Systems, devices, and methods for enhancing gaming experiences

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9552698-B2
Application number	US-201313925615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2013
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for enhancing gaming experiences using a game wheel. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to operate a gaming wheel having a plurality of sections. Each of the sections of the wheel includes a symbol mark and is associated with a section classification. Random selections of game wheel sections are made where selected sections associated with a first classification provide an award associated with the corresponding symbol mark and places a termination indicator in the selected section. Selected sections associated with a second classification clear one or more of the existing termination indicators, if any. Selections continue until a section associated with a termination indicator is selected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gaming device comprising:
a player input apparatus;
a display;
a memory configured to store a credit amount;
a wager input device structured to receive physical items associated with a currency value;
a processor configured to:
receive a signal from the wager input device that a physical item associated with a currency value has been received;
increase the credit amount stored in the memory based on the currency value of the received physical item;
receive signals transmitted from the player input device to place a wager on a game, the wager deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory;
initiate a base game portion of the game by manipulating game elements having game symbols on the display;
determine whether a triggering condition for a secondary game has been satisfied;
execute a secondary game when the triggering condition has been satisfied, the execution of the secondary game including:
displaying a substantially circular bonus wheel having a plurality of sections, each section including a numerical mark and including a coloration of one of red, black, or green,
activating a ball marker to encircle the plurality of sections on the bonus wheel,
randomly selecting one of the sections of the bonus wheel for the ball marker to land,
presenting an award associated with the numerical mark corresponding to the selected section of the bonus wheel,
marking the selected section of the bonus wheel with a termination indicator,
reactivating the ball marker to encircle the plurality of sections on the bonus wheel,
randomly selecting one of the sections of the bonus wheel for the ball marker to land,
determining characteristics of the randomly selected section of the bonus wheel, where the determined characteristics cause the configured processor to end the secondary game when the randomly selected section is determined to include a termination indicator, remove all termination indicators from the plurality of sections when the randomly selected section is determined to include green coloration, or present an award associated with the numerical mark corresponding to the selected section of the bonus wheel and mark the selected section of the bonus wheel with a termination indicator, and
continuing to reactivate the ball marker, randomly select one of the sections, and determine characteristics of the selected section until a selected section includes a termination indicator;

aggregate awards associated with the base game portion and secondary game; and
increase the credit amount stored in the memory based on the aggregated awards.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein presenting an award associated with the numerical mark corresponding to the selected section of the bonus wheel includes presenting the value of the numerical mark as the award.

3. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein presenting an award associated with the numerical mark corresponding to the selected section of the bonus wheel includes:
determining an award value associated with the numerical mark in a paytable; and
presenting the award value from the paytable as the award.

4. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein executing a secondary game further comprises:
receiving a signal from the player input apparatus to designate one of the plurality of sections of the bonus wheel prior to activating the ball marker;
marking the designated section; and
providing an additional award modifier when the ball marker is randomly selected to land in the designated section of the bonus wheel.

5. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein executing a secondary game further comprises:
receiving a signal from the player input apparatus to designate one coloration value of either red or black as a bonus color; and
providing an additional award modifier when the ball marker is randomly selected to land in a section of the bonus wheel associated with the bonus color.

6. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein executing a secondary game further comprises:
receiving a signal from the player input apparatus to designate one of a plurality of predefined groups of bonus wheel sections prior to activating the ball marker;
marking the designated sections; and
providing an additional award modifier when the ball marker is randomly selected to land in one of the designated sections of the bonus wheel.

7. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein aggregating awards associated with the base game portion and secondary game includes modifying an award associated with the base game portion with a modifier associated with awards received in the secondary game.

8. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the bonus wheel is a roulette wheel.

9. The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein the roulette wheel includes exactly one section with green coloration.

10. A method of operating a gaming device having a game display, a memory configured to store a credit amount, a wager input device structured to receive physical items associated with a currency value, a processor, and a player input apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving a signal from the wager input device that a physical item associated with a currency value has been received;
increasing the credit amount stored in the memory based on the currency value of the received physical item;
initiating a base game of chance on the game display in response to a signal received from the player input apparatus indicating a wager amount placed on the base game of chance, the wager amount deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory;
executing a secondary game when a triggering condition has been satisfied, the execution of the secondary game including:
displaying a substantially circular bonus wheel having a plurality of sections each section including a symbol mark and including one of a first coloration, a second coloration, or a third coloration,
activating a ball marker to encircle the plurality of sections on the bonus wheel,
randomly selecting one of the sections of the bonus wheel for the ball marker to land,
presenting an award associated with the symbol mark corresponding to the selected section of the bonus wheel,
marking the selected section of the bonus wheel with a termination indicator,
reactivating the ball marker to encircle the plurality of sections on the bonus wheel,
randomly selecting one of the sections of the bonus wheel for the ball marker to land,
determining characteristics of the randomly selected section of the bonus wheel, where the determined characteristics cause the configured processor to end the secondary game when the randomly selected section is determined to include a termination indicator, remove all termination indicators from the plurality of sections when the randomly selected section is determined to include a third coloration, or present an award associated with the symbol mark corresponding to the selected section of the bonus wheel and mark the selected section of the bonus wheel with a termination indicator, and
continuing to reactivate the ball marker, randomly select one of the sections, and determine characteristics of the selected section until a selected section includes a termination indicator;

aggregating awards associated with the base game portion and secondary game; and
increasing the credit amount stored in the memory based on the aggregated awards.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein executing a secondary game further comprises:
receiving a signal from the player input apparatus to designate one of the plurality of sections of the bonus wheel prior to activating the ball marker;
marking the designated section; and
providing an additional award modifier when the

Assignees

• King Show Games Inc

Inventors

• Berman Bradley

Classifications

• G07F17/326 Primary

  Game play aspects of gaming systems · CPC title

• G07F17/3258

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title

• G07F17/3244 Primary

  Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes · CPC title

• G07F17/3213

  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