Gaming machine with bingo feature

Abstract

A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded. The game includes a bonus feature in which a representation of a game card is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it. The bonus feature comprises a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded, wherein the game includes a bonus feature in which a representation of a game card is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.  
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the bonus feature follows an underlying base game.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the game card includes at least one free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3  in which the at least one free playing position has a bonus prize associated with it.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the bonus prize associated with each playing position relates to one of a number of bonus prize outcomes.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  in which the game controller stores a set of bonus prize outcomes.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6  in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 6  in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card but, for each bonus feature, the game controller selects from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  in which the bonus prize outcomes are selected from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which, when the feature is awarded, the game card is displayed on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position on the card, the game controller randomly selecting playing positions until a pattern is completed.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the player selects a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, is the bonus award made.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which it is possible to re-trigger the bonus feature during the playing thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  in which the distribution of the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card occurs randomly so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.  
     
     
         14 . A game to be played on a gaming apparatus, the gaming apparatus having a display and being controlled by a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the game including a representation of a game card that is caused to be displayed on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions, at least one of which is required to be completed and, following completion of the pattern by the game controller, a bonus award made up of a combination of the bonus prizes of the completed pattern of the playing positions is awarded to a player.  
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 14  in which the bonus feature follows an underlying base game.  
     
     
         16 . The game of  claim 14  in which the game card includes at least one free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such.  
     
     
         17 . The game of  claim 16  in which the at least one free playing position has a bonus prize associated with it.  
     
     
         18 . The game of  claim 14  in which the bonus prize associated with each playing position relates to one of a number of bonus prize outcomes.  
     
     
         19 . The game of  claim 18  in which the game controller stores a set of bonus prize outcomes.  
     
     
         20 . The game of  claim 19  in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.  
     
     
         21 . The game of  claim 19  in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card but, for each bonus feature, the game controller selects from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.  
     
     
         22 . The game of  claim 18  in which the bonus prize outcomes are selected from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.  
     
     
         23 . The game of  claim 14  in which, when the feature is awarded, the game card is displayed on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position on the card, the game controller randomly selecting playing positions until a pattern is completed.  
     
     
         24 . The game of  claim 14  in which the player selects a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, is the bonus award made.  
     
     
         25 . The game of  claim 14  in which it is possible to re-trigger the bonus feature during the playing thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The game of  claim 14  in which the distribution of the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card occurs randomly so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.  
     
     
         27 . A method of operating a gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the method comprising 
 awarding a bonus feature upon a triggering event occurring during a preceding base game and, during the bonus feature: 
 displaying a representation of a game card on the display, the card having a plurality of playing positions demarcated thereon and each of at least certain of the playing positions having a bonus prize associated with it, the bonus feature comprising a plurality of patterns of playing positions required to be completed;  
 completing at least one of the patterns of playing positions; and  
 awarding a bonus award, made up of a combination of the bonus prizes associated with the completed pattern of playing positions, to a player.  
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  which includes designating at least one of the playing positions of the game card as a free playing position, the at least one free playing position being demarcated as such by the at least one free playing position being displayed as being marked off.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  which includes associating a bonus prize with the at least one free playing position.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  which includes selecting the bonus prize associated with each playing position from one of a number of bonus prize outcomes.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  which includes storing a set of bonus prize outcomes.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  which includes constituting the set of bonus prize outcomes to comprise the same number of bonus prize outcomes as there are playing positions on the playing card.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  in which the set of bonus prize outcomes comprises a greater number of bonus prize outcomes than there are playing positions on the game card and in which the method includes, for each bonus feature, selecting from the set of bonus prize outcomes the same number of outcomes as there are playing positions on the game card.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27  which includes selecting the bonus prize outcomes from the group comprising at least one prize of a number of credits, at least one free game with or without a multiplier applicable to prizes awarded during the at least one free game, at least one mystery prize, at least one second screen feature, a prize multiplier and the awarding of at least one bonus win for a number of bought games following the bought game in which the bonus feature occurred.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27  which includes, when the feature is awarded, displaying the game card on the display with one of the selected outcomes filling each playing position on the card and randomly selecting playing positions until a pattern is completed.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27  which includes the player selecting a playing pattern to be completed and, only if the selected playing pattern is completed, awarding the bonus award.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27  which includes re-triggering the bonus feature during the playing thereof.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27  which includes randomly distributing the bonus prizes in the playing positions of the game card so that, each time the bonus feature is awarded, the bonus prizes and their distribution on the game card differ.