Skillfull multi-level games and gaming machines configured to encourage exploration of game levels, stages, areas
A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise enabling the player to play a wager-based game having a plurality of stages. Game play and wagers may then be enabled in a first stage of the plurality of stages of a game. A determination may be made that game play in the first stage has reached a first stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the first stage to a second stage have been completed. The player may be provided with an opportunity to win one of a plurality of prizes, a highest one of which being a first top prize. The player may then be awarded a random one of the plurality of first prizes. Game play and wagers may then be enabled in a second, later stage of the plurality of stages of the game. It may then be determined that game play in the second stage has reached a second stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the second stage to a third stage have been completed and the player may be provided with an opportunity to win one of a plurality of a second prizes, a highest one of which being a second top prize that is higher than the first top prize. The player may then be awarded a random one of the plurality of second prizes.
1. A computer-implemented method of operating a electronic computing device configured as a gaming machine, comprising:
accepting, by the gaming machine, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a wager-based game having a plurality of stages;
enabling, for a game session, game play and wagers in a first stage of the plurality of stages of a game;
determining that game play in the first stage has reached a first stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the first stage to a second stage of the plurality of stages have been completed;
providing the player with an opportunity to win one of a plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes, a highest one of the first plurality of monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes being a first top prize;
awarding the player a random one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes;
enabling, for the game session, game play and wagers in the second stage of the game, the second stage being a later stage in the game session than the first stage;
determining that game play in the second stage has reached a second stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the second stage to a third stage of the plurality of stages have been completed;
providing the player with an opportunity to win one of a plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes, a highest one of the second plurality of monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes being a second top prize that is higher than the first top prize; and
awarding the player a random one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes,
wherein the first and second stage complete states are at least partially defined by respective predetermined states of an in-game avatar in the game.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes is identical to the plurality of second monetary and monetary-equivalent prizes and wherein the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes is identical to the plurality of first monetary and monetary-equivalent prizes, but for the first top prize and the second top prize, respectively.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising keeping a Return to Player (RTP) percentage unchanged in both the provided opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes and in the provided opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising setting a first probability that the first top prize will be randomly awarded and setting a second probability that the second top prize will be awarded such that the second probability is lower than the first probability.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing a RTP percentage in the provided opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes relative to the RTP in the provided opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising setting a first probability that the first top prize will be randomly awarded and setting a second probability that the second top prize will be awarded such that the second probability is equal to the first probability.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes and the opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes is presented as a pick'em forced choice.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes and the opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes is presented as one or more spinning wheels.
9. An electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device, comprising:
a memory;
at least one processor;
a display;
a user interface; and
a plurality of processes spawned by the processor, the plurality of processes comprising processing logic to enable a multi-level wager-based game, the game comprising a plurality of wagering opportunities, and processing logic to:
accept, by the gaming machine, funds from a player and enable the player to play a wager-based game having a plurality of stages;
enable, for a game session, game play and wagers in a first stage of the plurality of stages of a game;
determine that game play in the first stage has reached a first stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the first stage to a second stage of the plurality of stages have been completed;
provide the player with an opportunity to win one of a plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes, a highest one of the first plurality of monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes being a first top prize;
award the player a random one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes;
enable, for the game session, game play and wagers in a second stage of the plurality of stages of the game, the second stage being a later stage in the game session than the first stage;
determine that game play in the second stage has reached a second stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the second stage to a third stage of the plurality of stages have been completed;
provide the player with an opportunity to win one of a plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes, a highest one of the second plurality of monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes being a second top prize that is higher than the first top prize; and
award the player a random one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes,
wherein the first and second stage complete states are at least partially defined by respective predetermined states of an in-game avatar in the game.
10. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes is identical to the plurality of second monetary and monetary-equivalent prizes and wherein the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes is identical to the plurality of first monetary and monetary-equivalent prizes, but for the first top prize and the second top prize, respectively.
11. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of processes further comprise processing logic to keep a Return to Player (RTP) percentage unchanged in both the provided opportunity to win the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes and in the provided opportunity to win the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes.
12. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of processes further comprise processing logic to set a first probability that the first top prize will be randomly awarded and to set a second probability that the second top prize will be awarded such that the second probability is lower than the first probability.
13. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of processes further comprise processing logic to increase a RTP percentage in the provided opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes relative to the RTP in the provided opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes.
14. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of processes further comprise processing logic to set a first probability that the first top prize will be randomly awarded and to set a second probability that the second top prize will be awarded such that the second probability is equal to the first probability.
15. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of processes further comprise processing logic to present at least one of the opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes and the opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes as a pick'em forced choice.
16. The electronic computing device configured as a wager-based gaming device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of processes further comprise processing logic to present at least one of the opportunity to win one of the plurality of first monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes and the opportunity to win one of the plurality of second monetary or monetary-equivalent prizes as one or more spinning wheels.