Gaming machine and methods of playing a keno-type game having non-player selectable symbols

Abstract

A method of allowing a player to play a keno-type game on a gaming machine is described herein. The method includes displaying the keno-type game including a plurality of game symbols. The plurality of game symbols includes a set of player selectable game symbols and a non-player selectable game symbol. A first collection of game symbols is selected from the set of player selectable game symbols. A second collection of game symbols is randomly selected from the set of player selectable game symbols and the non-player selectable game symbol. The method includes determining if a triggering condition occurs, wherein the triggering condition is defined as at least one of the randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the non-player selectable game symbol, and generating a game outcome based on the selected first collection and the selected second collection and the occurrence of the triggering condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of allowing a player to play a keno-type game on a gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
 allowing a player to make a wager and responsively displaying, on a display device, a first round of the keno-type game including a plurality of game symbols, the plurality of game symbols including a set of player selectable game symbols and a non-player selectable game symbol;   selecting a first collection of game symbols based on a player selection input received from an input device, the first collection being selected from the set of player selectable game symbols;   randomly selecting a second collection of game symbols, the second collection of game symbols being selected from the set of player selectable game symbols and the non-player selectable game symbol;   determining if a triggering condition occurs, the triggering condition being defined as at least one of the randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the non-player selectable game symbol;   generating an outcome of the first round game based on the selected first collection and the selected second collection and the occurrence of the triggering condition; and   providing a first award determined as a function of the outcome based at least in part on a number of randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the player selected game symbols in the first collection.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing an enhanced award if the triggering condition occurs. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the enhanced award includes at least one of an award multiplier and a second game round. 
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the non-player selectable symbol may be selected during each selection of the second collection game symbols, the method further comprising the steps of:
 determining a number of second collection selections matching the non-player selectable game symbol; and   awarding the player an enhanced award based on the determined number of non-player selectable game symbol matches.   
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the enhanced award includes a multiplier of the first award, the multiplier being indicative of the number of non-player selectable game symbol matches. 
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the game includes a plurality of predefined enhanced awards, each of the predefined enhanced awards being associated with a corresponding number of non-player selectable game symbol matches, the method further comprising the steps of determining the number of second collection selections matching the non-player selectable game symbol and responsively providing the corresponding predefined enhanced award to the player. 
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a number of game symbols being selected for the second collection;   randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the game symbol selections; and, for each selection,   determining if the triggering condition has occurred and responsively stopping the selection of game symbols if the triggering condition occurs.   
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a first number of game symbols being selected for the second collection;   randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the first number of selections; and, for each selection,   determining if the triggering condition has occurred and responsively determining a second number of game symbols being selected for the second collection and randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the second number of selections such that a total number of selections for the second collection is equal to the first number of selections and the second number of selections.   
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of displaying the game outcome having a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a grid, each player selectable symbol being displayed in a corresponding symbol position. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the grid includes a central symbol position, the non-player selectable game symbol being displayed in the central symbol position. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the non-player selectable game symbol is not being displayed in the game outcome. 
     
     
         12 . A gaming machine for displaying a keno-type game, comprising:
 a display device;   a user input device configured to generate a signal indicative of a player's selection input; and   a controller coupled to the display device and the user input device, the controller for allowing a player to make a wager and responsively displaying a first round of the keno-type game on the display device, the keno-type game including a plurality of game symbols, the plurality of game symbols including a set of player selectable game symbols and a non-player selectable game symbol, the controller for selecting a first collection of game symbols based on a player selection input received from an input device, the first collection being selected from the set of player selectable game symbols, the controller for randomly selecting a second collection of game symbols, the second collection of game symbols being selected from the set of player selectable game symbols and the non-player selectable game symbol, the controller for determining if a triggering condition occurs, the triggering condition being defined as at least one of the randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the non-player selectable game symbol, the controller for generating an outcome of the first round game based on the selected first collection and the selected second collection and the occurrence of the triggering condition, and for providing a first award determined as a function of the outcome based at least in part on a number of randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the player selected game symbols in the first collection.   
     
     
         13 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 12 , the controller for providing an enhanced award if the triggering condition occurs. 
     
     
         14 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the enhanced award includes at least one of an award multiplier and a second game round. 
     
