Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
Gaming machine, system and method with a bonus feature
Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to gaming apparatus and methods of
gaming. A
particular embodiment of the present invention relates to gaming apparatus and
methods of gaming that offer a bonus feature. Another particular embodiment of
the
present invention relates to a gaming apparatus and method of gaming that
offer a
progressive prize.
Background of the Invention
With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come increased competition
between gaming venues to obtain a larger share of the total gambling spend.
Gaming
venue operators have therefore continuously looked for new variations and
types of
games in order to attract both new and return customers to their venues.
In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and systems have
attempted to
provide the sought after variety, while still developing games that comply
with the
relevant regulations in the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator.
Suppliers of
gaming devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games and
gaming
apparatus that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing regulations and
in terms of
providing a return on investment to the gaming venue operators.
In addition, it is important that a player be able to understand the operation
of a game
quickly so that the player can start to quickly play the game and therefore
extract
maximum entertainment from the game.
Progressive jackpots may be offered on gaming machines. A progressive
controller may
be programmed to accumulate a percentage of the turnover bet on the machine,
that
percentage being accumulated in a progressive pool. On the occurrence of a
predetermined event, the amount of money in the pool may be awarded to a
player.
Recently progressive jackpot gaming systems have been implemented which
operate
across a group of linked gaming machines, accumulating a percentage of
turnover bet
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
2
on all of the linked machines into one or more progressive pools. Again the
contents of
a particular progressive pool may be awarded to a player when certain trigger
conditions are met.
While the modified player progressive systems have increased player interest,
the lack
of actual or perceived player involvement in the increment of either
standalone or linked
progressive systems can mean that players may easily tire of playing these
systems.
One way of increasing player interest in gaming is to increase the variability
of the
bonus awards. Typically, this is done by providing a base game having a bonus
feature
which is triggered on a reasonably regular basis. The bonus feature, when
triggered,
typically provides a feature game which itself has a range of bonus prizes,
ranging from
a small bonus prize which occurs most frequently, to a major or large jackpot
prize,
which occurs relatively rarely. Clearly, in order to keep the return to player
percentage
within preset parameters, it is necessary that the major or large jackpot
prize only
occurs on infrequent occasions.
The problem with this system is that players who do trigger the bonus feature
usually
win only the minor bonus prize, so that the triggering of the bonus feature is
coupled
with the somewhat negative expectation that the feature game will only result
in a
modest reward. It is desirable to provide a gaming system which will increase
the sense
of anticipation for players on achieving a bonus feature. It may also be
desirable to
provide such a gaming system that increases the sense of anticipation for
players on
achieving a bonus but without altering the return to player percentage of the
machine or
system on which the bonus feature or bonus feature and feature game is being
played.
Any reference in this specification to the prior art does not constitute an
admission that
such prior art was well known or forms part of the common general knowledge in
any
jurisdiction.
Summary of the invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
gaming machine
having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller,
which
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
3
cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set
are
displayed on the display to represent at least one game outcome that is
evaluated for a
winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination
results,
wherein a said winning combination is a bonus feature, the occurrence of which
results
in the game controller controlling game play of the game to provide at least a
chance to
win a bonus prize from a set of one or more bonus prizes, the game controller
further
controlling the gaming machine to award at least one special prize that is
different from
the one or more bonus prizes, wherein award of the special prize is dependent
on a
random selection process, the performance of which is dependent on occurrence
of the
bonus feature.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine does not display on the display symbols
to
represent the random selection process.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a pay schedule that advertises
each
of the one or more bonus prizes but does not advertise the at least one
special prize.
In one embodiment, the special prize is only awardable when a said bonus prize
is won.
