Wagering game with bonus game

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal. The method includes conducting the wagering game at the gaming terminal and displaying a plurality of game elements. Each of the game elements hides an award. At least one of the plurality of game elements is struck with a moveable object, causing at least one game element to disappear. The award associated with the at least one game element is then revealed and the award is granted to the player.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal, comprising: 
 conducting the wagering game at the gaming terminal;    displaying a plurality of game elements, each of the game elements hiding an award;    striking at least one of the plurality of game elements with a moveable object, the striking causing the at least one game element to disappear;    revealing the award associated with the at least one game element;    awarding an award to the player.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the striking includes bouncing the moveable object between a bumper and the plurality of game elements.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the bumper is moveable.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the moveable bumper is controlled by one of the player and the gaming terminal.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the moveable object has a path and the path is randomly determined.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the moveable object has a path and the path follows the laws of physics.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of game elements are stationary.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of game elements are moving.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wagering game payoff includes all of the revealed awards.  
   
   
       10 . A gaming terminal comprising a wagering game having a plurality of game elements, each of the plurality of game elements having associated indicia, the gaming terminal displaying the plurality of game elements, at least one of the plurality of game elements being struck by a moving object, such that the at least one game element reveals the associated indicia.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming terminal of  claim 10  wherein the wagering game includes a basic game and the game elements are displayed during the basic game.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming terminal of  claim 10  wherein the wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game, the basic game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the basic game, and the plurality of game elements are displayed on the gaming terminal in response to the randomly selected outcome at the gaming terminal being a start-bonus game outcome.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming terminal of  claim 10  wherein the wagering game further comprises a bumper and the moveable object moves between the bumper and the plurality of game elements.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming terminal of  claim 13  wherein a portion of the bumper is removed once the bumper is hit by the moveable object.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming terminal of  claim 13  wherein the wagering game ends when the moveable object misses hitting the bumper.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming terminal of  claim 10  wherein the moveable object disappears once it strikes one of the plurality of game elements.  
   
   
       17 . A gaming system comprising: 
 at least one display;    a gaming terminal for playing a wagering game; and    a controller coupled to the gaming terminal and the at least one display, the controller operative to    (i) cause the display to display a plurality of game elements, the plurality of game elements covering a plurality of indicia,    (ii) cause a moving object on the display to strike at least one of the plurality of game elements;    (iii) reveal at least one of the plurality of indicia when the at least one game element has been struck by the moving object, and    (iv) determine an award amount based on the revealing.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controller is operative to randomly select the game elements to be revealed.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controller is further operative to cause the display to display a bumper such that the moving object moves between the bumper and the plurality of game elements.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controller is housed in the gaming terminal.