Patent Publication Number: US-11393289-B2

Title: Method of modifying a primary game of an existing legacy gaming machine to include secondary game features

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/423,338, filed May 28, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/139,510, filed Apr. 27, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,311,671, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/622,150, filed Sep. 18, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,002,492, issued Jun. 19, 2018. Each of these prior applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to casino-style gaming machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wager-based gaming continues to grow in popularity. In order to attract players, casinos and gaming device manufacturers continuously seek to develop new games and other amusing or entertaining events. In this regard, gaming device manufacturers develop and release hundreds of new wagering games each year, which new gaming machines may present entirely new games or may present old games using new entertaining themes. These and other traditional gaming machines are custom created to have specific functionality. As a result, casinos have to either buy new machines or have existing machines reprogrammed to upgrade the machines with new features. Each alternative is expensive. 
     It would be beneficial for gaming device manufacturers and casinos to have a more economical way to introduce new games and other gaming device features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Secondary gaming functionality is provided for a casino gaming machine by a secondary controller of the casino gaming machine. The secondary gaming functionality may function to provide a multi-game experience at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like. The multi-game experience may comprise one or more additional instances of a wager-based video game provided by the primary gaming functionality of the gaming machine. The secondary gaming functionality of the gaming machine may cause the one or more additional instances of the wager-based video game to be presented at another device either directly or indirectly via a server, such as a social media server or a server-based gaming system&#39;s server. The secondary gaming functionality may provide betting scenarios other, additional than those provided by the primary gaming functionality, which betting scenarios may permit the player to wager on a wager-based video game provided by the primary gaming functionality. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a modified gaming machine comprises a plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices including at least one video display and at least one player input device, a main game controller and a secondary controller. The main game controller is configured to implement primary gaming functionality, and is configured to generate and transmit information to the plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices. The secondary controller is interposed between one or more of the plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices and the main game controller. The secondary controller may forward information generated by the main gaming controller to one or more of the plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices and transmit secondary information to one or more of the peripheral devices. In response to receiving a secondary gaming functionality request input via at least one of the plurality of gaming machine peripheral devices, the secondary controller causes secondary gaming functionality to be generated/presented (at the gaming machine or elsewhere, as detailed below) in addition to the primary gaming functionality provided by the main game controller. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the primary gaming functionality provides a primary instance of a wager-based video game and the secondary gaming functionality provides at least one secondary instance of the wager-based video game provided in addition to the primary wager-based video game. By way of a non-limiting example, the wager-based video game may be video poker game, video slot game, etc. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the primary gaming functionality provides a wager-based video game and the secondary gaming functionality provides multiple independent simultaneous betting opportunities on the wager-based video game. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the secondary gaming functionality may be invoked in response to a hold operation on at least one card in a primary video poker hand, and at least one additional video poker hand is presented. The additional video poker hand may or may not include a held card. Alternatively, the secondary gaming functionality may be invoked in response to any type of input by the user indicating a desire to access a multi-game experience, or a multi-wagering experience. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the secondary gaming functionality may provide a bonus video poker hand as part of a multi-game experience in connection with a primary video poker game. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the primary gaming functionality may provide a primary video slot game and the secondary gaming functionality may provide at least one additional video slot game. A symbol from the primary video slot game may be used in the at least one additional video slot game. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the primary gaming functionality may provide a primary instance of a wager-based video game and, in response to input indicating a player&#39;s desire to for a multi-game experience, the secondary gaming functionality may provide at least one secondary instance of the wager-based video game provided in addition to the primary instance of the wager-based video game. The primary gaming functionality may provide a primary video poker hand and the secondary gaming functionality may provide at least one additional video poker hand without using any card from the primary video poker hand. 
     The at least one secondary wager-based video game may be provided at the modified gaming machine, or via an external server, such as a social media server or a gaming system server. Where the external server is a social media server, the secondary instances of the wager-based video game may be presented to a player&#39;s social media friends. Where the external server is a gaming system server, the at least one secondary instance of a wager-based video game to be provided via the gaming system server. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the secondary controller may cause at least one secondary instance of a wager-based video game to be provided via another modified gaming machine. 
     Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  diagrammatically illustrates a gaming system including one or more presentation devices and at least one casino gaming machines. 
         FIG. 2  diagrammatically illustrates a casino gaming machine having secondary gaming functionality. 
         FIG. 3  diagrammatically illustrates a user interface comprising a video poker primary game display. 
         FIG. 4  diagrammatically illustrates a user interface comprising multiple sections, or areas, each of which displays a video gaming instance in a video poker multi-game output using primary and secondary gaming functionality. 
         FIG. 5  diagrammatically illustrates a user interface displaying multiple video poker game instances, one of which is superimposed on another. 
         FIG. 6  diagrammatically illustrates an interface displaying a primary game user interface and a second user interface displaying a social media game spawned from the primary game. 
         FIG. 7  diagrammatically illustrates one configuration of a casino gaming machine having a secondary interface for facilitating features of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a modified gaming machine is provided, which gaming machine comprises a master gaming controller that provides a primary instance of a wager-based video game, such as without limitation wager-based video poker, and a secondary controller configured to provide additional, secondary instances of the wager-based video game, e.g. additional, secondary instances of the wager-based video poker, spawned from the primary instance. In accordance with one or more such embodiments, the additional instances may be provided together with the primary instance at the modified gaming machine and/or another device, such as at a user&#39;s computing device that is communicatively linked, e.g., via one or more networks and networked server computers, with the modified gaming machine. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the gaming instances may be provided at a player&#39;s computing device, e.g., via at least one social media system server or a server-based gaming system. The secondary controller may be communicatively coupled, via one or more networks, to one or more servers, so as to provide instances of the modified gaming machine&#39;s wager-based video game to another gaming machine, e.g., another modified gaming machine, or any computing device to which the secondary controller is able to communicate via the network(s) and server(s). 
