Computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game includes: a) playing a main game that is associated with a predetermined first prize combination including a set of virtual prizes, and that is further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria; c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination. A gaming apparatus for performing the computer-implemented method is also disclosed.

1 . A computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game, said computer-implemented method comprising: 
 a) playing a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;    b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria;    c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and    d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.    
   
   
       2 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step d), 
 the bonus game is associated with a predetermined second prize combination that includes a set of bonus prizes, and is further associated with a set of predefined second winning criteria for winning one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination,    the player being awarded one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination when the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.    
   
   
       3 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein, in step d), playing of the bonus game is continued as long as the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.  
   
   
       4 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein, in step a), the main game is a bingo game.  
   
   
       5 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein step a) includes: 
 a1) generating a virtual bingo card with a numerical bingo pattern;    a2) generating an odds table that includes fifteen rows of five number spaces, each of the rows of the odds table being associated with a corresponding payout multiplier;    a3) randomly drawing a bingo number, filling in one of the number spaces of the odds table with the drawn bingo number according to drawing sequence of the bingo number, and marking the virtual bingo card accordingly when the drawn bingo number is present in the numerical bingo pattern of the virtual bingo card;    a4) repeating sub-step a3) until a predefined winning bingo pattern is formed on the marked virtual bingo card; and    a5) determining a payout amount based on a bet placed beforehand by the player and the payout multiplier associated with one of the rows of the odds table containing a latest one of the bingo numbers that was drawn in sub-step a3) and that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card.    
   
   
       6 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first winning criteria is one in which said one of the rows of the odds table containing the latest one of the bingo numbers that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card is located in a predefined winning area of the odds table.  
   
   
       7 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said one of the virtual prizes awarded to the player in step b) is chosen randomly from the first prize combination.  
   
   
       8 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein step a) further includes: 
 a6) generating an animated object, the virtual prizes in the first prize combination being ornaments to be put on the animated object upon collection by the player.    
   
   
       9 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a door frame having a pair of jambs is further generated in sub-step a6), the animated object being disposed in the door frame between the jambs, a number of prize windows being formed in the jambs.  
   
   
       10 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein step d) includes: 
 d1) arranging the bonus prizes among the prize windows;    d2) enabling the animated object to select one of the prize windows within a predetermined time period;    d3) when the prize window selected in step d2) is not empty, awarding the bonus prize in the selected one of the prize windows to the player, and subsequently emptying the selected one of the prize windows; and    d4) when the prize window selected in step d2) has been emptied, terminating the bonus game.    
   
   
       11 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein sub-step d2) includes causing the animated object to point to different ones of the prize windows within the predetermined time period, the selected one of the prize windows being that pointed to by the animated object at an instant the predetermined time period expired.  
   
   
       12 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein, in sub-step d2), the animated object is a virtual dancer that dances and that points to the different ones of the prize windows using its hands.  
   
   
       13 . A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit, and a game processor coupled to the user input unit and the display unit, said computer program product configuring said gaming apparatus for playing a progressive game, and comprising: 
 a computer readable storage medium comprising: 
 a first code that directs the game processor to allow the player to play a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;  
 a second code that directs the game processor to award the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game matches the first winning criteria;  
 a third code that directs the game processor to repeat execution of said first and second codes until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and  
 a fourth code that directs the game processor to allow the player to play a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.  
   
   
   
       14 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the bonus game is associated with a predetermined second prize combination that includes a set of bonus prizes, and is further associated with a set of predefined second winning criteria for winning one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination;    said fourth code directing the game processor to award the player one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination when the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.    
   
   
       15 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said fourth code directs the game processor to allow the player to continue playing the bonus game as long as the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.  
   
   
       16 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the main game is a bingo game.  
   
   
       17 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said first code includes: 
 a first sub-code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate a virtual bingo card with a numerical bingo pattern;    a second sub-code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate an odds table including fifteen rows of five number spaces, each of the rows of the odds table being associated with a corresponding payout multiplier;    a third sub-code that directs the game processor to randomly draw a bingo number, to enable the display unit to fill in one of the number spaces of the odds table with the drawn bingo number according to drawing sequence of the bingo number, and to enable the display unit to mark the virtual bingo card accordingly when the drawn bingo number is present in the numerical bingo pattern of the virtual bingo card;    a fourth sub-code that directs the game processor to repeat execution of said third sub-code until a predefined winning bingo pattern is formed on the marked virtual bingo card; and    a fifth sub-code that directs the game processor to determine a payout amount based on a bet placed beforehand by the player through the user input unit and the payout multiplier associated with one of the rows of the odds table containing a latest one of the bingo numbers that was drawn and that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card.    
   