In one embodiment, there are at least two said bonus prizes that are winnable
following
occurrence of said bonus feature. In this embodiment, the plurality of
different bonus
prizes may include a plurality of progressive prizes that are formed so as
have different
values from each other. Instead, the plurality of different bonus prizes may
include a
plurality of fixed value prizes of different values. Also, the game controller
may select
each of the plurality of different bonus prizes with different average
expected
frequencies. The bonus feature may always result in the award of a positive
value
bonus prize. The special prize may be awardable when at least one, but not all
of the
bonus prizes are won and also the special prize may be awardable when a first
said
bonus prize is won and not awardable when a second said bonus prize is won,
the
second said bonus prize having a higher value than the first said bonus prize.
The
special prize may be awardable only when the bonus prize of lowest value is
won.
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4
In one embodiment, the special prize is awarded in addition to the bonus prize
and the
gaming machine displays the combined special prize and bonus prize as a single
prize
and does not display separate indications of each prize.
In one embodiment, when the special prize is awarded, it is awarded instead of
the
bonus prize. In this embodiment, the special prize may have a value higher
than the
value of that bonus prize.
In one embodiment, the random selection process for the special prize includes
selecting the value of the special prize, so that the special prize is a
randomly variable
prize.
In one embodiment, the award of the special prize is dependant on the player
placing
an additional bet.
In one embodiment, there are a plurality of distinct bonus features
representing different
winning outcomes and wherein each bonus feature resulting in at least a chance
to win
a bonus prize from a different set of one or more bonus prizes. In this
embodiment the
plurality of bonus features each result in a chance to win one of a plurality
of different
bonus prizes.
In one embodiment, on occurrence of a bonus feature, the game controller
commences
play of a feature game in which representations of the feature game are
displayed on
the display that indicate to the player the bonus prize that is to be awarded.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
gaming system
including a plurality of gaming machines as described in the preceding
paragraphs,
wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines are eligible to win the same
said one
or more bonus prizes when a said bonus feature occurs on that gaming machine.
In one embodiment, at least one of the one or more bonus prizes is a
progressive prize
to which each of the plurality of gaming machine contribute.
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of
providing awards on a gaming machine that provides a wagering game in which a
plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on a display to represent
play of
the wagering game, the method including providing as one possible outcome of
the
5 game a bonus feature; when the bonus feature occurs, providing at least a
chance to
win a bonus prize from a set of one or more bonus prizes; and when the bonus
feature
occurs, performing a random selection process and awarding a special prize
that is
different from the one or more bonus prizes dependent on the random selection
process.
In one embodiment, the random selection process determines whether or not the
special prize is awarded.
In one embodiment, the set of one or more bonus prizes includes a plurality of
different
bonus prizes and the process of providing a chance to win a bonus prize
includes
selecting which one of a plurality of bonus prizes is to be won, the selection
being
controlled so that a bonus prize is always won when the bonus feature occurs,
the
method further including advertising in a pay schedule for the game the
plurality of
bonus prizes but not the special prize and performing the random selection
process
without displaying to a player symbols representing the result of the random
selection
process and wherein the random selection process includes a selection of the
value of
the special prize so that the special prize awarded is a randomly variable
prize.
In one embodiment, the method further includes awarding a single prize as a
combination of a said bonus prize and the special prize and displaying
representations
of the award of the special prize as if the combination of a said bonus prize
and the
special prize was a single prize resulting from occurrence of the bonus
feature.
In one embodiment, the method further includes awarding the special prize
instead of a
said bonus prize and displaying representations of the award of the special
prize as if
the special prize was a single prize resulting from occurrence of the bonus
feature.
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6
In one embodiment, the method further includes displaying a feature game
between
occurrence of the bonus feature and the award of the special prize, the
feature game
including representations that indicate a said bonus prize that is to be
awarded if a
special prize is not awarded.
Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the
aspects
described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following
description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1: shows diagrammatically, a view of a gaming machine suitable for
implementing the present invention.
Figure 2: shows a block diagram of gaming apparatus suitable for implementing
the
present invention.
Figure 3: shows a block diagram of components of the memory of the gaming
apparatus represented in Figure 2.
Figure 4: shows diagrammatically, a network gaming system suitable for
implementing the present invention.
