SYSTEMWIDE GAME MODIFIERS FOR GAMING SYSTEMS

• US 20130095914A1
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Allen, Jeffrey L., Bejawada, Sudhir, Perplies, Thor E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,378,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining that a wagering game system account associated with a player should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the players system-wide gaming activity. The operations can also include determining when the player selects each wagering game of a plurality of wagering games selected by the player for play via the wagering game system. The operations can further include, for each wagering game of the plurality of wagering games selected by the player via the wagering game system, determining that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier, and modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, at a wagering game server of a wagering game system, that a wagering game system account associated with a player should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

determining, at the wagering game server, when the player selects each wagering game of a plurality of wagering games selected by the player for play via the wagering game system;

for each wagering game of the plurality of wagering games selected by the player via the wagering game system;

determining, at the wagering game server, that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier; and

modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the wagering game server, when the player selects each non-wagering game of a plurality of non-wagering games selected by the player for play via the wagering game system;

for each non-wagering game of the plurality of non-wagering games selected by the player in the wagering game system;

determining, at the wagering game server, that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier; and

modifying the non-wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the non-wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining, at the wagering game server, when the player selects each wagering game or non-wagering game comprises:

receiving, at the wagering game server, a message from a gaming machine of the wagering game system indicating that the player selected a wagering game or non-wagering game at the gaming machine; and

identifying the wagering game or non-wagering game selected by the player at the gaming machine based on identification information included in the message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity includes the player'"'"'s gaming activity in one or more physical casinos, in one or more online casinos, and in a virtual gaming community website.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying the wagering game based on the predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier comprises modifying game content and/or game outcomes of the wagering game based on the predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining, at the wagering game server, that the wagering game system account associated with the player should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity comprises:

monitoring, at the wagering game server, the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

awarding, at the wagering game server, system-wide gaming activity points to the player'"'"'s wagering game system account based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

determining, at the wagering game server, whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

awarding the player'"'"'s wagering game system account the system-wide game modifier in response to determining that the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds the system-wide gaming activity point threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, in response to awarding the system-wide game modifier to the player while the player is participating in the wagering game system via a physical casino, revealing to the player how one or more online games will be modified based on the system-wide game modifier if the player participates in the wagering game system via an online casino or a virtual gaming community website, and in response to awarding the system-wide game modifier to the player while the player is participating in the wagering game system via an online casino or a virtual gaming community website, revealing to the player how one or more in-casino games will be modified based on the system-wide game modifier if the player participates in the wagering game system via one or more physical casinos.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said determining, at the wagering game server, whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold comprises:

determining to award the player'"'"'s system-wide wagering game account a first level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a first system-wide gaming activity point threshold;

determining to award the player'"'"'s system-wide wagering game account a second level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a second system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

determining to award the player'"'"'s system-wide wagering game account a third level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a third system-wide gaming activity point threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier comprises:

modifying the wagering game based on a first set of predefined game modification specifications if the player'"'"'s system-wide wagering game account has been awarded the first level system-wide game modifier;

modifying the wagering game based on a second set of predefined game modification specifications if the player'"'"'s system-wide wagering game account has been awarded the second level system-wide game modifier; and

modifying the wagering game based on a third set of predefined game modification specifications if the player'"'"'s system-wide wagering game account has been awarded the third level system-wide game modifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining, at the wagering game server, that the player'"'"'s wagering game system account has been awarded the system-wide game modifier comprises determining that the player'"'"'s wagering game system account includes an indicator indicating the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier.

11. A wagering game server of a wagering game system, the wagering game server comprising:

a gaming activity unit configured to;

monitor in-casino and online gaming activity associated with a player in the wagering game system;

determine that a wagering game system account associated with the player should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the player'"'"'s in-casino and online gaming activity in the wagering game system; and

a game management unit configured to determine when the player selects each wagering game of a plurality of wagering games selected by the player for play via the wagering game system, wherein, for each wagering game of the plurality of wagering games selected by the player via the wagering game system, the game management unit is configured to;

determine whether the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier; and

modify the wagering game based on game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier in response to determining that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier.

