Wagering game with game enhancement feature
View Patent ↗A gaming system includes at least one memory device that stores instructions that cause a processor to operate with a display device an input device to display a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game having a first end-game outcome, trigger a first instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game, provide a first number of award opportunities during play of the first instance of the bonus game, complete the first instance of the bonus game in response to the first end-game outcome, store any remaining award opportunities in the at least one memory device in response to the first end-game outcome being achieved with at least one award opportunity remaining, trigger a second instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game, and provide any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game.
1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to
display a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game, the bonus game having a randomly determined outcome including at least two of a winning outcome, a non-winning outcome, and a first end-game outcome,
trigger a first instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game,
provide a first number of award opportunities during play of the first instance of the bonus game,
complete the first instance of the bonus game in response to the first end-game outcome,
store any remaining award opportunities in the at least one memory device in response to the first end-game outcome being achieved with at least one award opportunity remaining,
trigger a second instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game, and
provide any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the first number of award opportunities are selections to be utilized in a pick field.
3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the first end-game outcome is the selection of a terminator.
4. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the first end-game outcome is one of a top award and a terminator.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the award opportunities are reel spins.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the award opportunities are associated with non-monetary-value awards.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein each of the stored award opportunities is more valuable, on average, when utilized in the second instance of the bonus game than award opportunities utilized in the first instance of the bonus game.
8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the bonus game further includes a second end-game outcome different from the first end-game outcome, wherein the at least one memory device further stores an instruction to terminate play of the first instance of the bonus game in response to the second end-game outcome, the termination of the first instance of the bonus game causing any remaining award opportunities to be forfeited.
9. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one memory device further stores instructions to
provide a second number of award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game where the first instance of the bonus game was terminated in response to the second end-game outcome, and
provide the second number of award opportunities and any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game where the first instance of the bonus game was completed in response to the first end-game outcome.
10. A computer-implemented method in a gaming system, comprising:
receiving a wager via at least one input device to play a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game, the bonus game having a randomly determined outcome, the randomly determined outcome including at least two of a winning outcome, a non-winning outcome, and a first end-game outcome;
displaying on at least one display device the basic game and a first and second instance of the bonus game triggered during play of the basic game;
awarding, via one or more processors, a first number of award opportunities during play of the first instance of the bonus game;
completing the first instance of the bonus game in response to the first end-game outcome occurring during the first instance of the bonus game;
storing, utilizing at least one memory device, any remaining award opportunities in response to the first end-game outcome being achieved with at least one award opportunity remaining; and
providing any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein each of the stored award opportunities is more valuable, on average, when provided in the second instance of the bonus game than when initially awarded during the first instance of the bonus game.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the bonus game further includes a second end-game outcome different from the first end-game outcome.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , further comprising terminating play of the first instance of the bonus game in response to the second end-game outcome occurring, the termination of the first instance of the bonus game causing any remaining award opportunities to be forfeited.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising:
awarding a second number of award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game where the first instance of the bonus game was terminated in response to the second end-game outcome, and
awarding the second number of award opportunities and providing any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game where the first instance of the bonus game was completed in response to the first end-game outcome.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the first number of award opportunities are selections to be utilized in a pick field.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the first end-game outcome is the selection of a top award.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the second end-game outcome is one of a top award and a terminator.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the award opportunities are reel spins.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the first number of award opportunities are selections to be utilized in a pick field.
20. One or more machine-readable non-transitory storage media including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
displaying a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game, the bonus game having a randomly determined outcome including at least two of a winning outcome, a non-winning outcome, and an end-game outcome;
triggering a first instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game;
providing a first number of award opportunities during play of the first instance of the bonus game;
completing the first instance of the bonus game in response to the end-game outcome;
storing any remaining award opportunities in response to the end-game outcome being achieved with at least one award opportunity remaining;
triggering a second instance of the bonus game during play of the basic game; and
providing any stored remaining award opportunities during play of the second instance of the bonus game.