     By way of a non-limiting example, in a case that the modified gaming machine is configured to provide primary and secondary instances of a wager-based video-poker game, the secondary controller may, in response to user input, cause the modified gaming machine to use one or more cards from the primary instance of the video poker game to spawn one or more additional instances of the video poker game. In such a case, each additional, or secondary, video poker hand includes the one or more cards from the primary game, e.g., one or more cards held by the player in the primary game. The modified gaming machine gives the user, or player, the ability to play multiple games even though the primary game provided by the master gaming controller is not configured to provide multiple games. 
     As a further non-limiting example, while one or more additional games may be spawned from the primary game in response to player input, e.g., in response to the player holding a card in the primary game, the one or more cards held by the player are not used in the one or more additional hands. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the modified gaming machine comprising the secondary controller provides the player with a multi-game experience, which would not otherwise be available with an unmodified gaming machine, i.e., a gaming machine that lacks the secondary controller. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a system which may include a modified gaming machine and one or more presentation devices, among other components. As is discussed further below, a presentation device may be a player&#39;s computing device, which may be located in a remote location with respect to the modified gaming machine. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, a system  20  comprises one or more presentation devices  22  (it being understood that while there may be two or more presentation devices  22 , for convenience herein, the system is primarily described relative to a player&#39;s use of a “presentation device  22 ”) and at least one casino gaming machine  26 . 
     The presentation device  22  may be a dedicated/special purpose device or may be a general purpose device. The presentation device  22  is preferably an electronic device, and more preferably a computing device. The presentation device  22  may include at least one video display  28  capable of displaying game information, at least one player input device  30 , and at least one communication interface. 
     The presentation device  22  might comprise, for example, a desktop computer  32 , a telephone (including cellular, wireless or wired telephones) or PDA  34  (such as an iPhone®), a laptop or notebook computer  36 , or various other devices. As indicated, the presentation device  22  might also comprise a special purpose device such as a specially configured gaming tablet. 
     The player input device  30  might comprise, for example, a keyboard, mouse, joystick, touch-screen, button(s), track-balls or other devices now known or later configured and which are capable of receiving input from a player. The communication interface is preferably configured to permit information or data to be exchanged from one or more remote device or locations with the presentation device  22 . The one or more communication interface might support wired or wireless communications using various protocols. For example, if the presentation device  22  is a PDA, the communications might be by 3G, 4G, IMT, GSM or the like. If the presentation device  22  is a desktop computer, the communications might be by TCP/IP or the like. Of course, other protocols may be used such as Bluetooth, 802.11xx and the like. 
     It will be appreciated that the presentation device  22  may include other components. For example, the presentation device  22  may include a main processor, a video and/or audio processor, input and output ports or the like. 
     As indicated above, the system  20  preferably also includes one or more gaming machines  26 . In a preferred embodiment, the gaming machines  26  are traditional casino-style gaming machines which are located at a casino (and as such are referred to as “casino gaming machines”). As described below, the casino gaming machines  26  may be part of a gaming system, such as a casino gaming system which links multiple of the gaming machines, one or more table games and other devices such as kiosks, accounting systems or servers, progressive systems or servers, player tracking systems or servers or the like. 
     Such traditional casino-style gaming machines  26  may have a plurality of features. For example, such a traditional casino gaming machine  26  may include a housing or cabinet  62  for enclosing/supporting various components of the gaming machine. The housing  62  may have a variety of configurations. In one embodiment, as illustrated, the housing  62  is configured so that the machine has an “upright” configuration. The casino gaming machine  26  might also be configured as a “slant”-type, “bar-top” or have other forms. 
     In one embodiment, the casino gaming machine  26  may be configured as a “video” type gaming machine, the machine including at least one display  64  for displaying game information to a player. The casino gaming machine  26  may include other means for providing information to a player. For example, speakers (not shown) or other devices may be provided for generating sound associated with the game. The casino gaming machine  26  may also include lights, printed instructions and other displays/display devices. 
     The games presented by the gaming machine(s) may be wagering type games wherein a player must place a bet or wager in order to play the game for the opportunity to receive winnings. Preferably, if the player is a winner of the game, the player is provided an award, such as a monetary payout (such as coins), credits representing monetary value, points or tangible prizes. As illustrated, the casino gaming machine  26  thus includes a bill validator/acceptor  66  for accepting paper currency and a coin acceptor  68  for accepting coins. Other means of payment, such as a credit card reader, may be provided. An award of winnings in the form of coins may be paid to the player via a coin tray  70 . 
     Preferably, the casino gaming machine  26  includes means for a player to provide input. In one embodiment, this means comprises one or more buttons. For example, a “spin” button  72  may be provided for permitting a player to start a game. One or more wager buttons  74  may be provided for a player to select the amount to bet on a particular game. Other means of input may be provided, such as a touch-screen display and other devices now known or later developed. 
