Slot machine game and system with improved jackpot feature

• US 8,636,586 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Olive, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US13/238,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a method and system for awarding a progressive prize. The system includes a bank of gaming machines accepting different bets per play as selected by a player. A random number is selected from a predetermined fixed range of numbers that does not change during play of a gaming machine. The player is allotted one or more numbers for each credit bet. The allotted numbers represent a subset of the predetermined fixed range of numbers. A feature game is triggered for the progressive prize based on a numerical comparison between the selected random number and the number(s) allotted to the player. Certain embodiments provide a trigger condition for a feature outcome based on an event having a probability related to credits bet per game at a gaming machine. A probability of success in the feature game may be higher than a probability of success in the base game.

Claims

1. A gaming system providing a progressive jackpot feature, and including at least two gaming consoles wherein one gaming console provides to a player a main game for play which has a mathematical definition different than a main game of the other gaming console, said one gaming console receiving any one of a plurality of different predetermined wager amounts and having a prize awarding feature to provide a feature game, said one gaming console being arranged to offer the feature game when a trigger condition has occurred based on a preprogrammed range as determined from an average turnover value, said trigger condition having a probability of occurrence dependent on the amount of the wager made on the main game, said one gaming console including a trigger sensor arranged to test for the trigger condition and to initiate the feature game when the trigger condition occurs, said one gaming console being arranged to play the main game, during which testing for the trigger condition occurs, and wherein the feature game initiated by the trigger sensor is the awarding of at least one feature game, said one gaming console and said other gaming console being connected to a gaming network, and wherein each of said two gaming consoles includes a signal output mechanism arranged to produce an output signal in response to operation of its respective gaming console, such that the progressive jackpot feature is implemented using a central feature jackpot which increases in response to a said signal from a connected said gaming console, and when a feature game is played on a connected said gaming console, the feature game results in a feature game outcome selected from a plurality of possible feature game outcomes, wherein at least one of the possible feature game outcomes is an award of a jackpot prize from said central feature jackpot.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the main game of said one console has a different mathematical definition due to a different number of paylines in the game of said one gaming console than the number of paylines of the main game of said other gaming console.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the main game of said one gaming console has a different mathematical definition due to a different number of reel strips in the main game of said one gaming console than the number of reel strips of the main game of said other gaming console.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the main game of said one gaming console has a different mathematical definition due to a different number of reel stops per reel strip in the main game of said one gaming console than the number of reel stops per reel strip of the main game of said other gaming console.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wager of said one gaming console is of a different base denomination than the wager of said other gaming console.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the main game of said one gaming console is supported by a platform different than the platform supporting the main game of said other gaming console.

7. A gaming system providing a progressive jackpot feature, and including at least two gaming consoles wherein one gaming console provides a main game which has a mathematical definition different than a main game of the other console, said one gaming console receiving a wager of one amount of a plurality of different amounts and having a prize awarding feature to provide a feature game, said one gaming console being arranged to offer the feature game when a trigger condition has occurred based on a preprogrammed range as determined from an average turnover value, said trigger condition occurring upon one of a plurality of different events, each said one of said plurality of events having a probability of occurrence different than any other of said plurality of events, and each of said plurality of events being dependent on said one of said plurality of different amounts of the wager on the main game, said one gaming system including a trigger sensor arranged to test for the trigger condition and to initiate the feature game when the trigger condition occurs, said one gaming console being arranged to play the main game, and wherein the feature game initiated by the trigger sensor is the awarding of at least one feature jackpot game, said one gaming console and said other gaming console being connected to a gaming network and including a signal output mechanism arranged to produce an output signal in response to operation of its respective gaming console, such that the progressive jackpot feature is implemented using a central feature jackpot which increases in response to a said output signal from a connected said gaming console, and when a feature jackpot game is played on a connected said gaming console, the feature jackpot game results in a feature game outcome selected from a plurality of possible feature game outcomes.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the main game of said one console has a different mathematical definition due to a different number of paylines in the game of said one gaming console than the number of paylines of the main game of said other gaming console.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the main game of said one gaming console has a different mathematical definition due to a different number of reel strips in the main game of said one gaming console than the number of reel strips of the main game of said other gaming console.

10. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the main game of said one gaming console has a different mathematical definition due to a different number of reel stops per reel strip in the main game of said one gaining console than the number of reel stops per reel strip of the main game of said other gaming console.

11. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the wager of said one gaming console is of a different base denomination than the wager of said other gaming console.

12. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the main game of said one gaming console is supported by a platform different than the platform supporting the main game of said other gaming console.