Server based gaming system and method for selectively providing one or more different tournaments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
- initiating, by at least one processor, a tournament for a plurality of tournament players, the tournament comprising a predefined tournament time period and the tournament associated with one or more tournament awards;
enabling each tournament player to use one of a plurality of gaming machines to play a plurality of plays of a tournament game, each gaming machine including;
a housing;
a display device supported by the housing; and
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing including an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a wager button actuatable to place a wager on a play of a primary game, and a cashout button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance;
for each play of the tournament game by one of the tournament players, randomly determining, by the at least one processor, a tournament game outcome;
responsive to an occurrence of a sub-tournament initiation event during the tournament;
selecting, by the at least one processor, a plurality of the tournament players to participate in a sub-tournament at their same, respective gaming machines;
selecting, by the at least one processor, an additional player separate from the tournament players to participate in the sub-tournament;
starting, by the at least one processor, the sub-tournament for the sub-tournament players and the additional player, the sub-tournament comprising a predefined sub-tournament time period, wherein a start of the sub-tournament time period occurs after a start of the tournament time period;
ending, by the at least one processor, the sub-tournament for the sub-tournament players and the additional player, wherein an end of the sub-tournament time period occurs before an end of the tournament time period;
determining, by the at least one processor, a sub-tournament outcome based at least in part on the plays of the tournament game played by the sub-tournament players and the additional player during the sub-tournament time period, the sub-tournament outcome determined before the end of the tournament time period;
enabling, by the at least one processor, all of the sub-tournament players except the additional player to continue play of the tournament game following a determination of the sub-tournament outcome; and
providing a sub-tournament award to one or more of the sub-tournament players and the additional player based on the sub-tournament outcome, the sub-tournament award being distinct from the one or more tournament awards;
determining, by the at least one processor, a tournament outcome based at least in part on the tournament game outcomes for the plays of the tournament games, and wherein the tournament outcome is independent of any sub-tournament awards provided before the expiration of the tournament duration; and
providing the one or more tournament awards to one or more of the tournament players based on the tournament outcome.
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Abstract
A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.
346 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:
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initiating, by at least one processor, a tournament for a plurality of tournament players, the tournament comprising a predefined tournament time period and the tournament associated with one or more tournament awards; enabling each tournament player to use one of a plurality of gaming machines to play a plurality of plays of a tournament game, each gaming machine including;
a housing;a display device supported by the housing; and
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing including an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a wager button actuatable to place a wager on a play of a primary game, and a cashout button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance;for each play of the tournament game by one of the tournament players, randomly determining, by the at least one processor, a tournament game outcome; responsive to an occurrence of a sub-tournament initiation event during the tournament; selecting, by the at least one processor, a plurality of the tournament players to participate in a sub-tournament at their same, respective gaming machines; selecting, by the at least one processor, an additional player separate from the tournament players to participate in the sub-tournament; starting, by the at least one processor, the sub-tournament for the sub-tournament players and the additional player, the sub-tournament comprising a predefined sub-tournament time period, wherein a start of the sub-tournament time period occurs after a start of the tournament time period; ending, by the at least one processor, the sub-tournament for the sub-tournament players and the additional player, wherein an end of the sub-tournament time period occurs before an end of the tournament time period; determining, by the at least one processor, a sub-tournament outcome based at least in part on the plays of the tournament game played by the sub-tournament players and the additional player during the sub-tournament time period, the sub-tournament outcome determined before the end of the tournament time period; enabling, by the at least one processor, all of the sub-tournament players except the additional player to continue play of the tournament game following a determination of the sub-tournament outcome; and providing a sub-tournament award to one or more of the sub-tournament players and the additional player based on the sub-tournament outcome, the sub-tournament award being distinct from the one or more tournament awards; determining, by the at least one processor, a tournament outcome based at least in part on the tournament game outcomes for the plays of the tournament games, and wherein the tournament outcome is independent of any sub-tournament awards provided before the expiration of the tournament duration; and providing the one or more tournament awards to one or more of the tournament players based on the tournament outcome. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A gaming system comprising:
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at least one central controller; and a plurality of gaming machines each having a housing;
a display device supported by the housing; and
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing including an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a wager button actuatable to place a wager on a play of a primary game, and a cashout button actuatable to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance, each gaming machine configured to communicate with the at least one central controller, the at least one central controller and the gaming machines being programmed to;initiate a tournament for a plurality of tournament players, the tournament comprising a predefined tournament time period and the tournament associated with one or more tournament awards; enable each tournament player to use one of the plurality of gaming machines to play a plurality of plays of a tournament game; for each play of the tournament game by one of the tournament players, randomly determine a tournament game outcome; responsive to an occurrence of a sub-tournament initiation event during the tournament; select a plurality of the tournament players to participate in a sub-tournament at their same, respective gaming machines; select an additional player separate from the tournament players to participate in the sub-tournament; start the sub-tournament for the sub-tournament players and the additional player, the sub-tournament comprising a predefined sub-tournament time period, wherein a start of the sub-tournament time period occurs after a start of the tournament time period; end the sub-tournament for the sub-tournament players and the additional player, wherein an end of the sub-tournament time period occurs before an end of the tournament time period; determine a sub-tournament outcome based at least in part on the plays of the tournament game played by the sub-tournament players and the additional player during the sub-tournament time period, the sub-tournament outcome determined before the end of the tournament time period; enable all of the sub-tournament players except the additional player to continue play of the tournament game following a determination of the sub-tournament outcome; and provide a sub-tournament award to one or more of the sub-tournament players and the additional player based on the sub-tournament outcome, the sub-tournament award being distinct from the one or more tournament awards; determine a tournament outcome based at least in part on the tournament game outcomes for the plays of the tournament games, and wherein the tournament outcome is independent of any sub-tournament awards provided before the expiration of the tournament duration; and provide the one or more tournament awards to one or more of the tournament players based on the tournament outcome. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification