Gaming device and method having a first interactive game which determines a function of a second wagering game

• US 8,267,765 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/107,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20110218024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463 16- 22, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A gaming device including a first player interactive game requiring one or more player inputs which result in an outcome. The outcome does not result in an award provided to the player. In one embodiment, the gaming device determines a paytable employed in the wagering game based on an outcome of the interactive game. In another embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of different wagering games. The gaming device determines which wagering game to provide to the player based, at least in part, on the outcome of the interactive game. Other suitable functions can be employed in the wagering game based on the outcome of the interactive game in accordance with the present invention. In any embodiment, the gaming device provides an outcome to the player for the wagering game which can result in an award.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system including a controller configured to operate with a plurality of gaming machines, said method comprising:

causing the controller to operate with the gaming machines to;

(a) for each of the gaming machines, enable a player of said gaming machine to make at least one player input in a play of an interactive game after placing a wager for a play for a wagering game associated with said play of the interactive game, wherein the play of the wagering game occurs after the play of the interactive game, the play of the interactive game results in an interactive game outcome for the player, and the play of wagering game includes;

(i) a random determination of a wagering game outcome,

(ii) a display of the wagering game outcome,

(iii) a determination of any award to provide to the player based on the displayed wagering game outcome and a paytable for said play of the wagering game, and

(iv) a display of any determined awards;

(b) accumulate portions of an interactive game pool until an occurrence of a designated interactive game event; and

(c) when the designated interactive game event occurs, provide a monetary award based on the interactive game pool to at least one of the players of the gaming machines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated interactive game event is selected from the group consisting of:

an accumulation of a designated number of interactive game points, a designated displayed interactive game winning outcome, a designated length of interactive game play time, a designated total numbers of interactive game players, and a designated total amount in the interactive game pool.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monetary award is equal or substantially equal to a total of the interactive game pool.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the play of the interactive game for each player includes a competition between the plurality of players.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the controller to operate with the gaming machines to, for each gaming machine, determine said paytable for the play of the wagering game based, at least in part, on the obtained interactive game outcome in the play of the interactive game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the paytable is selected from a plurality of different paytables.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least two of the different paytables have different volatilities.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least two of the different paytables have a same or a substantially same average expected payout and said different paytables have different volatilities.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the play of the wagering game for each player includes a single random determination of a single wagering game outcome which is displayed to all of the players.

10. The method claim 1, which is provided to the player through a data network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data network is an internet.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a controller configured to operate with a plurality of gaming machines to;

(a) for each of the gaming machines, enable a player of said gaming machine to make at least one player input in a play of an interactive game after placing a wager for a play for a wagering game associated with said play of the interactive game, wherein the play of the wagering game occurs after the play of the interactive game, the play of the interactive game results in an interactive game outcome for the player, and the play of wagering game includes;

(i) a random determination of a wagering game outcome,

(ii) a display of the wagering game outcome,

(iii) a determination of any award to provide to the player based on the displayed wagering game outcome and a paytable for said play of the wagering game, and

(iv) a display of any determined awards;

(b) accumulate portions of an interactive game pool until an occurrence of a designated interactive game event; and

(c) when the designated interactive game event occurs, provide a monetary award based on the interactive game pool to at least one of the players of the gaming machines.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the designated interactive game event is selected from the group consisting of:

an accumulation of a designated number of interactive game points, a designated displayed interactive game winning outcome, a designated length of interactive game play time, a designated total numbers of interactive game players, and a designated total amount in the interactive game pool.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the monetary award is equal or substantially equal to a total of the interactive game pool.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the play of the interactive game for each player includes a competition between the plurality of players.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, which includes for each gaming machine, said paytable for the play of the wagering game determined based, at least in part, on the obtained interactive game outcome in the play of the interactive game.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the paytable is selected from a plurality of different paytables.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein at least two of the different paytables have different volatilities.

19. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein at least two of the different paytables have a same or a substantially same average expected payout and said different paytables have different volatilities.

20. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the play of the wagering game for each player includes a single random determination of a single wagering game outcome which is displayed to all of the players.