Patent Application
20140094241
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 gaming apparatus and methods that provide a progressive jackpot award in response to activity relating to electronic social communications.
Gaming terminals, 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 aspects of the present invention, gaming apparatus and methods provide rewards relating to progressive jackpot awards in response to activity relating to electronic social communications.
According to some embodiments, systems and methods include one or more processing devices configured to provide or send displayable content over a network to a client. The displayable content provides a wagering game system. The wagering game system includes a progressive wagering game that awards one or more progressive jackpot awards to a player. In response to social communications by the player over the network, the wagering game system provides a reward to the player, where the reward relates to the progressive wagering game or the one or more progressive jackpot awards.
The reward may affect a probability of winning the one or more progressive jackpot awards. The reward may modify a value of the one or more progressive jackpot awards. The reward may determine an eligibility of the player to play the progressive wagering game. The reward may modify an aspect of the progressive wagering game for play by the player. The reward may vary based on a response by other people to the social communications.
The wagering game system may provide a link to a social communications site on the network, the link allowing the player to share social communications over the network. The link to the social communications site on the network may provide a prepared message for the social communications by the player, the prepared message including another link from the site on the network back to the wagering game system.
The wagering game system may provide the reward for each social communication by the player over the network, and the player becomes eligible to win the one or more progressive jackpot awards after receiving a plurality of the rewards.
The wagering game system may include one or more basic wagering games, where an eligibility of the player to play the progressive wagering game may be determined by an occurrence of an outcome in the one or more basic wagering games played by the player, and the reward may increase the probability of the occurrence of the outcome in the one or more basic wagering game.
The wagering game system may include one or more basic wagering games, where the eligibility of the player to play the progressive wagering game may be determined by an occurrence of an outcome in the one or more basic wagering games played by the player, and the reward may provide an amount of time for the player to achieve the occurrence of the outcome in the one or more basic wagering games.
The one or more progressive jackpot awards may include a plurality of levels of progressive jackpot awards of different values, and the reward may determine the level of progressive jackpot award that the player can win in the progressive wagering game.
According to other embodiments, systems and methods include a display device configured to display a progressive wagering game that awards one or more progressive jackpot awards to a player. The systems and methods also include one or more processing devices configured to identify social communications by the player over a network and provide a reward to the player in response to the communications by the player over the network, where the reward relating to the progressive wagering game or the one or more progressive jackpot awards.
According to further embodiments, one or more physical machine-readable storage media include instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including: providing a progressive jackpot award at a gaming website on a network; and in response to social communications over the network by a player of games at the gaming website, modifying at least one of a probability of the player winning the progressive jackpot award and an amount of the progressive jackpot award if won by the player.
The operations may further include providing the player with chances of winning the progressive jackpot award as the player plays the games at the gaming website. The modifying may include providing the player with an additional chance of winning the progressive jackpot award.
In response to the social communications over the network by the player, the operations may further include contributing an amount to the progressive jackpot award.
The operations may further include awarding the progressive jackpot award if the contributed amount causes the progressive jackpot award to reach a predetermined threshold.
The operations may further include measuring an effect of the social communications on bringing other players to the gaming website, wherein the modifying varies with the measured effect.
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. In some cases, the use of virtual currency issued by a gaming establishment, wagering game manufacturer, etc., may foster loyalty to that gaming establishment, wagering game manufacturer, etc., because the virtual currency is non-fungible and limited to uses associated with the particular institutions. In further embodiments, the wagering game may involve the awarding of non-cash awards, coupons, etc. In yet further embodiments, the wagering game may involve a mixture of real, virtual money, and/or non-cash awards.
Referring to
The gaming terminal 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 CPU 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 CPU 30 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 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 CPU 30, 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 terminal 10 optionally communicates with the external system 48 such that the terminal operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. In general, a wagering game includes an RNG for generating a random number, game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.) for presenting the determined outcome to a player in an audio-visual manner. The RNG, game logic, and game assets are contained within the gaming terminal 10 (“thick client” gaming terminal), the external system 48 (“thin client” gaming terminal), or are distributed therebetween in any suitable manner (“intermediate client” gaming terminal).
