US 20050159211 A1
A gaming apparatus and method of conducting a wagering game are disclosed. The wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game triggered by the basic game. The apparatus tracks a number of the basic games played since a predetermined event, and alters a probability of triggering the bonus game based on the tracked number.
1. A method of conducting a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game, the method comprising:
tracking a number of the basic games played since a predetermined event; and
altering a probability of triggering the bonus game based on the tracked number.
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10. A method of conducting a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game triggered by the basic game, the method comprising:
tracking a frequency of occurrence of the bonus game; and
altering a probability of triggering the bonus game based on the tracked frequency.
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18. A method of conducting a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game triggered by the basic game, the method comprising altering a probability of triggering the bonus game based on when the bonus game was last triggered by the basic game.
19. A method of conducting a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game triggered by the basic game, the method comprising altering a probability of triggering the bonus game based on a length of time since the bonus game was last triggered by the basic game.
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21. A gaming apparatus for conducting a wagering game, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game, the apparatus comprising a control system operative to a number of the basic games played since a predetermined event and to alter a probability of triggering the bonus game based on the tracked number.
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The present invention relates generally to gaming machines and, more particularly, to a gaming machine with a meter or counter used to manage the bonus hit rate and vary the probability of triggering a bonus.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Accordingly, in the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games that will attract frequent play by increasing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.
To meet the increasing expectations of players, gaming machines are becoming more sophisticated. New techniques and technologies must continue to be introduced to survive or excel in an extremely competitive market.
Traditional video slot machines have evolved into a more robust entertainment offering, providing players with bonus rounds to enhance the basic slot game. As players patronize these new games, more and more rely on bonus rounds as their main method of entertainment and, in many cases, a primary method of return during play. With increasing regularity, many players determine a slot game's value based on the entertainment of the bonus round(s) as well as the perceived frequency of bonus play. This trend will likely continue to grow as improved technologies allow gaming machine manufacturers the ability to produce more exciting and entertaining offerings, especially in bonus games.
As stated above, the perceived frequency at which a bonus game is triggered is becoming a critical factor in determining the value and popularity of many video slot machines. Many excellent games have caused the loss of a player's initial enthusiasm to participate because a bonus round failed to trigger, or triggered infrequently during basic reel play. For example, a game that is programmed to randomly trigger a bonus an average of once within 100 wagers can experience a span of nearly 200 wagers before another bonus round is initiated (one bonus near the beginning of the first 100 wagers and one bonus near the end of the second 100 wagers). Because this is a random event, a longer period between bonus rounds is possible. If this, or a frequency near this occurs often but still within the boundaries of the game's configuration, the player's perception may turn negative towards the game, thus reducing the number of potential return players and, subsequently, the number of plays.
A method of automatically increasing the probability of triggering a bonus game as the number of basic slot games increases since the last bonus game, and displaying the increased likelihood to the player in an entertaining manner, would help alleviate negative perceptions of slot games that players believe rely on bonus rounds as a main form of entertainment and return.
In accordance with the foregoing, a gaming apparatus and method of conducting a wagering game are disclosed. The wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game triggered by the basic game. The apparatus tracks a number of the basic games played since a predetermined event, and alters a probability of triggering the bonus game based on the tracked number. The predetermined event may, for example, be triggering the bonus game or the start or completion of a gaming session.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The primary display 12 may be implemented with a CRT, LCD, plasma, physical reels (in the case of a mechanical reel slot game), or other type of display known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 12 is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 12 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.
System memory 24 stores control software, operational instructions and data associated with the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the system memory 24 comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random-access memory (RAM). However, it will be appreciated that the system memory 24 may be implemented on any of several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure. A payoff mechanism 26 is operable in response to instructions from the CPU 20 to award a payoff to the player. The payoff may, for example, be in the form of a number of credits. The number of credits is determined by one or more math tables stored in the system memory 24.
The CPU uses a random number generator to select a game outcome (e.g., “basic” game outcome) corresponding to a particular set of reel “stop positions.” The CPU then causes each of the reels to stop at the appropriate stop position. Symbols are displayed on the reels to graphically illustrate the reel stop positions and indicate whether the stop positions of the reels represent a winning game outcome.
Winning basic game outcomes (e.g., symbol combinations resulting in payment of coins or credits) are identifiable to the player by a pay table. The pay table is printed on a belly glass or top glass, or may be displayed on the main display 12 or secondary display, if offered and selected by the player. A winning basic game outcome occurs when the symbols appearing on the reels along an active pay line correspond to one of the winning combinations on the pay table. A winning combination, for example, could be five matching symbols along a pay line, where the award is greater as the number of matching symbols along the pay line increases. If the displayed symbols stop in a winning combination, the game credits the player an amount corresponding to the award in the pay table for that combination multiplied by the number of wagered credits. The player may collect the amount of accumulated credits by pressing a “Collect” key on the button panel 16.
Included among the plurality of basic game outcomes is a start-bonus outcome for triggering play of a bonus event. The start-bonus outcome may occur when a special start-bonus symbol or a special combination of symbols appears on one or more of the reels. The appearance of the start-bonus outcome causes the CPU to shift operation from the basic slot game to the bonus event.
The present invention applies directly to the basic game play mode and indirectly to the bonus game play mode. An internal meter or game play counter records the number of basic reel slot games played between bonus rounds. Based on the current value of the game play counter, various configurations are adjusted to maintain such mathematically determined settings as expected value (EV—for the basic reel game and the bonus game) and bonus hit rate. Referring to
The foregoing thresholds and bonus hit rates may be varied from that described above. For example, after reaching the first threshold, subsequent thresholds could occur on each subsequent spin and result in a corresponding incremental increase in the bonus hit rate.
Continuing to refer to
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example, should a reel slot based gaming machine offer more than one type of bonus during play, a game play counter could exist for each bonus game type. The hit rate and expected value could be adjusted for each type of bonus game offered through the basic reel slot game.
Another embodiment includes a variation of the configuration shown in
In yet another embodiment, the display of the increased probabilities of triggering the bonus to the player can be optional. The game's adjustment of the triggering probability can be completely hidden.
In a further embodiment, the game play counter is replaced with a clock or timer that measures the length of time (e.g., in seconds or minutes) since the bonus game was last triggered by the basic game.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.