     A main game controller (not shown) is provided for controlling the various devices of the gaming machine and for generating game information. The main game controller may comprise a processor which is configured to execute machine readable code or “software”, which software may, for example, be stored at one or more associated memory devices (such as a hard driver, EEPROM, RAM or other data storage devices now known or later developed). For example, the game controller may be arranged to generate video and audio data for presentation by the display and speakers of the casino gaming machine  26 . The game controller may be arranged to detect a signal from the coin acceptor indicating the receipt of coins or from the bill validator regarding accepted bills and for registering credits corresponding to those inputs, for subtracting credits for wagers placed by a player, and for causing a coin delivery mechanism to deliver coins from a coin hopper to the coin tray  70  for payment of winnings and/or return to a player of unwagered credits. Preferably, the one or more player input devices provide an output to the gaming controller for use in play of the game. For example, in response to a “bet one” input by a player, the gaming controller is preferably transmitted a signal which causes the gaming controller to initiate presentation of the game. 
     The casino gaming machine  26  may include one or more random number generators for generating random game events and results. In other embodiments, game results or information may be generated remotely (such as by a remote game server) and be transmitted to the gaming machine  26 . It will be appreciated that the gaming machine  26  may be configured to present a wide variety of games which are now known or later developed, including card games such as poker and blackjack games, slot-type games, bingo games, keno games, sports wagering and other events or games. 
     As indicated, in one embodiment, game information is displayed by a video display  64  to a player. That display may be of a variety of types, including CRT, LCD, plasma and others. The gaming machine  26  may also include more than one video display. 
     In another embodiment, the casino gaming machine  26  may include one or more physical reels capable of displaying symbols. In such a configuration, means are provided for rotating the physical reels. In one or more embodiments, the means may comprise a mechanical linkage associated with a spin arm, with movement of the spin arm (a “pull”) by a user causing the reels to spin. In such an arrangement, the reels are generally allowed to free-wheel and then stop. In another embodiment, electronically controlled mechanisms are arranged to rotate and stop each reel. Such mechanisms are well known to those of skill in the art. In this arrangement, actuation of the spin arm or depression of a spin button causes a controller (not shown) to signal the activation of the spin mechanism associated with one or more of the reels. Preferably, the controller is arranged to either turn off the signal to the device(s) effecting the rotation of each or all of the reels or generates a signal for activating a braking device, whereby the reels are stopped. As is well known, the combinations of reel positions and their odds of hitting are associated with the controller, and the controller is arranged to stop the reels in a position displaying a combination of indicia as determined by the controller based on the combinations and odds. The principal of such an arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,419 to Telnaes, which is incorporated herein by reference. For example, the base symbols might be associated with spinning reels. Sets of base symbols might be generated by spinning those reels. 
     Such casino gaming machines  26  may have other configurations, including other features. For example, the casino gaming machine  26  may include a player tracking device, such as a card reader  76  and associated keypad  80 . Such player tracking devices are well known and may permit the game operator to track play of players of the gaming machine. The tracked play may be utilized to offer player bonuses or awards. 
     In one embodiment, the casino gaming machine  26  may be configured to dispense media, such as printed paper tickets, which have associated value. For example, winnings or unused credits may be returned to the player via a printed ticket having value or associated value. In one embodiment, the casino gaming machine  26  might also be configured to accept such media for providing credit for game play. Relative to such casino gaming machines  26 , an accounting server  40  may be used to generate ticket information to permit the gaming machine to dispense a value cash-out ticket, or to verify such a ticket which is presented at one of the casino gaming machines  26 . Such systems are well known and thus not described in detail herein. 
     A casino may have numerous such casino gaming machines  26 , such as located on a casino floor or in other locations. Of course, such casino gaming machines  26  might be used in other environments, such as an airport, a bar or tavern or other locations. 
     As used herein, the term “casino gaming machine” may include other types of gaming machines or device. Such might comprise, for example, gaming tables. Such tables may be manually operated or be fully or partially automated. A variety of games may be offered at such tables. Of course, the gaming machines may include other types of devices as well. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the invention has particular utility to gaming machines which include at least one player interface via which information may be presented or displayed to the player. Such an interface preferably comprises at least one electronic video display. Such a display might comprise, for example, a display of a gaming machine  26  such as described above, or such might comprise a display located at a gaming table or other device (including a display not originally associated with the original gaming machine). 
     As indicated above and as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the system  20  of the invention may further comprise other systems and components. In one embodiment, the system  20  may further comprise the above-referenced accounting server/system  40  and/or a player tracking server/system  42  or the like. 
     The accounting server  40  may track monetary transactions, including information regarding monetary value provided by a player, amounts wagered by a player and amounts won by a player, such as described in more detail below. The accounting server  40  may a computing device which has a processor for executing instructions, a memory for storing data such as instructions and monetary value information, and at least one communication interface. The accounting server  40  may comprise one device or a number of devices which are in communication with one another at one or more times. For example, the accounting server  40  may communicate with an external data storage device. Additional details regarding the account server  40  are described below. 
     The player tracking server  42  may be configured to store player identity information and information regarding the player&#39;s gaming or other activities, as is well known. The player tracking server  42  may a computing device which has a processor for executing instructions, a memory for storing data such as instructions and monetary value information, and at least one communication interface. The player tracking server  42  may comprise one device or a number of devices which are in communication with one another at one or more times. For example, the player tracking server  42  may communicate with an external data storage device. Additional details regarding the player tracking server  42  are described below. 
     In one embodiment, various features of the invention may be implemented or facilitated by one or more secondary servers or other devices. For example, although not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a casino might operate one or more casino servers. Such a server may serve as a bridge to facilitate the features of the invention. 
