display device so as to correspond with the relative value of the prize included with that prize progression.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of a respective object is made in response to a player selection of a particular object displayed on the display device or the additional display device of the gaming machine.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of a respective object is made on behalf of the player without a player selection of a particular object displayed on the display device or the additional display device of the gaming machine.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of objects displayed at the gaming machine are displayed concurrently and the selection of a respective object is from the number of concurrently displayed objects.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein a first one of the number of objects and a second one of the number of objects are displayed at the gaming machine at different points in time.
10. An apparatus including:
(a) a display arrangement for a player;
(b) a player input device for the player;
(c) a presentation controller for (i) causing the display arrangement to display a prize progression graphic, the prize progression graphic including a number of prize progressions with each respective prize progression including a respective prize and a respective set of progression segments, for (ii) causing the display arrangement to display a number of objects, each object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element, for (iii) responsive to a selection of a respective object corresponding to a prize progression affecting element comprising a progress varying value, causing the display arrangement to modify the prize progression graphic by modifying the respective set of progression segments for one or more prize progressions to indicate a different level of progress along the respective set of progression segments toward the prize included for the respective prize progression, and for (iv) responsive to a selection of a respective object corresponding to a prize progression affecting element comprising a prize shifting value, causing the display arrangement to modify the prize progression graphic by shifting at least one respective prize from being included with one prize progression to being included with another one of the prize progressions; and
(d) an award controller for awarding to the player the respective prize included with each prize progression for which progress in the respective progression segments is completed on a given selection of one of the objects.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each object conceals the corresponding prize progression affecting element and wherein the presentation controller is also for causing the display arrangement to reveal the respective prize progression affecting element in response to the selection of the corresponding object.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each prize progression also includes a respective prize level symbol and wherein the presentation controller is also for, in response to the selection of a respective object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element comprising a prize level symbol shifting value, causing the display arrangement to modify the prize progression graphic by shifting at least one respective prize level symbol from being included with one prize progression to being included with a different one of the prize progressions.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the prize level symbols includes a prize enhancer symbol and wherein the award controller is also for applying the prize enhancer to increase a respective one of the prizes awarded to the player.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the presentation controller is also for causing the display arrangement to change a respective prize level symbol that has been shifted to a different one of the prize progressions to correspond with the prize included with that prize progression.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the selection of a respective object is made in response to a player selection of a particular object displayed at the display arrangement, the player selection being entered through the player input device for the player.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the display arrangement displays the number of objects concurrently and the selection of a respective object is from the number of concurrently displayed objects.
17. A program product embodied in one or more non-transitory computer readable media, the program product including:
(a) prize progression display program code executable for causing a gaming machine display arrangement to display a prize progression graphic, the prize progression graphic including a number of prize progressions with each respective prize progression including a respective prize and a respective set of progression segments;
(b) object display program code executable for causing the gaming machine display arrangement to display a number of objects at the gaming machine, each object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element;
(c) selection program code executable for selecting a number of the objects, and in response to the selection of a respective object corresponding to a progress varying value, causing the gaming machine display arrangement to modify the prize progression graphic by modifying the respective progression segments for one or more prize progressions to indicate a different level of progress along the respective set of progression segments toward the prize included for the respective prize progression, and in response to the selection of a respective object corresponding to a prize shifting value, causing the gaming machine display arrangement to modify the prize progression graphic by shifting at least one respective prize from being included with one prize progression to being included with a different one of the prize progressions; and
(d) award program code executable for awarding the respective prize included with each prize progression for which progress in the respective progression segments is completed on a given selection of one of the objects.
18. The program product of claim 17 wherein each object conceals the corresponding prize progression affecting element and wherein the selection program code is also executable to cause the gaming machine display arrangement to reveal the respective prize progression affecting element in response to the selection of the corresponding object.
19. The program product of claim 17 wherein each prize progression also includes a respective prize level symbol and wherein the selection program code is also executable for, in response to the selection of a respective object corresponding to a respective prize progression affecting element comprising a prize level symbol shifting value, causing the gaming machine display arrangement to modify the prize progression graphic by shifting at least one respective prize level symbol from being included with one prize progression to being included with a different one of the prize progressions.
20. The program product of claim 19 wherein at least one of the prize level symbols includes a prize enhancer symbol and wherein the award program code is also executable for applying the prize enhancer to increase a respective one of the awarded prizes.
21. The program product of claim 17 wherein the selection program code is executable to select a respective object in response to a player selection of a particular object displayed at the gaming machine display arrangement, the player selection being entered through a player input device.
22. The program product of claim 17 wherein the object display program code is executable for causing the gaming machine display arrangement to display the number of objects concurrently and wherein the selection of a respective object is from the number of concurrently displayed objects.