Gaming machine and method having a bonus game

Abstract

A gaming machine and a method for playing a game includes a base game and a bonus game. The gaming machine includes a display for displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game and a controller, coupled to the display, for controlling the display during the base game and the bonus game as a function of input by a player. An occurrence of a triggering event is detected during the base game, and responsively the bonus game is entered. The triggering event is defined by a predetermined number of a bonus game element appearing on the display during the base game. A bonus is awarded to the player during the bonus game.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game; and,    a controller, coupled to the display, for controlling the display during the base game and the bonus game as a function of input by a player, identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game, and responsively entering the bonus game, where the triggering event is defined by a predetermined number of a bonus game element appearing on the display during the base game, and for prompting the player to select one of the bonus game elements in response to the triggering event, randomly determining a bonus game multiplier in response to selection of one of the bonus game elements, and awarding the player a bonus as a function of the bonus game multiplier.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of a plurality of pay tables, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers, where the controller selects the randomly determined bonus game multiplier from one of the pay tables.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each pay table has an associated probability associated with each of the plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each pay table corresponds to an actual number of bonus game elements on the display.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each pay table has a probability associated with the randomly determined bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the randomly determined bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the randomly determined bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus game element is a representation of a snow globe.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is defined as one of three, four, and five bonus game elements appearing on the display in the base game.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 9 , including first, second and third pay tables associated with three, four, and five bonus game elements, respectively, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein each pay table has an associated probability associated with each of the plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the randomly determined bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the randomly determined bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the randomly determined bonus game multiplier is assigned to the selected one of the bonus game elements when the bonus game is entered.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus game multiplier is assigned to the selected one of the bonus game elements when the selected one of the bonus game elements is selected.  
     
     
         16 . A gaming machine for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game; and,    a controller, coupled to the display, for controlling the display during the base game and the bonus game as a function of input by a player, identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game, and responsively entering the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event, where the triggering event is defined by a predetermined number of a bonus game elements appearing on an active pay-line during the base game, and for displaying a plurality of bonus game items, prompting the player to select a predetermined number of the bonus game items, randomly determining a total bonus game multiplier in response to selection of the predetermined number of bonus game items, and awarding the player a bonus as a function of the total bonus game multiplier.    
     
     
         17 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each of the selected bonus game items has an associated bonus game multiplier and the total bonus game multiplier is the sum of the bonus game multiplier associated with of the selected bonus game items.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of a plurality of pay tables, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         19 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein each pay table has a probability associated with each bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         20 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the total bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         21 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the total bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the bonus game has a shopping mall theme.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the bonus game element is a representation of a shopping mall.  
     
     
         24 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the bonus game item is a star associated with a store in a shopping mall.  
     
     
         25 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the bonus game item is a store in a shopping mall.  
     
     
         26 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the triggering event is defined as three bonus game elements appearing in a first three of cells of the active pay line.  
     
     
         27 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 16 , where the bonus is determined is a function of first and second pay tables, each pay table having an associate probability.  
     
     
         28 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 27 , where the first pay table has a probability of two-thirds and the second pay table has a probability of one-third.  
     
     
         29 . A gaming machine for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game; and,    a controller, coupled to the display, for controlling the display during the base game and the bonus game as a function of input by a player, identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game, and responsively entering the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the bonus game having a shopping mall theme, the triggering event is defined by a predetermined number of a bonus game element appearing on an active pay-line during the base game, the bonus game element having a representation of a shopping mall, and for displaying a plurality of bonus game items, prompting the player to select a predetermined number of the bonus game items, randomly determining a total bonus game multiplier in response to selection of the predetermined number of bonus game items, and awarding the player a bonus as a function of the total bonus game multiplier, each of the bonus game items being associated with a store in a shopping mall.    
     
     
         30 . A gaming machine for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game and the bonus game; and,    a controller, coupled to the display, for controlling the display during the base game and the bonus game as a function of input by a player, identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game, and responsively entering the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event, where the triggering event is defined by a predetermined number of a bonus game element appearing on an active pay-line during the base game, and for displaying a plurality of bonus game items, prompting the player to select one of the bonus game items, and randomly determining a number of swings in response to selection of one of the bonus game items and for displaying a plurality of pin atas on the display, randomly selecting a number of the piñata, each piñata having an associated bonus game multiplier, the number of selected piñata being equal to the randomly determined number of swings, and, for determining a total bonus game multiplier as a function of the bonus game multiplier associated with each of the selected piñata and awarding a bonus as a function of the total bonus game multiplier.    
     
     
         31 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of a plurality of pay tables, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         32 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein each pay table has a probability associated with each bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         33 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the total bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         34 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the total bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         35 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the bonus game items include a golf club, a maraca, and a guitar.  
     
     
         36 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the number of swings is one of two, three, and four swings.  
     
     
         37 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein the triggering event is defined as three bonus game elements appearing in a last three of cells of the active pay line.  
     
