Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games

• US 9,311,783 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E., O'Donovan, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US14/243,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 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 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

at least one display device including a designated display device supported by the housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout 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 plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for a first game play of a plurality of at least partially concurrently displayed game plays;

(i) determine a first game play outcome,

(ii) cause a first portion of the designated display device to display the determined first game play outcome,

(iii) determine any award associated with the determined first game play outcome, and

(iv) display any determined award associated with the determined first game play outcome, and

(c) for a second game play of the plurality of at least partially concurrently displayed game plays;

(i) determine a second game play outcome,

(ii) cause a second, different portion of the designated display device to display the determined second game play outcome, and

(iii) if a triggering event occurs;

(A) modify the determined second game play outcome based on at least part of the determined first game play outcome,

(B) cause the second portion of the designated display device to display the modified second game play outcome,

(C) determine any award associated with the modified second game play outcome, and

(D) display any determined award associated with the modified second game play outcome, and

(d) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor if the triggering event does not occur, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine any award associated with the determined second game play outcome and operate with the at least one display device to display any determined award associated with the determined second game play outcome.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor if the triggering event occurs, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to modify the determined second game play outcome based on the determined first game play outcome.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor if the triggering event occurs, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the designated display device to display at least part of the determined first game play outcome interacting with at least part of the determined second game play outcome to modify the determined second game play outcome.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined first game play outcome includes a plurality of symbols and the modified second game play outcome includes at least one of the plurality of symbols of the determined first game play outcome.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined first game play outcome includes a first plurality of symbols, the determined second game play outcome includes a second plurality of symbols and when executed by the at least one processor if the triggering event occurs, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the designated display device to display at least one of the first plurality of symbols interacting with at least one of the second plurality of symbols to form the modified second game play outcome.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the designated display device to concurrently display the plurality of game plays.

8. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

at least one display device including a designated display device supported by the housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout 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 plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) in association with a first window of the designated display device;

(i) determine a first plurality of symbols for a play of a first game,

(ii) display the determined first plurality of symbols in the first window of the designated display device,

(iii) determine any award associated with the displayed first plurality of symbols, and

(iv) display any determined award, and

(c) in association with a second window of the designated display device;

(i) determine a second plurality of symbols for a play of an at least partially concurrently displayed second game,

(ii) display the determined second plurality of symbols in the second window of the designated display device, and

(iii) if a triggering event occurs;

(A) modify the displayed second plurality of symbols, said modification being based, at least in part, on at least one of the symbols of the displayed first plurality of symbols,

(B) display the modified second plurality of symbols in the second window of the designated display device,

(C) determine any award associated with the modified second plurality of symbols, and

(D) display any determined award, and

(d) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein when executed by the at least one processor if the triggering event does not occur, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine any award associated with the displayed second plurality of symbols, and operate with the at least one display device to display any determined award associated with the displayed second plurality of symbols.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein when executed by the at least one processor if the triggering event occurs, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to modify the displayed second plurality of symbols based on a plurality of the symbols of the displayed first plurality of symbols.

11. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the designated display device to concurrently display the play of the first game and the play of the second game.