Figure 5: shows a flowchart of a game process in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
Detailed description
In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, one example of a gaming machine
suitable
for implementing the present invention is generally referenced by arrow 10.
The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which is
displayed representations of a game 16 (bounding box only shown in Figure 1),
that can
be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of
buttons 22 for enabling a player to play the game 16. The mid-trim 20 also
houses a
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7
credit input mechanism 24 including a coin input chute 24A and a bill
collector 24B. A
top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example, pay tables and details
of bonus
awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork
and/or
information may be provided on the front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin
tray 30 is
mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.
The display 14 shown in Figure 1 is in the form of a video display unit,
particularly a
cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid
crystal
display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible
portion of an
electromechanical device. The top box 26 in a more preferred form of gaming
machine
10 to implement the present invention includes a display, for example a video
display
unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or a different type of
display.
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a gaming apparatus, generally referenced by
arrow
100, suitable for implementing the present invention. The gaming apparatus 100
may,
for example, operate as a standalone gaming machine of the type shown in
Figure 1.
However, the gaming apparatus 100 may alternatively operate as a networked
gaming
machine, communicating with other network devices, such as one or more servers
or
other gaming machines. The gaming apparatus 100 may also have distributed
hardware
and software components that communicate with each other directly or through a
network. Accordingly, different reference numerals have been used in Figure 2
from
Figure 1 for components that may be equivalent.
The gaming apparatus 100 includes a game controller 101, which in the
illustrated
example includes a computational device 102, which may be a microprocessor,
microcontroller, programmable logic device or other suitable device.
Instructions and
data to control operation of the computational device 102 are stored in a
memory 103,
which is in data communication with, or forms a part of the computational
device 102.
Typically, the gaming apparatus 100 will include both volatile and non-
volatile memory
and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being
collectively
represented by the memory 103. The instructions to cause the game controller
101 to
implement the present invention will be stored in the memory 103.
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8
The gaming apparatus may include hardware meters 104 for the purposes of
regulatory
compliance and also include an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for
communicating with
the peripheral devices of the gaming apparatus 100. The input/output interface
105
and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory
for
instructions and data.
In the example shown in Figure 2, the peripheral devices that communicate with
the
controller are one or more displays 106, user input devices 107, a card and/or
ticket
reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and
a coin
output mechanism 111. One or more of the displays 106 may include a touch
screen
106A, forming part of the user input devices 107. Additional devices may be
included as
part of the gaming machine 100, or devices omitted as required for the
specific
implementation.
In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface,
for
example a network card 112. The network card, may for example, send status
information, accounting information or other information to a central
controller, server or
database and receive data or commands from a the central controller, server or
database. One or more of the peripheral devices, for example the card/ticket
reader 108
may be able to communicate directly with the network card 112.
The game controller 101 may also include a random number generator 113, which
generates a series of random numbers that determine the outcome of a series of
random game events played as part of a game on the gaming apparatus 100. As
explained in more detail in relation to Figure 4, the computational device 102
may
include two or more controllers or processors, which may be local or remote
from each
other and the displays 106.
Figure 3 shows an exemplary block diagram of the main components of the memory
103. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by
the
computational controller 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may hold be a
boot
ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass
storage
device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which
may be
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
9
verified and/or authenticated by the computational controller 102 using
protected code
from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.
Figure 4 shows a gaming system 200. The gaming system 200 includes a network
201,
which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming devices 202, shown
arranged
in three banks 203 of two gaming devices 202 in Figure 4, are connected to the
network
201. The gaming devices 202 may be gaming machines 10, as shown in Figure 1 or
form part or all of another gaming apparatus 100. Single gaming devices 202
and banks
203 containing three or more gaming devices 202 may also be connected to the
network 201.
One or more system displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The
system displays 204 may, for example, be associated with a bank 203 of gaming
devices. The system displays 204 may be used to display representations
associated
with game play on the gaming devices 202, and/or used to display other
representations, for example promotional or informational material. The bonus
prizes
referred to later herein, which may be in the form of fixed or progressive
prizes may be
displayed on a system display 204.
