Adventure sequence activities

• US 7,892,097 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Muir, David Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan; James S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/930,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 463 6- 9, 463 16- 22, 463 39- 44, 463/25, 463/1, 463/29, 340/323.R, 340/286.02
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming system includes a communication network, a portable data storage device having information associated with a player stored therein and a plurality of gaming units communicatively coupled to the communication network. Each of the gaming units includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device. The gaming system also includes a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the plurality of gaming units. The network computer is programmed to enable the player to play a group of the plurality of gaming units in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

forming a communication link between a portable device and a server, the portable device comprising at least one of a portable storage device or a playing device; and

providing indicative information to a player, via the portable device, regarding a requirement for completing at least one activity in an adventure sequence, the indicative information comprising location information;

requiring the player to perform activities at a plurality of locations in order to complete the adventure sequence, the activities comprising a plurality of predetermined wagering games at a predetermined plurality of gaming establishments;

determining, by the server, whether the player has completed the adventure sequence; and

providing an award to the player if it is determined that the player has completed the adventure sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adventure sequence comprises at least one activity that does not involve a wagering game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one activity involves a simulation of an activity via virtual reality gear, the simulation being made at a player'"'"'s location, the simulation depicting an activity in a second location different from the player'"'"'s location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a player must wager at least a predetermined amount in order to complete at least one of the plurality of activities.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the adventure sequence must be completed within a predetermined time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicative information comprises at least one of a clue, directions to a location, a description of a location and coordinates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicative information comprises a puzzle element, wherein completion of a predetermined task allows a player to receive further information, via the portable device, for completion of a puzzle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a player receives additional information, via the portable device, when the player reaches an indicated location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adventure sequence comprises at least one group of players competing against at least one other group of players.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the requirement comprises a minimum wager.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the requirements comprises a purchase of a specified product.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the puzzle comprises at least one of a mystery, a word puzzle, a coded message and an unknown word or phrase.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the player must play the predetermined number of wagering games at the predetermined number of gaming establishments within a predetermined time in order to successfully complete the adventure sequence.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication link formed between the portable device and the server is formed via a gaming unit.

15. A system, comprising:

means for forming a communication link between a portable device and a server, the portable device comprising at least one of a portable storage device or a playing device; and

means for enabling a player to participate in an adventure sequence based, at least in part, on information received from the server via the portable device, wherein the enabling means comprises means for providing indicative information to the player, via the portable device, regarding one or more requirements for completing at least one activity in the adventure sequence in which a player is required to play a plurality of predetermined wagering games at a predetermined plurality of gaming establishments and wherein the indicative information comprises location information;

means for determining whether the player has completed the adventure sequence; and

means for providing an award to the player if it is determined that the player has completed the adventure sequence.

16. A gaming system, comprising:

a portable device comprising at least one of a portable storage device or a playing device; and

at least one server, the server configured to do the following;

provide indicative information to a player, via the portable device, regarding a requirement for completing at least one activity in an adventure sequence, the indicative information comprising location information;

determine whether the player has completed the adventure sequence, wherein the determining process comprises determining whether the player has performed activities at a plurality of locations, the activities comprising a plurality of predetermined wagering games at a predetermined plurality of gaming establishments; and

provide an award to the player if it is determined that the player has completed the adventure sequence.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, further comprising at least one wager gaming machine in each of the plurality of gaming establishments, the adventure sequence comprising wagering games on at least one of the wager gaming machines at each of the plurality of gaming establishments.