The gaming terminal 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
Referring now to
In response to receiving a wager, the reels 52, as shown on the game screen 50, are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association, for example, with 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 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 terminal 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the CPU (e.g., CPU 30) 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 computer instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 44), the CPU, in accord with associated computer instructions, causing 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 (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU further, in accord with the execution of the 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 computer instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by a RNG) that is used by the CPU to determine the outcome of the game sequence, using a game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number. In at least some aspects, the CPU is configured to determine an outcome of the game sequence at least partially in response to the random parameter.
Referring to
The reel-based game screen 50 of
A progressive-win event may occur in any number of ways. For example, as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
While progressive-win events may occur with an outcome that is visually displayed on a wagering game screen, e.g., the reel-based game screen 50 and the player-selection game screen 70, other embodiments may award progressive jackpot awards without prior visual indication of a progressive-win event, i.e., a “mystery” progressive game. In one “mystery” progressive game, the participating wagering game terminals contribute to an incrementally increasing progressive jackpot award. A random threshold value is determined for the progressive jackpot award. When a contribution from a wagering game terminal causes the progressive jackpot award to reach the random threshold value, the player at the wagering game terminal wins the progressive jackpot award. Although players can see the value of the progressive jackpot award, the progressive-win event is a “mystery” because the random threshold value remains unknown and the players do not know when the progressive jackpot award will reach the random threshold value. The threshold changes to a new random value when a player wins the progressive jackpot award and the progressive jackpot award must be restarted.
In another “mystery” progressive game, the participating wagering game terminals contribute to an incrementally increasing progressive jackpot award. Each time a player plays a wagering game at one of the participating wagering game terminals, a random number is drawn. If the drawn number falls within a predefined range of random numbers, the player is awarded the progressive jackpot award. The progressive-win event is a “mystery” because the random number drawn and the determination of whether that drawn number is in the predefined range remain unknown. In some cases, the range is greater if wager for the wagering game is greater. A greater range increases the chances that the random number drawn will fall within the range. In other cases, a random number is drawn for each credit wagered on the wagering game. The number of drawings depends on the wager for the wagering game, so a greater wager results in more drawings and a greater chance that a drawn number will fall within the range. For example, a wager of ten credits may result in ten drawings, while a wager of one credit may result in a single drawing.
As
According to current trends, widespread interest in a subject can be generated quickly through communications on social media. An individual shares information on the subject with other people on a social media network, those other people in turn share the same information to yet other people on the social media network, and so on. As people continue to pass on the information, the information can spread exponentially and become “viral.” Generating publicity through social media requires the mass participation of individuals, each of whom contribute to communications that collectively drive the dynamics of social media.
In a commercial context, there are efforts to use social media to promote products, commercial establishments, companies, etc. In the wagering game industry, social media can likewise be used to generate interest in wagering games, wagering game web sites, gaming establishments, wagering game manufacturers, and other marketable aspects of the wagering game industry. Such efforts, however, face the challenge of creating incentives that can mobilize individual members of social media networks to share information about topics relating to wagering games.
As described above, the excitement associated with progressive jackpot awards provides a highly effective incentive for players to play wagering games. Aspects of the present invention use the same excitement to encourage individual members of social media networks to share information about wagering games, gaming establishments, wagering game manufacturers, etc. According to aspects of the present invention, individuals receive rewards relating to progressive jackpot awards as an incentive to engage in activity on social media that generates interest these areas.
In addition to displaying the progressive jackpot award meters 63a-e, the progressive jackpot award screen 61 in
When the player selects the share function 64 and posts information, the web site 84 responds by providing the player with some reward that relates to the progressive jackpot awards shown in the progressive jackpot award screen 61. The reward provides incentive for the player to share information relating to the wagering game web site 84.
As shown
In some embodiments, when the player communicates via the share function 64 in act 702, the web site 84 gives a player a chance to win a progressive jackpot award by making the player eligible to play the progressive game. In other embodiments, however, the player may win the progressive jackpot award without having to play the progressive game.
In yet other embodiments, when the player communicates via the share function 64, the web site 84 enhances the player's chances to achieve an outcome in a basic game that in turn makes the player eligible to play the progressive game. In other words, the web site 84 modifies the probability, i.e., increases the expected value (EV), for triggering the progressive game from a basic game. Alternatively or additionally, the web site 84 may also modify the probability of winning a progressive jackpot award in the progressive game.
