Multiplayer gaming device and methods

• US 8,684,825 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US13/400,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play

Abstract

A plurality of gaming devices is linked so as to effectuate multiplayer game play. Multiplayer game play may cost more than single player game play, but may provide bonus payouts in the multiplayer game play. Various embodiments disclose symbol swapping, best ball, and match multiplayer game play.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a game playable over the Internet, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor of a computing device operable to facilitate a multiplayer game, that a first player playing a first game has obtained a first element of the game;

storing in a memory of the computing device an indication of the first element as being usable by the first player in the game;

determining, by the processor, that a second player playing the first game has obtained a second element of the game;

storing in the memory an indication of the second element as being usable by the second player in the game;

determining, by the processor, an occurrence of a triggering event for a swapping of the first element of the first player for the second element of the second player;

effectuating, by the processor, a swapping of the first element of the first player for the second element of the second player by modifying the indications in the memory such that an indication of the second element rather than the first element is stored as being usable by the first player and an indication of the first element rather than the second element is stored as being usable by the second players;

determining that the first player is entitled to a benefit as a result of the swap and determining the value of the benefit by;

determining a payout the first player would have been entitled to if the swap had not been effectuated, thereby determining a preliminary payout;

determining a payout the first player is entitled to as a result of the swap, thereby determining an intermediate payout; and

determining the value of the benefit to be the intermediate payout minus the preliminary payout; and

providing the benefit to the first player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first element and the second element comprises an element randomly won by a respective one of the first player and the second player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first element and the second element comprises an element earned through skill by a respective one of the first player and the second player.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether at least one of the first player and the second player had selected an option to allow swapping of game elements when initiating the first game; and

only effectuating the swapping of the elements if the option had been selected.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining the second element stored as usable by the first player in the first game after the swap with at least one other element associated with the first player to determine an outcome of the first game.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first game includes at least one restriction on swapping of elements by players of the game and wherein the method further comprises:

verifying, prior to effectuating the swapping, that effectuating the swapping would not violate the at least one restriction; and

only effectuating the swapping if it would not violate the at least one restriction.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:

(i) a maximum number of elements which may be swapped by a player; and

(ii) a type of element that may be traded.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first element and the second element is associated with a particular aspect of the first game in which it was obtained or in which it may be utilized and wherein the at least one restriction comprises a restriction on a one or more aspects of the first game from which an element may be swapped.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the benefit comprises:

providing a first portion of the benefit to the first player and providing a second portion of the benefit to the second player.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event comprises a request from at least one of the first player and the second player to swap the first element for the second element.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, from the first player, a request to swap the first element for the second element.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising

verifying that the second player agrees to the swapping of the first element for the second element.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the request includes an identification of at least one of the first element and the second element.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

selecting, on behalf of the first player, at least one of the first element and the second element to be swapped.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions for directing a processor of a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

determining that a first player playing a first game has obtained a first element of the game;

storing in a memory of the computing device an indication of the first element as being usable by the first player in the game;

determining that a second player playing the first game has obtained a second element of the game;

storing in the memory an indication of the second element as being usable by the second player in the game;

determining an occurrence of a triggering event for a swapping the first element of the first player for the second element of the second player;

effectuating a swapping of the first element of the first player for the second element of the second player by modifying the indications in the memory such that an indication of the second element rather than the first element is stored as being usable by the first player and an indication of the first element rather than the second element is stored as being usable by the second player;

determining that the first player is entitled to a benefit as a result of the swap and determining the value of the benefit by;

determining a payout the first player would have been entitled to if the swap had not been effectuated, thereby determining a preliminary payout;

determining a payout the first player is entitled to as a result of the swap, thereby determining an intermediate payout; and

determining the value of the benefit to be the intermediate payout minus the preliminary payout; and

providing the benefit to the first player.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing a program, the processor being operable with the program to;

determine that a first player playing a first game has obtained a first element of the game;

store in a memory of the computing device an indication of the first element as being usable by the first player in the game;

determine that a second player playing the first game has obtained a second element of the game;

store in the memory an indication of the second element as being usable by the second player in the game;

determine an occurrence of a triggering event for a swapping the first element of the first player for the second element of the second player;

effectuate a swapping of the first element of the first player for the second element of the second player by modifying the indications in the memory such that an indication of the second element rather than the first element is stored as being usable by the first player and an indication of the first element rather than the second element is stored as being usable by the second player;

determine that the first player is entitled to a benefit as a result of the swap and determining the value of the benefit by;

determine a payout the first player would have been entitled to if the swap had not been effectuated, thereby determining a preliminary payout;

determine a payout the first player is entitled to as a result of the swap, thereby determining an intermediate payout; and

determine the value of the benefit to be the intermediate payout minus the preliminary payout; and

provide the benefit to the first player.