GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH ACCUMULATING EQUITY

摘要

Method and apparatus are described for conducting a secondary game at a gaming device. In various embodiments, a player may acquire equity in the secondary game in such forms as a location of a game character, a number of symbols aggregated, a degree of completion of a puzzle, or a defensive provision. Certain symbols or outcomes in a primary game, however, may cause the player to lose equity in the secondary game.

主权项

1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one processor; at least one input device; at least one display device; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
(a) cause a credit meter to display an amount of credits;(b) receive an input from a player of a designated wager amount on a play of a game;(c) for the play of the game:
(i) randomly determine a game outcome from a plurality of different game outcomes,(ii) display the determined game outcome,(iii) determine a game award associated with the displayed game outcome, and(iv) increment the credit meter by any determined game award having a value greater than zero;(d) in addition to the credit meter, maintain an amount of equity for the player, said amount of maintained equity being distinct from said credit meter and said equity being maintained by:
(i) accumulating an amount of equity for the player based on the designated wager amount, wherein different designated wager amounts cause an accumulation of different amounts of equity, and(ii) at periodic time intervals, reducing an amount of any accumulated equity for the player; and(e) if a triggering event occurs:
(i) determine whether at least a designated amount of equity is maintained for the player,(ii) if the determination is that at least the designated amount of equity is maintained for the player, display an award associated with the occurrence of the triggering event, said displayed award being based, at least in part, on the amount of equity maintained for the player, and(iii) if the determination is that at least the designated amount of equity is not maintained for the player, not determine, in association with the occurrence of the triggering event, any award based on any amount of equity maintained for the player.