AU2018222977B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming machine including a game controller, the game controller adapted to 5 provide a main game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and presented on a display and if a winning combination occurs, the game controller awards an award. The game controller is further adapted to play a secondary game, wherein when the secondary game is played the game controller compares a first symbol with a second symbol, both the first and second symbols being symbols selected from a plurality of 10 secondary game symbols, each of the secondary game symbols having a primary characteristic and a secondary characteristic. If the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol match the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol the game controller awards the user with a first award. If the primary characteristics of the first and second symbols do not match but the secondary 15 characteristics of the first and second symbols do match, the game controller awards the user with a second award, the second award being different to the first award. 10611403_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 30/08/18

Description

Gaming Machine

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to gaming machines and methods of gaming.

Background of the invention

With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come increased competition between gaming venues to obtain a larger share of the total gambling spend. Gaming venue operators have therefore continuously looked for new variations and types of games in order to attract both new and return customers to their venues.

In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and systems have attempted to provide the sought after variety, while still developing games that comply with the relevant regulations in the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator. Suppliers of gaming devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games and gaming machines that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing regulations and in terms of providing a return on investment to the gaming venue operators.

Summary of the invention

A gaming machine is disclosed that includes a game controller, the game controller adapted to provide a main game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and presented on a display and if a winning combination occurs, the game controller awardsan award,and the game controller being further adapted to play a secondary game, wherein when the secondary game is played the game controller compares a first symbol with a second symbol, both the first and second symbols being symbols selected from a plurality of secondary game symbols, each of the secondary game symbols having one of a plurality of primary characteristics and one of a plurality of secondary characteristics, each primary characteristic being associated with one of the secondary

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 characteristics in a predetermined combination such that all selections of a primary characteristic results in selection of the same secondary characteristic, and wherein if the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol match the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol the game controller awards the user with a first award, and if the primary characteristics of the first and second symbols do not match but the secondary characteristics of the first and second symbols do match, the game controller awards the user with a second award, wherein the second award is different to the first award.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine including: a game controller including a processor and memory storing (i) game program code, and (ii) symbol data defining primary game symbols and secondary game symbols; a credit input mechanism comprising a coin and/or bill input device and/or a card and/or ticket reader that establishes credits on the gaming machine; meters configured for monitoring credits established via the credit input mechanism and changes to the established credits due to play of the gaming machine, the meters including a credit meter to which credit input via the credit input mechanism is added and a win meter; a random number generator; a user-input mechanism comprising buttons and/or a touch screen, the user input mechanism communicatively coupled to the game controller for receiving user initiation of a play of a game and user selection; and a display communicatively coupled to the game controller for displaying primary game symbols and secondary game symbols; the game controller adapted to execute the game program code stored in the memory and responsive to initiation of the play of the game with the user-input mechanism to provide a main game in which a plurality of primary game symbols are selected and presented on the display, and if a winning combination occurs the game controller awards a main game award, the game controller being further adapted to enable a user to select via the user-input mechanism to play a secondary game when the game controller awards a main game award in the main game, the secondary game being a gamble game

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 wherein when the gamble game is played the game controller is adapted to provide a player with a choice selectable via the user-input mechanism between accepting the main award and gambling the main game award on primary and secondary characteristics of secondary game symbols or solely on secondary characteristics of secondary game symbols, and when the gamble game is played the game controller compares a first selected secondary symbol presented on the display with a subsequent second randomly selected secondary symbol presented on the display, each of the secondary game symbols having one of a plurality of primary characteristics and one of a plurality of secondary characteristics, each primary characteristic being unique and each secondary characteristic being associated with at least 2 of the secondary game symbols such that each secondary game symbol has a unique primary characteristic and a non-unique secondary characteristic, and wherein: if the player chooses to gamble on the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol matching the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol, the game controller awards the user with a first award upon a match of both the primary and secondary characteristics, or no award upon a match of only the secondary characteristic, if the player chooses to gamble only on the secondary characteristic of the first symbol matching the secondary characteristic of the second symbol, the game controller awards the user with a second award upon a match of either both the primary and secondary characteristics or only the secondary characteristic, the second award being less than the first award; and if the player selects to play the secondary game, and neither of the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol match the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol, no award is awarded.

