Abstract:
A gaming machine system includes a system controller, and a plurality of gaming machines linked to the system controller. Each gaming machine has a first display and a game controller controlling images of symbols displayed on the first display and operable to play a game wherein at least one random event is displayed on the first display. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. During play of a feature game, feature images are displayed on a second display. The system further includes a remote display that is visible to anyone at the gaming machines. Images appearing on the displays of any of the gaming machines participating in the feature game are related to images displayed on the remote display, and the feature images are used in determining outcomes on those gaming machines participating in the feature game.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to, and is a continuation of, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/776,145 having a filing date of Feb. 10, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference, and which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2003900619, having a filing date of Feb. 12, 2003, which is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a gaming machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine, to a gaming machine system and to an improvement to a game played on the gaming machines linked to form the system. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Players who regularly play gaming machines quickly tire of particular games and therefore it is necessary for manufacturers of these machines to develop innovative game features which add interest to the games. In so doing, it is hoped to keep players amused and therefore willing to continue playing the game as well as to attract new players. 
     Also, with the growth that has occurred in the gaming machine market, there is intense competition between manufacturers to supply various existing and new venues. When selecting a supplier of gaming machines, the operator of a venue will often pay close attention to the popularity of various games with their patrons. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers are keen to devise games and/or game features which are popular with the players as a mechanism for improving sales, retaining customers and attracting new customers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming machine system which includes
         a system controller;   a plurality of gaming machines linked to the system controller, each gaming machine having a first display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the first display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the first display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize; a second display; and a feature game where, during play of the feature, feature images associated with the feature game are displayed on the second display; and   a remote display to which each of the gaming machines is connected, the remote display being visible to a player playing any one of the gaming machines connected to the remote display, at least certain of the feature images occurring on at least one of the displays of at least one of the gaming machines during the playing of the feature game on the at least one gaining machine cooperating with the feature images displayed on the remote display and the feature images being used in determining a feature outcome on the at least one gaming machine participating in the feature game.       

     The game may comprise a base game preceding the feature game, the feature game following the occurrence of a trigger condition in the base game. The base game preceding the feature game may, conveniently, be a spinning reel game. During the playing of the base game, an attract mode display of images may be displayed on the second display and on the remote display. Further, during the playing of the base game, one or more progressive jackpot meters may be incremented by a percentage of a player&#39;s total bet. The progressive values may be hidden from view or displayed, for example, on the second display of the gaming machines and/or the remote display of the system. 
     The system controller may control, amongst other things, a progressive jackpot prize and, occurrence of a trigger condition. For example, the system controller may randomly select a number representative of a monetary amount falling in a fixed range between a lower value and an upper value of a progressive jackpot. When the progressive jackpot value is incremented to that value by one of the linked gaming machines, the feature game may be initiated by the system controller. It may be a requirement that the players have to perform an additional action to be eligible to participate in the feature game. For example, each player may have to wager an additional bet, wager the maximum bet or be playing at greater than a predetermined minimum rate in order to be eligible to participate in the feature game when it is triggered. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a predetermined trigger condition, triggered by one of the game controller and the system controller, occurring during playing of a base game on any one of the gaming machines may cause the feature game to commence, the trigger condition being configured so that, when it occurs on any one of the gaming machines, all active gaming machines enter the feature game. By “active” is meant those gaming machines of the system being played at the time the trigger condition occurs and, if applicable, in accordance with the eligibility requirements described above. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the feature game may be an ongoing feature where, whenever a trigger condition, triggered by one of the game controller and the system controller, occurs on any one gaming machine to trigger the feature game, the feature game commences on that gaming machine, any other gaming machines continuing with the base game until the feature game is triggered on said any other gaming machines. 
     The second display of each gaming machine may display a plurality of feature images and, when the trigger condition occurs in the base game and the feature game is initiated, an initial display on the first display of the gaming machine is icons relating to the feature images on the second display of that gaming machine. 
     Each gaming machine may therefore include a selector operable by a player of the feature game to enable the player to make at least one selection associated with the feature game. Initially the player may select one of the icons. 
     The feature game may involve playing for prizes associated with the remote display. Representations of the prizes may be arranged, at least initially, in a concealed condition on the remote display. 
