METHOD, APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PRODUCING AND APPLYING A GRAPHIC SIMULATION ACROSS MULTIPLE GAMING MACHINES
An apparatus for producing shared image games includes a number of gaming machines, with each gaming machine having a respective video display device. The apparatus also includes a shared image display control arrangement and a shared image prize controller. The shared image display control arrangement controls the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a shared image graphic effect such as a multi-segmented prize reel that appears to extend across the different video display devices. The shared image prize controller operates to award a shared image prize for at least one of the gaming machines. This shared image prize corresponds to a prize represented at least in part by a respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the respective gaming machine when the reel segments appear to come to a stop. For example, a given reel segment may show a prize value that is awarded to the player at the particular gaming machine, or may show a multiplier value that is applied to some value accumulated for the player at the particular gaming machine.
The Applicants claim the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/986,950 filed Nov. 9, 2007, and entitled “Method, Apparatus, and Program Product for Conducting a Game Having a Shared Image Component.” The entire content of this provisional application is incorporated herein by this reference.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent documents or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all rights of copyright.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a system which provides a graphic effect across multiple gaming machines to display results in a wagering game. The invention encompasses both methods and apparatus for producing multiple gaming machine graphic effects and awarding prizes indicated by the graphic effect. The invention further encompasses program products for producing multiple gaming machine graphic effects and awarding corresponding prizes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany different types of gaming machines have been developed to provide various formats and graphic presentations for conducting games and presenting game results. For example, numerous mechanical reel-type gaming machines, also known as slot machines, have been developed with different reel configurations, reel symbols, and paylines. More recently, gaming machines have been developed with video monitors that are used to produce simulations of mechanical spinning reels. These video-based gaming machines may use one or more video monitors to provide a wide variety of graphic effects in addition to simulated spinning reels, and may also provide secondary/bonus games using entirely different graphics. Video-based gaming machines may also be used to show card games or various types of competitions such as simulated horse races in which wagers may be placed. Game manufacturers are continuously pressed to develop new game presentations, formats, and game graphics in an attempt to provide high entertainment value for players and thereby attract and keep players.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,324 discloses a gaming system in which a bonus result at a gaming machine included in a group of gaming machines may be displayed to the winning player through a multi-screen video presentation. However, the multi-screen presentation disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,324 is limited in how it shows results for multiple players concurrently. In order to show awards for multiple players, the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,324 relies in part on a video display device separate from any of the gaming machines. The separate video display device must be visible to all of the players for which award in the multi-screen presentation is to be displayed. This arrangement limits the ability to provide presentations that generate excitement and interest across large numbers of gaming machines, and gaming machines arranged in diverse physical orientations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a gaming system which produces a shared image game in which one or more common graphic elements are shown at multiple gaming machines to produce a graphic effect, such as an animation across the multiple gaming machines, and in which a prize for the game is at least partially indicated for a given gaming machine by the respective graphic element displayed at that gaming machine at a point in time. The graphic effect using common graphic elements across multiple gaming machines will be referred to herein as a “shared image graphic effect.”
A first form of the present invention includes an apparatus having a number of gaming machines, with each gaming machine having a respective player control arrangement which enables a player to make inputs through the respective gaming machine, and also having a respective video display device. The apparatus in this first form of the invention also includes a shared image display control arrangement and a shared image prize controller. The shared image display control arrangement operates to control the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a shared image graphic effect that appears to extend across the different video display devices. One preferred shared image graphic effect includes a simulation of a multi-segmented prize reel in which the various prize reel segments appear to travel across each respective video display device in a rotation direction and then ultimately reach a stopped (static) condition to display a respective reel segment at the respective video display device of each respective gaming machine. The prize reel segments together represent a series of distinct graphic elements which appear to sequentially travel in unison (that is, as if physically interconnected in a fixed physical relationship) across each respective video display device in the rotation direction and then stop so that a respective distinct graphic element is displayed at each of the video display devices. The shared image prize controller operates to award a shared image prize for at least one of the gaming machines. This shared image prize corresponds to a prize represented at least in part by a respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the at least one gaming machine when the reel segments appear to come to a stop. For example, a given reel segment may show a prize value that is awarded to the player at the particular gaming machine, or may show a multiplier value that is applied to some value accumulated for the player at the particular gaming machine.
In the first form of the invention the shared image display control arrangement may include a respective client component located at each gaming machine and a display control server component that may be located remotely from any of the gaming machines. The display control server component functions to cause various commands (client commands) to be communicated to each of the gaming machines in order to help produce the shared image graphic effect. For example, each respective client component in one implementation is responsive to the receipt of a client command comprising a start command to cause the video display device of the respective gaming machine to begin displaying a respective single machine component of the shared image graphic effect. The single machine component of the shared image graphic effect comprises the series of graphic images produced at the video display device of a single one of the gaming machines in order to produce the part of the shared image graphic effect shown at that given gaming machine. Each respective gaming machine cooperating to produce the shared image graphic effect will produce a respective single machine component of the overall shared image graphic effect.