Either the first symbol selection or the second symbol selection may be a non random symbol selection made by the user. The other of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection may then be a random symbol selection made by the user or a random symbol selection made by the game controller.

Alternatively, both the first and second symbol selections may be random symbol selections made by either the user or the game controller.

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The primary characteristic of each secondary game symbol may be different to the primary characteristic of each other secondary game symbol.

Half of the secondary game symbols may share the same secondary characteristic.

The number of secondary game symbols may be four, in which case each of the four secondary game symbols shares its secondary characteristic with one other of the four secondary game symbols.

Each of the four secondary game symbols may be a symbol representative of a playing card suit, each secondary game symbol representing a different playing card suit. In this case the primary characteristic corresponds to the suit of the secondary game symbol and the secondary characteristic corresponds to the colour of the secondary game symbol.

The secondary game may be based on a wager. The wager may be all or part of a prize awarded from the main game, a selectable amount, a default amount, or a randomly determined amount.

The first award may be the multiplication of the wager by the number of secondary game symbols in the plurality of secondary game symbols. The second award may be the doubling of the wager.

Alternatively, the first and second awards may be fixed prizes.

A gaming machine is also disclosed that includes a game controller, the game controller adapted to provide a main game in which the game controller compares a first symbol with a second symbol, both the first and second symbols being symbols selected from a plurality of game symbols, each of the game symbols having one of a plurality of primary characteristics and one of a plurality of secondary characteristics, each primary characteristic being associated with one of the secondary characteristics in a predetermined combination such that all selections of a primary characteristic results in selection of the same secondary characteristic, and wherein

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 if the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol match the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol the game controller awards the user with a first award, and if the primary characteristics of the first and second symbols do not match but the secondary characteristics of the first and second symbols do match, the game controller awards the user with a second award, wherein the second award is different to the first award.

A gaming machine is also disclosed that includes a game controller, the game controller adapted to provide a main game, in which the game controller is adapted to provide the user with a choice between gambling on primary and secondary characteristics of game symbols or solely on secondary characteristics of game symbols, and when the game is played the game controller compares a first symbol with a second symbol, both the first and second symbols being symbols selected from a plurality of game symbols, each of the game symbols having one of a plurality of primary characteristics and one of a plurality of secondary characteristics, each primary characteristic being associated with one of the secondary characteristics in a predetermined combination such that all selections of a primary characteristic results in selection of the same secondary characteristic, and wherein if the user chose to gamble on the primary and secondary characteristics of the game symbols and the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol match the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol the game controller awards the user with a first award, and if the user chose to gamble only on the secondary characteristics of the game symbols and the secondary characteristic of the first symbol matches the secondary characteristics of the second symbol, the game controller awards the user with a second award, the second award different to the first award.

Also disclosed are instructions executable by a game controller to implement the method as described in the immediately preceding paragraphs and to such instructions when stored in a storage medium readable by the game controller. The instructions and data for controlling operation of the computational device may be stored on a computer readable medium from which they are loaded into the gaming machine memory. The instructions and data may be conveyed to the gaming machine

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 by means of a data signal in a transmission channel. Examples of such transmission channels include network connections, the Internet or an intranet and wireless communication channels.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1: shows diagrammatically, a view of a gaming console suitable for implementing the present invention.

Figure 2: shows a block diagram of gaming machine suitable for implementing the present invention.

Figure 3: shows a block diagram of components of the memory of the gaming machine represented in Figure 2.

Figure 4: shows diagrammatically, a network gaming system suitable for implementing the present invention.

Figure 5: shows a flow diagram of a process performed in accordance with a feature game embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6: provides a table showing the possible outcomes of a feature game embodiment of the invention played with four symbols.

Figures 7A to 7F: show example screenshots for use with a feature game embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 8A and 8B: provide tables showing the possible outcomes of a gamble game embodiment of the invention played with four symbols.

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Figure 9: shows a flow diagram of a process performed in accordance with a gamble game embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, one example of a gaming console that is suitable to implement the present invention is generally referenced by arrow 114.

The gaming console 114 includes two displays 106A, 106B on one or both of which is displayed representations of a game that can be played by a player and a bank of buttons 107A and/or a touch screen 107B to enable a player to play the game. The displays 106 may be video display units, such as a cathode ray tube screen device, a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The display 106B may display artwork, including for example, pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. In alternative gaming consoles the display 106B may be omitted, optionally replaced by a static display.

