Class of feature event games suitable for linking to multiple gaming machines

• US 7,713,120 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rustemeyer; Malina K
• Application Number:
  US12/163,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 463/21
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming method, apparatus and system for playing a game of chance is disclosed in which a plurality of gaming machines may be linked together for mutually competitive play. According to one embodiment, two or more gaming machines are linked to a centrally located display exhibiting a game board comprising one or more groups of earmarkable cells in one or more groups. Players on the gaming machines wager and attempt to achieve winning outcomes which earmark cells in the group with designators of their respective gaming machines. When a predetermined number or configuration of cells of a group are earmarked, an award may be distributed to those gaming machines having earmarked cells according to the number of designators within that group associated with each gaming machine. The game of chance may be configured for play on an individual gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one gaming device processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one gaming device processor, cause the at least one gaming device processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(I) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

(II) generate and display one of a plurality of game outcomes for the play of the game, said plurality of game outcomes including at least one designated game outcome and a plurality of winning game outcomes; and

(III) if the displayed game outcome is one of the winning game outcomes, provide the player an award associated with said winning game outcome; and

at least one central controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices and programmed to;

(a) maintain a progressive award having a value greater than zero, said progressive award associated with a predetermined quantity of said designated game outcomes, said predetermined quantity being at least two;

(b) for each of the gaming devices;

(i) for each occurrence of said at least one designated game outcome being displayed, increment a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device;

(ii) display an indication of said tracked quantity of designated game outcomes in association with said gaming device; and

(iii) if a forfeit event occurs;

(A) subtract at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, and

(B) add said at least one designated game outcome to a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for a different one of the gaming devices;

(c) when the predetermined quantity of said designated game outcomes are displayed;

(i) if all of said predetermined quantity of designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices, cause said gaming device to provide the maintained progressive award to the player of said gaming device, and

(ii) if at least a designated number of said predetermined quantity of displayed designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, said designated number being at least one, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices;

(A) determine a portion of the maintained progressive award, wherein said portion of the maintained progressive award is based on the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, and wherein said portion of the maintained progressive award is greater than zero, and

(B) cause said gaming device to provide the player of said gaming device the determined portion of the maintained progressive award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of game outcomes include a plurality of different designated game outcomes.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of said gaming devices having a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes equal to zero, said at least one central controller is programmed to determine that no portion of the maintained progressive award is provided to the player of said gaming device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one central controller is programmed to track at least one occurrence of at least one displayed designated game outcome for a plurality of said gaming devices.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of the gaming devices, the forfeit event occurs if the different one of the gaming devices steals said at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

6. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one gaming device processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one gaming device processor, cause the at least one gaming device processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(I) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

(II) generate and display one of a plurality of game outcomes for the play of the game, said plurality of game outcomes including;

(i) a plurality of designated game outcomes, including a first designated game outcome and a second, different designated game outcome, and

(ii) a plurality of winning game outcomes; and

(III) if the displayed game outcome is one of the winning game outcomes, provide the player an award associated with said winning game outcome; and

at least one central controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices and programmed to;

(a) maintain a plurality of progressive awards, each of said plurality of progressive awards having a value greater than zero, wherein a first of the progressive awards is associated with the first designated game outcome and a second of the progressive awards is associated with the second designated game outcome;

(b) for each of the gaming devices;

(i) for each occurrence of one of the plurality of designated game outcomes being displayed, increment a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device,

(ii) display an indication of said tracked quantity of designated game outcomes in association with said gaming device, and

(iii) if a forfeit event occurs;

(A) subtract at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, and

(B) add said at least one designated game outcome to a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for a different one of the gaming devices;

(c) if a predetermined quantity of at least two of said first designated game outcomes are displayed;

(i) if all of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices, cause said gaming device to provide the maintained first progressive award to the player of said gaming device, and

(ii) if at least a designated number of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, said designated number being at least one, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices;

(A) determine a portion of the maintained first progressive award, wherein the determined portion of said maintained first progressive award is based on any first designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, said determined portion being greater than zero, and

(B) cause said gaming device to provide the player of said gaming device the determined portion of said maintained first progressive award; and

(d) if a predetermined quantity of at least two of said second designated game outcomes are displayed;

(i) if all of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices, cause said gaming device to provide the maintained second progressive award to the player of said gaming device, and

(ii) if at least a designated number of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, said designated number being at least one, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices;

(A) determine a portion of the maintained second progressive award, wherein the determined portion of said maintained second progressive award is based on any second designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, said determined portion being greater than zero, and

(B) cause said gaming device to provide the player of said gaming device the determined portion of said maintained second progressive award.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein if the predetermined quantity of said first designated game outcomes is displayed, and if at least the designated number of said displayed first designated game outcomes is displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices, the determined portion of the maintained first progressive award is based on a number of first designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein if the predetermined quantity of said second designated game outcomes is displayed, and if at least the designated number of said displayed second designated game outcomes is displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices, the determined portion of the maintained second progressive award is based on a number of second designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes is different than the predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes.

10. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein a probability of generating the first designated game outcome is different than a probability of generating the second designated game outcome.

11. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein said at least one central controller is programmed to track at least one occurrence of at least one displayed designated game outcome for a plurality of said gaming devices.

12. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein for each of the gaming devices, the forfeit event occurs if the different one of the gaming devices steals said at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

13. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) for each of a plurality of gaming devices;

(i) enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game,

(ii) causing at least one processor of said gaming device to execute a plurality of instructions to generate a one of a plurality of game outcomes for the play of the game, said plurality of game outcomes including at least one designated game outcome and a plurality of winning game outcomes,

(iii) causing at least one display device of said gaming device to display the generated game outcome,

(iv) if the displayed game outcome is one of the winning game outcomes, providing the player of said gaming device an award associated with said one of the winning game outcomes,

(v) for each occurrence of any of said at least one designated game outcomes being displayed, causing at least one central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to increment a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device,

(vi) causing the at least one display device of said gaming device to display an indication of said tracked quantity of designated game outcomes in association with said gaming device,

(vii) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a forfeit event occurs, and

(viii) if the determination is that the forfeit event occurs;

(A) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, and

(B) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to add said at least one designated game outcome to a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for a different one of the gaming devices;

(b) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a progressive award having a value greater than zero, said progressive award associated with a predetermined quantity of said designated game outcomes, said predetermined quantity being at least two;

(c) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the predetermined quantity of said designated game outcomes are displayed; and

(d) if the determination is that the predetermined quantity of said designated game outcomes are displayed;

(i) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if all of said predetermined quantity of designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices,

(ii) if the determination is that all of said predetermined quantity of designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices, causing said gaming device to provide the maintained progressive award to the player of said gaming device,

(iii) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if at least a designated number of said predetermined quantity of designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, said designated number being at least one, and

(iv) if the determination is that at least said designated number of said predetermined quantity of designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of said plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices;

(A) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a portion of the maintained progressive award, wherein the determined portion of the maintained progressive award is based on the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, and wherein said portion of the maintained progressive award is greater than zero, and

(B) providing the player of said gaming device the determined portion of the maintained progressive award.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of game outcomes include a plurality of different designated game outcomes.

15. The method of claim 13, which includes, for each of said gaming devices having a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes equal to zero, causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine that no portion of the maintained progressive award is provided to the player of said gaming device.

16. The method of claim 13, which includes causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to track at least one occurrence of at least one displayed designated game outcome for a plurality of said gaming devices.

17. The method of claim 13, which is provided through a data network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data network is an internet.

19. The method of claim 13, which includes, for each of said plurality of gaming devices, causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine that the forfeit event occurs if, the different one of the gaming devices steals said at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

20. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) for each of a plurality of gaming devices;

(i) enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game,

(ii) causing at least one processor of said gaming device to execute a plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of game outcomes for the play of the game, said plurality of game outcomes including a first designated game outcome, a second, different designated game outcome and a plurality of winning game outcomes,

(iii) causing at least one display device of said gaming device to display said generated game outcome,

(iv) if the displayed game outcome is one of the winning game outcomes, providing the player of said gaming device an award associated with said one of the winning game outcomes,

(v) for each occurrence of any of said designated game outcomes being displayed, causing at least one central controller to execute a plurality of instructions to increment a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device,

(vi) causing the at least one display device of said gaming device to display an indication of said tracked quantity of designated game outcomes in association with said gaming device,

(vii) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a forfeit event occurs, and

(viii) if the determination is that the forfeit event occurs;

(A) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, and

(B) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to add said at least one designated game outcome to a tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for a different one of the gaming devices;

(b) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a plurality of progressive awards, each of said plurality of progressive awards having a value greater than zero, wherein a first of the progressive awards is associated with the first designated game outcome and a second of the progressive awards is associated with the second designated game outcome;

(c) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a predetermined quantity of at least two of said first designated game outcomes are displayed;

(d) if the determination is that the predetermined quantity of at least two of said first designated game outcomes are displayed;

(i) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if all of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices,

(ii) if the determination is that all of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices, causing said gaming device to provide the maintained progressive award to the player of said gaming device,

(iii) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if at least a designated number of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, said designated number being at least one, and

(iv) if the determination is that at least the designated number of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of the plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices;

(A) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a portion of the maintained first progressive award, wherein the determined portion of said maintained first progressive award is based on any first designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, said determined portion being greater than zero, and

(B) providing the player of said gaming device the determined portion of said maintained first progressive award; and

(e) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a predetermined quantity of at least two of said second designated game outcomes are displayed, and

(f) if the determination is that the predetermined quantity of at least two of said second designated game outcomes are displayed, for each of the plurality of gaming devices;

(i) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if all of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices,

(ii) if the determination is that all of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with only one of the gaming devices, causing said gaming device to provide the maintained progressive award to the player of said gaming device,

(iii) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if at least a designated number of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, said designated number being at least one, and

(iv) if the determination is that at least the designated number of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of the plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices;

(A) causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a portion of the maintained second progressive award, wherein the determined portion of said maintained second progressive award is based on any second designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device, said determined portion being greater than zero, and

(B) providing the player of said gaming device the determined portion of said maintained second progressive award.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein if the predetermined quantity of said first designated game outcomes are displayed, and if at least the designated number of said predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices, the determined portion of the maintained first progressive award is based on a number of first designated game outcomes in the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein if the predetermined quantity of said second designated game outcomes are displayed, and if at least the designated number of said predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes are displayed in association with each of a plurality of the gaming devices, for each gaming device of that plurality of gaming devices, the determined portion of the maintained second progressive award is based on a number of second designated game outcomes in said tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined quantity of first designated game outcomes is different than the predetermined quantity of second designated game outcomes.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein a probability of generating the first designated game outcome is different than a probability of generating the second designated game outcome.

25. The method of claim 20, which includes causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to track at least one occurrence of at least one displayed designated game outcome for a plurality of said gaming devices.

26. The method of claim 20, which is provided through a data network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data network is an internet.

28. The method of claim 20, which includes, for each of said plurality of gaming devices, causing the at least one central controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine that the forfeit event occurs if, the different one of the gaming devices steals said at least one designated game outcome from the tracked quantity of designated game outcomes for said gaming device.