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Gaming machine, system and method with progressive game feature

Gaming machine, system and method with progressive game feature description/claims

The present application relates to, and claims priority from, Australian Patent Application No. 2006904518, filed on Aug. 18, 2006, entitled “Gaming Machine, System and Method With Progressive Game Feature,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention generally relates to gaming apparatus and methods of gaming. A particular embodiment of the present invention relates to gaming apparatus and methods of gaming that offer a progressive prize.

With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come increased competition between gaming venues to obtain a larger share of the total gambling spend. Gaming venue operators have therefore continuously looked for new variations and types of games in order to attract both new and return customers to their venues.

In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and systems have attempted to provide the sought after variety, while still developing games that comply with the relevant regulations in the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator. Suppliers of gaming devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games and gaming apparatus that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing regulations and in terms of providing a return on investment to the gaming venue operators.

In addition, it is important that a player be able to understand the operation of a game quickly so that the player can start to quickly play the game and therefore extract maximum entertainment from the game.

Progressive jackpots may be offered on gaming machines. A progressive controller may be programmed to accumulate a percentage of the turnover bet on the machine, that percentage being accumulated in a progressive pool. On the occurrence of a predetermined event, the amount of money in the pool may be awarded to a player.

Recently progressive jackpot gaming systems have been implemented which operate across a group of linked gaming machines, accumulating a percentage of turnover bet on all of the linked machines into one or more progressive pools. Again the contents of a particular progressive pool may be awarded to a player when certain trigger conditions are met.

While the modified player progressive systems have increased player interest, the lack of actual or perceived player involvement in the increment of either standalone or linked progressive systems can mean that players may easily tire of playing these systems.

Any reference in this specification to the prior art does not constitute an admission that such prior art was well known or forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction.

According to a first aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming machine having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming machine causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

According to a second aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines each having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming system offering at least one jackpot prize that can be won by any one of the gaming machines, wherein game play of the game provided by each gaming machine includes awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming system causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

Preferably, the amount that the jackpot prize is increased if the first outcome occurs is variable between plays of the feature game. The amount may be determined by the gaming system making a random selection from a predetermined set or range of possible values.

According to a third aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which at least one outcome is defined that is evaluated for a winning outcome and in which an award is awarded if a winning outcome is defined, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize that is won by the gaming machine on the occurrence of a particular event during play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines each having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which at least one outcome is defined that is evaluated for a winning outcome and in which an award is awarded if a winning outcome is defined, the gaming system further offering at least one jackpot prize that is won by a said gaming machine on the occurrence of a particular event during play of the game by that gaming machine, wherein during play of a said game on a gaming machine, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming system causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

Preferably, the particular event is the at least one outcome including a second particular outcome.

Preferably, the game includes a feature game that is played on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the feature game resulting in a definition of a said outcome, wherein the particular outcome is an outcome of the feature game.

Preferably, the second particular outcome is also an outcome of the feature game. More preferably, the second particular outcome is a winning outcome of the feature game and the first particular outcome is a losing outcome of the feature game. The feature game may result in one of two outcomes consisting of the first particular outcome and the second particular outcome.

Preferably, for any aspect/embodiment of the invention described in the preceding paragraphs, a plurality of feature games are offered, each feature game associated with a different jackpot prize, wherein a particular outcome of the feature game results in the increase of the jackpot prize associated with that feature game. Each feature game may be triggered on the occurrence distinct events during play of the game. Alternatively, one or more of the feature games may be triggered on the occurrence of a common event, the particular feature game being triggered dependent on when the event occurs.

Preferably, a further jackpot prize is offered, the further jackpot prize being awarded when a player achieves a winning outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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