Patent Application
20150161852
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to gaming apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to wagering games that determine outcomes based on a combination of player reels that are contributed by a plurality of players.
Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system comprises one or more input devices; one or more display devices; and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry comprises one or more central processing units and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more central processing units, cause the game-logic circuitry to: define at least one first player reel; associate the at least one first player reel with a first player; combine the at least one first player reel with one or more second player reels associated with one or more second players, the at least one first player reel and the one or more second player reels each including a respective set of symbols; determine at least one game outcome from an array of symbols randomly generated from the combination of the at least one first player reel and the one or more second player reels; display, on at least one of the display devices, a game screen presenting the at least one game outcome; and determine awards for the first player and the one or more second players based on the at least one game outcome. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a request from the first player via at least one of the input devices, the instructions further cause the game-logic circuitry to: combine the at least one first player reel with one or more third player reels associated with one or more third players, the one or more third player reels each including a respective set of symbols; determine at least one new game outcome from an array of symbols randomly generated from the combination of the at least one first player reel and the one or more third player reels; display, on at least one of the display devices, a new game screen presenting the at least one new game outcome; and determine awards based on the at least one new game outcome.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system comprises one or more input devices; one or more display devices; and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry comprises one or more central processing units and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more central processing units, cause the game-logic circuitry to: define a plurality of player reels, each player reel including a respective set of symbols; receive from each of a plurality of players, via at least one of the input devices, a respective selection of a subset of the player reels; associate each of the plurality of players with the player's respective subset of player reels; determine at least one game outcome for each of the plurality of players, the at least one game outcome being determined from an array of symbols randomly generated from the player's respective subset of player reels; display, on at least one of the display devices, the at least one game outcome for each of the plurality of players; rank the players according to the game outcomes for the plurality of players; and provide awards to the players according to the ranking of the players.
According to another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method in a gaming system comprises: defining at least one first player reel; associating the at least one first player reel with a first player; combining the at least one first player reel with one or more second player reels associated with one or more second players, the at least one first player reel and the one or more second player reels each including a respective set of symbols; determining at least one game outcome from an array of symbols randomly generated from the combination of the at least one first player reel and the one or more second player reels; displaying a game screen presenting the at least one game outcome; determining awards based on the at least one game outcome to the first player and the one or more second players; and displaying the awards on at least one of the display devices. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving a request from the first player via at least one of the input devices; in response to receiving the request, combining the at least one first player reel with one or more third player reels associated with one or more third players, the one or more third player reels each including a respective set of symbols; determining at least one new game outcome from an array of symbols randomly generated from the combination of the at least one first player reel and the one or more third player reels; displaying, on at least one of the display devices, a new game screen presenting the at least one new game outcome; determining awards based on the at least one new game outcome to the first player and the one or more third players; and displaying the awards on at least one of the display devices.
According to another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method in a gaming system comprises: defining a plurality of player reels, each player reel including a respective set of symbols; receiving from each of a plurality of players, via at least one of the input devices, a respective selection of a subset of the player reels; associating each of the plurality of players with the player's respective subset of player reels; determining at least one game outcome for each of the plurality of players, the at least one game outcome being determined from an array of symbols randomly generated from the player's respective subset of player reels; displaying, on at least one of the display devices, the at least one game outcome for each of the plurality of players; ranking the players according to the game outcomes for the plurality of players; and providing awards to the players according to the ranking of the players.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, computer readable storage media is encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the above methods.
According to still another aspect of the invention, the above gaming system is incorporated into a single, free-standing gaming terminal.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.”
