Gaming terminal with bonus payout indicated by a rotating ball feature

Abstract

A gaming terminal for playing a basic wagering game and a bonus game includes a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome such as a start-bonus outcome. The gaming terminal further includes a player-input device for receiving gaming input and a bonus game region, which includes a plurality of bonus indicators for indicating a bonus award. At least one of the bonus indicators includes a bonus-indicia video display located in a back portion of the bonus indicator for displaying a bonus indicia. Upon selection by the player, the bonus indicator rotates to position the video display within the line of sight of a player.

1 . A gaming terminal for playing a basic wagering game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome for a basic wagering game, said randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player, said plurality of outcomes including a start-bonus outcome;    a player-input device for receiving input related to playing said basic wagering game and said bonus game; and    a bonus game region including a plurality of rotatable bonus indicators, at least one of said plurality of bonus indicators being adapted to be selected by a player via inputs from said player-input device, said plurality of bonus indicators having a corresponding bonus-indicia video display located on a back portion of said bonus indicator, said bonus-indicia video display being rotated in a position within the line of sight of the player in response to a player selecting said corresponding bonus indicator via said player-input device.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bonus indicators include reference symbols on a front portion, said front portion being visible to the player of the gaming terminal during said basic wagering game, said reference symbols being used for player selection via the player-input device.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming terminal of  claim 2 , wherein said reference symbol is selected from the group consisting of a letter, a number, a word, and a phrase.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bonus indicators are adapted to rotate around a corresponding central axis, said central axis being generally parallel to a front portion of said bonus indicator, said bonus indicator rotating to show its corresponding bonus-indicia video display after rotating around said central axis.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of bonus indicators is illuminated via a LED.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said bonus-indicia video display shows a bonus game outcome by displaying symbols selected from the group consisting of a letter, a number, and a phrase.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mechanical reels for playing said basic wagering game.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming terminal for playing a basic wagering game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome for a basic wagering game, said randomly selected outcome being selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player, said plurality of outcomes including a start-bonus outcome;    a player-input device for receiving input related to playing said basic wagering game and said bonus game; and    a bonus indicator having a video display integrally mounted in a back portion and a reference symbol in a front portion, said video display indicating a randomly selected winning outcome for said bonus game, said reference symbol being displayed at said player-input device to allow selection of said bonus indicators by the player, said video display being positioned such that it is obscured from a player's line of sight when the bonus indicator has not been selected by the player, said bonus indicator rotating to position said video display in the player's line of sight when the corresponding bonus indicator has been selected by the player.    
   
   
       9 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , wherein said bonus indicator has a hemispherical shape.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller for controlling said video display, said video display being wirelessly connected to said controller.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming terminal of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller for controlling said video display, said video display being wired to said controller.  
   
   
       12 . A method of conducting a basic wagering game and a bonus game, comprising: 
 receiving a wager input;    selecting a randomly selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to said receiving step, said plurality of outcomes including a start-bonus outcome;    triggering a bonus game when said randomly selected outcome is said start-bonus outcome;    selecting one bonus indicator from a plurality of movable bonus indicators after said triggering step, said one bonus indicator having a video display integrally mounted thereto;    moving said one bonus indicator upon selection to reveal a bonus indicia via said video display; and    determining a total award won in said bonus game based on said bonus indicia.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising illuminating at least one of said plurality of bonus indicators.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said moving includes rotating said one bonus indicator around a central axis of said one bonus indicator such that a front portion of said first bonus indicator, which is initially facing said player of the gaming terminal, is now facing away from said player.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising 
 selecting another bonus indicator from said plurality of bonus indicators after said selecting of said one bonus indicator,    moving said another bonus indicator upon selection to reveal another bonus indicia via another video display, said another video display being integrally mounted in a back portion of said another bonus indicator; and    determining said total award won in said bonus game based on said another bonus indicia, in addition to said bonus indicia.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said determining includes multiplying said bonus indicia with said another bonus indicia to obtain said total award for said bonus game.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said determining includes adding said bonus indicia to said another bonus indicia to obtain said total award for said bonus game.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating said bonus indicia prior to said selecting of said one of said bonus indicators.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising generating said bonus indicia after said selecting of said one of said bonus indicators.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising controlling independently each video display associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of bonus indicators.