Gaming device having near-miss configuration

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to implementing a near-miss outcome on a gaming device. The display characteristics of the near-miss outcome including the representative indicia that makes up the near-miss outcome and the display positioning of this representative indicia is determined. The near-miss outcome may be directly selected as a game outcome from a plurality of possible game outcomes, or may be identified as the result of a triggering game event and displayed instead of or in conjunction with a determined game outcome.

1 . A method of implementing a near-miss game outcome on a gaming device, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication that a game outcome is a near-miss outcome;   determining display characteristics of the near-miss outcome including representative outcome indicia of the near-miss outcome and display locations of the representative outcome indicia; and   displaying the near-miss outcome on the gaming device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining display characteristics of the near-miss outcome further includes selecting a near-miss outcome from a plurality of possible near-miss outcomes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting a near-miss outcome from a plurality of possible near-miss outcomes includes obtaining a random number that corresponds to a weighted range of numbers associated with the plurality of possible near-miss outcomes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein prior to obtaining the random number, the weighted range of numbers associated with the plurality of possible near-miss outcomes is updated in response to a predetermined criterion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined criterion is a periodic time-based measurement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 tracking prior gaming events on the gaming device; and   updating the weighted range of numbers associated with the plurality of possible near-miss outcomes based on the tracked gaming events.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tracked gaming event includes whether the player has been identified to the gaming device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining representative outcome indicia of the near-miss outcome includes determining reel stops associated with the near-miss outcome. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining representative outcome indicia of the near-miss outcome includes determining cards associated with the near-miss outcome. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining display locations of the representative outcome indicia includes determining reel positions to display the near-miss outcome. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining display characteristics of the near-miss outcome further includes:
 determining if each possible payline of the gaming device is played; and   selecting a winning outcome to display on a non-played payline when every possible payline on a gaming device is not played.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting a near-miss outcome to display on one of the played paylines when every possible payline on a gaming device is played. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a winning outcome to display on the gaming device; and   selecting the reel positions such that the winning outcome is not displayed on any possible payline.   
     
     
         14 . A method of implementing a near-miss game outcome on a gaming device, the method comprising:
 identifying a triggering event to display a near-miss outcome;   determining display characteristics of the near-miss outcome including representative outcome indicia of the near-miss outcome and display locations of the representative outcome indicia; and   displaying the near-miss outcome on the gaming device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein identifying a triggering event to display a near-miss outcome includes:
 tracking gaming events on the gaming device; and   monitoring when one or more tracked gaming events satisfies a predetermined criterion for triggering a near-miss outcome.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein tracking gaming events on the gaming device includes tracking a number of games that have losing outcomes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein tracking gaming events on the gaming device includes tracking a number of games remaining on a time-limited banked item associated with a player. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein tracking a number of games remaining on a time-limited banked item associated with a player includes tracking a number of games remaining for which a player can utilize a banked nudge item or a banked respin item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining display characteristics of the near-miss outcome includes:
 determining if a next game outcome to display is a winning outcome;   replacing the next game outcome with the near-miss outcome when the next game outcome is a losing outcome; and   selecting display locations of the representative near-miss outcome indicia to not interfere with the next game outcome when the next game outcome is a winning outcome.   
     
     
         20 . A gaming device comprising:
 a player interface panel including at least one game initiation device;   a memory to store a plurality of possible game outcomes including at least one near-miss outcome;   a processor configured to determine a game outcome from the plurality of possible outcomes and configured to determine display parameters of the game outcome; and   a game display to show the game outcome having the determined display parameters.   
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 20 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the display parameters of the near-miss game outcome by selecting reel stops corresponding to the near-miss outcome. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of possible outcomes includes a single generic near-miss game outcome. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein the memory further stores a plurality of possible near-miss outcomes associated with the stored single generic near-miss game outcome. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming device of  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of possible near-miss outcomes has a corresponding table range with which it is associated. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming device of  claim 24 , wherein the table ranges of each outcome is associated with the hit frequency of that game outcome. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the memory is modifiable by a casino operator to alter the table ranges of each outcome. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the table ranges stored in the memory are modifiable based on game events occurring on the gaming device. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the table ranges stored in the memory are modifiable based on characteristics of a player. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming device of  claim 20 , further comprising a meter to track a number of near-miss outcomes received by a player. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming device of  claim 29 , wherein the processor is further configured to award the player a prize when the tracked number of near-miss outcomes received by a player meets a predetermined criterion.