     Prizes may be associated with predetermined, hidden places on a representation of a location displayed on the remote display. The images appearing at least on the first display of each participating gaming machine may be synchronized with the images appearing on the remote display. Thus, a representation of the location similar to that displayed on the remote display may be displayed on the first display and the player, using the selector, may select a position on the representation of the location which the player believes will result in a prize-winning outcome of the feature game. The selector used by the player may be a touch sensitive facility of the first display of the gaming machine and the player may select the position by touching a grid marking on the first display overlying the selected position. It will be appreciated that, instead of the touch sensitive facility of the first display, or in addition thereto, the selector may comprise a button on the midtrim of the gaming machine. 
     One of the game controller and the system controller may cause a prize to be replaced whenever any prize is revealed during playing of the feature game. 
     The feature game may comprise a fixed set of prizes so that the prizes at the positions of the representation of the location are not predictable. The fixed set of prizes may include progressive jackpot prizes. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a first display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the first display, the game controller being arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the first display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize, the gaming machine further including
         a second display, arranged apart from the first display;   a remote display arranged remote from, but visible to a player of, the gaming machine; and   a feature game where, during play of the feature, feature images associated with the feature game are displayed on the second display, at least certain of the feature images occurring on at least one of the displays of at least one of the gaming machines during the playing of the feature game on the at least one gaming machine cooperating with feature images displayed on the remote display and the feature images being used in determining a feature outcome on the at least one gaming machine participating in the feature game.       

     The gaming machine may include a selector operable by the player of the feature game to enable the player to make at least one selection associated with the feature game. Preferably, the selector is a touch-screen facility of the first display. 
     The gaming machine may include a cabinet in which the first display is mounted. Further, the gaming machine may include a top box mounted on the cabinet, the further display being, conveniently, mounted in the top box. The first display may be a primary display with the second display being a secondary display. 
     The game may comprise a base game preceding the feature game, the feature game following the occurrence of a trigger condition in the base game. The base game preceding the feature game may, conveniently, be a spinning reel game. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a gaming machine system, the system comprising a plurality of gaming machines linked to a system controller and to a remote display, each gaming machine comprising a first display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the first display, a second display, arranged apart from the first display, a feature game where, during play of the feature, feature images associated with the feature game are displayed on the second display, the feature images being used in determining an outcome associated with the feature game, the method comprising
         causing the feature game to commence following the occurrence of a trigger condition occurring during the playing of a base game on at least one of the gaming machines of the system; and   causing feature images occurring on at least one of the displays of at least one of the gaming machines during the playing of the feature game on the at least one gaming machine to cooperate with feature images occurring on the remote display and using the feature images in determining a feature outcome on the at least one gaming machine participating in the feature game.       

     The method may include causing a predetermined trigger condition occurring during playing of a base game on any one of the gaming machines to commence the feature game. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the method may include configuring the trigger condition so that, when it occurs on any one of the gaming machines, all active gaming machines enter the feature game. The method may include causing the system controller to control occurrence of the trigger condition. Thus, the system controller may randomly select a number representative of a monetary amount falling in a fixed range between a lower value and an upper value of a progressive jackpot and when the progressive jackpot value is incremented to that value by one of the linked gaming machines, the feature game is initiated by the system controller and all gaming machines of the system being played at that time commence the feature game. 
     In addition, the method may include setting other conditions with which a player must comply in order to be eligible to participate in the feature game. For example, each player may have to wager an additional bet, wager the maximum bet or be playing at greater than a predetermined minimum rate in order to be eligible to participate in the feature when it is triggered. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the feature game may be an ongoing feature where, whenever a trigger condition occurs on any one gaming machine to trigger the feature game, the feature game commences on that gaming machine, any other gaming machines continuing with the base game until the feature game is triggered on said any other gaming machines. 
     The method may include displaying on the second display of each gaming machine a plurality of feature images and, when the trigger condition occurs in the base game and the feature game is initiated, displaying as an initial display on the first display of the gaming machine icons relating to the feature images on the second display of that gaming machine. By means of the touch-screen facility or, where that is not available, by a button on a midtrim of the gaming machine, the player may select one of the icons. 
     The method may include playing for prizes associated with the remote display during the feature game. At least initially, the method may include concealing representations of the prizes on the remote display. Thus, the method may include associating prizes with predetermined, hidden places on a representation of a location displayed on the remote display. 