Servers may also be connected to the network 201. For example, a game server
205
may generate game outcomes for games played on the gaming devices 202, a
database management server 206 may manage the storage of game programs and
associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a
database
206A, and a jackpot server 207 may control one or more jackpots associated
with the
gaming devices 202.
Further servers may be provided to assist in the administration of the gaming
system
200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a
licensing
server 209 to monitor the use of licenses to particular games. An
administrator terminal
210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the
devices
connected to the network.
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The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local
networks, for example a corporate network and/or a wide area network such as
the
Internet through a firewall 211.
Figure 5 shows a process flow diagram 500 of a process performed in accordance
with
5 an embodiment of the present invention. The process may be performed by the
network
gaming system 200, in which the gaming devices 202 may each include part or
all of a
gaming apparatus 100 and the following description assumes this
implementation.
However, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that the process
will also be
able to be implemented by other gaming systems.
10 The present invention provides a form of randomly awarded special prize to
a player in
addition to prizes that the player would expect to receive during normal play.
As
described in more detail in the following paragraphs, the special prize may be
awarded
together with a bonus prize that is the result of occurrence of a bonus
feature occurring
during normal play or is the result of play of a feature game that is played
following
occurrence of a bonus feature. Also, a single bonus feature may result in one
of a
plurality of different bonus prizes.
The special prizes may be awarded only after a feature game has been triggered
during
play of the base game of a game. That is, special prizes will not be awarded
during
normal play of the base game, but once a bonus feature has occurred during
normal
play of the base game a feature game occurs, and eligibility for a special
prize will then
exist in addition to the player being eligible to win one or more bonus prizes
dependent
on the outcome of the feature game. The one or more bonus prizes may be one or
more
progressive prizes, the progressive prizes starting at and/or incrementing at
different
levels if there is more than one. The one or more bonus prizes may be one or
more
fixed prizes, the fixed prizes having differing values. The description given
with
reference to Figure 5 primarily refers in more detail to the processes
involved in
implementing a game having a base game and a feature game.
In one embodiment there is a plurality of bonus prizes associated with the
bonus
feature. In this embodiment the bonus prize that is awarded is determined by
the game
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
11
controller 101 according to a random selection process. The random selection
process
may be weighted so that smaller value bonus prizes statistically occur more
often than
the higher value bonus prizes.
Although the description herein uses the example of a spinning reel game, the
embodiments described herein will have application to other game formats,
including by
way of non-limiting example card games, dice games and keno games.
After a bet has been placed at step 501, a base game, which may for example be
a
spinning reel game is played (step 502). During the base game a bonus feature
occurs
according to random criteria (determined in step 504). For example, the bonus
feature
may be the alignment of say, three symbols alongside each other on a payline
of the
gaming machine, or the occurrence anywhere on the screen of say, three special
or wild
symbols. Various forms of such events are known in the art and need not be
described
herein in any greater detail.
An alternative arrangement is for the bonus feature to be triggered completely
independently of the base game, for example based on turnover of the base game
as
described in Australian patent no. 754689, the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference. In this case there may be only a single prize pool
while
alternatively where multiple prize pools are provided, the prize pool that is
played for
may be selected randomly.
Once the bonus feature has occurred or been triggered, the gaming device 202
displays
the feature game (step 506). This may be under the control of the same
computational
device 102 that controlled display of the base game. In an alternative
embodiment, the
game controller 101 may have a specific component that operates the feature
game,
which may be physically separate from a component that controls play of the
base
game, or which may be a separate process provided using the same physical
component. This alternative embodiment may have particular application to a
plurality of
linked gaming machines.
