Gaming system and method of providing an electronic game with varying volatility

Abstract

A gaming machine and method provide electronic games to a player. A controller is configured to set a volatility factor to a first volatility value, set a number of plays to a first random number of games, and establish a counter of a number of games played. The controller is also configured to display a first instance of the game on a display device, randomly select an outcome of the first instance of the game, display the outcome on the display device, and award an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the first instance of the game and the volatility factor if the outcome of the first instance of the game is a winning outcome. The controller counts the number of games played and, if a predetermined number of games have been played, sets the volatility factor to another volatility value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing a game to a player, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a gaming machine having a display and a user interface;   (b) setting a volatility factor to a first volatility value;   (c) setting a number of plays to a first random number of games   (d) establishing a counter of a number of games played;   (e) allowing the player to make a wager using the user interface;   (f) displaying the game on a display device;   (g) randomly selecting an outcome of the game and displaying the outcome on the display device;   (h) awarding an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the game and the volatility factor;   (i) incrementing the counter;   (j) comparing the counter to the number of games played and, if the counter is equal to the number of games played:
 (1) resetting the counter; 
 (2) setting the volatility factor to another volatility value; 
 (3) setting the number of plays to another random number of games played; and, 
   (k) repeating steps (e)-(j).   
     
     
         2 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , the volatility factor being a paytable. 
     
     
         3 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , the volatility factor being a number of free spins. 
     
     
         4 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , the first volatility factor being a first paytable and the another volatility factor is a second paytable. 
     
     
         5 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , the volatility factor being a multiplier. 
     
     
         6 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , the volatility factor being table of multiplier values, the method including the step of random selecting one of the multiplier values in the table of multiplier values, the award being a function of the outcome of the game and the randomly selected one of the multiplier values. 
     
     
         7 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the game is a secondary game, the secondary game being triggered during a primary game. 
     
     
         8 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , the award being one of a set amount and a progressive award. 
     
     
         9 . A method, as set forth in  claim 8 , the progressive award being one of a plurality of progressive award levels. 
     
     
         10 . A method, as set forth in  claim 8 , the award being one of a set amount, a progressive award, and a number of free spins. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing primary and secondary games to a player, including the steps of:
 (1) providing a gaming machine including a display and a user interface;   (2) setting a volatility factor to a first volatility value;   (3) setting a number of plays of the primary game to a first random number of games;   (4) establishing a counter of a number of games played of the primary game;   (5) allowing the player to make a wager on the primary game using the user interface;   (6) randomly selecting an outcome of the primary game;   (7) displaying the primary game on the display;   (8) determining if the outcome of the primary game is a winning outcome; and,   (9) awarding the player a primary award as a function of the outcome, the wager made by the player, and a predetermined paytable; and,   (10) determining if a triggering condition occurred in the primary game and initiating a secondary game, for the secondary game:
 (a) randomly selecting an outcome of the game and displaying the outcome on the display device; 
 (b) awarding an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the game and the volatility factor; 
 (c) incrementing the counter; 
 (d) comparing the counter to the number of games played and, if the counter is equal to the number of games played:
 (i) resetting the counter; 
 (ii) setting the volatility factor to another volatility value; 
 (iii) setting the number of plays to another random number of games; and, 
 
   (11) repeating steps (5)-(10).   
     
     
         12 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the volatility factor being a paytable. 
     
     
         13 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , the first volatility factor being a first paytable and the another volatility factor is a second paytable. 
     
     
         14 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the volatility factor being a number of free spins. 
     
     
         15 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the volatility factor being a multiplier. 
     
     
         16 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the volatility factor being table of multiplier values, the method including the step of random selecting one of the multiplier values in the table of multiplier values, the award being a function of the outcome of the game and the randomly selected one of the multiplier values. 
     
     
         17 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the award being one of a set amount and a progressive award. 
     
     
         18 . A method, as set forth in  claim 17 , the progressive award being one of a plurality of progressive award levels. 
     