Alternatively to the client/server network arrangement for controlling the video display device at each respective gaming machine in the first form of the invention, an apparatus according to the present invention may include a shared image display control arrangement that is connected to each video display device to directly provide a respective video drive signal to each respective video display device.
One preferred method according to the first form of the invention includes detecting a triggering event and responsive to detecting the triggering event, controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect such as the above-described prize reel simulation. This method further includes awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines. The shared image prize corresponds to a prize represented at least in part by a respective one of the graphic elements displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of graphic elements appear to stop (such as when the simulated reel stops spinning for example).
In this method according to the first form of the invention, the step of controlling each video display device may include communicating one or more client commands from the display control server to each of the gaming machines over a local area network. The respective client command or commands to each respective gaming machine may include a start location in video image data stored at the respective gaming machine and an end location in the video image data, and perhaps other information that may be necessary or desirable for allowing the respective gaming machine to display the desired single machine component of the shared image graphic effect.
Some preferred methods according to the first form of the invention include detecting an ineligible condition at one or more of the gaming machines. In response to detecting the ineligible condition at a given gaming machine, the method may include modifying the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect at that gaming machine to indicate that the respective gaming machine is not eligible for the shared image prize. This modification of the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect may include reducing the brightness of the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect, changing colors included in the single component of the shared image effect, and/or making some other suitable modification in the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect.
The invention also encompasses a program product stored in one or more computer readable devices. A program product according to the first form of the invention includes shared image display program code and shared image award program code. The shared image display program code is executable for controlling the video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce the shared image graphic effect, such as the prize reel simulation described above. The shared image award program code is executable for awarding the shared image prize for at least one of the gaming machines. The shared image prize corresponds to a prize represented by a respective one of the graphic elements displayed at the video display device of one of the gaming machines when the series of graphic elements appear to stop.
In one preferred program product according to the first form of the invention, the shared image display program code includes respective display control client program code executed at a respective processing device located at each respective gaming machine, and display control server program code that may be executed at a processing device at a location separate from any of the gaming machines. The display control server program code is executable for causing a respective client command(s) to be communicated to each respective gaming machine for coordinating the different gaming machines to produce the desired shared image graphic effect. The respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine is executable for causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display the respective single machine component of the shared image graphic effect.
A second form of the invention includes a number of gaming machines with each respective gaming machine having a respective video display device and a respective player control arrangement similarly to the previously described embodiment. In this second form of the invention a shared image display control arrangement selectively controls the video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a shared image graphic effect, but the shared image graphic effect need not be a series of physically interconnected graphic elements such as a simulation of a segmented prize reel. Rather, the shared image graphic effect in this second form of the invention includes one or more distinct prize-indicating graphic elements which appear at selected ones of the video display devices. A shared image result controller in this second form of the invention awards a shared image prize for each gaming machine displaying one of the prize-indicating graphic elements at a one or more points in the shared image graphic effect, such as a conclusion of the shared image graphic effect for example. The shared image prize corresponds to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the prize-indicating graphic elements displayed at the video display device of the respective gaming machine at the one or more points in the shared image graphic effect.
A program product according to this second form of the invention includes shared image display program code. The shared image display program code is executable for controlling the video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce the shared image graphic effect including one or more distinct prize-indicating graphic elements which appear at selected ones of the video display devices. The program product in this second form of the invention also includes shared image award program code executable for awarding a shared image prize for each gaming machine displaying one of the prize-indicating graphic elements at the one or more points of the shared image graphic effect.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
For purposes of describing the present invention, it will be assumed that primary video display device 104 is employed to produce graphics for a primary game that may be played through gaming machine 100, and that secondary video display device 107 is employed in a shared image game according to the present invention. In particular, it will be assumed that secondary video display device 107 is used to produce the single machine component of a shared image graphic effect according to the present invention. Upper and lower auxiliary display devices, 108 and 109, may be used in connection with either the primary game or the shared image game, or both games. It should be borne in mind, however, that shared image games according to the present invention may be produced using any video display device included in a gaming machine. That is, the single machine component of a shared image graphic effect may be produced using a primary video display device of a gaming machine, such as primary video display device 104. Also small auxiliary display devices such as either of display devices 108 and 109 may be used to produce a single machine component of a shared image game. Also, although the single machine component of a shared image game may be produced using the same display device at each gaming machine that participates in shared image game, different video display devices may be used in one or more participating gaming machines. For example, where two gaming machines 100 participate in a shared image game according to the invention, the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect may be produced using primary video display device 104 at one of the gaming machines and may be produced using secondary video display device 107 of the other gaming machine. Furthermore, where a gaming machine includes multiple video display devices such as gaming machine 100, multiple video display devices at the gaming machine may be used to produce the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect either showing adjacent graphic elements in the sequence of images used to produce the shared image graphic effect (adjacent reel segments, for example) or together showing a single graphic element of the sequence of images (a single reel segment, for example).
