U.S. patent application number 12/112734 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-05 for encouraging multiple player participation in primary or secondary bonus games.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bally Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Aaron Lewis.
Application Number | 20090275392 12/112734 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41257460 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090275392 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis; Aaron |
November 5, 2009 |
ENCOURAGING MULTIPLE PLAYER PARTICIPATION IN PRIMARY OR SECONDARY
BONUS GAMES
Abstract
A gaming method and system for networked gaming machines to
award a cooperative prize is described. The method comprises
networking a plurality of gaming machines and operating a primary
game on each of the plurality of networked gaming machines. The
primary game has a normal state that is engaged after a wager is
received and before awarding a prize. The method then proceeds to
trigger a cooperative feature state that corresponds to awarding an
initial prize when a first networked gaming machine triggers the
cooperative feature state. The cooperative feature state is then
communicated to at least one other gaming machine. The initial
prize is increased when two or more networked gaming machines enter
the cooperative feature state.
Inventors: |
Lewis; Aaron; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Virtual Legal, LLC
P.O. Box 22028
Carson City
NV
89721
US
|
Assignee: |
Bally Technologies, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
41257460 |
Appl. No.: |
12/112734 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3283 20130101; G07F 17/3274 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A first gaming machine configured to award a cooperative prize,
the first game machine comprising: at least a primary game
configured to operate on the first gaming machine; a cooperative
award state configured to operate on the first gaming machine,
wherein the cooperative award state is invoked upon the occurrence
of a designated game play event; a networking component operably
disposed in the first gaming machine, the networking component
configured to send and receive data, including sending an
indication that the first gaming machine is in the enhanced award
state when the designated game event occurs; and where the first
gaming machine is configured to determine an enhanced award
associated with the cooperative award state using a value received
via the network component, the received value based on a number of
gaming machines that entered the cooperative award state during a
time period associated with the cooperative award state.
2. The first gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the indication of
entering the cooperative award state sent over the network
component is further configured for reception by a server that
communicates the cooperative award state to other networked game
machines.
3. The first gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the cooperative
award state is triggered by the first gaming machine, further
comprises a timer that is also triggered by the first gaming
machine, wherein the timer provides the time period.
4. The first gaming machine of claim 3, wherein after the duration
of the time period associated with the first cooperative award
state, either an initial prize or the enhanced prize is awarded by
the first gaming machine.
5. The first gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the indication of
entering the cooperative award state sent over the network
component is further configured for reception by a server and where
the network component receives a communication from the server that
at least one other gaming machine entered the cooperative award
state before the first gaming machine.
6. The first gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the cooperative
award state is triggered by another gaming machine, further
comprises a timer that is initiated by the other gaming machine,
wherein the timer provides the time period.
7. The first gaming machine of claim 6, wherein after the duration
of the first cooperative award state, either no prize or an
enhanced prize is awarded by the first gaming machine.
8. A gaming system configured to award a cooperative prize, the
gaming system comprising: a plurality of networked gaming machines,
wherein each networked gaming machine comprises at least a primary
game; a cooperative award state configured to operate on each
networked gaming machine, wherein the cooperative award state is
invoked upon the occurrence of a designated game play result; a
networking component in operable communication with each networked
game machine; and a cooperative award communicable to each
networked gaming machine that enters the cooperative award state
during a time period, the time period established as a result of a
first networked gaming machine entering the cooperative award state
when no cooperative award state is current, and where the
cooperative award is based on a total number of gaming machines
that enter the cooperative award state during the time period.
9. The gaming system of claim 8 further comprising a server that is
communicatively coupled to each networked gaming machine, wherein
the server is informed that one of the networked gaming machines
has entered the cooperative award state.
10. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the server is configured
to communicate the cooperative award state to each networked gaming
machine eligible to participate in the current cooperative award
state.
11. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the eligible gaming
machines are those within a geographically localized area.
12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the cooperative award
state that is triggered by one of the networked gaming machines,
further comprises a timer supplied by the server that provides a
duration for the cooperative award state.
13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein each networked gaming
machine that enters the cooperative award state during the duration
of the cooperative award state is updated by the server about
changes to the cooperative prize.
14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein after the duration of
the cooperative award state, the cooperative prize value, or a
factor usable to calculate the cooperative prize value, is
propagated to each of the networked gaming machines that were in
the cooperative award state.
15. A gaming method for networked gaming machines to award a
cooperative prize, the method comprising: networking a plurality of
gaming machines; operating at least a primary game on each of the
plurality of networked gaming machines, where there is a game play
result which comprises triggering entry into a cooperative award
state; triggering a cooperative award state; determining a time
period for the triggered cooperative award state; determining when
gaming machines enter the cooperative award state during the time
period; and determining a cooperative award based on a total number
of gaming machines that entered the cooperative award state during
the time period, due to the occurrence of an eligible game play
event on each gaming machine that enters the cooperative award
state.
16. The gaming method of claim 15 further comprising
communicatively coupling a server to each networked gaming machine,
wherein the server is informed when one of the networked gaming
machines enters the cooperative award state.
17. The gaming method of claim 16 wherein the server is configured
to communicate the cooperative award state to each networked gaming
machine that forms a predetermined set of gaming machines.
