Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games

• US 9,406,200 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• 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 H
• Application Number:
  US13/973,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20130344957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 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 supported by the housing;

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

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing 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 associated with a monetary value is received by the acceptor, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) if an actuation of a wager button is received, place a wager, the wager being deductable from the credit balance;

(c) after placement of the wager, generate and display an outcome for a play of a first game, wherein the first game has a first average expected payback percentage and said outcome for the play of the first game is generated utilizing a first set of reels associated with a first set of symbols of a first paytable;

(d) display any first awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the first game, the credit balance being increasable by any first awards; and

(e) upon an occurrence of a triggering event in association with said play of the first game;

(i) simultaneously provide a play of a second game and a play of a third game, the second game having a second average expected payback percentage greater than the first average expected payback percentage and the third game having a third average expected payback percentage greater than the first average expected payback percentage;

(ii) generate and display an outcome for said play of the second game and display any second awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the second game, wherein said outcome for the play of the second game is generated utilizing a second, different set of reels associated with a second, different set of symbols of a second paytable, and the credit balance is increasable by any second awards; and

(iii) generate and display an outcome for said simultaneously provided play of the third game and display any third awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the third game, wherein said outcome for the play of the third game is generated utilizing a third, different set of reels associated with a third, different set of symbols of a third paytable, and the credit balance is increasable by any third awards.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are different games.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are a same type of game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event occurs when the displayed outcome of said play of the first game is a designated outcome.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event occurs when the displayed outcome of said play of the first game is associated with a designated combination of the symbols.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are bonus games.

7. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor of the gaming system, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) if an actuation of a wager button is received, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to place a wager, the wager being deductable from the credit balance;

(c) after placement of the wager, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to generate and display an outcome for a play of a first game, wherein the first game has a first average expected payback percentage, and said outcome for the play of the first game is generated utilizing a first set of reels associated with a first set of symbols of a first paytable;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display any first awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the first game, the credit balance being increasable by any first awards; and

(e) upon an occurrence of a triggering event in association with said play of the first game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to simultaneously provide a play of a second game and a play of a third game, the second game having a second average expected payback percentage greater than the first average expected payback percentage and the third game having a third average expected payback percentage greater than the first average expected payback percentage;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to generate and display an outcome for said play of the second game and display any second awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the second game, wherein said outcome for the play of the second game is generated utilizing a second, different set of reels associated with a second, different set of symbols of a second paytable, and the credit balance is increasable by any second awards; and

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to generate and display an outcome for said simultaneously provided play of the a third game and display any third awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the third game, wherein said outcome for the play of the third game is generated utilizing a third, different set of reels associated with a third, different set of symbols of a third paytable, and the credit balance is increasable by any third awards.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are different games.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are a same type of game.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the triggering event occurs when the displayed outcome of said play of the first game is a designated outcome.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the triggering event occurs when the displayed outcome of said play of the first game is associated with a designated combination of the symbols.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are bonus games.

13. The method of claim 7, which is provided through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

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

(b) if an actuation of a wager button is received, place a wager, the wager being deductable from the credit balance;

(c) after placement of the wager, generate and cause at least one display device to display an outcome for a play of a first game, wherein the first game has a first average expected payback percentage, and said outcome for the play of the first game is generated utilizing a first set of reels associated with a first set of symbols of a first paytable;

(d) cause the at least one display device to display any awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the first game, the credit balance being increasable by any first awards; and

(e) upon an occurrence of a triggering event in association with said play of the first game;

(i) simultaneously provide a play of a second game and a play of a third game, the second game having a second average expected payback percentage greater than the first average expected payback percentage and the third game having a third average expected payback percentage greater than the first average expected payback percentage;

(ii) generate and cause the at least one display device to display an outcome for said play of the second game and display any second awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the second game, wherein said outcome for the play of the second game is generated utilizing a second, different set of reels associated with a second, different set of symbols of a second paytable, and the credit balance is increasable by any second awards; and

(iii) generate and cause the at least one display device to display an outcome for said simultaneously provided play of the third game and display any third awards associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the third game, wherein said outcome for the play of the third game is generated utilizing a third, different set of reels associated with a third, different set of symbols of a third paytable, and the credit balance is increasable by any third awards.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are different games.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are a same type of game.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the triggering event occurs when the displayed outcome of said play of the first game is a designated outcome.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the triggering event occurs when the displayed outcome of said play of the first game is associated with a designated combination of the symbols.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first game, the second game, and the third game are bonus games.