Gaming system, gaming device, and method for enabling a player to select volatility using game symbols

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016180641-A1
Application number	US-201615057482-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2016
Priority date	Nov 14, 2008
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various embodiments of the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide a primary game and a free activation bonus sequence, wherein the gaming system enables the player to select one or more of a plurality of different volatility options for use in the free activation bonus sequence. Each option is associated with a different number of free activations and a different pool of symbols or different symbol functionality. The gaming system provides this variation in the pool of symbols or symbol functionality in various embodiments by enabling the player to replace one or more symbols of a pool or set of symbols of the primary game (i.e., the primary set of symbols) with the symbol associated with a player selected option. The symbols of this modified set of symbols (i.e., the secondary set of symbols) are used in the free activation bonus sequence).

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . A gaming system comprising:
a housing; at least one display device supported by the housing; an acceptor supported by the housing; at least one input device supported by the housing; at least one processor; and at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device, the acceptor, and the at least one input device to: (a) establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item following receipt of the physical item by the acceptor; (b) place a wager for a play of a primary game following receipt of an actuation of a wager button, the primary game associated with a primary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the credit balance decreasable by the wager; (c) for the play of the primary game:
(1) randomly determine and display a plurality of the symbols of the primary symbol set,
(2) determine any primary awards based on the displayed symbols of the primary symbol set, and
(3) display any determined primary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined primary awards;
(d) if a triggering event occurs:
(1) display a plurality of different selectable options including:
(A) a first option associated with a first quantity of plays of a secondary game and a first secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the first secondary symbol set including a first quantity of instances of a designated symbol; and
(B) a second option associated with a second quantity of plays of a secondary game and a second secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the second secondary symbol set including a second quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the second quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the first quantity of plays of the secondary game and the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol;

(2) if a selection of the first option is received, for at least one of the first quantity of plays of the secondary game:
(A) randomly determine and display a plurality of the symbols of the first secondary symbol set,
(B) determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the first secondary symbol set, and
(C) display any determined secondary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined secondary awards;

(3) if a selection of the second option is received, for at least one of the second quantity of plays of the secondary game:
(A) randomly determine and display a plurality of the symbols of the second secondary symbol set,
(B) determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the second secondary symbol set, and
(C) display any determined secondary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined secondary awards; and

(e) initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of an actuation of a cashout button.

2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one instance of the designated symbol is included in the primary symbol set.

4 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to form the first secondary symbol set by adding the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

5 . The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

6 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to form the second secondary symbol set by adding the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol to the primary symbol set.

7 . The gaming system of claim 6 , wherein each instance of the designated symbol added to the primary symbol set replaces an instance of another symbol of the primary symbol set.

8 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the options include a third option associated with a third quantity of plays of a secondary game and a third secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the third secondary symbol set including a third quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the third quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the second quantity of plays of the secondary game and the third quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, if a selection of the third option is received, for at least one of the third quantity of plays of the secondary game:
(1) randomly determine and display a plurality of the symbols of the third secondary symbol set, (2) determine any secondary awards associated with the displayed symbols of the third secondary symbol set, and (3) display any determined secondary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined secondary awards.

9 . The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the designated symbol is a wild symbol.

10 . A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
(a) receiving, by an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value; (b) establishing, by at least one processor, a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with the received physical item; (c) receiving an actuation of a wager button; (d) placing, by the at least one processor, a wager for a play of a primary game responsive to the actuation of the wager button, the primary game associated with a primary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the credit balance decreasable by the wager; (e) for the play of the primary game:
(1) randomly determining, by the at least one processor, and displaying, by at least one display device, a plurality of the symbols of the primary symbol set,
(2) determining, by the at least one processor, any primary awards based on the displayed symbols of the primary symbol set, and
(3) displaying, by the at least one display device, any determined primary awards, the credit balance increasable by any determined primary awards;
(f) if a triggering event occurs:
(1) displaying, by the at least one display device, a plurality of different selectable options including:
(A) a first option associated with a first quantity of plays of a secondary game and a first secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the first secondary symbol set including a first quantity of instances of a designated symbol; and
(B) a second option associated with a second quantity of plays of a secondary game and a second secondary symbol set of a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols of the second secondary symbol set including a second quantity of instances of a designated symbol, the second quantity of plays of the secondary game being greater than the first quantity of plays of the secondary game and the second quantity of instances of the designated symbol being less than the first quantity of instances of the designated symbol;

(2) if a selection of the first option is received, for at least one of the first quantity of plays of th

Assignees

• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Hughes William K
• Boese Eric S

Classifications

• 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 · CPC title

• G07F17/3213 Primary

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

• G07F17/3267

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

• G07F17/3265

  Influencing the position of stopped moving members to achieve a winning arrangement, e.g. nudging, shuffling, holding · CPC title

• G07F17/34

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