Multiplayer gaming device and methods

• US 8,147,322 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US12/136,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play

Abstract

A plurality of gaming devices is linked so as to effectuate multiplayer game play. Multiplayer game play may cost more than single player game play, but may provide bonus payouts in the multiplayer game play. Various embodiments disclose symbol swapping, best ball, and match multiplayer game play.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

linking a first electronic gaming device and a second electronic gaming device to support multiplayer play;

enabling a first maximum wager for single player game play on the first electronic gaming device;

enabling a second maximum wager for multiplayer game play on the first electronic gaming device, wherein the second maximum wager is greater than the first maximum wager;

receiving a multiplayer gaming feature activation request from a first player at the first electronic gaming device, wherein the request is received in conjunction with the placement of the second maximum wager;

executing a first game instance at the first electronic gaming device and a second game instance at the second gaming device pursuant to rules associated with the multiplayer play such that the first electronic gaming device has an individual outcome based only on a result of the first game instance and has a combined outcome based on both the result of the first game instance and a result of the second game instance; and

executing a plurality of instructions on at least one processor of a computing device, which instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the processor to;

determine if the combined outcome is entitled to a payout;

provide a first reward based on the payout to the first player;

determine whether a second player playing the second electronic gaming device when the second game instance was executed had activated a multiplayer gaming feature of the second electronic gaming device prior to the determination of the combined outcome; and

only provide a second reward based on the payout to the second player if it is determined that the second player had activated the multiplayer gaming feature prior to the determination of the combined outcome; and

not provide a second reward based on the payout to the second player if it is determined that the second player had not activated the multiplayer gaming feature prior to the determination of the combined outcome.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling a third maximum wager for single player game play on the second electronic gaming device;

and

enabling a fourth maximum wager for single player game play on the second electronic gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the first gaming device to communicate with the second gaming device through a server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the combined outcome comprises at least a first symbol from an outcome on the first gaming device and at least a second symbol from an outcome on the second gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first electronic gaming device comprises at least one of:

a slot machine, a video poker machine, and a video blackjack machine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein linking the first electronic gaming device and the second electronic gaming device to support multiplayer play comprises joining the first and second electronic gaming devices with shared cabinetry.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the first player to pay to enable the multiplayer play at the second electronic gaming device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the combined outcome comprises the better of the outcomes at the first and second gaming devices.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a symbol from a first outcome on the first electronic gaming device to be swapped for a symbol from a second outcome on the second electronic gaming device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning the first electronic gaming device next to the second electronic gaming device.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a first outcome from the first electronic gaming device on a display associated with the second electronic gaming device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein displaying the first outcome comprises displaying symbols from the first outcome.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying outcomes from the first and second electronic gaming devices on a communal display.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein displaying outcomes comprises displaying symbols from the outcomes.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second electronic gaming devices comprises a mobile terminal.

16. A system comprising:

a first electronic gaming device;

a second electronic gaming device;

a network communicatively coupling the first electronic gaming device to the second electronic gaming device; and

a control system adapted to;

link the first electronic gaming device to the second electronic gaming device to support multiplayer play;

enable a first maximum wager for single player game play on the first electronic gaming device;

enable a second maximum wager for multiplayer game play on the first electronic gaming device, wherein the second maximum wager is greater than the first maximum wager;

receive a multiplayer gaming feature activation request from a first player at the first electronic gaming device;

execute a first game instance at the first electronic gaming device and a second game instance at the second gaming device pursuant to rules associated with the multiplayer play such that the first electronic gaming device has an individual outcome based only on a result of the first game instance and has a combined outcome based on both the result of the first game instance and a result of the second game instance;

determine if the combined outcome is entitled to a payout;

provide a first reward based on the payout to the first player;

determine whether a second player playing the second electronic gaming device when the second game instance was executed had activated a multiplayer gaming feature of the second electronic gaming device prior to the determination of the combined outcome; and

only provide a second reward based on the payout to the second player if it is determined that the second player had activated the multiplayer gaming feature prior to the determination of the combined outcome; and

not provide a second reward based on the payout to the second player if it is determined that the second player had not activated the multiplayer gaming feature prior to the determination of the combined outcome.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second electronic gaming devices are positioned within a single cabinet.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second gaming devices comprises a mobile terminal.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the control system is associated with a server positioned remotely from either of the first or the second electronic gaming devices.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to:

link a first electronic gaming device and a second electronic gaming device to support multiplayer play;

enable a first maximum wager for single player game play on the first electronic gaming device;

enable a second maximum wager for multiplayer game play on the first electronic gaming device, wherein the second maximum wager is greater than the first maximum wager;

receive a multiplayer gaming feature activation request from a first player at the first electronic gaming device;

execute a first game instance at the first electronic gaming device and a second game instance at the second gaming device pursuant to rules associated with the multiplayer play such that the first electronic gaming device has an individual outcome based only on a result of the first game instance and has a combined outcome based on both the result of the first game instance and a result of the second game instance;

determine if the combined outcome is entitled to a payout;

provide a first reward based on the payout to the first player;

determine whether a second player playing the second electronic gaming device when the second game instance was executed had activated a multiplayer gaming feature of the second electronic gaming device prior to the determination of the combined outcome; and

only provide a second reward based on the payout to the second player if it is determined that the second player had activated the multiplayer gaming feature prior to the determination of the combined outcome; and

not provide a second reward based on the payout to the second player if it is determined that the second player had not activated the multiplayer gaming feature prior to the determination of the combined outcome.