Systems and methods for generating prizes for a primary game and secondary game of chance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11699328-B2
Application number	US-202117645919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2021
Priority date	Sep 19, 2019
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A system and method for operating a game of chance. A gaming system includes a primary game display and secondary game display with the secondary game display mapped with prize blocks arranged in a grid that may generally mimic a primary game grid. The prize blocks can be represented as characters, articles, numeral values, symbols and the like. Each prize block is assigned a prize value and a health value. When the health value of a prize block is exhausted based on primary game outcomes, the prize block is destroyed and removed awarding its corresponding prize value. New prize blocks fill the void left by removed prize blocks or the void remains as a space without any assigned prize value. A bonus trigger model also serves to reduce “cold streaks” during which players may lose interest.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gaming system comprising:
a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a user interface configured to:
enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation;

at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance;
said at least one processor programmed to:
add said monetary value to a credit balance for said player;
deduct said selected wager from said credit balance; and
decrease said credit balance in response to said cash out operation;

one or more game displays;
a primary game display area and secondary game display area;
memory in communication with said at least one processor; and
wherein said at least one processor runs said executable instructions to: (i) generate and present on said primary game display area, random primary game outcomes; (ii) responsive to one or more pre-established primary game outcomes, diminish or increase one or more health values associated with one or more prize blocks mapped on said secondary game display area; (iii) award a prize associated with a prize block reaching a threshold value within a pre-established time.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one processor is further programmed to cause a timer to track the pre-established time, said timer displayed within an associated prize block.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein each prize block has a timer to track the pre-established timer associated with each said prize block, each said timer displayed within an associated prize block.

4. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein said timer counts one unit per play of said game of chance.

5. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein said timer is continuously counting down or up.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one processor is further programmed to run executable instructions to: remove a prize block responsive to a pre-established timer reaching a pre-established point prior to the associated health value reaching a prize award threshold value.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one processor is further programmed to run executable instructions to: re-display the removed prize block with a same health value as when the prize block was removed and re-display a new reset timer therewith.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one processor is further programmed to run executable instructions to: add more time to said pre-established timer responsive to certain primary game outcomes or money being paid for more time.

9. The gaming system of claim 6 wherein said at least one processor is further programmed to run executable instructions to: remove a prize block responsive to a pre-established timer reaching a pre-established point prior to the associated health value reaching a prize award threshold value.

10. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein multiple prize blocks lock together such that prize awards associated with each of said multiple prize blocks are aggregated into a single prize award.

11. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein said single prize award may be won despite not reaching a threshold heath value of each of said locked prize blocks.

12. The gaming system of claim 6 wherein said at least one processor is further programmed to run executable instructions to: store heath values associated with removed prize blocks.

13. A gaming system comprising:
a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a user interface configured to:
enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation;

at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance;
said at least one processor programmed to:
add said monetary value to a credit balance for said player;
deduct said selected wager from said credit balance; and
decrease said credit balance in response to said cash out operation;

one or more game displays;
a primary game display area and secondary game display area;
memory in communication with said at least one processor; and
wherein said at least one processor runs said executable instructions to: (i) generate and present on said primary game display area, random primary game outcomes; (ii) responsive to one or more pre-established primary game outcomes, diminish or increase one or more health values associated with one or more prize blocks mapped on said secondary game display area; and (iii) responsive to any of said one or more health values reaching a threshold value, award a multiplier based on a prize value corresponding to said one or more prize blocks reaching a threshold health value.

14. The gaming system of claim 13 wherein said at least one processor further runs said executable instructions to: cause a multiplier symbol representative of said multiplier to move to a location on said secondary display outside of said prize block where it was won.

15. The gaming system of claim 14 wherein said at least one processor further runs said executable instructions to: cause said multiplier to be applied to a subsequent prize being awarded.

16. A gaming system comprising:
a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a user interface configured to:
enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation;

at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance;
said at least one processor programmed to:
add said monetary value to a credit balance for said player;
deduct said selected wager from said credit balance; and
decrease said credit balance in response to said cash out operation;

one or more game displays;
a primary game display area and secondary game display area;
memory in communication with said at least one processor; and
wherein said at least one processor runs said executable instructions to: (i) generate and present on said primary game display area, random primary game outcomes; (ii) responsive to one or more pre-established primary game outcomes, diminish or increase one or more health values associated with one or more prize blocks mapped on said secondary game display area; and (iii) award a multiplier responsive to a heat value associated with a multiplier prize block reaching a threshold value.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 wherein said at least one processor further runs said executable instructions to: cause a multiplier symbol representative of said multiplier to move to a location on said secondary display outside of said prize block where it was won.

18. The gaming system of claim 17 wherein said at least one processor further runs said executable instructions to: cause said multiplier to be applied to a subsequent prize being awarded.

19. The gaming system of claim 16 wherein said at least one processor further runs said executable instructions to: cause said multiplier to be applied to a subsequent prize being awarded.

20. A gaming system comprising:
a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a user interface configured to:
enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation;

at least one processor running executable instructions related to a game of chance;
said at least one proce

Assignees

• Gaming Arts LLC

Inventors

• Colvin David
• Ficarrotta Justin Thomas
• Porter Joshua Ewing
• Sims Scott Forbes
• Chong William
• Charron Dan
• Kruczynski Keith Matthew

Classifications

• G07F17/3267 Primary

  Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games · CPC title

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title