Hierarchical five-wheel gaming methods and gaming machines implementing the same

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments of the present Hierarchical-Five Wheel model of gaming include systems in which every wager made on an electronic game of chance may trigger two games: 1) standard play on the machine's primary display and 2) the display of one or more numbers or symbols on the machine's secondary display. The numbers and/or symbols on each machine's secondary display may combine with the numbers or symbols on other player's secondary displays to create a shared game in which certain predetermined symbol combinations equate to jackpots awarded to participating players. Banks of Hierarchical-Five Wheel machines may have two levels of play, as is described above, or may have three, four, five or more levels of game play. Hierarchical Five-Wheel gaming machines are capable of awarding large, life-changing jackpots to players who are not necessarily winners within their primary game, giving the player multiple ways to win. In addition, Hierarchical Five-Wheel gaming machines use large numbers and graphics to symbolize the random jackpot award, a system that gives the player a visual process to root for and elevates the player's enjoyment and excitement level, thus stimulating wagering.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a basic five gaming machine bank of Hierarchical Five-Wheel slot machines, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts some possible symbols that may be used to form secondary display paylines within the Hierarchical Five-Wheel model, according to further embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 demonstrates how primary and secondary game play may be independent in the Hierarchical Five-Wheel model, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 also demonstrates that jackpots may be funded by a small percentage of each wager made on participating machines, according to further embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 demonstrates that, in one embodiment of the Hierarchical Five-Wheel model, the secondary display may be populated by symbols from the primary game play.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the Hierarchical Five-Wheel model where the player may select which symbol from his or her primary game populates the game's secondary display.

FIG. 6 illustrates how the Hierarchical Five-Wheel model may accommodate player groupings of different sizes, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a bank of Hierarchical Five-Wheel games that is larger than five machines, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates “virtual game banks” according to further embodiments of the present invention

FIG. 9 depicts some multi-level game bank hierarchies, the first comprising of three levels of game play and the second comprising of four levels, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates methods by which secondary display symbols may be generated, according to still embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 depicts a model of the Deadline Secondary Payline Method, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 depicts a model of the One-by-One Secondary Payline Method, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 depicts a model of the Musical Chair Secondary Payline Method, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates how a player may populate multiple secondary display symbols on his or her own machine in a Musical Chair Model, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates how pop-up technology may allow for maximal use of each machine's secondary display in the Hierarchical Five-Wheel model, according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of awarding a jackpot in a networked gaming system that includes a plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising the steps of: funding the jackpot;establishing a network of five gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines, each of the five gaming machines having a first video display and a second video display;providing a separate five-reel primary game of chance on each of the five gaming machines, each separate five-reel primary game of chance being displayed on the first video display of one of the five gaming machines;providing a five-reel secondary game of chance, each one of the five reels of the secondary game having symbols displayed on the second video display of a selected one of the five gaming machines, andrewarding at least one participating player of the five gaming machines all or part of the jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on a secondary payline collectively formed across the reels displayed on the five second video displays subsequent to an outcome of the secondary game of chance.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a central server and wherein the secondary game of chance is controlled by the central server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary game of chance is controlled by at least some of the five gaming machines in a peer-to-peer fashion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video display and the second video display of each of the five gaming machines are merged into a single display.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, in at least one of the five gaming machines, the second video display is a portion of the first video display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each symbol of the secondary payline is a predetermined symbol of a primary payline of the primary game of one of the five gaming machines.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of increasing the jackpot by collecting a selected amount from wagers used to fund the primary game played by players of the five gaming machines and by adding the collected selected amount to the jackpot.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of revealing symbols of the secondary payline displayed across the second video displays of the five gaming machines at a predetermined posted interval and wherein only participating players who have placed a wager before an expiration of a current interval share in the rewarded jackpot.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of keeping participating players who do not place a wager before the expiration of the current interval from sharing in any jackpot to be awarded at a next interval.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the establishing step is carried out such that the five gaming machines in the network are freely selectable from among the plurality of gaming machines from one interval to the next interval.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each constituent symbol of the secondary payline is revealed concurrently with each wager placed on the primary game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein constituent symbols of the secondary payline are revealed on each of the five gaming machines only when a primary game wager has been placed on each of the five gaming machines.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each reel of the five-reel secondary game of chance spins to heighten player suspense between placing a wager on the primary game and when the reels of the five-reel secondary game of chance stop to form the stopped secondary payline that spans across each of the second video displays of the five gaming machines.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: maintaining a second jackpot;establishing a network of five groups of five gaming machines, each established group of five gaming machines generating a respective secondary payline;providing a network connected third video display;providing a five-reel tertiary game of chance that is configured to generate a tertiary payline that is collectively formed by one symbol from the secondary payline of each group of five gaming machines;displaying the tertiary payline on the third video display, andawarding at least one participating player of all or part of the second jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on the tertiary payline displayed on the third video display subsequent to an outcome of the tertiary game of chance.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of updating the tertiary payline subsequent to an outcome of the secondary game on each of the five groups of five gaming machines.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a central server coupled to the network and wherein the tertiary game of chance is controlled by the central server.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the tertiary game of chance is controlled by participating ones of the five groups of five gaming machines in a peer-to-peer fashion.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the collective symbols of the secondary payline displayed across the second video displays of the five gaming machines in a portion of one of the first video display and the second video display in each of the five gaming machines.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of displaying at least the tertiary payline displayed on the third video display in a portion of one of the first video display and the second video display in each of the five gaming machines.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the five gaming machines are configured to utilize pop-up window technology for the secondary gaming displays such that the secondary gaming displays are usable for multiple purposes.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the multiple purposes include at least one of replicating collective symbols of the secondary payline displayed across the second video displays of the five gaming machines, and replicating at least the tertiary payline displayed on the third video display.

