Multiplayer gaming device and methods

• US 20050014554A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Santisi, Steven M., Walker, Jay S., Packes, John M. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/794,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20050014554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

A multiplayer gaming device allows two players to collaboratively play, for example, a Monopoly®-style game against the “house.” Each player may have his own game controls, coin dispenser/acceptor, and display screen. A larger display screen may display the game board and player game characters, shared by the two players and operated by the machine. The players may wager a flat fee per game, and are given an amount of game money to use for the duration of the game. Throughout the game, players take turns spinning dice represented on the display of the gaming device, and move around a Monopoly®-style board. As the players move around the board, game money is deducted as they land on properties owned by house players. A player'"'"'s turn may result in his game piece landing on a game board spot owned by a house player, and cost the player $100 in game money. The game lasts until both players go bankrupt. The total number of game board spaces each player has moved without going bankrupt determines each player'"'"'s payout.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a first spin result for a first player;

generating a second spin result for a second player;

determining whether the first and second spin results are complementary; and

modifying a cumulative outcome based upon a result of determining whether the first and second spin results are complementary.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second spin results are complementary when both spin results include matching symbols.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second spin results are complementary when both spin results include compatible symbols.

4. A method comprising:

generating a first plurality of spin results for a first player during a first time period;

generating a second plurality spin results for a second player during the first time period; and

modifying a cumulative outcome based upon whether the first and second spin results are complementary.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second plurality of spin results are complementary when individual spin results of the first plurality include first game pieces that occur within a predefined second time period after compatible game pieces occur in individual spin results of the second plurality.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second plurality of spin results are complementary when individual spin results in the first plurality include symbols representative of secondary game pieces that occur synchronously with individual spin results in the second plurality that include symbols representative of secondary game pieces that are compatible with the secondary game pieces of the first plurality.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second plurality of spin results are complementary when individual spin results in the first plurality include first game pieces that occur synchronously with individual spin results in the second plurality that include second game pieces that are compatible with the first game pieces of the first plurality.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the first and second plurality of spin results are complementary when individual spin results in the first plurality include first game pieces that occur within a predefined second time period after an occurrence of individual spin results in the second plurality that include second game pieces that are compatible with the first game pieces of the first plurality.

9. A method comprising:

generating a first plurality of spin results for a first player during a first time period;

generating a second plurality spin results for a second player during the first time period; and

modifying a cumulative outcome based upon whether individual spin results in the first plurality include first game pieces that occur within a predefined second time period after compatible game pieces occur in the second plurality.

10. A method comprising:

generating a first plurality of spin results for a first player during a first time period;

generating a second plurality spin results for a second player during the first time period; and

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome during the first time period based upon whether individual spin results in the first plurality include first game pieces that occur synchronously with compatible game pieces occurring in the second plurality.

11. A method comprising:

generating a first plurality of spin results for a first player during a first time period wherein individual spin results include outcomes with symbols and at least one of the symbols is representative of at least one first player game piece;

generating a second plurality spin results for a second player during the first time period wherein individual spin results include outcomes with symbols and at least one of the symbols is representative of at least one second player game piece; and

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome during the first time period based upon whether first player game pieces occur synchronously with second player game pieces.

12. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of spin results for a first player wherein individual spin results include outcomes with symbols and at least one of the symbols is representative of a first player game piece;

generating, concurrently with the plurality of spin results for the first player, a plurality of spin results for a second player wherein individual spin results include outcomes with symbols and at least one of the symbols is representative of a second player game piece; and

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome during the first time period based upon whether the first player game pieces occur synchronously with the second player game pieces.

13. A method comprising:

generating first spin results that each include a subset of symbols selected from among a set that includes at least one symbol that is a first game piece;

generating second spin results while the first spin results are being generated wherein the second spin results each include a subset of symbols selected from a set that includes at least one symbol that is a second game piece;

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome while the spin results are being generated based upon whether outcomes that include the first game piece happen synchronously with outcomes that include the second game piece.

14. A method comprising:

generating first spin results that each include a subset of symbols selected from among a set that includes at least one symbol that is a first game piece;

generating second spin results while the first spin results are being generated wherein the second spin results each include a subset of symbols selected from a set that includes at least one symbol that is a second game piece;

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome while the spin results are being generated based upon whether an outcome that includes the first game piece occurs within a predefined time period after an outcome that includes the second game piece.

15. A method comprising:

generating first spin results that each include a subset of symbols selected from among a set that includes at least one symbol that is a first game piece;

generating second spin results while the first spin results are being generated wherein the second spin results each include a subset of symbols selected from a set that includes at least one symbol that is a second game piece;

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome while the spin results are being generated based upon whether an outcomes that include the first game piece and outcomes that include the second game piece occur in a predefined sequence.

16. A method comprising:

generating first spin results that each include a subset of symbols selected from among a set that includes at least one symbol that is a first game piece;

generating second spin results while the first spin results are being generated wherein the second spin results each include a subset of symbols selected from a set that includes at least one symbol that is a second game piece;

continuously modifying a cumulative outcome while the spin results are being generated based upon occurrence of a sequence of outcomes that include the first game piece and outcomes that include the second game piece occur.

17. A method comprising:

generating a first plurality of spin results for a first player;

generating a second plurality spin results for a second player while the first plurality of spin results are being generated; and

continually modifying a cumulative outcome while the spin results are being generated based upon whether the first and second pluralities of spin results together include a complementary sequence of symbols.