GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICES, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN ENHANCED MULTIPLE-PLAYER BONUS REDEMPTION GAME

• US 20100016065A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Nicely, Mark C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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

Abstract

A gaming system and methods provide a plurality of gaming devices configured to operate a multiple-player bonus or secondary game. Each gaming device of the gaming system generates targets upon occurrences of target-generation events. Each gaming device also generates collectors upon occurrences of collector-generating events. The collectors may be used in conjunction with the aforementioned targets to obtain awards in a bonus sequence as described. Upon the occurrence of a redemption event at one of the plurality of gaming devices, the gaming device provides all players playing at one of the gaming devices in the gaming system the opportunity to redeem all accumulated collectors and targets in a bonus sequence. In the bonus sequence, the gaming system determines any awards associated with the redemption of accumulated collectors and targets and provides them to the players.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one display device,

at least one input device,

at least one processor, and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device; and

a controller programmed to operate with said gaming devices to;

(a) generate a plurality of targets,

(b) associate at least one of the plurality of generated targets with a first one of the gaming devices,

(c) generate a plurality of collectors,

(d) associate at least one of the plurality of generated collectors with a second one of the gaming devices, and

(e) upon an occurrence of a redemption event;

(i) randomly couple at least one of the generated targets with at least one of the generated collectors,

(ii) display said random coupling, and

(iii) cause at least one award to be displayed and provided, wherein said at least one award is based on the random coupling of the at least one generated target and the at least one generated collector.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to display at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated amount of time.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to display at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of plays of a game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to display at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of occurrences of the redemption event.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the generated target associated with the first one of the gaming devices couples with the generated collector associated with the second one of the gaming devices, the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to cause the at least one award to be provided to a player at the first gaming device.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the generated target associated with the first one of the gaming devices couples with the generated collector associated with the second one of the gaming devices, the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to cause the at least one award to be provided to a player at the second gaming device.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon the occurrence of the redemption event, the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to randomly couple a first one of the plurality of generated targets with a first one of the plurality of generated collectors based on a first probability associated with one of:

the first one of the generated targets and the first one of the generated collectors.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the first probability is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a target value of the first one of the generated targets, a collector value of the first one of the generated collectors, a displayed location of the first one of the generated targets, and a displayed location of the first one of the generated collectors.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein upon the occurrence of the redemption event, the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to randomly couple a second different one of the plurality of generated targets with a second different one of the plurality of generated collectors based on a second different probability associated with at least one of:

the second different one of the generated targets and the second different one of the generated collectors.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to randomly couple each of the plurality of generated collectors with a different one of the plurality of generated targets.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first one of the gaming devices and the second one of the gaming devices are the same gaming device.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first one of the gaming devices is physically located in a first gaming establishment and wherein the second one of the gaming devices is physically located in a second gaming establishment.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of generated targets is generated by one of the plurality of gaming devices.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of generated collectors is generated by one of the plurality of gaming devices.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to associate at least one of the plurality of generated targets with a first player wagering on plays of a game of the first one of the gaming devices after the first player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the first gaming device.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to associate at least one of the plurality of generated collectors with a second player wagering on plays of a game of the second one of the gaming devices after the second player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the second gaming device.

17. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to generate a plurality of targets based on a player account.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to generate a plurality of collectors based on a player account.

19. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one display device,

at least one input device,

at least one processor, and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device; and

a controller programmed operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;

(a) cause a target-generation event to occur, said target-generation event resulting in a generation of a plurality of displayed targets, each of said targets having a target value,

(b) associate at least one of the generated targets with a first one of the gaming devices,

(c) cause a collector-generation event to occur, said collector-generation event resulting in a generation of a plurality of displayed collectors,

(d) associate at least one of the generated collectors with a second one of the gaming devices,

(e) determine if a redemption event occurs, and

(f) if the redemption event occurs, for at least one generated target;

(i) randomly couple said target with at least one of said generated collectors,

(ii) cause a display of said coupled target and collector, and

(iii) cause at least one award to be provided, said at least one award based on the target value of said target.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to display at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated amount of time.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to display at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of plays of a game.

22. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to display at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of occurrences of the redemption event.

23. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to provide said at least one award to a player of the gaming device associated with the coupled target.

24. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to provide said at least one award to a player of the gaming device associated with the coupled collector.

25. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the events selected from the group consisting of:

the target-generation event, the collector-generation event, and the redemption event occurs based on a play of a primary game of one of the gaming devices.

26. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the events selected from the group consisting of:

the target-generation event, the collector-generation event, and the redemption event, occurs independently of a play of a primary game of any of the gaming devices.

27. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the coupled collectors includes a collector value and wherein said at least one award is based on the collector value of the coupled collector.

28. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the first one of the gaming devices is physically located in a first gaming establishment and wherein the second one of the gaming devices is physically located in a second gaming establishment.

29. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of generated targets is generated by one of the plurality of gaming devices.

30. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of generated collectors is generated by one of the plurality of gaming devices.

31. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to associate at least one of the plurality of generated targets with a first player wagering on plays of a game of the first one of the gaming devices after the first player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the first gaming device.

32. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to associate at least one of the plurality of generated collectors with a second player wagering on plays of a game of the second one of the gaming devices after the second player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the second gaming device.

33. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to generate a plurality of targets based on a player account.

34. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the controller is programmed to operate with said gaming devices to generate a plurality of collectors based on a player account.

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

(a) generating a plurality of targets;

(b) associating at least one of the plurality of generated targets with a first one of a plurality of gaming devices;

(c) generating a plurality of collectors;

(d) associating at least one of the plurality of generated collectors with a second one of the plurality of gaming devices; and

(e) upon an occurrence of a redemption event;

(i) randomly coupling at least one of the generated targets with at least one of the generated collectors,

(ii) displaying said random coupling, and

(iii) causing at least one award to be displayed and provided, wherein said at least one award is based on the random coupling of the at least one generated target and the at least one generated collector.

36. The method of claim 35, which includes displaying at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated amount of time.

37. The method of claim 35, which includes displaying at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of plays of a game.

38. The method of claim 35, which includes displaying at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of occurrences of the redemption event.

39. The method of claim 35, which includes, if the generated target associated with the first one of the gaming devices couples with the generated collector associated with the second one of the gaming devices, causing the at least one award to be provided to a player at the first gaming device.

40. The method of claim 35, which includes, if the generated target associated with the first one of the gaming devices couples with the generated collector associated with the second one of the gaming devices, causing the at least one award to be provided to a player at the second gaming device.

41. The method of claim 35, which includes, upon the occurrence of the redemption event, randomly coupling a first one of the plurality of generated targets with a first one of the plurality of generated collectors based on a first probability associated with one of:

the first one of the generated targets and the first one of the generated collectors.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the first probability is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a target value of the first one of the generated targets, a collector value of the first one of the generated collectors, a displayed location of the first one of the generated targets, and a displayed location of the first one of the generated collectors.

43. The method of claim 41, which includes, upon the occurrence of the redemption event, randomly coupling a second different one of the plurality of generated targets with a second different one of the plurality of generated collectors based on a second different probability associated with at least one of:

the second different one of the generated targets and the second different one of the generated collectors.

44. The method of claim 35, which includes randomly coupling each of the plurality of generated collectors with a different one of the plurality of generated targets.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the first one of the gaming devices and the second one of the gaming devices are the same gaming device.

46. The method of claim 35, which includes associating at least one of the plurality of generated targets with a first player wagering on plays of a game of the first one of the gaming devices after the first player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the first gaming device.

47. The method of claim 46, which includes associating at least one of the plurality of generated collectors with a second player wagering on plays of a game of the second one of the gaming devices after the second player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the second gaming device.

48. The method of claim 35, which includes generating a plurality of targets based on a player account.

49. The method of claim 48, which includes generating a plurality of collectors based on a player account.

50. The method of claim 35, which is operated through a data network.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said data network is an internet.

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

(a) causing a target-generation event to occur, said target-generation event resulting in a generation of a plurality of displayed targets, each of said targets having a target value;

(b) associating at least one of the generated targets with a first one of the gaming devices;

(c) causing a collector-generation event to occur, said collector-generation event resulting in a generation of a plurality of displayed collectors;

(d) associating at least one of the generated collectors with a second one of the gaming devices;

(e) determining if a redemption event occurs; and

(f) if the redemption event occurs, for at least one generated target;

(i) randomly coupling said target with at least one of said generated collectors,

(ii) displaying of said coupled target and collector, and

(iii) providing at least one award, said at least one award based on the target value of said target.

53. The method of claim 52, which includes displaying least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated amount of time.

54. The method of claim 52, which includes displaying at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of plays of a game.

55. The method of claim 52, which includes displaying at least one of:

at least one of the plurality of generated targets and at least one of the plurality of generated collectors for a designated quantity of occurrences of the redemption event.

56. The method of claim 52, which includes providing said at least one award to a player of the gaming device associated with the coupled target.

57. The method of claim 52, which includes providing said at least one award to a player of the gaming device associated with the coupled collector.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein at least one of the events selected from the group consisting of:

the target-generation event, the collector-generation event, and the redemption event occurs based on a play of a primary game of one of the gaming devices.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein at least one of the events selected from the group consisting of:

the target-generation event, the collector-generation event, and the redemption event occurs independently of a play of a primary game of any of the gaming devices.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein at least one of the coupled collectors includes a collector value and wherein said at least one award is based on the collector value of the coupled collector.

61. The method of claim 52, which includes associating at least one of the plurality of generated targets with a first player wagering on plays of a game of the first one of the gaming devices after the first player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the first gaming device.

62. The method of claim 61, which includes associating at least one of the plurality of generated collectors with a second player wagering on plays of a game of the second one of the gaming devices after the second player ceases wagering on plays of the game of the second gaming device.

63. The method of claim 52, which includes generating a plurality of targets based on a player account.

64. The method of claim 63, which includes generating a plurality of collectors based on a player account.

65. The method of claim 52, which is operated through a data network.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said data network is an internet.