GAMING SYSTEM HAVING CHALLENGE GAMEPLAY

• US 20100216536A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Siemasko, Robert, Gagner, Mark B., Thomas, Alfred, Joshi, Shridhar P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3279 wherein the competition is one-to-one, e.g. match

Abstract

A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving wagers and at least one display for displaying a challenge-play game. The system further comprises a controller operative to detect an issuance of a challenge by a first player and an acceptance of the challenge by a second player to participate in the challenge-play game. The controller detects receipt of a wager input from at least one of the first and second players, and in response thereto, causes the at least one display to display the challenge-play game. The controller determines at least one outcome of the challenge-play game, and based upon the at least one outcome, adjusts the positions of one or both of the first and second players in a standings chart.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a wager input device for receiving wagers;

at least one display for displaying a challenge-play game; and

a controller operative to;

(i) detect an issuance of a challenge by a first player and an acceptance of the challenge by a second player to participate in the challenge-play game;

(ii) detect receipt of a wager input from at least one of the first and second players, and in response thereto, cause the at least one display to display the challenge-play game;

(iii) determine at least one outcome of the challenge-play game; and

(iv) based upon the at least one outcome, adjust the positions of one or both of the first and second players in a standings chart.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display comprises a first display of a first gaming device operated by the first player and a second display of a second gaming device operated by the second player.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one display comprises a community display viewable by one or both of the first and second players.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operative to cause the at least one display to display a first primary wagering game to the first player and a second primary wagering game to the second player.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein one or more outcomes of the first primary wagering game form an entry by the first player in the challenge-play game.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein one or more outcomes of the second primary wagering game form an entry by the second player in the challenge-play game.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operative to declare either the first player or the second player a winning player, and provide a first award to the winning player.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outcome is displayed on the at least one display.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming device displaying a first primary wagering game to a first player in response to receiving a first primary wager;

a second gaming device displaying a second primary wagering game to a second player in response to receiving a second primary wager;

a first input device in communication with the first gaming device for receiving a challenge-play input from the first player, the challenge-play input comprising a locator input for locating a competitor and issuing a challenge-play invitation to the competitor; and

a second input device in communication with the second gaming device for receiving a response input from the second player, the response input accepting, rejecting, or modifying the challenge-play invitation; and

at least one display for displaying a selected challenge-play game in response to acceptance of the challenge-play invitation by the second player.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the challenge-play input further comprises a selection of a challenge-play game from a plurality of available challenge-play games, the plurality of available challenge-play games including the selected challenge-play game.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising at least one controller for determining eligibility of the first and second players to participate in the selected challenge-play game.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one display comprises a first display coupled to the first gaming device and a second display coupled to the second gaming device.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein he at least one display comprises a community display.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the community display is positioned proximate one or both of the first and second gaming devices.

15. A method of operating a wagering game comprising:

displaying, on a display of a first wagering game machine, a first primary wagering game to a first player in response to receipt of a first primary wager;

displaying, on a display of a second wagering game machine, a second primary wagering game to a second player in response to receipt of a second primary wager;

detecting issuance of a challenge-play invitation by the first player and an acceptance of the challenge-play invitation by the second player, the challenge-play invitation comprising a selection of a challenge-play game;

determining eligibility of the first and second players to participate in the challenge-play game;

collecting challenge-play funds for funding the challenge-play game; and

displaying the challenge-play game on one or more of the first wagering game machine, the display of the second wagering game machine, or another display.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the challenge-play funds comprise a first side wager from the first player.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the challenge-play funds comprise a second side wager from the second player.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the challenge-play funds comprise player award points accumulated by one or both of the first and second players.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the challenge-play funds comprise redemption of one or more assets or attributes collected by one or both of the first and second players.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the challenge-play funds are received from a challenge play pool and distributed in accordance with a distribution rule set, wherein the challenge play pool is funded by at least one side wager received from one or both of the first and second players.