Gaming system, gaming device and gaming method providing player physical activation of the symbol generator

Abstract

A gaming device and method which includes a symbol generator which includes a plurality of symbols. The gaming device enables the player to actuate or to physically move the symbol generator. After the symbol generator is moving, the gaming device randomly determines a symbol to indicate on the symbol generator. The gaming device then continues the movement of the symbol generator to indicate the determined symbol and provides any awards associated with the indicated symbol to the player.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one display device;   at least one input device;   at least one processor;   a wheel having a plurality of sections, a plurality of the sections each including at least one of a plurality of symbols; and   at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device, the at least one input device and the wheel to:
 (a) display a play of a primary game upon a wager by a player; 
 (b) upon an occurrence of a triggering event, enable the player to directly physically engage the wheel to cause the wheel to move; 
 (c) randomly determine one of said sections of the wheel to indicate; 
 (d) cause the wheel to slow down and stop the movement the wheel to cause an indication of the determined section based on the player's movement of the wheel and the determined section; and 
 (e) provide the player a game outcome based on said symbol of said determined section. 
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor is operable with said wheel and a handle attached to the wheel to enable the player to move the wheel after the occurrence of a triggering event in the primary game. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel is configured to rotate around a substantially vertical axis. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel is configured to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , which includes a protective cover that at least partially covers the wheel. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the at least one processor to, after the wheel starts moving, randomly determine one of said sections of the wheel to indicate. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , which includes a handle attached to and extending from the wheel. 
   
   
       8 . A multi-player gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of individual gaming devices, each individual gaming device including at least one display device configured to display a primary game operable upon a wager by a player, each primary game including a triggering event;   a symbol generator shared by the plurality of gaming devices, said shared symbol generator including a plurality of symbols;   at least one processor configured to operate with said gaming devices and said shared symbol generator to:
 (a) after an occurrence of one of the triggering events, enable a player of one of the gaming devices to physically move the shared symbol generator; 
 (b) randomly determine one of said symbols to indicate; 
 (c) cause the shared symbol generator to continue moving to and then cause the shared symbol generator to stop moving to indicate said determined symbol based on the player's movement of the wheel and the determined section; and 
 (d) provide said player a bonus game outcome based on said determined symbol. 
   
   
   
       9 . The multi-player gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the shared symbol generator is configured to rotate around a substantially vertical axis. 
   
   
       10 . The multi-player gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the shared symbol generator is configured to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis. 
   
   
       11 . The multi-player gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the instructions cause the at least one processor to after said shared symbol generator starts moving randomly determine one of said sections of the shared symbol generator to indicate. 
   
   
       12 . The multi-player gaming system of  claim 8 , which includes at least one handle attached to and extending from said shared symbol generator. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming device of  claim 8 , wherein the shared symbol generator is selected from the group consisting of a wheel, a cone, a sphere, a reel, a ring, a disk and a die. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one input device;   at least one display device;   at least one processor;   a wheel including a plurality of sections, a plurality of the sections each including at least one of a plurality of symbols;   an indicator; and   at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device, the at least one input device, the wheel and the indicator to:
 (a) display a play of a primary game upon a wager by a player; 
 (b) upon an occurrence of a triggering event, enable the player to:
 (i) physically engage the wheel to cause the wheel to move, or 
 (ii) to physically engage the indicator to cause the indicator to move; 
 
 (c) if the player physically engages the wheel, cause the indicator to move; 
 (d) if the player physically engages the indicator, cause the wheel to move; 
 (e) randomly determine one of said sections of the wheel to indicate; 
 (f) cause at least one of the wheel and the indicator to keep moving and stop any movement of the wheel and the indicator to cause an indication of the determined section based on the determined section and the movement of one of the indicator and wheel by the player; and 
 (g) provide the player a game outcome based on said symbol of said determined section. 
   
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein when the plurality of instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, while at least one of the indicator or the wheel is moving, randomly determine one of said sections of the wheel to indicate. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein when the plurality of instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the wheel and the indicator to stop the movement of the wheel or the indicator while the other of the wheel or indicator is moving. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein when the plurality of instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the wheel and the indicator if the player physically engages the wheel, to stop the movement of the indicator. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein when the plurality of instructions are executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the wheel and the indicator if the player physically engages the indicator, to stop the movement of the wheel.