A credit input including a coin input 110A and/or bill collector 11OB allows a player to provide credit for wagering and a coin output 111 is provided for cash payouts from the gaming console 114. A card and/or ticket reader 108 and a printer 109 may be provided to provide player tracking, cashless game play or other gaming and non gaming related functions.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a gaming machine, generally referenced by arrow 100, suitable for implementing the present invention. The gaming machine 100 may include the gaming console 114 shown in Figure 1 and accordingly like reference numerals have been used to describe like components in Figures 1 and 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101, which in the illustrated example includes a computational device 102, which may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other suitable device. Instructions and data to control operation of the computational device 102 are stored in

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 a memory 103, which is in data communication with, or forms part of, the computational device 102.

Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. The instructions to cause the game controller 101 to implement the present invention will be stored in the memory 103.

The game controller 101 may include hardware credit meters 104 for the purposes of regulatory compliance and also include an input/output (1/O) interface 105 for communicating with the peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for instructions and data.

In the example shown in Figure 2, the peripheral devices that communicate with the controller are the displays 106, bank of buttons/touch screen 107, the card and/or ticket reader 108, the printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input 110 and a coin output 111. Additional devices may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or devices omitted as required for the specific implementation.

The bank of buttons 107A and/or touch screen 107B together with one or both of the displays 106 may provide a user interface 115 through which the gaming machine 100 and player communicate. If a card/ticket reader 108 is provided, this may also form part of the user interface 115.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card 112, may for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database. The network card 112 may also enable communication with a central player account, allowing cashless gaming. One or more of the peripheral devices, for example the card/ticket reader 108 may be able to communicate directly with the network card 112. The network card 112 and the I/O interface 105 may be suitably implemented as a single machine communications interface.

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The game controller 101 may also include a random number generator 113, which generates a series of random numbers that are used by the computational device 102 to determine the outcomes of games played on the gaming machine 100.

The game controller 101 may have distributed hardware and software components that communicate with each other directly or through a network or other communication channel. The game controller 101 may also be located in part or in its entirety remote from the user interface 115. Also, the computational device 102 may comprise a plurality of devices, which may be local or remote from each other. Instructions and data for controlling the operation of the user interface 115 may be conveyed to the user interface 115 by means of a data signal in a transmission channel. The user interface 115 may be a computational device, for example a personal computer, used by a person to play a game provided from a remote game controller 101.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary block diagram of the main components of the memory 103. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds instructions and data related to the execution of game programs and communication functions performed by the computational controller 102. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain system and game related code. The mass storage device 103C may be used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the computational controller 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

Figure 4 shows a gaming system 200 in the form of a network of devices. The gaming system 200 includes a network infrastructure 201, which for example may be in the form of an Ethernet network. Alternatively, a wireless network and/or direct communication channels, or a different type of network may be used to link the gaming machines to a server, each other and/or other devices. Gaming consoles 114, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming consoles 114 in Figure 4, are connected to the network infrastructure 201. The gaming consoles 114 may form part or all of a gaming machine 100. Single gaming consoles 114 and banks 203 containing three or more gaming devices 202 may also be connected to the network infrastructure 201, which may also include bank controllers, hubs, routers, bridges to other networks and other devices (not shown).

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One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with a bank 203 of gaming consoles 114. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming devices 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

Servers may also be connected to the network 201. For example, a game server 205 may generate game outcomes for games played on one or more of the gaming consoles 114, a database management server 206 may manage the storage of game programs and associated data in a database 206A so that they are available for downloading to, or access by, game controllers 101, and a jackpot server 207 may control one or more jackpots for the gaming system 200.

Further servers may be provided to assist in the administration of the gaming system 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to manage the network 201 and the devices connected to the network. The different servers depicted can be distinct physical servers or logically distinct server processes running on a single physical server.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network and/or a wide area network such as the Internet through a firewall 211.

In the below description the embodiments of the invention will be described in relation to a feature game and a gamble game. It will, however, be appreciated that the preferred embodiments may be implemented and offered to a user as a stand alone or main game.

Secondary game symbols

Each of the feature game and gamble game embodiments of the invention make use of secondary game symbols, each secondary game symbol having a

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 primary characteristic and a secondary characteristic. While the term secondary game symbols has been selected to distinguish from main game symbols that may be used during play of a main game from which the feature game or gamble game may be launched, it is possible that the set of secondary game symbols may partially or completely overlap with the set of main game symbols.

