Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
Utility Patent
1998-07-13
2001-01-02
Sager, Mark A. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
C463S016000, C463S020000
Utility Patent
active
06168523
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electronic gaming devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bonus available to one or more electronic gaming machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern gaming machines are typically electronically controlled, as opposed to mechanically controlled. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,795 to Saxton et al., incorporated herein by reference, discloses a slot machine having a computer which randomly generates a series of numbers corresponding to stopping positions of each reel in the machine. After causing the reels to rotate for a period of time, the machine then stops the reels at their previously determined stopping positions.
This general type of computer controlled gaming machine easily allows similar gaming machines to be electronically linked together to share a common jackpot. This is because the final game results and the jackpot award can be electronically communicated between a central jackpot controller and the various linked gaming machines. Progressive jackpot gaming systems, comprised of one or more interconnected gaming machines which award a progressive jackpot award, are well known. By allowing players to win a large progressive jackpot award in addition to the customary payout for winning combinations, the players enjoy a heightened interest and enthusiasm in the gaming machines. This heightened enthusiasm translates into higher revenue for gaming machine proprietors. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,728 to Barrie et al., incorporated herein by reference, describes one such progressive gaming system comprised of linked slot machines. The circuitry and software used to fabricate and operate these conventional linked gaming machines are well known to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY
A system of linked gaming machines is disclosed where each of the linked gaming machines is connected to a common controller. In a normal mode of play, each of the linked gaming machines operates like a conventional machine where the generation and display of certain combinations of symbols within a first group of combinations provide awards to the individual players whose machines generate such combinations.
In addition to this normal mode of play, a bonus feature is added where the generation and display of combinations of symbols within a second group of combinations are used in the awarding of a bonus. In such a feature, the generation of a combination of symbols within the second group of combinations is used by a central controller to build up a pooled bonus value based upon the number of occurrences and the values of the combinations of symbols within the second group of combinations generated by all the linked gaming machines. Displaying these combinations within the second group of combinations may also result in an instant win for that particular player.
When a player hits a combination within the second group of combinations which causes the accumulated bonus value to meet or exceed a predetermined value, a bonus award is given to the player which caused the threshold to be exceeded. Thus, all players of the linked gaming machines add to the common pool by their individual machines generating combinations within the second group of combinations, and only one player may win the pool.
This is distinguished from the prior art progressive jackpot machines which accumulate a pool based on the number of times the linked gaming machines have been played and award the pool to a player based on a specific combination of symbols being generated.
A common display or a display on each machine displays the accumulated value of the combinations within the second group of combinations generated by all the linked gaming machines.
In the preferred embodiment, to discourage players from not playing any of the linked gaming machines until the accumulated bonus value is near the threshold, each individual machine has an independent hit counter which is incremented based upon the number of occurrences of combinations within the second group of combinations by that particular machine. The player may use the value in his/her individual hit counter in order to exceed the award threshold for the bonus award.
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The Fresno Bee, “Blackjack Introduced at Table Mountain,” by Royal Calkins, Nov. 10, 1992, pp. B1 and B8.
Crawford Curtis J.
Piechowiak Robert J.
Ogonowsky Brian D.
Sager Mark A.
Sigma Game Inc.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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