Gaming machine 100 illustrated in
Control buttons 110 or other mechanical or virtual controls at gaming machine 100 may also be involved in a shared image game according to the present invention. For example, one or more of the control buttons 110 may be required in placing a bet necessary to make the particular gaming machine eligible for a given shared image game. Eligibility for a shared image game will be discussed in detail below. For purposes of the present disclosure, mechanical buttons such as buttons 110 in
It will be appreciated that gaming machines may also include a number of other player interface devices in addition to devices that are considered player controls for use in playing a particular game. Gaming machine 100 also includes a currency/voucher acceptor having an input ramp 112, a player card reader having a player card input 114, and a voucher/receipt printer having a voucher/receipt output 115. Audio speakers 116 generate an audio output to enhance the user's playing experience. Numerous other types of devices may be included in gaming machines that may be used according to the present invention.
Gaming machine 100 shown in
The present invention is by no means limited to implementation with a gaming machine having the configuration of gaming machine 100 shown in
The present invention relies on a number of different gaming machines used together to produce the shared image graphic effect such as the multi-segmented prize reel simulation. Each different gaming machine represents a different station at which a player may participate in a shared image game. Although
Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that other basic electronic components will be included in gaming machine 100 such as a power supply, cooling devices for the various system components, audio amplifiers, and other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail.
All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in
Graphics processors such as graphics processors 215 and 216 are also commonly a part of modern personal computer systems. Although separate graphics processor 215 is shown for controlling primary video display device 104 and secondary video display device 107, and graphics processor 216 is shown for controlling both auxiliary display devices 108 and 109, it will be appreciated that CPU 205 may control all of the display devices directly without any intermediate graphics processor, or the responsibilities of graphic processors 215 and 216 may be divided up differently. The invention is not limited to any particular arrangement of processing devices for controlling the video display devices included with the gaming machine 100.
In the illustrated gaming machine 100, CPU 205 executes software which ultimately controls the entire gaming machine including the receipt of player inputs and the presentation of the graphic symbols displayed according to the invention through display devices 104, 107, 108, and 109 associated with the gaming machine. As will be discussed further below, CPU 205 either alone or in combination with graphics processor 215 may implement a display control client component for performing functions associated with a shared image game according to the present invention. CPU 205 also executes software related to communications handled through network interface 210, and software related to various peripheral devices such as those connected to the system through audio interface 209, serial interface 211, and touch screen controller 217. CPU 205 may also execute software to implement a primary game controller for generating, receiving, or otherwise obtaining a result in a primary game played through gaming machine 100 and cause the gaming machine to display the result in the primary game. CPU 205 may further execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or storage device 207 may comprise a hard drive or other mass storage device providing storage for programs not in use or for other data generated or used in the course of gaming machine operation. Network interface 210 provides an interface to other components of a gaming system such as the servers discussed below in connection with
The invention is not limited to gaming machines employing the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example gaming machine 100. Other gaming machines may include one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing steps for implementing the present invention. Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205, these special purpose processing devices may not employ operational program code to direct the various processing steps.
The invention is not limited to gaming machines including only video display devices for displaying results in a primary game. It is only necessary that the gaming machine include one video display device that is capable of producing the single machine component of a shared image graphic effect according to the invention. For example, a gaming machine suitable for use in the invention may include a mechanical reel-type display rather than a video display device for displaying results in a primary game. Thus, a gaming machine suitable for use in the present invention may have a structure similar to that shown for gaming machine 100 in
Referring now to
Each gaming machine 100, and particularly the player control arrangement associated with each gaming machine, allows a player to initiate a play in a primary game. Initiating a play in a primary game may include placing a wager for the game (which may be a game separate from a shared image game) and/or placing a separate wager for a shared image game according to the present invention. The video display devices 107 associated with the different gaming machines 100 are used according to the invention to produce the shared image graphic effect. Each respective video display device 107 displays a respective single machine component of the shared image graphic effect as will be discussed further below.
The shared image display control arrangement made up of display control server 302 and the various shared image display control client components 303 functions to selectively control the video display devices 107 to produce the shared image graphic effect. Various characteristics of a shared image graphic effect according to the invention will be described below in connection with the examples of
The present invention requires various communications between display control server 302 and the various gaming machines 100 included in apparatus 300. The network arrangement made up of network switches 306 and 307, and the various communication lines 308 shown in
Although
Because the images shown on the various gaming machines to produce the shared image graphic effect are visible generally from the front of each gaming machine, a player at one gaming machine will not necessarily be in position to see an image of the shared image graphic effect shown at another gaming machine. However, it may be desirable in some instances to give all of the players some indication of the location of a particular image as it makes its way around the different gaming machines. In the prize reel simulation for example, it may be desirable to show the position of a reel segment having a high value prize indicator as the reel segment appears to rotate through the various gaming machines. Each respective gaming machine may therefore include a separate indicator such as top light 118 located on the top of the respective gaming machine which is used to indicate the location of a particular image of the shared image. Specifically, top light 118 of a given gaming machine 100 participating to produce the shared image graphic effect may be illuminated when a particular image (a high value prize indication for example) is shown at the given gaming machine. This use of the gaming machine top light 118 may generate considerable excitement among the participating players as they observe the position of the particular image as it moves through the various gaming machines over the course of a shared image graphic effect for an instance of the shared image game. The control of top light 118 in this fashion may be accomplished with image sequence data as will be described below in connection with
In addition to the use of the shared image graphic effect in the conduct of a shared image game, the shared image graphic effect may be used to attract players to the shared image game. For example, periodically between shared image games the gaming machines may be controlled to show an example shared image graphic effect to attract players. In the prize reel example, the simulated prize reel may be shown slowly rotating through the various gaming machines to show the various prizes available in the shared image game. The shared image graphic effect may be modified in this attract mode to provide the players with other information on the shared image game. Also, information shown at another video display device at each gaming machine may be coordinated with the attract mode shared image graphic effect to show players the features of the shared image game.
