Video poker game with enhanced bonus game

Abstract

A gaming machine ( 10 ), a method of playing the game, and a readable recording medium is disclosed. A plurality of playing cards ( 18 ) is displayed defining a hand ( 20 ) to a player, and the hand ( 20 ) is compared to a triggering combination ( 24 ) and to a winning combination ( 26 ) during a regular game. Next, the bonus game is activated in response to the hand ( 20 ) matching the triggering combination ( 24 ). A controller 51 then determines the number of hands ( 20 ) to be displayed during the bonus game and indicates an imminent ending of the bonus game to the player to stimulate the player while displaying the determined number of hands ( 20 ) during the bonus game. The indicia ( 44 ) are altered as the number of hands ( 20 ) displayed approaches the determined number of hands ( 20 ) and the bonus game ends when the final indicator ( 40 ) is altered.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display;    a display processor for displaying a plurality of playing cards defining a hand to a player;    a central processing unit (CPU) for activating a bonus game in response to said hand matching a triggering combination; and    said machine including said central processing unit adapted to indicate an imminent ending of said bonus game to the player to encourage the player to stimulate the player while displaying said determined number of hands during said bonus game.    
     
     
         2 . A machine as set forth in  claim 1  further including said central processing unit adapted to display indicia adjacent said plurality of playing cards to indicate said imminent ending of said bonus game.  
     
     
         3 . A machine as set forth in  claim 2  further including said central processing unit adapted to alter said indicia as said number of hands displayed in said bonus game approaches a determined number of hands and ending the bonus game in response to all of said indicia being altered.  
     
     
         4 . A machine as set forth in  claim 3  further including said central processing unit adapted to display a character on said display and adapted to animate said character a first time to activate said bonus game and a second time to signify said end of said bonus game.  
     
     
         5 . A machine as set forth in  claim 4  further including a clock for measuring a time interval during said bonus game wherein said indicia are altered independent of said clock by said indicia processor.  
     
     
         6 . A machine as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said controller is adapted to award a bonus payout in said bonus game in response to said hand matching a winning combination.  
     
     
         7 . A machine as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said central processing unit is adapted to display an initial deal of said plurality of playing cards and to prompt the player to select at least one of said plurality of playing cards and dealing replacement cards for unselected playing cards.  
     
     
         8 . A machine as set forth in  claim 7  further including an input for allowing the user to select at least one of said plurality of playing cards after said initial deal.  
     
     
         9 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of playing cards defining a hand to a player;    activating a bonus game in response to the hand matching a triggering combination; and    animating a character a first time for activating the bonus game and for displaying indicia adjacent the plurality of playing cards.    
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9  further including altering the indicia as the number of hands displayed in the bonus game approaches a predetermined number of hands and ending the bonus game after all of the indicia have been altered.  
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  further including randomly determining the predetermined number of hands of to be displayed during the bonus game.  
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 10  wherein activating the bonus game is further defined as modifying a pay table to include a bonus payout in response to animating the character the first time.  
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as animating the character a second time and removing the altered indicia.  
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as modifying the pay table to have the regular payout and restoring the regular game.  
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 14  wherein the step of activating the bonus game is further defined as displaying the triggering combination on the initial deal of the playing cards.  
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying each of the plurality of playing cards having an identical suit.  
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  further including awarding a bonus payout for the hand matching a winning combination during the bonus game.  
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of playing cards defining a hand to a player;    activating a bonus game in response to the hand matching a triggering combination;    determining a number of hands to be displayed during the bonus game; and    displaying time bombs such that the time bombs explode independent of time as the number of hands displayed approaches the number of determined hands during the bonus game.    
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  animating a character a first time for activating the bonus game and for positioning the time bombs adjacent the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 19  activating the bonus game is further defined as modifying a pay table to include a bonus payout in response to animating the character the first time.  
     
     
         21 . A method as set forth in  claim 20  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as animating the character a second time and removing the altered indicia.  
     
     
         22 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as modifying the pay table to have the regular payout and restoring the regular game.  
     
     
         23 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the step of activating the bonus game is further defined as displaying the triggering combination on the initial deal of the playing cards.  
     
     
         24 . A method as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying each of the plurality of playing cards having an identical suit.  
     
     
         25 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of playing cards defining a hand to a player;    activating a bonus game in response to the hand matching a triggering combination;    determining a number of hands to be displayed during the bonus game; and    providing an enhanced pay table for the bonus game such that the player has enhanced excitement during the bonus game.    
     