18. The gaming method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined set of
gaming machines comprise networked gaming machines within a
geographically localized area.
19. The gaming method of claim 18 further comprising configuring
the timer by the first gaming machine to enter the cooperative
award state.
20. The gaming method of claim 18 further comprising configuring
the timer by the server.
21. The gaming method of claim 16 further comprising triggering the
cooperative award state by the server and determining the time
period by the server.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a system and method for enhanced
game awards using networked gaming machines. More particularly, the
invention relates to increasing prize amounts based on the number
of gaming machines enrolled or participating during the pendency of
a special game state.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Gaming machines such as slot machines always include a
primary game. The primary game is begun when a coin, credit,
coupon, cash or other financial instrument is input into the gaming
machine. A player is then given an opportunity to place a wager,
after which a game result is determined based on a random
event.
[0003] The wager selection process for the primary game can be
relatively complicated depending on the type of game. For example,
in a typical slot machine the player has to select the amount to
wager, the number of paylines to play, and possibly even evaluate a
choice of paytables. The player then proceeds to "pull" the slot
handle by either pulling a physical handle, or, on most modern slot
machines, by pushing a button that initiates game play for the
primary game.
[0004] There are a variety of different awards that a player may
win in the primary game such as credits, a progressive, or, in some
games, the ability to play a bonus game. The player is awarded a
prize based on the paytable and an underlying random event which is
mapped into primary game results. For those games offering a
progressive jackpot win event, a portion of the player's wagers
from a plurality of gaming machines are placed in a "pot" and each
player playing on a participating gaming machine has an opportunity
to win the progressive jackpot by making a specially designated
wager.
[0005] One type of primary game award or prize is entry into a
secondary game, also called a bonus game. A winning game outcome in
the bonus game may result in awarding a bonus prize that is added
to the prize won in the underlying primary game. Alternatively, a
winning game outcome in the bonus game may result in multiplying
the prize in the underlying primary game. A more detailed
discussion of a bonus game feature is provided in U.S. Pat. No.
7,351,144 entitled BONUS GAME USING A SUBSET OF REELS, currently
commonly owned and hereby incorporated in full, by reference.
[0006] Generally, prizes that are awarded as a result of secondary
game play are based on players competing for the same prize, such
as the progressive jackpot awards, or players competing for fixed
prizes offered just in the particular gaming machine being
played.
SUMMARY
[0007] A first gaming machine configured to award a cooperative
prize is described. The first game machine comprises a primary
game, a cooperative feature state, a networking component, and an
increased prize. The primary game is configured to operate on the
gaming machine and includes a normal game state that is engaged
after a wager is received and before awarding a prize. The
cooperative feature state is also configured to operate on the
gaming machine and awards an initial prize. The first gaming
machine also has a networking component configured to communicate
the cooperative feature state to another networked gaming machine
having the same primary game. The initial prize is increased to an
increased prize in the cooperative feature state when the other
networked gaming machine enters the cooperative feature state.
Thus, when two or more networked gaming machines enter the
cooperative feature state, the initial prize is increased. In one
illustrative embodiment, the cooperative feature state is
associated with a timer and has a fixed duration during which the
cooperative feature state is active. In another embodiment, the
cooperative feature state is associated with a location such as a
slot bank.
[0008] Additionally, a gaming system configured to award a
cooperative prize is also described. The gaming system comprises a
plurality of networked gaming machines, a cooperative feature
state, a networking component and an increased prize. Each
networked gaming machine comprises a primary game having a normal
state that is engaged after a wager is received and before awarding
a prize. The cooperative feature state is configured to operate on
each gaming machine and awards an initial prize. The networking
component associated with each networked gaming machine is
configured to communicate the cooperative game feature state to
another networked gaming machine having the same primary game. The
initial prize is increased when at least two networked gaming
machines enter the cooperative feature state.
[0009] Furthermore, a gaming method for networked gaming machines
to award a cooperative prize is described. The method comprises
networking a plurality of gaming machines and operating a primary
game on each of the plurality of networked gaming machines. The
primary game has a normal state that is engaged after a wager is
received and before awarding a prize. The method then proceeds to
trigger a cooperative feature state that corresponds to awarding an
initial prize when a first networked gaming machine triggers the
cooperative feature state. The cooperative feature state is then
communicated to at least one other gaming machine. The initial
prize is increased when two or more networked gaming machines enter
the cooperative feature state.
DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be more fully understood by
reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative, not
limiting, purposes.
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative gaming system configured to
award a cooperative prize.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an illustrative gaming
machine having a processor and networking component suitable for
interfacing with the illustrative system in FIG. 1 that is
configured to award the cooperative prize.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative operational sequence for an
illustrative client gaming machine and server.
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B show an illustrative flowchart of a method
for networked gaming machines to award the cooperative prize.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the
following description is illustrative and not in any way limiting.
Other embodiments of the claimed subject matter will readily
suggest themselves to such skilled persons who also have the
benefit of this disclosure. It shall be appreciated by those of
ordinary skill in the art that the devices described hereinafter
may vary as to configuration and as to details, and the methods may
vary as to details and the order of the actions without departing
from the newly disclosed material herein.
