Patent Publication Number: US-8123610-B2

Title: Wagering game with group free-spin bonus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/US2006/034877, filed Sep. 6, 2006, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/714,463, filed Sep. 6, 2005, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT 
     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 anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to gaming machines, and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to a bank of gaming machine having a bank-wide bonus game. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player. 
     One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus” game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with “progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators. 
     However, the bonus games in many current gaming machines are played at a single gaming machine, by a single player. Such a set-up isolates the players from one another and does not create any type of community among players at a bank of gaming machines. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a bonus game that is achieved and played by a plurality of gaming machines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The method includes receiving wagers from players on the plurality of gaming machines to play basic games. A plurality of symbols is displayed on each of the plurality of gaming machines. The plurality of symbols indicates a randomly selected outcome. The method also includes aggregating a plurality of special-game triggering events at the plurality of gaming machines. In response to a predetermined number of the plurality of special-game triggering events being achieved, a community-based special event involving eligible ones of the plurality of gaming machines is initiated. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a computer readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the above method. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines for playing wagering games and a controller coupled to the plurality of gaming machines. The controller is programmed to aggregate a plurality of special-game triggering events at the plurality of gaming machines. In response to a predetermined number of the plurality of special-game triggering events being achieved, the controller is also programmed to initiate a community-based special event that involves eligible ones of the plurality of gaming machines. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for playing a wagering game at a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The method includes conducting the wagering game on at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, such that the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines has a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. At least some of the plurality of symbols are displayed to indicate the randomly selected outcome. In response to at least one of the displayed symbols indicating a triggering outcome, it is determined whether a predetermined number of triggering outcomes have been achieved. A bonus game is played in response to the predetermined number of triggering outcomes being achieved. A bonus award is awarded to players at each of the plurality of gaming machines that qualify for the bonus game, in response to the bonus game achieving a winning outcome. 
     Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating the gaming machine. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a screen of the primary display of the gaming machine of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the gaming system of  FIG. 3  after a particular event occurs. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bonus game being played on the gaming system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart describing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a gaming machine  10  is used in gaming establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present invention, the gaming machine  10  may be any type of gaming machine and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For example, the gaming machine  10  may be an electromechanical gaming machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game, such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, etc. 
     The gaming machine  10  comprises a housing  12  and includes input devices, including a value input device  18  and a player input device  24 . For output the gaming machine  10  includes a primary display  14  for displaying information about the basic wagering game. The primary display  14  can also display information about a bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming machine  10  may also include a secondary display  16  for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these typical components found in the gaming machine  10  are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine  10 . 
     The value input device  18  may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing  12 . The value input device  18  receives currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value input device  18  may include a coin acceptor  20  for receiving coin currency (see  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, or in addition, the value input device  18  may include a bill acceptor  22  for receiving paper currency. Furthermore, the value input device  18  may include a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming machine  10 . 
     The player input device  24  comprises a plurality of push buttons  26  on a button panel for operating the gaming machine  10 . In addition, or alternatively, the player input device  24  may comprise a touch screen  28  mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display  14  and/or secondary display  16 . The touch screen  28  contains soft touch keys  30  denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display  14  and used to operate the gaming machine  10 . The touch screen  28  provides players with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function either by touching the touch screen  28  at an appropriate touch key  30  or by pressing an appropriate push button  26  on the button panel. The touch keys  30  may be used to implement the same functions as push buttons  26 . Alternatively, the push buttons  26  may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while the touch keys  30  may allow for input needed for another aspect of the game. 
     The various components of the gaming machine  10  may be connected directly to, or contained within, the housing  12 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , or may be located outboard of the housing  12  and connected to the housing  12  via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine  10  comprises these components whether housed in the housing  12  or outboard of the housing  12  and connected remotely. 
     The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player on the primary display  14 . The primary display  14  can also display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display  14  may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming machine  10 . As shown, the primary display  14  includes the touch screen  28  overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display  14  of the gaming machine  10  may include a number of mechanical reels to display the outcome in visual associated with at least one pay line  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine  10  is an “upright” version in which the primary display  14  is oriented vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine may be a “slant-top” version in which the primary display  14  is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine  10 . 
     A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager via the value input device  18  of the gaming machine  10 . A player can select play by using the player input device  24 , via the buttons  26  or the touch screen keys  30 . The basic game consists of a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least one pay line  32  that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering a bonus game. 