For purposes of the present detailed description, the terms “wagering games,” “gambling,” “slot game,” “casino game,” and the like include games in which a player places at risk a sum of money or other representation of value, whether or not redeemable for cash, on an event with an uncertain outcome, including without limitation those having some element of skill. In some embodiments, the wagering game may involve wagers of real money, as found with typical land-based or on-line casino games. In other embodiments, the wagering game may additionally, or alternatively, involve wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency, and therefore may be considered a social or casual game, such as would be typically available on a social networking web site, other web sites, across computer networks, or applications on mobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a social or casual game format, the wagering game may closely resemble a traditional casino game, or it may take another form that more closely resembles other types of social/casual games.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 illustrated in
Input devices, such as the touch screen 18, buttons 20, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and a virtual-input device, accept player input(s) and transform the player input(s) to electronic data signals indicative of the player input(s), which correspond to an enabled feature for such input(s) at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The input(s), once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to a game-logic circuitry for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
Turning now to
The game-logic circuitry 28 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 36, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 36 is connected to various input devices 38, output devices 40, and input/output devices 42 such as those discussed above in connection with
The external system 48 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming machines or terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 48 may comprise a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external-system interface 46 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the gaming machine 10, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming machine 10 optionally communicates with the external system 48 such that the gaming machine 10 operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. The game-logic circuitry 28—whether located within (“thick client”), external to (“thin client”), or distributed both within and external to (“intermediate client”) the gaming machine 10—is utilized to provide a wagering game on the gaming machine 10. In general, the main memory 32 (comprising one or more memory devices) stores programming for an RNG, game-outcome logic, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.). When a wagering-game instance is executed, the CPU 30 (comprising one or more processors or controllers) executes the RNG programming to generate one or more pseudo-random numbers. The pseudo-random numbers are utilized by the CPU 30 when executing the game-outcome logic to determine a resultant outcome for that instance of the wagering game. The resultant outcome is then presented to a player of the gaming machine 10 by accessing the associated game assets, required for the resultant outcome, from the main memory 32. The CPU 30 causes the game assets to be presented to the player as outputs from the gaming machine 10 (e.g., audio and video presentations).
The gaming machine 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
Referring now to
In response to receiving an input indicative of a wager, the reels 52 are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with paylines such as paylines 58. The wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels and provides immediate awards and bonus features in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus features based on one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an activated payline (i.e., “line trigger”) or anywhere in the displayed array (i.e., “scatter trigger”). The wagering game may also provide mystery awards and features independent of the symbols appearing in the displayed array.
In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering-game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering-game outcome, for that particular wagering-game instance, is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming machine 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the game-logic circuitry 28 is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with stored instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU 30 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 44), the CPU 30, in accord with associated stored instructions, causes the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM), etc. The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU 30 (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU 30 further, in accord with the execution of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 12, other display device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the game-logic circuitry 28 to determine the outcome of the wagering-game instance. In at least some aspects, the game-logic circuitry is configured to determine an outcome of the wagering-game instance at least partially in response to the random parameter.
Referring now to
The game screen 150 allows a group of players to play together in a communal wagering game. Advantageously, the communal aspects of the wagering game enhance the gaming experience by allowing a group of players to interact with each other and to share in the excitement of playing a game. As shown in
As shown in
Similar to the basic-screen game 50 described above, the player can operate the selectable buttons 156 to enter wagers for each spin of the game reels 152a-e, and the meters 154 provide information relating to the wagers. For example, when the players have all entered their wagers and indicated that they are ready, e.g., by selecting “SPIN REELS,” the game reels 152a-e are rotated and stopped to place the symbols on the game reels 152a-e in visual association with paylines (not shown). The communal wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels and provides awards in accordance with a pay table. The players are provided with awards based on their respective wagers and the shared outcome provided by the game reels 152a-e.
As used herein, the term “player reel” generally refers to a reel that is associated with a particular player and that the player can contribute to a wagering game for use as a game reel. Additionally, the term “game reel” generally refers to a reel that is rotated on a game screen to determine an outcome for a wagering game. Furthermore, the term “communal wagering game” generally refers to any wagering game in which a player interacts with other players by contributing one or more player reels, which are then used as game reels to determine an outcome. In general, player reels are employed as an instrument to generate social interaction between players in a communal wagering game.
In some embodiments, players can maintain electronically stored accounts to maintain their individual profiles and player reels. Accordingly, the players can conveniently access their accounts to use the same individual profiles and player reels every time they play the communal wagering game. In some cases, a player's account may be tied to the player's membership in a loyalty program associated, for example, with a gaming establishment. In other cases, a player's account may be tied to the player's membership in a gaming community associated, for example, with an online gaming website. Alternatively, if a player does not want to create an electronically stored account, the player can create a guest profile to be used for an entire gaming session, and a player reel can be assigned to the guest profile.