In further embodiments, when the player communicates via the share function 64, the web site 84 allows the player to buy an opportunity to play the progressive game directly. In yet further embodiments, every time the player selects the share function 64, the web site 84 provides the player with an incremental number of reward points that are tracked with an account for the web site 84, and the player becomes eligible to play the progressive game when the number of reward points exceeds a threshold number.
As described previously, the player may be required to achieve a particular outcome in a basic game to gain eligibility to play the progressive game. The web site 84, however, may further restrict a player's ability to gain eligibility to play the progressive game. For example, the progressive jackpot award screen 61 in
As described above, some progressive games award a progressive jackpot award to a player when a contribution from the player's wagering game causes the progressive jackpot award to reach a random threshold value. If the web site 84 includes such “mystery” progressive games, the web site 84 may reward the player by making one or more direct contributions directly to the progressive jackpot award, without requiring the player to play a wagering game. If one of the contributions directly from the web site 84 causes the progressive jackpot award to reach the threshold, the player wins the progressive jackpot award. The contributions, in some cases, may have different or random values. The number of contributions and/or the size of the contributions may depend on the communication made via the share function 64.
As also described above, in other “mystery” progressive games, at least one random number is drawn each time a player plays a wagering game and if the number falls within a predefined range, the player wins the progressive jackpot award. If the web site 84 includes such “mystery” progressive games, the web site 84 may reward the player by drawing one or more random numbers for the player, without requiring the player to play a wagering game. If one of the numbers falls within the predefined range, the player wins the progressive jackpot award. The number of drawings and/or the size of the range may depend on the communication made via the share function 64. The chances of winning a progressive award increases with the number of drawings and/or the size of the range.
Additionally or alternatively, the web site 84 may also modify the progressive jackpot awards that the player can win. For example, in response to the player communicating via the share function 64, the web site 84 may contribute an additional amount to the progressive jackpot awards.
As shown in
In alternative embodiments, the timer 64 may limit the amount of time that the multiplier 66 remains in effect. Here, the web site 84 may reward the player by providing (additional) time on the timer 65 and improving the player's chance to win a greater progressive jackpot award.
In addition,
As described above, the information field 85a in the posting screen 86 shown in
Because the wagering game web site 84 and social media sites reside on the same network, the web site 84 is electronically and directly, tied via the share function 64, to the player's social media activity. Aspects of the present invention, however, do not require a direct network link between a wagering game system and social media sites. As described further below, embodiments may employ other approaches for monitoring social media activity by players and encouraging players to engage in social media activity. Indeed, the progressive jackpot awards may be available through real gaming terminals, e.g., in a physical gaming establishment, as well as wagering game web sites.
In general, embodiments determine when a player has engaged in desired network-based communications and provide rewards relating to progressive jackpot awards that can be redeemed on a wagering game web site or through gaming terminals in a gaming establishment. Although the examples described herein may involve “social media” sites, it is understood that aspects of the present invention apply to any type of communication of information. In addition, although examples of social media/communications sites are widely available on the World Wide Web, it is understood that aspects of the present invention apply to any public or private computer or telecommunications network through which information can be communicated.
For example,
For example, the series of messages 910 includes a message post 912 under a handle “John Player,” which is associated with a player who is enrolled in the player account system 804. The body 912a of the message post 912 mentions the name of the particular wagering game (“WAGERING GAME”), as well as the name of a gaming establishment (“GAMING ESTABLISHMENT”) and the name of the manufacturer of the wagering game (“MANUFACTURER”). The message post 912 creates interest in the wagering game as well as the gaming establishment and the wagering game manufacturer.
When the monitoring system 806 identifies the message post 912, monitoring system 806 can quickly match the message post 912 with the player in the player account system 804, because the player's access to the forum is tied directly to the account he/she created in the player account system 804. The player receives a reward in response to the posting of the message post 912. In some embodiments, for example, the player becomes immediately eligible to play a progressive game to win a progressive jackpot award. In other embodiments, the player is rewarded with an incremental number of reward points that are tracked with his/her account in the player account system 804, and the player earns an opportunity to play the progressive game when the number of reward points exceeds a threshold number. In further embodiments, the player is allowed to buy a direct opportunity to play the progressive game.
