Anchor Gaming

Mtd Gaming, Inc.

Michael T Tessmer

Lee E Cannon

Alan D Williams

Charlotte S Centuori

Julie A Mottes

Jason R deGrandmaison

Monica A McClintic

James Coleman

William E Vorias

David J Sharpless

Dean A Ehrlich

Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.

Method and system for weighting odds to specific gaming entities in a shared bonus event

A gaming method for adding a bonus feature to a main game comprising: providing a display screen comprised of cells arranged in rows and columns; providing a plurality of paylines, each payline comprising one cell from a plurality of columns; automatically and randomly selecting a multiplier value from among a plurality of multiplier values; automatically and randomly applying the selected multiplier value to a limited number of paylines to create one or more selected multiplier paylines; and displaying the multiplier value and the selected multiplier payline(s) to the user on the display screen.

Method and apparatus for dynamically selecting a multiplier and dynamically applying the multiplier to a limited number of paylines among a plurality of pre-defined paylines

A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.

Method and apparatus for providing an advantage to a player in a bonus game

A video game allows a player to improve odds of success in a bonus game by winning an advantage outcome in association with play of a primary or base game. An exemplary bonus game is the game of Pong where the player can use advantage credits won in play of the primary or base game to provide himself with an advantage such as lengthening his paddle, shortening his opponent's paddle, or slowing the shrinkage rate of his paddle during the course of the bonus game. Alternatively, he may also purchase one or more advantages for use in the bonus game through monetary payment.

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

A bonus event configured for interaction between a player and a gaming machine initiated through a simulated telecommunications link including a telephone handset or similar device such as a speakerphone. The bonus event may be configured as an &ldquo;incoming&rdquo; call triggered by some outcome of a primary game on the gaming machine or as an &ldquo;outgoing&rdquo; call by a player to the gaming machine. In either instance, the bonus event includes one or more of positive player interactions with the gaming machine, as through a keypad, prior to generation of a bonus award.

Growing community of inventors

Bozeman, MT, United States of America

Michael T Tessmer