NZ531701A - Gaming machine with bingo bonus feature - Google Patents
Gaming machine with bingo bonus featureInfo
- Publication number
- NZ531701A NZ531701A NZ531701A NZ53170104A NZ531701A NZ 531701 A NZ531701 A NZ 531701A NZ 531701 A NZ531701 A NZ 531701A NZ 53170104 A NZ53170104 A NZ 53170104A NZ 531701 A NZ531701 A NZ 531701A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- bonus
- game
- playing
- prize
- feature
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 28
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 241000237519 Bivalvia Species 0.000 claims 1
- 235000020639 clam Nutrition 0.000 claims 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010200 validation analysis Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
- G07F17/3262—Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
- G07F17/3267—Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Slot Machines And Peripheral Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded. The game includes a bonus feature in which a representation of a game card is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller. A bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.
Description
New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 531 701
004841662
1
531 7 01
Gaming machine with bingo feature
Field of the invention
This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine and to an improvement to a game played on such a gaming machine.
Background of the invention
Players who regularly play gaming machine quickly tire of particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative game features which add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and therefore willing to continue playing the game as well as to attract new players.
Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to device games and/or game features which are popular with the players as a mechanism for improving sales, 15 retaining customers and attracting new customers.
Summary of the invention
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be 20 displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded, wherein the game includes a bonus feature in which a representation of a game card is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, 25 following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer-based game to be played on a game playing apparatus, said game being implemented by a computer program, the game 30 playing apparatus having a display and being controlled by a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the computer based game including
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 0
Of N.Z.
1 1 JUL 2005 RECEIVED
game including a representation of a game card that is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of 5 which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes of the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.
A gaming apparatus is to be understood to include apparatus that does not require the wagering of a stake in order to play the game and further includes apparatus 10 which is connectable to a network.
The bonus feature may follow an underlying base game. For example, the base game may be a spinning reel game which, when a trigger condition occurs in the base game, results in the awarding of the bonus feature.
The bonus feature is, preferably, a bingo-related feature. Thus, the 15 representation of the game card may be a representation of a bingo card. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a bingo card is subdivided into a plurality of playing squares being the playing positions of the game card.
The playing patterns to be selected, whether by the player or the game controller, may be, for example, horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, the four 20 corner squares of the bingo card or a number of central squares, such as, for example, the four central squares of the bingo card.
The game card may include at least one free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such. Typically the free playing position is designated as such by being displayed as being marked off. The at least one free 25 playing position may or may not have a bonus prize associated with it. The free playing position may, for example, be the centre square of the bingo card.
The bonus prize associated with each playing position may relate to one of a number of bonus prize outcomes. Thus, the game controller may store a set of bonus prize outcomes.
The set of bonus prize outcomes may comprise the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card. Instead, the set of bonus prize outcomes may comprise a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card but, for each bonus feature, the game controller selects from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are 35 playing positions on the game card.. Preferably, none of the outcomes in any set of outcomes or selected set of outcomes, as the case may be, is repeated.
3
The bonus prize outcomes may be selected from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least 5 one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.
When the feature is awarded, the game card may be displayed on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position oh the card, the game controller randomly selecting playing positions until a pattern is completed. When the 10 pattern has been completed by the controller, the bonus award made to the player may be the total of the prizes of the playing positions constituting the selected pattern. Each playing position selected by the controller may be displayed in a highlighted configuration.
The player may select a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected 15 playing pattern is completed, is the bonus award made.
It may be possible to re-trigger the bonus feature during the playing thereof. When that occurs, any other bonus prizes are awarded first before the bonus feature is replayed.
The distribution of the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card 20 may occur randomly so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game 25 wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the method comprising awarding a bonus feature upon a triggering event occurring during a preceding base game and, during the bonus feature:
displaying a representation of a game card on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions required to be completed;
completing at least one of the patterns of playing positions; and 35 awarding a bonus award, made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of playing positions, to a player.
4
The method may include designating at least one of the playing positions of the game card as a free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such by the at least one free playing position being displayed as being marked off. Further, the method may include associating a bonus prize with the at least 5 one free playing position.
The method may include selecting the bonus prize associated with each playing position from one of a number of bonus prize outcomes. Thus, the method may include storing a set of bonus prize outcomes.
