Method and apparatus for indicating win proximity

Abstract

In one aspect, a system displays a winning one of multiple mystery bonus awards before identifying a winner of the winning award from among a plurality of players of base games. In another aspect, the system displays a winning one of multiple mystery bonus awards after identifying a winner of the winning award from among a plurality of players of base games.

1 . A gaming device comprising:
 a base game;   a base game pay table;   a number generator configured to select at least one trigger threshold;   at least one bonus award mechanism configured to award a bonus award in addition to any award resulting from the base game pay table;   at least one counter configured to generate a count related to the occurrence of at least one base game event, the counter being operatively connected to the bonus award mechanism and configured to award a bonus award when the count bears a predetermined relationship to the trigger threshold; and   a display configured to provide a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of awarding the bonus award.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the gaming device further includes a secondary game and wherein the bonus award comprises the opportunity to play the secondary game. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the base game event comprises a wager made. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the trigger threshold is less than or equal to a predetermined number and wherein the display comprises an indication of the proximity of the count to the predetermined number. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the display comprises an indication of the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the display comprises light that changes condition in proportion to the change in likelihood of awarding the bonus award. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the change of condition comprises a change in color. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the gaming device further includes:
 means for selecting a second trigger threshold;   a second bonus award mechanism configured to award a second bonus award in addition to any award resulting from the base game pay table; and   a second counter configured to generate a count related to the occurrence of at least one base game event, the second counter being operatively connected to the second bonus award mechanism and configured to award a second bonus award when the second count bears a predetermined relationship to the second trigger threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 8  wherein the display is configured to provide a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of awarding the bonus award associated with the count that is closest to its trigger threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the display is configured to update the likelihood of awarding the bonus award after each wager. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the bonus award comprises a fixed award. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the bonus award comprises a progressive award. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming devices;   a number generator configured to select at least one trigger threshold;   a bonus award mechanism configured to award a bonus award in addition to any award resulting from the gaming devices;   at least one counter configured to generate a count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event, the counter being operatively connected to the bonus award mechanism and configured to award a bonus award when the count bears a predetermined relationship to the trigger threshold; and   a display configured to provide a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of awarding the bonus award.   
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the gaming device event comprises wagers made. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the trigger threshold is less than or equal to a predetermined number and wherein the display comprises an indication of the proximity of the count to the predetermined number. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the display comprises an indication of the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the display comprises light that changes condition in proportion to the change in likelihood of awarding the bonus award. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 17  wherein the change of condition comprises a change in color. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the gaming system further includes:
 means for selecting a second trigger threshold;   a second bonus award mechanism configured to award a second bonus award in addition to any award resulting from the gaming devices; and   a second counter configured to generate a count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event, the second counter being operatively connected to the second bonus award mechanism and configured to award a second bonus award when the second count bears a predetermined relationship to the second trigger threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 19  wherein the display is configured to provide a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of awarding the bonus award associated with the count that is closest to its trigger threshold. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming system of  claim 13  wherein the bonus award comprises a mystery bonus award. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 13  wherein the display is configured to update the likelihood of awarding the bonus award after each wager. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 13  wherein the bonus award comprises a fixed award. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming device of  claim 13  wherein the bonus award comprises a progressive award. 
     
     
         25 . A gaming device comprising:
 a base game;   at least one number generator configured to select a trigger threshold;   a secondary game;   at least one counter configured to count the occurrence of at least one base game event, the counter being operatively connected to the secondary game and configured to enable the secondary game when the count bears a predetermined relationship to the trigger threshold; and   a display configured to provide a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of enabling the secondary game.   
     
     
         26 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the base game event comprises a wager made. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the trigger threshold is less than or equal to a predetermined number and wherein the display comprises an indication of the proximity of the count to the predetermined number. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the display comprises an indication of the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the display comprises light that changes condition in proportion to the change in likelihood of enabling the secondary game. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming device of  claim 29  wherein the change of condition comprises a change in color. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the counter is associated with a secondary game outcome. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming device of  claim 31  wherein the gaming device further includes:
 means for selecting a second trigger threshold;   a second counter configured to generate a second count related to the occurrence of at least one base game event, the second counter being operatively connected to the secondary game and configured to enable the secondary game when the second count bears a predetermined relationship to the second trigger threshold.   
     
     
         33 . The gaming device of  claim 32  wherein the second counter is associated with a second secondary game outcome. 
     
     
         34 . The gaming device of  claim 33  wherein the display is configured to provide a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of enabling the secondary game as a result of the count that is closest to its trigger threshold. 
     
     
         35 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the display is configured to update the likelihood of enabling the secondary game after each wager. 
     
     
         36 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the secondary game pays a fixed award. 
     
     
         37 . The gaming device of  claim 25  wherein the secondary game pays a progressive award. 
     
     
         38 . A method of operating at least one gaming device comprising:
 selecting at least one trigger threshold;   generating at least one count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event;   comparing the count and the trigger threshold;   displaying the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold; and   awarding a bonus award when the count substantially equals the trigger threshold.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein awarding the bonus award comprises providing the opportunity to play a secondary game. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the gaming device event comprises a wager made. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein displaying the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold comprises changing the condition of light in proportion to the change in proximity of the count to the trigger threshold. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein changing the condition of light comprises changing the color of light. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the method further comprises:
 selecting a second trigger threshold;   generating a second count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event;   comparing the second count and the second trigger threshold; and   awarding a second bonus award when the second count substantially equals the second trigger threshold.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the first and second bonus awards comprise the opportunity to play a secondary game and wherein awarding the first bonus award comprises awarding a first secondary game outcome and wherein awarding the second bonus award comprises awarding a second secondary game outcome. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43  wherein displaying the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold comprises displaying the proximity of the count that is closest to its associated trigger threshold. 
     
     
         46 . The gaming device of  claim 38  wherein the method further comprises updating the displayed proximity after each wager. 
     
     
         47 . The gaming device of  claim 38  wherein the bonus award comprises a fixed award. 
     
     
         48 . The gaming device of  claim 38  wherein the bonus award comprises a progressive award. 
     
     
         49 . A method of operating at least one gaming device comprising:
 selecting at least one trigger threshold within a range defined by low and high numbers;   generating at least one count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event;   comparing the count and the high number;   displaying a graphical representation of the proximity of the count and the high number; and   awarding a bonus award when the count substantially equals the trigger threshold.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein awarding the bonus award comprises providing the opportunity to play a secondary game. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the gaming device event comprises a wager made. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49  wherein displaying the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold comprises changing the condition of light in proportion to the change in proximity of the count to the trigger threshold. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein changing the condition of light comprises changing the color of light. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the method further comprises:
 selecting a second trigger threshold within a range defined by low and high numbers;   generating a second count related to the occurrence of at least one gaming device event;   comparing the second count and the second trigger threshold; and   awarding a second bonus award when the second count substantially equals the second trigger threshold.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the first and second bonus awards comprise the opportunity to play a secondary game and wherein awarding the first bonus award comprises awarding a first secondary game outcome and wherein awarding the second bonus award comprises awarding a second secondary game outcome. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein displaying the proximity of the count to the trigger threshold comprises displaying the proximity of the count that is closest to its associated trigger threshold. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the method further comprises updating the displayed graphical representation after each wager. 
     
     
         58 . The gaming device of  claim 49  wherein the bonus award comprises a fixed award. 
     
     
         59 . The gaming device of  claim 49  wherein the bonus award comprises a progressive award.