[0016] The gaming machine, systems and methods described herein
encourages as many players as possible to enter a unique and
special game play sequence during a proscribed period, where the
awards made during the period are enhanced based on the number of
gaming machines participating. This unique state is called an
enhanced award state, and may be implemented as a primary game
enhanced award state or a secondary or bonus game enhanced award
state. Player participation is encouraged because, during the
enhanced award state, the amount of any base award (the
non-enhanced award) is enhanced based on the number of additional
gaming machines that enter the enhanced award state after the
initial gaming machine triggers an enhanced award state.
[0017] The unique characteristics of the enhanced award state
encourage "cooperative" behavior between players in the sense that
once the enhanced award state is triggered by one machine, or is
otherwise enabled for a set of machines (for example, by a server
for a bank of machines), other players have an incentive to try and
trigger an enhanced award state on other participating gaming
machines, where they will automatically get enhanced awards.
Because this type of game play encourages "cooperative" behavior,
it is also called the cooperative award state. As used in this
disclosure, enhanced award state and cooperative award state mean
the same state.
[0018] The gaming machine, systems and methods described herein are
configured to award an enhanced value of a game win event, based on
the number of gaming machines that enter a cooperative award state
concurrently. In one embodiment, the cooperative award state is
enabled for entrance by a designated set of gaming machines for a
fixed duration, and in another embodiment the cooperative award
state remains open until a designated number of machines enter the
qualifying bonus game. In a further embodiment, the cooperative
prize is awarded within a particular location such as a slot bank.
In the combined embodiment described, the cooperative award state
is enabled for a fixed duration and within a particular location.
Thus, the gaming machine, system and method described herein enable
a community of players to wager cooperatively and be awarded a
larger prize per win event in each gaming machine, instead of
competing against one another for a single prize, e.g. progressive
jackpot.
[0019] As used herein, "cooperative prize", "cooperative award",
"enhanced award", "enhanced prize" or similar descriptions are
understood to mean any increase in value over a value of a
specified or eligible win event awarded when the gaming machine is
not in an enhanced ward state, and further where the increased
value is based on the number of gaming machines that have entered
into an enhanced award state (cooperative award state) during a
determinable period. The start of the determinable period may be
determined by a gaming machine or by a server, depending on the
embodiment. Likewise, the extent of the determinable period may be
determined by a gaming machine or by a server, depending on the
embodiment.
[0020] An additional advantage of the gaming systems and method
described herein is that it encourages more people to play
designated sets of gaming machines, an example of which is a slot
bank, since more active machines result in an increased cooperative
prize. The systems and methods described herein also readily adjust
or "scale" so that as more gaming machines participate in the
cooperative game, the greater the cooperative prize.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1 there is generally shown an illustrative
gaming system 1 suitable for use when implementing cooperative
award state systems. The system 1 comprises a plurality of local
area servers 2a, 2b and 2c that are each communicatively coupled to
networked gaming machines or player terminals (PT), also called
electronic gaming machines (EGMs), via a local network 5a, 5b, and
5c, respectively. The servers may be any serviceable type, running
the server software constructed to implement the functions
described herein, and may include but are not limited to IBM 4000
or 6000 series, Microsoft Servers, Linux servers, etc. Typically
the network connections will be implemented using industry standard
Ethernet LAN networking technology, but any electronic or wireless
network technology may be used. The application software embodying
the functional aspects of the present invention will communicate
with the PTs using the same underlying communications protocols as
are currently in use for other functions such as player card
systems, gaming machine monitoring and reporting, etc.
[0022] For the illustrative system embodiment, the local network 5a
supports a multiplayer bank of networked gaming machines 10a, 10b
and 10c that is also referred as a "slot bank" 15 that is
configured to enable use of the cooperative award state and its
associated enhanced awards. The total number of gaming machines in
the slot bank 15 varies; however, the gaming machines are typically
adjacent to one another. The network gaming machines 10a, 10b and
10c in the slot bank 15 are communicatively coupled to the local
area server 2a or "central handler." Note, the illustrative local
area server 2a in FIG. 1 is confined to a geographic location such
a slot bank on the slot floor of a casino property, but in general
may be remote from the gaming machines.
[0023] An illustrative cooperative prize display 7a, 7b and 7c is
communicatively coupled to the local area server 2a, 2b, and 2c,
respectively, for display of an initial prize 40 and a cooperative
prize 42. As described in more detail below, the initial prize 40
is the base or non-enhanced bonus game win amount for an eligible
bonus game. This will be displayed in a manner appropriate to each
specific implementation. For example, if the eligible gaming
machines all have eligible bonus games having the same payouts and
paytables, an absolute amount may be shown. An example might be:
"Your Normal Bonus Win Is $5.00! See How Many Other Players You Can
Get Involved So All Can Win Higher Amounts!" In this example the
absolute amount is the single base win amount for all the gaming
machines that can participate, or $5.00. In other implementations
the base bonus payout will differ. For example, some eligible
machines might be penny machines with a base eligible game play
event (also a designated game play result) having a value of $1.00,
while other eligible machines might be $1.00 machines with a base
eligible game play event having a value of $100.00. In this
example, initial prize 40 may list each type of machine's base
bonus prize in a list or by similar means, or, may reference the
player to a certain part of the display on the individual gaming
machines.