     
         19 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the outcome of the secondary game being one of a set amount, a progressive award, and a number of free spins. 
     
     
         20 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the triggering condition being the appearance of one or more triggering symbols in the outcome of the primary game. 
     
     
         21 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the triggering condition being the play of the primary game. 
     
     
         22 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a display;   a user interface; and   a controller coupled to the display and the user interface, the controller configured to set a volatility factor to a first volatility value, to set a number of plays to a first random number of games, and to establish a counter of a number of games played, the controller configured to allow the player to make a wager using the user interface, to display a first instance of the game on a display device, to randomly select an outcome of the first instance of the game, to display the outcome on the display device, and to award an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the first instance of the game and the volatility factor if the outcome of the first instance of the game is a winning outcome, and the controller configured to increment the counter, to compare the counter to the number of games played and, if the counter is equal to the number of games played: resetting the counter, setting the volatility factor to another volatility value, and setting the number of plays to another random number of games played, the controller being configured to configured to allow the player to make a second wager using the user interface, to display a second instance of the game on the display device, to randomly select an outcome of the second instance of the game, to display the outcome of the second instance of the second game on the display device, and to award a second award to the player as a function of the outcome of the second instance of the game and the volatility factor if the outcome of the second instance of the game is a winning outcome.   
     
     
         23 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , the volatility factor being a paytable. 
     
     
         24 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 23 , the first volatility factor being a first paytable and the another volatility factor is a second paytable. 
     
     
         25 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , the volatility factor being a number of free spins. 
     
     
         26 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , the volatility factor being a multiplier. 
     
     
         27 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , the volatility factor being table of multiplier values, the method including the step of random selecting one of the multiplier values in the table of multiplier values, the award being a function of the outcome of the game and the randomly selected one of the multiplier values. 
     
     
         28 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the game is a secondary game, the secondary game being triggered during a primary game. 
     
     
         29 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 22 , the award being one of a set amount and a progressive award. 
     
     
         30 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 29 , the progressive award being one of a plurality of progressive award levels. 
     
     
         31 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 29 , the award being one of a set amount, a progressive award, and a number of free spins. 
     
     
         32 . A gamine machine for providing primary and secondary games to a player, comprising:
 a display;   a user interface; and   a controller coupled to the display and the user interface, the controller configured to set a volatility factor to a first volatility value, to set a number of plays of the primary game to a first random number of games, and to establish a counter of a number of primary games played, the controller configured to allow the player to make a wager using the user interface, to display the primary game on a display device, to randomly select an outcome of the first instance of the game, to display the outcome on the display device, and to award an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the primary game and the volatility factor if the outcome of the primary game is a winning outcome, the controller being configured to increment the counter, to display the secondary game on the display device, to randomly select an outcome of the secondary game, to display the outcome of the secondary game on the display device, and to award a second award to the player as a function of the outcome of the secondary game and the volatility factor if the outcome of the second instance of the game is a winning outcome, the controller configured to compare the counter to the number of games played and, if the counter is equal to the number of games played: resetting the counter, setting the volatility factor to another volatility value, and setting the number of plays to another random number of games played.   
     
     
         33 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 32 , the volatility factor being a paytable. 
     
     
         34 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 33 , the first volatility factor being a first paytable and the another volatility factor is a second paytable. 
     
     
         35 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 32 , the volatility factor being a number of free spins. 
     
     
         36 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 32 , the volatility factor being a multiplier. 
     
     
         37 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 32 , the volatility factor being a table of multiplier values, the method including the step of random selecting one of the multiplier values in the table of multiplier values, the award being a function of the outcome of the game and the randomly selected one of the multiplier values. 
     
     
         38 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 32 , the award being one of a set amount and a progressive award. 
     
     
         39 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 38 , the progressive award being one of a plurality of progressive award levels. 
     
     
         40 . A gaming machine, as set forth in  claim 32 , the outcome of the secondary game being one of a set amount, a progressive award, and a number of free spins.