Gaming system, a game controller and a method of gaming

Abstract

A gaming system comprising: a credit meter storing a balance of wagerable credits; a points meter storing a balance of usable points; a game play mechanism operable by the player to input a play instruction for a game comprising a credit portion and a points portion; and a game controller arranged to control conduct of the game in response to the play instruction based on the credit portion and the points portion and to determine whether to make an award of credits based on an outcome of the game.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a credit meter storing a balance of wagerable credits;   a points meter storing a balance of usable points;   a game play mechanism operable by the player to input a play instruction for a game comprising a credit portion and a points portion; and   a game controller arranged to control conduct of the game in response to the play instruction based on the credit portion and the points portion and to determine whether to make an award of credits based on an outcome of the game.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is arranged to determine how a specific instance of the game is to be conducted based on the points portion of the game outcome. 
     
     
         3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the game controller is arranged to control the possible outcomes of the game based on the points portion. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is arranged to determine a quantum of an award of credits from the credit portion. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the points portion provides the player with a feature which affects what awards of credits are possible during play of the game. 
     
     
         6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the points portion provides the player with a feature which modifies awards of credits made during play of the game. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the feature is not available when the play instruction does not include a points portion. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , arranged to determine whether to make an award of points independently of the outcome of the game. 
     
     
         9 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to control conduct of a game based on a received play instruction for the game comprising a credit portion and a points portion, conduct of the game comprising:
 generating a game outcome; and   evaluating the game outcome to determine whether to make an award in credits based on the game outcome.   
     
     
         10 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising a game play controller arranged to determine how a specific instance of the game is to be conducted based on the points portion of the game outcome. 
     
     
         11 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 10 , arranged to control the possible outcomes of the game based on the points portion. 
     
     
         12 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , arranged to determine a quantum of an award of credits from the credit portion. 
     
     
         13 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the game controller adds a feature to the game based on the points portion of the received play instruction which affects what awards of credits are possible during play of the game. 
     
     
         14 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the game controller adds a feature to the game based on the points portion of the received play instruction which modifies awards of credits made during play of the game. 
     
     
         15 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the feature is not available when the play instruction does not include a points portion. 
     
     
         16 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , further arranged to determine whether to make an award of points independently of the outcome of the game. 
     
     
         17 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising an outcome generator arranged to generate the game outcome. 
     
     
         18 . A game controller as claimed in  claims 9 , comprising an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether to make an award of credits based on the game outcome. 
     
     
         19 . A method of gaming comprising controlling conduct of a game based on a received play instruction for the game comprising a credit portion and a points portion, conduct of the game comprising:
 generating a game outcome; and   evaluating the game outcome to determine whether to make an award in credits based on the game outcome.   
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising controlling conduct of the game by determining how a specific instance of the game is to be conducted based on the points portion of the game outcome. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , comprising controlling the possible outcomes of the game based on the points portion. 
     
     
         22 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising determining a quantum of an award of credits from the credit portion. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising controlling conduct of the game by adding a feature to the game which affects what awards of credits are possible during play of the game. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising controlling conduct of the game will be played by adding a feature to the game which modifies awards of credits made during play of the game. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the feature is not available when the play instruction does not include a points portion. 
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising determining whether to make an award of points independently of the outcome of the game. 
     
     
         27 . A gaming system comprising:
 a credit meter storing a credit balance of wagerable credits;   a points meter storing a points balance of usable points;   a game controller arranged to conduct a game in response to a wager of wagerable credits;   a game play mechanism operable by the player to use at least a portion of the points balance during conduct of the game; and   the game controller arranged to alter further conduct of the game based on the used points and to determine whether to make an award of wagerable credits based on an outcome the game.   
     
     
         28 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller responds to use of the points by providing the player with a feature which affects what awards of credits are possible during play of the game. 
     
     
         29 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller responds to use of the points by providing the player with a feature which modifies awards of credits made during play of the game. 
     
     
         30 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the feature is not available without the use of points. 
     
     
         31 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 27 , further arranged to determine whether to make an award of points independently of the outcome of the game. 
     
     
         32 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to conduct a game in response to a wager of wagerable credits, the game controller arranged to alter further conduct of the game based on a use of points by a player during conduct of the game and determine whether to make an award of credits based on a game outcome. 
     
     
         33 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 32 , comprising a game play controller arranged to determine how a specific instance of the game is to be conducted subsequent to the use of the points. 
     
     
         34 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the game controller controls further conduct of the game by adding a feature to the game which affects what awards of credits are possible during play of the game. 
     
     
         35 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the game controller controls further conduct of the game by adding a feature to the game which modifies awards of credits made during play of the game. 
     
     
         36 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the feature is not available when the wager does not include a points portion. 
     
     
         37 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 33 , arranged to determine whether to make an award of points independently of the outcome of the game. 
     
     
         38 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising an outcome generator arranged to generate at least part of the game outcome during further conduct of the game. 
     
     
         39 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether to make an award of credits based on the game outcome. 
     
     
         40 . A method of gaming comprising:
 conducting play of a game;   controlling further conduct of the game based on a use of points by a player during play of the game; and
 determining whether to make an award of credits based on a game outcome. 
   
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , comprising determining how a specific instance of the game is to be conducted subsequent to the use of the points. 
     
     
         42 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , comprising controlling further conduct of the game by adding a feature to the game which affects what awards of credits are possible during play of the game. 
     
     
         43 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , comprising controlling further conduct of the game by adding a feature to the game which modifies awards of credits made during play of the game. 
     
     
         44 . A method as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the feature is not available when the wager does not include a points portion. 
     
     
         45 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 40  to  44 , comprising determining whether to make an award of points independently of the outcome of the game. 
     
     
         46 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , comprising generating at least part of the game outcome during further conduct of the game. 
     
     
         47 . A method as claimed in  claim 40 , further comprising executing computer program code. 
     
     
         48 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising storing said computer program code in a tangible computer readable medium. 
     
     
         49 . An electronic gaming machine, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a display mounted to the cabinet for displaying game play;   a credit meter disposed within the cabinet, the credit meter storing a balance of wagerable credits;   a points meter disposed within the cabinet, the points meter storing a balance of usable points;   a game play mechanism mounted to the cabinet, the game play mechanism operable to wager credits and use points;   a game controller operably connected to the display, the credit meter, the points meter and the game play mechanism, the game controller arranged to conduct and display a game on the display in response to operation of the game play mechanism, the game controller further arranged to provide to a player of the gaming machine the ability to operate the game play mechanism to select from two or more options to vary conduct of the game by using points.   
     
     
         50 . An electronic gaming machine as claimed in  claim 49 , arranged to determine whether to deduct or add points and/or credits to the points meter and/or the credit meter in accordance with game play instructions stored in a memory of the game controller.