[0024] The cooperative prize 42 is awarded to all gaming machines
that participate in an enhanced game state session and whose game
(either the primary game or a bonus game) hits an eligible game
event. Note that in general, an eligible game event that qualifies
for an enhanced award while a gaming machine is in an enhanced
award state will be a small subset of all the game events that
yield a win. As with the initial or base bonus amount 40, the way
in which the enhanced payout 42 is displayed will vary depending on
each implementation or embodiment.
[0025] The simplest case is when the enhanced value is a fixed
amount per added gaming machine. For example, for a given bank of
gaming machines the enhanced award may be an additional $5.00 for
each gaming machine that enters the enhanced award state after the
initial gaming machine triggers the state (put differently, all
participating gaming machine minus one, which is the number of
additional gaming machines participating in an enhanced award
state). This could be displayed as single current value,
incremented as additional gaming machines become participating
gaming machines until the enhanced award state expires.
Alternatively, the amount 42 may be expressed as a calculation of
the gaming machine's base pay amount. One example of such a
calculation might be, "We now have 2 additional players, so you
will win 4 times your normal win amount!" This allows for gaming
machines having different base pay amounts to participate in a same
enhanced award state. Note that like 40, 42 may be expressed as a
list of two or more values corresponding to the different base
bonus pay gaming machines that are eligible to participate in the
enhanced bonus game play.
[0026] Awards 40 and 42 may be funded by play of the gaming
machines 10a 10b, and 10c (e.g., a percentage of wagers, or from
the pay table). Other means for funding the enhanced awards further
include funding through a marketing budget. In another embodiment
the cooperative prize 42 may also be funded using "expired" awards
(e.g., expired points, coupons, etc.), or by any other means
selected by a casino. If funds for the enhanced awards are derived
from a source other than a portion of player's wagers, the
presently described enhanced award state and the associated
enhanced awards may be more easily enabled for use in class II
gaming establishments, described further below.
[0027] The illustrative local area servers 2a, 2b, and 2c may
further be coupled to a wide area server 6 via a suitable
communication connection (e.g., wide area network, frame relay).
Under such an arrangement, each of the gaming machines 10a, 10b and
10c in each network 5a, 5b and 5c may be awarded a cooperative
award. By way of example and not of limitation, the illustrative
local area networks 5a, 5b and 5c may reside at a separate site or
casino location from the other local networks, thereby allowing
broader participation among players visiting the various sites or
locations. Additionally, with greater participation, the
cooperative award 42 may also increase. Other server systems 11 may
also be communicatively coupled to each illustrative network 5a, 5b
and 5c. For example, other server systems 11 may include player
tracking systems or accounting systems.
[0028] The illustrative gaming system 1 comprises a plurality of
networked gaming machines 10a, 10b and 10c that support a
cooperative award state resulting in an increased cooperative
award. Embodiments include, but are not limited to, the networking
of standalone class III gaming machines, the networking of class
III gaming machines where the display portion and the gaming engine
portion of each logical machine do not physically reside on the
same physical machine, and the networking of class II gaming
machines.
[0029] FIG. 1's servers (2a, 2b, and 2c) will typically have
installed thereon software that performs the functions described
herein, for the networked portion of the presently disclosed
enhanced game state and associated enhanced awards. If the PTs are
traditional class III gaming machines, where the game logic as well
as presentation/graphics and other logic all reside on each
machine, the servers primarily coordinate the enhanced game state
invocation, its time duration, the addition of other eligible
gaming machines during the time periods including keeping track of
each eligible game win event on the eligible gaming machines, and
finally the value of any final award amounts (this may be passed to
each gaming machine as a factor to be used by each gaming machine
in making a final value determination).
[0030] If the PTs are class III gaming machines with separated game
logic, a game engine associable with each PT may reside on one or
more of the servers, as well as the software that enables the
functionality described in the present disclosure.
[0031] If the PTs are class II gaming machines, the servers have
thereon the software needed to run the pooled games needed for
class II gaming establishments, in addition to the software
described above to enable the functionality disclosed herein. They
need not be on the same server. For example, the enhanced award
state software could be on server 11 in FIG. 1, while the class II
pooled prize selection software could be on servers 2a, 2b, and 2c.
Unlike class III game results, class II game results are selected
from a fixed pool of results, where each game play corresponds to
the selection of an element from a shared pool. The game results
are then sent to the gaming machine, which must represent the
already determined game result in a manner that appears to the
player as if it were a random event on the gaming machine.
Described are two possible embodiments of the enhanced award state
in class II casinos.
[0032] A first embodiment funds the enhanced award state from a
different source than the underlying pools. When a game event (pool
element selection) indicates entrance into an enhanced award state,
the pool server sends an indicator to both the individual gaming
machine it is currently serving, and the enhanced award state
server (which may be the same server). The enhanced award state
server determines a time period for which the enhanced award state
will be active. For those gaming machines in the set of gaming
machines that may participate in the enhanced award state, any
individual game play event (in class II gaming this means the
selection of a pool element) which results in the selection of an
enhanced award state element during the time period which puts that
gaming machine into the enhanced award state.