The method may include constituting the set of bonus prize outcomes to 10 comprise the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the playing card. Instead, the set of bonus prize outcomes may comprise a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card and the method may include, for each bonus feature, selecting from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game 15 card.
The method may include selecting the bonus prize outcomes from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the 20 awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.
When the feature is awarded, the method may include displaying the game card on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position on the card and randomly selecting playing positions until a pattern is completed. 25 The method may include the player selecting a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, awarding the bonus award.
The method may include re-triggering the bonus feature during the playing thereof.
The method may include randomly distributing the bonus prizes in the playing 30 positions of the game card so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine;
Figure 3 shows a screen display of a first embodiment of a bonus feature after 5 the bonus feature has been awarded following the playing of a base game on the gaming machine of Figure 1;
Figures 4 and 5 show screen displays of stages in the playing of the bonus feature;
Figure 6 shows a screen display of the bonus feature after it has been completed; 10 Figure 7 shows a flow chart of the playing of a game including the bonus feature; and
Figures 8-11 show a sequence of screen displays of a second embodiment of the bonus feature.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
In Figure 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a gaming machine, including a game, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display means in the form of a video display unit 14 on which a game 16 is played, in use. The video display unit 14 may be implemented as a 20 cathode ray screen device, a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, or the like. The game 16 includes a base game which is a spinning reel game that simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels 18. A midtrim 20 of the machine 10 houses a keypad 22 for enabling a player to play the game 16. The midtrim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a coin input chute 24.1 and a bill collector 24.2. 25 The machine 10 includes a top box 26 on which artwork 28 is carried. The artwork 28 includes paytables, details of bonus awards, etc.
A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts from the machine 10.
Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a control means or control circuit 32 is 30 illustrated. A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor 34 of the control circuit 32. The processor 34 forms part of a controller 36 that drives the screen of the video display unit 14 and that receives input signals from sensors 38. The sensors 38 include sensors associated with the bank 22 of buttons and touch sensors mounted in the screen of the video display unit 14. The controller 36 35 also receives input pulses from the mechanism 24 to determine whether or not a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism 24 may, instead
of the coin input chute 24.1 or the bill collector 24.2, or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device.
Finally, the controller 36 drives a payout mechanism 40 which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray 30 to make a pay out to a player 5 when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit.
The game 16 includes a bonus feature. When a trigger condition occurs, such as, for example, the occurrence of a predetermined number of scatter symbols in the base, spinning reel game of the game 16, the bonus feature is awarded.
The bonus feature is a bingo-style bonus feature where, following the triggering 10 of the bonus feature, the spinning reel display of the base game of the game 16 is replaced by a screen display 50 (Figure 3) of a bingo card 52.
A first embodiment of the feature is described below with reference to Figures 3 - 6 of the drawings. In this embodiment, the bingo card 52 is made up of a plurality of playing positions or playing squares 54. In accordance with the standard bingo game, 15 one of a plurality of playing patterns is required to be completed in order for a bonus award to be made. In this case, the pattern which is completed is determined by the controller 34 of the gaming machine 10. However, the feature may require that the player selects one of a plurality of playing patterns to be completed on the bingo Card 52 and, only if the pattern which is completed by the controller 34 matches the pattern 20 selected by the player, is a bonus award made.
The patterns which are required to be completed on the bingo card 52 comprise, for a 4 x 4 bingo card as illustrated in this embodiment, one of four vertical lines, one of four horizontal lines, one of two diagonal lines, a pattern made up of the four corner playing squares 54 of the playing card 52 or a pattern made up of the four central 25 squares 54.
One of a plurality of outcomes displayed in each playing square 54. The game 16 has a fixed set of outcomes, corresponding in number to the number of playing squares 54 constituting the card 52. Instead, the set of outcomes may have a greater number of outcomes than there are playing squares 54 but the controller 34 then selects 30 the same number of outcomes as there are playing squares 54 from the set of outcomes. The controller 34 selects a set of outcomes in which none of the outcomes is repeated. For example, for the card 52 having sixteen playing squares 54 and where there are the same number of outcomes in the set as there are playing squares 54, the set of outcomes is as follows:
1. 2 credits 2. 3 credits
7
3. 4 credits
4. 5 credits
. 10 credits
6. 12 credits 5 7. 15 credits
8. 20 credits
9. 1 free game, wins X 5
. 5 free games, wins X 3 11.10 free games, wins X 2
12.15 free games 13.20 free games
14. mystery prize
. second screen feature
16. bonus wins for next 10 games.
