Method and apparatus for varying potential results between plays in a bingo gaming system

Abstract

A method includes receiving a first game play request at a bingo player station when the bingo player station is in a first game state and assigning a result for the first game play request according to a first pattern table. The first game state corresponds to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, and the first pattern table includes a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols. The method further includes placing the bingo player station in a second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the first game play request. The second game state corresponds to a second result indicator state that is graphically different from the first result indicator state. With the bingo player station in the second game state, the method further includes receiving a second game play request at the bingo player station and assigning a result for the second game play request according to a second pattern table. The second pattern table includes a number of second result levels with each such result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more second result symbols. However, the second pattern table may be distinct from the first pattern table such as in terms of the content of the pattern table for example. Ultimately, the bingo player station is returned from the second game state to the first game state in response to some reset event.

1 . A method including:
 (a) receiving a first game play request at a bingo player station when the bingo player station is in a first game state, the first game state corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station;   (b) assigning a result for the first game play request according to a first pattern table, the first pattern table including a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols;   (c) placing the bingo player station in a second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the first game play request, the second game state corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, the second result indicator state being graphically different from the first indicator state;   (d) receiving a second game play request at the bingo player station when the bingo player station is in the second game state; and   (e) assigning a result for the second game play request according to a second pattern table that includes a number of second result levels with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more second result symbols.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including switching the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to a reset event. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station represents the reset event. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each assigned result is displayed by a game graphic at the bingo player station and the game graphic includes a base game graphic and also includes a bonus game graphic which is distinct from the base game graphic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the base game graphic is presented at a first display location at the bingo player station and the bonus game graphic is presented at a second display location at the bingo player station different from the first display location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the base game graphic includes a reel-type game display. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the bonus game graphic is presented concurrently with the base game graphic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the bonus game graphic includes at least one graphic element shown traversing a graphic element path. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the bonus game graphic includes an array of bonus symbols and wherein a bonus game result characteristic is presented by two or more matching bonus symbols. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further including placing the bingo player station in an additional game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the second game play request, the additional game state corresponding to an additional result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station which is graphically different from the first result indicator state, and the second result indicator state. 
     
     
         11 . A bingo gaming apparatus including:
 (a) a display device located at a bingo player station;   (b) a player input device located at the bingo player station; and   (c) a presentation controller, the presentation controller for
 (i) applying a first pattern table to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player station is in a first game state, the first pattern table including a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols, and the first game state corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the display device, 
 (ii) applying a second pattern table to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player station is in a second game state, the second pattern table including a number of second result levels with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more second result symbols, the second game state corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station which is graphically different from the first result indicator state, 
 (iii) switching the bingo player station from the first game state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the game play request initiated when the bingo player station is in the first game state, and for 
 (iv) directing the display device to produce a respective result representation for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the presentation controller is at least partially implemented with a processing device located remotely from the bingo player station that includes the display device and player input device. 
     
     
         13 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the presentation controller is at least partially implemented with a processing device located at the bingo player station that includes the display device and player input device. 
     
     
         14 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the presentation controller is also for switching the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to a reset event. 
     
     
         15 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 14  wherein one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station represents the reset event. 
     
     
         16 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 11  wherein each assigned result is displayed through a base game graphic and a bonus game graphic which is distinct from the base game graphic, and wherein the base game graphic is generated with the display device and the bonus game graphic is displayed with the display device or an additional display device included at the bingo player station. 
     
     
         17 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the base game graphic includes a reel-type game display. 
     
     
         18 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the reel-type game display includes at least one mechanical reel. 
     
     
         19 . The bingo gaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the bonus game graphic is displayed at least in part with the additional display device and the additional display device includes a video monitor. 
     
     
         20 . A program product embodied in one or more computer readable media, the program product including:
 (a) first game state program code executable to cause a bingo player station to operate in a first game state in which the result for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned according to a first pattern table, the first game state corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, and the first pattern table including a number of first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more first result symbols;   (b) second game state program code executable to cause the bingo player station to operate in a second game state in which the result for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned according to a second pattern table, the second pattern table including a number of second result levels with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more second result symbols, and the second game state corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, wherein the second result indicator state is graphically different from the first result indicator state;   (c) game state control program code executable to cause the bingo player station to switch from the first game state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of a respective result assigned while the bingo player station is operating in the first game state; and   (d) result display program code executable for controlling one or more display devices for displaying a respective result indicating game graphic at the bingo player station for each assigned result, and for displaying the first and second result indicator states at the bingo player station.   
     
     
         21 . The program product of  claim 20  wherein one display device includes a mechanical reel arrangement and the result display program code is executable for controlling the mechanical reel arrangement. 
     
     
         22 . The program product of  claim 20  wherein the result display program code is executable for controlling two or more discrete display devices which together display both a respective result symbol specified by one of the first pattern table and the second pattern table, and a set of one or more result indicator elements which specify one of the first game state and the second game state. 
     
     
         23 . The program product of  claim 20  wherein the state control program code switches the bingo player station from the second game state to the first game state in response to a reset event made up of one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station.