GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE PLAYER SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY/INPUT DEVICE

• US 20090189351A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Palmer, David M., Myers, David N., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Elias, Hans, Davis, Dwayne A., Khamis, Michael P., Campbell, Kimberly M., Champagne, Christiaan R., Ennis, Damien C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/309
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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

Abstract

A game table having a multiplayer interactive display/input device which enables multiple players to simultaneously play primary or base wagering games and/or secondary or bonus games using the display/input device. The display/input device enables multiple players to simultaneously interact with the game table and the various games using the same display/input device. The game table enables multiple players to manipulate displayed objects (such as virtual cards or other game symbols) displayed by the display/input device at the same time. This enables the display/input device to simultaneously display the same game to multiple players in an integrated seamless manner without the need for multiple different sets of display devices and input devices for each of the players.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to;

(a) display a play of a wagering game to a plurality of players using the single multiplayer display/input device, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable the plurality of players to sequentially take turns in said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device,

(b) display any awards resulting from said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device,

(c) display a play of a secondary game to the plurality of players, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable each of the plurality of players to simultaneously make an input for said play of the secondary game using the single multiplayer display/input device, and

(d) display any awards resulting from said play of the secondary game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable each of the plurality of players to simultaneously make a wager on said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable each of the plurality of players to make a side wager on said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is a blackjack wagering game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the display of said play of the secondary game includes a display of a wheel.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, which is configured such that the input made by each player is an input placing a displayed object on the displayed wheel for said play of the secondary game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to use a random number generator to determine the position of each of the displayed objects on the displayed wheel.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to use a virtual physics engine to determine the position of each of the displayed objects on the displayed wheel.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to;

(a) display a plurality of plays of a wagering game to multiple players, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable the plurality of players to simultaneously make wagers on said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device,

(b) for each of a plurality of said plays of the primary wagering game, randomly determine which of the plurality of players earn a bonus outcome,

(c) for each player, display an indication of the bonus outcomes earned by the player, and

(d) after a triggering event,

(i) display a bonus display using the single multiplayer display/input device,

(ii) enable each of the plurality of the players who have earned a designated amount of bonus outcomes to simultaneously move at least one of the player'"'"'s earned bonus outcomes relative to the bonus display using the single multiplayer display/input device,

(iii) display said earned bonus outcomes moving to positions relative to the bonus display using the multiplayer display/input device base, said positions determined by a virtual physics engine, and

(iv) display any awards determined based the positions of the bonus outcomes relative to bonus display using the multiplayer display/input device.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable each of the plurality of players to sequentially take turns in said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable each of the plurality of players to make a side wager on said play of the wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the wagering game is a blackjack wagering game.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the display of said play of the secondary game includes a display of a wheel.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to display each of the bonus outcomes as an object and to enable each of the plurality of players to simultaneously place one of the displayed objects on the displayed wheel for said play of the secondary game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a game table having a single multiplayer display/input device; and

at least one processor configured to operate with the single multiplayer display/input device to;

(a) display a plurality of plays of a blackjack wagering game to multiple players using the single multiplayer display/input device, wherein the single multiplayer display/input device is configured to enable the plurality of players, for each play of the blackjack wagering game to;

(i) simultaneously make wagers on said play of the blackjack wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device, and

(ii) simultaneously make side wagers to earn a bonus ball for said play of the blackjack wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device, and

(b) after a triggering event,

(i) display a wheel using the single multiplayer display/input device,

(ii) enable a plurality of the players who have earned a designated amount of bonus balls to simultaneously place such earned bonus balls on the wheel using the single multiplayer display/input device, and

(iii) display any awards determined based on positions of the bonus balls on the wheel using the single multiplayer display/input device.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to use a random number generator to determine the positions of the bonus balls on the wheel.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to use a virtual physics engine to determine the positions of the bonus balls on the wheel.

18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured provide one of the bonus balls to the player in the play of the blackjack game by if a designated winning condition occurs for the player.

19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein a plurality of different progressive awards are associated with sections of the wheel.

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

(a) providing a plurality of plays of a blackjack wagering game to a plurality of players, which includes for each play of the blackjack wagering game, enabling each of the plurality of players to;

(i) make a wager on said play of the blackjack wagering game, and

(ii) make a side wager to earn a bonus object for said play of the blackjack wagering game; and

(b) determining if a triggering event occurs, and if the triggering event occurs;

(i) displaying a bonus display,

(ii) enabling the players who have earned a designated amount of bonus objects to place said earned bonus objects relative to the bonus display, and

(iii) if one of the bonus objects placed by one of the players is positioned in a designated location of the bonus display, providing a progressive award to the player, said progressive award funded by the side wagers made by the players.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes simultaneously enabling players to make the wagers on each said play of the blackjack wagering game using a single multiplayer display/input device.

22. The method of claim 20, which includes simultaneously enabling players to make the side wagers on each said play of the blackjack wagering game using the single multiplayer display/input device.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein displaying the bonus display includes displaying a wheel.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein enabling the players who have earned the designated amount of bonus objects to place such earned bonus objects relative to the bonus display includes enabling the players to place the bonus objects on the wheel.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein enabling the players who have earned the designated amount of bonus objects to place such earned bonus objects relative to the bonus display includes enabling the players to simultaneously place the bonus objects on the wheel.

26. The method of claim 20, which include using a random number generator to determine the positions of each of the displayed objects on the bonus display.

27. The method of claim 20, which include using a virtual physics engine to determine the positions of each of the displayed objects on the bonus display.