Wagering game having bonus payout based on similarity of objects

Abstract

A gaming machine and a method for conducting a wagering game at the gaming machine includes a bonus payout based on a similarity of objects that are accumulated by a player. The accumulated objects are compared with a final object and a player is awarded a first bonus payout based on identical matching of objects and a second bonus payout based on the similarity of objects.

1 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 a value input device for receiving a wager; and    a controller operative to 
 accumulate at least one of a plurality of player-assigned objects;  
 compare said at least one player-assigned object to a final object revealed during the wagering game;  
 award a first payout in response to said at least one player-assigned object matching said final object to a first extent;  
 award a second payout in response to said at least one player-assigned object matching said final object to a second extent different from said first extent.  
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first payout is larger than said second payout.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including at least one display for displaying said wagering game.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first payout and said second payout correspond to a credit amount associated with said player-assigned objects being multiplied by at least one multiplier.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein said multiplier for said first payout is greater than said multiplier for said second payout.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is operative to accumulate said at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects in response to player input.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is operative to initially assign said plurality of player-assigned objects to said player.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of player-assigned objects that are initially assigned to said player are selected from an array of player-selectable objects.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is operative to eliminate one or more of said player-assigned objects prior to awarding said first or second payout.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming machine, said method comprising: 
 in response to receiving a wager input from a player at said gaming machine, conducting said wagering game;    accumulating at least one of a plurality of player-assigned objects;    comparing said at least one player-assigned object to a final object;    in response to said at least one player-assigned object identically matching said final object, awarding a first payout; and    in response to said at least one player-assigned object being only similar to said final object, awarding a second payout.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first payout is larger than said second payout.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising multiplying a credit amount associated with said player-assigned objects by at least one multiplier to obtain said first payout and said second payout.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said multiplier for said first payout is greater than said multiplier for said second payout.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said accumulating of at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects includes initially assigning said at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects to said player.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of player-assigned objects that are initially assigned to said player are selected from an array of player-selectable objects.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further including, after said accumulating, eliminating one or more of said plurality of player-assigned objects during play of said wagering game.  
   
   
       17 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing said gaming machine to perform the method of  claim 10 .  
   
   
       18 . A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal, said wagering game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, said randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes, said method comprising: 
 in response to receiving a wager input from a player at said gaming terminal, conducting said wagering game;    triggering a bonus game having a plurality of objects;    accumulating at least one of said plurality of objects, said plurality of objects being associated with a credit amount;    reducing the number of said accumulated objects during the course of said bonus game based on predetermined criteria;    after said reducing, achieving an award based on matching of said remaining accumulated objects.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said accumulating includes assigning said at least one of said plurality of objects to said player upon starting said bonus game.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said achieving said award includes receiving a first payout based on identical matching of at least one of said remaining accumulated objects with a final object.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said achieving said award includes receiving a second payout based on having at least one of said remaining accumulated objects that is similar to a final object.