     The method may include displaying a representation of the location, similar to that displayed on the remote display, on the first display and prompting the player to select a position of the location which the player believes will result in a prize-winning outcome of the feature game. 
     Further, the method may include displaying a scene on the second display representative of the selected icon moving towards the location which is displayed on the remote display and on the first display of the gaming machine. Then, the method may include displaying a representation of the selected icon arriving at the selected position at the location and revealing the representation of the prize. 
     The method may include selecting the prize from a fixed set of prizes randomly distributed by one of the game controller and the system controller at the positions of the location. Further, the method may include replacing a prize whenever any prize is revealed during playing of the feature game. 
     Whenever any prize is revealed, the method may include replacing a prize of the same value as the revealed prize at the location but at a different position and, once again, hidden from view. Once a selection of a prize has been made, the method may include again randomly distributing all outcomes over all the positions of the location. 
     The method may include randomly shuffling the set of prizes so that the next outcome is selected from a new distribution of prizes about the positions of the location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a gaming machine, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the gaming machine; 
         FIG. 3  shows a block diagram of a gaming machine system, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4 to 10  show a sequence of images displayed on a primary display and a secondary display of one of the gaming machines of the system and a remote display of the system during the playing of a game on the system; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a flow chart of the game. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  10  generally designates a gaming machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The machine  10  includes a console  12  having a first display, or screen, in the form of a video display unit  14  on which a game  16  is played, in use. The video display unit  14  may be implemented as a cathode ray screen device, a liquid crystal display, a plasma screen, or the like. The game  16  has a base game which, for example, is a spinning reel game that simulates the rotation of a number of spinning reels  18 . A midtrim  20  of the machine  10  houses a bank  22  of buttons for enabling a player to play the game  16 . The midtrim  20  also houses a credit input mechanism  24  including a coin input chute  24 . 1  and a bill collector  24 . 2 . 
     The machine  10  includes a top box  26  in which a second display, or screen,  28  is mounted. While the gaming machine  10  is not being played or a base game of the game  16  is being played, the screen  28  displays feature images of a feature of the game as will be described in greater detail below. 
     A coin tray  30  is mounted beneath the console  12  for cash payouts from the machine  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, a control means or control circuit  32  is illustrated. A program which implements the game and user interface is run on a processor  34  of the control circuit  32 . The processor  34  forms part of a controller  36  that drives the screens  14  and  28  and that receives input signals from sensors  38 . The sensors  38  include sensors associated with the bank  22  of buttons and touch sensors associated with the screen  14 . The controller  36  also receives input pulses from the mechanism  24  to determine whether or not a player has provided sufficient credit to commence playing. The mechanism  24  may, instead of the coin input chute  24 . 1  or the bill collector  24 . 2 , or in addition thereto, be a credit card reader (not shown) or any other type of validation device. 
     Finally, the controller  36  drives a payout mechanism  40  which, for example, may be a coin hopper for feeding coins to the coin tray  30  to make a pay out to a player when the player wishes to redeem his or her credit. 
     The gaming machine  10  forms part of a gaming machine system indicated generally by the reference numeral  50  in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The system  50  comprises a plurality of gaming machines indicated schematically by gaming machines  10 . 1 ,  10 . 2  and  10 . 3 . Each gaming machine  10  includes its first display  14  and its second display  28 . 
     The system  50  further includes a third, remote screen display, or screen,  52  to which each of the gaming machines  10  is connected. The screen  52  is visible to each player on any one of the gaming machines  10  of the system  50 . 
     Preferably, the screen  52  is a plasma screen display. 
     The gaming machines  10  are linked to the screen  52  via a central controller  54 . The central controller  54  monitors what is displayed on the screen  52  and also monitors progressive jackpot values and distributions as for a standard linked progressive jackpot system. 
     As indicated above, the screen  14  of each gaming machine  10  has a touch screen facility which is used as a selector by a player of the game to facilitate playing of the game  16 . 
     The game  16  has a standard, five spinning reel base game where a representation of reels  18  is displayed on the screen  14  as shown in the screen display  60  in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. 