The appearance of motion in the shared image graphic effect with images appearing to move from one position to the next involves producing a number of images or frames displayed rapidly one after the other at the respective video display device. That is, the simulation is produced by each gaming machine producing a respective sequence of images or frames (hereinafter “images/frames”) which vary slightly from one to the next to give the appearance that the images are moving across the respective display device 107. The rate at which the image positions change may be used to represent the speed at which the simulated prize reel rotates. The images themselves may also be modified (blurred for example) to simulate the appearance of motion. The manner in which the image/frame sequences may be generated at the various gaming machines will be described further below in connection with
According to the present invention, a shared image prize is awarded for the respective gaming machine at which a particular prize-indicating image stops at a prize indicating point of the shared image graphic effect. The prize indicating point in the simulated prize reel embodiment of the invention comprises a point in which the simulated reel has come to rest. This stationary position of the simulated prize reel may be at a conclusion of the shared image game. In some implementations of the invention, however, a simulated prize reel may stop two or more different times over the course of the shared image game, with the multiple stopping points combining for a shared image prize.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
It will be noted that in the simulated prize reel graphic effect, (and subject to eligibility requirements discussed below) a prize is awarded for any gaming machine displaying a prize indicating symbol at the given prize indicating point of the simulation. Where the simulated prize reel includes multiple symbols that indicate a prize, multiple prizes may be awarded for any given shared image game. In some forms of the prize reel simulation form of shared image game, some of the reel symbols will not indicate a prize, other symbols will indicate relatively low level prizes, and a relatively few symbols will indicate some larger prize.
In one preferred form of the invention, the prizes awarded for the shared image game are based partially on a multiplier symbol and partially on a value that has been accumulated or generated in the play of a primary game through the given gaming machine.
In the example prize reel simulation indicated by
In the example of
In the above example, the presence of an accumulated numerical value for the player at the gaming machine may represent an eligibility requirement for participating in the shared image game. That is, if the player has not accumulated a numeric value, they will not win a prize for the shared image game even if a multiplier symbol aligns with the player's gaming machine at the conclusion of the shared image game (the result of applying the multiplier to a zero value would be zero). Also, this particular embodiment of the invention may require a certain bet level in order for the player to qualify for accumulating values from the special reel symbols. For example, in order for the numeric value associated with a special symbol to be accrued to the player for a given play of the primary game, the player may be required to place a maximum bet in the primary game or a maximum bet plus an additional side bet. This additional side bet may be used to fund all prizes awarded in the shared image game. The accumulated value at a given gaming machine may or may not reset to zero or some other value after a given instance of the shared image/prize reel game (for example, after completion of a given simulated spin of the prize reel). In some forms of the invention the accumulated value may only reset after a player has received some prize for the shared image/prize reel game.
The above example for accumulating a numeric value to which a prize wheel multiplier value is applied is but one preferred form of the invention using a simulated prize reel, and many alternatives to this particular embodiment are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, numeric prize values may be shown at the various prize reel segments and the value accumulated from play of the primary game may be applied as a multiplier for a value shown on a prize reel segment aligned with the given gaming machine. Furthermore, the shared image game prize may be simply a value or other prize indicated by the symbol appearing at the given simulated prize reel segment. Also, it will be appreciated that the various simulated prize reel segments may indicate different types of prizes in a single instance of the shared image/prize reel game. Some segments may indicate multiplier values while other segments may indicate straight prize values. Other simulated prize reel segments may include symbols indicating other types of prizes such as merchandise, player club points, vouchers for meals or services, etc. Some prize reel segments may be associated with no prize or a zero multiplier.
