METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A FEATURE GAME DIVIDED IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES

Abstract

There is described a method of conducting a feature game. The method comprises the steps of providing a player with participation rights for participating in a plurality of instances of a feature game when a criterion is fulfilled, comprising storing information regarding the participation rights. The method further comprises authorizing participation in a first instance of the feature game upon request and valid participation right, and authorizing participation in a second instance upon request and valid participation right. The method further comprises providing awards according to the outcomes of the participation in the feature game. According to embodiments, other methods, a system and a gaming machine for conducting game feature and awarding participation rights are provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a perspective view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bloc diagram illustrating the components of the gaming system comprising the gaming machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating steps performed while conducting a game play on the gaming machine illustrated on FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a set of steps performed while conducting an authorization process in association with an instance of the feature game of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a time chart illustrating example of participations of different players in different instances of the feature game of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a feature game comprising: upon fulfillment of a feature criterion, awarding participation rights to a player for participating in a plurality of instances of the feature game, comprising storing information in a database regarding the participation rights provided to said player;upon reception of a first request from the player for participation in a first instance of the feature game, verifying in the database for a first one of said participation rights relating to said first request, authorizing participation by the player in the first instance of the feature game, keeping track of the player's participation in the first instance, and providing participation to the player in the first instance of the feature game;upon reception of a second request from the player for participation in a second instance of the feature game, verifying in the database for a second one of said participation rights different from said first participation right relating to said second request, authorizing participation by the player in the second instance of the feature game, keeping track of the player's participation in the second instance, and providing participation to the player in the second instance of the feature game; andproviding the player with an award based on the outcome of the player's participation in at least one of the first instance and the second instance of the feature game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second instance of the feature of the player is the first instance of the feature game of another player.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying said fulfillment of a feature criterion, which comprises monitoring of at least one of (i) an instant event, and (ii) multiple events.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein conducting an instance of the feature game comprises one of (i) conducting a game process, (ii) conducting a lottery-type process, and (iii) conducting a tournament process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the player with participation rights comprises one of (i) providing the player with readable information on a physical media, (ii) providing the player with information to use when providing participation request of instances of the feature game, and (iii) modify a media associated with said player for said media to be used in providing participation requests of instances of the feature game.

6. A method of conducting a feature game comprising: upon fulfillment of a feature criterion, awarding a player with participation rights, each one of said participation rights pertaining to a distinct instance of the feature game to take place in predetermined conditions;upon identification of the player in relation to any one of the instances of the feature game, providing the player with participation in that instance of the feature game without preventing the player in participating in another one of the instances of the feature game for which the player has received one of said participation rights; andproviding an award to the player based on said participation.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising verifying said fulfillment of a feature criterion, which comprises monitoring at least one of (i) an instant event, and (ii) a combination of multiple events.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the player with participation rights comprises one of (i) providing the player with readable information on a physical media, (ii) providing the player with information used to consume said participation rights, and (iii) modify a media associated with said player for said media to be used to consume said participation rights.

9. A method of conducting a feature game comprising: upon fulfillment of a feature criterion in a wagering process, registering participation rights associated with a player in a database, each one of said participation rights being associated with a single instance of the feature game;upon reception of a request for participating in an instance of the feature game, verifying in the database for an associated participation right, authorizing said participation, providing said participation, and providing the player with an award based on said participation; andcontinue providing participations in instances of the feature game to the player as long as participation rights associated with the player registered in the database allow providing participations and as long as the participation requests respect limitations associated with the participation rights registered in the database.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising awarding said participation rights to the player, wherein said participation rights are provided in one of: (i) readable information borne on a physical media, (ii) confidential information visually provided, and (iii) a modification of a player-associated media.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising monitoring player-associated events or game-associated events to establish fulfillment of said feature participation criterion.

12. A method of conducting a feature game comprising: upon fulfillment of a feature participation criterion, registering a set of a plurality of participation rights in a database with each of said participation rights being associated with a distinct instance of a feature game;during conduct of each distinct instance of the feature game, verifying presence of a participation right associated with said instance for a player; andupon positive verification of said participation right, providing said player with an award.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of providing an award comprises providing at least one of: verifying fulfillment of an awarding criterion; providing the player with a prize; conducting a game process; and conducting a tournament participation process.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring player-associated events or game-associated events to establish fulfillment of said feature participation criterion.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of registering participation rights comprises registering participation data comprising characteristics regarding the instance associated with each one of the participation rights.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein each one of the distinct instances are conducted according to a time schedule.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein each one of the distinct instances may be conducted at a random time within a predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the time periods associated with two distinct instances may overlap.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein conduct of an instance of the feature game comprises monitoring an instance-associated event, wherein positive monitoring of the instance-associated event triggers the conduct of said instance.

20. A system for conducting a feature game, comprising: a server comprising controlling means for controlling the awarding of sets of a plurality of participation rights to a plurality of patrons with each one of said participation rights pertaining to a distinct instance of the feature game, storing means for storing information regarding the participation rights awarded to said patrons, and communicating means; anda terminal comprising inputting means for inputting a participation request in association of an instance of the feature game, controlling means for controlling authorization process regarding said participation request, and outputting means to output authorization to participate in said instance of the feature game among a plurality of instances of said feature game, and communicating means for communicating said request information to the server in order to evaluate the information of the participation right associated with the participation request.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising monitoring means for monitoring events associated with a patron, wherein the monitored events fulfilling a feature game criterion triggers the award of one said set of a plurality of participation rights to the patron.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a feature awarding means for conducting a participation in an instance of the feature in response to the authorization.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the storing means comprises a database for maintaining information regarding said participation rights and said participation authorizations.

24. A gaming machine comprising: receiving means for receiving inputs from a player;controlling means for (i) controlling the conduct of a wagering game in which an outcome is provided in response of a wager, wherein the outcome is selected among a plurality of outcomes among which at least one is a winning outcome associated with a prize and at least one is a losing outcome, and for (ii) associating a set of a plurality of participation rights to a player when a monitoring of a trigger event is performed on the gaming machine;awarding means for awarding said prize when said outcome is a winning outcome; andcommunicating means for communicating information regarding the set of participation rights associated with the player to a server used to authorize said player to participate in a plurality of instances of a feature game based on the different participation rights associated with the player.

25. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the monitored event comprises a feature triggering outcome among the plurality of outcomes, and wherein each one of the participation rights consists in an authorization for the player to participate in a distinct scheduled instance of a prize awarding process conducted separately from the gaming machine.