WAGERING GAME WITH SHARED PAYOFF BASED ON MULTIPLE PLAYER SELECTIONS

• US 20110053683A1
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Olsen, Christy Juinsuk, Kopera, Thomas M., Gilmore, Jason C., Aoki, Dion K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/26
• 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 17/3267 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

The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal whereby multiple players make selections and accumulate bonus awards as the game is passed from one player to another. Play continues until a game-terminating object is selected. At that time, each player that participated in the wagering game receives his or her accumulated awards plus any awards won by subsequent players.

Claims

1. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

a first wagering game terminal comprising a first player input device;

a second wagering game terminal comprising a second player input device;

at least one display device operatively associated with the gaming system;

a wagering game controller operatively configured to

cause the display of a common set of selectable elements on the at least one display device,

enable selection of at least one selectable element from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal via the first player input device,

update the displayed set of selectable elements on the at least one display device upon selection of a selectable element from the displayed set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal via the first player input device, the update comprising the reveal of an outcome associated with the selected selectable element and indicating removal of the selected selectable element from the available set of selectable elements displayed on the at least one display device,

enable selection of at least one selectable element from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal via the second player input device,

award an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal, and

award an award on the second wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal.

2. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display device comprises an area display.

3. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display device comprises a first display device at the first wagering game terminal and a second display device at the second wagering game terminal.

4. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 1, wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to enable the selection of the at least one selectable element from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal only after a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome is selected at the first wagering game terminal via the first player input device.

5. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 1,

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to award an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal and to award an award on the second wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal.

6. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 1,

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to permit successive selection of selectable elements from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal until a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome is selected, and

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to, subsequent to the selection of the selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the first wagering game terminal, enable selection of the at one selectable element from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal.

7. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 6,

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to permit successive selection of selectable elements from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal until another selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome is selected.

8. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 1,

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to award an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal and to award an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal.

9. The gaming system for playing a wagering game according to claim 7,

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to award an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal and to award an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal.

10. The gaming system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a third wagering game terminal;

wherein the wagering game controller is further configured to, subsequent to the selection of the selectable element associated with the another selection-ending outcome at the second wagering game terminal, enable selection of at least one selectable element from the set of selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal.

11. A method of playing a wagering game on a wagering game system including at least a first wagering game terminal and a second wagering game terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a set of selectable elements on a display;

receiving a selection or selections from the set of selectable elements through a first player input device at the first wagering game terminal, each selection of a selectable element causing the set of selectable elements displayed on the display to reveal an outcome associated with the selected selectable element and to indicate removal of the selected selectable element from the available set of selectable elements;

receiving a selection or selections from the set of selectable elements through a second player input device at the second wagering game terminal, each selection of a selectable element causing the set of selectable elements displayed on the display to reveal an outcome associated with the selected selectable element and to indicate removal of the selected selectable element from the available set of selectable elements;

awarding an award on the first wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal via the first player input device at the first wagering game terminal; and

awarding an award on the second wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements via the second player input device at the second wagering game terminal.

12. The method of playing a wagering game on a wagering game system including at least a first wagering game terminal and a second wagering game terminal according to claim 11, wherein the display comprises a first display operatively associated with the first wagering game terminal and a second display operatively associated with the second wagering game terminal.

13. The method of playing a wagering game on a wagering game system including at least a first wagering game terminal and a second wagering game terminal according to claim 12, further comprising:

terminating selection of selectable elements from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal following selection of the selectable element associated with the selection-ending outcome;

enabling a selection or selections from the set of selectable elements via the second player input device at the second wagering game terminal only subsequent to the act of terminating selection of selectable elements from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal; and

terminating the selection of selectable elements from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal following selection of a selectable element from the set of selectable elements that is associated with the another selection-ending outcome.

14. The method of playing a wagering game according to claim 11,

wherein the act of awarding an award on the first wagering game terminal comprises awarding an award corresponding to an award or awards associated with the selectable element or elements selected from the set of selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal and further comprises awarding an award corresponding to an award or awards associated with the selectable element or elements selected from the set of selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal.

15. The method of playing a wagering game according to claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the set of selectable elements on a display of a third wagering game terminal;

receiving a selection or selections from the set of selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal until a selectable element associated with still another selection-ending outcome is selected;

terminating the selection of selectable elements from the set of selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal following selection of the selectable element associated with the still another selection-ending outcome;

awarding an award on the third wagering game terminal corresponding to an award or awards associated with the at least one selectable element selected from the set of selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal.

16. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a first wagering game terminal, the first wagering game terminal comprising a first display device;

a second wagering game terminal, the second wagering game terminal comprising a second display device;

a controller configured to execute a bonus game on both the first wagering game terminal and the second wagering game terminal, the controller being configured to

display on the display devices of the first wagering game terminal and the second wagering game terminal, upon a predetermined condition, a bonus game comprising a plurality of selectable elements, at least one of the selectable elements being associated with an award and at least one of the selectable elements being associated with a selection-ending outcome,

receive one or more selections of the selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal,

terminate selection of the selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the first wagering game terminal,

enable selection of the selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the first wagering game terminal,

receive one or more selections of the selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal,

terminate selection of the selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the second wagering game terminal,

award an award to the first wagering game terminal corresponding at least to awards associated with selectable elements selected at the first wagering game terminal, and

award an award to the second wagering game terminal corresponding at least to awards associated with selectable elements selected at the second wagering game terminal.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, further comprising:

a third wagering game terminal, the third wagering game terminal comprising a third display device,

wherein the controller is configured to execute a bonus game on the first wagering game terminal, the second wagering game terminal, and the third wagering game terminal, the controller being configured to

display on the display devices of the first wagering game terminal, the second wagering game terminal, and the third wagering game terminal upon a predetermined condition, a bonus game comprising a plurality of selectable elements, at least one of the selectable elements being associated with an award and at least one of the selectable elements being associated with a selection-ending outcome,

receive one or more selections of the selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal,

terminate selection of the selectable elements at the first wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the first wagering game terminal,

enable selection of the selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the first wagering game terminal,

receive one or more selections of the selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal,

terminate selection of the selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the second wagering game terminal,

enable selection of the selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the second wagering game terminal,

receive one or more selections of the selectable elements at the third wagering game terminal,

terminate selection of the selectable elements at the second wagering game terminal upon selection of a selectable element associated with a selection-ending outcome at the second wagering game terminal,

award an award to the first wagering game terminal corresponding at least to awards associated with selectable elements selected at the first wagering game terminal,

award an award to the second wagering game terminal corresponding at least to awards associated with selectable elements selected at the second wagering game terminal, and

award an award to the third wagering game terminal corresponding at least to awards associated with selectable elements selected at the third wagering game terminal.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to award an award at the first gaming terminal, the award at the first gaming terminal comprising a first award component comprising the sum of award associated with selections of selectable elements made at the first gaming terminal and a second award component comprising the sum of award associated with selections of selectable elements made at the second gaming terminal.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to award an award at the first gaming terminal, the award at the first gaming terminal comprising a third award component comprising the sum of award associated with selections of selectable elements made at the third gaming terminal.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to award an award at the second gaming terminal, the award at the second gaming terminal comprising a first award component comprising the sum of award associated with selections of selectable elements made at the second gaming terminal and a second award component comprising the sum of award associated with selections of selectable elements made at the third gaming terminal.