| Method for providing a feature game -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method for providing a feature gameRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationMethod for providing a feature game description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060281516, Method for providing a feature game. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0001] 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: [0002] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a gaming machine suitable for the present invention; [0003] FIG. 2 is a bloc diagram illustrating the components of the gaming machine of FIG. 1; [0004] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a game process as played on the gaming machine of FIGS. 1 and 2; [0005] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a game process played in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0006] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a game process played in accordance with a second determination embodiment of the present invention; [0007] FIG. 6 is a screen shot of a game played in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0008] FIG. 7 is a screen shot of the game of FIG. 5 at a later moment; [0009] FIG. 8 is a partial pay table for a line game played in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIGS. 9a and 9b are feature point tables for a bingo game played in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a game process played in accordance with a bet-level dependent embodiment of the present invention; and [0012] FIGS. 11a and 11b are representations of target ranges of values according to a bet-level dependent embodiment of the present invention. [0013] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0014] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a feature game using a primary game outcome, comprising: evaluating a primary game outcome according to feature game rules, and when the primary game outcome comprises a feature-point-awarding outcome, modifying a total feature point value. The total feature point value is compared to a target range of values and a feature prize is awarded if the total feature point value is comprised in the target range of values. [0015] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: evaluating means for evaluating a primary game outcome according to feature game rules; storing means for storing a total feature point value and a target range of values; modifying means for modifying said feature point value; controlling means for controlling said feature game, comprising monitoring whether said total feature point value is comprised in said target range of values; and awarding means for awarding a feature prize. [0016] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer program, embodied on a computer readable medium or in processor-readable memory, or carried on an electrical or electromagnetic carrier signal, having codes adapted to: evaluate a primary game outcome according to feature game rules; modify a total feature point value when said primary game outcome comprises a feature-point-awarding outcome; compare said total feature point value to a target range of values; and award a feature prize if said total feature point value is comprised in said target range of values. [0017] Another embodiment of the present invention is carried out on a gaming machine, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Said gaming machine 10 comprises displaying means 12, such as a video screen, a LCD screen or mechanical reels; accepting means 14 such as a card reader, or a coin and/or bill acceptor; inputting 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 comprises evaluating means 24 and modifying means 26, which also may correspond to a computer, computer codes or hardware components. In another embodiment, the controlling means 22 also comprises at least one of determining means (not shown) and resetting means (not shown). [0018] Such a gaming machine 10 is designed, as shown on FIG. 3, to receive credit information from a player (at step 30) either in a physical format (such as coins or bills) or in an electronic format (such as a player card or a money transfer 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 table for example) (at step 38), and to award a prize to the player for a winning game outcome (at step 40). [0019] In other embodiments, the present invention may also be implemented on a computer program, or at a remote terminal, the game information (not shown) being distributed via a network, such as linked machines or the Internet, or broadcasted using an electrical or electro-magnetic signal. [0020] An embodiment of the present invention describes a feature game wherein the player accumulates feature points awarded based on primary game outcomes in the objective of reaching a value included in at least one target range of values in a feature game. FIG. 4 describes the steps of such an embodiment. A primary game outcome is evaluated according to feature game rules (step 54) and when the primary game outcome comprises a feature-point-awarding outcome, a feature point value is modified (step 58), for example, by adding at least one feature point. It is then determined whether the total feature point value is comprised in at least one predetermined target range of values (step 62). If it is the case, a prize is awarded according to the achieved target range(s) of values (step 64). [0021] In another embodiment, illustrated on FIG. 5, after the feature prize is awarded (step 64), at least one new target range of values is determined (step 68a) or the total feature point value is reset to an initial value (step 68b) (which may be zero or any other value inferior to the actual total feature point value). On the other hand, if the total feature point value was not comprised in at least one target range of values (step 62), it is determined whether the total feature point value exceeds all of the at least one target range of values (step 66). If it is the case, at least one new target range of values is determined (step 68a) or the total feature point value is reset to an initial value (step 68b) (which may be zero or any other value inferior to the actual total feature point value). [0022] FIG. 6 illustrates a screen shot of a line game applying the embodiment of FIG. 4. The screen shot shows a total feature points counter 80 displaying the number of feature points gathered so far, a target range of values display 82, allowing the player to know the lowest and highest limits of each range (for forty-six (46) 84 and fifty-five (55) 86 for the largest range). Finally, if the total feature point value is close enough to the target ranges, a marker 88 may be added to the display. In this example, the player has gathered forty-four (44) feature points 80 before the present spin. Since the player has a line of three (3) "7" symbols, and the pay table of FIG. 7 associates five (5) feature points to that winning combination, five (5) feature points 92 are added to the total feature points counter 80. Continue reading about Method for providing a feature game... Full patent description for Method for providing a feature game Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for providing a feature game 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method for providing a feature game or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Gaming system Next Patent Application: Multiplayer interactive video gaming device Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method for providing a feature game patent info. 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