     
         15 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the non-player selectable symbol may be selected during each selection of the second collection game symbols, the controller for determining a number of second collection selections matching the non-player selectable game symbol, and for awarding the player an enhanced award based on the determined number of non-player selectable game symbol matches. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the enhanced award includes a multiplier of the first award, the multiplier being indicative of the number of non-player selectable game symbol matches. 
     
     
         17 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the game includes a plurality of predefined enhanced awards, each of the predefined enhanced awards being associated with a corresponding number of non-player selectable game symbol matches, the controller for determining the number of second collection selections matching the non-player selectable game symbol and responsively providing the corresponding predefined enhanced award to the player. 
     
     
         18 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 12 , the controller for determining a number of game symbols being selected for the second collection, for randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the game symbol selections, for determining, for each selection, whether the triggering condition has occurred, and for responsively stopping the selection of game symbols if the triggering condition occurs. 
     
     
         19 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 12 , the controller for determining a first number of game symbols being selected for the second collection, for randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the first number of selections, determining, for each selection, whether the triggering condition has occurred, and for responsively determining a second number of game symbols being selected for the second collection and randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the second number of selections such that a total number of selections for the second collection is equal to the first number of selections and the second number of selections. 
     
     
         20 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 12 , the controller for displaying the game outcome having a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a grid, each player selectable symbol being displayed in a corresponding symbol position. 
     
     
         21 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the grid includes a central symbol position, the non-player selectable game symbol being displayed in the central symbol position. 
     
     
         22 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the non-player selectable game symbol is not being displayed in the game outcome. 
     
     
         23 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including a user input device for accepting a player's selection input and a display device; and   a system controller coupled to each gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices for displaying a keno-type game on at least one gaming device, the keno-type game including a plurality of game symbols, the plurality of game symbols including a set of player selectable game symbols and a non-player selectable game symbol, the system controller for selecting a first collection of game symbols based on a player selection input received from an input device, the first collection being selected from the set of player selectable game symbols, the system controller for randomly selecting a second collection of game symbols, the second collection of game symbols being selected from the set of player selectable game symbols and the non-player selectable game symbol, the system controller for determining if a triggering condition occurs, the triggering condition being defined as at least one of the randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the non-player selectable game symbol, the system controller for generating an outcome of the game based on the selected first collection and the selected second collection and the occurrence of the triggering condition, and for providing a first award determined as a function of the outcome based at least in part on a number of randomly selected game symbols in the second collection matching the player selected game symbols in the first collection.   
     
     
         24 . A system in accordance with  claim 23 , the system controller for providing an enhanced award if the triggering condition occurs. 
     
     
         25 . A system in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the enhanced award includes at least one of an award multiplier and an additional round of the game. 
     
     
         26 . A system in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the non-player selectable symbol may be selected during each selection of the second collection game symbols, the system controller for determining a number of second collection selections matching the non-player selectable game symbol, and for awarding the player an enhanced award based on the determined number of non-player selectable game symbol matches. 
     
     
         27 . A system in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the enhanced award includes a multiplier of the first award, the multiplier being indicative of the number of non-player selectable game symbol matches. 
     
     
         28 . A system in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the game includes a plurality of predefined enhanced awards, each of the predefined enhanced awards being associated with a corresponding number of non-player selectable game symbol matches, the system controller for determining the number of second collection selections matching the non-player selectable game symbol and responsively providing the corresponding predefined enhanced award to the player. 
     
     
         29 . A system in accordance with  claim 23 , the system controller for determining a number of game symbols being selected for the second collection, for randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the game symbol selections, for determining, for each selection, whether the triggering condition has occurred, and for responsively stopping the selection of game symbols if the triggering condition occurs. 
     
     
         30 . A system in accordance with  claim 23 , the system controller for determining a first number of game symbols being selected for the second collection, for randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the first number of selections, determining, for each selection, whether the triggering condition has occurred, and for responsively determining a second number of game symbols being selected for the second collection and for randomly selecting a game symbol for each of the second number of selections such that a total number of selections for the second collection is equal to the first number of selections and the second number of selections. 
     
     
         31 . A system in accordance with  claim 23 , the system controller for displaying the game outcome having a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a grid, each player selectable symbol being displayed in a corresponding symbol position. 
     
     
         32 . A system in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the grid includes a central symbol position, the non-player selectable game symbol being displayed in the central symbol position. 
     
     
         33 . A system in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the non-player selectable game symbol is not being displayed in the game outcome.