As also shown in
In some embodiments, the communal wagering game automatically and randomly assigns the player to a new group in response to the selection of the “JOIN NEW GROUP” button 170. Once the player is assigned to the group, the player is presented with a new game screen (similar to the game screen 150) corresponding to a new group of players, each of which contributes a player reel.
In other embodiments, the player is permitted to select the group that he/she will join. The communal wagering game presents the player with a plurality of groups that need one or more additional players to satisfy the total number of player reels required to play the game. For example,
In some embodiments, the communal wagering game can provide a player with suggestions on which group(s) to join. For example, the communal wagering game may determine what groups may likely benefit from the contribution of the player's player reel. In some cases, the player is first directed to such groups when the player moves from a screen.
Advantageously, embodiments of the communal wagering game make the gaming experience more dynamic by allowing players to move to different groups. By moving to different groups, players interact with different combinations of players and experience greater variety with different reel combinations. In addition, the option to move to different groups may give players the perception that they can control their chances of winning. For example, if a group does not appear to be winning, a player in that group may try to change his/her luck by moving to another group. In general, a player reel can be associated with a particular player, and this association is electronically stored, e.g., in an account, so that the player can use the same player reel with different groups, i.e., the player reel follows the player as the player moves from group to group.
As described above, the group of players in the communal wagering game share in the outcome of at least one rotation of the game reels that are defined by the player reels contributed by the players. In some embodiments, a player may be required to play with the group for a minimum number of spins (e.g., 10 spins) before the player is permitted to move to another group. This helps to establish some continuity within the gaming system and may minimize the number of groups that are simultaneously looking for new players to join.
Because gaming terminals and/or game screens for wagering games may have different themes and graphical features based on stories, characters, TV shows, movies, video games, board games, pop culture, etc., player reels may be modified to match the respective theme or visual features when players contribute the player reels to a communal wagering game. Alternatively, the player reels may be sufficiently generic to accommodate the themes and graphical features of a variety of communal wagering games.
As described above, the communal wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped game reels 152a-e and provides awards in accordance with a pay table. Thus, the awards depend on the symbols provided by the player reels 162a-e. Accordingly, before deciding to join a group, a player may evaluate whether his/her player reel can increase the likelihood of achieving a winning outcome when combined with the other player reels in the particular group. For example, in
In addition, the pay table may include “line pays,” which occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Thus, the awards may also depend on how the player reels 162a-e are ordered to define the game reels 152a-e. If the player “Nestor” does indeed decide to join the group on the selection screen 250, he may be required to determine where his player reel 162b must be positioned relative to the game reels 252a-d. As shown in
As described above, the communal wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped game reels and provides awards in accordance with a pay table. In some embodiments, a player may receive an additional bonus if he/she contributes a player reel that is significant in achieving a winning outcome. For example, if the player contributes a player reel with a rare symbol without which there would not have been a winning outcome, the player receives a bonus. Additionally or alternatively, the player may receive an additional bonus according to the position of his/her player reel among the game reels. For example, the player may receive a greater bonus if his/her player reel is positioned on the right side of the game reels, because it is more difficult to contribute a winning symbol from the right side position.
As described above, the player reels 162b and 262a-d may rotate on the selection screen 250 shown in
In some embodiments, the player may be have an option to request the selection screen to display more symbols on the player reels and/or to make it easier to discern symbols on the player reels.
As shown in
In general, embodiments may provide an option that allows players to gain more information about player reels. In some cases, the player may be required make some type of payment, exchange loyalty points from a loyalty program, redeem bonus awards from prior gameplay, etc., to obtain such information.
In some embodiments, each player may be associated with one particular player reel which the player can use as he/she moves from group to group. The player, for example, may receive his/her own player reel the first time he/she plays the communal wagering game. However, it is contemplated that a player may collect any number of player reels with different combinations of symbols. The player can then use any one of these reels when joining a group. Indeed, the player can join any number of groups using a different player reel from his/her collection. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a player may contribute more than one player reel to a group.