     When the gaming machines  10  are not being played or the feature has not been triggered, an attract mode display  62 , which is themed to the game  16 , is displayed on the screen  28  in the top box  26  of each gaming machine  10 . The game  16  is a Treasure Island game and the themes on the display  62  are of a pirate ship  64  with a plurality of feature icons in the form of pirate characters  66 . 1 - 66 . 8  (referred to below as “pirates”). Further, while the base game is being played on the gaming machines  10  or the gaming machines  10  are not being played, an attract mode of an island  68  is displayed on a display  70  on the remote screen  52 . 
     When the spinning reel base game is being played on any of the gaming machines  10  of the system  50 , one or more progressive meters (not shown) is incremented by a percentage of total bet by the central controller  54  of the system  50 . The progressive values may either be hidden from view or displayed, for example, on the top screens  28  of each gaming machine  10  of the system  50  and/or the screen  52  of the system  50 . As for a standard linked progressive system, bet information is sent to the central controller  54  for each game played on the gaming machines  10  so that the progressive meters can be updated. If a progressive prize is won, the central controller  54  notifies the gaming machine  10  that has won the progressive prize of the amount won and resets the progressive meters to their start-up values. Similarly, the central controller  54  notifies the gaining machines  10  of fixed prizes that are won during the feature. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the central controller  54  of the system  50  may handle only the progressive prizes. There is a set of fixed prizes in the feature that is determined by the triggering gaming machine  10 . When a trigger condition occurs on one of the gaming machines  10 , the gaming machine  10  determines if a progressive prize has been won. If it has, the gaming machine  10  notifies the central controller  54  which pays the prize by “sending” it back to the triggering gaming machine  10  where the prize is revealed. If a progressive prize has not been won, the gaming machine randomly selects the fixed prize to be awarded from a predetermined table or set of prizes. The gaming machine  10  notifies the central controller  54  of the prize selected to be revealed on the screen  52  of the system  50 . 
     A predetermined trigger condition initiates the Treasure Island feature. Either the system  50  could be played as a tournament where all gaming machines  10  enter the feature at the same time on the occurrence of a mystery trigger generated by the central controller  54 . The mystery trigger may occur by the central controller  54  randomly selecting a number representative of a monetary amount which falls in a fixed range between a lower value and an upper value of a progressive jackpot. When the progressive jackpot meters of any one of the gaming machines  10  is incremented to the selected value, the tournament is initiated by the controller  54  and all the gaming machines  10  of the system  50  being played at that time commence the feature. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the feature is an ongoing feature so that, whenever any one of the gaming machines  10  of the system  50  triggers the feature by means of an appropriate trigger condition, only that gaming machine  10  enters the feature. Whenever any of the other gaming machines  10  then triggers the feature that gaming machine  10  also enters the feature but independently of any other gaming machines  10  currently participating in the feature. The trigger condition could be, for example, the occurrence of a predetermined number of scatter symbols on the display  60  in the base game being played on the gaming machine  10 . Instead, the trigger condition could be a progressive jackpot-based trigger such as the applicant&#39;s Hyperlink® trigger system (“Hyperlink” is a registered trade mark of Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd). 
     The feature involves the “sending” of one of the pirates  66  by the player of each participating gaming machine  10  to “look” for treasure on the island  68 . 
     Irrespective of how the feature is triggered, when the feature is triggered, the display on the bottom screen  14  of the gaining machine  10  triggering the feature changes to the display  72  as shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. In this display, all of the pirates  66 . 1 ˜ 66 . 8  as depicted on the pirate ship  64  in the display  62  are displayed on the screen  14  with a message  74  for the player to select one of the pirates  66 . 1 - 66 . 8 . 
     At the same time, the display of the island  68  on the remote screen  52  changes to a plan view of the island  68  with grid markings  76  overlying the island  68  to divide the island into a plurality of positions or regions. 
     Once a pirate has been selected by the player of the feature, the image displayed in a following display  78  on the screen  14  of the gaming machine  10  is a similar representation to that on the screen  52 , being a plan view of the island  68  with the grid markings  76 . 
     A fixed set of prizes (not shown) is randomly distributed by the gaming machine  10  or the controller  54  at the various positions on the island  68 . These prizes remain hidden from view. The prizes include progressive jackpot prizes, whether stand-alone progressive jackpot prizes or linked progressive jackpot prizes. 