Accordingly, when the bonus feature is awarded and the screen display 50
occurs, the bingo card 52 has each of its playing squares 54 having one of the above outcomes. It is to be noted that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the distribution of the outcomes is randomly selected by the controller 34 so that the position of each of the outcomes is very rarely the same. This will reduce familiarity with the game by 20 players thereby maintaining their interest.
The player may have to press a "Start Feature" button on the keypad 22. This will be highlighted by an appropriate message (not shown) on the screen display 50. Instead, the feature could start automatically after it has been triggered.
The feature proceeds by the controller 34 randomly selecting one of the 25 outcomes from the set of outcomes and highlighting, or otherwise marking, that outcome in the appropriate playing square 54 of the playing card 52.
In this case, the controller 34 has selected the outcome of 15 free games and the playing square 54 having that outcome is highlighted as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.
The feature progresses by the controller 34 randomly selecting remaining outcomes from the set of outcomes. It is to be noted that, once an outcome has been selected by the controller 34, it is removed from the set of outcomes so that it cannot be re-selected.
In this example the second outcome selected by the controller is "bonus wins for 35 next ten games" and the relevant square 54 of the playing card 52 is highlighted.
As indicated above, one of the playing patterns that can be completed is one of the two diagonal lines 56 (Figure 6) of the playing card 52. Figure 6 shows the end result of the feature where one of the diagonal lines 56 has been completed.
When the final position in the pattern has been marked off, the pattern itself is 5 highlighted as the bonus award which is made up by the outcomes contained in the squares 54 constituting the pattern. In this case, the player receives, as a part of the bonus award, 24 credits which are paid to the player instantly. Two separate features are included in the bonus award. The first of the features is a feature of ten free games where all wins are multiplied by two and the second feature is a second screen feature. 10 Once the twenty-four credits have been credited to the player, the ten free games where all wins are multiplied by two are played. Once the free games have been completed, a secondary, second-screen feature is played. This second screen feature may be, for example, the same bingo-style feature or it may be another independent feature altogether.
It is also to be noted that it is possible to re-trigger the bingo-style feature during free games won from the bingo-style feature in the same way that the bingo-style feature was triggered from the base game. When this occurs, rather than the bingo-style feature being played immediately after the trigger condition occurs, the free games and any remaining features from the first bingo-style feature are completed 20 before the following bingo-style feature commences. The second and any subsequent bingo-style features are completely independently and commence immediately following the conclusion of any earlier bingo-style feature or features.
Referring now to Figures 8-11 of the drawings, a second embodiment of the bonus feature is illustrated. With reference to Figures 3-6 of the drawings, like 25 reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified. In this embodiment of the invention, the bingo card 52 comprises twenty five playing squares 54 in a 5 x 5 matrix. A centre square 54.1 is a free square and, as illustrated, is always highlighted. By having the centre square 54.1 always highlighted and forming a part of some of the potential winning patterns, the mathematics of the game is considerably simplified as, 30 although all the winning combinations comprise five squares, some combinations only require four squares to be highlighted in order for the pattern to be completed.
The set of outcomes or prizes applicable to the bingo card 52 is as follows;-7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 75, 80, 100, 110, 120, 150, 170, 200, 220, X2, X3, X4.
It is to be noted that the prizes consist of a number of credits or multipliers and no secondary features such as free games, etc., are applicable.
9
The prizes that are a number of credits are multiplied by the bet per line in the triggering base game of the game 16 before being displayed in the playing squares 54 of the bingo card 52 so that the. prizes as displayed are exactly what the player will be awarded if the player is successful in winning the bonus award.
Assuming that the player is betting 1 credit per line, the initial bingo card 52, at the commencement of the bonus feature has the appearance as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. It is to be noted that, as is the case with the first embodiment, the prizes or outcomes are distributed randomly in the playing squares 54 at the commencement of each bonus feature so as to reduce the likelihood of the player becoming overly familiar 10 with the game 16.
