| Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicator -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicatorRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance Application, Lot Match Or Lot Combination (e.g., Roulette, Lottery, Etc.), Plural Lots (e.g., Keno, Etc.), Lot-to-lot Combination (e.g., Slot Machine, Etc.)The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070184895. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This patent is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/988,940 filed in the Patent Office on Nov. 15, 2004, the '940 application being a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/243,254 filed in the Patent Office on Sep. 13, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,646, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/169,666 filed in the Patent Office on Oct. 9, 1998, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/907,764 filed in the Patent Office on Aug. 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,932, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/311,783 filed in the Patent Office on Sep. 23, 1994, now abandoned, and the '940 application being a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/762,817 filed in the Patent Office on Jan. 22, 2004, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/430,715 filed in the Patent Office on May 6, 2003, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/157,608 filed in the Patent Office on May 29, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,000, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/444,986 filed in the Patent Office on Nov. 22, 1999, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/169,668 filed in the Patent Office on Oct. 9, 1998, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/622,430 filed in the Patent Office on Mar. 25, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,874, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/311,783 filed in the Patent Office on Sep. 23, 1994, now abandoned. All of the patent applications identified in this paragraph are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to novel gaming devices and, more particularly, to gaming devices comprising at least primary and secondary events capable of providing at least one of a plurality of payouts. [0003] Games of chance have been enjoyed by people for years and have enjoyed widespread popularity in recent times. Many people enjoy playing a wide variety of games that they have not played before. Playing new games adds to the excitement of this recreational activity particularly when some form of "gaming" is involved. As used herein, the term "gaming" and "gaming devices" are used to indicate that some form of wagering is involved, and that players must make wagers of value, whether actual currency or some equivalent of value, e.g., token or credit. [0004] One popular game of chance that has long been enjoyed by many players is the slot machine. Conventionally, a slot machine is configured for a player to input something of value, e.g., a standard denomination of currency or house token or other representation of currency or credit, and then to permit the player to activate the device which causes a plurality of reels to spin and ultimately stop to display a random combination of some form of indicia, for example, numbers or symbols. If this display contains one of a preselected plurality of winning combinations, the machine releases money into a payout chute or onto a credit meter for the player. For example, if a player initially wagered two coins of a national currency and that player won a high payout, that player may receive fifty coins of the same denomination in return. [0005] Since it is desirable to offer players games which they have not played before, it would be desirable to provide a player with new games and additional opportunities to receive winning payouts. [0006] Those familiar with games involving winning payouts, such as the popular television game show entitled "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" will realize that as players and observers watch a large wheel spin and gradually come to rest, the players experience a heightened feeling of anticipation and excitement as the wheel is slowing down to indicate a possible prize. [0007] It would therefore also be desirable to provide a payout indicator which is discernible by a player and/or other observers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Various embodiments of the present invention comprise methods of playing games, gaming devices and table games utilizing a primary game, e.g., rotatable reels, and at least one discernible indicia of a secondary game, preferably comprising a payout indicator. The secondary game is separate from the primary game either physically or temporally. [0009] According to the most preferred embodiments, a bonus payout indicator is clearly visible to a player and is operable when primary reels of a primary game slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a secondary payout indicator is in the form of a rotatable bonus wheel which can be caused to spin automatically or in response to some action by a player, e.g., the player pushing a button, when the primary game indicates one of a predetermined plurality of indicia. The wheel is caused to gradually reduce speed and when the wheel stops, a pointer indicates the payout to be awarded to the player. [0010] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a discernible multiplier which provides the ability to change either the payout from the primary gaming unit or the secondary payout indicator, or both. As described in more detail below, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a payout from the primary gaming unit, a payout indicated by the secondary indicator only, a payout from the primary gaming unit or the secondary indicator as changed by the multiplier, or a separate, plurality of payouts from the primary gaming unit and the secondary indicator either with or without modification by a multiplier. [0011] According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical bonus payout indicator is electronically operated and is linked to a random number generator which determines where the secondary indicator actually stops. [0012] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the primary unit stop on one of a predetermined plurality of winning indicia sets, a second event actuator is placed in an active state. According to this embodiment, a person, such as the player, must actuate the actuator in order to operate the bonus indicator. [0013] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the bonus actuator requires operator intervention so that a player must involve a casino attendant who can activate the bonus indicator. [0014] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bonus indicator is connected to a drive mechanism which gradually reduces the rate of spin of the bonus wheel before the bonus wheel stops. [0015] Still other embodiments of the present invention comprise gaming devices having electronic means for displaying indicia of rotatable reels such as a video screen and/or means for displaying indicia of a secondary payout indicator, such as a video screen. The present invention also comprises methods for playing a game of chance. One preferred method comprises the steps of displaying a first randomly selected combination of indicia, said displayed indicia selected from the group consisting of slot reels, indicia of at least one reel, indicia of at least one playing card, and combinations thereof; generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one select display of first indicia; providing at least one discernible indicia of a mechanical bonus indicator, said bonus indicator indicia indicating at least one of a plurality of possible payouts, wherein said bonus indicator indicia providing means is operatively connected to said first, standard gaming unit and actuatable in response to said signal. According to one preferred embodiment, the discernable indicia of a mechanical bonus indicator gradually reduces the rate of movement of the mechanical bonus indicator for some period of time prior to actually providing the discernable indicia of a payout. According to another embodiment, a multiplier is provided to multiply at least one payout by a multiple which is most preferably indicated to a player. The multiple can preferably sequentially change as discernable indicia change. For example, a plurality of multiples can be synchronized with a plurality of discernable indicia on the mechanical bonus indicator such that the multiple changes as the payout indicated changes. [0016] Further embodiments of the present invention comprises a method of conducting a game of chance comprising the steps of providing a player with an opportunity to place a wager; displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia, said displayed indicia selected from the group consisting of reels, indicia of at least one and preferably a plurality of reels, indicia of at least one and preferably a plurality of playing cards, and combination thereof; generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one select display of said indicia; providing at least one discernible indicia of a mechanical bonus indicator, said bonus indicator indicia indicating at least one of a plurality of possible bonuses, wherein said bonus indicator indicia is in the form of a wheel or reel and is actuatable in response to said signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view one of a gaming device of one embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 2 is another embodiment of a gaming device of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention in the form of a table game. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of playing game and gaming games with an additional payout indicator 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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