Adventure sequence activities

• US 8,403,759 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Muir, David Hugh, Nguyen, Binh T.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/986,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/16, 463/20, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming system includes a communication network, a portable data storage device having information associated with a player stored therein and a plurality of gaming units communicatively coupled to the communication network. Each of the gaming units includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device. The gaming system also includes a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the plurality of gaming units. The network computer is programmed to enable the player to play a group of the plurality of gaming units in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.

Claims

1. A method of gaming comprising:

communicatively linking a system server to a portable data storage device associated with a player;

sending, via a communication network, data pertaining to a wager gaming activity to a first gaming unit that is communicatively coupled to the portable data storage device, the wager gaming activity part of an adventure sequence of activities and the data pertaining to the wager gaming activity including information describing one or more game play criteria associated with the wager gaming activity that must be met in order for the player to progress in the adventure sequence of activities;

receiving, by the system server or the portable data storage device, data pertaining to performance of the wager gaming activity;

performing a completion evaluation of the wager gaming activity based on the data pertaining to the performance of the wager gaming activity and the one or more game play criteria associated with the wager gaming activity;

accumulating completion data associated with the adventure sequence of activities based on the completion evaluation; and

determining whether the adventure sequence of activities has been completed based on the accumulated completion data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, via the communication network, data pertaining to a second wager gaming activity at a second gaming unit different from the first gaming unit to the first gaming unit or another gaming unit that is communicatively coupled to the portable data storage device, the second wager gaming activity part of the adventure sequence of activities and the data pertaining to the second wager gaming activity including information describing one or more second game play criteria associated with the second wager gaming activity that must be met in order for the player to progress in the adventure sequence of activities;

receiving, by the system server or the portable data storage device, data pertaining to performance of the second wager gaming activity;

performing a second completion evaluation of the second wager gaming activity based on the data pertaining to the performance of the second wager gaming activity and the one or more second game play criteria; and

accumulating completion data associated with the adventure sequence of activities based on the second completion evaluation, wherein the determining whether the adventure sequence of activities has been completed is based on the accumulated completion data based on the first completion evaluation and the accumulated completion data based on the second completion evaluation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data pertaining to the second wager gaming activity at the second gaming unit includes location data describing a location of the second gaming unit, the second gaming unit at a different location from a location of the first gaming unit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, via the communication network, data pertaining to a non-wager gaming activity to the player, the non-wager gaming activity part of the adventure sequence of activities and the data pertaining to the non-wager gaming activity including information describing one or more non-wager gaming activity criteria associated with the non-wager gaming activity that must be met in order for the player to progress in the adventure sequence of activities;

receiving, by the system server or the portable data storage device, data pertaining to performance of the non-wager gaming activity;

performing a second completion evaluation of the non-wager gaming activity based on the data pertaining to the performance of the non-wager gaming activity and the one or more non-wagering game activity criteria; and

accumulating completion data associated with the adventure sequence of activities based on the second completion evaluation, wherein the determining whether the adventure sequence of activities has been completed is based on the accumulated completion data based on the first completion evaluation and the accumulated completion data based on the second completion evaluation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the non-wager gaming activity comprises an activity selected from the group consisting of:

purchasing a specific product, scanning a bar code on a specific product, inserting the portable data storage device into a non-gaming unit, and communicatively coupling the portable data storage device with a non-gaming unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wager gaming activity comprises at least one of one of a video poker game, a video blackjack game, a video keno game, a video slots game, and a video bingo game.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating data pertaining to the player to the server system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data pertaining to the player includes at least one of a unique identifier, sequential game information, monetary information, biometric information, and performance statistics.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the communicating the data pertaining to the player includes retrieving the data pertaining to the player from the portable data storage device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a plurality of activities, at least some of which are associated with different physical locations, and associating the activities in the plurality of activities with the adventure sequence of activities.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adventure sequence of activities involves a plurality of gaming units, each of which is associated with a different physical location.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the adventure sequence of activities is tailored, at least in part, to the player based on data pertaining to the player.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a clue to the player that is indicative of an activity to be performed by the player in accordance with the adventure sequence of activities.

14. A gaming unit, comprising:

a controller, the controller including memory and at least one processor;

a first interface configured for communication with a portable device associated with a player; and

a second interface configured for communication with a server, wherein the controller, the first interface, and the second interface are communicatively connected with one another and the memory stores instructions for controlling the at least one processor to;

receive, via the second interface and from the server, data pertaining to a wager gaming activity, the wager gaming activity part of an adventure sequence of activities and the data pertaining to the wager gaming activity including information describing one or more game play criteria associated with the wager gaming activity that must be met in order for the player to progress in the adventure sequence of activities,

transmit, via the first interface and to the portable device, the data pertaining to the wager gaming activity and data pertaining to performance of the wager gaming activity by the player at the gaming unit,

receive, via the first interface and from the portable device, information regarding the player'"'"'s progress in the adventure sequence of activities, the information regarding the player'"'"'s progress in the adventure sequence of activities including a completion evaluation of the wager gaming activity, the completion evaluation of the wager gaming activity based on the data pertaining to the performance of the wager gaming activity and the one or more game play criteria associated with the wager gaming activity,

transmit, via the second interface and to the server, the information regarding the player'"'"'s progress in the adventure sequence of activities, and

receive, via the second interface and from the server, a determination, based on accumulated completion data, as to whether the adventure sequence of activities has been completed, the accumulated completion data based on the completion evaluation; and

means for presenting at least a portion of the wager gaming activity to the player.

15. The gaming unit of claim 14, wherein the memory further stores instructions for controlling the at least one processor to receive player information, via the first interface and from the portable device, including information regarding at least one of the player'"'"'s preferences, betting habits, and available credit.

16. The gaming unit of claim 14, further comprising virtual reality gear configured to present a simulation at the player'"'"'s location of events in another location.

17. The gaming unit of claim 14, wherein the data pertaining to the wager gaming activity further comprises location information regarding the wager gaming activity and the location information is communicated to the player via at least one of the gaming unit and the portable device.

18. The gaming unit of claim 16, wherein the player'"'"'s location is a first gaming establishment and the events in another location are at a second gaming establishment.