As described above, the rewards may be related to progressive jackpot awards on a wagering game web site and may be redeemed with an electronic (or software) token, which is transmitted electronically to the player. The electronic token applies the reward to the web site. Alternatively or additionally, the rewards may be related to progressive games on real gaming terminals, e.g., in a physical gaming establishment. To redeem the rewards, the player may also receive an electronic or physical token that can be redeemed at the real gaming terminals. In some cases, the player may be required to make a monetary side bet to redeem the token. Alternatively or additionally, the player may receive a printable coupon that may be electronically delivered to the player and printed by the player on a conventional printer. The printed coupon can then be presented at a gaming establishment for redemption. Alternatively or additionally, the reward may be stored with a player's account and redeemed when the player accesses his/her player's account from the web site or from a real gaming terminal. In some embodiments, the reward can be shared with other players. In other embodiments, the same or different rewards can be combined in one session, e.g., one play of a progressive game can include any combination of the rewards described herein.
Because aspects of the system 800 and the forum page 900 may both be hosted by the same wagering game manufacturer, the monitoring system 806 can have direct access to the forum page 900 and be specially configured to monitor the series of messages 910 on the forum page 900. However, in some embodiments, the message board web site(s) 809 may include public web sites that are not hosted by a wagering game manufacturer. Such public web sites may provide a plurality of open forums directed to different topics, and some of these forums may be directed to discussions relevant to the wagering game industry. The monitoring system 806 may be configured to access particular public forums that address subjects in the wagering game industry. Alternatively, the monitoring system 806 may find such public forums by using search engines 812 on the network 808. The monitoring system 806 may input key words, such as the names of specific wagering games, gaming establishments, and/or wagering game manufacturers.
In general, the monitoring system 806 accesses message board web sites 809 and mines their content to find relevant information. For example, the monitoring system 806 searches the text on the message board web sites 809 for key words. When the monitoring system 806 identifies a message that generates interest in a wagering game, wagering game web site, gaming establishment, a wagering game manufacturer, and/or other marketable aspect of the wagering game industry, the monitoring system 806 identifies the author of the message. In particular, message board web sites typically provide a handle for each posted message. As
As described above, the interest generated by the messages posted on message board web sites 809 are evaluated to determine what reward to give to players. The number of direct responses to a posted message measures the level of interest. In addition, the level of potential interest may be measured by considering the number of messages posted by the same author. For example, the section 904 associated with the message post 912 in
Some message board web sites 809 (such as REDDIT®) allow readers to respond to a message post by indicating whether they like (e.g., “upvote” on REDDIT®) or dislike (e.g., “downvote” on REDDIT®) a message post. Such message board web sites may then promote or demote the message post according to the number of like and dislike votes from the readers. The message posts with more likes than dislikes are displayed closer to the top of the list of posted messages. Thus, it is contemplated that the number of replies to a posted message in some embodiments may be measured according to the number of like and dislike votes. Like votes generate positive interest, while dislike votes generate less positive interest. The reward that the player receives, in some cases, may be decreased by measurements of negative interest. In these embodiments, a posted message may also be evaluated according to the position of the posted message in the list of ranked posted messages.
Accordingly,
The monitoring system 806 may perform the searches at particular times and/or periodically (e.g., every minute, hourly, daily, etc.). In some embodiments, the monitoring system 806 may search for communications that were posted between a start date/time (e.g., Mar. 1, 2012, 12:00 AM) and an end date/time (e.g., Mar. 31, 2012, 11:59 PM). As shown in
In some embodiments, the monitoring system 806 may employ a search engine to find, on the network 808, appearances of key words in communications discussing certain subjects related to the wagering game industry. The search engine, for example, may crawl the World Wide Web and locate the key words in any site on the World Wide Web. Indeed,
Alternatively, the monitoring system 806 may search a narrower list of predetermined sites. In these alternative embodiments, players may be required to communicate on selected sites to particular audiences, such as social media sites/pages that are of particular interest to players of wagering games. Examples include the forum page 900 hosted by a wagering game manufacturer or a public FACEBOOK® page for a group that likes a specific wagering game.
