Gaming device with a skill based bonus game

Abstract

The present invention provides a gaming machine with a basic game and a bonus game. The basic game can be any game where a bonus game entry combination can occur to move play to the bonus game. In one embodiment, the bonus game provides increased player participation by requiring the player to make key decisions, which will determine the amount won in the bonus game. The player is given data that they can use to assess opportunities and risks. By using the data, the player can use deductive reasoning to make an informed decision as to whether they should accept or decline a prize, value or an indicia as revealed or offered, whether they should pursue a particular path or strategy, or whether they should pursue additional bonus games. In another embodiment, the bonus game provides increased player participation by allowing the player to use their physical skills.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine for use by a player having player skills comprising: 
 a data storage device storing a program for a bonus game;    a processor operably connected to the data storage device, the processor executing the program for the bonus game on the occurrence of a bonus game entry combination;    a display operably connected to the processor; and    a player input device operably connected to the processor,    wherein the bonus game requires the player to use the player skills.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the player skills are selected from the group consisting of decision making skills and physical skills.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the display provides data allowing the player to assess risks and rewards of a plurality of play opportunities during the bonus game and the player input device is used by the player to select at least one of the plurality of play opportunities.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of tile games, predator-prey games, cat and mouse games, matching games, trail games, word puzzle games, trivia games, mazes, logic based decision making games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the bonus game requires a physical skill and the player uses the player input device to apply the physical skill.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of driving games, race games, basketball, handball, toss games, golf, tennis, baseball, racquetball, ping pong, target shooting, marksmanship games, first person shooter games, Space Invader-like video games, carnival-type shooting games, physical skill based games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  wherein the player input device is selected from the group consisting of steering wheels, pedals, balls, targets, basketball hoops, mallets, rackets, bats, golf clubs, baseball bats, paddles, firearms, video game consoles, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the data storage device is remote from the processor.  
     
     
         9 . A gaming machine for use by a player having player skills comprising: 
 means for playing a basic game having a bonus game entry combination; and    means for playing a bonus game on the occurrence of the bonus game entry combination,    wherein the bonus game requires the player to use the player skills.    
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the player skills are selected from the group consisting of decision making skills and physical skills.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the basic game is selected from the group consisting of slot machine games, poker, blackjack, and keno.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the bonus game provides data allowing the player to assess risks and rewards.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of tile games, predator-prey games, cat and mouse games, matching games, trail games, word puzzle games, trivia games, mazes, logic based decision making games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the bonus game is responsive to physical skills of the player.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of driving games, race games, basketball, handball, toss games, golf, tennis, baseball, racquetball, ping pong, target shooting, marksmanship games, first person shooter games, Space Invader-like video games, carnival-type shooting games, physical skill based games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  further comprising means for displaying a multiplier for the bonus game during the basic game.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  further comprising means for playing an additional bonus game when the bonus game ends.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming machine of  claim 17  wherein the additional bonus game is selected from the group consisting of tile games, predator-prey games, cat and mouse games, matching games, trail games, word puzzle games, trivia games, mazes, logic based decision making games, driving games, race games, basketball, handball, toss games, golf, tennis, baseball, racquetball, ping pong, target shooting, marksmanship games, first person shooter games, Space Invader-like video games, carnival-type shooting games, physical skill based games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The gaming machine of  claim 17  further comprising means for offering the player an option of playing the additional bonus game or returning to the basic game  
     
     
         20 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  further comprising means for providing a transition screen between the basic game and the bonus game.  
     
     
         21 . A method for operating a game machine for use by a player having player skills comprising: 
 providing a basic game to the player on the game machine, the basic game having a bonus game entry combination; and    switching the game machine to a bonus game on occurrence of the bonus game entry combination;    providing the bonus game to the player on the game machine, the bonus game requiring use of the player skills.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the player skills are selected from the group consisting of decision making skills and physical skills.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 offering the player a plurality of play opportunities during the bonus game; and  
 displaying data allowing the player to assess risks and rewards of the plurality of play opportunities.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of tile games, predator-prey games, cat and mouse games, matching games, trail games, word puzzle games, trivia games, mazes, logic based decision making games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein providing the bonus game requires the player to use physical skills.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the bonus game is selected from the group consisting of driving games, race games, basketball, handball, toss games, golf, tennis, baseball, racquetball, ping pong, target shooting, marksmanship games, first person shooter games, Space Invader-like video games, carnival-type shooting games, physical skill based games, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing an additional bonus game to the player when the bonus game ends.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising offering the player an option of playing the additional bonus game or returning to the basic game.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the basic game is selected from the group consisting of slot machine games, poker, blackjack, and keno.  
     
     
         30 . A system for use by a player having player skills comprising: 
 means for providing a basic game to the player, the basic game having a bonus game entry combination;    means for switching to a bonus game on occurrence of the bonus game entry combination; and    means for providing the bonus game to the player, the bonus game requiring use of the player skills.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the player skills are selected from the group consisting of decision making skills and physical skills.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30  further comprising: 
 means for offering the player a plurality of play opportunities during the bonus game; and  
 means for displaying data allowing the player to assess risks and rewards of the plurality of play opportunities.  
 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the means for providing the bonus game to the player comprises means for providing the bonus game to the player for the player to use physical skills.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30  further comprising means for providing an additional bonus game to the player when the bonus game ends.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34  further comprising means for offering the player an option of playing the additional bonus game or returning to the basic game.  
     
     
         36 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program for operating a game machine for use by a player having player skills, the computer program comprising: 
 computer readable code for providing a basic game to the player on the game machine, the basic game having a bonus game entry combination;    computer readable code for switching to a bonus game on occurrence of the bonus game entry combination; and    computer readable code for providing the bonus game to the player on the game machine, the bonus game requiring use of the player skills.    
     
     
         37 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36  wherein the player skills are selected from the group consisting of decision making skills and physical skills.  
     
     
         38 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36  wherein the bonus game offers the player a plurality of play opportunities and further comprising displaying data allowing the player to assess risks and rewards of the plurality of play opportunities.  
     
     
         39 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36  wherein the computer readable code for providing the bonus game to the player on the game machine comprises computer readable code for providing the bonus game to the player on the game machine for the player to use physical skills.  
     
     
         40 . The computer readable medium of  claim 36  further comprising computer readable code for providing an additional bonus game to the player when the bonus game ends.  
     
     
         41 . The computer readable medium of  claim 40  further comprising computer readable code for offering the player an option of playing the additional bonus game or returning to the basic game.