For example,
Players may collect player reels according to any combination of approaches. For example, a player may win additional player reels as bonus awards when playing the communal wagering game. The player may earn additional player reels for playing the communal wagering game a certain number of times. The player may earn additional player reels by maintaining an active account for the communal wagering game for a certain amount of time. The player may earn additional player reels by recruiting additional people to play the communal wagering game. To collect additional player reels, the player may be required to make some type of payment, exchange loyalty points from a loyalty program, redeem bonus awards from prior gameplay, etc. Allowing players to collect more than one player reel requires the player to develop a strategy for determining which player reels to use and when to use certain player reels. Advantageously, requiring the use of such strategy enhances player interest in the communal wagering game.
In some embodiments, players may be able to collect additional player reels through one or more exchange sites. Such exchange sites may allow players to buy, trade, sell, give away, and/or auction player reels. For example, the exchange site may be presented on a screen displayed by the communal wagering game. As shown in
Single player reels may be bought, traded, sold, given away, and/or auctioned. Alternatively, a plurality of player reels may be bought, trades, sold, given away, and/or auctioned together in combination. For example, player reels may be electronically combined into a trading package that is similar to a package of trading cards, e.g., baseball cards, where the contents of the package are not known until the package is accessed. Players can keep some of the player reels received in the trading package, while selling, trading, giving away, and/or auctioning the other player reels. Indeed, it is contemplated that player reels may be exchanged like trading cards. In some embodiments, rather than receiving a single player reel, players may receive trading packages containing player reels when they first play the communal wagering game. In further embodiments, the trading packages may include other contents as described further below. For example, the trading packages may include one or more placement cards that determine where one or more of the player reels may, or must, be positioned among the game reels on a game screen.
The exchange of player reels may require a value to be placed on each player reel to help a player determine whether an even exchange is being proposed. For example, a player reel with more “WILD” symbols and other symbols required for larger awards according to a pay table may have a higher value than other player reels. Thus, the value of a player reel may be determined by the types of symbols on the player reel. Additionally, a player reel may also gain value based on prior play. For example, a player reel that has produced more winning outcomes may gain value.
A combination with higher value player reels generally provides or appears to provide a greater probability for a winning outcome. The value reflects the strength or power of the player reel. In some cases, the communal wagering game may calculate and display values for player reels. For example, the account screen 450 presents “VALUE” meters 463a-c with calculated values for the player reels 462a-c, respectively. The values in the meters 463a-c may reflect the relative strength or ability of the respective player reel to contribute to a winning outcome. Alternatively, the values may be a (normalized) result from a probability calculation.
In some cases, a player may obtain a higher value player reel through an exchange with another player or the gaming system. Higher value player reels generally require more in exchange, e.g., greater payment. In some embodiments, a player may be able to obtain a higher value player reel after collecting and trading in a certain number of player reels of lower value. In some cases, the symbols on the lower value player reels may be combined in some way to define symbols on the higher value player reel. For example,
In some embodiments, a player may be able to enhance the value of an existing player reel by replacing symbols on the player reel. For example, the player may obtain a “WILD” symbol that can replace another symbol on the player reel. The new symbols can be obtained, for example, by making some type of payment, exchanging loyalty points from a loyalty program, redeeming bonus awards from prior gameplay, etc.
As discussed above, in some embodiments, additional bonuses may be provided to a player if the player contributes a player reel that is significant in achieving a winning outcome for a group. In some cases, bonuses may be paid to the player based on the value of the player reel, because higher value player reels increase the chances for a winning outcome. Thus, a player who contributes a higher value player reel receives a greater bonus if there is a winning outcome. Such bonuses encourage players to contribute higher value reels to the group.
Aspects of the present invention may impose restrictions to ensure that the expected value for the communal wagering game generally remains in a certain range. In some embodiments, players are grouped together based on the values of their player strips. For example, players with high value player reels may be prohibited from combining their player reels together. The communal wagering game may prohibit a game screen from using player reels that are greater than a predetermined value. The communal wagering game may restrict the total value of player reels allowed for a group of players. The communal wagering game may require higher wagers if there are high value player reels.
