Linked game play on gaming devices

• US 10,217,327 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acres Technology
• Original Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Jasson
• Application Number:
  US13/922,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices configured for linked game play. First and second gaming devices that are separately playable by first and second players are electronically linked so that a gaming event being played at the first gaming device may also be being played at the second gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play across multiple gaming devices, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming device, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming device, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming devices, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming devices. These and other arrangements of the present concept may allow cooperative or competitive game play between the first and second player.

Claims

1. A method of sharing game play on a plurality of gaming devices on a network of gaming devices, each gaming device being operable to play an independent game having an outcome comprising a randomly selected plurality of symbols, the method comprising:

delivering physical link tokens to at least two players;

permitting each player to choose a different gaming device on the network;

associating each of the physical link tokens with the corresponding chosen gaming device;

transmitting an invitation to link the chosen gaming devices from one device to the other;

displaying the invitation at the other gaming device;

transmitting one of a link-accept input and a link-decline input from the other gaming device to the one gaming device;

in response to receipt of a link-decline input at the one gaming device, permitting each player to independently play each of the chosen gaming devices;

if a link-accept input is received at the one gaming device;

linking the chosen gaming devices on the network to each other via a server operatively connected to the network;

displaying an identical common game on each gaming device;

receiving value at a first one of the linked gaming devices via at least one of a ticket acceptor, a bill acceptor, and a coin acceptor;

applying at least some of the value as a wager at the first gaming device;

receiving value at a second gaming one of the linked gaming devices via at least one of a ticket acceptor, a bill acceptor, and a coin acceptor;

initiating an instance of a game on the first gaming device in response to receipt of an actuation at a first actuator at the first gaming device;

simultaneously displaying the first instance of the game on a display at the first gaming device and on a display at the second gaming device;

preventing initiation of another instance of the game on the second gaming device during play of the first instance of the game on the first gaming device;

applying at least some of the received value at the second gaming device as a wager on a game played at the second linked gaming device;

initiating a second instance of the game on the second gaming device in response to receipt of an actuation at a second actuator at the second gaming device;

simultaneously displaying the second instance of the game on a display at the second gaming device and on a display at the first gaming device;

preventing initiation of another instance of the game on the first gaming device during play of the second instance of the game on the second gaming device;

providing an indication of the outcomes of games played by the players on both the first and second gaming devices;

continuing to alternate play of an additional instance of the game on one gaming device while preventing initiation of another instance of the game on the other gaming device; and

cashing out any remaining value on the first and second gaming devices via a ticket printed by a printer at each of the gaming devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the first instance of the game includes displaying a spinning reel slot game at the first and second gaming devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the spinning reel slot game includes a mechanical spinning reel display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mechanical spinning reel display includes at least one of a three reel display, a four reel display, or a five reel display.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the spinning reel slot game includes a first video spinning reel display and a second video spinning reel display.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a visual indication to each player when it is his or her turn to play the game.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising a common credit meter that decrements in response to a wager by either player and increments in response to an outcome of each instance of a game played that results in an award.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a cumulative score for each player that is related to the outcome of each game played by the player.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying each player'"'"'s score at each gaming device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a cumulative score for each player that is related to the outcome of each game played by the player.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying each player'"'"'s score at each gaming device.