     In some embodiments, the gaming machine  10  may also include a player information reader  52  that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. The player information reader  52  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled in the gaming establishment&#39;s loyalty club and may be awarded certain complimentary services as that player collects points in his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her card into the player information reader  52 , which allows the casino&#39;s computers to register that player&#39;s wagering at the gaming machine  10 . The gaming machine  10  may use the secondary display  16  or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player with information about his or her account or other player-specific information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader  52  may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and saved during a previous game session. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the various components of the gaming machine  10  are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU)  34 , also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions, the controller  34  executes one or more game programs stored in a computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory  36 . The controller  34  performs the random selection (using a random number generator (RNG)) of an outcome from the plurality of possible outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller  34  may include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel processor. 
     The controller  34  is also coupled to the system memory  36  and a money/credit detector  38 . The system memory  36  may comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory  36  may include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The money/credit detector  38  signals the processor that money and/or credits have been input via the value input device  18 . Preferably, these components are located within the housing  12  of the gaming machine  10 . However, as explained above, these components may be located outboard of the housing  12  and connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming machine  10  via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the controller  34  is also connected to, and controls, the primary display  14 , the player input device  24 , and a payoff mechanism  40 . The payoff mechanism  40  is operable in response to instructions from the controller  34  to award a payoff to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards, etc. For example, in  FIG. 1 , the payoff mechanism  40  includes both a ticket printer  42  and a coin outlet  44 . However, any of a variety of payoff mechanisms  40  well known in the art may be implemented, including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism  40  are determined by one or more pay tables stored in the system memory  36 . 
     Communications between the controller  34  and both the peripheral components of the gaming machine  10  and external systems  50  occur through input/output (I/O) circuits  46 ,  48 . More specifically, the controller  34  controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming machine  10  through the input/output circuits  46 . Further, the controller  34  communicates with the external systems  50  via the I/O circuits  48  and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10 bT, etc.). The external systems  50  may include a gaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits  46 ,  48  may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits  46 ,  48  may include a number of different types of I/O circuits. 
     Controller  34 , as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine  10  that may communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine  10  and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller  34  may comprise one or more controllers or processors. In  FIG. 2 , the controller  34  in the gaming machine  10  is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the controller  34  may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with other components, such as the I/O circuits  46 ,  48  and the system memory  36 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a gaming system  60  including a plurality of gaming machines  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d ,  10   e  is illustrated. As illustrated, the plurality of gaming machines  10   a - e  (sometimes also referred to as a “bank”), are coupled to each other and also to a community display  62 . In the illustrated embodiment, the community display  62  includes a video screen that displays information to the players at the bank of gaming machines  10   a - e . As illustrated, the community display  62  includes a notice to all players at the bank of gaming machines  10   a - e  of how many bonus-game symbols (in this illustration, the bonus-game symbols are gold-coin symbols) are needed to begin a bank-wide bonus. In this illustration, five more gold-coin symbols are needed to begin the community bonus game. The community bonus game is more fully described below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the primary display  14  of one of the plurality of gaming machines  10   a - e  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the basic game is a slot machine game, with symbols on five different reels  64   a ,  64   b ,  64   c ,  64   d ,  64   e . The reels  64   a - e  may be either traditional mechanical reels, electromechanical reels, or they may be computer-generated images of reels, with each reel composed of a plurality of symbols. In this embodiment, there are multiple pay lines  66  extending across the various reels  64   a - e . While multiple pay lines  66  are shown, a gaming machine having a single pay line will also work with the present invention. 
     During the basic game, the player places a wager on any number of pay lines  66 . In the illustrated embodiment, the wager may be between one and five credits per pay line  66 . However, in other embodiments, other wager amounts may be made. Once the player has placed the wager, the reels  64   a - e  begin to spin. The result of the spin may be displayed on an outcome indicator  68 , and winning pay lines  66  may be highlighted on the primary display  14 . In the illustrated example, a gold coin symbol  70  is located on the third reel  64   c . The player is awarded a basic game payout of a predetermined amount as shown on a pop-up screen  72  that appears below the gold coin symbol  70 . 
     In addition to winning the basic game payout for the appearance of the gold coin symbol  70  in  FIG. 3 , the number of gold coin symbols  70  needed to achieve the bank-wide bonus is decreased by one ( FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , after the gold coin symbol  70  appears during the basic game on one of the plurality of gaming machines  10   a - e , the community display  62  decreases the required number of gold coin symbols  70  needed to trigger the bonus by one. Instead of needing five gold coin symbols  70  to achieve the bonus game, only four gold coin symbols  70  are needed. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an illustration of the bank-wide bonus game is illustrated. In this embodiment, the bank-wide bonus game are free spins of the basic game. However, instead of the free spins occurring independently on every one of the gaming machines  10   a - e , the free spins are played for all of the gaming machines  10   a - e . In other words, all of the gaming machines  10   a - 10   e  have the same result. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , one of the free spins is shown on a portion of the community display  62  and the game includes reels that could be mechanical reels, electromechanical reels, or computer-generated images of reels, with each reel composed of a plurality of symbols. The plurality of symbols of the bonus game may be the same as the symbols of the base game or the plurality of symbols of the bonus game may be different than the symbols of the base game. 
