Gaming machine

Abstract

Methods for operating a gaming machine relate to gaming machines providing the option to initiate a deal which allows a dependency to be created between the results displayed during plays of a base game in the deal. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, increases the player's anticipation and excitement during operation of the gaming machine.

1 . A method of operating a gaming machine including a playable base game and at least one selectable deal option, each deal option corresponding to a deal having a defined strategy, wherein a result is displayed during each play of the base game and winnings are awarded upon the appearance in the result of any predetermined winning outcome, the method including the steps of:
 a. selecting a deal option, thereby initiating the corresponding deal;   b. specifying a number of times the base game is to be played in the deal, wherein the specified number is at least two; and   c. thereafter repeatedly playing the base game until the base game has been played the specified number of times,   wherein the strategy creates a dependency between the results displayed during at least two plays of the base game in the deal.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of selectable deal options. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein each deal option corresponds to a unique deal. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the gaming machine includes at least one standard play option, wherein selection of the standard play option allows base games to be played in a standard play mode without a dependency being created between the results displayed during plays of the base game in the standard play mode. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of playable base games and the method includes the step of selecting the base game to be played in the deal. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the step of selecting a deal option selects the base game to be played in the deal. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of selecting a deal option specifies the number of times the base game is played in the deal. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the number of times the base game is played in the deal is specified at random. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the number of times is specified at random from a set of predetermined integers. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the set of predetermined integers is unique to the selected deal option. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the specified number of times the base game is to be played in the deal is not displayed until at least the first play of the base game in the deal has commenced. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 1  including the step of setting respective wager amounts to bet on each play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the wager amount is fixed for all plays of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the respective wager amounts to bet on each play of the base game in the deal are determined by a betting schedule, such that the wager amount will increase, decrease, be determined randomly or change at least once during the deal. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the gaming machine is adapted to apply the betting schedule to determine the wager amount to bet on each play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the step of setting the respective wager amounts includes the steps of:
 providing a set of at least two predetermined wager options, each wager option corresponding to respective wager amounts to bet on each play of the base game in the deal; and   selecting a wager option from the set of wager options.   
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the step of selecting a deal option sets the respective wager amounts to bet on each play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein initiating a deal requires the payment of a credit amount, wherein the wager amount to bet on each play of the base game in the deal is decremented from the credit amount during the corresponding play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the gaming machine includes a credit meter for displaying the current credit amount, wherein awarded winnings are recorded by incrementing the amount displayed on the credit meter. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein each play of the base game in the deal is individually triggered. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the gaming machine includes a trigger means for individually triggering each play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least one secondary game is awarded upon the occurrence of a predefined trigger event during the deal, wherein winnings are awarded during play of the secondary game and wherein the secondary game does not require the placement of a bet in order to play. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the characteristics of the secondary game are dependent on the selected deal option. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein a win multiplier is applied to winnings awarded during play of the secondary game. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the gaming machine is adapted to automatically implement the strategy. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein implementation of the strategy requires player interaction. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the dependency operates by adding points to an accumulative points total upon the occurrence of a predefined points trigger event during a play of the base game in the deal, wherein a points reward dependent on the accumulative points total is awarded during the deal. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the points reward is awarded when the base game has been played the specified number of times. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the predefined points trigger event includes the appearance in the result of a points symbol corresponding to a specified value of points to be added to the accumulative point total. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the points reward includes at least one play of a secondary game, wherein the characteristics of the secondary game are dependent on the accumulated points total. 
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the result includes an array of symbols selected from a predetermined set of symbols and the dependency operates by allowing any specified symbol displayed in the array during at least one play of the base game in the deal to influence the symbols displayed in at least one other play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the dependency operates by allowing any specified symbol displayed in the array during one play of the base game in the deal to influence the symbols displayed in at least one subsequent play, if any, of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein any specified symbol displayed in the array during one play of the base game in the deal is displayed in the same position of the array in the at least one subsequent play. 
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein the at least one subsequent play refers to the next play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the predetermined set of symbols includes a subset of special symbols, wherein any special symbol appearing in a selected position in the array is a specified symbol. 
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 35  wherein the subset of special symbols includes at least one of the following types of symbol: progressive/jackpot trigger symbol, substitute symbol, highest paying symbol, scatter symbol and stacked symbol. 
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein, upon the occurrence of a predefined trigger event during one play of the base game in the deal, at least one position is added to the array displayed during at least one of the one play of the base game and any subsequent plays of the base game in the deal for increasing the number of symbols displayed in the array so that winnings can be awarded on winning outcomes resulting from the increased number of displayed symbols. 
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein at least one symbol is added to the predetermined set of symbols upon the occurrence of a predefined trigger event during one play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the base game is a spinning reel type game using a simulation of “n” adjacent reels to display an array of symbols in “n” columns. 
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 39  including the step of selecting at least one specified reel for each play of the base game in the deal, such that one condition of being a specified symbol is that the symbol is displayed in the column corresponding to a specified reel. 
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein the gaming machine is adapted to select the at least one specified reel for each play of the base game in the deal upon the selection of a deal option. 
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein the step of selecting at least one specified reel for each play of the base game in the deal includes repeating, for each play of the base game in the deal, the step of selecting at least one specified reel for one play of the base game prior to the commencement of the one play. 
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein the base game includes “n” wager options numbered consecutively from one to “n” and wherein the method includes the step of selecting a wager option, each wager option causing reels to be effected differently within the deal such that the selection of a numbered wager option results in a corresponding number of specified reels being selected for each play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 43  wherein “n” equals five and wherein:
 selecting wager option one results in one reel being selected as a specified reel;   selecting wager option two results in two reels being selected as specified reels;   selecting wager option three results in three reels being selected as specified reels;   selecting wager option four results in four reels being selected as specified reels; and   selecting wager option five results in all five reels being selected as specified reels.   
   
