Gaming system having a plurality of adjacently arranged gaming machines and a mechanical moveable indicator operable to individually indicate the gaming machines

• US 8,651,939 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nordman, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/235,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,067 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 20, 463 30- 35, 463/40, 463/42, 463/47, 273/138.1, 273/142, 273/141.R, 273/141.A
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A gaming system comprised of a plurality of adjacently arranged gaming machines and a mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator operable to individually indicate the gaming machines. The gaming machine indicator is mounted or positioned near the adjacently arranged gaming machines. A controller actuates the mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator to rotate or move. The mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator may also include lighting effects. The controller is operable to select a gaming machine and actuate the mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming system having a central controller, said gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine in communication with said central controller and including

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable a player to place at least one wager on at least one play of at least one primary wagering game, and

(b) for each play of the primary wagering game;

(i) randomly generate a game outcome,

(ii) determine if the generated game outcome is associated with a primary wagering game award, and

(iii) provide to the player any primary wagering game award determined to be associated with generated game outcome;

at least one motion producing device controlled by the central controller; and

at least one mechanical gaming machine indicator connected to said motion producing device ,wherein said central controller is configured to;

(a)randomly select at least one of the gaming machines to provide a supplemental award, said random selection occurring;

(i) independent of each game outcome generated in each play of each the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines,

(ii) independent of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines, and

(iii) independent of any amount of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines;

(b) cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine;

(c) determine if the selected gaming machine is actively played, said determination based, at least in part, on if at least a designated minimum wager has been placed on the at least one play of the primary wagering game of the selected gaming machine during a bonus event qualification period; and

(d) if the selected gaming machine is actively played, thereafter cause the selected gaming machine to provide the player of said gaming machine said supplemental award, wherein said provided supplemental award is independent of each game outcome generated by the selected gaming machine.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator into a plurality of positions prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to randomly select a plurality of the gaming machines independent of each game outcome generated in each play of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine indicator includes a plurality of articulable members and the motion producing device operable to independently move each articulable member.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein each articulable member is configured to indicate a different one of the gaming machines.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine indicator includes at least one illuminator.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine indicator includes at least one member from the group consisting of:

a display device, a sound producing device, a sound recording device, a video recording device, and a photographic device.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines are adjacently arranged in a closed configuration.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the central controller is configured to cause the motion producing device to rotate the gaming machine indicator adjacent to the gaming machines and to stop rotating the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines are adjacently arranged in an open configuration.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the central controller is configured to cause the motion producing device to oscillate the gaming machine indicator adjacent to the gaming machines and to stop oscillating the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine.

12. A gaming system having a central controller, said gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine in communication with said central controller and including;

at least one display device;

at least input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable a player to place at least one wager on at least one play of at least one primary wagering game, and

(b) for each of the primary wagering game;

(i) randomly generate a game outcome,

(ii) determine if the generated game outcome is associated with a primary wagering game award, and

(iii)provide to the player any primary wagering game award determined to be associated with the generated game outcome;

at least one motion producing device controlled by the central controller; and

at least one mechanical gaming machine indicator connected to said motion producing device, wherein said central controller is configured to;

(a) randomly select at least one of the gaming machines to provide a supplemental award upon the occurrence of a triggering event in at least one of the primary wagering games played on at least one of the gaming machines, wherein said random selection is;

(i) independent of each game outcome generated in each play of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines,

(ii) independent of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines, and

(iii) independent of any amount of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines,

(b) cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine, and

(c) thereafter, cause the selected gaming machine to provide any player of said gaming machine said supplemental award, wherein said provided supplemental award is independent of each game outcome generated by said gaming machine.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the central controller is configured to cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator into a plurality of positions prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the primary wagering game of the selected gaming machine is the primary wagering game in which the triggering event occurs.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the primary wagering game of at least one of the gaming machines other than the selected gaming machine is the primary wagering game in which triggering event occurs.

16. A method of operating a gaming system having a central controller, said method compromising:

(a) for each of a plurality of independent gaming machines in communication with the central controller;

(i) enabling a player to place at least one wager on at least one play of at least one primary wagering game, and

(ii)for each play of the primary wagering game;

(A) randomly generating a game outcome,

(B) determining if the generated game outcome is associated with a primary wagering game award, and

(C) providing to the player any primary wagering game award determined to be associated with generated game outcome;

(b) randomly selecting at least one of the played gaming machines to provide a supplemental award, said random selection occurring;

(i) independent of each game outcome generated in each play of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines,

(ii) independent of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines, and

(iii) independent of any amount of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines;

(c) moving at least one gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine;

(d) determining if the selected gaming machine is actively played, said determination based, at least in part, on if at least a designated minimum wager has been placed on the at least one play of the primary wagering game of the selected gaming machine during a bonus event qualification period; and

(e) if the selected gaming machine is actively played, thereafter providing the player of said gaming machine said supplemental award, wherein said provided award is independent of each game outcome generated by said gaming machine.

17. The method of claim 16, which includes moving the gaming machine indicator prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes randomly selecting a plurality of the gaming machines independent of each game outcome generated in each play of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines.

19. The method of claim 16, which includes illuminating the selected gaming machine.

20. The method of claim 16, which includes randomly selecting a plurality of gaming machines, moving a plurality of gaming machine indicators to simultaneously indicate each selected gaming machine.

21. The method of claim 16, which includes randomly selecting a plurality of gaming machines, moving a plurality of gaming machine indicators to sequentially indicate each selected gaming machine.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine includes displaying images, displaying messages, or broadcasting sounds.

23. The method of claim 16, which is provided through a data network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network is an internet.

25. A method of operating a gaming system having a central controller, said method comprising:

(a) for each of a plurality of gaming machines in communication with the central controller;

(i) enabling a player to place at least one wager on at least one play of at least one primary wagering game, and

(ii) for each play of the primary wagering game;

(A) randomly generating a game outcome,

(B) determining if the generated game outcome is associated with a primary wagering game award, and

(C) providing to the player any primary wagering game award determined to be associated with the generated game outcome;

(b) determining if a triggering event occurs in at least one of the primary wagering games of at least one of the gaming machines;

(c) upon the occurrence of a triggering event, randomly selecting at least one of the gaming machines to provide a supplemental award, wherein said random selection is;

(i) independent of each game outcome generated in each play of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines,

(ii) independent of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines, and p2 (iii) independent of any amount of the wagers placed on each of the plays of each of the primary wagering games of each of the gaming machines;

(d) moving at least one gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine; and

(e) thereafter, providing any player of said gaming machine said supplemental award, wherein said provided supplemental award is independent of each game outcome generated by said gaming machine.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary wagering game of the selected gaming machine is the primary wagering game in which the triggering event occurs.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the primary wagering game of at least one of the gaming machines other than the selected gaming machines is the primary wagering game in which the triggering event occurs.

28. The method of claim 25, which includes moving the gaming machine indicator prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

29. The method of claim 25, which is provided through a data network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data network is an internet.