Further, if the invention is implemented as a main or stand alone game the "secondary" game symbols may in fact be the only game symbols required.

In one embodiment the primary characteristic of each secondary game symbol is unique. Accordingly, if there are X secondary game symbols there will be X primary characteristics. With regard to the secondary characteristic, two alternative secondary characteristics are provided and split evenly between the secondary game symbols. Accordingly, if there are X secondary game symbols, X/2 secondary game symbols will share one secondary characteristic and X/2 will share an alternative secondary characteristic.

As is discussed in detail below, during play of the game the game controller 101 compares first and second symbols selected from the group of secondary game symbols. Given the distribution of primary and secondary characteristics discussed above, and provided at least one of the first or second symbol selection is a random symbol selection or a random selection made from all possible combinations, the probability of the primary characteristic of the first and second symbols matching is 1/X.

In the embodiments discussed below the award associated with the primary characteristics of the user and randomly selected symbols is X times the wager placed on the game.

With the above distribution, the probability of only the secondary characteristics of the user selected symbol and randomly selected symbol matching is 50%. In the embodiments discussed below the award associated with only the secondary characteristics of the user selected and randomly selected symbols matching is two times the wager bet on the game.

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If, however, the game is implemented without the requirement of a wager, the awards associated with either the first and second characteristics or second characteristics only matching may be fixed monetary or other awards.

In the particular embodiments described below the feature and gamble games are described in relation to a set of four secondary game symbols. Four symbols may be desirable as this number of symbols provides the user with some choice between the symbols but does not overwhelm the user with too many options. In the below embodiments the four symbols are representative of card suits - i.e. one symbol being a red coloured heart, one symbol being a red coloured diamond, one symbol being a black coloured club and one symbol being a black coloured spade. For the purposes of this example, the primary characteristic of a symbol is the suit of the symbol, and the secondary characteristic is the colour of the symbol. It will of course be appreciated that alternative game symbols may be used.

Feature game embodiment

A feature game embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 5 which shows a process flow diagram 500 of the process performed in accordance with the feature game embodiment. The process may be performed by the gaming system 200, in which the gaming consoles 114 each include game controllers 101 to form gaming machines 100 and the following description assumes this implementation. However, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that the process will also be able to be implemented by other gaming systems.

The embodiment will be described in relation to a set of four secondary game symbols representing four different card suits (spade, club, diamond, heart), though it is again stressed that alternative symbols or numbers of symbols may be used.

In step 502, the game controller 101 monitors the bill acceptor and/or coin input 110 and/or information received by the card/ticket reader 108 or network card 112 for a deposit of credit and in response causes the hardware meters 104 to increment according to the denomination of the game. The game controller 101 then monitors the user interface 107 for the input of a wager.

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If there are sufficient credits in the meter 104 to support the wager, game play of the primary game is commenced in step 504 by the game controller 101. If during play of the primary game a trigger event occurs, the game controller 101 launches a feature game (step 506). If a trigger event does not occur the game controller 101 repeats steps 502 to 504. In step 508 the wager that will be placed on the feature game is determined. This may be determined automatically by the game controller 101, for example on the basis of the wager placed by the user on the game from which the trigger event occurred, or may be chosen by the user.

Types of trigger events that may cause the launch of the feature game are known. By way of non-limiting example, a trigger event may be the occurrence of a particular winning combination in the main game, the occurrence of a particular symbol in the main game, the occurrence of a particular wager or number of credits played by the user, a random event activated by the game controller 101.

In step 510 the game controller 101 allows the user to make a selection of one of the secondary game symbols. The symbol selected by the user is the first symbol selection. As discussed above, each secondary game symbol has a primary characteristic and a secondary characteristic which in this case are the particular suit on the colour of the symbol respectively.

Once the first symbol selection has been made in step 510 the game controller 101 then offers the user a second symbol selection (step 512) from the secondary game symbols. This is the second symbol selection. Unlike the symbol selection step 610, the symbol selection step 512 is a random symbol selection. One way this can be achieved is by hiding the value of the symbol until after the selection has been made. Alternatively, the game controller 101 could be configured to randomly flash secondary game symbols on the screen and the user could select one of the symbols by pressing a button. In a still further alternative the random symbol selection may be made by the game controller 101 without any input from the user.

