Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games

• US 9,412,232 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• 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:
  US13/974,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20130344931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 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) responsive to receipt, by the acceptor, of a physical item associated with a monetary value, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) sequentially initiate and display each of a plurality of random events, wherein each of the random events includes one or more awards available to be won in said random event, and each of the random events is completed independent of any of the other random events;

(c) responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event based at least in part on at least one random determination, for at least one of the random events that has not been completed, change one or more of the awards available to be won in said at least one random event using a modifier; and

(d) responsive to a determination provide any of the awards available to be won, increase the credit balance based on each provided award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the random events are plays of a game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event occurs when a randomly-determined outcome of each of two of the random events is a designated outcome.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the designated outcome is a winning outcome.

5. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of random events includes at least three random events, and the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if each of a first one of the random events and a second one of the random events results in the designated outcome, change one or more of the awards available to be won in a third one of the random events using the modifier.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

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

(a) responsive to receipt, by an acceptor of the gaming system, of a physical item associated with a monetary value, 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) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to sequentially initiate and display each of a plurality of random events, wherein each of the random events includes one or more awards available to be won in said random event, and each of the random events is completed independent of any of the other random events;

(c) responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event based at least in part on at least one random determination, for at least one of the random events that has not been completed, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to change one or more of the awards available to be won in said at least one random event using a modifier; and

(d) responsive to a determination to provide any of the awards available to be won, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to increase the credit balance based on each provided award.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the random events are plays of a game.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the triggering event occurs when a randomly-determined outcome of each of two of the random events is a designated outcome.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the designated outcome is a winning outcome.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of random events includes at least three random events, and which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, if each of a first one of the random events and a second one of the random events results in the designated outcome, change one or more of the awards available to be won in a third one of the random events using the modifier.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

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) responsive to receipt, by an acceptor, of a physical item associated with a monetary value, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) sequentially initiate and cause at least one display device to display each of a plurality of random events, wherein each of the random events includes one or more awards available to be won in said random event, and each of the random events is completed independent of any of the other random events;

(c) responsive to an occurrence of a triggering event based at least in part on at least one random determination, for at least one of the random events that has not been completed, change one or more of the awards available to be won in said at least one random event using a modifier; and

(d) responsive to a determination to provide any of the awards available to be won, increase the credit balance based on each provided award.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the random events are plays of a game.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the triggering event occurs when a randomly-determined outcome of each of two of the random events is a designated outcome.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the designated outcome is a winning outcome.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of random events includes at least three random events, and the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if each of a first one of the random events and a second one of the random events results in the designated outcome, change one or more of the awards available to be won in a third one of the random events using the modifier.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.