Once act 1002 identifies the communication that generates interest in a subject relating to the wagering game industry, act 1004 identifies the player whom should be rewarded. The author of the communication is typically identified on, or otherwise associated with, the web page on which the communication appears. As shown in
After the player is identified in act 1004 as the author of the communication, act 1006 determines the appropriate reward for the communication. In some embodiments, for example, the player becomes immediately eligible to play a progressive game to win a progressive jackpot award. In other embodiments, the player is rewarded with an incremental number of reward points that are tracked with his/her account in the player account system 804, and the player earns an opportunity to play the progressive game when the number of reward points exceeds a threshold number. In further embodiments, the player is allowed to buy a direct opportunity to play the progressive game. In some embodiments, each communication receives the same reward, regardless of the level of interest it generates. In other embodiments, the reward may be enhanced according to a measurable level of interest it generates.
The monitoring system 806 may determine the level of interest by evaluating the responses to the communication and other information on the web page. This measurement may take place at the specified date/time or a specified period after the communication has been identified. The player then receives the reward in act 1008 in the form of an electronic token, redeemable coupon, etc.
Additional relevant aspects of network-based communications are described in greater detail with reference to the examples of
The monitoring system 806 accesses the weblog page 1100 and mines the content of the weblog page 1100 to find relevant information. For example, the monitoring system 806 searches the text on the weblog page 900 for key words. In particular, the monitoring system 806 identifies the content in weblog 1102 in connection with the author of the weblog 1102. As shown in
The monitoring system 806 also evaluates the content of the weblog page 1100 to determine the reward the player should receive for the interest generated by the weblog 1102. The interest generated by the weblog 1102 is potentially greater if the weblog 1102 reaches a larger audience. For example, if the weblog site is very popular, more people will likely read about the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and the wagering game manufacturer mentioned in the weblog 1102. The popularity of a weblog site can be quantitatively measured by the number of times the weblog site has been visited and/or the number of people who follow the weblog page 1100. Such statistics are often shown on weblog pages. As shown in
As
The body 1212a of the microblog 1212 posted by the player mentions the name of a gaming establishment (“GAMING ESTABLISHMENT”), the name of a wagering game (“WAGERING GAME”), and the name of the manufacturer of the wagering game (“MANUFACTURER”). As shown in
To find the player's communication, the monitoring system 806 accesses the microblog page 1200 and mines the content of the microblog page 1200 to find relevant information. For example, the monitoring system 806 searches the text on the microblog page 1200 for key words. In particular, the monitoring system 806 identifies the content in microblog page 1200 in connection with the handle associated with the microblog page 1200. As shown in
The monitoring system 806 evaluates the content of the microblog page 1200 to determine the reward the player should receive for the interest generated by the microblog 1212. The interest generated by the microblog 1212 is potentially greater if the microblog 1212 reaches a larger audience. For example, if the player is widely followed on the microblog page 1200, more people will likely read about the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and the wagering game manufacturer mentioned in the microblog 1212. The popularity of the microblog page 1200 can be quantitatively measured by the number of people who follow the player on the microblog page 1200. The information section 1204 includes a counter 1204c for the number of followers, as well as a counter 1204d for the number of microblogs posted under the player's handle/username 1204a/1204b and a counter 1204e for the number of other microbloggers followed by the player. The number of microblogs posted under the player's handle/username 1204a/1204b may also be an indicator of the popularity of the microblog page 1200, as the microblog page 1200 is likely to draw more interest if there is greater activity from the player. The number of other microbloggers being followed may also be an indicator of the popularity of the microblog page 1200, as the pages that follow other microbloggers are more likely to gain their own followers.
As
The body 1312b of the status post 1312 mentions the name of a gaming establishment (“GAMING ESTABLISHMENT”), the name of a wagering game (“WAGERING GAME”), and the name of the manufacturer of the wagering game (“MANUFACTURER”). As such, the status post 1312 generates interest in the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and the wagering game manufacturer. The player receives a reward for publicizing the names of the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and/or the wagering game on the social networking page 1300.