Once both the first and second symbol selections have been made the game controller 101 compares the primary and secondary characteristics of the two selected symbols in step 513.

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If the suit of the first symbol and the second symbol match (i.e. the primary and secondary characteristics match) the game controller 101 awards the user with a first award (step 514). In this particular embodiment there are four different primary symbol characteristics to choose from and the first award is four times (4x) the wager.

Alternatively, if only the colour of the first symbol and second symbol match (i.e. the secondary characteristic only) the game controller 101 awards the user with a second prize. This prize is two times (2x) the amount of the wager placed on the feature game (step 516).

If neither the suit nor the colour of the first symbol and the second symbol match (i.e. neither the primary nor the secondary characteristics match) no prize is awarded (step 518).

The table of Figure 5 shows the possible outcomes and awards resulting from the various matches of first and second symbols (once again using cards as an example of the symbols). As will be appreciated, the statistical return to player of the feature game is 150% of the wager placed.

Example play of feature game embodiment

Play of the feature game embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 7A to 7F which provide one example of screen shots that may be used in conjunction with this particular embodiment.

Once again the embodiment is described with reference to a set of secondary symbols corresponding to card suits, with the primary characteristic of a symbol being the suit of the symbol and the secondary characteristic being the colour of the symbol.

Figure 7A provides a screen 700 that may be provided to a user at step 510 as described above. As can be seen, the user is shown a top panel 701 displaying the four secondary game symbols 702, 704, 706 and 708 from which the first symbol selection may be made. These symbols 702 to 708 are displayed face up to allow the user to select the exact symbol they would like.

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Also provided on the screen 700 is a bottom panel 709 which also displays four symbols 710, 712, 714 and 718, which are the symbols from which the second symbol selection will be made (in step 512). To ensure the second symbol selection is random, symbols 710 to 718 are, at this stage, displayed "face down" and their ordering need not correspond to the order of the symbols in top panel 701. Further, until the user has made the first symbol selection the symbols in the bottom panel 709 are deactivated by the game controller and may not be selected by the user.

Also displayed on screen 700 is a wager indicator 720 showing the wager placed on the feature game. In this instance the wager is 100 credits.

Figure 7B shows the screen 700 after the first symbol selection has been made. In this instance the user has selected the black club (symbol 704) and the remaining symbols (702, 706 and 708) have been "turned over" to make it clear which symbol the user has selected. The unselected symbols could, alternatively (and by way of example only), be removed from the screen or shown in different colours.

Figure 7C shows the screen 700 after the second symbol selection has been made by the user. As can be seen, the user has selected symbol 712 which has been "turned over" to reveal a black spade. As the colour of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection (i.e. the secondary characteristic) match but the suits do not, the user is awarded the second award which in this case is twice the wager (200 credits). This is communicated to the user by message 722.

Figure 7D shows an alternative screen in which the second symbol selection was symbol 716. Symbol 716 has been "turned over" to reveal a black club. In this case the message 722 shows that the first award has been awarded as both the colour and suit (i.e. the primary and secondary characteristics) of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection match. In this instance the first award is four times the wager (400 credits).

Figure 7E shows yet a further alternative screen where the second symbol selection resulted in the selection of symbol 714. Symbol 714 has been "turned over" to reveal a red diamond. In this case the message 722 shows that no award has been

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 awarded as neither the colour nor suit of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection match.

Finally, Figure 7F shows a screen where the second symbol selection resulted in the selection of symbol 710. Symbol 710 has been "turned over" to reveal a red heart. In this case the message 722 also shows that no prize has been awarded as neither the colour or suit of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection match.

As will be appreciated the sample screen depictions in Figures 7A to 7E are but one example of how the various symbols and symbol selections may be displayed, with numerous other display options possible.

Gamble game embodiment

The feature game discussed above may, if desired, be modified in order to be offered to a user as a gamble game - i.e. a game offered to a player upon winning in the main game in which the winnings from the main game are gambled on the outcome of the gamble game. In a gamble game the wager is typically automatically set as the value of the win in the main game.

For such a gamble game it may be desirable to offer a statistical return to player of 100% rather than the 150% described in relation to the feature game. In order to do this the game controller 101 requires the user to select whether they wish to gamble on the matching of primary and secondary symbol characteristics or to gamble on secondary symbol characteristics only prior to playing the game.