     On the display  78  on the screen  14 , the player selects the desired position at which the selected pirate  66 . 1 - 66 . 8  is to dig for buried treasure by touching the appropriate grid location overlying that position on the island  68 . A message  80  prompts the player to select the desired position. 
     In  FIG. 7  of the drawings, the images displayed on the screens  14  and  52  remain the same. However, the image displayed on the second screen  28  changes from a depiction of the pirate ship  64 . It is assumed that the player selected pirate  66 . 5  and the screen  28  changes to a representation  82  of the pirate  66 . 5  rowing towards the island  68  on the remote screen  52 . 
     In the next sequence of images, as shown in  FIG. 8  of the drawings, a screen display  84  displays a representation  82  of the pirate  66 . 5  arriving at the island  68 . The screen displays on the screens  14  and  52  also change to show the representation  82  of the pirate  66 . 5  arriving at the island  68  but on a smaller scale so that the representation of the whole island  62  is visible on the screens  14  and  52 . 
     It is assumed that the player had, when required to select the position on the island  68 , selected grid position  76 . 1  on the island  68 . The sequence of images shown in  FIG. 9  of the drawings therefore shows, on screens  14  and  52 , the pirate  66 . 5  having left his boat  86  and moved across the island  68  to grid position  76 . 1 . 
     A depiction of the pirate  66 . 5  withdrawing a treasure chest  88  at grid position  76 . 1  is shown on the top screen  28  in screen display  90 . Whenever a prize is removed from a position of the island  68 , then, to indicate to players that there has been a re-distribution of prizes in the set of the prizes and that there is again a prize at the position just selected, an animation of a pirate rowing to the island  68  and burying a treasure chest at the previously vacated position is shown at least on the screen  52  of the system  50 . 
     The pirate  66 . 5  returns to his boat  86  with the treasure chest  88  and rows from the island  68  back towards the pirate ship  64  as shown on screen display  92  on the top screen  28  in  FIG. 10  of the drawings. When the pirate  66 . 5  has returned to the other pirates  66  the amount won is revealed and paid to the player. This can be effected by way of an animation of the treasure chest  88  opening to reveal the amount won. When the prize is revealed on the main screen  14  of the gaming machine  10 , it is also revealed on the screen  52  of the system  50  so that other players and bystanders can be aware of the prize that has been won. 
     The remote screen  52  is also capable of showing a plan view of the island  68  and the location of any pirate  66  from any one of the gaming machines  10  participating, at that time, in the feature. Hence, if more than one gaming machine  10  has triggered the feature there will be multiple pirates  66  on the island  68  which will be displayed on the screen  52 . 
     It is also possible for multiple triggers to occur on one of the gaming machines  10  such that more than one pirate  66  can be sent by that gaming machine  10  to appear on the island  68  at the same time. 
     Preferably, whenever a prize is removed by a pirate  66 , the same prize amount is replaced at a different position on the island  68 . So that the prizes at the positions on the island  68  are not predictable, there is, preferably, a fixed set of prizes. As indicated above, the fixed set of prizes includes progressive jackpot prizes. After a position on the island  68  has been selected by the player, a prize, i.e. a feature outcome, has to be replaced at that position so that, if that place is selected by another player, a prize outcome will be awarded to that other player. Hence, once there has been one selection made, all outcomes are randomly distributed again by the central controller  54  of the system or the triggering gaming machine  10 , as the case may be, over all the positions of the island  68  so that exactly the same outcomes and odds exist for other players without the outcomes being or becoming predictable. It will be appreciated that several of the selected pirates  66  may be participating together on the island  68  but when an outcome is selected by any one of the players, that outcome is immediately returned to a set of the outcomes. The set of outcomes is randomly shuffled so that the next outcome is selected from a new distribution of outcomes in the set of outcomes. 
     Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that a feature is provided for a linked system  50  which will considerably enhance player enjoyment and which can be enjoyed by spectators not playing the gaming machines  10 . This is as a result of the remote screen  52  being visible, not only by the players of the gaming machines  10 , but by other people on the gaming venue&#39;s floor. It will however be appreciated that the invention could be implemented on a standalone gaming machine  10 . 
     Another advantage of the invention is that an enjoyable way of awarding progressive jackpot prizes is facilitated. The manner in which the jackpot prizes is awarded also increases the suspense involved in playing a linked progressive jackpot system. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.