As shown in
The necessary information for accessing the social networking page 1300 may be stored with the player information in the player account system 804. Accordingly, the monitoring system 806 can directly access the social networking page 1300 and mine the content of the social networking page 1300 to find the player's communication. For example, the monitoring system 806 searches the text on the social networking page 1300 for key words. In particular, the monitoring system 806 identifies the status post 1312 which contains key words, e.g., “GAMING ESTABLISHMENT,” “WAGERING GAME,” and “MANUFACTURER,” in the body 1312a. The status post 1312 includes author information 1312b, which the monitoring system 806 can use to confirm that the status post 1312 was posted by the player under the username 1304a (“John Player”).
The monitoring system 806 also evaluates the content of the social networking page 100 to determine the reward the player should receive for the interest generated by the status post 1312. The interest generated by the status post 1312 is potentially greater if the status post 1312 reaches a larger audience. For example, if the player is widely followed on the social networking page 1300, more people will likely read about the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and the wagering game manufacturer mentioned in the posted status post 1312. The popularity of the social networking page 1300 can be quantitatively measured by the number of friends in the player's social network who can potentially see the status post 1312. The information section 1304 includes a counter 1304c for the number of friends in the player's social network. Thus, the monitoring system 806 can read the counter 1304c and factor the number of friends in the player's social network into its determination of the interest generated by the status post 1312.
As
As shown in
In addition,
The player's activity on public pages and group pages provide another way to publicize subjects relating to the wagering game industry. To encourage such publicity, the monitoring system 806 may also reward the player for including links to certain public pages and/or group pages. Additionally or alternatively, the monitoring system 806 may directly access the public pages or group pages to evaluate the additional interest resulting from the player's activity on those other pages.
The mobile application 1400 allows the player to interact over social media by providing information on his/her location which is tracked by GPS (or similar) functionality on the portable computing device. The screen 1400A of
In addition, the player and others who have checked into the same point-of-interest can provide advice or other information about the point-of-interest. As shown in
The location-based social networking site publishes that the player is at the point-of-interest 1408 and indicates how many other people have checked in at the same point-of-interest 1408. In addition, the location-based social networking site publishes the advice posts 1420 associated with the point-of-interest 1408. Accordingly, the player's communication on the location-based social networking site generates interest in the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and the wagering game manufacturer.
Furthermore, the screen 1400A allows the player to provide details on what he/she is doing at the location 1408. As shown in
The player receives a reward based on the interest he/she generates for the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and/or the wagering game on the location-based social networking site. The monitoring system 806 evaluates the content of the location-based social networking site to determine the reward the player should receive for checking in with the point-of-interest 1408 and posting the advice post 1422 and the activity post 1412. The interest generated by these actions is potentially greater if information reaches a larger audience. For example, if the player is widely followed on the location-based social networking site, more people will likely read about the gaming establishment, the wagering game, and the wagering game manufacturer mentioned in his/her check-in as well as the advice post 1422 and the activity post 1412. Some of the generated interest can be quantitatively measured by the number of friends in the player's social network who can potentially receive the player's communications.
As
As
The monitoring system 806 accesses the location-based networking site and identifies communications from the player that generate interest in certain subjects relating to the wagering game industry. Each communication is associated with the player through the username 1404. Although the player's check-in and advice post 1412 may be publicly accessible, access to the player's activity posts may be restricted to the player's designated friends on the location-based social networking site. As such, the player may have to grant the monitoring system 806 permission to monitor his/her activity posts directly, e.g., with an account established for the monitoring system 806.
The monitoring system 806 accesses the multimedia posting page 1500 and mines the content of the multimedia posting page 1500 to find relevant information, e.g., searches the text for key words. In particular, the monitoring system 806 identifies the content associated with the video posting 1512 in connection with the author of the video posting 1512. As shown in
The monitoring system 806 also evaluates the content of the multimedia posting web page 1500 to determine the reward the player should receive for the video posting 1512. The interest generated by the video posting 1512 is potentially greater if the video posting 1512 reaches a larger audience. The popularity of a video posting 1512 can be quantitatively measured by the number of times the video posting 1512 has been viewed. As shown in
As
In addition, the multimedia posting page 1500 also provides a “Share” function that allows viewers to share the video posting 1512 on other social media web sites, thereby allowing the video posting 1512 spread widely or become viral and generate interest in the wagering game web site.