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12
Whichever form of bonus feature is triggered, and the manner of that
triggering, a
feature game will be played, as indicated at step 508. In due course an
outcome of the
feature game will occur, as indicated at step 510. The outcome of the feature
game will
determine whether a bonus prize is awarded. In one embodiment there are a
plurality of
different bonus prizes that can be won from the feature game, the game
controller
determining which one, if any, of the bonus prizes is awarded according to
random
criteria, which may be weighted towards the lesser value bonus prizes. In one
version of
this embodiment, one of the bonus prizes is always awarded from the feature
game so
that there are only winning outcomes of the feature game.
At this point, rather than simply reverting back to the base game, the game
controller
assesses whether the player is eligible for a special or random prize, as
indicated at
step 512.
If the game controller 101 determines that the player is not eligible for a
prize, the
system reverts to the base game, as indicated at steps 518 and 501. However,
if the
game controller 101 determines that the player is eligible for a special prize
then the
value of that special prize will be determined, as indicated at step 514, and
the player
will then be paid that special prize out of a progressive prize pool or other
prize funds
source. Thereafter the system will revert to base game play, as indicated by
steps 518
and 501. Thus, if control of the display 106 of the gaming device 202 was
transferred to
the jackpot server 207, it is returned from the jackpot server 207 to the game
controller
101 that controls play of the base game, as indicated in step 518.
In one embodiment, the bonus prize and the special prize are paid. In this
embodiment,
the gaming device 202 may display on the display a single combined prize
representing
the sum of the bonus prize and the special prize and displaying this as the
result from
the feature game. In another embodiment, when the special prize is to be
awarded, it is
awarded instead of the bonus prize. In this embodiment, all values of the
special prize
are preferably higher than the advertised bonus prize for the feature outcome.
Also in
this embodiment the special prize need not be of the same type as the bonus
prize,
although it may be of the same type (e.g. both are prizes in credits). In both
of these
embodiments, the player may be presented with representations that indicate
that the
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13
bonus prize at least sometimes, or perhaps often depending on the particular
implementation, is higher than the advertised amount. With continued play, the
player
may notice that when the prize varies from the advertised, the extent to which
it is
higher than the advertised prize also varies.
When the special prize is awarded, the gaming machine may display a special
sequence on a display 106, play a sound and/or otherwise distinguish the prize
from the
normal bonus prize associated with the feature outcome. In one embodiment,
whether
or not a special sequence, sound or other distinguishing media is presented to
the
player when the special prize is awarded, no additional display of symbols
representative of the random selection process in step 514 is made by the
gaming
device 202.
In an alternative embodiment, the special prize may be displayed separately to
the
bonus prize. This creates a different impression to the player, who sees that
they have
won the advertised prize for the feature game outcome (or bonus feature in the
embodiment where a feature game is omitted) and with continued play sees that
a
separate prize is awarded at random.
Clearly, the player's eligibility for a special prize, as indicated in step
512, can be
assessed on various bases. For example, each time a player is awarded a
feature
game the system may generate an additional special prize, of varying amounts,
as
randomly determined. Alternatively, only those players who win a particular
bonus prize,
for example the lowest available bonus prize in the embodiment where every
play of the
feature game results in a prize, may be eligible for the special prize,
somewhat in the
manner of a consolation for the player. A further alternative would be for the
player to be
awarded a special prize in conjunction with all feature outcomes, but the
quantum of the
special prize that can be awarded might vary between say a very low prize or
prize
range, and a quite significant prize or prize range. Eligibility may also be
dependant on
the player placing an additional bet during play of the game in which the
bonus feature
may occur.
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14
An alternative embodiment to the process shown in Figure 5 is for the player
to be
awarded a special prize where a bonus feature has occurred but where no
feature
game is played and consequently no feature game outcome is achieved. The
eligibility
for the special prize may for example be dependent on which bonus feature has
occurred. Eligibility for the special prize is therefore not tied to the
provision of a feature
game.
In this embodiment, when the bonus feature occurs, the player may be directly
awarded
a bonus prize and is also eligible to be awarded the randomly awarded special
prize.