[0033] After the time period ends, the number of gaming machines in
the enhanced award pool is used to calculate an additional win
amount for each participating gaming machine. In class II casinos,
banks of machines typically have primary games with the same basic
payout amounts (due to the common pool being used). It is expected
that a common embodiment of the enhanced award state is a simple
constant adder, corresponding to the value of the underlying games.
For example, in a bank of quarter ($0.25) gaming machines, the
enhanced award state would multiply each gaming machine entrant by
an even multiple of $0.25. The funding for the amount given to each
gaming machine after the time period for the enhanced award state
ends does not come from the pooled games, but rather from a
marketing budget, an unclaimed awards pool, or other external (to
the primary game pool) funding source.
[0034] In a second embodiment, the enhanced award state may be
funded by a secondary pool of game results. This embodiment is more
complex than the first, as it may require players to "pay for" a
secondary pool element upon the entrance of each additional gaming
machine. The secondary pool may be set up as a "loss pool", where
the cost of a pool element (once the gaming machine is eligible to
draw from the pool by entrance into the enhanced award state) is
either free (requiring, perhaps, the player to bet by pushing a
confirm button) or nominal ($0.01), and where the value of each
pool element is a set amount plus the nominal bet amount, therefore
appearing to the player as a fixed added win amount for each new
gaming machine that enters the enhanced award state.
[0035] The ways in which the class II embodiments can be
implemented will depend heavily on the laws of the jurisdiction
where each casino is located. The two embodiments given above are
understood to be two generally exemplar embodiments which will need
to be modified, perhaps extensively, as needed for any particular
jurisdiction. Other class II embodiments will come to the mind of
those skilled in the art of implementing class II gaming systems,
who also have the benefit of the present disclosure.
[0036] The details for implementing each of the three gaming
architectures just described (class III standalone, class III with
remote gaming engines, and class II) are known to persons of skill
in their respective gaming system implementation arts (skill in
class III gaming systems, or skill in class II gaming systems). The
material of the present disclosure is usable with any of these
known systems, as well as to any mix (for example, a casino with
some standalone class III machines and some remote gaming engine
class III machines), as well as with systems not explicitly
described.
[0037] Each networked gaming machine is configured to operate a
primary game in a normal state. During game play, a designated game
event occurs which places the game into an enhanced game award
state. Note that this game event may occur in a primary game, a
secondary game, a tertiary game, a bonus game, or any other
reachable game event. When the cooperative award state is
triggered, the cooperative award is an initial prize 40 that is
displayed on display 7a. Additionally, when the cooperative award
state is triggered, the cooperative game state may be communicated
to other networked gaming machines eligible to participate in this
enhanced award state. In this case, each gaming machine will then
know that if game play results in an eligible game event, an
enhanced award will be made. Alternatively, the server may not
notify each gaming machine, in which case each gaming machine, upon
the occurrence of an eligible game event, will query the server to
see if an enhanced award state is to start or is already in
progress. If it is already in progress, the gaming machine simply
waits for the server to tell it when the enhanced award state is
over, and what amounts or factors to use in making its enhanced
award.
[0038] Thus, the base or initial prize is increased when at least
two networked gaming machines enter the cooperative award state,
and a resulting cooperative prize value 42 is displayed on display
7a.
[0039] The cooperative award state may be triggered by one of the
networked gaming machines, local area servers 2a, 2b and 2c, or
other server systems 11. Although a client-server architecture is
described in FIG. 1, a peer-to-peer network, combination of
client-server and peer-to-peer, or other such system architecture
may also be employed. In the case of a pure peer-to-peer network,
the software that would have been run on a server will be run on a
designated gaming machine, with the designated gaming machine
taking on the functional role of the server.
[0040] By way of example, after the cooperative award state has
been triggered by illustrative gaming machine 10a, the illustrative
server 2a communicates that the cooperative feature state has been
"opened" to the remaining networked gaming machines 10b and 10c.
Thus, the networked gaming machines in the slot bank 15 have
entered the cooperative feature state.
[0041] The cooperative feature state is associated with a timer and
has a fixed duration during which the cooperative feature state is
active. The cooperative feature state may also be communicated to
the limited group of networked gaming machines 10a, 10b and 10c
within a local geographic area, such as a slot bank. In the
illustrative embodiments described herein, the cooperative prize is
increased each time an additional networked gaming machine enters
the cooperative feature state. The cooperative prize may be
increased by a multiplier or by adding a fixed or dynamic number of
credits to the initial prize 40.
