Cooperative Group Play Formats

• US 20120270623A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, David F. Zucker, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, David F. Zucker, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Zucker, David F., Santisi, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,747,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/12
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Methods for facilitating cooperative group play of an online casino game are provided. One method includes initiating a group session of the online casino game over the Internet, the group session defined to include a plurality of players, and defining at least one group objective for the group session. The method then combines outcomes from gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players during the group session and compares the combined outcomes against the group objective. If the combined outcomes meet the group objective, then the method administers a prize associated with the group objective. The methods further facilitate game play in a social online environment, where the social interactions assist in advancing game play.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating cooperative group play of an online casino game, comprising:

initiating a group session of the online casino game over the Internet, the group session defined to include a plurality of players;

defining at least one group objective for the group session;

combining outcomes from gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players during the group session; and

comparing the combined outcomes against the group objective, and if the combined outcomes meet the group objective, then administering a prize associated with the group objective.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein combining outcomes includes combining winnings or losses from the gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the group objective defines a requirement of two or more of the plurality of players achieving simultaneous or proximate winning outcomes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the group objective defines a requirement of one or more of the plurality of players achieving a particular outcome during a predefined time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize is defined based on an amount of group play.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the amount of group play is defined by one or more of an amount of time spent gaming by the plurality of players, an amount of money wagered by the plurality of players, an amount of money won by the plurality of players, or an amount of money lost by the plurality of players.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the online casino game is one of a slots game, a poker game, a blackjack game, or a roulette game.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein initiating the group session includes receiving contributions from each of the plurality of players to a common pool;

and

wherein winnings or losses of the plurality of players are shared amongst each of the plurality of players in proportion to their contribution to the common pool.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein a plurality of gaming devices is respectively associated with the plurality of players;

and

wherein one or more of the gaming devices is selected from a cellular phone, a hand-held computer, a touchscreen device, or a personal digital assistant.

10. A method for facilitating cooperative group play of an online casino game, comprising:

initiating a group session of the online casino game over the Internet, the group session defined to include a plurality of players defined as friends of a network;

defining at least one group objective for the group session;

combining outcomes from gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players during the group session; and

comparing the combined outcomes against the group objective, and if the combined outcomes meet the group objective, then administering non-monetary in-game prizes associated with the group objective, the method executed by a processor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein combining outcomes includes combining winnings or losses from the gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the group objective defines a requirement of two or more of the plurality of players achieving simultaneous or proximate winning outcomes.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the group objective defines a requirement of one or more of the plurality of players achieving a particular outcome during a predefined time period.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the prize is defined based on an amount of group play.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the amount of group play is defined by one or more of an amount of time spent gaming by the plurality of players, an amount wagered by the plurality of players, an amount won by the plurality of players, or an amount lost by the plurality of players.

16. A method for facilitating cooperative group play of an online casino game via at least one mobile device, the mobile device having Internet access, the online casino game being primarily executed by a server connected to the Internet, comprising:

initiating a group session of the online casino game over the Internet, the group session defined to include a plurality of players defined as friends of a network;

defining at least one group objective for the group session;

combining outcomes from gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players during the group session; and

comparing the combined outcomes against the group objective, and if the combined outcomes meet the group objective, then administering non-monetary in-game prizes associated with the group objective, the method executed by a processor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein combining outcomes includes combining winnings or losses from the gameplay of the online casino game of each of the plurality of players.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the group objective defines a requirement of two or more of the plurality of players achieving simultaneous or proximate winning outcomes.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the group objective defines a requirement of one or more of the plurality of players achieving a particular outcome during a predefined time period.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the prize is defined based on an amount of group play, and the amount of group play is defined by one or more of an amount of time spent gaming by the plurality of players, an amount wagered by the plurality of players, an amount won by the plurality of players, or an amount lost by the plurality of players.