| Method and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chanceRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationMethod and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070010308, Method and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/696,548 filed on Jul. 6, 2005 and entitled Method of Offering a Reel Modifying Feature. The specification of the foregoing Provisional Application is hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing a game feature in a game of chance comprising a set of game indicia. The method comprises receiving a player selection of a game indicium among the set of game indicia and establishing a second set of game indicia from the set of game indicia and the player selection. Finally, at least one game outcome is generated using the second set of game indicia. [0004] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a gaming apparatus for providing a game of chance, comprising: displaying means for displaying the game of chance comprising a set of game indicia or a second set of game indicia established from the set of game indicia and a player selection; and input-receiving means for receiving the player selection of a game indicium among the set of game indicia. [0005] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a game apparatus for providing a game of chance, comprising at least one of a) controlling means for controlling the establishment of a second set of game indicia from the set of game indicia and the player selection; and b) generating means for generating at least one game outcome using the second set of game indicia. [0006] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium or in processor-readable memory having codes adapted to: receive a player selection of a game indicium among the set of game indicia; establish a second set of game indicia from the set of game indicia and the player selection; and generate at least one game outcome using the second set of game indicia. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: [0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0009] FIG. 2 is a bloc diagram illustrating the components of the gaming machine of FIG. 1; [0010] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the steps for a game process as played on the gaming machine of FIGS. 1 and 2; [0011] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the method of conducting a game feature played accordingly to embodiments of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 5 is a table illustrating the effect of purchasing indicia on the hit rate and payout of a game played according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [0013] FIG. 6 is a table illustrating more effects of purchasing indicia on the hit rate and payout of a bonus game played according to embodiments of the present invention. [0014] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] Embodiments of the present invention may be carried out on a gaming apparatus, such as a personal computer, a gaming terminal, a server or a gaming machine as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Said gaming machine 10 comprises displaying means 12, such as a video screen, an LCD screen or mechanical reels; accepting means 14 such as a card reader, or a coin and/or bill acceptor; input-receiving means 16, such as buttons, levers or a touch screen; awarding means 18, such as a ticket printer, a card reader or a hopper; storing means 20 such as RAM, flash memory, a hard drive or a removable memory medium; and controlling means 22 such as a computer, computer codes, or a hardware controller. The controlling means comprise generating means 24, which also may correspond to a computer, computer codes or hardware components. In another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 carrying out the invention may comprise, either in replacement of or in combination with the accepting means 14, communicating means (not shown) allowing communication between the controlling means 22 and a remotely linked accounting means (not shown) wherein player accounts are maintained (either by a casino or by a financial institution, such as a bank), and money is downloaded on the gaming machine 10 to play the game and uploaded on the accounting means upon quitting the game. [0016] Such a gaming machine 10 is designed, as shown on FIG. 3, to receive credit information from a player (at step 30) coming from the deposit of money either in a physical format (such as coins or bills) or in an electronic format (such as money stored on a player card or transferred from a bank account), to receive activation information from the player (at step 32), to randomly generate (at step 34) and display (at step 36) a game outcome, to evaluate said game outcome according to game rules (a pay schedule for example) (at step 38), and to award a prize to the player for a winning game outcome (at step 40). Embodiments of the present invention generally take place during or between steps 32 and 34. [0017] Embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented, totally or in part, in a computer program. They may also be carried out on a gaming terminal (not shown), part of a local or wide area network or connected through the internet, more or less dependent upon a server or another gaming terminal to perform processes necessary to provide a player with a game of chance and/or game features. To do so, game information is communicated to and/or from said game terminal using communicating means (not shown) such as a physical connection (cable or telephone line, for example), or broadcast facilities using an electrical or electro-magnetic signal. The terminal may participate totally, in part or not at all, in the generation of the game outcome, depending on the nature of the game information communicated to and/or from it. Game information comprise all information useful to conduct the game of chance and any game feature associated therewith, such as the player identity, the game of chance or game feature played, the bet value, the level of play, the game outcome, the pay table, the pay schedule, player input, sets of game indicia, the prize awarded, triggering signals to provide the player with a punctual game feature, etc. [0018] While illustrated in the block diagrams as groups of discrete components communicating with each other via distinct data signal connections, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that embodiments capable of carrying out the invention may be provided by a combination of hardware and software components, with some components being implemented by a given function or operation of a hardware or software system, and many of the data paths illustrated being implemented by data communication within a computer application or operating system. The structure illustrated is thus provided for efficiency of teaching suitable embodiments. [0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the player is offered to modify the set of game indicia of a game of chance by purchasing game indicia to make them appear more or less often in a second set of game indicia. Purchasing a game indicium have three possible effects: a) adding at least one occurrence of this game indicium in the set of game indicia; b) removing at least one occurrence of this game indicium from the set of game indicia; or c) replacing an occurrence of another game indicium by an occurrence of the purchased game indicium. The price to pay to purchase a game indicium may be determined according to the symbol value, the impact of the purchase on the probabilities of obtaining a winning outcome and/or the impact of the purchase on the payout rate of the game. Continue reading about Method and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance... Full patent description for Method and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for providing a game feature modifying a set of game indicia in a game of chance patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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