[0042] In operation, if a player interacting with the illustrative
primary game associated with a first networked gaming machines,
e.g. slot machine, is awarded a prize because an illustrative
feature symbol has been hit, then the first networked game machine
enters a cooperative award state. The cooperative award state may
be triggered by either the local server 2a or one of the networked
gaming machines. The cooperative award state comprises a timer that
provides a duration for the cooperative award state. Each networked
gaming machine that enters the cooperative award state during the
duration of the cooperative award state is updated by the server
about changes to the cooperative award. The increases to the
cooperative award 42 are displayed on display 7a, the networked
gaming machines 10a, 10b, 10c, or any combination thereof. The
increased cooperative award 42 is then awarded to each of the
networked gaming machines in the cooperative award state. If,
during the limited time of the cooperative award state, another
networked gaming machine also hits the illustrative cooperative
award symbol, the cooperative award for both networked gaming
machines is modified by doubling, a multiplier, an added increment
or any other such increase in award. The increase of the award is
dependent on the number of networked gaming machines that obtain a
winning cooperative award symbol. After the limited time has
passed, all machines return to a normal play state. Thus, after the
cooperative award state closes, each of the networked gaming
machines that entered the cooperative award state return to the
state it was in prior to entering the enhanced award state. If, for
example, the gaming machine was in a bonus game, the gaming machine
returns to the normal bonus game state and proceeds to evaluate its
current status, including determining if it is triggered to return
to the primary game, a secondary game, another bonus game play
event, etc.
[0043] The illustrative embodiment described herein could also be
implemented in software using a multiplayer protocol. For example,
it shall be appreciated that the illustrative system described
herein may be implemented with software downloads using the
download and configuration server system and slot management system
described in patent publication 2008/0064501 entitled DOWNLOAD AND
CONFIGURATION CAPABLE GAMING MACHINE OPERATING SYSTEM, GAMING
MACHINE AND METHOD, currently commonly owned and hereby
incorporated in full, by reference.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 2, there is generally shown a block
diagram of an illustrative networked gaming machine 10a having a
processor 12 coupled to a memory 14 configured to allow a
cooperative prize to be awarded. The illustrative networked gaming
machine 10a further comprises an input/output (I/O) interface 16
which is coupled for communication with the processor 12. The I/O
interface 16 allows a player to interact (i.e., provide input
controls and receive output signals) with the game 30 executed by
the processor 12 via a plurality of devices, generally designated
as controls 18, display device 20, status indicator 22, network
interface device 26, and other I/O devices 28 each of which are
operatively coupled for communication to the I/O interface 16. The
controls 18 generally comprise input buttons, switches,
touch-screen controls, and/or other input controls to allow a
player to provide game input to the gaming machine 10 such as
player options, selections, game commands, among others. The
display device 20 generally comprises a monitor or other video
output device (e.g., LCD panel) for communicating game output
information to the player.
[0045] The status indicator 22 indicates status information to the
player (e.g., cooperative prize state enabled, time remaining for
cooperative award state). The network device 26 generally comprises
a communication device such as a network card or serial device for
communicating with other network devices such a local area server
2a or other server systems 11 via a network which is generally
coupled to the network device 26. Other I/O devices 28 may also be
provided, such as speakers, lights, alarms, etc. The enrollment
module 32 which is executed by the processor 12 carries out several
operations to track and maintain the gaming machine's status in the
enhanced award state, as well as a player's status if
applicable.
[0046] The illustrative enrollment module 32 monitors the networked
gaming machine 10 to determine whether the requirements for entry
to the cooperative award state and the eligibility for the
cooperative prize have been met. The enrollment module 32 also
indicates the gaming machine's status through the status indicator
22. The enrollment module 32 further notifies the player when the
cooperative award state is about to expire or change.
[0047] The game 30 generally includes a primary (or base) game and
may also include a secondary (or bonus) game. The game 30 and the
enrollment module 32 are normally provided as software instructions
stored on a memory (such as an EPROM or other storage) which is
read and executed by the processor 12 during operation. The game 30
operating on the networked gaming machine 10a may include a slot
machine game, poker game, keno game, bingo game, video lottery
game, and other like game.
[0048] The enhanced award state and associated enhanced awards
described herein may also be embodied in a system where a server
causes or detects a trigger event instead of, or in addition to, a
trigger event from a gaming machine. In this embodiment, a server
may have its own method of triggering the enhanced award state. An
example of such a method includes the use of a timer which measures
the time passed since the last invocation of the enhanced award
state. If, for example, more than 24 hours has elapsed since the
last time the server participated in an enhanced award state, the
server may randomly, or at preset intervals, enable the enhanced
award state to encourage game play on its bank of gaming machines.
In this case, each gaming machine that thereafter enters the
enhanced award state will be awarded an enhanced payout based on
the total number of gaming machines in the enhanced state, without
subtracting itself. This accounts for the fact that that,
functionally, the gaming machine bank is acting as if an anonymous
gaming machine triggered the enhanced game play state and therefore
all gaming machines entering the enhanced state during the pendency
of this bonus game count towards the additional payout amount. Any
similar method of handling the fact the server, and not a gaming
machine, triggered the round may also be used. The use of the
server to entice players to a specific slot bank or other
collection of gaming machines may be enhanced by displaying
enticing graphics and associated sounds on both the large display
7, as well as at each gaming machine that is now in an enhanced
award state. This is useful to enable players to quickly identify
gaming machines in the enhanced award state.
