Player choice game feature
View Patent ↗A gaming machine has display means and a game control means. A game is played in which one or more random events are displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets, each containing a plurality of prize outcomes. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome. Alternatively the sets of prizes are presented on the faces of dice which are arranged to spin before stopping with the front face of the die defining the prize won.
1. A method for use with a gaming machine having a plurality of manually operable selectors, the method comprising:
generating a plurality of award sets, each of which comprises a plurality of outcomes, each of the outcomes being either an integer having a positive value or a non-winning outcome having no value, and each of said award sets having at least one of said outcomes being an integer of positive value;
wherein a total number of the integers having a positive value in any one of the award sets is not equal to a total number of the integers having a positive value in any other of the award sets, and wherein a sum total of the positive value for all integers in any one of the award sets is equal to a sum total of the positive value for all integers in any other of the award sets;
designating a number of said selectors to a corresponding number of said award sets;
selecting by said gaming machine an outcome from each of said designated award sets;
when a selected outcome is one of said total number of the integers having a positive value, awarding game play credits; and
wherein the awarded game play credits have a value that is equal to the positive value of the integer selected from the selected displayed award set.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the highest value positive integer of one of the award sets is at least twice as large as the highest value positive integer of another of the award sets.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the number of integers is equal for each of the award sets.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein within at least one of the award sets there is at least a factor of four difference between the highest and lowest values of said positive value integers.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein one only of the award sets has a single positive value integer.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein one only of the award sets has no said non-winning outcomes.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said total number of integers is one.
8. A gaming machine comprising an electronic game controller comprising a program, a player interface having selectors operable by a player and a display, wherein the program causes the electronic game controller to:
maintain a plurality of award sets each of which comprises a plurality of outcomes, each of said award sets corresponding to respective ones of said selectors, each of the outcomes being either an integer having a positive value or a non-winning outcome having no value, and each of said award sets having at least one of said outcomes being an integer of positive value;
wherein a total number of the integers having a positive value in any one of the award sets is not equal to a total number of the integers having a positive value in any other of the award sets, and wherein a sum total of the positive value for all integers in any one of the award sets is equal to a sum total of the positive value for all integers in any other of the award sets;
designate a number of said selectors to a corresponding number of said award sets;
select an outcome from each of said designated award sets; and
when a selected outcome is one of said total number of the integers having a positive value, award game play credits and
wherein the awarded game play credits have a value that is equal to the positive value of the integer selected from said selected displayed award set.
9. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the highest value positive integer of one of the award sets is at least twice as large as the highest value positive integer of another of the award sets.
10. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the number of integers is equal for each of the award sets.
11. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 10 , wherein within at least one of the award sets there is at least a factor of four difference between the highest and lowest values of said positive value integers.
12. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 11 , wherein one only of the award sets has a single said positive value integer.
13. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , wherein one only of the award sets has no said non-winning outcomes.
14. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 8 , and wherein said total number of integers is one.