Returning again to the example where the secondary game symbols are symbols representing the four different card suits, the following outcomes are possible:

User Choice Matching Characteristics Award Primary & Secondary Primary and secondary 4x wager Primary & Secondary Secondary only Ox wager Primary & Secondary Neither Ox wager Secondary only Primary and secondary 2x wager

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Secondary only Secondary only 2x wager Secondary only Neither Ox wager

The tables of Figures 8A and 8B show in more detail the possible outcomes and awards resulting from the various matches of user and randomly selected secondary game symbols (once again using cards as an example of the symbols). The table of Figure 8A shows the outcomes and awards where a user choses to gamble on the suit and colour of the symbols (i.e. the primary and secondary characteristics) and Figure 8B shows the outcomes and awards where a user chose to gamble only on the colour (i.e. the secondary characteristic) of the symbols.

As will be appreciated, by selecting to gamble on the matching of primary and secondary characteristics the user increases the possible award to X times their previous win (X being the number of secondary game symbols), but decreases the chances of winning (a 1 in X chance). Alternatively, if the user elects to gamble only on the match of secondary characteristics the possible award is less (2 times their previous win) but the chances of receiving that award are greater (50%). Therefore, by requiring the user to select which characteristic they wish to gamble on the statistical return to player in the gamble game becomes 100% of the wager placed.

Figure 9 which shows a process flow diagram of the process 900 performed in accordance with the gamble game embodiment. As can be seen the process 900 is similar to that depicted in Figure 5 in respect of the feature game embodiment.

In step 902, the game controller 101 monitors the bill acceptor and/or coin input 110 and/or information received by the card/ticket reader 108 or network card 112 for a deposit of credit and in response causes the hardware meters 104 to increment according to the denomination of the game. The game controller 101 then monitors the user interface 107 for the input of a wager.

If there are sufficient credits in the meter 104 to support the wager, game play of the primary game is commenced in step 904 by the game controller 101. If game play results in a winning event, the game controller 101 will offer the user the choice of gambling on the win or returning to ordinary game play (step 906). If the user declines to gamble the game controller returns to step 902.

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If the user accepts the gamble option the game controller will ask the user to choose between gambling on primary and secondary characteristics of secondary game symbols or on secondary characteristics only (step 908).

After the user has made their choice in step 908 the game controller 101 allows the user to make a first symbol selection of one of the secondary game symbols in step 910. It is noted that in this embodiment of the gamble game option there is no step corresponding to the determining wager step (608) of the feature game embodiment. In this gamble game embodiment the game controller 101 is configured to automatically wager the value of the win in the main game from which the gamble game was launched. If desired it would, of course, be possible to allow the user to change this wager.

Once the first symbol selection has been made the game controller 101 offers the user a second symbol selection (step 912) from the secondary game symbols. Once again, unlike the symbol selection step 910 the symbol selection step 912 is a random selection.

At step 914 the game controller 101 reviews the choice made by the user in step 908. If the user selected to gamble on the primary and secondary characteristics of the symbols the game controller then compares the primary and secondary characteristics of the user selected symbol and the randomly selected symbol in step 916. If the primary and secondary characteristics of the symbols both match, the user is awarded with the award of the wager (i.e. the win of the user in the main game) multiplied by four (step 920). If only the secondary characteristics of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection match, or neither of the characteristics match, the game controller does not award any prize and the user loses their win from the primary game (step 922).

If the user chose to gamble only on the secondary characteristics in step 908, the game controller instead compares only the secondary characteristics of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection in step 924. If the secondary characteristics of the symbols match the user is awarded with the award of the wager (i.e. the win of the user in the main game) multiplied by two (step 926). If the secondary

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 characteristics of the first and second symbol selections do not match the game controller does not award any prize and the user loses their win from the primary game (step 928).

Although in the above embodiments the first symbol selection has been discussed as a non-random user selection and the second symbol selection as a random user selection, it would, of course, be possible to provide alternative symbol selections. Either the first and/or the second symbol selections could be entirely random symbol selections from the set of secondary game symbols. Further, while the symbol selections (random or otherwise) may be made by the user they could equally be made by the game controller 101.