[0049] In operation, a first networked game machine such as gaming
machine 10a is configured to initiate a primary game. The primary
game is configured to operate on the networked gaming machine 10a
and includes a normal game state that is engaged after a wager is
received. The resulting game play event may result in the networked
gaming machine 10a entering a cooperative feature state that begins
with an initial prize and may result in an increased cooperative
prize. The gaming machine 10a is configured to communicate the
cooperative feature state to at least one networked gaming machine;
but more typically the cooperative feature state is communicated to
a plurality of networked gaming machines.
[0050] The cooperative award state is typically triggered by a game
event that is also a win event having an initial prize, but the
initial prize is increased when another networked gaming machine
enters the cooperative feature state resulting in a cooperative
prize. Thus, when two or more networked gaming machines enter the
cooperative award state, the initial prize is increased, and that
same increased cooperative prize is awarded to the plurality of
networked gaming machines that entered the cooperative award
state.
[0051] In one operative embodiment, the cooperative award state is
triggered by the first networked gaming machine 10a, and the
cooperative award state corresponding to the illustrative first
networked gaming machine is communicated to illustrative server 2a
which, in turn, communicates the cooperative award state to other
networked game machines configured to be enabled in the same shared
enhanced award state. Generally, after the cooperative award state
is triggered by the first networked gaming machine 10a, a timer is
also triggered that provides a duration for the cooperative award
state. After the duration of the cooperative award state has been
completed, either the initial award 40 or the increased cooperative
award 42 is awarded to the first networked gaming machine. Note
that if a cooperative award state had already been established and
was further within its time period, this would be called a current
cooperative award state and would be used to disallow the
establishment of a second parallel cooperative award state. The
current cooperative award state must expire (for a given set of
gaming machines) before a next cooperative award state is
established.
[0052] In another operative embodiment, the cooperative award state
is triggered by another networked gaming machine 10a, and the
cooperative award state corresponding to the first gaming machine
is communicated to illustrative server 2a and the server 2a informs
the first gaming machine 10a that at least one other gaming machine
entered the award state before the first gaming machine 10a (e.g.
networked gaming machine 10b). Similar to the previous operative
embodiment, after the cooperative award state is triggered by the
other gaming machine 10b, a timer that has been triggered by gaming
machine 10b controls the duration of the cooperative award state.
After the cooperative award state has expired, either no prize or
the increased cooperative prize is awarded to the networked gaming
machine 10a.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown an illustrative
operational sequence 100 for an illustrative networked client
gaming machine and server. In operation, the illustrative networked
client 101 begins a normal play state 102, in which a wager has
already been placed and the determination is made whether to award
a prize. At block 104, the networked client gaming machine enters a
cooperative feature state (note: for the purposes of this
disclosure, "cooperative feature state" and "cooperative award
state" have equivalent meaning).
[0054] In the illustrative example, the networked client 101 is
awarded a prize because an illustrative feature symbol has been hit
at block 104 and communicates the beginning of the cooperative
feature state at arrow 106 to server 107 that begins with the
server 107 announcing to other networked clients (not shown) that
the cooperative feature state has been triggered at block 108. By
way of example and not of limitation, the triggering event for
beginning the cooperative feature state may vary and may include
triggering by a feature game state, awarding a prize to the slot
bank, triggering by one or more players' point collection, or other
such triggering event for a primary game, bonus game, or
combination thereof.
[0055] The operational sequence then continues to arrow 110 where
the server informs the client gaming machine 101 of the prize that
the client 101 may be awarded. If the client is the first to hit
the cooperative feature state, the initial prize corresponding to
the cooperative feature state is communicated to the client 101. If
another gaming machine has already entered the cooperative feature
state, then arrow 110 informs the client 101 that the client has
entered an existing feature state and an increased cooperative
prize has been awarded to the client 101.
[0056] At block 112, a countdown timer is initiated by the server
107, and the server determines whether more EGMs have entered the
cooperative feature state at block 114. At block 116, the countdown
timer is ended and the duration of the cooperative feature state
has expired. If more EGMS has entered the cooperative feature state
at block 114 then the cooperative prize is increased. By way of
example and not of limitation, the cooperative prize is incremented
at block 118. The cooperative prize may also be doubled or have an
associated multiplier. Note, that if the client 101 had not entered
the cooperative feature state 104 during a game session, then the
client would not receive the cooperative prize.
[0057] The updated cooperative prize is communicated from the
server to the client by arrow 120 resulting in the client 101
receiving the illustrative increased cooperative prize. After the
countdown timer has expired and the prize has been awarded or
limited time has passed, the cooperative feature state ends and all
machines return to a non-enhanced play state.
[0058] By way of example and not of limitation, the illustrative
operational sequence 100 is related to an illustrative slot bank
embodiment operating in a local area network environment.
Additionally, this illustrative operation sequence may be expanded
to include an entire casino property and across multiple slot
banks. Furthermore, the gaming system could operate in a wide area
network that ties together networked gaming machines in different
properties and supports awarding the cooperative prize.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B there is shown an illustrative
flowchart 200 of a method for networked gaming machines to award
the cooperative prize. The method is initiated at block 202 where
an illustrative player obtains credits that are wagered in a
networked gaming machine at block 204. The illustrative gaming
machine is the networked gaming machine 10a described in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2. After wagering credits the player initiates a normal game
playing state 206 during which a player may select the game to
play, the number of paylines to play, analyze a paytable, or any
other such activity associated with a normal game playing state for
a primary game. Thus, the gaming machine operates a primary game
having a normal state that is engaged after a wager is
received.
