Apparatus and method for facilitating team play of slot machines

• US 6,712,699 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• 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., Fincham, Magdalena M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/067,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/12-13, 463/16-20, 463/25-30, 463/36, 463/40-43, 273/143.R, 273/139, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/292-293, 273/308, 273/236-237, 340/323.R, 700/91.93, 705/16-18, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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

A method for team play of slot machines, including determining a first result corresponding to a first player on a team, determining a second result corresponding to a second player, determining whether the second player is on the team, and determining a result based on the first result and the second result if the second player is on the team.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first result of play of a first gaming device, the first gaming device corresponding to a first player,

in which the first result comprises a first plurality of symbols;

determining a second result of play of a second gaming device, the second gaming device corresponding to a second player,

in which the second result comprises a second plurality of symbols;

transmitting an indication of the second result of play to the first player;

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

in which the team result includes at least one of the first plurality of symbols and at least one of the second plurality of symbols; and

displaying a representation of the team result to the first player.

2. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the indication of the second result comprises:

displaying the second plurality of symbols to the first player.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying the first plurality of symbols to the first player.

4. The method of claim 3, in which displaying the second plurality of symbols comprises:

displaying the second plurality of symbols while displaying the first plurality of symbols.

5. The method of claim 2, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

highlighting the at least one of the second plurality of symbols that is included in the team result.

6. The method of claim 2, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

underlining the at least one of the second plurality of symbols that is included in the team result.

7. The method of claim 2, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

outlining the at least one of the second plurality of symbols that is included in the team result.

8. The method of claim 2, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

representing the at least one of the second plurality of symbols that is included in the team result as being in motion.

9. The method of claim 2, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

displaying intermittently the at least one of the second plurality of symbols that is included in the team result.

10. The method of claim 1, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

displaying the second plurality of symbols to the first player; and

bringing to prominence the at least one of the second plurality of symbols that is included in the team result.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the first plurality of symbols comprises at least one reel symbol.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the first plurality of symbols comprises at least one card symbol.

13. The method of claim 1, in which the first plurality of symbols comprises at least one number.

14. The method of claim 1, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

displaying the representation at a display of the first gaming device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a payout based on the team result.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing the payout to the first player.

17. A method comprising:

determining a first result of play of a first gaming device;

determining a second result of play of a second gaming device;

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

in which the first result comprises a first plurality of indicia,

in which the second result comprises a second plurality of indicia, and

in which the team result includes at least one of the first plurality of indicia and at least one of the second plurality of indicia; and

displaying a representation of the team result at the first gaming device.

18. The method of claim 17, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

displaying a representation of the at least one of the first plurality of indicia that is included in the team result.

19. The method of claim 17, in which displaying the representation of the team result comprises:

displaying a representation of the second plurality of indicia; and

highlighting the at least one of the second plurality of indicia that is included in the team result.