     
         38 . A method for operating a gaming machine for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game;    identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game;    responsively entering the bonus game;    prompting the player to select one of the bonus game elements in response to the triggering event;    randomly determining a bonus game multiplier in response to selection of one of the bonus game elements; and,    awarding the player a bonus as a function of the bonus game multiplier.    
     
     
         39 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of a plurality of pay tables, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers, and wherein the randomly determined bonus game multiplier is selected from one of the pay tables.  
     
     
         40 . The method, as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein each pay table has an associated probability associated with each of the plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         41 . The method, as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein each pay table corresponds to an actual number of bonus game elements on the display.  
     
     
         42 . The method, as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein each pay table has a probability associated with the randomly determined bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         43 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the randomly determined bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         44 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the randomly determined bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         45 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the bonus game element is a representation of a snow globe.  
     
     
         46 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the triggering event is defined as one of three, four, and five bonus game elements appearing on the display in the base game.  
     
     
         47 . The method, as set forth in  claim 46 , including first, second and third pay tables associated with three, four, and five bonus game elements, respectively, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         48 . The method, as set forth in  claim 47 , wherein each pay table has an associated probability associated with each of the plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         49 . The method, as set forth in  claim 48 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the randomly determined bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         50 . The method, as set forth in  claim 48 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the randomly determined bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         51 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the randomly determined bonus game multiplier is assigned to the selected one of the bonus game elements when the bonus game is entered.  
     
     
         52 . The method, as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the bonus game multiplier is assigned to the selected one of the bonus game elements when the selected one of the bonus game elements is selected.  
     
     
         53 . A method for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of game elements during the base game;    identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game;    entering the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event;    displaying a plurality of bonus game items;    prompting the player to select a predetermined number of the bonus game items;    randomly determining a total bonus game multiplier in response to selection of the predetermined number of bonus game items; and,    awarding the player a bonus as a function of the total bonus game multiplier.    
     
     
         54 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein each of the selected bonus game items has an associated bonus game multiplier and the total bonus game multiplier is the sum of the bonus game multiplier associated with of the selected bonus game items.  
     
     
         55 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of a plurality of pay tables, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         56 . The method, as set forth in  claim 55 , wherein each pay table has a probability associated with each bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         57 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the total bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         58 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the total bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         59 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the bonus game has a shopping mall theme.  
     
     
         60 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the bonus game element is a representation of a shopping mall.  
     
     
         61 . The method, as set forth in  claim 60 , wherein the bonus game item is a star associated with a store in a shopping mall.  
     
     
         62 . The method, as set forth in  claim 60 , wherein the bonus game item is a store in a shopping mall.  
     
     
         63 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the triggering event is defined as three bonus game elements appearing in a first three of cells of the active pay line.  
     
     
         64 . The method, as set forth in  claim 53 , where the bonus is determined is a function of first and second pay tables, each pay table having an associate probability.  
     
     
         65 . The gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 64 , where the first pay table has a probability of two-thirds and the second pay table has a probability of one-third.  
     
     
         66 . A method for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of game elements on a display during the base game;    identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game;    responsively entering the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the bonus game having a shopping mall theme, the triggering event being defined by a predetermined number of a bonus game element appearing on an active pay-line during the base game, the bonus game element having a representation of a shopping mall;    displaying a plurality of bonus game items;    prompting the player to select a predetermined number of the bonus game items;    randomly determining a total bonus game multiplier in response to selection of the predetermined number of bonus game items; and,    awarding the player a bonus as a function of the total bonus game multiplier, each of the bonus game items being associated with a store in a shopping mall.    
     
     
         67 . A method for playing a game, the game having a base game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of game elements on a display during the base game;    identifying an occurrence of a triggering event during the base game;    responsively entering the bonus game upon the occurrence of the triggering event;    displaying a plurality of bonus game items;    prompting the player to select one of the bonus game items;    randomly determining a number of swings in response to selection of one of the bonus game items;    displaying a plurality of piñatas on the display;    randomly selecting a number of the piñatas, each piñata having an associated bonus game multiplier, the number of selected piñatas being equal to the randomly determined number of swings; and,    determining a total bonus game multiplier as a function of the bonus game multiplier associated with each of the selected piñata and awarding a bonus as a function of the total bonus game multiplier.    
     
     
         68 . The method, as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of a plurality of pay tables, each pay table having a plurality of bonus game multipliers.  
     
     
         69 . The method, as set forth in  claim 68 , wherein each pay table has a probability associated with each bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         70 . The method, as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the bonus is determined as a function of the total bonus game multiplier and a number of credits wagered by the player.  
     
     
         71 . The method, as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the bonus is equal to a number of credits wagered by the player multiplied by the total bonus game multiplier.  
     
     
         72 . The method, as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the bonus game items include a golf club, a maraca, and a guitar.  
     
     
         73 . The method, as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the number of swings is one of two, three, and four swings.  
     
     
         74 . The method, as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein the triggering event is defined as three bonus game elements appearing in a last three of cells of the active pay line.