Entertainment game-based gaming device
Embodiments of this concept are direct to a game that includes a combination of an entertainment game and a gambling game. This game combination provides an entertainment game that retains the playability and fun of a skill game or other non-traditional gambling game while allowing for wagers to still be placed and awards won. In some embodiments, the wager-based gambling game is tied directly into the entertainment game, which provides additional entertainment and excitement. Other embodiments separate some of the aspects of the gambling game from the entertainment game to retain the feel of well known gaming devices while still providing an entertainment game to the player.
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to:
(a) display an entertainment game on at least one video display;
(b) display a gambling game on the at least one video display;
(c) initiate play of an instance of the entertainment game responsive to an input from a player;
(d) automatically trigger a gambling game during play of the instance of the entertainment game responsive to a predefined outcome in the entertainment game;
(e) deduct a wager from a credit balance prior to running the gambling game;
(f) thereafter run the gambling game including selecting a random outcome for the gambling game;
(g) conclude the gambling game, including crediting the player with an award if images of symbols associated with the gambling game correspond to an award in the gambling game;
(h) return to play of the same instance of the entertainment game after a conclusion of the gambling game; and
(i) repeat (c) through (h) for the same instance of the entertainment game responsive to additional inputs from the player.
2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to increment a player score in response to game play resulting from the input.
3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to award a prize when the player score meets a predefined criterion.
4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to deduct the wager prior to displaying the entertainment game.
5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to provide the player an opportunity to cash out any remaining credits on the credit balance and end game play after running the gambling game.
6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to automatically trigger the gambling game during play of the instance of the entertainment game regardless of the predefined outcome in the entertainment game.
7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to:
display the entertainment game on the at least one video display only during play of the entertainment game; and
display the gambling game on the at least one video display only during play of the gambling game.
8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to replace the display of the entertainment game with the gambling game when the gambling game is automatically triggered.
9. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to:
(a) display an entertainment game on at least one video display, the entertainment game including a plurality of different symbol images on the display;
(b) display a gambling game on the at least one video display;
(c) initiate play of an instance of the entertainment game responsive to an input from a player;
(d) permit the player to move symbol images in the entertainment game responsive to receiving a second input from the player;
(e) automatically trigger the gambling game during play of the instance of the entertainment game responsive to a plurality of immediately adjacent symbol images that create a predefined combination of symbols;
(g) award player points in the entertainment game for so moving at least some of the symbol images;
(h) automatically deduct a wager from a credit balance prior to running the gambling game;
(i) thereafter run the gambling game including selecting a random outcome for the gambling game;
(j) conclude the gambling game, including crediting the player with an award if the random outcome of the gambling game corresponds to an award in the gambling game;
(k) return to play of the same instance of the entertainment game after a conclusion of the gambling game; and
(l) repeat (c) through (k) for the same instance of the entertainment game responsive to additional inputs from the player.
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to automatically trigger the gambling game during play of the instance of the entertainment game regardless of the symbol images in the entertainment game.
11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to deduct the wager prior to displaying the entertainment game.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to provide the player an opportunity to cash out any remaining credits on the credit balance and end game play after running the gambling game.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to display a grid of symbols.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to receive a selection of a symbol in the grid of symbols to switch with an adjacent symbol.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to:
replace each symbol of the predefined combination of symbols in the entertainment game with one or more reels; and
spin each of the one or more reels when the selection of a symbol in the grid of symbols results in the predefined combination of symbols.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to replace each symbol of the predefined combination of symbols with one or more playing cards when the selection of a symbol in the grid of symbols results in the predefined combination of symbols.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to sum a point value of each playing card of the one or more playing cards and compare the point value to a prize schedule.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to consider at least one playing card of the one or more playing cards as a poker hand and analyzing the poker hand for winning combinations of cards.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to:
display the entertainment game on the at least one video display only during play of the entertainment game; and
display the gambling game on the at least one video display only during play of the gambling game.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further causes the at least one processor to replace the display of the entertainment game with the gambling game when the gambling game is automatically triggered.