Gaming system with feature game play

Abstract

The invention relates to gaming systems and methods of gaming. A game, which may be implemented in a gaming system ( 100 ) with a game controller ( 101 ), includes a base game and a feature game wherein during play of the base game, if a feature awarding event occurs, a player is awarded with an amount of feature credits (step 5 ), the feature credits usable to buy bets in the feature game (steps 6, 7 ). Use of the feature credits in the feature game is in response to inputs received from a player interface and a balance of feature credits is maintained as the feature credits are used.

1 . A gaming system operable to play a game comprising a base game and a feature game, the gaming system comprising:
 a game controller for controlling play of the game, the game controller awarding base game credits to a player in the event of a winning event during play of the base game and awarding a feature game and feature game credits on the occurrence of a feature awarding event during play of the base game,   at least one display to display representations of play of the game,   a player interface to enable the player to control at least some aspect of play of the base game and the feature game,   a main credit meter that maintains a record of the number of said base game credits available to play the base game,   a feature game credit meter that maintains a record of the number of said feature game credits available to a player to play the feature game, and   a selector that enables the player to select a wager in credits from a plurality of wager options of different values for play of the feature game, the selected wager being deducted from the feature credit meter, and   wherein the main credit meter is also deducted in response to play of the feature game.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the main credit meter is deducted in response to play of the feature game by an amount of credits equal to the value of the wager selected for that play of the feature game. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the feature game has an enhanced play characteristic in comparison to the base game. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the enhanced play characteristic is at least one of an enhanced pay out table and an increased chance of a win. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the game controller requires play of the feature game and wagering of the feature game credits immediately following the award of the feature game. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the feature game credits can not be cashed out and wherein if a player cashes out and there is a positive balance of feature game credits, the gaming system allows play of the feature game, including by a subsequent player of the game. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of awarded feature game credits is a multiple of the bet made in the game play of the base game that caused the feature game to be awarded. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple is between 10 and 30 inclusive. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of different events cause the award of a feature game and feature game credits and a plurality of different multiples of said bet made are awardable, wherein the applicable multiple is dependent on the event that caused the award of the feature game. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wager options comprises wager options with a different number of bets and different amounts wagered per bet. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system comprising a game controller for controlling play of a base game and a feature game, at least one display to display game play of the base game and the feature game, and a player interface to enable a player to control at least some aspects of play of the base game and the feature game, both the base game and the feature game resulting in the award of an award on the occurrence of a winning event for that game, wherein during play of the base game, if a feature awarding event occurs, a player is awarded with an amount of feature credits, the feature credits usable to buy bets in the feature game, wherein the gaming system controls use of the feature credits in the feature game in response to inputs received from the player interface and maintains a balance of feature credits as the feature credits are used, and wherein should more credits than the current balance of feature credits be required to play the feature game, credits are deducted from a second credit meter dependent on the difference between the required credits and the feature credits. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein if credits are deducted from the second credit meter, then a modified award is awarded, dependent on the proportion of the bet covered by feature credits. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system comprising a game controller for controlling play of a base game and a feature game, at least one display to display game play of the base game and the feature game, and a player interface to enable a player to control at least some aspects of play of the base game and the feature game, both the base game and the feature game resulting in the award of an award on the occurrence of a winning event for that game, wherein during play of the base game, if a feature awarding event occurs, a player is awarded with an amount of feature credits, the feature credits usable to buy bets in the feature game, wherein the gaming system controls use of the feature credits in the feature game in response to inputs received from the player interface and maintains a balance of feature credits as the feature credits are used, and wherein should more credits than the current balance of feature credits be required to play the feature game, then an award resulting from that play of the feature game is modified. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the extent of modification is directly dependent on the proportion of the bet covered by feature credits. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of feature credits awarded is dependent on the value of a bet placed by the player in an activation of the base game that is causally linked to the award of the feature credits. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the multiple is between 10 and 30 inclusive. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein following award of the feature credits the gaming system requires immediate play of the feature game and requires that all the feature credits are used before returning to the base game. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the feature credits can not be cashed out and the requirement to play the feature game until all the feature credits are used continues when play of the game is recommenced following a player cashing out. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the probability of occurrence of the feature awarding event is independent of the size of a bet placed in an activation of the base game. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the feature game is a bought feature game. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 20 , wherein the base game and the feature game have the same format and an equal number of credits are deducted from a main credit meter as the number of feature credits bet in the feature game. 
   
   
       22 . A gaming system comprising a game controller for controlling play of a game comprising a base game and a feature game, at least one display to display game play of the game, and a player interface to enable a player to control at least some aspects of the game play of the game, both the base game and the feature game resulting in the award an award if a winning event occurs, wherein during play of the base game, if a feature award event occurs, a player is awarded with an amount of feature credits, the feature credits usable to buy bets in the feature game, wherein the feature game repeats over consecutive activations and for each said activation the game controller allows the player to control use of the feature credits in said feature game by operating the player interface. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming system of  claim 22 , wherein the game controller repeatedly activates the feature game until the feature credits have been exhausted and then returns to play of the base game. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming system of  claim 22 , wherein the base game and the feature game have the same screen format and have the same bet options. 
   
   
       25 . A gaming system adapted to play a game comprising a base game and a feature game, the gaming system comprising:
 a game controller for controlling play of the game and adapted to award base game credits to a player in the event of a winning play on the base game and activating the feature game and awarding feature game credits on the occurrence of a triggering event during play of the base game, the feature game credits being at least sufficient to enable a plurality of activations of the feature game at a level of bet that was made in the base game when the triggering event occurred,   at least one display to display game play of the base game and the feature game,   a player interface to enable the player to control at least some aspect of the game play of the base game and the feature game,   a main game credit meter adapted to display the number of game credits available to a player to play the game,   a feature game credit meter adapted to display the number of feature game credits available to a player to play the feature game, and   a selector which, when a player is awarded a feature game by the game controller, enables the player to select the number of feature game credits to be bet on a play of the awarded feature game.   
   
