Method of playing a gaming machine featuring interruptible play

Abstract

A video gaming machine and method which provides the added feature of interrupting a particular game being played, such as Five Card Poker, upon the player receiving a wild card or other event occurring. The wild card rotates, and if a special bonus card appears when the player stops the wild card rotation, the normal game play is temporarily interrupted and the player enters a Bonus Round. In the Bonus Round the player may select one of a plurality of symbols which reveal bonus points awarded to the player. In an alternate Bonus Round, the player can select another type of game to play to receive additional bonus points. After completion of the Bonus Round, the player is returned to the original game to complete play of the original game and possible receive additional points added to any points received in the Bonus Round.

1 . A method of playing a video gaming machine comprising the steps of: 
 a) making a wager to begin traditional game play by a player;    b) beginning game play;    c) interrupting temporarily the game play should a trigger event occur during traditional game play;    d) proceeding to a Bonus Round during interrupted game play wherein a plurality of options are presented to the player;    e) choosing one of the options;    f) concluding the Bonus Round;    g) returning to traditional game play after the Bonus Round has been concluded;    g) completing play of the traditional game play; and    h) awarding points to the player based upon the success of the player in the traditional game and the outcome of the chosen Bonus Round.    
   
   
       2 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  including the step of maintaining a view of the interrupted traditional game visible to the player when proceeding to the Bonus Round during interrupted game play.  
   
   
       3 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  wherein the step of choosing one of the options includes selecting at least one of a plurality of designs presented to the player, each design awarding a specific number of bonus points to the player.  
   
   
       4 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 3  including the step of exposing the bonus points of the designs not chosen by the player after the player has selected a design.  
   
   
       5 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  wherein the game is five card draw poker.  
   
   
       6 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  including the steps of: 
 presenting at least a first symbol and a second symbol in a random manner on the viewing screen whereby the first symbol will trigger the Bonus Round, and the second symbol will allow the traditional game play to continue;    the player attempting to choose the first symbol; and    actuating step (d) if the first symbol is chosen by the player.    
   
   
       7 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  including the step of dealing a wild card to the player; 
 presenting at least two special cards to the player in a random manner;    the player attempting to choose a specific one of the special cards; and    proceeding to steps (d) through (h) if the special card is chosen.    
   
   
       8 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  wherein one of the options is playing a secondary game selected from the group of Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Keno, War, Caribbean Stud, Memory Game, and Video Game.  
   
   
       9 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 1  including the step of touching a touch view screen to perform step (e).  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a five card poker video gaming machine game comprising the steps of: 
 a) dealing five cards to the player to begin play of the game;    b) temporarily interrupting the play of the game if a special card or cards is dealt to the player;    c) proceeding to a Bonus Round;    d) choosing one of a plurality of options presented to the player in the Bonus Round;    e) awarding possible bonus points to the player depending upon the outcome of the Bonus Round;    f) returning to the five card poker game after completion of the Bonus Round;    g) completing play of the five card poker game; and    h) awarding possible points to the play depending upon the outcome of the five card poker game.    
   
   
       11 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 10  including the step of maintaining a view of the five card poker game visible to the player when proceeding to the Bonus Round.  
   
   
       12 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 10  wherein the step of choosing one of the options includes selecting at least one of a plurality of designs presented to the player, each design awarding a specific number of bonus points to the player.  
   
   
       13 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 10  including the steps of: 
 presenting at least two symbols momentarily in a random manner on the viewing screen;    the player choosing one of the symbols; and    actuating step (c) if a specific one of the symbols is chosen by the player.    
   
   
       14 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 10  including the step of dealing a wild card to the player; 
 presenting at least two special cards to the player in a random manner;    the player choosing one of the special cards; and    proceeding to steps (c) through (h) if a special one of the cards is chosen.    
   
   
       15 . The method of playing the game defined in  claim 10  wherein one of the options is playing a secondary game selected from the group of Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Keno, War, Caribbean Stud, Memory Game, and Video Game.