In yet other embodiments, the expected value may be adjusted in response to the value of the player reels on a game screen. For example, the player reels may include mystery symbols that can be used to adjust the expected value of the game reels. Alternatively, the number of spins in a round for a group having high value reels can be restricted according to the total value of the player reels. In other words, a combination of high value player reels may be permitted by the number of spins may be limited to reduce the total award amount that may be won by the players over a round or session.
In some embodiments, the value of a particular player reel can be increased with a booster. For example, the symbols on a player reel may be modified with a booster so that the player reel has more symbols that may result in higher awards, e.g., “WILD” symbols. Boosters may be awarded to reward players for particular types of activity. In some cases, a player may receive one or more boosters as a reward for engaging in social interaction with other players. Such interaction may include joining more than one group of players to play the communal wagering game, inviting new players to play the communal wagering game, exchanging player reels with other players, participating in different formats of the communal wagering game, etc. In other cases, to boost the value of the player reel, the player may be required to make some type of payment, exchange loyalty points from a loyalty program, redeem bonus awards from prior gameplay, etc. In yet other cases, boosters can be exchanged like player reels as described above to encourage social interaction between players. Indeed, a booster may be included in a trading package like a piece of gum in a traditional package of trading cards.
In embodiments where players can collect additional player reels, the player reels may expire. Thus, if a player collects duplicate player reels, each of the duplicate player reels has value. For example, a player reel may expire after a certain amount of time, e.g., six hours, one day, one week, etc., and/or after it is used for a certain number of spins, e.g., one spin, 20 spins, etc. A player reel can no longer be used once it expires. Causing player reels to expire also requires the player to develop a strategy for determining which player reels to use and when to use certain player reels. Requiring the use of strategy enhances player interest in the communal wagering game.
In some cases, a player may be allowed to pass a player reel to another player after it has expired. Allowing a player to pass a player reel to another player advantageously encourages social interaction between players. As shown in
To keep the player reel 762, the player must extend the life of the player reel 762. For example, to restore the life of the player reel 762 to some value greater that zero, e.g., “50%,” “100%,” etc., the player may be required to some type of payment, e.g., credits, or social money for a social/casual communal wagering game. The player may extend the life of the player reel 762 in exchange for loyalty points that the player has earned in a loyalty program. The player may extend the life of the player reel 762 in exchange for another player reel. The player may extend the life of the player reel 762 if a particular symbol appears in one of the player's other player reels. The player may be able to extend the life of the player reel 762 if the player wins a particular bonus award when playing the communal wagering game. In some embodiments, extensions can be exchanged like player reels as described above to encourage social interaction between players. Indeed, an extension may be also included in a trading package like a piece of gum in a traditional package of trading cards.
Embodiments of the communal wagering game may employ various modes of gameplay. As described above, a single player may use a player reel to join a group of other players and win awards based on the shared outcome of one or more spins of the game reels on a common game screen. In alternative embodiments, the set of game reels required for a game screen are defined using one or more player reels contributed by a single player. In other words, the single player does not combine his/her player reels with those of other players to define a game screen. In some cases, the player reel(s) from the single player may be combined with one or more computer-generated game reels presented by the game screen. The single player can then compete against other players who have similarly contributed their own player reel(s) to define the set of game reels required for their own respective game screens.
In some cases, players may compete against each other in head-to-head matchups. In other cases, players may compete against two or more players at the same time. The players may compete against each other in one or more rounds, where one round may include one or more spins.
In some cases, the players may compete against each other in a league, e.g., round-robin, format, which may include playoffs and a championship matchup. In other cases, the players may compete against each other in a tournament format. The player may be required to use player reels that are assigned by the communal wagering game when he/she signs up for the league or tournament. Alternatively, a player may be permitted to use player reels that he/she has collected previously and that are stored in an account.