12. The wagering game server of claim 11, wherein the game management unit is configured to modify game content and/or game outcomes associated with each wagering game selected by the player based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

13. The wagering game server of claim 11, wherein the gaming activity unit configured to determine that the player'"'"'s wagering game system account should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the player'"'"'s in-casino and online gaming activity comprises the gaming activity unit configured to:

monitor the player'"'"'s in-casino and online gaming activity;

award system-wide gaming activity points to the player'"'"'s wagering game system account based on the player'"'"'s in-casino and online gaming activity;

determine whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account the system-wide game modifier in response to determining that the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds the system-wide gaming activity point threshold.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, at a wagering game server of a wagering game system, system-wide gaming activity associated with a player;

determining, at the wagering game server, whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

awarding, at the wagering game server, the system-wide game modifier to a wagering game system account associated with the player in response to determining that the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity qualifies the player for the system-wide game modifier;

determining, at the wagering game server, when the player selects a wagering game for play via the wagering game system;

determining, at the wagering game server, that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier; and

modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said modifying the wagering game based on the predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier comprises modifying game content and/or game outcomes of the wagering game based on the predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring, at the wagering game server, the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

awarding, at the wagering game server, system-wide gaming activity points to the player'"'"'s wagering game system account based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

determining, at the wagering game server, whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

awarding the player'"'"'s wagering game system account the system-wide game modifier in response to determining that the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds the system-wide gaming activity point threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, in response to awarding the system-wide game modifier to the player while the player is participating in the wagering game system via a physical casino, revealing to the player how one or more online games will be modified based on the system-wide game modifier if the player participates in the wagering game system via an online casino or a virtual gaming community website, and in response to awarding the system-wide game modifier to the player while the player is participating in the wagering game system via an online casino or a virtual gaming community website, revealing to the player how one or more in-casino games will be modified based on the system-wide game modifier if the player participates in the wagering game system via one or more physical casinos.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining, at the wagering game server, whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold comprises:

determining to award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account a first level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a first system-wide gaming activity point threshold;

determining to award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account a second level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a second system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

determining to award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account a third level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a third system-wide gaming activity point threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said modifying the selected wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the selected wagering game and the system-wide game modifier comprises:

modifying the selected wagering game based on a first set of predefined game modification specifications if the player'"'"'s wagering game system account has been awarded a first level system-wide game modifier;

modifying the selected wagering game based on a second set of predefined game modification specifications if the player'"'"'s wagering game system account has been awarded a second level system-wide game modifier; and

modifying the selected wagering game based on a third set of predefined game modification specifications if the player'"'"'s wagering game system account has been awarded a third level system-wide game modifier.

20. A wagering game server of a wagering game system, the wagering game server comprising:

means for determining system-wide gaming activity associated with a player;

means for awarding system-wide gaming activity points to a wagering game system account associated with the player based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

means for determining whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold;

means for awarding the player'"'"'s wagering game system account the system-wide game modifier in response to determining that the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds the system-wide gaming activity point threshold;

means for determining when the player selects a wagering game for play via the wagering game system;

means for determining that the player'"'"'s wagering game system account has been awarded the system-wide game modifier; and

means for modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

21. The wagering game server of claim 20, wherein said means for modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier comprises means for modifying game content and/or game outcomes of the wagering games based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

22. The wagering game server of claim 20, wherein said means for determining whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold comprises:

means for determining to award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account a first level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a first system-wide gaming activity point threshold;

means for determining to award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account a second level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a second system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

means for determining to award the player'"'"'s wagering game system account a third level system-wide game modifier if the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a third system-wide gaming activity point threshold.

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 system account associated with a player should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity in a wagering game system;

determining when the player selects each wagering game of a plurality of wagering games selected by the player for play via the wagering game system;

for each wagering game of the plurality of wagering games selected by the player in the wagering game system;

determining that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier; and

modifying the selected wagering game based on game modification specifications associated with the selected wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

24. The machine-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein said operation of modifying the selected wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the selected wagering game and the system-wide game modifier comprises modifying game content and/or game outcomes of the selected wagering games based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the selected wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.

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

monitoring the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

awarding system-wide gaming activity points to the player'"'"'s wagering game system account based on the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity;

determining whether to award a system-wide game modifier to the player based on whether the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds a system-wide gaming activity point threshold; and

awarding the player'"'"'s wagering game system account the system-wide game modifier in response to determining that the player'"'"'s system-wide gaming activity point total exceeds the system-wide gaming activity point threshold.