     In other embodiments, a casino gaming machine  26  may be modified to implement the features of the invention. Currently there are tens of thousands of existing casino gaming machines  26  which were custom-created to present specific games—e.g. the main controllers and associated software were designed to present one or more specified games. These gaming machines were not designed to permit new games or other content or features to be presented by the machine without essentially re-programming the entire gaming machine (which is generally undesirably expensive and/or effectively prohibitive, at least in part because such re-programming is generally not permissible without gaming regulatory approval and oversight, i.e. the manufacturer or operator of the machine cannot simply unilaterally install new software on the gaming machine). Such gaming machines are often referred to as “legacy” gaming machines. 
     In one embodiment, legacy gaming machines may be modified to implement the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a gaming machine is retro-fit with a secondary controller. One embodiment of such a configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment a legacy casino gaming machine has a backplane  100  which supports a main or master gaming controller  102 . The master gaming controller  102  may comprise a computer processing unit and may include one or more associated components, such as memory devices or the like. In general, the master gaming controller  102  is configured to execute machine readable code for use in operating the gaming machine. For example, the master gaming controller  102  may generate signals used to control various components of the gaming machine and/or generate data for use by those components. 
     An input/output (I/O) board  104  is associated with the master gaming controller  102 . The I/O board  104  may be part of the master gaming controller  102  or, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , be connected to the backplane  100 . The input/output board  104  may include various connectors or communication ports for use in connecting various components to the master gaming controller  102  (whereby the master gaming controller  102  may provide information, to the components, and/or receive information from those components). As used herein, the information or data may have any of a variety of forms now known or later developed, whether analog or digital, on/off, numeric, wave form or having any other configuration. The input/output board  104  may, for example, include one or more serial (such as RS-232), parallel, USB, Firewire® or other types of connections. 
     The gaming machine may include a variety of peripheral devices for use in presenting games to a player. For example, the gaming machine may include: a coin acceptor  106  for accepting coins for one or more wagers; a bill validator  108  for accepting paper currency, tickets or other printed documents representing value for one or more wagers; a coin hopper  110  for storing received coins and from which coin payouts may be paid; at least one display  112  for displaying game information, which display may have an associated touch screen  114  for receiving player touch input, and a printer  116  for printing tickets or other media. Of course, the gaming machine might have a wide variety of peripherals or other components, including buttons, rotatable arms, joysticks, trackballs, speakers and other devices. 
     As illustrated, each of these peripheral devices preferably communicates with the master gaming controller  102  via a communication connection through the I/O board  104  associated with the backplane  100 . The particular connection might vary. For example, the printer  116  might be a USB-type device and thus interface with the I/O board  104  via a USB connection and associated port. The coin hopper  110 , however, might be an RS-232 type device and connect to the I/O board  104  via a 9 pin connector. Preferably, the master gaming controller  102  can control these various peripheral devices via the communication connections therewith. 
     The various electrical or electro-mechanical devices of the gaming machine are powered. As illustrated, a power supply  118  may be associated with the backplane  100 . The power supply  118  preferably connects to a ground G and an external power source S. The power supply  118  preferably provides power to the master gaming controller  102  and the various peripheral devices of the gaming machine, as illustrated. In one embodiment, the gaming machine may be configured to implement gaming machine accounting and player tracking functions. These operations may be facilitated by a Slot Machine Interface Board or “SMIB”  120 . As illustrated, the SMIB  120  may connect to the master gaming controller  102  via the backplane  100 , and may communicate with an external server  122  via a communication link. In one prior art configuration, the gaming machine may utilize a Slot Accounting Standard or “SAS” protocol in order to implement various gaming machine accounting functions (such as tracking of wagers, game wins and other information, as is known in the art). Due to the interface with the external server, the gaming machine accounting information may be obtained or tracked externally to the machine. 
     In addition, the gaming machine may include a player tracking feature. The player tracking feature may be implemented via components such as a keypad  124 , a card reader  126  for reading cards or other media, other peripheral devices, such as a display  128 . The player tracking devices or components may interface with the SMIB  120 , and thus with the external server  122 . In this manner, information regarding a particular player&#39;s play may be tracked. For example, a player may insert a player card having player identification information associated therewith, and that information may be provided to the server  122 . Thereafter, game play information may be provided to the server  122 , as known to be associated with the particular player identified by the provided identification information. 
     As just described, such an existing or “legacy” gaming machine is a fully integrated and pre-configured device for presenting one or more wagering games to a player. As indicated above, however, such a legacy gaming machine has a number of drawbacks owing to the specific configuration of the device. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a secondary controller or interface (SCI) is provided which, when associated with a gaming machine, permits the gaming machine to provide additional or secondary functionality from its basic or pre-configured functionality. In one embodiment, the SCI is particularly suited to use with an existing gaming machine, including a gaming machine pre-configured in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described above, or in a manner similar thereto. 
     The SCI, its method of use, its association with a gaming machine and system of the invention, will now be described first with reference to  FIG. 7 . For purposes of illustration, the SCI  200  is discussed in association with a gaming machine configured as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Such a gaming machine may comprise an existing legacy machine having limited functionality. 
     The SCI  200  preferably comprises hardware, such as one or more circuit boards. The SCI  200  may comprise software, such as machine readable code. Such software, however, may be implemented as hardware. 
