Skill game playable on a casino type display with game ending features including spinning reel up/down capability and a bonus game

Abstract

A skill game is provided that can be played on a casino gaming display that employs methods to hold a player's interest after normal completion of the initial game. In a first embodiment, an up/down selection is provided to the player for one or more reels of the spinning reel game that have stopped spinning. The one up/down feature allows the player to move the reel one position up or down to increase the reward level. To assure skill is involved, the available up or down motion for the reel is displayed for a short time prior to when the wheel stops and the player must remember the available state correctly. If the player remembers correctly, the award for the game can be increased. In a second embodiment, a bonus game is provided with the frequency of offer of the bonus game randomly set to assure operator profit while maintaining player interest and enjoyment.

1 . A skill game comprising a game controller configured to:
 provide a game to a player involving at least one spinning reel;   display to the user an indication of up or down direction movement of the at least one spinning reel for a limited period of time; and   provide a user key to allow the user to move the at least one spinning reel in the displayed up or down direction after the up or down direction indication has been displayed for the limited period of time and the at least one spinning reel has stopped spinning.   
   
   
       2 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein the display to the use of the up or down direction of movement is provided to the user for the limited period of time prior to when the at least one spinning reel stops spinning. 
   
   
       3 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein only one of the up or down direction of movement is displayed to the user and provided by the key to the user to move the at least one spinning reel. 
   
   
       4 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spinning reel moves more than one symbol in the up or down direction. 
   
   
       5 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein the user key is active for a limited period of time to move the at least one spinning reel in the displayed up or down direction. 
   
   
       6 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein the player can increase buy-in prior to selecting the user key to move the at least one spinning reel in the displayed up or down direction. 
   
   
       7 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein display to the user of the up or down direction of movement includes given symbols that when partially covered prevent a player from distinguishing the given symbols from other symbols provided on the spinning reel display. 
   
   
       8 . A game comprising a game controller configured to:
 provide at least one random result determination after a player successfully completes a game;   compare the at least one random result determination with a first fixed variable; and   provide a bonus game to the player based on the results of the comparison with the first fixed variable.   
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 8 , wherein the game controller is further configured to:
 count a number of times the player has successfully completed a non-bonus game, and perform the comparison step after the count has reached a predetermined value.   
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 8 , wherein the game controller is further configured to:
 compare the at least one random result determination with at least one additional fixed variable; and   providing the bonus game to the player based on the results of the comparison with the at least one additional fixed variable as well as the first fixed variable.   
   
   
       11 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein the game controller is further configured to:
 provide indicators when each of the comparison with the first fixed variable and the additional fixed variables indicates a bonus game can be awarded; and   return to play of a non-skill game after each successful comparison if all indicators have not been enabled.   
   
   
       12 . The game of  claim 8  further comprising:
 providing a no-win counter that counts times a player does not successfully complete the skill game;   changing the first fixed variable to increase the frequency of when the bonus game is awarded to the player when the no-win counter reaches a predetermined value   
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed variables are adjustable to change the frequency of when the bonus game is offered to the user. 
   
   
       14 . The game of  claim 8 , wherein prior to award of the bonus game the game controller is further configured to:
 provide a game to a player involving at least one spinning reel;   display to the user an indication of up or down direction movement of the at least one spinning reel for a limited period of time; and   provide a user key to allow the user to move the at least one spinning reel in the displayed up or down direction after the up or down direction indication has been displayed for the limited period of time.   
   
   
       15 . A game comprising a game controller configured to:
 determine if a successful play of an initial game has occurred;   pay an award amount displayed to a player when the initial game is determined to be successfully completed; and   sum a buy-in amount for the initial game to a bonus pool when the initial game is determined to be unsuccessfully completed and return to display a screen allowing a player to play a subsequent game.   
   
   
       16 . A game of  claim 15 , wherein after payment of the award, the game controller is further configured to:
 determine when the bonus pool exceeds a predetermined value; and   award a bonus game when the bonus pool exceeds the predetermined value.