The wager

Each of the feature and gamble game embodiments described above include a wager being made on the game. The wager may be:

* taken directly from winnings awarded in the main game * an amount selected by the user of the machine • a default amount set by the game controller 101 * a random amount determined by the game controller 101

Alternatively, the game of the invention may be played without a wager. In this case the awards arising from the game may be fixed by the game controller. Possible awards include:

Sa set monetary amount * one or more free games * entry into a gaming tournament • access to a bonus game or special game features * entry into a jackpot

While the foregoing description has been provided by way of example of the preferred embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated, which utilise gaming machines of the type found in casinos, those skilled in the relevant arts

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 will appreciate that the present invention also may have application to internet gaming and/or have application to gaming over a telecommunications network, where handsets are used to display game outcomes and receive player inputs.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers having known equivalents, then those equivalents are hereby incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that modifications and additions to the embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

It will also be understood that the term "comprises" (or its grammatical variants) as used in this specification is equivalent to the term "includes" and should not be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20

Claims (11)

1. A gaming machine including: a game controller including a processor and memory storing (i) game program code, and (ii) symbol data defining primary game symbols and secondary game symbols; a credit input mechanism comprising a coin and/or bill input device and/or a card and/or ticket reader that establishes credits on the gaming machine; meters configured for monitoring credits established via the credit input mechanism and changes to the established credits due to play of the gaming machine, the meters including a credit meter to which credit input via the credit input mechanism is added and a win meter; a random number generator; a user-input mechanism comprising buttons and/or a touch screen, the user input mechanism communicatively coupled to the game controller for receiving user initiation of a play of a game and user selection; and a display communicatively coupled to the game controller for displaying primary game symbols and secondary game symbols; the game controller adapted to execute the game program code stored in the memory and responsive to initiation of the play of the game with the user-input mechanism to provide a main game in which a plurality of primary game symbols are selected and presented on the display, and if a winning combination occurs the game controller awards a main game award, the game controller being further adapted to enable a user to select via the user-input mechanism to play a secondary game when the game controller awards a main game award in the main game, the secondary game being a gamble game wherein when the gamble game is played the game controller is adapted to provide a player with a choice selectable via the user-input mechanism between accepting the main award and gambling the main game award on primary and secondary characteristics of secondary game symbols or solely on secondary characteristics of secondary game symbols, and when the gamble game is played the game controller compares a first selected secondary symbol presented on the display with a subsequent second randomly selected secondary symbol presented on the display, each of the secondary game

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20 symbols having one of a plurality of primary characteristics and one of a plurality of secondary characteristics, each primary characteristic being unique and each secondary characteristic being associated with at least 2 of the secondary game symbols such that each secondary game symbol has a unique primary characteristic and a non-unique secondary characteristic, and wherein: if the player chooses to gamble on the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol matching the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol, the game controller awards the user with a first award upon a match of both the primary and secondary characteristics, or no award upon a match of only the secondary characteristic, if the player chooses to gamble only on the secondary characteristic of the first symbol matching the secondary characteristic of the second symbol, the game controller awards the user with a second award upon a match of either both the primary and secondary characteristics or only the secondary characteristic, the second award being less than the first award; and if the player selects to play the secondary game, and neither of the primary and secondary characteristics of the first symbol match the primary and secondary characteristics of the second symbol, no award is awarded.

2. A gaming machine according to either claim 1, wherein one of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection is a non-random symbol selection made by the user, and the other of the first symbol selection and the second symbol selection is a random symbol selection made by the user.

3. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first symbol selection is a non-random symbol selection made by the user, and the second symbol selection is a random symbol selection made by the game controller.

4. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second symbol selections are random symbol selections made by the user.

5. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second symbol selections are random symbol selections made by the game controller.

12635143_1 (GHMatters) P88018.AU.4 1/07/20

6. A gaming machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein half of the secondary game symbols share the same secondary characteristic.

7. A gaming machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of secondary game symbols is four, and each of the four secondary game symbols shares its secondary characteristic with one other of the four secondary game symbols.

8. A gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein each of the four secondary game symbols is a symbol representative of a different playing card suit and the primary symbol characteristic corresponds to the suit of the secondary game symbol and the secondary symbol characteristic corresponds to the colour of the secondary game symbol.

9. A gaming machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first award is calculated by multiplying the main game award by the number of secondary game symbols in the plurality of secondary game symbols.

10. A gaming machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second award is calculated by doubling the wager.

11. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first and second awards are fixed.

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