For a competition between two or more players, the players may win, lose, or otherwise be ranked according to the outcome(s) of their respective game reels. For example, the outcome for each player may be based on the award, e.g., credits, provided in response to a wager by the player, where the displayed array of symbols on the stopped game reels is evaluated with a pay table. In some cases, the winner of a round is the player who receives the largest award total, e.g., total credits, over the number of spins in the round. In other cases, a player earns a point every time the player receives the highest award for a single spin, and the winner of the round is the player who receives the greatest number of points over a plurality of spins in the round. Alternatively, the players may receive ranking points based on the award received for each spin, and the winner of the round is the player who receives the greatest number of points over a plurality of spins in the round.
In other embodiments, a group of players may combine their player reels to compete against other groups, where other awards may be gained by winning against other groups. Like competitions between individual players, groups in some cases may compete against each other in head-to-head matchups. In other cases, groups may compete against two or more groups at the same time. The groups may compete against each other in one or more rounds, where one round may include one or more spins. In some cases, the groups may compete against each other in a league, e.g., round-robin, format, which may include playoffs and a championship matchup. In other cases, the groups may compete against each other in a tournament format. Similar to a competition between two or more players, the groups may win, lose, or otherwise be ranked according to the outcome(s) of their respective game reels.
In an example mode of gameplay, the communal wagering game may employ aspects of fantasy sports to encourage interaction between players and further enhance interest in the communal wagering game. In particular, players may be able to collect player reels by participating in a draft, where each player takes turns drafting a player reel from a selection of player reels. As shown in
In some embodiments, a player can select one of his/her drafted player reels and contribute that selected player reel to a combination of player reels from other players in order to play the communal wagering game as illustrated in
Accordingly, each player is associated with one or more outcomes which are determined by his/her own combination of game reels selected from a draft. The outcome(s) for a player depend(s) on what player reels are drafted by the player and how the player selects and orders a subset of drafted player reels to define the game reels. As described above, it is contemplated that aspects of fantasy sports may be employed to encourage interaction between players and further enhance interest in the communal wagering game. Similar to drafting players in a sports league and selecting a subset of drafted players to fill a roster for fantasy gameplay, the players in this example draft player reels and select a subset of drafted player reels for wagering gameplay.
As described above, the players participating in the draft may compete against each other in a variety of formats. In some cases, players may compete against each other in head-to-head matchups. In other cases, players may compete against each other in groups of three or more players. The players may compete against each other in one or more rounds, where one round may include one or more spins. In some cases, the players may compete against each other in a single round of one or more spins. In other cases, the players may compete against each other in a league, e.g., round-robin, format, which may include playoffs and a championship matchup. In other cases, the players may compete against each other in a tournament format. In other formats, a group of players may join together to draft a team and compete against other teams as described above.
As shown further in
Although the players in the embodiments described above may contribute complete player reels to a game screen, it is understood that players in other embodiments can contribute portions of a player reel and be spliced with portions of one or more player reels contributed by one or more other players.
It is understood that the modes of gameplay are not limited to the examples described above. For example, rather than employing aspects of fantasy sports, the communal wagering game may employ aspects of board games to encourage interaction between players and further enhance interest in the communal wagering game. For example, in an embodiment inspired by the board game MONOPOLY®, players may be required to collect certain player reels to advance to different levels of gameplay and/or earn awards, where progress by each player is tracked on a common game board.
In some embodiments, a player reel may be provided with a special symbol that relates to a secondary game. For example, referring to
A secondary game may require players to collect certain special symbols to advance to different levels of gameplay and/or earn awards, where progress by each player is tracked on a common game board. For example,
In alternative embodiments, a player may be required to obtain the special symbols in a particular order/progression before qualifying, e.g., a player must move to the “1ST BASE” position 1262a before moving to the “2ND BASE,” and so on. In an example of the alternative embodiments, obtaining another special symbol corresponding to a “HOMERUN” may be equivalent to obtaining the special symbols for “1ST BASE,” “2ND BASE,” “3RD BASE,” and “HOME.”
In some embodiments, to encourage further social interaction between players, a player may be able to combine his/her special symbol(s) with the special symbol(s) of one or more other players to share in an outcome in the secondary game. In general, it is contemplated that communal wagering games may be associated with a secondary game, where certain symbols on the player reels can be earned or otherwise obtained to participate in the secondary game. The secondary game generates additional excitement for players of the communal wagering game.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceeding elements and aspects.
