Upgrade symbol collection for skill-based games in a gaming system

Abstract

Technology for providing bonus symbol collection for skill-based games in a gaming system is disclosed. An electronic gaming machine (EGM) may collect one or more upgrade symbols generated from an outcome of a primary game funded by one or more wagers such that the one or more upgrade symbols are categorized according to a type of symbol for use in a skill-based bonus game. The skill-based bonus game may be accessed according to the one or more primary game outcomes. One or more upgrade symbols may be used to enhance player performance of one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs during the skill-based bonus game.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a gaming system, by at least one processor, comprising:
 collecting one or more upgrade symbols generated from an outcome of a primary game funded by one or more wagers, the one or more upgrade symbols categorized according to a type of symbol for use in a skill-based bonus game;   accessing and executing the skill-based bonus game according to the one or more primary game outcomes; and   using gameplay functionality associated with the one or more upgrade symbols to enhance player performance of one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs during the skill-based bonus game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs by a player using one or more input devices associated with the EGM during play of the skill-based bonus game. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transferring at least a portion of control during the skill-based bonus game to the one or more devices associated with the EGM to detect the input of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs, wherein the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs are selected from a list comprising at least one quantifiable input of a mental skill and at least one quantifiable input of a physical skill. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a skill-based bonus award according to the player performance associated with the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a skill-based bonus award according to a number of the one or more upgrade symbols used and a detected number of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs received during the skill-based bonus game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a consolation award when the player performance during the skill-based bonus game is determined not to meet a defined threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transferring the one or more upgrade symbols generated from the outcome of the primary game from the primary game and displayed in a first section on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the EGM to an upgrade symbol meter displayed on a second section on the GUI of the EGM; and   displaying the one or more upgrade symbols in the upgrade symbol meter in the second section on the GUI of the EGM while the player continues to play the primary game.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing a credit balance for a placement of the one or more wagers to receive potential winnings resulting from the outcome of the primary game;   selecting the primary game from a group of games consisting of video slots, video poker, video blackjack, video keno, video bingo, and a reel game;   collecting at least three of the upgrade symbols for one or more categories of symbol types generated from the outcome of the primary game;   using the gameplay functionality associated with the at least three of the upgrade symbols from the one or more categories of symbol types during the skill-based bonus game; and   equating a quantifiable skill-based input equal to a skill-based action such that an increase in a number of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs increases the skill-based action by a factor of one.   
     
     
         9 . An electronic gaming machine (EGM) comprising:
 a display;   a communication module;   a memory device; and   a processor executing instructions stored in the memory device, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
 collect one or more upgrade symbols generated from an outcome of a primary game funded by one or more wagers such that the one or more upgrade symbols are categorized according to a type of symbol for use in a skill-based bonus game; 
 access and execute the skill-based bonus game according to the one or more primary game outcomes; and 
 use gameplay functionality associated with the one or more upgrade symbols to enhance player performance of one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs during the skill-based bonus game. 
   
     
     
         10 . The EGM of  claim 9 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to detect the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs by a player using one or more input devices associated with the EGM during play of the skill-based bonus game. 
     
     
         11 . The EGM of  claim 10 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to transfer at least a portion of control during the skill-based bonus game to the one or more devices associated with the EGM to detect the input of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs, wherein the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs are selected from a list comprising at least one quantifiable input of a mental skill and at least one quantifiable input of a physical skill. 
     
     
         12 . The EGM of  claim 9 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to perform one from a group consisting of:
 generate a skill-based bonus award according to the player performance associated with the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs;   generate a skill-based bonus award according to a number of the one or more upgrade symbols used and a detected number of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs received during the skill-based bonus game; and   provide a consolation award when the player performance during the skill-based bonus game is determined not to meet a defined threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The EGM of  claim 9 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to:
 transfer the one or more upgrade symbols generated from the outcome of the primary game from the primary game and displayed in a first section on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the EGM to an upgrade symbol meter displayed on a second section on the GUI of the EGM; and   display the one or more upgrade symbols in the upgrade symbol meter in the second section on the GUI of the EGM while the player continues to play the primary game.   
     
     
         14 . The EGM of  claim 9 , wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to:
 establish a credit balance for a placement of the one or more wagers to receive potential winnings resulting from the outcome of the primary game;   select the primary game from a group of games consisting of video slots, video poker, video blackjack, video keno, video bingo, and a reel game;   collect at least three of the upgrade symbols for one or more categories of symbol types generated from the outcome of the primary game;   use the gameplay functionality associated with the at least three of the upgrade symbols from the one or more categories of symbol types during the skill-based bonus game; and   equate a quantifiable skill-based input equal to a skill-based action such that an increase in a number of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs increases the skill-based action by a factor of one.   
     
     
         15 . A gaming system comprising:
 one or more server processors; and   one or more server memory that store executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more server processors, cause the one or more server processors to:
 collect one or more upgrade symbols generated from an outcome of a primary game funded by one or more wagers such that the one or more upgrade symbols are categorized according to a type of symbol for use in a skill-based bonus game; 
 access and execute the skill-based bonus game according to the one or more primary game outcomes; and 
 use gameplay functionality associated with the one or more upgrade symbols to enhance player performance of one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs during the skill-based bonus game. 
   
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein when executed by the one or more server processors, the executable instructions cause the one or more server processors to detect the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs by a player using one or more input devices associated with the EGM during play of the skill-based bonus game. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 16 , wherein when executed by the one or more server processors, the executable instructions cause the one or more server processors to transfer at least a portion of control during the skill-based bonus game to the one or more devices associated with the EGM to detect the input of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs, wherein the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs are selected from a list comprising at least one quantifiable input of a mental skill and at least one quantifiable input of a physical skill. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein when executed by the one or more server processors, the executable instructions cause the one or more server processors to perform one from a group consisting of:
 generate a skill-based bonus award according to the player performance associated with the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs;   generate a skill-based bonus award according to a number of the one or more upgrade symbols used and a detected number of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs received during the skill-based bonus game; and   provide a consolation award when the player performance during the skill-based bonus game is determined not to meet a defined threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein when executed by the one or more server processors, the executable instructions cause the one or more server processors to:
 transfer the one or more upgrade symbols generated from the outcome of the primary game from the primary game and displayed in a first section on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the EGM to an upgrade symbol meter displayed on a second section on the GUI of the EGM; and   display the one or more upgrade symbols in the upgrade symbol meter in the second section on the GUI of the EGM while the player continues to play the primary game.   
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein when executed by the one or more server processors, the executable instructions cause the one or more server processors to:
 establish a credit balance for a placement of the one or more wagers to receive potential winnings resulting from the outcome of the primary game;   select the primary game from a group of games consisting of video slots, video poker, video blackjack, video keno, video bingo, and a reel game;   collect at least three of the upgrade symbols for one or more categories of symbol types generated from the outcome of the primary game;   use the gameplay functionality associated with the at least three of the upgrade symbols from the one or more categories of symbol types during the skill-based bonus game; and   equate a quantifiable skill-based input equal to a skill-based action such that an increase in a number of the one or more quantifiable skill-based inputs increases the skill-based action by a factor of one.