[0060] The method then proceeds to decision diamond 208, where a
determination is made to award the player a prize. The
determination may be made by engaging a random number generator
(RNG) and using the RNG output to determine a corresponding
paytable entry, thereby determining whether the player is awarded a
prize for that particular game session. If no prize is awarded, the
player returns to block 204 and starts another game session.
However, if the player is awarded a prize at decision diamond 208,
the method continues to decision diamond 210 where a determination
is made whether the player has entered a feature game state
(enhanced award state).
[0061] If the player has not entered the feature game state
(enhanced award state), the method proceeds to block 212 where the
player is awarded a prize according to the game rules for the
primary game, or a bonus prize according to the rules for the bonus
game, or a combination thereof.
[0062] If the player has entered the feature game state (enhanced
award state), the method proceeds to block 216 in FIG. 4B and the
triggering event for the feature game state (enhanced award state)
is verified for the particular networked gaming machine. In a
peer-to-peer embodiment, the triggering event for the feature game
state (enhanced award state) is communicated to a plurality of
peer-to-peer networked gamine machines. The triggering event for
the group play varies and may be dependent on the primary game or
bonus game. Regardless the triggering event results in the player
entering the cooperative award state.
[0063] In general, the cooperative feature state is communicated to
each networked gaming machine within a localized geographic area
such as a slot bank. However, there may be alternative embodiments
where the localized geographic area is expanded to a single casino
property or a plurality of casino properties.
[0064] At decision diamond 218, an illustrative group play server
such as local server 2a described in FIG. 1 determines whether the
group play server is already in the cooperative award state. If the
cooperative feature state has already been initiated (i.e. the
countdown timer has already been initiated), the method proceeds to
block 220 where the cooperative prize is modified based on the
number of networked gaming machines that are already in the
cooperative feature state. The initial prize is increased when two
or more networked gaming machines enter the cooperative feature
state. Thus, the greater the quantity of networked gaming machines
that have entered the cooperative feature state, the greater the
cooperative prize. The method then proceeds to block 222 where the
countdown timer described above counts down until the duration of
cooperative feature state has been completed.
[0065] Returning to decision diamond 218, if the cooperative
feature state has not been previously initiated, the method
proceeds to block 224 where the group play server begins the
countdown timer. Additionally, in block 224 the initial award is
displayed as previously described in FIG. 1. The method then
continues to block 222 where the countdown timer continues the
countdown process and waits for other networked gaming machines to
enter the cooperative feature state. During the cooperative feature
state, the illustrative server 2a updates each of the networked
gaming machines about changes to the cooperative prize.
[0066] After the duration of the cooperative feature state has
expired, the method continues to block 226 where the cooperative
prize is awarded to all the networked gaming machines that entered
the cooperative feature state. After awarding the cooperative prize
at block 226, the game session is ended and a new game session is
initiated at block 204. When generating or determining the prize
awards, either an award is calculated for each gaming machine based
on that gaming machine's base or initial prize amount, or, an award
is calculated as a same-amount-adder award to each gaming machine
based on the number of machines that were in the cooperative game
state when the timer expired (does not use the gaming machine's
base pay amount). An example of an award amount based on each
gaming machine's initial or base award amount might be
((number-of-machines-in-cooperative-award-state).times.(initial-amount)),
calculated for each gaming machine in the cooperative award state.
An example of an award that is the same-amount-adder type is
((number-of-machines-in-cooperative-award-state).times.(fixed-dollar-amou-
nt)), which is calculated once, and that amount awarded to each
participating gaming machine. Clearly these are just examples; the
formulas may be as simple or complex as needed for each particular
implementation.
[0067] In summary, the gaming machine, systems and methods
described herein are configured to award a cooperative prize. In
the illustrative combined embodiment described above, the
cooperative prize is awarded for a fixed duration and for a
particular set of gaming machines. Thus, the gaming machine, system
and method described herein enable a community of players to wager
cooperatively and be awarded a larger prize, instead of competing
against one another for a single prize, e.g. progressive jackpot.
An additional advantage of the gaming systems and method described
herein is that it encourages more people to play in a given slot
bank since more active machines result in an increased cooperative
prize. The systems and methods described herein also can adjust or
"scale" so that as more gaming machines participate in the
cooperative game, the greater the cooperative prize.
[0068] It is to be understood that the detailed description of
illustrative embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes.
The scope of the claims is not limited to these specific
embodiments or examples. The gaming machine, systems and methods
described herein support a group play style of game where winning
is cooperative as opposed to players competing for the same prize,
such as a progressive award, or where players compete for fixed
prizes that correspond to the particular gaming machine. Various
structural limitations, elements, details, and uses can differ from
those just described, or be expanded on or implemented using
technologies not yet commercially viable, and yet still be within
the inventive concepts of the present disclosure. The scope of the
invention is determined by the following claims and their legal
equivalents.
* * * * *