   
       26 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein the feature game must be played after the triggering event before the game controller controls the game to return to play of the base game and all the feature credits must be exhausted before the game controller allows play of the base game to resume. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein the awarded feature game credits are a predefined multiple of a bet made in the activation of the base game that caused the feature game to be awarded. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein the selector allows the player to vary the number of feature game credits to be wagered between successive plays of the feature game. 
   
   
       29 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein the player can vary the number of feature game credits to be wagered between successive activations of the feature game by varying at least one of the number of bets made in each said successive play and the amount wagered per bet. 
   
   
       30 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming system offers an option to buy a bet in the feature game that has a value of one credit. 
   
   
       31 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein the gaming system is a standalone or networked gaming machine. 
   
   
       32 . A gaming system operable to play a game comprising a base game and a feature game, the gaming system comprising:
 a game controller for controlling play of the game, the game controller awarding base game credits to a player in the event of a winning event during play of the base game, awarding a feature game and feature game credits on the occurrence of a feature awarding event, and awarding feature and/or base game credits in the event of a winning event during play of the feature game.   at least one display to display symbols representing game play of the game, a selection of the symbols available for display including a background symbol,   a main credit meter that maintains a record of the number of said base game credits available to play the base game, and a feature game credit meter that maintains a record of the number of said feature game credits available to a player to play the feature game, and   a player interface to enable a player to select a wager in credits for play of the feature game, the selected wager being deducted from the feature credit meter and/or from the main credit meter,   wherein the amount of feature game credits resulting from the occurrence of the feature awarding event in the base game is related to the background symbol(s) displayed when the feature awarding event occurred.   
   
   
       33 . The gaming system of  claim 32 , wherein the amount of feature credits resulting from the occurrence of a winning event in the base game is determined by the background symbols displayed when the feature awarding event occurred and the amount of wager placed in the base game when the feature awarding event occurred. 
   
   
       34 . The gaming system of  claim 32 , wherein the amount of feature and/or base game credits resulting from the occurrence of the winning event during play of the feature game is determined by the background symbols displayed when the winning event occurred and the amount of wager placed in the feature game when the winning event occurred. 
   
   
       35 . The gaming system according to  claim 32 , wherein the background symbols are playing card symbols on the display. 
   
   
       36 . A method of gaming implemented using an electronic processing system, the method comprising using a computational controller to monitor for the occurrence of a feature awarding event during play of a base game and if a said feature awarding event occurs, awarding an amount of feature credits, and monitoring play of a feature game and decreasing said amount of feature credits dependent on play of the feature game, wherein the method further comprises allowing a player to specify the amount of the credits required to play an activation of the feature game, and if the number of credits required exceeds the number of feature credits available, deducting credits from a second credit meter dependent on the difference between the credits required and the feature credits that are available. 
   
   
       37 . A method of gaming implemented using an electronic processing system, the method comprising using a computational controller to monitor for the occurrence of a feature awarding event during play of a base game and if a said feature awarding event occurs, awarding an amount of feature credits, and monitoring play of a feature game and decreasing said amount of feature credits dependent on play of the feature game, wherein the method further comprises allowing a player to specify the amount of the credits required to play an activation of the feature game, and if the number of credits required exceeds the number of feature credits available, modifying an award that would otherwise be payable as a result of that activation of the feature game dependent on the proportion of the credits required that are covered by the feature credits that were available. 
   
   
       38 . A method of gaming implemented using an electronic processing system, the method comprising using a computational controller to monitor for the occurrence of a feature awarding event during play of a base game and if a said feature awarding event occurs, awarding an amount of feature credits, monitoring play of a feature game and decreasing said amount of feature credits dependent on play of the feature game, wherein the method further comprises allowing a player to specify the amount of the credits required to play an activation of the feature game, and deducting credits from a second credit meter to reflect the incremental or total decrease in said amount of feature credits resulting from play of the feature game. 
   
   
       39 . A method of gaming implemented using an electronic processing system, the method comprising using a computational controller to monitor for the occurrence of a feature awarding event during play of a base game and if a said feature awarding event occurs, awarding an amount of feature credits, monitoring play of a feature game and decreasing said amount of feature credits dependent on play of the feature game, wherein the method further comprises allowing a player to specify the amount of the credits required to play between each activation of the feature game. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the second credit meter is a credit meter that records credits available for play of the base game. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the feature game is a bought feature requiring the wager of credits which are deducted from the second credit meter. 
   
   
       42 . A gaming system comprising a game controller for controlling play of a base game and a feature game, at least one display to display game play of the base game and the feature game, and a player interface to enable a player to control at least some aspects of play of the base game and the feature game, wherein during play of the base game, if a feature awarding event occurs, a player is awarded with an amount of feature credits, the feature credits usable to buy bets in the feature game, wherein the gaming system controls use of the feature credits in the feature game in response to inputs received from the player interface and maintains a balance of feature credits as the feature credits are used. 
   
   
       43 . A method of gaming implemented using an electronic processing system, the method comprising using a computational controller to monitor for the occurrence of a feature awarding event during play of a base game and if a said feature awarding event occurs, awarding an amount of feature credits, and monitoring play of a feature game and decreasing said amount of feature credits dependent on play of the feature game, wherein the method further comprises allowing a player to specify the amount of the credits wagered in an activation of the feature game. 
   
   
       44 . An electronic storage device for communicating with a game controller of the gaming system, the electronic storage device storing instructions to cause a game controller to implement a method according to  claim 36 .