Method of gaming, game controller, and a gaming system

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising conducting at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by: generating a game outcome; determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; and randomly determining whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome.

1 . A method of gaming comprising conducting at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by:
 generating a game outcome;   determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; and   randomly determining whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each game round is conducted as a dual game round. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each game round during a feature game is conducted as a dual game round. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising conducting the at least one dual game round in response to receipt of a bet. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , comprising conducting the dual game round irrespective of the type of bet received. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising conducting the at least one dual game round in response to a trigger condition being met. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising conducting a sequence of dual game rounds. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7 , comprising conducting the sequence as a free game sequence. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising randomly determining whether to make the special award by:
 allocating at least one number of a range of numbers to a winning outcome in relation to which a special award is to be made;   randomly selecting a number from the range; and   comparing the selected number with the allocated at least one number to determine whether there is a winning outcome.   
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the special award is one or more of:
 a prize amount;   one or more free games;   one or more repeat win games;   addition of a special symbol to the game; and   an award of a feature game.   
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dual game round is a game round in:
 a spinning reel game;   a dice game;   a ball draw game;   a pin and ball game; or   a card game.   
   
   
       12 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
 conduct at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by:
 generating a game outcome; 
 determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; and 
 randomly determining whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome. 
   
   
   
       13 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to conduct each game round as a dual game round. 
   
   
       14 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to conduct each game round during a feature game as a dual game round. 
   
   
       15 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to conduct the at least one dual game round in response to receipt of a bet. 
   
   
       16 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 15 , arranged to conduct the dual game round irrespective of the type of bet received. 
   
   
       17 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to conduct the at least one dual game round in response to a trigger condition being met. 
   
   
       18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to conduct a sequence of dual game rounds. 
   
   
       19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 18 , arranged to conduct the sequence as a free game sequence. 
   
   
       20 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to randomly determining whether to make the special award by:
 allocating at least one number of a range of numbers to a winning outcome in relation to which a special award is to be made;   randomly selecting a number from the range; and   comparing the selected number with the allocated at least one number to determine whether there is a winning outcome.   
   
   
       21 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12  comprising:
 a outcome generator arranged to generate the game outcome;   a prize evaluator arranged to determine whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; and   a special award module arranged to determine whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome.   
   
   
       22 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the special award module is arranged to determine whether to make a special award each time the outcome generator generates a game outcome. 
   
   
       23 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 12 , implemented, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       24 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display; and   a game controller arranged to:   conduct at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by:   generating a game outcome for display on the display;   determining whether to make an award in respect of the displayed game outcome; and   randomly determining whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome.   
   
   
       25 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct each game round as a dual game round. 
   
   
       26 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct each game round during a feature game as a dual game round. 
   
   
       27 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct the at least one dual game round in response to receipt of a bet. 
   
   
       28 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct the dual game round irrespective of the type of bet received. 
   
   
       29 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct the at least one dual game round in response to a trigger condition being met. 
   
   
       30 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct a sequence of dual game rounds. 
   
   
       31 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the game controller is arranged to conduct the sequence as a free game sequence. 
   
   
       32 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is arranged to randomly determining whether to make the special award by:
 allocating at least one number of a range of numbers to a winning outcome in relation to which a special award is to be made;   randomly selecting a number from the range; and   comparing the selected number with the allocated at least one number to determine whether there is a winning outcome.   
   
   
       33 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the game controller comprises:
 a outcome generator arranged to generate the game outcome;   a prize evaluator arranged to determine whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; and   a special award module arranged to determine whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome.   
   
   
       34 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the special award module is arranged to determine whether to make a special award each time the outcome generator generates a game outcome. 
   
   
       35 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is implemented, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       36 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the display forms part of a player interface further comprising a bet mechanism to enable the player to place a bet. 
   
   
       37 . A method of gaming comprising conducting at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by:
 generating and displaying a primary game outcome of a primary game;   determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome;   generating and displaying a secondary game outcome of a secondary game independently of the primary game outcome; and   determining whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome.   
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , comprising conducting each game round as a dual game round. 
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the secondary game is a feature game. 
   
   
       40 . A method as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the feature game is a second screen feature game. 
   
   
       41 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , comprising conducting the primary and secondary games in response to receipt of a single wager from a player. 
   
   
       42 . A game controller for a gaming system, the gaming controller arranged to:
 conduct at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by:   generating and displaying a primary game outcome of a primary game;   determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome;   generating and displaying a secondary game outcome of a secondary game independently of the primary game outcome; and   determining whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome.   
   
   
       43 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 42 , arranged to conduct each game round as a dual game round. 
   
   
       44 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the secondary game is a feature game. 
   
   
       45 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the feature game is a second screen feature game. 
   
   
       46 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 42 , arranged to conduct the primary and secondary games in response to receipt of a single wager from a player. 
   
   
       47 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 42 , comprising:
 a base game controller arranged to generate the primary game outcome and determine whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome;   a secondary outcome generator arranged to generate the secondary game outcome; and   an evaluator arranged to determine whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome.   
   
   
       48 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 42 , constituted at least in part by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       49 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one display providing first and second display areas; and   a game controller arranged to:   conduct at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by:
 generating and displaying a primary game outcome of a primary game in the first display area; 
 determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; 
 generating and displaying a secondary game outcome of a secondary game independently of the primary game outcome in the second display area; and 
 determining whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome. 
   
   
   
       50 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 42 , arranged to conduct each game round as a dual game round. 
   
   
       51 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the secondary game is a feature game. 
   
   
       52 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the feature game is a second screen feature game. 
   
   
       53 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 49 , arranged to conduct the primary and secondary games in response to receipt of a single wager from a player. 
   
   
       54 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 53 , comprising a bet mechanism operable by the player to place the wager. 
   
   
       55 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the game controller comprises:
 a base game controller arranged to generate the primary game outcome and determine whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome;   a secondary outcome generator arranged to generate the secondary game outcome; and   an evaluator arranged to determine whether to make an award in respect of the secondary game outcome.   
   
   
       56 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 49 , wherein the game controller is constituted at least in part by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. 
   
   
       57 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  and further including a computer program code which when executed implements the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 57  and further including a computer readable medium comprising said computer program. 
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 57  and further including a data signal comprising said computer program code. 
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 57  and further transmitting said program code.