Further details of operation of gaming apparatus 300 and the various components shown in
Referring now to
The process of producing the single machine component at the respective gaming machine according to the received client command or commands as indicated at process block 1004 includes rapidly producing a series of images at the respective video display device 107 to produce the portion of the shared image graphic effect required at that respective gaming machine 100. In the example shown in
The present invention encompasses a number of different ways in which the various gaming machines 100 may operate to produce the desired single machine component of a given shared image graphic effect. In the simulated prize reel graphic effects described above with reference to
In forms of the invention using a series of digitally defined images/frames stored in a suitable data storage device at each respective gaming machine 100, the process of producing a single machine component as shown at process block 1004 in
It should be noted that the client command(s) received from display control server 302 may not indicate a start image/frame for a given single machine component of the shared image graphic effect in some implementations. Rather, the start image/frame for a given single machine component of a shared image graphic effect comprising a reel spinning simulation may be dictated by the stop image/frame for the immediately preceding shared image graphic effect. The client command(s) for the given single machine component in this case would dictate a stop image/frame for that single machine component, and the process at the gaming machine would include the processing steps required to produce the sequence of images necessary to show the portion of the simulation produced at that gaming machine and ultimately stop to show the stop image/frame.
In implementations of the invention in which a top light 118 is used to indicate the position of one or more graphic elements across the gaming machines participating in the shared image game, the process at block 1004 in
The present invention also encompasses a number of different ways in which a prize may be indicated for the purposes of decision block 1005 in
The decision indicated at process block 1005 in
The step of awarding a respective shared image prize as shown at process block 1008 in
Although preferred forms of the invention include the notifying step indicated a process block 1006 in
The determination indicated at process block 1101 in
The invention is not limited to the above-described apparent random number generation and comparison process for determining when a shared image game is to be conducted. Other forms of the invention may develop a schedule of shared image games to be conducted over a certain period of time, store the schedule in some fashion, and then conduct games according to that schedule. For example, display control server 302 or some other component may produce a schedule of shared image games to be conducted over a given hour or day. In this case, a determination as to whether a shared image game is to be conducted may include comparing the current time to the time schedule to determine if a shared image game is scheduled for the current time. Alternatively there is no determination by display control server 302, and the display control server is simply programmed or otherwise operated to start the process beginning at process block 1106 in
In some preferred forms of the invention, the determination performed by display control server 302 as indicated at process block 1101 is performed to ensure some average number of plays in a primary game at a gaming machine between shared image games. The average number of primary game plays K between shared image games is given by the equation K=1/(N*P*E), where N is the number of times each second that display controller 302 checks for the trigger condition, P is the percentage chance of triggering the bonus on a given check, and E is the number of seconds of eligibility for each eligibility side bet (assuming the implementation provides a certain eligibility time per side bet). Where the preferred number of primary game plays per shared image game is 80 (K=80) and E=6 seconds for example, the equation reduces to N*P=1/480. Any combination on N and P which satisfies this relationship is mathematically acceptable. For example, if N is set to 10 then the corresponding value of P would need to be set to 1/4800.
The above described arrangement in which an apparent random number is generated every set time period may require that the determination process at block 1101 be suspended in the event a shared image game is to be conducted. The suspension step shown at process block 1104 in
The steps performed for selecting a shared image graphic effect to be produced for a given instance of a shared image game as indicated at process block 1106 will depend on the nature of the shared image graphic effect being produced. Where the shared image graphic effect is a simulation of a prize reel for example, selecting the specific shared image graphic effect may include selecting a stop position for the simulated reel and/or a spinning characteristic (time and simulated speed over time). Other types of shared image graphic effects may require a determination of the particular gaming machines 100 at which certain graphic images will be displayed over the course of the shared image game. In some forms of the invention, display control server 302 may store or have access to data defining different shared image graphic effects or different aspects of a shared image graphic effect and may select a particular effect or portions of the effect from this data.
It will be appreciated that selecting a shared image graphic effect to be produced for a given instance of a shared image game may have the effect of selecting the prize-indicating graphic elements that are displayed at the various gaming machines 100 at the conclusion or other prize indicating point in the shared image game. For example, where the shared graphic effect is a simulation of a spinning prize reel, selecting the simulation effectively selects the prize reel segments that will ultimately be displayed at the various gaming machines when the simulated reel comes to a stop. Depending upon any eligibility requirements for the gaming machines to qualify for a shared image prize, selecting the shared image graphic effect may effectively identify which gaming machine or gaming machines are to win a shared image prize and the amount of the prize.
The shared image prize selection process at block 1106 is also preferably randomized to the extent possible to evenly distribute the various shared image prizes that may be available. Where the shared image graphic effect produces a simulation of a prize reel, the simulation may be conducted so that prize wheel segments and prize indicating symbols included with the prize reel segments may be modified to add, remove, and/or move one or more prize indicating values that appear on the prize reel. Any such modification of symbols shown by the simulated prize reel may be performed while the prize reel is portrayed at rest before a simulated spin, and thus the modification of symbols may be apparent to the players at gaming machines 100 and to those observing the game. Alternatively, the invention may take advantage of the time that the reel is shown spinning rapidly to change the various distinct graphic images/symbols shown on the simulated reel so that the modification of symbols is not apparent to the players or observers.