The controller 34 of the gaming machine 10 randomly draws, from the above set of outcomes, one of the prizes. The selected outcome is highlighted on the bingo card 52. Each outcome, once it has been drawn, is removed from the set so that it is not re-selected. In this example, the first prize drawn is a prize of 80 credits and the 15 appropriate playing square 54 is marked as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings.
Figure 10 shows the bingo card 52 after a number of prizes have been drawn but prior to any pattern having been completed.
In this regard, it is to be noted that, in this embodiment, there are 13 different patterns that apply, being the 5 horizontal lines, the 5 vertical lines, the 2 diagonal lines 20 and the pattern made up of the 4 corner playing squares 54 plus the centre square 54.1.
In Figure 10 of the drawings, the line that is the fourth row and the line that is the fifth column of the bingo card 52 both have four playing squares 54 marked off, as do certain of the other lines.
Assuming that the next prize which is drawn from the set by the controller 34 is 25 the multiplier "X2", the playing square 54.2 is marked off. This results in the completion of two patterns 58 and 60. The multiplier, X2, applies to the total number of credits in each completed line of the bingo card 52 in which the multiplier occurs. In this case, therefore, there are two sets of prizes awarded being a prize of (75+35+60+40) X 2 for the completed pattern 58 and a second prize made up of 30 (100+20+8) X 3 X 2 for the completed pattern 60. This results in a prize of 420 credits for the completed pattern 58 and a prize of 768 credits for the completed pattern 60 for a total bonus award of 1188 credits.
Hence, it is an advantage of the invention that a bingo-style feature is awarded to the player which makes a bonus award to the player in an interesting and entertaining 35 manner. The player's sense of anticipation is heightened as the player is unaware, once the bonus feature has been awarded, what the final bonus award will be. The player
Claims (25)
1. A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded, wherein the game includes a bonus feature in which a representation of a game card is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1 in which the bonus feature follows an 15 underlying base game.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the game card includes at least one free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such.
20
4. The gaming machine of claim 3 in which the at least one free playing position has a bonus prize associated with it.
5. The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which the bonus prize associated with each playing position relates to one of a number of bonus prize outcomes.
6. The gaming machine of claim 5 in which the game controller stores a set of bonus prize outcomes.
30
7. The gaming machine of claim 6 in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.
35
8. The gaming machine of claim 6 in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on
00484166212the game card but, for each bonus feature, the game controller selects from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.
10. The gaming machine of any one of claims 5 to 9 in which the bonus prize outcomes are selected from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free
5 game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.
11. The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which, when the feature is 10 awarded, the game card is displayed on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position on the card, the game controller randomly selecting playing positions until a
I
pattern is completed.
12. The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which the player selects a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, is the
15 bonus award made.
13. The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which it is possible to re-trigger the bonus feature during the playing thereof.
14. The gaming machine of any one of the preceding claims in which the distribution of the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card occurs randomly so that, each time the
20 bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.
15. A computer-based game to be played on a gaming apparatus, said game being implemented by a computer program, the gaming apparatus having a display and being controlled by a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the computer based game including a representation of a game card that is caused to be displayed on
25 the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon, and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
OF N.Z.