For example, a gaming machine may maintain a plurality of progressive prizes
or a
plurality of linked gaming machines may communicate with a progressive
controller,
which may be the jackpot controller 207, to maintain a plurality of
progressives, the
game controller 101 selecting one of the bonus prizes at random according to a
weighted selection process.
The selection process for the bonus prizes may be similar to the selection
process
described herein below for the special prize. However, those skilled in the
relevant arts
will appreciate that alternative processes exist and could be developed.
In this alternative embodiment, each progressive prize may be awarded as a
bonus
prize when a particular combination occurs during play of a game. A single
particular
combination may be used as the bonus feature, following which the player could
be
awarded any one of the bonus prizes.
Alternatively or in addition, different combinations may result in the award
of different
progressive prizes. In another example, the gaming machine or linked gaming
machines
may offer a plurality of different fixed prizes on the occurrence of a bonus
feature, there
being a random selection of which fixed prize is won when the bonus feature
occurs.
By way of example, one of the progressive prizes may be awarded with three "J"
symbols occur along a pay line of a spinning reel game. This progressive prize
may be
constrained, either statistically and/or by fixed constraints to be within a
certain range.
When three "J" symbols occur along a pay line, the gaming machine or the
progressive
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
controller if provided may cause the award of that progressive prize. In
addition, the
gaming machine, the progressive controller or another device that receives a
communication notifying of the occurrence of the three "J" symbols randomly
awards a
special prize.
5 It is envisaged that one manner of implementing the gaming system would be
that a
proportion of the revenue from each gaming machine would contribute towards a
progressive prize pool which would then be distributed back to players via the
prize
awarding system described above, on a random or quasi random basis. In an
alternative embodiment, the special prize may be in the form of a payment by
the
10 gaming machine operator that is not incorporated into the return to player
calculations.
For a linked gaming system, the jackpot server 207 may incorporate a random
number
generator 113 which allocates special prizes to different players, depending
on the
random number selected once a player achieved a feature outcome. The special
prize
awarding system could be revenue neutral, that is, over time, the system could
be
15 programmed to return to players all of the funds contributed by individual
machines, but
in different value amounts, in the manner described above. Thus, the
volatility of the
system would increase, yet the overall return to player percentage would
remain
consistent. The random determination may instead be made by a random number
generator 113 located in the housing of the gaming device 202 and may also be
the
same RNG 113 used for other aspects of game play.
One means of prize awarding incorporating a random number generator 113 might
be
as follows:
The random number generator 113 might have say, 5000 available numbers for
selection each time a player becomes eligible for a special prize. Numbers 1
to 1000
might be allocated as a zero prize, numbers 1001 to 2000 might be allocated as
a first
level of prize, numbers 2001 to 3000 might be allocated a second level of
prize and so
on. Of course, there are a wide variety of ways of randomly awarding amounts
to
players on the occurrence of a triggering event, and the above example is
intended to
be simply illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect. Step 512
of the
CA 02600098 2007-09-05
16
process would then involve the random number generator 113 selecting a number
between 1 and 5000 which would then determine whether a prize was to be
awarded,
and if so, the quantum of the prize.
It is envisaged that the system will greatly increase a player's interest in
the game
because if, in normal play, after the bonus feature has been triggered, the
feature game
has been played resulting in the feature game outcome associated with the
lowest
bonus prize, once the feature game outcome is known, the player still has a
second
opportunity to win, thereby increasing the player's enjoyment and anticipation
in the
feature game and feature outcome.
The system can be implemented without changing the return to player percentage
of a
gaming machine, if it is implemented on a stand alone machine, or a gaming
system, if
implemented across a plurality of linked gaming machines controlled by a
central
jackpot controller within a jackpot pool.
While the foregoing description has been provided by way of example of the
preferred
embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated, which utilise
gaming
apparatus and machines, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate
that the
present invention also may have application to internet gaming and/or have
application
to gaming over a telecommunications network, where handsets are used to
display
game outcomes and receive player inputs.
It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this
specification
extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual
features
mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different
combinations
constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.