The process of building the client command or commands necessary for each gaming machine as shown at process block 1108 may vary significantly within the scope of the present invention. Some forms of the invention may build a start command for each gaming machine 100 that will cooperate in producing the shared image graphic effect. Other forms of the invention may build a ready command for each gaming machine and also a start command for each gaming machine. The nature of the client commands may also vary significantly. In some forms of the invention, a start command includes a future start time at which each gaming machine 100 is to begin producing the respective single machine component of the shared image graphic effect. Alternatively, a start command produced at process block 1108 may dictate that the receiving gaming machine 100 start the respective single machine component of the shared image graphic effect immediately upon receipt of the command or after a certain time after receipt of the command. Whether a start command dictates an immediate start or a start at some time in the future, a separate ready command may be used to prompt each gaming machine 100 to display some indication such as a countdown timer indicating that a shared image game is about to commence. This countdown timer or other display to be shown at any display device associated with the respective gaming machine, for example one of the auxiliary display devices 108 or 109 of gaming machine 100 (in
As discussed above in connection with process block 1004 in
[start time], [time sync], [start frame], [stop frame], [prize], [run time], [reel definition] The start time is included at least in implementations in which the various gaming machines 100 operate to begin producing their respective single machine component of the shared image graphic effect at a particular time. This time may be taken as some fixed time after it is determined that a shared image game is to be conducted for example. It will be appreciated that in these forms of the invention for producing a shared image graphic effect in which the series of distinct graphic images appear to travel across each video display device (such as 107 in
The start frame element in the above example client command indicates the image/frame in the given sequence of images/frames at which the receiving gaming machine is to start its single machine component of the shared image graphic. This start frame element may comprise simply a sequence number or other identifier to identify a given image/frame in a sequence of images/frames stored at the receiving gaming machine 100. As discussed above in connection with
The stop frame element in the above example client command specifies the image/frame in the given series of images/frames to be shown at the conclusion of the single machine component of the shared image graphic effect for the respective gaming machine. Where such a data element is used in a client command, it may comprise a sequence number or other data element identifying a certain image/frame in the sequence of images/frames used to produce the shared image graphic effect. Some forms of the invention may specify this stop image/frame indirectly by specifying a run time as will be discussed further below. However, the stop frame identifying data may still be included in a client command for error checking purposes even if it is not used by the gaming machine to control the single component of the shared image graphic effect.
The prize element of the above example client command may be included to directly identify the shared image prize to be awarded for the respective gaming machine 100 receiving the command. However, since the prize is related to the distinct graphic image displayed at the gaming machine 100 at the conclusion of the shared image graphic effect, the stop image/frame at least partially identifies the prize to be awarded (or multiple prizes to be awarded as the case may be). Although the prize element need not be included in a client command, it may be included to avoid the table lookup at the respective gaming machine (as discussed above in connection with decision block 1005 and/or for error checking or verification purposes.
The run time data element included in the example client command shown above may be included to dictate the time that the graphic simulation will be run. It may be necessary to use different run times in order to ensure the desired apparent randomness in the prize indicating point of the shared image graphic effect (for example, apparent randomness of the stopping point in the reel simulation embodiment). However, at least in the prize reel simulation, part of the reel rotation may show the rotation so fast that the individual images are not apparent to an observer and thus the simulated reel may be shifted in this portion of the simulation to cause the simulated reel to stop at the desired position even though the spin time appears to be the same from one simulation to the next. Thus the run time element may be omitted from a client command in some forms of the invention.
The reel definition element shown in the above example client command may be included to define the particular graphic simulation that is to be produced in the event that the apparatus according to the invention supports multiple simulations. For example, some forms of the invention may support simulations with multiple different simulated prize reels or other devices, having different graphic elements and perhaps different available prizes. In order to accommodate this use of different graphic simulations, one simulated prize reel may be shown disappearing from the video display devices after a given simulation is complete. The video display device may then show some other graphic either related to the shared image game or another game available at the respective gaming machine 100. Ultimately the graphic images to be used for the next shared image game will then be displayed at the various gaming machines to start the next shared image game using the different graphics. For example, the reel definition data element shown above may identify a particular image/frame series file stored at the respective gaming machine 100 and the gaming machine may access this file to generate commands for the respective video display device to produce the desired single machine component of the shared image graphic effect.
The client commands for each gaming machine 100 may be communicated to the gaming machines in any suitable fashion consistent with the communication arrangement included in the given gaming apparatus 300 shown in
Client commands and the information included in such commands may be divided up in any fashion suitable for the given shared image game implementation. For example, in one preferred implementation the processes performed at process block 1108 in
The game complete signals may be received as described above in connection with
The configuration checking process indicated at process block 1114 in
Another function that may be performed by display control server 302 or some other component of the shared image gaming system 300 is the collection and storage of data for each instance of the shared image game. The information collected and stored may include information identifying all gaming machines participating in the shared image graphic game, information identifying all gaming machines eligible for receiving shared images prizes for a given instance of the game, and data on the events or actions that placed the gaming machine in the eligible condition. Other information that may be collected and stored is information on the graphic used in the game, the client commands built and communicated to the gaming machines for the game, the prizes actually awarded for the shared image game, and any other information relevant to the configuration and play of the shared image game. Because this data may be collected at many different places in the process, no additional data collection and storage step is shown in
As mentioned above, in addition to producing shared image games in which prizes are awarded to participating players, apparatus 300 is preferably adapted to produce shared image graphic effects in between shared image games to attract players to participate in shared image games. In one form of the invention, display control server 302 is adapted to build client commands and cause the commands to be communicated to the gaming machines according to some desired schedule between shared image games. The attract shared image graphic effects may run continuously after completion of a given shared image game and until the next shared image game is to be started. Alternatively, display control server 302 may initiate an attract shared image graphic effect after a certain period of time passes after completion of a given shared image game.