     
         26 . A method as set forth in  claim 25  further including awarding a progressive jackpot in the bonus game in response to receiving a royal flush while playing within the bonus round(s).  
     
     
         27 . A method as set forth in  claim 26  further including animating a character a first time for activating the bonus game and for displaying indicia adjacent the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         28 . A method as set forth in  claim 27  activating the bonus game is further defined as modifying a pay table to include a bonus payout in response to animating the character the first time.  
     
     
         29 . A method as set forth in  claim 28  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as animating the character a second time and removing the altered indicia.  
     
     
         30 . A method as set forth in  claim 29  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as modifying the pay table to have the regular payout and restoring the regular game.  
     
     
         31 . A method as set forth in  claim 30  wherein the step of activating the bonus game is further defined as displaying the triggering combination on the initial deal of the playing cards.  
     
     
         32 . A method as set forth in  claim 31  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying each of the plurality of playing cards having an identical suit.  
     
     
         33 . A method as set forth in  claim 32  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying a sequential series of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         34 . A method as set forth in  claim 33  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying a sequential face card series of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         35 . A method as set forth in  claim 34  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying a sequential series of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         36 . A method as set forth in  claim 35  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying a sequential face card series of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         37 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of playing cards defining a hand to a player;    comparing the hand to a triggering combination and comparing the hand to a winning combination during a regular game;    awarding a regular payout in response to the hand matching the winning combination;    activating a bonus game in response to the hand matching the triggering combination;    determining a number of hands to be displayed during the bonus game; and    indicating an imminent ending of the bonus game to the player to encourage the player to stimulate the player while displaying the determined number of hands during the bonus game.    
     
     
         38 . A method as set forth in  claim 37  further including displaying indicia adjacent the playing cards to indicate the imminent ending of the bonus game.  
     
     
         39 . A method as set forth in  claim 38  further including altering the indicia as the number of hands displayed in the bonus game approaches the determined number of hands and ending the bonus game after all of the indicia have been altered.  
     
     
         40 . A method as set forth in  claim 39  further including animating a character a first time for activating the bonus game and for displaying the indicia adjacent the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         41 . A method as set forth in  claim 40  wherein activating the bonus game is further defined as modifying a pay table to include a bonus payout in response to animating the character the first time.  
     
     
         42 . A method as set forth in  claim 41  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as animating the character a second time and removing the altered indicia.  
     
     
         43 . A method as set forth in  claim 42  wherein the step of ending the bonus game is further defined as modifying the pay table to have the regular payout and restoring the regular game.  
     
     
         44 . A method as set forth in  claim 43  wherein displaying the plurality of playing cards further includes displaying an initial deal of the plurality of playing cards and prompting the player to select at least one of the cards to be held in the hand, and dealing replacement cards in a draw, such that the cards not selected by the player are replaced.  
     
     
         45 . A method as set forth in  claim 44  wherein the step of activating the bonus game is further defined as displaying the triggering combination on the initial deal of the playing cards.  
     
     
         46 . A method as set forth in  claim 45  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying each of the plurality of playing cards having an identical suit.  
     
     
         47 . A method as set forth in  claim 46  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying a sequential series of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         48 . A method as set forth in  claim 47  wherein the step of displaying the triggering combination is further defined as displaying a sequential face card series of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         49 . A method as set forth in  claim 37  further including awarding a bonus payout for the hand matching the winning combination during the bonus game.  
     
     
         50 . A computer readable recording medium storing an executable control program for displaying a plurality of playing cards defining a hand to a player, comparing the hand to a triggering combination and comparing the hand to a winning combination during a regular game, awarding a regular payout in response to the hand matching the winning combination, activating a bonus game in response to the hand matching the triggering combination, determining a number of hands to be displayed during the bonus game, and an imminent ending of the bonus game to the player to encourage the player to stimulate the player while displaying the determined number of hands during the bonus game.  
     
     
         51 . A computer readable recording medium as set forth in  claim 49  wherein the control program is further including displaying indicia adjacent the playing cards to indicate the imminent ending of the bonus game.  
     
     
         52 . A computer readable recording medium as set forth in  claim 50  wherein the control program is further including altering the indicia as the number of hands displayed in the bonus game approaches the determined number of hands and ending the bonus game after all of the indicia have been altered.  
     
     
         53 . A computer readable recording medium as set forth in  claim 51  wherein the control program is further characterized by animating a character a first time for activating the bonus game and for displaying the indicia adjacent the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         54 . A computer readable recording medium as set forth in  claim 52  wherein the control program is further characterized by animating the character a second time and removing the altered indicia in response to ending the bonus game.