Gaming system and method providing a group bonus event for linked gaming devices
First Claim
1. A gaming system comprising:
- a controller; and
a plurality of gaming devices each configured to communicate with the controller, each of the gaming devices including;
(i) at least one primary game operable upon a first wager by a player,(ii) at least one secondary game operable upon a secondary game triggering event, and(iii) at least one display device configured to display said at least one primary game and said at least one secondary game,the controller and the gaming devices configured to;
(a) enable a first player playing at one of the gaming devices to challenge at least one other player playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in a group competition in which the first player and any of the challenged players who accept the first player'"'"'s challenge compete to obtain one of the secondary game triggering events,(b) determine if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group competition, and(c) if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge;
(i) for each of the gaming devices at which the players who accept the first player'"'"'s challenge are playing and the gaming device at which the first player is playing, cause said gaming device to enable the player playing at said gaming device to place;
(A) the first wager to play the primary game, and(B) a second wager in addition to the first wager, the second wager being associated with the group competition,(ii) allocate a portion of an amount of each placed second wager to an accumulated value pool associated with the group competition,(iii) cause a display of any amounts allocated to the accumulated value pool in a group competition meter,(iv) repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii) until one of the secondary game triggering events occurs on one of the gaming devices participating in the group competition, and(v) after said secondary game triggering event occurs on said gaming device;
(A) identify the player playing at said gaming device as a winner of the group competition,(B) provide said winner of the group competition with the amount displayed in the group competition meter, and(C) enable said winner of the group competition to play the secondary game associated with said secondary game triggering event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system and method provides a competitive group bonus event for a plurality of players playing at linked gaming devices. Upon activation of the group bonus event, a first one of the players playing at one of the gaming devices can challenge one or more other players to participate in the group bonus event. Players who accept the challenge agree to compete for one or more awards associated with the group bonus event. The players play the primary games of their respective gaming devices independently of the group bonus event. The first player to trigger a bonus game on his or her gaming device wins the group bonus event and is provided with an award. The winner of the group bonus event additionally has the opportunity to play the triggered bonus game.
113 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a controller; and a plurality of gaming devices each configured to communicate with the controller, each of the gaming devices including; (i) at least one primary game operable upon a first wager by a player, (ii) at least one secondary game operable upon a secondary game triggering event, and (iii) at least one display device configured to display said at least one primary game and said at least one secondary game, the controller and the gaming devices configured to; (a) enable a first player playing at one of the gaming devices to challenge at least one other player playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in a group competition in which the first player and any of the challenged players who accept the first player'"'"'s challenge compete to obtain one of the secondary game triggering events, (b) determine if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group competition, and (c) if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge; (i) for each of the gaming devices at which the players who accept the first player'"'"'s challenge are playing and the gaming device at which the first player is playing, cause said gaming device to enable the player playing at said gaming device to place; (A) the first wager to play the primary game, and (B) a second wager in addition to the first wager, the second wager being associated with the group competition, (ii) allocate a portion of an amount of each placed second wager to an accumulated value pool associated with the group competition, (iii) cause a display of any amounts allocated to the accumulated value pool in a group competition meter, (iv) repeat (c)(i) to (c)(iii) until one of the secondary game triggering events occurs on one of the gaming devices participating in the group competition, and (v) after said secondary game triggering event occurs on said gaming device; (A) identify the player playing at said gaming device as a winner of the group competition, (B) provide said winner of the group competition with the amount displayed in the group competition meter, and (C) enable said winner of the group competition to play the secondary game associated with said secondary game triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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(a) causing a controller to enable a first player playing at one of a plurality of gaming devices to challenge at least one other player playing at another one of the gaming devices to participate in a group competition, each of the gaming devices including; (i) at least one primary game operable upon a first wager by a player, (ii) at least one secondary game operable upon a secondary game triggering event, and (iii) at least one display device configured to display said at least one primary game and said at least one secondary game; (b) causing the controller to determine if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group competition wherein, in the group competition, the first player and any of the challenged players who accept the first player'"'"'s challenge compete to obtain one of the secondary game triggering events; and (c) if any of the challenged players accept the first player'"'"'s challenge to participate in the group competition; (i) causing the controller to, for each of the gaming devices at which the players who accept the first player'"'"'s challenge are playing and the gaming device at which the first player is playing, cause said gaming device to enable the player playing at said gaming device to place; (A) the first wager to play the primary game, and (B) a second wager in addition to the first wager, the second wager being associated with the group competition, (ii) causing the controller to allocate a portion of an amount of each placed second wager to an accumulated value pool associated with the group competition, (iii) causing the controller to cause a display of any amounts allocated to the accumulated value pool in a group competition meter, (iv) repeating (c)(i) to (c)(iii) until one of the secondary game triggering events occurs on one of the gaming devices participating in the group competition, and (v) after said secondary game triggering event occurs on said gaming device, causing the controller to; (A) identify the player playing at said gaming device as a winner of the group competition, (B) cause said winner of the group competition to be provided with the amount displayed in the group competition meter, and (C) enable said winner of the group competition to play the secondary game associated with said secondary game triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification