METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINKED PLAY GAMING

• US 20070129149A1
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Inventors: Tedesco, Daniel, Jorasch, James, Gelman, Geoffrey, Santisi, Steven, WALKER, Jay, Tulley, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/671,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for providing linked play via gaming and other devices. In some embodiments, a casino server registers a group for linked play and a group objective and format are established. The linked play commences according to the group format on the gaming devices while the casino server, or another device, concurrently facilitates interaction between the group members operating the gaming devices. The linked play is terminated according to the group format and a determination is made by the casino server whether the group objective has been achieved. Prizes are awarded via the gaming devices if the group objective was achieved.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices;

establishing a competition format for the group play between the two or more players;

conducting game play the respective gaming devices;

determining a winner of the group play based on the competition format and the game play; and

providing a benefit to the winner of the group play.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising accepting wagers from each of the two or more players.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein providing the benefit to the winner comprises providing the wagers from each of the two or more players to the winner.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising deducting a house fee before providing the wagers to the winner.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the competition format comprises setting a criterion to establish the winner.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be highest net winnings.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be highest gross winnings.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be most winning outcomes.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be most winning outcomes above a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be most outcomes with payouts above a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be longest duration of play.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be longest duration of play without a losing outcome.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be longest duration of play without a losing outcome above a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be longest duration of play without winning.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be without running out of money.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be most number of a particular symbol collected.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be largest payout.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein setting the criterion comprises setting the criterion to be most number of gaming decisions.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices comprises receiving a challenge from a first player directed to a second player.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving an acceptance of the challenge from the second player.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices comprises establishing group play between a first group of players and a second group of players.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices comprises registering the two or more players.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices further comprises allowing a first player to find a second player through information derived during the registering.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the registering occurs at one or more of:

the respective gaming devices, a booth, a kiosk and over the internet.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices comprises querying the players whether they would like to participate in group play.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices comprises receiving a request from one of the two or more players to establish a group for group play.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising provide the one player a competition request dialog box so that the one player may generate the request to establish the group for group play.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising detecting a second player at a second gaming device amenable to participating in group play in response to the request.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising prompting the second player to join in the group play.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising receiving an acceptance from the second player to join the group play.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein prompting the second player to join in the group play comprises providing the second player information regarding one or more participants of the group play.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein prompting the second player to join in the group play comprises providing the second player information about at least one of, names of current group members, names of players to whom invitations to join group play have been extended, a group objective, an expected financial commitment by each player, an expected time commitment by each player, and how winnings and losses are effected by joining the group play.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein receiving the request comprises receiving the request at a server from the respective gaming device.

34. A system comprising:

a user interface; and

a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to;

establish group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices;

establish a competition format for the group play between the two or more players;

conduct game play the respective gaming devices;

determine a winner of the group play; and

provide a benefit to the winner of the group play.

35. A computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to:

establish group play between two or more players at respective gaming devices;

establish a competition format for the group play between the two or more players;

conduct game play the respective gaming devices;

determine a winner of the group play; and

provide a benefit to the winner of the group play.

36. A method comprising:

establishing a cooperative multiplayer group of players for group play at respective gaming devices;

establishing a group objective in the group play, wherein the group objective is defined by the players; and

providing a benefit to the players if the group objective is achieved.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein establishing the group objective comprises setting the group objective to be accumulation of a certain amount of winnings.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein establishing the group objective comprises setting the group objective to be collection of matching outcomes within a specified duration.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein setting the group objective to be collection of matching outcomes within the specified duration relates to a time duration.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein setting the group objective to be collection of matching outcomes within the specified duration relates to a number of game starts.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising outputting a duration remaining to achieve a matching outcome.

42. The method of claim 36 wherein establishing the cooperative multiplayer group of players comprises registering each of the players.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein registering each of the players comprises registering at least one of the players at a gaming device.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein registering each of the players comprises receiving a request from a first player to locate a second player to participate in the cooperative multiplayer group.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising locating the second player at least in part on a player tracking identifier.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein registering each of the players comprises registering the players through at least one of a booth, desk, kiosk, and web interface.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein registering each of the players comprises receiving agreement from each of the players to join the cooperative multiplayer group.

48. The method of claim 36 further comprising receiving agreement from each of the players about the group objective.

49. The method of claim 36 further comprising outputting information relating to time remaining before expiration of the group play.

50. The method of claim 36 further comprising providing a paytable with indicia indicating benefits provided if the group objective is achieved.

51. A system comprising:

a user interface; and

a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to;

establish a cooperative multiplayer group of players for group play at respective gaming devices;

establish a group objective in the group play, wherein the group objective is defined by the players; and

provide a benefit to the players if the group objective is achieved.

52. A computer readable medium comprising software with instructions adapted to:

establish a cooperative multiplayer group of players for group play at respective gaming devices;

establish a group objective in the group play, wherein the group objective is defined by the players; and

provide a benefit to the players if the group objective is achieved.