     The result of the free-spin bonus games awarded to the player at each one of the gaming machines  10   a - e . In some embodiments, the free spins are also displayed on the individual gaming machines  10   a - e . In other embodiments, the free spins are only illustrated on the community display in the form of signage  62 , and the players are encouraged to look up at the signage  62  for the results of the free spins. 
     If the free spins result in any type of an award (credits, more free spins, etc.), the awards are granted on each of the gaming machines  10   a - e . After the free spins are played, the gaming machines  10   a - e  return to the basic games and continue as normal. In some embodiments, the players may be allowed to continue playing the basic game while the free spins are being played. In other embodiments, all game play is suspended until the bonus game is finished, and any awards have been awarded. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , the operation of the gaming system  60  according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. At step  80 , the wagering game receives a wager, and the reels of the gaming machine that received the wager are spun (step  82 ). After the reels have stopped spinning, it is determined whether a bonus-game triggering symbol is achieved in an active pay line (step  84 ). If it is not, then the process returns to step  80 , and the game begins again. 
     If the bonus game triggering symbol (or symbols) is displayed on an active pay line, then the player is awarded a triggering award (if one exists) at step  86 . The triggering award may be a set credit amount, one or more free spins, a multiplier, or other known award. At step  88 , it is then determined whether a predetermined condition is met. In the embodiments described in  FIGS. 3-6 , the predetermined condition is five gold coins. However, in other embodiments, the predetermined condition can be other things, such a predetermined number of credits wagered in a predetermined amount of time. If the predetermined condition has not been met, the wagering game continues to step  80 , and the game begins again. 
     If the predetermined condition has been met, a community bonus game is played at step  90 . It is then determined if the community bonus game results in a winning outcome (step  92 ). If not, the process goes back to step  80  and the game begins again. If a winning result (or outcome) is achieved, then all of the players in the bank of gaming machines  10   a - e  are awarded a bonus award (step  94 ). 
     In the embodiments described in  FIGS. 3-7 , the gaming system  60  counts down from five gold coins. In other embodiments, there may be any number of gold coins required to achieve the bonus game. In other embodiments, the required symbol may not be a gold coin, but may be another symbol or a predetermined symbol combination. 
     In the above-described embodiments, the gold coins appeared as a part of the basic game. In other embodiments, the gold coins could be granted as a result of achieving another symbol, symbol combination, bonus game, or a mystery prize. 
     In some embodiments, the player&#39;s individual prize for achieving the gold coin symbol  70  may be entry to a different bonus game (as opposed to a fixed prize described above and illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). 
     In some embodiments, the bonus game may be any type of bonus game, including player-selectable bonus games, with the players at each of the gaming machines  10   a - e  taking turns selecting elements. In some embodiments, only the player that triggers the bonus game may do the selecting. 
     In some embodiments having a free-spin bonus game, the number of free spins may be any number of free spins. The number of free spins may be a fixed number. In other embodiments, the bonus reels may continue to spin until a winning combination is achieved. In other embodiments, the bonus reels may continue to spin until a losing combination is achieved. 
     In some embodiments, the gold coin feature may not be available with all wagers. The gold coin feature may only be available on maximum wagers. Alternatively, the gold coin feature may be available on all wagers. In gaming systems where the players at the different gaming machines  10   a - e  place different wagers, the result of the free spins (or bonus game) may be altered by the amount of the players&#39; wagers. For example, a player who wagers 5 credits may be awarded five times as much as a player who wagers only a single credit. In other embodiments, only players who place the maximum wager are awarded the results of the free spins. 
     In some embodiments, the result of achieving the predetermined condition of  FIG. 7  is not limited to a bonus game, but instead may be any type of special event. For example, the special event may be a progressive game or another type of secondary game. 
     In some embodiments, the bonus game award that is awarded to all of the players at the bank of gaming machines  10   a - e  may be a set amount. In other embodiments, the bonus game award may be a progressive jackpot that increases as the players place wagers. In other embodiments, the bonus game award may be a non-monetary award, such as a free spin or a multiplier. 
     In some embodiments, the basic game may be other than a slots type game. The basic game may be a poker game, a blackjack game, a keno game, or other known wagering game. 
     In the embodiment described in  FIGS. 3-7 , the community bonus game was limited to a bank of gaming machines  10   a - e . However, the gaming machines could be all of a particular type within a casino, state or other boundary. Alternatively, the gaming machines could be any linked gaming machines. 
     Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.