Julie A Mottes

Michael L White

Brian A Johnson

Michael T Tessmer

Lee E Cannon

Monica A McClintic

James Coleman

William E Vorias

John C Philipp

Jason R deGrandmaison

David J Sharpless

Gaming systems and methods where qualification for play of a bonus game is linked to play of a base game. Multiple players may qualify for the bonus game by achieving preselected criteria associated with play of the base game. The qualified players may participate in the bonus game and achieve a bonus game outcome based on the player's skill or strategy. The bonus game outcome may allow the player to accumulate bonus awards. In addition, the bonus game outcome may impede or terminate the player's movement in the bonus game. Each player's movement in the bonus game may depend on his or her continued play in the base game. Each qualified player may also eliminate other qualified players by occupying the same space in the bonus game.

Method and apparatus for a player-controllable bonus game

The method includes a bonus game associated with a base game that allows players to use skill and memory to determine the outcome of the bonus game. Players are prompted at the beginning of the bonus game to select at least a first and then a second game space from an array of game spaces, revealing previously hidden indicia. The player continues the selections for a predetermined period of time or until some event occurs, terminating the selections. Bonus payouts are awarded in the event the revealed indicia match. Alternative embodiments include allowing players to qualify for a 'sneak peek', wherein all or some hidden indicia on the game space array are revealed for a short period of time, and random shuffling of the indicia to different game spaces.

Method of playing a matching bonus game

The present invention includes a system, apparatus and method for providing a bonus game which may be shared competitively, collaboratively or both among a plurality of players. Each player participating in the bonus game generates entries thereto in association with play of a base, or primary, game played on an individual gaming device. Players may also reintroduce entries for the bonus game that were generated on a gaming device at an earlier time to a different gaming device. Each gaming device is in communication with a controller that operates the shared bonus game and may communicate with or integrate a player tracking system. During the shared bonus game, the controller is configured to randomly select a bonus award amount that may be consistent with the par sheets, or pay tables, associated with the gaming devices, or separate therefrom. The controller is also configured to randomly select a winning entry from among all of the qualified entries and provide the bonus award amount to the player that placed the winning entry.

System, apparatus and method employing controller for play of shared bonus games

Methods of playing games of chance and gaming devices and systems comprising a display of a plurality of symbols where at least one symbol may be interchanged with another symbol of the plurality of symbols. After a combination of symbols is randomly generated and the results are displayed to a player, the player may have the opportunity to interchange at least one displayed symbol with another symbol in order to configure a more advantageous symbol arrangement. Interchanging may include transposing, sliding, or moving one or more symbols that are generated by way of a random process. Furthermore, interchanging may include a slide game or wraparound type movement of symbols or trading a symbol for another symbol provided by an exterior source. Additionally, the interchanging opportunity may be limited by way of constraints applied to movement of the symbols, time for interchanging, or other criteria, and may be conditioned on placing an additional or side bet.

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Henderson, NV, United States of America

Julie A Mottes