Gaming machine, system and method with a bonus feature

Abstract

A gaming machine that provides a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on a display to represent at least one game outcome. A winning combination is a bonus feature, which results in a game controller of the gaming machine controlling game play of the game to provide at least a chance to win a bonus prize from a set of one or more bonus prizes. The game controller further controls the gaming machine to award at least one special prize that is different from the one or more bonus prizes. Award of the special prize is dependent on a random selection process, the performance of which is dependent on occurrence of the bonus feature.

1 . A gaming machine having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to represent at least one game outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, wherein a said winning combination is a bonus feature, the occurrence of which results in the game controller controlling game play of the game to provide at least a chance to win a bonus prize from a set of one or more bonus prizes, the game controller further controlling the gaming machine to award at least one special prize that is different from the one or more bonus prizes, wherein award of the special prize is dependent on a random selection process, the performance of which is dependent on occurrence of the bonus feature. 
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine does not display on the display symbols to represent the random selection process. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine includes a pay schedule that advertises each of the one or more bonus prizes but does not advertise the at least one special prize. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the special prize is only awardable when a said bonus prize is won. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two said bonus prizes that are winnable following occurrence of said bonus feature. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of different bonus prizes include a plurality of progressive prizes that are formed so as have different values from each other. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of different bonus prizes include a plurality of fixed value prizes of different values. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein the game controller selects each of the plurality of different bonus prizes with different average expected frequencies. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the bonus feature always results in the award of a positive value bonus prize. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein the special prize is awardable when at least one, but not all of the bonus prizes are won. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the special prize is awardable when a first said bonus prize is won and not awardable when a second said bonus prize is won, the second said bonus prize having a higher value than the first said bonus prize. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the special prize is awardable only when the bonus prize of lowest value is won. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the special prize is awarded in addition to the bonus prize and the gaming machine displays the combined special prize and bonus prize as a single prize and does not display separate indications of each prize. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein when the special prize is awarded, it is awarded instead of the bonus prize. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein the special prize that is awarded instead of the bonus prize always has a value higher than the value of that bonus prize. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the random selection process for the special prize includes selecting the value of the special prize, so that the special prize is a randomly variable prize. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1  where in the award of the special prize is dependant on the player placing an additional bet. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of distinct bonus features representing different winning outcomes and wherein each bonus feature resulting in at least a chance to win a bonus prize from a different set of one or more bonus prizes. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of bonus features each result in a chance to win one of a plurality of different bonus prizes. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein on occurrence of a bonus feature, the game controller commences play of a feature game in which representations of the feature game are displayed on the display that indicate to the player the bonus prize that is to be awarded. 
   
   
       21 . A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines are eligible to win the same said one or more bonus prizes when a said bonus feature occurs on that gaming machine. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the one or more bonus prizes is a progressive prize to which each of the plurality of gaming machine contribute. 
   
   
       23 . A method of providing awards on a gaming machine that provides a wagering game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on a display to represent play of the wagering game, the method including providing as one possible outcome of the game a bonus feature; when the bonus feature occurs, providing at least a chance to win a bonus prize from a set of one or more bonus prizes; and when the bonus feature occurs, performing a random selection process and awarding a special prize that is different from the one or more bonus prizes dependent on the random selection process. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the random selection process determines whether or not the special prize is awarded. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the set of one or more bonus prizes includes a plurality of different bonus prizes and the process of providing a chance to win a bonus prize includes selecting which one of a plurality of bonus prizes is to be won, the selection being controlled so that a bonus prize is always won when the bonus feature occurs, the method further including advertising in a pay schedule for the game the plurality of bonus prizes but not the special prize and performing the random selection process without displaying to a player symbols representing the result of the random selection process and wherein the random selection process includes a selection of the value of the special prize so that the special prize awarded is a randomly variable prize. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , further including awarding a single prize as a combination of a said bonus prize and the special prize and displaying representations of the award of the special prize as if the combination of a said bonus prize and the special prize was a single prize resulting from occurrence of the bonus feature. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , further including awarding the special prize instead of a said bonus prize and displaying representations of the award of the special prize as if the special prize was a single prize resulting from occurrence of the bonus feature. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , further including displaying a feature game between occurrence of the bonus feature and the award of the special prize, the feature game including representations that indicate a said bonus prize that is to be awarded if a special prize is not awarded.