22. A method of awarding a jackpot to participating players in a networked gaming system that includes a plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising the steps of: funding a jackpot;establishing a network of a plurality of participating ones of the plurality of gaming machines, each having a first video display and a second video display;providing a separate primary game of chance on each of the participating gaming machines played by respective participating players, each separate primary game of chance being displayed on the first video display of one of the participating gaming machines;providing a multi-reel secondary game of chance, each one of the multi-reel of the secondary game having symbols displayed on the second video display of a selected one of the participating gaming machines, andrewarding at least one participating player of the participating gaming machines of all or part of the jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on a secondary payline collectively formed across the reels displayed on the second video displays of the participating gaming machines subsequent to an outcome of the secondary game.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of providing a central server coupled to the network and wherein the secondary game of chance is controlled by the central server.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the secondary game of chance is controlled by at least some of the plurality of participating gaming machines in a peer-to-peer fashion.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the first video display and the second video display of each of the plurality of participating gaming machines are merged into a single display.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein, in at least one of the plurality of participating gaming machines, the second video display is a portion of the first video display.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein each symbol of the secondary payline is a symbol of a primary payline of the primary game of one of the plurality of participating gaming machines.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising a step of increasing the jackpot by collecting a selected amount from wagers used to fund the primary game played by players of the plurality of participating gaming machines and by adding the collected selected amount to the jackpot.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of revealing symbols of the secondary payline displayed across the second video displays of the plurality of participating gaming machines at a predetermined posted interval and wherein only participating players who have placed a wager before an expiration of a current interval share in the rewarded jackpot.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of keeping participating players who do not place a wager before the expiration of the current interval from sharing in any jackpot to be awarded at a next interval.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the establishing step is carried out such that the plurality of participating gaming machines in the network are freely selectable from among the plurality of gaming machines from one interval to the next interval.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein each constituent symbol of the secondary payline is revealed concurrently with each wager placed on the primary game.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein constituent symbols of the secondary payline are revealed on each of the plurality of participating gaming machines only when a primary game wager has been placed on each of the plurality of participating gaming machines.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein each reel of the multi-reel secondary game of chance spins to heighten player suspense between placing a wager on the primary game and when the reels of the multi-reel secondary game of chance stop to form a stopped secondary payline that spans across each of the second video displays of the plurality of participating gaming machines.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of: maintaining a second jackpot;establishing a network of N groups of M participating gaming machines, each of the N groups of M participating gaming machines generating a respective secondary payline;providing a network connected third video display;providing a multi-reel tertiary game of chance that is configured to generate a tertiary payline that is collectively formed by one symbol from the secondary payline of each of the N groups of M gaming machines;displaying the tertiary payline on the third video display, andawarding at least one participating player of all or part of the second jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on the tertiary payline displayed on the third video display subsequent to an outcome of the tertiary game of chance.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of updating the tertiary payline subsequent to an outcome of the secondary game on each of the N groups of M participating gaming machines.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of providing a central server coupled to the network and wherein the tertiary game of chance is controlled by the central server.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the tertiary game of chance is controlled by participating ones of the N groups of M gaming machines in a peer-to-peer fashion.

39. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of displaying the collective symbols of the secondary payline displayed across the second video displays of the five gaming machines in a portion of one of the first video display and the second video display in each of the five gaming machines.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of displaying at least the tertiary payline displayed on the third video display in a portion of one of the first video display and the second video display in each of the five gaming machines.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the five gaming machines are configured to utilize pop-up window technology for the secondary gaming displays such that the secondary gaming displays are usable for multiple purposes.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the multiple purposes include at least one of replicating collective symbols of the secondary payline displayed across the second video displays of the five gaming machines, and replicating at least the tertiary payline displayed on the third video display.

43. A method of awarding a jackpot in an electronic game of chance, comprising the steps of: establishing a network of at least two participating gaming machines, each participating gaming machine having at least a primary display area and a secondary display area;providing a primary game of chance on the primary display area of each participating gaming machine, the outcome of the primary game being random;collecting a wager from one or more players on all participating gaming machines, the wager being used to fund the primary game and at least one secondary game;displaying symbols on the secondary display area of each participating gaming machine in the network responsive to said wager;rewarding at least a portion of the jackpot to at least one participating player when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on a secondary payline that spans across the secondary display areas of participating gaming machines.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of revealing first display area symbols at a predetermined posted interval and wherein only those players who have placed a wager before an expiration of the interval are eligible to share in the jackpot.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the step of keeping participating players who do not place a wager before expiration of a current interval from sharing in any jackpot to be awarded at a next interval.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein both a number of the participating gaming machines and which of the symbols displayed on each of the secondary display area collectively make up the secondary payline are determined by a central server coupled to the network.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising a step of displaying symbols on the secondary display area concurrently with each wager placed on the primary game.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising a step of revealing constituent symbols of the secondary payline on each of the participating gaming machines only when a primary game wager has been placed on each of the participating gaming machines.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising a step of spinning the symbols on the secondary display area to heighten player suspense.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising the step of enabling a participating player to activate more than one symbol on the secondary display area of his or her participating gaming machine by placing multiple primary game wagers before the secondary payline is stopped and an outcome of a current on-going secondary game is fixed.

51. A hierarchical jackpot awarding system for a networked connected gaming system that includes a plurality of gaming machines, the system comprising: a network of a plurality of participating ones of the plurality of gaming machines, each having a first display area and a second display area and each being configured to be played by a participating player;a separate primary game of chance for each participating gaming machine, each separate primary game of chance being configured to display symbols in the first display area;a secondary game of chance associated with the participating gaming machines, the secondary game being configured to display symbols across the second display area of each of the participating gaming machines; anda first jackpot,each participating gaming machine being further configured to award at least one participating player all or part of the first jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on a secondary payline collectively formed across the second display areas of the participating gaming machines subsequent to an outcome of the secondary game of chance.

52. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51, further comprising: a third display area, the third display area being connected through the network with the participating gaming machines;a tertiary game of chance associated with selected ones of the plurality of participating gaming machines, the tertiary game being configured to display symbols on the third display area, anda second jackpot,wherein the selected participating gaming machines are further configured to award at least one participating player all or part of the second jackpot when predetermined, reward-generating symbol combinations occur on the third display area subsequent to an outcome of the tertiary game of chance.

53. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51, wherein the symbols displayed on the second display areas of participating gaming machine include selected ones of the symbols displayed on the first display areas of the participating gaming machines.

54. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 53, wherein the symbols displayed on the third display area of the selected participating gaming machines include selected ones of the symbols displayed on the second display areas of the participating gaming machines.

55. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51, further including a central server coupled to the network, the central server being configured to control the secondary game of chance.

56. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51, wherein the secondary game of chance is controlled by the participating gaming machines in a peer-to-peer fashion.

57. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51 wherein, for at least one of the participating gaming machines, the first display area and the second display area are merged into a single display area.

58. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51, wherein the second display area is a portion of the first display area.

59. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 52, further including a central server coupled to the network and wherein the tertiary game of chance is controlled by the central server.

60. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 52, wherein the tertiary game of chance is controlled by the selected participating gaming machines in a peer-to-peer fashion.

61. The hierarchical jackpot awarding system of claim 51, wherein each symbol of the secondary payline is a predetermined symbol of a primary payline of the primary game of a participating gaming machine.

62. A network connected gaming system that includes a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system comprising: a network of participating ones of the plurality of gaming machines, each participating gaming machine including a primary gaming display and a secondary gaming display;a separate primary game of chance for each participating gaming machine, each separate primary game being configured to be displayed on the primary gaming display of one of the participating gaming machines, each participating gaming machine being configured to display symbols on its respective secondary gaming display, and each participating gaming machine being further configured to manage, determine, and display the symbols on its secondary gaming display such that predetermined symbol combinations occurring on a secondary payline spanning across a predetermined number of participating machines cause at least one player wagering on one of the participating gaming machines to be awarded a bonus award.

63. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the symbols displayed on the secondary gaming displays of the participating gaming machines are selected from fruit symbols, poker symbols, and pre-licensed icons from popular culture.

64. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, further including a wager management system coupled to the network, the wager management system being configured to divert a predetermined portion of each wager placed and to add the diverted predetermined portion of each wager to a jackpot pool that is available to be awarded to players of the participating gaming machines based on an occurrence of predetermined symbol combinations on the secondary gaming displays.

65. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein symbols appearing on the secondary gaming displays of the participating gaming machines are randomly generated.

66. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein symbols appearing on the secondary gaming display of each participating machine include symbols that appear at a predetermined point in the primary game on the primary gaming display.

67. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein symbols displayed on the secondary gaming display of each of the participating gaming machines are selectable from a pool of symbols that occur within the primary game displayed on the primary gaming display.

68. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are disposed adjacent to one another such that the symbol combinations of the secondary payline across the secondary gaming displays of the participating gaming machines are clearly visible.

69. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are spread out over a plurality of locations.

70. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 69, wherein the secondary payline in its entirety is fully shown on each of the secondary gaming displays of each of the participating gaming machines.

71. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are further configured to display symbols on their respective secondary gaming displays at a predetermined posted interval and wherein only players who have placed a wager before an expiration of a current interval share in the bonus award.

72. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 71, wherein the participating gaming machines are further configured such that players who do not place a wager before the expiration of the current interval are enabled to place a wager during a next interval.

73. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein both a number of the participating gaming machines and which of the symbols displayed on each of the secondary gaming displays collectively make up the secondary payline are determined by a central server coupled to the network.

74. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are configured to display symbols on the secondary display area concurrently with each wager placed on the primary game.

75. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein constituent symbols of the secondary payline are revealed on each of the participating gaming machines only when a primary game wager has been placed on each of the participating gaming machines.

76. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are further configured to spin the symbols on the secondary gaming displays to heighten player suspense.

77. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are configured to enable players to activate more than one symbol on the secondary gaming display of his or her participating gaming machine by placing multiple primary game wagers before the secondary payline is stopped and an outcome of a current on-going secondary game is fixed.

78. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 62, wherein the participating gaming machines are configured to utilize pop-up window technology for the secondary gaming displays such that the secondary gaming displays are usable for multiple purposes.

79. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 64, wherein the wager management system is further configured such that all players whose participating gaming machines displays part of a winning secondary payline are awarded an equal percentage of the bonus award.

80. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 64, wherein the wager management system is further configured such that a selected one of the players whose participating gaming machines displays part of a winning secondary payline is awarded all of the bonus award.

81. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 64, wherein the wager management system is configured to award different portions of the bonus award to players whose participating gaming machines display part of a winning secondary payline according to predetermined criteria.

82. The network of electronic gaming machines of claim 81, wherein the predetermined criteria include at least one of placing a greatest number of wagers within a predetermined time interval and placing a largest sum of wagers in the predetermined time interval.