Patent ID: 8403745

Claim:
A method for an operator of networked gaming machines to remotely configure a bonus game on at least one of the networked gaming machines, at least some of the gaming machines being of a type having a base game display area and a bonus game display area, the method comprising: receiving, by a processor at configuration station at a location remote from the networked gaming machines, a selection from the operator of the networked gaming machines at least one of a plurality of possible bonus game triggering criteria displayed in a list to thereby define a bonus game triggering criterion related to at least one of a base game and the bonus game, wherein the selected triggering criterion is based at least partially on multiple selected outcomes of the base game and is specific to a particular player playing the base game; receiving, by the processor from the location remote from the networked gaming machines, a selection of at least one of a plurality of possible visual activities displayed in a list for presentation on the bonus game display area of the gaming machine to which the triggering criterion is related; receiving, by the processor from the location remote from the networked gaming machines, a selection of at least one of a plurality of award methods, wherein each of the plurality of award methods defines a method used to determine an item of value to be awarded; storing the selections on the network; and operating one of the gaming machines in accordance with the stored selections including: detecting, via a processor, the selected triggering criterion; receiving player data that includes at least player demographic data and monitored player activity; determining, via a processor, one or more of the selected triggering criterion that correspond to the player data; triggering the operation of a bonus game on a gaming machine being played by a player associated with the player data and to which the determined one or more of the selected triggering criterion corresponds to; displaying the selected visual activity on the bonus game display area of the gaming machine responsive to determining one or more of the selected triggering criterion; and awarding the item of value earned based on the selected award method.