     In one embodiment, the SCI  200  is configured to communicate with one or more components of a gaming machine. As such, the SCI  200  includes one or more ports via which communication links may be established between the SCI  200  and those components. Referring to  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment, the SCI  200  is interposed between various of the components of the gaming machine and the I/O board  104 , and thus the master gaming controller  102  (which receives information or signals from the I/O board  104  and provides information or signals to the I/O board  104 ). In this manner, the SCI  200  can monitor or override instructions or data provided to those components by the master gaming controller  102  and monitor or override instructions or data provided by those components and intended for the master gaming controller  102 . In addition, the SCI  102  need not override instructions provided by the master gaming controller  102  or provided to the master gaming controller  102 , but might monitor those instructions/data and then generate data or instructions for use in controlling or activating other components. 
     As illustrated, the SCI  200  is interposed between the I/O board  104  and the printer  116 , the I/O board  104  and the display  112 , and the I/O board  104  and the touch screen  114 . The SCI  200  may be interposed between the I/O board  104  and other of the components. A first communication link C 1  is provided between the SCI  200  and the I/O board  104 . A second communication link C 2  is provided between the SCI  200  and the printer  116 . In combination, these communication links C 1  and C 2  permit the master gaming controller  102  to still communicate with the printer  116  through the SCI  200  (preferably as controlled or monitored by the SCI  200 ). In addition, however, this configuration permits the SCI  200  to communicate directly with the printer  116 . 
     Similarly, a first communication link C 3  is provided between the SCI  200  and the I/O board  104 . A second communication link C 4  is provided between the SCI  200  and the display  112 . In combination, these communication links C 3  and C 4  permit the master gaming controller  102  to still communicate with the display  112  through the SCI  200  (preferably as controlled or monitored by the SCI  200 ). In addition, this configuration permits the SCI  200  to communicate directly with the display  112 . 
     A first communication link C 5  is provided between the SCI  200  and the I/O board  104 . A second communication link C 6  is provided between the SCI  200  and the touch screen  114 . In combination, these communication links C 5  and C 6  permit the master gaming controller  102  to still communicate with the touch screen  114  though the SCI  200  (preferably as controlled or monitored by the SCI). In addition, this configuration permits the SCI  200  to communicate directly with the touch screen  114 . 
     It will be appreciated that the communication protocols utilized between the various components and the configuration of the communication ports and links may vary dependent primarily upon the configuration of the components. For example, if the printer  116  is configured as a USB type device, a USB communication protocol and associated ports may be utilized. In other embodiments, parallel, serial or other communication protocols and configurations may be utilized. The communication links may be wired or wireless. 
     In one embodiment, a communication link C 7  is provided between the SCI  200  and the I/O board  104 . In a preferred configuration, the communication link C 7  is established between the SCI  200  and a secondary SAS port of the master gaming controller  102 . In particular, one common configuration for the master gaming controller  102  is to have two communication ports through which communications may be established using the SAS protocol. As indicated above, in a common gaming machine configuration, the master gaming controller  102  may communicate with the SMIB  120  via one of these ports, generally the “primary” port. In a preferred configuration, the SCI  200  is connected to the master gaming controller  102  via the secondary port. 
     Yet another communication link C 8  is provided between the SCI  200  and at least one external device. Preferably, that device comprises at least one server  202 . The SCI  200  may transmit information over this communication link C 8  to the server  202  and/or receive information over this link from the server  202 . It will be appreciated that the SCI  200  might be configured to communicate with more than one external device, such as more than one server or other sources of information, either via one or more communication links. In one embodiment, the server or servers  202  may include a game management system, a media management system and/or a feed of media content (such as television/cable). 
     In a preferred embodiment, the server or servers  202  performs validation/redemption functions. In such an embodiment, the server or servers  202  may communicate with one or more external SMIBs  203 , which SMIBs  203  are in communication with the gaming system external server  122  (which may perform host accounting and/or player tracking functions, among others). The number of external SMIBs  203  may vary, such as to ensure that a sufficient number of SMIBs exist to process transactions forwarded by the SCI  200 . 
     It will be appreciated that the SCI  200  may communicate with one or more external devices, such as through the server  202 . For example, as described below, the SCI  200  might transmit secondary game information through the server  202  to a remote website or a player&#39;s presentation device. In this manner, the SCI  200  may exchange information with external devices, including to control those devices and/or receive instructions/data from those devices. 
     Power may be provided to the SCI  200  from a dedicated power source or via the power source S to the gaming machine. 
     In this configuration, the interposition of the SCI  200  into the gaming machine does not interfere with the normal operation of the gaming machine. In particular, the gaming machine may present one or more wagering games or other events or activities to a player, as the gaming machine was originally designed. For example, in the presentation of a game, the master gaming controller  102  generates game data for display by the display  112 . This data is simply transmitted to the I/O board  104  and then along communication links C 3  and C 4  to the display  112 , through the SCI  200 . Likewise, a player&#39;s touch input to the touch screen  114  is transmitted to the master gaming controller  102  via communication links C 5  and C 6  through the SCI  200 . 
     In one embodiment, various features of the invention may be implemented through the SCI  200 . The SCI  200  may connect to a casino server, such as casino server  24  or casino server  202 . In this manner, information associated with primary and/or secondary gaming functionality which is obtained at the casino gaming machine  26  by the SCI  200  may be provided to the casino server, one or more remote servers, one or more remote computing devices or presentation devices  22 . Additionally, information associated with primary and/or secondary gaming functionality obtained by the casino server from another computing device, e.g., a remote server and/or presentation device  22 , may be provided to the casino gaming machine  26  via SCI  200 . By way of a non-limiting example, such information might comprise information regarding game play associated with the primary and or secondary game instances provided by machine  26 . For simplicity sake, information regarding primary and secondary gaming functionality may be referred to herein collectively as gaming functionality information. Gaming functionality information might comprise, for example, information regarding a player input, game selections, wagers, etc., and/or output generated by the gaming machine, such as casino gaming machine  26 , which information may include game display output, primary gaming functionality options, secondary game functionality options, etc. 
