Method and apparatus for team play of slot machines

• US 6,361,441 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Mik, Magdalena
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/590,021
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/12-13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25-30, 463/36, 463/40-42, 273/143.R, 273/139, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/292-293, 273/308, 340/323.R, 700/91, 700/92, 700/93, 705/16-18, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

Slot machines for enabling team play by a plurality of slot machine players are disclosed. The game results of each team player are combined in a predefined manner to obtain a team game result. The game results of each player may be combined on a “per-spin” basis, or collected for each team player over an entire play session, with the net result of each team player combined on a “per-session” basis. In a “per-spin” embodiment, each team player initiates play, and the individual game results of each team player are combined in a predefined manner to obtain the best team game result, with the highest resulting payout, for each spin. In a “per-session” embodiment, each team player continues play for an entire play session, and the net result of each team player is analyzed in a predefined manner on a “per-session” basis to obtain the team session result. A session can be defined, for example, in terms of (i) the number of plays per session; (ii) the duration of the session; or (iii) all plays until a predefined event occurs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first result of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

receiving a second result of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the team result corresponds to a team comprising the first player and the second player, and wherein the payout is determined based on a number of players on the team.

2. A method comprising:

receiving a first result of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

receiving a second result of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the first result comprises a first plurality of symbols and the second result comprises a second plurality of symbols, and wherein the team result comprises at least one of the first plurality of symbols and at least one of the second plurality of symbols.

3. A method comprising:

receiving a first result of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

receiving a second result of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the determination of the team result comprises;

determining which one of the first result and the second result corresponds to a larger payout,

wherein the team result is identical to the one of the first result and the second result which corresponds to the larger payout.

4. A method comprising:

receiving a first result of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

receiving a second result of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the first result is received from the first player before the second result is received from the second player, and further comprising;

providing an indication to the first player, before receiving the second result and after receiving the first result, that the second result has not been received.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a third result from the first player before the second result is received;

determining a second payout based on the third result; and

providing the second payout to the first customer.

6. A method comprising:

determining a first result of a first session of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

determining a second result of a second session of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein a session comprises a predetermined number of slot machine plays.

7. A method comprising:

determining a first result of a first session of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

determining a second result of a second session of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein a session comprises slot machine plays over a predetermined period of time.

8. A method comprising:

determining a first result of a first session of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

determining a second result of a second session of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the team result is determined based on an average of the first result and of the second result.

9. A method comprising:

determining a first result of a first session of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

determining a second result of a second session of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the team result is determined based on a sum of a predetermined number of highest payouts awarded to the first player or to the second player during a session.

10. A method comprising:

determining a first result of a first session of slot machine play corresponding to a first player;

determining a second result of a second session of slot machine play corresponding to a second player; and

determining a team result based on the first result and the second result;

wherein the team result is determined based on a sum of a highest payout of each slot machine play during a session.