   
       18 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first winning criteria is one in which said one of the rows of the odds table containing the latest one of the bingo numbers that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card is located in a predefined winning area of the odds table.  
   
   
       19 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said second code directs the game processor to chose randomly said one of the virtual prizes to be awarded to the player from the first prize combination.  
   
   
       20 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said first code further includes: 
 a sixth sub-code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate an animated object, the virtual prizes in the first prize combination being ornaments to be put on the animated object upon collection by the player.    
   
   
       21 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said sixth sub-code further directs the game processor to enable the display unit to generate a door frame having a pair of jambs, the animated object being disposed in the door frame between the jambs, a number of prize windows being formed in the jambs.  
   
   
       22 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said fourth code includes: 
 a first secondary code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit to arrange the bonus prizes among the prize windows;    a second secondary code that directs the game processor to enable the display unit such that the animated object is able to select one of the prize windows within a predetermined time period; and    a third secondary code that directs the game processor to award the bonus prize in the selected one of the prize windows to the player and to subsequently empty the selected one of the prize windows when the selected one of the prize windows is not empty, and to terminate the bonus game when the selected one of the prize windows has been emptied.    
   
   
       23 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said secondary sub-code directs the game processor such that the display unit causes the animated object to point to different ones of the prize windows within the predetermined time period, the selected one of the prize windows being that pointed to by the animated object at an instant the predetermined time period expired.  
   
   
       24 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the animated object generated by the display unit is a virtual dancer that dances and that points to the different ones of the prize windows using its hands.  
   
   
       25 . A gaming apparatus comprising a user input unit, a display unit, a game processor coupled to said user input unit and said display unit, and a computer program product for configuring said gaming apparatus to perform consecutive steps of a computer-implemented method for playing a progressive game, said computer-implemented method comprising: 
 a) playing a main game, the main game being associated with a predetermined first prize combination that includes a set of virtual prizes, and being further associated with a set of predefined first winning criteria for winning one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination;    b) awarding the player one of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination when the outcome of the main game played in step a) matches the first winning criteria;    c) repeating steps a) and b) until the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination; and    d) playing a bonus game when the player has collected all of the virtual prizes in the first prize combination.    
   
   
       26 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein, in step d), 
 the bonus game is associated with a predetermined second prize combination that includes a set of bonus prizes, and is further associated with a set of predefined second winning criteria for winning one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination,    the player being awarded one of the bonus prizes in the second prize combination when the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.    
   
   
       27 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein, in step d), playing of the bonus game is continued as long as the outcome of the bonus game matches the second winning criteria.  
   
   
       28 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein, in step a), the main game is a bingo game.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein step a) includes: 
 a1) generating a virtual bingo card with a numerical bingo pattern;    a2) generating an odds table that includes fifteen rows of five number spaces, each of the rows of the odds table being associated with a corresponding payout multiplier;    a3) randomly drawing a bingo number, filling in one of the number spaces of the odds table with the drawn bingo number according to drawing sequence of the bingo number, and marking the virtual bingo card accordingly when the drawn bingo number is present in the numerical bingo pattern of the virtual bingo card;    a4) repeating sub-step a3) until a predefined winning bingo pattern is formed on the marked virtual bingo card; and    a5) determining a payout amount based on a bet placed beforehand by the player and the payout multiplier associated with one of the rows of the odds table containing a latest one of the bingo numbers that was drawn in sub-step a3) and that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card.    
   
   
       30 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the first winning criteria is one in which said one of the rows of the odds table containing the latest one of the bingo numbers that resulted in formation of the winning bingo pattern on the virtual bingo card is located in a predefined winning area of the odds table.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said one of the virtual prizes awarded to the player in step b) is chosen randomly from the first prize combination.  
   
   
       32 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein step a) further includes: 
 a6) generating an animated object, the virtual prizes in the first prize combination being ornaments to be put on the animated object upon collection by the player.    
   
   
       33 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein a door frame having a pair of jambs is further generated in sub-step a6), the animated object being disposed in the door frame between the jambs, a number of prize windows being formed in the jambs.  
   
   
       34 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein step d) includes: 
 d1) arranging the bonus prizes among the prize windows;    d2) enabling the animated object to select one of the prize windows within a predetermined time period;    d3) when the prize window selected in step d2) is not empty, awarding the bonus prize in the selected one of the prize windows to the player, and subsequently emptying the selected one of the prize windows; and    d4) when the prize window selected in step d2) has been emptied, terminating the bonus game.    
   
   
       35 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein sub-step d2) includes causing the animated object to point to different ones of the prize windows within the predetermined time period, the selected one of the prize windows being that pointed to by the animated object at an instant the predetermined time period expired.  
   
   
       36 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein, in sub-step d2), the animated object is a virtual dancer that dances and that points to the different ones of the prize windows using its hands.