Gaming system and apparatus for consecutive ascending awards

Abstract

A method, provided for use with a gaming machine, comprises determining that a bonus play condition is satisfied based on execution of base games by players resulting in base play outcomes, executing a free play based on the bonus play condition to create a free play outcome, determining that a second free play condition is satisfied, executing a second free play based on the free play condition to create a second free play outcome, determining that the second free play outcome is equal or superior to the first free play outcome, updating an additional free plays probability, executing at least another free play based on the updated probability, determining that a free play end condition is met, and displaying results associated with the first free play outcome, the second free play outcome, and an outcome associated with the at least one more of the plurality of free plays.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a non-transitory memory device;   a presentation device; and   a processor coupled to the non-transitory memory device and the presentation device, and programmed to:   determine that a bonus play trigger condition is satisfied based on an execution of a base game resulting in a base play outcome of a plurality of base play outcomes;   execute a free play of a plurality of free plays based on the bonus play trigger condition to create a free play outcome of a plurality of free play outcomes;   determine that a free play termination trigger condition is met;   execute an additional free play of the plurality of free plays if the free play termination trigger condition is not met to create an additional free play outcome;   terminate the free play game if it is determined that the free play termination trigger condition is met;   sort, in ascending order, the payout amount of the free game outcomes, discarding the non-winning outcomes; and   display, on the presentation device, results associated with the sorted free play outcomes.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 display, on the presentation device, one or more symbols of a plurality of symbols representing at least one of the plurality of base play outcomes and the plurality of free play outcomes; and   display, on the presentation device, a free play bonus mode that enables the player to execute the plurality of free plays.   
     
     
         3 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each free play outcome of the plurality of free play outcomes is associated with a payout, said presentation device is configured to present each free play outcome in a sequence that is based on the associated payouts. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to update the probability of additional free plays based on one or more of: an amount wagered by the player, a number of base games played, a number of bonus games played, a time duration between successive instances of the bonus play trigger condition being satisfied, a cumulative amount won by the player, an appearance of one or more symbols, and a mean play-time weight. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface coupled to said processor, wherein said processor is further programmed to determine that a first free play trigger condition is satisfied by receiving, via said communication interface, a first free play notification from at least one of a gaming server and another gaming machine. 
     
     
         6 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 determine a quantity of free plays based on a minimum quantity of free plays, a maximum quantity of free plays, and a random number; and   execute the determined quantity of free plays to create the determined quantity of free play outcomes.   
     
     
         7 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to use a first number and a first type of gaming symbols in the base game that are different from a second number and a second type of gaming symbols in the bonus game. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to apply a weight value to a probability of the bonus play trigger condition being satisfied wherein the weight value applied is directly proportional to (i) the amount wagered by the player, (ii) a number of base games played, and (iii) a preceding time duration in which the bonus play trigger condition has not been satisfied. 
     
     
         9 . A method for use with a gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising a processor, a presentation device, and a non-transitory memory device coupled to said processor, said method comprising:
 determining that a bonus play trigger condition is satisfied based on an execution of a base game resulting in a base play outcome of a plurality of base play outcomes;   executing a free play of a plurality of free plays based on the bonus play trigger condition to create a free play outcome of a plurality of free play outcomes;   determining that a free play termination trigger condition is met;   executing an additional free play of the plurality of free plays if the free play termination trigger condition is not met to create an additional free play outcome;   terminating the free play game if it is determined that the free play termination trigger condition is met;   sorting, in ascending order, the payout amount of the free game outcomes, discarding the non-winning outcomes; and   displaying, on the presentation device, results associated with the sorted free play outcomes.   
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising:
 displaying, on the presentation device, one or more symbols of a plurality of symbols representing at least one of the plurality of base play outcomes and the plurality of free play outcomes; and   displaying, on the presentation device, a free play bonus mode that enables the player to execute the plurality of free plays.   
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein each free play outcome of the plurality of free play outcomes is associated with a payout, said presentation device is configured to present each free play outcome in a sequence that is based on the associated payouts. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein updating the probability of additional free plays further comprises updating the probability based on one or more of: an amount wagered by the player, a number of base games played, a number of bonus games played, a time duration between successive instances of the bonus play trigger condition being satisfied, a cumulative amount won by the player, an appearance of one or more symbols, and a mean play-time weight. 
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein a communication interface is coupled to said processor, further comprising determining that a first free play trigger condition is satisfied by receiving, via said communication interface, a first free play notification from at least one of a gaming server and another gaming machine. 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining a quantity of free plays based on a minimum quantity of free plays, a maximum quantity of free plays, and a random number; and   executing the determined quantity of free plays to create the determined quantity of free play outcomes.   
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising using a first number and a first type of gaming symbols in the base game that are different from a second number and a second type of gaming symbols in the bonus game. 
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising applying a weight value to a probability of the bonus play trigger condition being satisfied wherein the weight value applied is directly proportional to (i) the amount wagered by the player, (ii) a number of base games played, and (iii) a preceding time duration in which the bonus play trigger condition has not been satisfied. 
     
     
         17 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming machine including a presentation device; and   a gaming server configured to:   determine that a bonus play trigger condition is satisfied based on an execution of a base game by a player resulting in a base play outcome of a plurality of base play outcomes;   determine that a bonus play trigger condition is satisfied based on an execution of a base game resulting in a base play outcome of a plurality of base play outcomes;   execute a free play of a plurality of free plays based on the bonus play trigger condition to create a free play outcome of a plurality of free play outcomes;   determine that a free play termination trigger condition is met;   execute an additional free play of the plurality of free plays if the free play termination trigger condition is not met to create an additional free play outcome;   terminate the free play game if it is determined that the free play termination trigger condition is met;   sort, in ascending order, the payout amount of the free game outcomes, discarding the non-winning outcomes; and   display, on the presentation device, results associated with the sorted free play outcomes.   
     
     
         18 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said gaming server is further configured to:
 cause said gaming machine to display, on the presentation device, one or more symbols of a plurality of symbols representing at least one of the plurality of base play outcomes and the plurality of free play outcomes; and   cause said gaming machine to display, on the presentation device, a free play bonus mode that enables the player to execute the plurality of free plays.   
     
     
         19 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein said gaming server is further configured to update the probability of additional free plays based on one or more of: an amount wagered by the player, a number of base games played, a number of bonus games played, a time duration between successive instances of the bonus play trigger condition being satisfied, a cumulative amount won by the player, an appearance of one or more symbols, and a mean play-time weight. 
     
     
         20 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said gaming server is further configured to use a first number and a first type of gaming symbols in the base game that are different from a second number and a second type of gaming symbols in the bonus game. 
     
     
         21 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said gaming server is further configured to:
 generate a random number; and   determine that the free play trigger condition is satisfied when the random number is within a predetermined range.   
     
     
         22 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said gaming server is further configured to:
 determine a quantity of free plays based on a minimum quantity of free plays, a maximum quantity of free plays, and a random number; and   transmit the determined quantity to said gaming machine, wherein said gaming machine is configured to execute the determined quantity of free plays to create the determined quantity of free play outcomes.   
     
     
         23 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said gaming machine is a first gaming machine of a plurality of gaming machines, and wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to apply a weight value to a probability of the bonus play trigger condition being satisfied wherein the weight value applied is directly proportional to (i) the amount wagered by the player, (ii) a number of base games played, and (iii) a preceding time duration in which the bonus play trigger condition has not been satisfied.