LOCATION-BASED CUSTOMIZATION OF AVATARS IN GAMING SYSTEMS

• US 20110143834A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gura, Damon E., Hornik, Jeremy M., Guinn, Andrew C.
• Application Number:
  US12/968,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining that a wagering game session for a wagering game is initiated at a first gaming location. The wagering game comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a plurality of location-based customization options. The operations can also include configuring the wagering game with a first set of customization options, associated with the first gaming location, for the avatar of the wagering game to be played on a first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location. The operations can further include determining that a wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at a second gaming location, and configuring the wagering game with a second set of customization options, associated with the second gaming location, for the avatar of the wagering game to be played on a second gaming machine.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, by a wagering game server, that a wagering game session for a wagering game is initiated at a first gaming location, wherein the wagering game comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a plurality of location-based customization options;

configuring, by the wagering game server, the wagering game with a first set of customization options, associated with the first gaming location, for the avatar of the wagering game to be played on a first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location;

determining, by the wagering game server, that a wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at a second gaming location; and

configuring, by the wagering game server, the wagering game with a second set of customization options, associated with the second gaming location, for the avatar of the wagering game to be played on a second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location, wherein the second set of customization options is different than the first set of customization options.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the first gaming location for a first player account;

causing the wagering game configured with the first set of customization options to be presented on the first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location for the first player account;

determining when the avatar associated with the wagering game is customized, during the wagering game session, according to a first customization options from the first set of customization options associated with the first gaming location; and

storing the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the second gaming location for the first player account;

causing the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the wagering game configured with the second set of customization options to be presented on the second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location for the first player account;

determining when the avatar is customized, during the wagering game session, according to a second customization option from the second set of customization options associated with the second gaming location; and

configuring the wagering game with a bonus customization option for the avatar in response to determining that the avatar is customized by a combination of the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the second customization option from the second set of customization options.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that the first customization option from the first set of customization options, associated with the first gaming location, for the avatar comprises a location-based use restriction specifying that the first customization option can only be used at the second gaming location;

in response to determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the second gaming location for the first player account, enabling the first customization option from the first set of customization options for the avatar to be used during the wagering game session for the wagering game initiated at the second gaming location.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising storing the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the second customization option from the second set of customization options.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining results of the wagering game associated with the first gaming location, and causing the first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location to present the results; and

determining results of the wagering game associated with the second gaming location, and causing the second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location to present the results.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of location-based customization options comprises one or more of a plurality of themes for the avatar, a plurality of accessories for the avatar, a plurality of themes for the accessories for the avatar, a plurality of attribute associated with a subset of the plurality of accessories for the avatar, and a plurality of game-related benefits associated with a subset of the plurality of accessories for the avatars.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring the wagering game with a first set of customization options associated with the first gaming location comprises configuring the wagering game such that the location-based customization options available to customize the avatar when a player plays the wagering game at the first gaming location include the first set of customization options, and said configuring the wagering game with a second set of customization options associated with the second gaming location comprises configuring the wagering game such that the location-based customization options available to customize the avatar when the player plays the wagering game at the second gaming location include the second set of customization options.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first gaming location is a physical casino and the second gaming location is an online casino.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first gaming location is a first physical casino and the second gaming location is a second physical casino.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first gaming machine is a dedicated wagering game machine at a physical casino, and the second gaming machine is a non-dedicated gaming machine at a location outside of a physical casino.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game comprises a base wagering game and one or more secondary wagering games.

13. A wagering game server comprising:

a game management unit operable to determine that a wagering game session for a wagering game is initiated at a first gaming location associated with a wagering game system, and determine that a wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at a second gaming location associated with the wagering game system, wherein the wagering game comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a plurality of location-based customization options; and

a game customization unit operable to configure the wagering game initiated at the first gaming location with a first set of customization options, associated with the first gaming location, for the avatar, and operable to configure the wagering game initiated at the second gaming location with a second set of customization options, associated with the second gaming location, for the avatar, wherein the second set of customization options is different than the first set of customization options.

14. The wagering game server of claim 13, in response to the game management unit determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the first gaming location for a first player account, further comprising:

the game management unit operable to cause the wagering game configured with the first set of customization options to be presented on a first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location for the first player account; and

the game customization unit operable to;

determine when the avatar associated with the wagering game is customized, during the wagering game session, according to a first customization options from the first set of customization options associated with the first gaming location; and

store the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options.

15. The wagering game server of claim 14, in response to the game management unit determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the second gaming location for the first player account, further comprising:

the game management unit operable to cause the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the wagering game configured with the second set of customization options to be presented on the second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location for the first player account; and

the game customization unit operable to;

determine when the avatar is customized, during the wagering game session, according to a second customization option from the second set of customization options associated with the second gaming location; and

configure the wagering game with a bonus customization option for the avatar in response to determining that the avatar is customized by a combination of the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the second customization option from the second set of customization options.

16. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, by a wagering game server, that a wagering game is being played at a first gaming location associated with a wagering game system, wherein the wagering game being played at the first gaming location is associated with a first player account and comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a first set of customization options associated with the first gaming location;

determining, by the wagering game server, that the wagering game is being played at a second gaming location associated the wagering game system contemporaneously to the wagering game being played at the first gaming location, wherein the wagering game being played at the second gaming location is associated with a second player account and comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a second set of customization options associated with the second gaming location, wherein the second set of customization options is different than the first set of customization options;

determining, by the wagering game server, that the first player account is associated with the second player account in a virtual gaming community associated with the wagering game system; and

in response to determining that the first player account is associated with the second player account;

configuring, by the wagering game server, the wagering game being played at the first gaming location with one or more bonus customization options for the avatar associated with the first player account; and

configuring, by the wagering game server, the wagering game being played at the second gaming location with the one or more bonus customization options for the avatar associated with the second player account.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein said determining that the first player account is associated with the second player account in the virtual gaming community comprises determining that the first player account is linked with the second player account in the virtual gaming community.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein said determining that the first player account is associated with the second player account in the virtual gaming community comprises detecting an indication in the first player account associated with a first player that a second player associated with the second player account is a friend of the first player in the virtual gaming community and detecting an indication in the second player account that the first player is a friend of the second player in the virtual gaming community.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining results of the wagering game associated with the first gaming location, and causing a first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location to present the results; and

determining results of the wagering game associated with the second gaming location, and causing a second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location to present the results.

20. A wagering game server comprising:

means for determining that a wagering game is being played at a first gaming location associated with a wagering game system, wherein the wagering game being played at the first gaming location is associated with a first player account and comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a first set of customization options associated with the first gaming location;

means for determining that the wagering game is being played at a second gaming location associated the wagering game system contemporaneously to the wagering game being played at the first gaming location, wherein the wagering game being played at the second gaming location is associated with a second player account and comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a second set of customization options associated with the second gaming location, wherein the second set of customization options is different than the first set of customization options;

means for determining that the first player account is associated with the second player account in a virtual gaming community associated with the wagering game system; and

in response to determining that the first player account is associated with the second player account;

means for configuring the wagering game being played at the first gaming location with one or more bonus customization options for the avatar associated with the first player account; and

means for configuring the wagering game being played at the second gaming location with the one or more bonus customization options for the avatar associated with the second player account.

21. The wagering game server of claim 20, wherein said means for determining that the first player account is associated with the second player account in the virtual gaming community comprises means for determining that the first player account is linked with the second player account in the virtual gaming community.

22. The wagering game server of claim 20, further comprising:

means for determining results of the wagering game associated with the first gaming location, and causing a first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location to present the results; and

means for determining results of the wagering game associated with the second gaming location, and causing a second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location to present the results.

23. One or more machine-readable storage media, having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

determining that a wagering game session for a wagering game is initiated at a first gaming location, wherein the wagering game comprises an avatar that is customizable according to a plurality of location-based customization options;

configuring the wagering game with a first set of customization options, associated with the first gaming location, for the avatar of the wagering game to be played on a first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location;

determining that a wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at a second gaming location; and

configuring the wagering game with a second set of customization options, associated with the second gaming location, for the avatar of the wagering game to be played on a second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location, wherein the second set of customization options is different than the first set of customization options.

24. The machine-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein said operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the first gaming location for a first player account;

causing the wagering game configured with the first set of customization options to be presented on the first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location for the first player account;

determining when the avatar associated with the wagering game is customized, during the wagering game session, according to a first customization options from the first set of customization options associated with the first gaming location;

storing the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options; and

in response to determining that the wagering game session for the wagering game is initiated at the second gaming location for the first player account;

causing the avatar customized according to the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the wagering game configured with the second set of customization options to be presented on the second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location for the first player account;

determining when the avatar is customized, during the wagering game session, according to a second customization option from the second set of customization options associated with the second gaming location;

configuring the wagering game with a bonus customization option for the avatar in response to determining that the avatar is customized by a combination of the first customization option from the first set of customization options and the second customization option from the second set of customization options.

25. The machine-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein said operations further comprise:

determining results of the wagering game associated with the first gaming location, and causing the first gaming machine associated with the first gaming location to present the results; and

determining results of the wagering game associated with the second gaming location, and causing the second gaming machine associated with the second gaming location to present the results.