The arrangement of gaming machines shown in
In the case where different numbers of gaming machines are included in different shared image games, the series of images/frames used to produce the desired shared image graphic effect must be modified to accommodate the number of gaming machines used to produce the shared image graphic effect. Different image/frame files may be stored at the various gaming machines for this purpose or only portions of the images/frames available in a given image/frame file may be used where fewer than some maximum number of gaming machines are used for a given shared image graphic effect.
Although a single distinct prize-indicating graphic element comprising flying saucer 1301 is shown in the example of
Regardless of whether the shared image graphic effect produces a series of graphic images that appear to travel sequentially across the various video display devices as if interconnected in a fixed relationship (such as the prize reel example), or produces prize-indicating elements that do not appear to travel sequentially in any fixed order, an apparatus according to the present invention may place eligibility requirements on a gaming machine in order to allow shared image prizes to be awarded for the respective gaming machine. In one form of the invention, a player playing some primary game at a gaming machine 100 in
Gaming machine eligibility for shared image games is preferably controlled and tracked through the respective gaming machine. For example, a component of shared image prize controller 305 in
Where a given gaming machine is not eligible for a shared image game, the gaming machine preferably utilizes some graphic technique to indicate that lack of eligibility. For example, although the ineligible gaming machine may show its single machine component of a shared image graphic effect for a shared image game in which the gaming machine is not eligible, the images shown at the gaming machine may use muted colors or be otherwise modified to indicate the lack of eligibility. In other forms of the invention, a single machine component of a shared image graphic effect is displayed in normal colors regardless of eligibility up until the stop image/frame, at which point the image may be modified in some fashion to indicate that the gaming machine is ineligible for the shared image game and the player is not entitled to any award indicated by the image shown at the respective gaming machine. The fact that the shared image graphic effect may be displayed at the gaming machine even though it is ineligible may encourage the player to take the actions necessary to make the gaming machine eligible for future shared image games. Some forms of the invention may simply not show any portion of a shared image graphic effect at an ineligible gaming machine. In the prize reel simulation for example, ineligible gaming machines may simply be skipped so that the various reel segments skip over the ineligible machine and are shown only on the next eligible machine in the direction of movement of the reel segments.
One preferred form of the invention employs a separate video display device such as auxiliary video display device 108 or 109 in
One advantage of the present invention is that the shared image games and shared image graphic effects may be displayed independent of any primary game that may be played through the various gaming machines 100. That is, the shared image games may be conducted so as not to interfere with play in the primary game or games. Even while a shared image graphic effect is being produced for a given shared image game, players may continue to play the primary game or games while awaiting the shared image game results.
As discussed above, the present invention is not limited to the particular network arrangement shown particularly in
As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., to refer to an element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus including:
- (a) a number of gaming machines;
- (b) each respective gaming machine including a respective video display device;
- (c) each respective gaming machine including a respective primary game controller for obtaining a respective result in a primary game and causing the respective gaining machine to display the respective result in the primary game;
- (d) a shared image display control arrangement for controlling the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a simulation of a prize reel having a series of reel segments about its periphery, the series of reel segments being displayed by the video display devices over the course of the simulation so as to appear to travel sequentially across the video display devices in a rotation direction and ultimately stop to display a respective reel segment at each respective video display device; and
- (e) a shared image prize controller for awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the respective video display device for the first one of the gaming machines comprises a secondary video display device for that gaming machine and wherein the first one of the gaming machines further includes a primary display device in addition to the secondary video display device, the primary display device for displaying the respective result in the primary game.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop includes a symbol for a multiplier value and the shared image prize comprises a value accumulated in the primary game for the first gaming machine multiplied by the multiplier value.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shared image display control arrangement includes:
- (a) a display control server component for causing a start command to be communicated to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and
- (b) a respective client component located at each respective gaming machine for causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at each respective gaming machine is determined by an immediately preceding prize reel simulation.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the display control server component is also for causing a respective sequence command to be communicated to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines, and wherein the respective client component utilizes the respective sequence command to access image data stored at the respective gaming machine to identify a sequence of images to be displayed at the respective gaming machine to produce the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation at that respective gaming machine.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shared image prize controller comprises a component unique to the first one of the gaming machines and each other gaming machine in the number of gaming machines includes a respective shared image prize controller for awarding a respective shared image prize for the respective gaming machine with which the respective shared image prize controller is included when that respective gaming machine is in an eligible state for the respective shared image prize, the respective shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the respective gaming machine when the series of reel segments stop.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first one of the gaming machines displays the respective result in the primary game with the video display device for that gaming machine.
