Gaming device and method having a first interactive game which determines a function of a second wagering game

• US 20060040735A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,326,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A gaming device including a first player interactive game requiring one or more player inputs which result in an outcome. The outcome does not result in an award provided to the player. In one embodiment, the gaming device determines a paytable employed in the wagering game based on an outcome of the interactive game. In another embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of different wagering games. The gaming device determines which wagering game to provide to the player based, at least in part, on the outcome of the interactive game. Other suitable functions can be employed in the wagering game based on the outcome of the interactive game in accordance with the present invention. In any embodiment, the gaming device provides an outcome to the player for the wagering game which can result in an award.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, including a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each of the gaming machines is in an active state upon a wager by a player on said gaming machine, said method comprising:

(a) enabling one or more players to place a wager;

(b) determining which gaming machines are in an active state;

(c) funding an interactive game pool with a portion of the wagers;

(d) enabling the player of each active gaming machine to play the interactive game;

(e) determining and displaying an interactive game outcome from a plurality of different interactive game outcomes for the interactive game for each active gaming machine, wherein the interactive game outcomes include an interactive game designated outcome;

(f) providing the player of the gaming machine with the interactive game designated outcome an award based on the interactive game pool;

(g) displaying a wagering game to the player of each active gaming machine;

(h) determining a wagering game outcome for each active gaming machine; and

(i) providing any awards to the players of the active gaming machines based on the wagering game outcomes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the award provided to the player of the gaming machine with the designated outcome is equal or substantially equal to the total of the interactive game pool.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the wagers that funds the interactive game pool is a predetermined percentage of each of the wagers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the wagers that funds the interactive game pool is a predetermined amount of each of the wagers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive game is a competition game.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes basing the interactive game outcomes on one of the group consisting of:

point accumulations, lengths of time and a predefined event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game includes a plurality of different paytables and the wagering game outcomes are based on the paytables.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout and said paytables have different volatilities.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes determining any paytables employed for the wagering game based, at least in part, on the obtained interactive game outcome in said play of the interactive game.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout and different volatilities.

14. The method claim 1, which is provided to the player through a data network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data network is an internet.

16. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each of the gaming machines is in an active state upon a wager by a player on said gaming machine;

a plurality of different interactive game outcomes for an interactive game, wherein the interactive game outcomes include an interactive game designated outcome;

a controller in communication with each of said gaming machines, wherein the controller is operable with the gaming machines to;

(a) enable each of one or more players to place a wager;

(b) determine which gaming machines are in an active state;

(c) fund an interactive game pool with at least a portion of the wagers;

(d) enable the player of each active gaming machine to play the interactive game;

(e) determine and display one of the interactive game outcomes for each active gaming machine;

(f) provide the player of the gaming machine with the interactive game designated outcome an award based on the interactive game pool;

(g) display a wagering game to the player of each active gaming machine;

(h) determine a wagering game outcome for each active gaming machine; and

(i) provide any awards to the player based on the wagering game outcome.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the award based on the interactive game pool is equal or substantially equal to the total of the interactive game pool.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the portion of the wagers to fund the interactive game pool is a predetermined percentage of each of the wagers.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the portion of the wagers to fund the interactive game pool is a predetermined amount of each of the wagers.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the interactive game is a competition game.

21. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the interactive game outcomes on one of the group consisting of:

point accumulations, lengths of time and a predefined event.

22. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the wagering game includes a plurality of paytables and the wagering game outcomes are based on the paytables.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

24. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout.

25. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein any paytables employed for the wagering game are determined based, at least in part, on the obtained interactive game outcome in said play of the interactive game.

26. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout.

27. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

28. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout and different volatilities.

29. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) enabling one or more players to each place a wager;

(b) funding an interactive game pool with a portion of the placed wagers;

(c) enabling the players who placed wagers to play an interactive game;

(d) determining and displaying interactive game outcomes from a plurality of different interactive game outcomes for said play of the interactive game, said displayed interactive game outcomes including an interactive game designated outcome, wherein the interactive game designated outcome is obtained by one of the players who placed the wagers;

(e) providing the player who obtained the interactive game designated outcome an interactive game award based on the interactive game pool;

(f) for each player who placed the wager;

(1) displaying at least one wagering game to the player,

(2) determining a wagering game outcome for said wagering game, and

(3) providing any awards to the player associated with any winning outcomes obtained in said wagering game.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the interactive game award is equal or substantially equal to the total of the interactive game pool.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the portion of the wagers that fund the interactive game pool is a predetermined percentage of each of the wagers.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the portion of the wagers that fund the interactive game pool is a predetermined amount of each of the wagers.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the interactive game is a competition game.

34. The method of claim 29, which includes basing the interactive game outcomes on one of the group consisting of:

point accumulations, lengths of time and a predefined event.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the wagering game includes a plurality of different paytables and the wagering game outcomes are based on the paytables.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout and said paytables have different volatilities.

38. The method of claim 35, which includes determining the paytable employed for the wagering game based, at least in part, on the obtained interactive game outcome in said play of the interactive game.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout and said paytables have different volatilities.

42. The method of claim 29, which includes displaying the same wagering game for each of the players who placed the wager.

43. The method of claim 29, which includes displaying a different wagering games for a plurality of the players who placed the wager.

44. The method claim 29, which is provided to the players through a data network.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the data network is an internet.

46. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a plurality of different interactive game outcomes for an interactive game, wherein the interactive game outcomes include an interactive game designated outcome; and

a controller in communication with each of said gaming machines, wherein the controller is operable with the gaming machines to;

(a) enable one or more players to each place a wager;

(b) fund an interactive game pool with a portion of the placed wagers;

(c) enable the players who placed wagers to play the interactive game;

(d) determine and display interactive game outcomes for said play of the interactive game, wherein the interactive game designated outcome is obtained by one of the players who placed the wagers;

(e) provide the player who obtained the interactive game designated outcome an interactive game award based on the interactive game pool;

(f) for each player who placed the wager;

(1) display at least one wagering game to the player,

(2) determine a wagering game outcome for said wagering game, and

(3) provide any awards to the player associated with any winning outcomes obtained in said wagering game.

47. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein interactive game award is equal or substantially equal to the total of the interactive game pool.

48. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the portion of the wagers to fund the interactive game pool is a predetermined percentage of each of the wagers.

49. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the portion of the wagers to fund the interactive game pool is a predetermined amount of each of the wagers.

50. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the interactive game is a competition game.

51. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the interactive game outcomes are based on one of the group consisting of:

point accumulations, lengths of time and a predefined event.

52. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the wagering game includes a plurality of paytables and the wagering game outcomes are based on the paytables.

53. The gaming system of claim 52, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

54. The gaming system of claim 52, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout.

55. The gaming system of claim 52, wherein the paytables employed for the wagering game is determined based, at least in part, on the obtained interactive game outcome in said play of the interactive game.

56. The gaming system of claim 55, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout.

57. The gaming system of claim 55, wherein at least two of the paytables have different volatilities.

58. The gaming system of claim 55, wherein at least two of the paytables have a same or substantially a same average expected payout and have different volatilities.

59. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the same wagering game is displayed for each of said players.

60. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the same wagering game is displayed for each of said players.