     By way of further non-limiting examples, gaming functionality information may be transmitted from a casino server  24  via a communication link to an SCI  200  of a casino gaming machine  26 , thus permitting the SCI  200  to update a state, e.g., game state and/or state of play, of the casino gaming machine  26  in accordance with the gaming functionality information. 
     As one example, the SCI  200  may capture gaming functionality information and route such information to a casino server  24 , which server may be connected to the Internet, and/or another network, may communicate with the player&#39;s presentation device  22 . Similarly, the casino server  24  may receive gaming functionality information from the player&#39;s presentation device  22  via the Internet, and/or another network, and forward such information to SCI  200 . 
     A player might communicate with the SCI  200  of a casino gaming machine  26  via a casino server  24 , which server  24  supports a website comprising one or more web pages for display at a presentation device  22 . The website allows the player to play primary and/or secondary games provided by a particular casino gaming machine  26  by, for example, communicatively linking a computing device, such as a presentation device  22 , to the selected machine in such a way as to interact with the gaming functionality provided by the selected machine. Once linked, the SCI  200  of the selected machine may provide output generated by the gaming functionality of the selected machine to a presentation device  22  being used by the player and to receive input provided by the player via the presentation device  22 . 
     SCI  200  may communicate with player tracking server  42  to provide player tracking information. As is discussed herein, user/player identification information may provided in the course of a player&#39;s interaction with a casino gaming machine  26 , which information may be communicated by SCI  200  to player tracking server  42 . 
     As indicated herein, in one or more embodiments, aspects of a player&#39;s activities may be tracked. In one embodiment, a player&#39;s casino gaming activities may be tracked by a player tracking system, such as via the player tracking server  42 . Such systems are well known in the art and are thus not described in detail herein. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a casino gaming machine  26  having primary and secondary gaming functionality. In the example shown, display  64  of a casino gaming machine  26  may output a single-game together with one or more controls or triggers selectable by the player to enter a multi-game experience. In response to player input signaling a desire for the multi-game experience, display  64  may be modified to display multi-game output. By way of a non-limiting example, display  64  may be a touch-screen display, and the player may invoke the multi-game experience by touching a region of the display, such as by using the display  64  to hold a card, provide wager input, touch or select a “multi-game” icon/button, etc. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, a multi-game experience may be provided at the modified gaming machine  26 . SCI  200  may be configured to display a multi-game user interface in response to player input. By way of one non-limiting example, the user interface may comprise multiple sections, or areas, each corresponding to a game being provided as part of the multi-game experience.  FIG. 3  provides an example of a user interface  10 , which may be displayed on display  64  of machine  26  in accordance with one or more embodiments. Initially, user interface  10  displays output for a primary or original game, which game may be provided via the primary gaming functionality of machine  26 . Icon  12  is displayed in response to the player&#39;s holding of a particular card, e.g., card  14 , which may also trigger SCI  200  to turn the game into a multi-game experience comprising the primary game and one or more additional games. In a case of video poker, the primary and secondary games in the multi-game experience each have a video poker hand. In so doing, the single-hand game may be turned into a multi-hand game, and the player is provide with an ability to play multiple hands. 
     While embodiments are described with reference to using a hold operation to trigger the multi-game experience, it should be apparent that other input, an occurrence of a designated event, etc. may trigger the multi-game experience. By way of a non-limiting example, a multi-game experience might be triggered from an occurrence of a designated event, e.g., appearance of a designated card in hand  11 . For example, the SCI  200  and/or server  202  may be configured to detect the occurrence of one or more events in the main game and, in response thereto, trigger the one or more secondary games or events. The event might be designated by the player or machine  26  might be configured with one or more events, for example. 
       FIG. 4  provides an example of a user interface  10  after the SCI  200  causes display  64  of machine  26  to display multiple video poker hands for the multi-game experience. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , user interface  10  is split into multiple sections, or areas,  13 , each of which displays one of the multiple hands. Area  13   a  of user interface  10  displays the original hand, and three additional hands are displayed in areas  13   b ,  13   c  and  13   d . In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , each additional hand includes card  14  held in the original hand  11 ; however, it is also possible that one or more of the additional hands may share none or more than one card from the original hand  11  (by way of a specific additional example, a player might hold three cards from the original hand and those three cards may be re-used in one or more additional hands). 
