Gaming machine with loyalty bonus

• US 8,177,630 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Bryant, Natalie, Scott, Olive
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/856,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.

Claims

1. A gaming console for playing at least a game, having a display, a player input, and a control arranged to control images displayed on the display means in response to player inputs and game outcomes of games run on the console by the player and to award loyalty points to the player which are recorded as a loyalty points value, the console is arranged to operate in at least two modes including a first normal mode having standard game features and a second, loyalty enhanced mode, wherein the second mode is made available only to players who have established in a loyalty system, a loyalty points value greater than or equal to a predetermined level of loyalty points and wherein the second mode differs from the first mode in that instances of the game being played while the console is operating in the second mode are provided with enhanced or additional game features with regard to the features of the first mode and on each occasion that a game is played while the console is operating in the second mode the current value of loyalty points held by the player is decreased by the predetermined value.

2. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing higher prizes.

3. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing additional prizes.

4. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing additional game features as standard features of the game.

5. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing additional, purchasable, game features within a standard game.

6. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing a higher probability of winning a prize in an otherwise standard game.

7. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing a predetermined number of free games on the occurrence of a predetermined trigger occurring in an otherwise standard game.

8. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second, loyalty mode includes a feature that is related to a system event in a linked system.

9. The gaming console as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second, loyalty mode provides eligibility to a progressive jackpot.

10. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second mode is distinguished from the first mode by providing eligibility to an additional bonus feature.

11. The gaming console as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bonus feature is related to particular outcomes on the main game.

12. The gaming console as claimed in claim 11, wherein a main game available for play on the console is spinning reel game in which a plurality of reel strips carrying symbols are spun and when the reel strips stop spinning part of each reel strip is displayed and prizes awarded for predetermined combinations of symbols appearing together in the displayed parts of the reel strips.

13. The gaming console as claimed in claim 12, wherein bonus available in the second, loyalty mode comprises awarding a predetermined number of free games on the occurrence of a predetermined trigger occurring in a standard game.

14. The gaming console as claimed in claim 11, wherein the additional bonus feature provides additional prizes from outcomes over a predetermined level.

15. The gaming console as claimed in claim 11, wherein the additional bonus feature provides additional prizes for outcomes containing a predetermined indicium.

16. The gaming console as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bonus feature comprises an additional feature game.

17. The gaming console as claimed in claim 16, wherein the additional feature game is an independent second screen game.

18. The gaming console as claimed in claim 1, wherein the function of standard game features is altered when the console is operating in the second, loyalty enhanced mode.

19. The gaming console as claimed in claim 18, wherein a standard game feature comprises awarding a bonus on the occurrence of a predetermined trigger and in the second, loyalty enhanced mode the bonus is increased.

20. The gaming console as claimed in claim 18, wherein the bonus comprises awarding a second screen feature.