System and method for saving status of paused game of chance

• US 6,800,027 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Giobbi, John J., Pacey, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US09/891,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 463/15, 463/40, 463/16-22, 463/23-29, 273/459, 273/460
• US Class Current: 463/24
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0664 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3262 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

Abstract

A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a game of chance on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

initiating play of the game of chance;

pausing the game of chance;

storing a status of the paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine;

receiving another wager at another gaming machine operating a different game of chance;

retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database; and

if the status meets predetermined criteria, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player in the different game of chance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is fulfillment of predetermined requirements in the game of chance.

3. A method of conducting a game of chance on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player to play a first wagering game;

conducting the first wagering game; and

if a status of the first wagering game meets predetermined criteria, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature of a second wagering game such that the feature is available to the player.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the game of chance includes:

saving the status of the first wagering game; and

loading the status into the second wagering game.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein saving the status of the first wagering game includes saving the status at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the unlocking feature is selected from a group consisting of bonus rounds, characters, reel symbols, special effects, and other game play elements.

7. A method for playing a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

initiating play of a game of chance;

pausing the game of chance;

storing a status of the paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine;

receiving another wager from the player;

retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;

continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused; and

wherein if the status meets predetermined criteria, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.

8. A method for playing a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player,

initiating play of a game of chance;

pausing the game of chance;

storing a status of the paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine;

receiving another wager from the player;

retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;

continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused; and

wherein if the status fulfills predetermined requirements in the game of chance, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.

9. A system for conducting a game of chance, comprising:

a gaming machine including

means for receiving a wager from a player;

means for initiating play of the game of chance; and

means for pausing the game of chance; and

a central database for storing a status of the paused game of chance, the central database being linked to and remote from the gaming machine;

means for retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;

means for continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused;

means for receiving another wager; and

means, responsive to the status meeting predetermined criteria, for unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.

10. A system for conducting a game of chance, comprising:

a gaming machine including

means for receiving a wager from a player;

means for initiating play of the game of chance; and

means for pausing the game of chance; and

a central database for storing a status of the paused game of chance, the central database being linked to and remote from the gaming machine;

means for retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;

means for receiving another wager;

means for continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused; and

means responsive to the status meeting predetermined requirements in the game chance, for unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.