9. A method including:
- (a) at each of a number of gaming machines, receiving a respective wager in a primary game and obtaining a respective gaming result for the respective wager;
- (b) displaying the respective gaming result at the respective gaming machine at which the respective wager was received;
- (c) controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect where each respective video display device is associated with a different one of the number of gaming machines, the shared image graphic effect including a simulation of a prize reel having a series of reel segments about its periphery, the series of reel segments being displayed by the video display devices over the course of the simulation so that the reel segments appear to travel sequentially across the video display devices in a rotation direction and ultimately stop to display a respective reel segment at each respective video display device; and
- (d) awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the respective video display device for each respective gaming machine comprises a secondary display device for that gaming machine and wherein the respective gaming result is displayed at the respective gaming machine through a respective primary display device of that gaming machine, the respective primary display device being separate from the respective secondary display device for that gaming machine.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stops includes a symbol for a multiplier value and method includes multiplying a value accumulated in the primary game for the first gaming machine by the multiplier value to arrive at the shared image prize.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect includes:
- (a) communicating a respective start command to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and
- (b) responding to the respective start command at each respective gaming machine by causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation.
13. The method of claim 12 further including determining a respective starting point for the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at each respective gaming machine by an immediately preceding prize reel simulation.
14. The method of claim 9 further including:
- (a) communicating a respective sequence command to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and
- (b) at each respective gaming machine, determining the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at the respective gaming machine based on the respective sequence command communicated to the respective gaming machine.
15. The method of claim 9 further including:
- (a) storing a video sequence at each respective gaming machine; and
- (b) wherein the prize reel simulation is produced by displaying the video sequence through the respective video display device at each respective gaming machine, the video sequence starting at a different sequence location at each respective gaming machine.
16. The method of claim 9 further including detecting an ineligible condition at one of the gaming machines and modifying a single machine component of the prize reel simulation at that gaming machine to indicate that the respective gaming machine is not eligible for the shared image prize.
17. A program product stored in one or more computer readable devices, the program product including:
- (a) for each different gaming machine in a number of gaming machines, respective primary game program code executable at the respective gaming machine for obtaining a respective result in a primary game for that gaming machine and causing the respective gaming machine to display the respective result in the primary game;
- (b) shared image display program code executable for controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect, each respective video display device being included in a respective gaming machine in the number of gaming machines, the shared image graphic effect including a simulation of a prize reel having a series of reel segments about its periphery, the series of reel segments being displayed by the video display devices over the course of the simulation so that the reel segments appear to travel sequentially across the video display devices in a rotation direction and ultimately stop to display a respective reel segment at each respective video display device; and
- (c) shared image award program code executable for awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop.
18. The program product of claim 17 wherein the shared image display program code includes:
- (a) display control server program code executable for causing a respective start command to be communicated to each respective gaming machine; and
- (b) respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine, the respective display control client program code being executable for responding to the respective start command by causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation.
19. The program product of claim 17 wherein the shared image display program code includes:
- (a) display control server program code executable for causing a respective sequence command to be communicated to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and
- (b) respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine, the respective display control client program code being executable for applying the respective sequence command received at the respective gaming machine to determine the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at the respective gaming machine.
20. The program product of claim 17 wherein the shared image display program code includes respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine, the respective display control client program code being executable for storing a video sequence at each respective gaming machine, and for causing the video sequence to be displayed through the respective video display device at each respective gaming machine to produce a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation, the video sequence starting at a different sequence location at each respective gaming machine.
21. The program product of claim 20 wherein the shared image display program code is also executable for detecting an ineligible condition at one of the gaming machines and modifying a local component of the prize reel simulation to indicate that the respective gaming machine is not eligible for the shared image prize.
22. An apparatus including:
- (a) a number of gaming machines;
- (b) each respective gaming machine including a respective player control arrangement for enabling player inputs at the respective gaming machine;
- (c) each respective gaming machine including a respective video display device;
- (d) each respective gaming machine including a respective primary game controller for obtaining a respective result in a primary game and causing the gaming machine to display the respective result in the primary game;
- (e) a shared image display control arrangement for controlling the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a shared image graphic effect, the shared image graphic effect including one or more distinct prize-conveying graphic elements which appear at selected ones of the video display devices; and
- (f) a shared image prize controller for awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by a respective one of the distinct prize-conveying graphic elements displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines at a conclusion of the shared image graphic effect.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 7, 2008
Publication Date: May 14, 2009
Inventors: Jason C. Gilmore (Cedar Park, TX), Tony Q. Huynh (Pflugerville, TX), John F. Bogdan (Austin, TX), Brendan E. Segraves (Round Rock, TX)
Application Number: 12/267,373
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);