     Of course, it should be apparent that the multi-game experience shown in  FIG. 4  is exemplary, and many variations are conceivable. By way of one example, the multi-game experience may comprise more or less hands and/or the additional hands may be displayed such that some or a portion of one hand may be overlaid or superimposed on some or all of another one or more hands. It should be apparent that any windowing option may be used in displaying output in connection with the multi-game experience. In one embodiment, the one or more additional hands might utilize the one or more cards which are not held by the player from the base hand. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the example illustrates a case in which a card  14 , or more than one card, from the original game may be passed to each of the additional games in the multi-game experience. Alternatively, a multi-game experience may be provided where no cards are passed from the original game to the additional games. In accordance with this multi-game experience, the player is provided with additional play possibilities simultaneously. The additional games may be displayed in the same display locations of a user interface  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; however, card  14  is not passed to each of the additional games. Instead, the player is given the impression of playing four separate games simultaneously, whereby the player is able to press deal and independently hold cards in each hand dealt, and press draw for an outcome for each one of the games in the multi-game experience. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the multi-game experience is triggered by a player&#39;s holding a card. By way of a non-limiting example, the player might be given an opportunity to bet in each game, and reach an outcome in a game in response to providing the bet input (wherein each outcome may comprise a losing outcome or a winning outcome, wherein a winning outcome may have an associate payout or winning award to the player). Alternatively, the player may be given an opportunity to place a bet across all of the hands, such that game outcomes are played simultaneously for all of the hands. For example, when one or more additional games are triggered, the player may be given the option of playing the one or more additional hands by placing one or more wagers, such as a wager upon each additional hand. If the player does not elect to place such additional wager(s), the game may revert back to the primary game. In another configuration, the one or more secondary or additional games may be presented without the requirement of the player placing an additional wager. In addition, the payouts or winning awards for the primary and secondary game(s) may be the same or different, such as depending upon whether a wager is required. 
       FIG. 5  provides another example of a user interface  10  after the SCI  200  causes display  64  of machine  26  to display multiple hands in response to an occurrence in connection with an original game or hand, such as for example, a player&#39;s holding a particular card, etc. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , an occurrence of an event, such as the player&#39;s holding of card  14 , results in SCI  200  triggering a second game, such as a bonus game. The bonus game display  15  might be overlaid, or superimposed on, the original game&#39;s display in user interface  10 , such as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . It should be apparent that the bonus game&#39;s display  15  might be displayed in another location or fashion, such as without limitation alongside the original game&#39;s display, above, below, underneath, etc. the original game&#39;s display. In the preferred configuration of this embodiment, the bonus game is such—i.e. does not require the player to place an additional wager to be play the bonus game and have the chance for additional winnings. 
     As discussed herein, secondary gaming functionality provided via SCI  200  may involve presentation of one or more additional games, which additional games may be experienced at a computing device other than machine  26 . User interface  10  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  might be output at a presentation device  22 , for example. In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the original game provided by the primary gaming functionality of machine  26  is a slot game, and the multi-game experience includes a slot game accessible via a social media web site using a presentation device  22 . In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , one of the slot symbols of the original slot game shown in user interface  10  is used in the social media game output shown in user interface  10   a . Other variations are conceivable, including without limitation none or more than one symbol from the original game might be shared with the social media game. 
     By way of some further non-limiting examples, a held card, wager input, etc., made in an original game may be used to advance progress in a secondary game, e.g., a secondary game presented at the modified gaming machine  26  or in a secondary social media game. 
     It will also be appreciated that the primary game and one or more secondary games may have the same or different features, such as the same or different pay tables, game rules or the like. As one example, the primary game may be a game of Deuces Wild video poker while the one or more secondary games may be implemented as games of Double Double Bonus video poker. In one embodiment, the one or more cards which are used in the primary game may the same or different from those used in the one or more secondary games. For example, one virtual deck of cards may be used in the play of the primary and secondary game (i.e. all cards displayed to the player in all hands are drawn or selected from a single virtual deck) or the cards in each game might be selected from different virtual decks. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, the multi-game experience may include a separate gaming system, such as a server-based gaming system or another gaming machine  26 , etc. By way of a non-limiting experience, one or more additional games in the multi-game experience might be managed by the separate gaming system while the original game is managed by the initial, “original”, gaming machine  26 . The SCI  200  of the original gaming machine  26  may communicate with the separate gaming system, such as via one or more networks and servers, to instruct the separate gaming system to commence the multi-game experience. 
     In a case of a server-based system, the additional games may be presented to the player using a presentation device  22 , for example. The separate gaming system may communicate directly with the player&#39;s presentation device or indirectly via a SCI  200  of a gaming machine  26 , e.g., the original machine  26 . By way of one non-limiting example, when the multi-game experience is triggered at the original machine  26 , the machine&#39;s SCI  200  might respond and instruct the separate gaming system to create one or more additional game instances. Where the original game is a video poker game, the SCI  200  may instruct the separate gaming system to use one or more hold cards from the original game. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the additional game instances created by the separate gaming system might be managed by the separate gaming system. Alternately, the SCI  200  of the original machine  26  might maintain some control over the management of the additional games and/or the multi-game experience. 
     As discussed herein, in a multi-game experience in accordance with one or more embodiments, additional games may be spawned, or branched off, from an existing game. Alternatively, a multi-game experience may involve permitting a player to engage in multiple types of wagers on an existing game. In so doing, the primary gaming functionality may be modified using secondary gaming functionality that modifies a manner in which the player is able to bet on the primary game. 
     Of course, primary gaming functionality could be modified in various manners, such as to overcome various types of shortcomings or limitations of an existing primary game. For example, as indicated herein, an existing primary game might be limited to a single hand of video poker. In accordance with the invention, that primary game could be modified into a multi-hand game of 2, 10, 100 or more games. In addition, it will be appreciated that the secondary game functionality/features need not be the same as the primary game. For example, while secondary features might comprise additional hands of video poker relative to a primary video poker game, the secondary feature might be a video-slot game which is triggered off of a primary video poker game. 