   
       45 . A method according to  claim 40  wherein the base game includes “n” deal options numbered consecutively from one to “n”, each deal option causing reels to be effected differently within the deal such that the selection of a numbered deal option results in a corresponding number of specified reels being selected for each play of the base game in the deal. 
   
   
       46 . A method according to  claim 45  wherein “n” equals five and wherein:
 selecting deal option one results in one reel being selected as a specified reel;   selecting deal option two results in two reels being selected as specified reels;   selecting deal option three results in three reels being selected as specified reels;   selecting deal option four results in four reels being selected as specified reels; and   selecting deal option five results in all five reels being selected as specified reels.   
   
   
       47 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the array includes at least one payline, each payline including unique combinations of positions within the array, wherein winnings are awarded on any payline carrying a bet and showing a predefined winning combination of symbols. 
   
   
       48 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein winnings are awarded for any arrangement displayed in the array of a predefined winning combination of symbols. 
   
   
       49 . A gaming machine adapted to be operated by a method according to  claim 1 , the gaming machine including:
 at least one selectable deal option, each deal option corresponding to a deal having a defined strategy; and   a base game, wherein the machine is adapted to display a result each time the base game is played and award winnings upon the appearance in the result of any predetermined winning outcome.   
   
   
       50 . A gaming machine adapted to be operated by a method according to  claim 1 , the gaming machine including:
 a base game; and   at least one selectable deal option, each deal option corresponding to a deal having a defined strategy,   wherein, upon the selection of a deal option, the gaming machine is adapted to initiate the corresponding deal and play the base game the specified number of times,   wherein the strategy creates a dependency between the results displayed during at least two plays of the base game in the deal.   
   
   
       51 . A gaming machine according to  claim 49  including at least one standard play option, wherein selection of the standard play option allows base games to be played in a standard play mode without a dependency being created between the results displayed during plays of the base game in the standard play mode. 
   
   
       52 . A gaming machine according to  claim 50  including at least one standard play option, wherein selection of the standard play option allows base games to be played in a standard play mode without a dependency being created between the results displayed during plays of the base game in the standard play mode.