GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING A GROUP BONUS EVENT FOR LINKED GAMING DEVICES

• US 20090042644A1
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Zielinski, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,602,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming system and method provides a competitive group bonus event for a plurality of players playing at linked gaming devices. Upon activation of the group bonus event, a first one of the players playing at one of the gaming devices can challenge one or more other players to participate in the group bonus event. Players who accept the challenge agree to compete for one or more awards associated with the group bonus event. The players play the primary games of their respective gaming devices independently of the group bonus event. The first player to trigger a bonus game on his or her gaming device wins the group bonus event and is provided with an award. The winner of the group bonus event additionally has the opportunity to play the triggered bonus game.

Claims

18. A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices each configured to communicate with a controller, each of said gaming devices including at least one primary game operable upon a first wager by a player and at least one secondary game operable upon a secondary game triggering event, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a first player playing at one of the gaming devices to challenge one or more of the players playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in a group bonus event;

(b) determining if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group bonus event; and

(c) if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group bonus event;

(i) causing each of the gaming devices of said players who accept the challenge and the first player'"'"'s gaming device to enable the player playing at that gaming device to place the first wager to play the primary game and a second wager in addition to the first wager;

(ii) allocating a portion of the second wagers placed by the players to an accumulated value pool associated with the group bonus event;

(iii) displaying any amounts allocated to the accumulated value pool in a group bonus meter; and

(iv) repeating (i) to (iii) until a first triggering event occurs on one of the gaming devices;

(v) when the first triggering event occurs on one of the gaming devices, identifying the player playing at said gaming device as a winner of the group bonus event; and

(vi) providing the winner of the group bonus event with the amount displayed in the group bonus meter.

1. A gaming system comprising:

a controller; and

a plurality of gaming devices each configured to communicate with said controller, each of said gaming devices including;

(i) at least one primary game operable upon a first wager by a player, and

(ii) at least one secondary game operable upon a secondary game triggering event;

(iii) at least one display device operable to display said at least one primary game and said at least one secondary game;

said controller and said gaming devices configured to;

(a) enable a first player playing one of said gaming devices to challenge one or more of the players playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in a group bonus event;

(b) determine if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group bonus event; and

(c) if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge;

(i) cause each of the gaming devices of the players who accept the challenge and the first player'"'"'s gaming device to enable the player playing at that gaming device to place the first wager to play the primary game and a second wager in addition to the first wager;

(ii) allocate a portion of the second wagers to an accumulated value pool associated with the group bonus event;

(iii) cause a display of any amounts allocated to the accumulated value pool in a group bonus meter;

(iv) repeat (i) to (iii) until the secondary game triggering event occurs on one of said gaming devices;

(v) when the secondary game triggering event occurs on one of said gaming devices, identify the player playing at said gaming device as a winner of the group bonus event; and

(vi) provide the winner of the group bonus event with the amount displayed in the group bonus meter.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said group bonus event is activated upon a group bonus activating event.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein said controller and said gaming devices are configured to, upon an occurrence of said group bonus activating event, identify one of said gaming devices as an activating gaming device and enable the player playing at said activating gaming device to challenge one or more of the players playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in said group bonus event.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said second wager is independent of the first wager.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said players are enabled to place the second wager in addition to the first wager in each play of the primary game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, if any of the players who are participating in the group bonus event does not place the second wager in addition to said first wager, said controller is operable to discontinue the group bonus event with respect to that player.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said gaming devices are adjacently arranged.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller enables the first player to challenge one or more players from the group consisting of:

(i) the player playing at the gaming device to the right of first player'"'"'s gaming device;

(ii) the player playing at the gaming device to the left of first player'"'"'s gaming device; and

(iii) the players playing at the gaming devices on both the right and left of first player'"'"'s gaming device.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller and said gaming devices are configured to enable each challenged player to accept or decline the challenge.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes at least one indicator configured to inform the players playing at the gaming devices which of the players are participating in the group bonus event.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said indicator is displayed on a shared display associated with said plurality of gaming devices.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said indicator is displayed on the display device of each player'"'"'s gaming device who is participating in the group bonus event.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the group bonus meter is displayed on the display device of each player'"'"'s gaming device who is participating in the group bonus event.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the group bonus meter is displayed on a shared display associated with said plurality of gaming devices.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the secondary game triggering event is based on an event occurring during primary game play.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each player'"'"'s chance of winning the group bonus event is based on said player'"'"'s rate of primary game play.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein each player'"'"'s chance of winning the group bonus event is based on said player'"'"'s wager level in the primary game.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, which includes providing the group bonus event upon an occurrence of a group bonus activating event.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, which includes identifying one of said gaming devices as an activating gaming device upon the occurrence of the group bonus activating event, and enabling the player playing at the activating gaming device to challenge one or more players playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in the group bonus event.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said second wager is independent of the first wager.

22. The method of claim 18, which includes enabling the players who are participating in the group bonus event to place the second wager in addition to the first wager in each play of the primary game.

23. The method of claim 18, which includes discontinuing the group bonus event with respect to any player who is participating in the group bonus event and does not place the second wager in addition to the first wager.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said gaming devices are adjacently arranged.

25. The method of claim 18, which includes enabling the first player to challenge one or more players from the group consisting of:

(i) the player playing at the gaming device to the right of the first player'"'"'s gaming device;

(ii) the player playing at the gaming device to the left of the first player'"'"'s gaming device; and

(iii) the players playing at the gaming devices on both the right and left of the first player'"'"'s gaming device.

26. The method claim 18, which includes enabling each of the challenged players to accept or decline the challenge to participate in the group bonus event.

27. The method of claim 18, which includes providing at least one indicator configured to inform the players playing at the gaming devices which of the players are participating in the group bonus event.

28. The method of claim 27, which includes displaying the indicator on a shared display associated with said plurality of gaming devices.

29. The method of claim 27, which includes displaying the indicator on each player'"'"'s gaming device who is participating in the group bonus event.

30. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying the group bonus meter on each player'"'"'s gaming device who is participating in the group bonus event.

31. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying the group bonus meter on a shared display associated with said plurality of gaming devices.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the first triggering event includes an event based on primary game play.

33. The method of claim 18, which includes determining each player'"'"'s chance of winning the group bonus event based on said player'"'"'s rate of primary game play.

34. The method of claim 18, which includes determining each player'"'"'s chance of winning the group bonus event based on said player'"'"'s wager level in the primary game.

35. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying each player'"'"'s chance of winning the group bonus event.

36. The method of claim 18, which is provided through a data network.

35-1. The method of claim 36, wherein the data network is an internet.