As described above, the monitoring system 806 may be configured to access specific web sites to find communications by players. In one embodiment, the monitoring system 806 may consider a single forum hosted by a wagering game manufacturer for registered members. In other embodiments, the monitoring system 806 may access certain public social media web sites.
However, as also described above, the monitoring system 806 may employ a search engine to find communications by people on any web site throughout a network. The search engine, for example, may crawl the World Wide Web and locate the relevant key words, e.g., the name of a wagering game, in any site accessible on the network.
Search engines typically employ search engine optimization so that the web pages in in the search results listing 1610 are ranked according to the number of hits (web activity). For example, the highest ranking web page with the most hits appears at the top of the listing 1610. In addition to the different metrics described above, the level of interest generated by players' communications can also be evaluated according to their search ranking. For example, a player who posts a video that becomes viral and receives a lot of hits may receive a greater reward than a player who posts a weblog that is read by a limited number of people. As such, players are also encouraged to share information in a manner that attracts attention.
The examples described herein illustrate that players can use any of type network-based communications to share information that generates interest in a wagering game, a wagering game web site, a wagering game manufacturer, a gaming establishment, or any other marketable aspect of the wagering game industry. To encourage such communications, aspects of the present invention provide rewards to the players. In particular, the rewards relate to progressive games and progressive jackpot awards. In some cases, the rewards enhance the players' chances to play progressive games. In other cases, the rewards enhance the players' chances to win the progressive jackpot awards. According to further aspects of the present invention, the rewards may depend on the level of interest generated by the players' communications.
The examples described herein also show that data available on various social media sites can be employed to measure the level of interest generated by the players' communications. The number of followers or friends, the number of approvals (“likes” or “favorites”), the number of disapprovals (“dislikes”), the number of reposts/shares, the number of direct comments/replies, search engine ranking, etc., can be evaluated as metrics to determine a reward for a player. In many cases, data for these metrics may need to be collected after some time has elapsed after the player's communication to allow the communication to generate the interest. For example, the players may be required to communicate over social media between a start date/time and an end date/time, and a final data collection may occur at the end date/time to measure the generated interest. Alternatively, the final data collection may occur after a specific time period has elapsed from the time that the information was posted or from the time the posting was discovered, e.g., by the monitoring system 806.
For example, as described above, a player may incrementally earn a number of points to meet a threshold value and gain eligibility to play a progressive game. In this example, the number of points in the reward may be determined from any combination of metrics collected by the monitoring system 806. In some cases, each metric may receive a number of points. For a particular posting on a web site, the player may receive n1 points for each direct comment/reply, n2 points for each repost/share, n3 points for each approval, negative n4 points for each disapproval, n5 points for each follower, n6 points for search engine ranking, and so on. The number of points for each metric may be weighted according to how well they measure the generated level of interest. For example, the number of followers may be less significant than the number of approvals. The player then receives a reward equal to the sum of the points.
Although the examples herein may describe generating interest in wagering games, wagering game web sites, wagering game manufacturers, and gaming establishments, it is understood that the player may receive awards for publicizing any marketable aspects of the wagering game industry.
Although the examples herein may describe wagering games on web sites or gaming terminals, it is understood that that wagering games may be played on other devices, including, but not limited to, as mobile applications or software on smart phones, tablets, game consoles, personal computers, etc.
Although progressive jackpot awards may be funded by wagers received for other wagering games, progressive jackpot awards according to aspects of the present invention may be funded by other sources. In some embodiments, the wagering games may involve wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency. As such, the progressive jackpot awards of cash value must receive funding from another source. For example, progressive jackpot awards on a wagering game web site established by a wagering game manufacturer may be funded by the marketing department of the manufacturer. Furthermore, the progressive jackpot awards may have cash value, while the rewards provided for players' network-based communications do not have cash value. Thus, aspects of the present invention may provide non-cash rewards that may result in cash awards, i.e., a progressive jackpot award with cash value. In some embodiments, certain progressive jackpot awards are only awarded to those who earn eligibility as a reward for their network-based communications.
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 preceding elements and aspects, regardless of the embodiments referenced in the description of the elements and aspects.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/707,372, filed Sep. 28, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61707372 | Sep 2012 | US |
