Wagering game with player-directed pursuit of award outcomes

Abstract

A method and system for conducting a wagering game includes receiving a wager. A standard game of the wagering game is initiated via a processor. The standard game has an expected value associated therewith. A player-directed secondary game that is associated with the standard game is initiated via a processor. The player-directed secondary game includes a plurality of player-selectable and player-directed game sequences. Each of the game sequences has a predetermined completion threshold capable of being achieved during play of the standard game. A player selection of one of the game sequences of the player-directed secondary game is received. In response to receiving the player selection of one of the game sequences and achieving the predetermined completion threshold for that game sequence during play of the standard game, a secondary award is awarded that is independent of the expected value of the standard game.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game including a standard game in which a player input is received and a wagering game outcome is determined, the method comprising the acts of:
 receiving a player input via a first user interface device;   transforming the player input to electronic data signals at least partially indicative of a wager to play the wagering game;   interpreting, via at least one of one or more processors, the wager from the data signals;   initiating a recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage devices;   initiating, via at least one of the one or more processors, the standard game of the wagering game, the standard game having an expected value associated therewith;   initiating, via at least one of the one or more processors, a player-directed secondary game that is associated with the standard game, the player-directed secondary game including a plurality of player-selectable and player-directed game sequences, each of the game sequences having a predetermined completion threshold capable of being achieved during play of the standard game;   receiving a player selection of one of the game sequences of the player-directed secondary game; and   in response to receiving the player selection of one of the game sequences and achieving the predetermined completion threshold for that game sequence during play of the standard game, awarding a secondary award that is independent of the expected value of the standard game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the standard game includes a basic game and at least one bonus game. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player-directed game sequences are player directed virtual missions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined completion thresholds are transmitted, prior to receiving a player selection of one of the game sequences, in a configuration allowing display of the predetermined completion thresholds on a user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the player-selectable and player-directed games sequences has multiple difficulty levels and each difficultly level has an associated predetermined completion threshold, wherein the higher the difficulty level, the less likely the associated threshold is to be achieved. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the difficulty levels are transmitted, prior to receiving a player selection of one of the game sequences, in a configuration allowing display of the difficulty levels on a user interface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player-directed secondary game includes a virtual character. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting during play of the standard game, in a configuration allowing display on a user interface, the player-directed virtual character interacting with another virtual character. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the interactions increase prior achieving the predetermined completion threshold. 
     
     
         10 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising the acts of:
 receiving a first player input via a first user interface device, the first player input indicative of a wager to play the wagering game;   after receiving the player input, initiating a standard game of the wagering game via at least one of one or more processors, the standard game having an expected value associated therewith;   initiating, via at least one of the one or more processors, a player-directed secondary game that is associated with the standard game, the player-directed secondary game including a plurality of player-selectable and player-directed game sequences, each of the game sequences having a predetermined completion threshold achievable during play of the standard game;   receiving a second player input indicative of a player selection of one of the game sequences of the player-directed secondary game;   during play of the standard game, achieving the predetermined completion threshold associated with the received player selection of one of the game sequences; and   in response to receiving the player selection of one of the game sequences and achieving the predetermined completion threshold associated with the selected bonus game, awarding a non-monetary secondary award.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein after the achieving of the predetermined completion threshold, the player-directed game sequence is saved in a memory in a configuration allowing subsequent display of the game sequence. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award includes accruing points redeemable for unlocking features during subsequent play of a player-directed sequence. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award includes unlocking a bonus variation associated with the standard game. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award includes unlocking a bonus game associated with the standard game, the unlocked bonus game being associated with monetary awards. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the player-directed secondary game includes a player-directed virtual character. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award includes unlocking modifications to the player-directed virtual character. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the unlocked modifications include virtual gear for use by the player-directed virtual character. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award includes unlocking new virtual characters. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award includes unlocking new player-directed game sequences. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the non-monetary secondary award outcome includes unlocking different basic game wagering thresholds for triggering bonus or progressive game features. 
     
     
         21 . A gaming system comprising:
 a credit detector configured to detect a wager to play a wagering game having a standard game and a secondary game;   one or more displays configured to display a randomly selected outcome for the standard game and to display the secondary game;   a controller operative to implement the following acts, including:
 initiating the standard game, the standard game having an expected monetary value associated with achieving a winning outcome in the standard game; 
 initiating the secondary game, the secondary game including a plurality of player-directed and player-selectable game sequences, each of the plurality of game sequences having an associated predetermined completion threshold capable of occurring during play of the standard game; 
 displaying an indicia of at least one of the plurality of game sequences on the one or more displays, the indicia including information on the associated predetermined completion threshold; 
 after the act of displaying, detecting a player selection of one of the game sequences; 
 after the act of detecting the player selection, detecting a player achievement of the predetermined completion threshold for the selected one of the game sequences; and 
 in response to the act of detecting the player achievement, awarding a secondary award that is not associated with the expected monetary value of the standard game. 
   
     
     
         22 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by a controller, the acts of:
 receiving a wager via a user interface device, the wager associate with a wagering game;   initiating, via at least one of one or more processors, the standard game of the wagering game;   initiating, via at least one of the one or more processors, a player-directed secondary game that is associated with the standard game, the player-directed secondary game including a plurality of player-selectable and player-directed game sequences, each of the game sequences having a predetermined completion threshold that is configured to be achievable during play of the standard game;   receiving a player selection of one of the game sequences of the player-directed secondary game; and   in response to receiving the player selection of one of the game sequences and achieving the predetermined completion threshold for that game sequence during play of the standard game, awarding a non-monetary secondary award that is independent of an expected value of the standard game.