Gaming machine with interactive story line

Abstract

A gaming machine with interactive story line. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the player will advance to an interactive bonus game after achieving a certain combination of symbols on a base game. Once the player has advanced to the bonus game, he or she will have the opportunity to play a video based animated or real-life bonus game that varies depending on the player's input. In a preferred embodiment, the player's input is through the base game display, which is a touch screen LCD or video monitor and which has the dual purpose of displaying the base game during base game play and functioning as the player interface during the bonus play which is displayed on an LCD or video monitor in the top-box of the gaming device. The player's input in the preferred embodiment includes answering questions posed by the characters in the game, making decisions for the characters in the game or assisting the characters in the game whether such assistance is in the form of shooting targets, picking up objects, choosing paths, steering vehicles or basically interacting with the primary characters of the storyline.

Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a display device for displaying animated or real-life characters;    a player interface for receiving data inputted by a player;    a processor in data communication with the player interface and the display device, the processor outputting data to the display device so as to cause the display device to display a particular story-line segment based on the data inputted by the player, said processor determining a monetary award after the display device displays at least one story-line segment outcome;    means responsive to the processor for indicating the monetary award; and    means for providing the monetary award to the player.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , where the different story-line segments have randomly chosen monetary award amounts which are awarded at any point within the specific story-line segment.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , where the different possible story-line segments are chosen randomly by the processor.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , where the different possible story-line segments change according to player input.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , where the randomly chosen monetary award amounts are chosen by the processor after player input has occurred.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , where the randomly chosen monetary award amounts are chosen by the processor prior to player input.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 4 , where player input is communicated to the processor by a player interface which communicates all player input to the processor.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , where the player interface can be linked by the internet, a LAN, WAN and allows the communication of multiple player input.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , where the player or players are depicted as characters within the real-life or animated storyline.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , where the monetary award amounts are predefined in the paytable of the gaming device and the animated or real-life storyline serves only to entertain the player or players.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , where the player interface is a touch screen.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 7  where the player interface is a computer mouse, button, pistol, microphone or any other mechanical device that allows the player to effectively input decisions, answers or actions to the processor.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 1  where the player is not only making decisions affecting the storyline but also leading or changing the story-line by action.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming device of  claim 13  where the players action can be any form of play commonly known in the art of video game development be it driving a race car, sword-fighting, boxing, shooting, flying, skiing, surfing or any other method of interacting with the game.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming device of  claim 14  where the players direct action changes the storyline.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 14  where the players action is communicated to the processor via any known form of hydraulic platform, shooting mechanism or other input device known in the art of video game development.