System and method for games having a skill-based component

Abstract

Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a predetermined award presented in a manner in which a player's skill at the game appears to affect the amount of the award without actually having an effect on its amount.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of enabling game play of a pseudo skill-based game that comprises a game of chance component and an apparent game of skill component, both controlled by a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 under control of the processor:
 predetermining through the game of chance component a total number of monetary credits to be awarded to a player; 
 during an active portion of the apparent game of skill component, according to the player's skill, awarding through a plurality of sub-outcomes a portion of the total number of monetary credits and a number of non-monetary game points; 
 during a passive portion of the apparent game of skill component and independent of player skill, further awarding non-monetary game points and any remaining monetary credits to be awarded to the player at least until the predetermined number of monetary credits to be awarded to the player has been reached. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of adding the player to a leader board comprising a plurality of player identifications and game point totals if the total number of awarded game points is greater than any of the game point totals on the leader board. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a player with a high score in non-monetary game points is encouraged to enter its initials or name to enable competition against other players. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a number of non-monetary game points or monetary credits awarded for the sub-outcomes of the apparent skill component is based on at least a predetermined duration of the apparent game of skill component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a number of non-monetary game points or monetary credits awarded for the sub-outcomes of the apparent skill component decreases in correspondence with an increase in sub-outcome frequency. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game of chance component comprises a random number generator for predetermining the total number of monetary credits to be awarded. 
     
     
         7 . A method of enabling game play of a pseudo skill-based game that comprises an apparent game of skill component controlled by a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 under control of the processor:
 predetermining a total number of monetary credits to be awarded to a player; 
 during an active portion of the apparent game of skill component, according to the player's skill, awarding through a plurality of sub-outcomes a portion of the total number of monetary credits and a number of non-monetary game points; 
 during a passive portion of the apparent game of skill component and independent of player skill, further awarding non-monetary game points and any remaining monetary credits to be awarded to the player at least until the predetermined number of monetary credits to be awarded to the player has been reached. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of adding the player to a leader board comprising a plurality of player identifications and game point totals if the total number of awarded game points is greater than any of the game point totals on the leader board. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a player with a high score in non-monetary game points is encouraged to enter its initials or name to enable competition against other players. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein a number of non-monetary game points or monetary credits awarded for the sub-outcomes of the apparent skill component is based on at least a predetermined duration of the apparent game of skill component. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a number of non-monetary game points or monetary credits awarded for the sub-outcomes of the apparent skill component decreases in correspondence with an increase in sub-outcome frequency. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein predetermining the total number of monetary credits to be awarded comprises random number generation. 
     
     
         13 . A method of enabling game play of a pseudo skill-based game that comprises an apparent game of skill component controlled by a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 under control of the processor:
 predetermining a total number of monetary credits to be awarded to a player; 
 during an active portion of the apparent game of skill component, according to the player's skill, awarding through a plurality of sub-outcomes a portion of the total number of monetary credits and a number of non-monetary game points; 
 if the total number of monetary credits have not been awarded to the player during the active portion of the apparent game of skill component, independent of player skill, further awarding non-monetary game points and any remaining monetary credits to be awarded to the player at least until the predetermined number of monetary credits to be awarded to the player has been reached. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of adding the player to a leader board comprising a plurality of player identifications and game point totals if the total number of awarded game points is greater than any of the game point totals on the leader board. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a player with a high score in non-monetary game points is encouraged to enter its initials or name to enable competition against other players. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a number of non-monetary game points or monetary credits awarded for the sub-outcomes of the apparent skill component is based on at least a predetermined duration of the apparent game of skill component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a number of non-monetary game points or monetary credits awarded for the sub-outcomes of the apparent skill component decreases in correspondence with an increase in sub-outcome frequency. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein predetermining the total number of monetary credits to be awarded comprises random number generation.