     By way of a non-limiting example, a “double up”, or other betting multiple, may be provided via the secondary gaming functionality provided by SCI  200 . A player might opt to try to double, triple, etc. an amount. The actual multiple might be selectable by the player. By way of a further example, the player may opt to try to double their winnings, such as in a case that a Four-of-a-Kind (“FOK”) or Royal Flush event occurs with the player&#39;s hand in the original game. By way of a further non-limiting example, where the player makes a side bet such as this, and a FOK or Royal Flush is dealt to the player, the player might win the multiple of the “pay table” amount. The additional wager experience may involve a separate gaming system, such as a server-based gaming system. In such a case, the separate gaming system might manage a side bet as though it is a separate game played on the system that occurs contemporaneously with the original game being played. 
     As discussed herein in connection with one or more embodiments, secondary gaming functionality provided using SCI  200  may involve providing at least a portion of a multi-game experience using a social media system, server-based gaming system, another gaming machine  26 , to a player&#39;s presentation device, etc. 
     In accordance with one or more embodiments, SCI  200  may connect with a social media server directly or indirectly to provide secondary gaming information to the social media server. By way of a non-limiting example, secondary gaming information may comprise game content, information identifying one or more seed cards, wagering information, etc. By way of a further non-limiting example, some or all of the secondary gaming information might be used to share at least a portion of a player&#39;s multi-game experience with the player&#39;s social media friends. In some embodiments of the invention, the player&#39;s “friends” may participate in the secondary game and/or make decisions which relate to the player&#39;s play of the secondary game. Likewise, information or content which is generated externally, such as at a social media server, may be provided to the gaming machine  26 . For example, information about the multi-game experience shared with the player&#39;s social media friends may be transmitted from a social media server to the SCI  200  of the gaming machine  26 , thus permitting that information to be utilized at, and/or displayed by, the gaming machine  26 . 
     In a case that a server-based gaming system is used in providing at least some portion of a multi-game experience, SCI  200  may connect with a system server directly or indirectly to provide secondary gaming information, e.g., game content, seed card information, wagering information, etc., to the server. By way of a further non-limiting example, some or all of the secondary gaming information might be used by the server-based system to provide at least a portion of a player&#39;s multi-game experience at a presentation device  22 . Likewise, information or content which is generated externally, such as at a system server, may be provided to the gaming machine  26 . For example, information about the multi-game experience provided by the server-based system may be transmitted from a system server to the SCI  200  of the gaming machine  26 , thus permitting that information to be utilized at, and/or displayed by, the gaming machine  26 . 
     By way of further illustration, where a second gaming machine, e.g., a second modified gaming machine, is used to provide at least some portion of a multi-game experience, the first machine&#39;s SCI  200  may connect with the second machine, e.g., the second machine&#39;s SCI  200 , either directly or indirectly, to provide secondary gaming information, e.g., game content, seed card information, wagering information, etc., to the second machine. By way of a further non-limiting example, some or all of the secondary gaming information might be used by the second machine to provide at least a portion of a player&#39;s multi-game experience at the second machine. Likewise, information or content which is generated at the second machine may be provided to the first machine, thus permitting that information to be utilized at, and/or displayed by, the first gaming machine. 
     As discussed herein, a modified gaming machine  26 , and in particular the SCI  200 , may communicate with one or more external devices, some or all of which may be remote with respect to the machine  26 , via one or more network, including without limitation network  38  shown in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, network  38  may couple devices so that communications may be exchanged, such as between servers  24 ,  40  and  42 , casino gaming machine  26 , presentation devices  22  and/or other types of devices, including between wireless devices coupled via a wireless network, for example. Network  38  may include the Internet, one or more local area networks (LANs), one or more wide area networks (WANs), wire-line type connections, wireless type connections, or any combination thereof. 
     A wireless network may couple client devices with a network. A wireless network may employ stand-alone ad-hoc networks, mesh networks, Wireless LAN (WLAN) networks, cellular networks, or the like. A wireless network may further include a system of terminals, gateways, routers, or the like coupled by wireless radio links, or the like, which may move freely, randomly or organize themselves arbitrarily, such that network topology may change, at times even rapidly. A wireless network may further employ a plurality of network access technologies, including Long Term Evolution (LTE), WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, or 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation (2G, 3G, or 4G) cellular technology, or the like. Network access technologies may enable wide area coverage for devices, such as client devices with varying degrees of mobility, for example. For example, a network may enable RF or wireless type communication via one or more network access technologies, such as Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n, or the like. A wireless network may include virtually any type of wireless communication mechanism by which signals may be communicated between devices, such as a client device or a computing device, between or within a network, or the like. 
     As indicated herein, the features of the invention may be implemented at legacy gaming machines which offer various games, including video poker, video slots or various other games now known or later developed. For example, relative to a legacy game of video slots which only offers a single central payline, secondary functionality may be added which allows a player to wager upon additional/other paylines, or which offers the player 
     An important aspect of the invention is that a primary game offered by a gaming machine is modified to include secondary game functions or features. In this manner, the actual primary game is modified (such as to transform it into a primary game with a bonus, a multi-hand primary game, a primary game with new wagering options, etc.) without actually modifying the actual primary game within the legacy gaming machine—e.g. without modifying the gaming machine&#39;s main controller and/or pre-existing software. Further, the secondary functionality is tied to the primary game and changes the primary game, rather than simply being an entirely separate feature or game which is simply presented independent of the primary game itself (for example, as contrasted with a secondary game which might be offered by placing a top box on an existing gaming machine, by which top box a progressive award might be awarded randomly or the like, apart from the base or primary game offered at the base gaming machine). 
     It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatus and the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many other embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.