IP Library Granted Patent US 8,882,581
Granted Patent B2
US 8,882,581 · App. 13/925,492 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Game controller, a gaming system, and a method of gaming

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,882,581
App. No.
13/925,492
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: a) displaying a plurality of display positions to a player, at least one of the display positions corresponding to a hidden object to be sought by the player; b) determining a selection of a display position; c) revealing whether or not the selected display position corresponds to the hidden object; e) determining whether to allow a selection by conducting at least one trial, each trial comprising seeking to complete a symbol combination; and f) repeating steps b) to e) until either the symbol combination is completed or a designated number of hidden objects is located.

Claims (15)

1. A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the feature game including a first part having a first outcome that causes an increase of the jackpot prize and a second part having a second outcome that causes the award of the jackpot prize wherein the first part and the second part of the feature game are conducted simultaneously, and wherein the first outcome or the second outcome will result depending on the first part or the second part of the feature game that is earliest to complete.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the amount that the jackpot prize is increased if the first outcome occurs is variable between plays of the feature game.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the amount that the jackpot prize is increased is determined by the game controller making a random selection from a predetermined set or range of possible values.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the game includes a plurality of different feature games, and wherein each feature game has a said particular outcome that causes a said jackpot prize to increase.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein each said feature game has a separate trigger event.

6. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein one or more of the feature games is triggered on the occurrence of a common trigger event, the particular feature game being triggered dependent on when the event occurs.

7. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein there are a plurality of said jackpot prizes and each feature game is associated with a separate one of the jackpot prizes, wherein only the jackpot prize associated with the feature game that is played is increased on occurrence of the first particular outcome of that feature game.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7 , wherein only the jackpot prize associated with the feature game that is played is awarded on occurrence of the second particular outcome of that feature game.

9. The gaming machine of claim 4 , wherein a further jackpot prize is offered, the further jackpot prize being awarded when a player achieves a winning outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games.

10. A gaming system including

a game controller; and

a plurality of linked gaming machines, wherein at least one of the linked gaming machines includes a display and a user interface in communication with said game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, and wherein the at least one gaming machine further offers at least one jackpot prize and awards at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the feature game including a first part having a first outcome that causes an increase of the jackpot prize and a second part having a second outcome, and

the jackpot prize is awarded by that gaming machine, wherein the first part and the second part of the feature game are conducted simultaneously, and wherein the first outcome or the second outcome will result depending on the first part or the second part of the feature game that is earliest to complete.

11. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one feature game is common to each of the linked gaming machines.

12. A method for use with a gaming machine which provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the gaming machine and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the feature game including a first part having a first outcome that causes an increase of the jackpot prize and a second part having a second outcome, the method including awarding the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome wherein the first part and the second part of the feature game are conducted simultaneously, and wherein the first outcome or the second outcome will result depending on the first part or the second part of the feature game that is earliest to complete.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE (REEL 060204 / FRAME 0216) Recorded Mar 2, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 074989/0657 →
NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2022
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 060204/0216 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059368/0799 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS SECURITY TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 052828/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2018
From: ROUKIS, GEORGE; BENNETT, NICHOLAS LUKE
To: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046116/0609 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 16, 2015
From: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 034777/0498 →