Method, apparatus, and program product for multiple play bonus system

Abstract

A gaming system provides a secondary game in which the outcome depends on the results from multiple instances of a primary game. The secondary game is associated with a particular structure that includes a number of separate locations. Each of the secondary game locations is linked to a particular instance of the primary game so that the results of a particular instance of the primary game determine the condition or state of a respective secondary game location. Additionally, each location in the secondary game structure makes up a certain component of a secondary game display. Players receive an award if a certain pattern is displayed in the secondary game structure based on the application of the multiple instances of the primary game to the secondary game structure.

1 . A method including: 
 (a) conducting multiple instances of a primary game to produce multiple primary game results, each instance of the primary game being linked to a respective location in a secondary game structure for a secondary game;    (b) applying the primary game result for each respective instance of the primary game to control the state of the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to that respective instance of the primary game; and    (c) identifying a result of the secondary game based on the state of at least one respective location in the secondary game structure.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the primary game is a bingo game.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the primary game is a lottery game.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game structure is a representation of a bingo card.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein a predetermined result in a respective instance of the primary game daubs the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to that respective instance of the primary game.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the secondary, game structure is a representation of reel-type game.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a predetermined result in a respective instance of the primary game causes a particular reel symbol to be displayed at the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to that respective instance of the primary game.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further including the steps of: 
 (a) applying a portion of a wager for participating in multiple instances of the primary game to at least partially fund a bonus prize available in the secondary game; and    (b) awarding the bonus prize to a player in response to the result of the secondary game.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the result of the secondary game is defined by a pattern of locations in the secondary game structure.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein two or more instances of the primary game are each linked to the respective location in the secondary game structure for the secondary game and the primary game results of the two or more instances of the primary game control the state of the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to those respective instances of the primary game.  
   
   
       11 . A program product stored on one or more computer readable media, the program product including: 
 (a) result coordinating program code executable for linking each respective instance of a primary game to a respective location in a secondary game structure for a secondary game;    (b) secondary game program code executable for applying the primary game result for each respective instance of the primary game to control the state of the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to that respective instance of the primary game, and for identifying a result of the secondary game based on the state of at least one respective location in the secondary game structure.    
   
   
       12 . The program product of  claim 11  wherein: 
 (a) the result coordinating program code links two or more instances of the primary game to at least one respective location in the secondary game structure for a secondary game; and    (b) the secondary game program code applies the primary game results of the two or more instances of the primary game to control the state of the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to those respective instances of the primary game.    
   
   
       13 . The program product of  claim 11  wherein each respective instance of the primary game that is linked to a respective location in the secondary game structure is associated with a common game play input for play in the primary game.  
   
   
       14 . The program product of  claim 11  wherein each respective instance of the primary game that is linked to a respective location in the secondary game structure is associated with a respective distinct game play input for play in the primary game.  
   
   
       15 . The program product of  claim 11  wherein secondary game structure is a bingo card representation and the secondary game program code controls the state of the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to that respective instance of the primary game by causing the respective location in bingo card representation to be daubed.  
   
   
       16 . The program product of  claim 11  wherein secondary game structure is a reel-type game representation and the secondary game program code controls the state of the respective location in the secondary game structure linked to that respective instance of the primary game by causing the respective location in reel-type game representation to show a particular reel symbol.  
   
   
       17 . A gaming apparatus including: 
 (a) a game processor for (i) receiving a number of primary game results, each respective primary game result corresponding to a respective instance of a primary game, for (ii) applying the primary game result for each respective instance of the primary game to control the state of a respective location in a secondary game structure to which the respective primary game result is linked, and for (iii) identifying a result in a secondary game based on the state of at least one location in the secondary game structure; and    (b) a player display operatively connected to the game processor for displaying the secondary game structure.    
   
   
       17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the player display is also for displaying the primary game result for each instance of the primary game.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the player display is associated with an electronic player station having an electronic player station processing device in communication with the game processor.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18  further including a number of additional electronic player stations, each electronic player station being in communication with the game processor and each additional electronic player station including a respective player display.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the game processor is also for linking each respective instance of the primary game to the respective location of the secondary game structure.