1 1 JUL 2005 RECEIVED
*;13;of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes of the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.;
16. The game of claim 15 in which the bonus feature follows an underlying base 5 game.;
17. The game of claim 15 or claim 16 in which the game card includes at least one free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such.;10
18. The game of claim 17 in which the at least one free playing position has a bonus prize associated with it.;
19. The game of any one of claims 15 to 18 in which the bonus prize associated with each playing position relates to one of a number of bonus prize outcomes.;15;20;
20. The game of claim 19 in which the game controller stores a set of bonus prize outcomes.;
21. The game of claim 20 in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.;
22. The game of claim 20 in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card but, for each bonus feature, the game controller selects from the set of bonus prize;25 'outcomes-the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.;
23. The game of any one of claims 19 to 22 in which the bonus prize outcomes are selected from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least;30 one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.;35;
24. The game of any one of claims 15 to 23 in which, when the feature is awarded, the game card is displayed on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each;14;playing position on the card, the game controller randomly selecting playing positions until a pattern is completed.;
25. The game of any one of claims 15 to 24 in which the player selects a playing 5 pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, is the bonus award made.;26. The game of any one of claim 15 to 25 in which it is possible to re-trigger the bonus feature during the playing thereof.;10;27. The game of any one of claims 15 to 26 in which the distribution-of the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card occurs randomly so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.;15;28. A method of operating a gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 20 awards a prize, the method comprising awarding a bonus feature upon a triggering event occurring during a preceding base game and, during the bonus feature:;displaying a representation of a game card on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the 25 playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions required to be completed;;completing at least one of the patterns of playing positions; and awarding a bonus award, made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of playing positions, to a player.;30;29. The method of claim 28 which includes designating at least one of the playing positions of the game card as a free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such by the at least one free playing position being displayed as being marked off.;15;30. The method of claim 29 which includes associating a bonus prize with the at least one free playing position.;31. The method of any one of claims 28 to 30 which includes selecting the bonus 5 prize associated with each playing position from one of a number of bonus prize outcomes.;32. The method of claim 31 which includes storing a set of bonus prize outcomes.;33. The method of claim 32 which includes constituting the set of bonus prize outcomes to comprise the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the playing card.;34. The method of claim 32 in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises a 15 greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card and in which the method includes, for each bonus feature, selecting from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.;35. The method of any one of claims 28 to 34 which includes selecting the bonus prize outcomes from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.;36. The method of any one of claims 28 to 35 which includes, when the feature is awarded, displaying the game card on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position on the card and randomly selecting playing positions until;30 a pattern is completed.;37. The method of any one of claims 28 to 36 which includes the player selecting a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, awarding the bonus award.;35;16;38. The method of any one of claims 28 to 37 which includes re-triggering the bonus feature during the playing thereof.;39. The method of any one of claims 28 to 38 which includes randomly distributing 5 the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.;40. A gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.;41. A game to be played on a gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 15 and substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.;42. A method of operating a gaming machine as claimed in claim 28 and 15 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.;10;EM) OF CLAMS;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE;1 6 FEB 2005;RECEIVFO;17;ABSTRACT;A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded. The game includes a bonus feature in which a representation of a game card is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it. The bonus feature comprises a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.;fir-'4 *
52
FIG. 2
Mystery prize
1 free game, wins X5
12 credits
20 credits
15 free games
2 credits
Second screen feature
5 credits
10 credits
4 credits
Bonus wins for next 10 games
5 free games, wins X3
10 free games, wins X2
15 credits
20 free games
3 credits
V
Mystery prize
1 free game, wins X5
12 credits
20 credits
. it
2 credits
Second screen feature
5 credits
10 credits
4 credits
Bonus wins for next 10 games
5 free games, wins X3
10 free games, wins X2
15 credits
20 free games
3 credits
FTCr-i,
Mystery prize
1 free game, wins X5
12 credits
20 credits
■
2 credits
Second screen feature
5 credits
10 credits
4 credits
5 free games, wins X3
10 free games, wins X2
15 credits
20 free 1 games
3 credits
JLr
bG.
FTc. S'
yi
I-»G- ^
//• Ou-4
oh
G.C
IS
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2003901263A AU2003901263A0 (en) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-03-19 | Gaming machine with bingo feature |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| NZ531701A true NZ531701A (en) | 2005-09-30 |
Family
ID=31500306
Family Applications (1)
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|---|---|---|---|
| NZ531701A NZ531701A (en) | 2003-03-19 | 2004-03-11 | Gaming machine with bingo bonus feature |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20040266509A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2003901263A0 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ531701A (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA200402029B (en) |
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-
2003
- 2003-03-19 AU AU2003901263A patent/AU2003901263A0/en not_active Abandoned
-
2004
- 2004-03-11 NZ NZ531701A patent/NZ531701A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-03-11 US US10/792,685 patent/US20040266509A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-03-12 ZA ZA2004/02029A patent/ZA200402029B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA200402029B (en) | 2005-11-30 |
| AU2003901263A0 (en) | 2003-04-03 |
| US20040266509A1 (en) | 2004-12-30 |
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