Claims
- 1. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
- allowing play to occur on the gaming devices;
- paying to each device in accordance with a payout schedule after each game;
- sending a first reconfiguration command from the host computer to a gaming device over the network;
- receiving the first reconfiguration command at the gaming device;
- reconfiguring the gaming device responsive to the received first reconfiguration command, wherein the gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received first reconfiguration command;
- allowing additional play to occur on the gaming devices;
- paying to the reconfigured device in accordance with the first payout schedule and a first bonus payout schedule after each game for so long as the gaming device remains reconfigured;
- sending a second reconfiguration command from the host computer to said gaming device over the network;
- receiving the second reconfiguration command at said gaming device;
- reconfiguring said gaming device responsive to the received second reconfiguration command, wherein the gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received second reconfiguration command;
- allowing additional play to occur on the gaming devices; and
- paying to the reconfigured device in accordance with the first payout schedule and a second bonus payout schedule after each game for so long as the gaming device remains reconfigured.
- 2. A method of operating gaming devices according to claim 1 wherein reconfiguring the gaming device in accordance with the first and second reconfiguration commands includes reconfiguring the payout to be a multiple of the first payout schedule.
- 3. A method of operating gaming devices according to claim 2 wherein the first reconfiguration command reconfigures the payout to be a first multiple of the first payout schedule.
- 4. A method of operating gaming devices according to claim 3 wherein the second reconfiguration command reconfigures the payout to be a second multiple of the first payout schedule.
- 5. A method of operating gaming devices according to claim 1 wherein said method further comprises:
- providing first indicia which can be seen and heard by players of the gaming devices to indicate that the first bonus payout schedule is effective; and
- providing second indicia which can be seen and heard by players of the gaming devices to indicate that the second bonus payout schedule is effective.
- 6. The method of claims 5 wherein said first indicia comprises light and sounds simulating a storm at a first intensity and wherein said second indicia comprises lights and sounds simulating a storm at second intensity.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said first intensity less than said second intensity.
- 8. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
- operating the gaming devices in a normal mode in which jackpots are paid at each gaming device according to a payout schedule;
- operating the gaming devices in a first bonus mode in which jackpots are paid at each gaming device according to a first bonus payout schedule;
- simulating a storm of a first intensity to indicate to a player of the gaming devices that the first bonus payout schedule is effective;
- operating the gaming devices in a second bonus mode in which jackpots are paid at each gaming device according to a second bonus payout schedule; and
- simulating a storm of a second intensity to indicate to a player of the gaming devices that the second bonus payout schedule is effective.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises simulating a storm when the gaming devices are operating in the normal mode.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said method further comprises simulating storms when the gaming devices are in the normal operating mode at random intervals.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises:
- detecting the amount of money played on the gaming devices;
- allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;
- determining the level of the bonus pool; and
- maintaining operation of the gaming devices in the normal mode until the pool rises above a preselected level.
- 12. The method of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises maintaining operation of the gaming devices in the normal mode until a minimum elapsed time since the gaming devices were last operated in a bonus mode.
- 13. The method of claim 8 wherein said method further comprises maintaining the operation of the gaming devices in the normal mode until a minimum level of play on the gaming devices since the devices were last operated in a bonus mode.
- 14. The method of claim 8 wherein said method further includes operating the gaming devices in a bonus mode after a maximum elapsed time since the gaming devices were last operated in a bonus mode.
- 15. A system for operating a plurality of gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
- an output port associated with said host computer and connected to said network, said port being operable to send a signal generated by said computer on said network which configures at least one gaming device for operation in a bonus mode,
- an interface unit contained in said gaming device and operably connected to said network, said interface device responding to said signal by configuring said gaming device to pay jackpots according to a bonus payout schedule; and
- an indicator connected to said network, said indicator comprising a speaker and a light for simulating a storm and generating indicia intelligible to a player of said gaming device when said bonus mode is effective.
- 16. The system of claim 15 wherein said output port is further operable to send a second signal generated by said computer on said network which configures said gaming device for operation in a second bonus mode, said interface device responding to said second signal by configuring said gaming device to pay jackpots according to a second bonus payout schedule.
- 17. The system of claim 16 wherein said indicator if further operable to generate indicia intelligible to a player of said gaming device when said second bonus mode is effective.
- 18. The system of claim 16 wherein said system further includes a control operably connected to said speaker and said light, said control varying operation thereof thereby simulating a storm having varying intensity levels.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 08/322,172, filed Aug. 12, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,961.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
322172 |
Aug 1997 |
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