PLAYER GAMING CONSOLE, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM

• US 20090131143A1
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

Abstract

Games, networked gaming systems, gaming machines and methods are disclosed that provide various player-centric games and rewards the casino patrons, as well as systems games, rewards, and tournaments to the casino patrons.

Claims

1. A networked gaming system, comprising:

one or more player console devices, wherein a player console device presents one or more wagering games to a player;

a system gaming server connected to the one or more player console devices via a network, wherein the system gaming server administrates one or more wagering games at one or more player console devices; and

an activation system for recognizing at least one trigger that causes the system gaming server to offer a tournament gaming opportunity to a player at one or more console player console devices;

wherein a player console device comprises;

a rewards level accumulator to apprise a player as to a level that the player has achieved including player eligibility;

an instructional component, wherein the instructional component presents game information;

a game naming component, wherein the game naming component enables naming of a game;

a promotional cash level component, wherein the promotional cash level component enables promotional cash to be available to transfer to the game;

a main menu interface for providing one or more options to a player;

a game selector interface for providing additional game selections to be viewed by a player; and

a game initiator component that enables a player to initiate a bonus game.

2. The networked gaming system of claim 1 including a game eligibility illuminator for providing an indication of progress towards eligibility for the bonus game.

3. The networked gaming system of claim 1, the reward level accumulator indicating the level achieved by a player, the level determining a paytable associated with the bonus game.

4. The networked gaming system of claim 2, the game eligibility illuminator including one or more light sections illuminating upon a playing threshold being achieved by a player;

upon each light section being illuminated, the game initiator component being illuminated and enabling the player to play the bonus game.

5. The networked gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus game is a bingo game.

6. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a pre-bonus game for providing a rewards level and bonus game eligibility information, wherein the rewards level corresponds to a wagering level of the player, and wherein the bonus game eligibility corresponds to a frequency of a primary game play.

15. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further comprising an advertising system, the advertising system including information about game play and potential awards.

18. The networked gaming system of claim 1, including a game eligibility illuminator for providing an indication of progress towards eligibility for the bonus game.

19. The networked gaming system of claim 1, the reward level accumulator indicating the level achieved by a player, the level determining a paytable associated with the bonus game.

20. The networked gaming system of claim 2, the game eligibility illuminator including one or more light sections illuminating upon a playing threshold being achieved by a player;

upon each light section being illuminated, the game initiator component being illuminated and enabling the player to play the bonus game.

21. The networked gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus game is a bingo game.

22. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a pre-bonus game for providing a rewards level and bonus game eligibility information, wherein the rewards level corresponds to a wagering level of the player, and wherein the bonus game eligibility corresponds to a frequency of a primary game play.

7. A networked gaming system, comprising:

one or more player console devices, wherein a player console device presents one or more wagering games to a player;

a system gaming server connected to the one or more player console devices via a network, wherein the system gaming server administrates one or more wagering games at one or more player console devices; and

an activation system for recognizing at least one trigger that causes the system gaming server to offer a tournament gaming opportunity to a player at one or more console player console devices;

wherein upon initiation by the activation system, a player console device presents a bonus game to a player administrated by the system game server, wherein the bonus game includes a set of thresholds achievable by play of the base game, and wherein upon each of the thresholds being met, the presented bonus game is enabled for game play by the player.

8. The networked gaming system of claim 7, wherein the bonus game includes a bingo game with a set of bingo cards, the set of bingo cards being initially covered;

wherein upon achieving one of the thresholds, one or more of the bingo cards is partially uncovered;

wherein upon achieving all of the thresholds, all of the bingo cards are uncovered;

wherein a set of bingo card numbers on each of the bingo cards is determined and illuminated;

wherein the bingo game includes a set of selectable numbers, a subset of the selectable numbers being selected and corresponding locations on the bingo cards being designated;

wherein in the event that one or more sets of bingo card numbers are matched by the subset of the selectable numbers, then an award is provided.

9. The networked gaming system of claim 7, further comprising a player information system, wherein the player information system identifies the bonus game available and information for the player to activate the game.

10. The networked gaming system as in claim 9, the bonus game comprising a bingo game, wherein the player informational system provides information about the awards associated with each bingo card, and wherein potential awards comprise player points for one or more identified winning bingo cards and comprise a monetary amount for other identified of the winning bingo cards.

11. The networked gaming system of claim 7, the bonus game comprising a poker game, upon achieving one of the thresholds, a face down playing card is generated;

upon achieving all of the thresholds, a full hand of face down playing cards is complete and the bonus game is enabled;

the playing cards are shown place up and an award is provided based on any winning hands associated with the play table.

12. The networked gaming system of claim 9, the gaming apparatus main display including a player information system, causing the player information system to be provided to the player, the bonus game comprising a poker game;

the player information system providing information about requirements to activate the bonus game and further providing information about the awards associated with each winning hand of cards;

the awards comprising either player point or monetary values or a combination thereof depending upon the winning hand of cards.

13. The networked gaming system of claim 11, a partially appearing face down playing card appearing and associable with a player progress towards a achieving a threshold, the partially appearing playing card being complete upon the player achieving the threshold.

14. The networked gaming system of claim 11, further comprising a determination system, wherein the determination system provides information about an outcome of bonus game play, and wherein in the event of a winning result, the determination system includes an award distribution system that enables one or more players to receive an award.

16. The networked gaming system of claim 14, wherein the award distribution system includes a player identification system that enables player identification, a withdrawal system that enables a player to withdraw a portion of a player'"'"'s winnings, and a status system that presents player information on the status of a withdrawal.

17. A networked gaming system, comprising:

one or more player console devices, wherein a player console device presents one or more wagering games to a player;

a system gaming server connected to the one or more player console devices via a network, wherein the system gaming server administrates one or more wagering games at one or more player console devices; and

an activation system for recognizing at least one trigger that causes the system gaming server to offer a tournament gaming opportunity to a player at one or more console player console devices;

wherein a player console device includes a rewards level accumulator to apprise a player as to a level that the player has achieved including player eligibility; and

a game initiator component that enables a player to initiate a bonus game.