WAGERING GAMES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS WITH LIMITED PLAY HIGH FREQUENCY OUTCOME ASSOCIATED JACKPOTS

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to games, gaming devices and systems, and methods used to provide wagering games, and, more particularly, to wagering games, gaming devices and systems and methods with jackpots associated with high frequency outcomes for limited numbers of game plays.

2. Description of the Related Art

A large number of different gaming machines have been developed to provide various formats and graphic presentations for conducting games and presenting game results. Wagering games, gaming systems, machines, and methods conventionally include various game outcomes and a pay table including awards associated with various winning game outcomes. In order to win large jackpots, players are required to play for symbol combinations which occur infrequently.

In some cases, a bonus period may be provided to players wherein the awards in the pay table are increased, such as with a multiplier. Such bonus periods may help to increase player interest; however, they do not increase the likelihood of a player hitting the larger jackpots since the likelihood of winning the larger awards is fixed by the respective predetermined winning game outcome which has a very low probability of occurrence.

There is a need for methods and systems which may offer increased opportunities for players to win large jackpots. Such methods and systems may generate more player interest and excitement by providing new aspects to games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a gaming device or system and related methods are provided that include a jackpot controller which offers players the opportunity to win awards and/or jackpots (fixed or progressive awards that may be greater than the average base game award) during a limited number of game plays and upon the occurrence of associated symbol combinations which may have a likelihood of occurrence that is greater than the average probability of occurrence of winning outcomes in the base game.

These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example upright gaming machine with a limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpot in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example flowchart showing a method of providing a limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpot in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example base game paytable plus frequency and payout contribution data in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpot paytable plus frequency and payout contribution data in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example bank of gaming machines with an overhead display including limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpots in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example logic diagram of a gaming machine in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example gaming network including one or more gaming machines with limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpots in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, example upright gaming machine (EGM) 101 is shown with a limited play, high frequency outcome associated jackpot (HF_JP) game in accordance with one or more embodiments.

EGM 101 is shown with primary display 103 displaying reels 105 for a primary game, top box display 107 displaying a paytable for the primary game and middle display 109 displaying a HF_JP paytable for the currently active HF_JP. As shown by example, the active HF_JP has a $1000 value that can be won during the next three (3) spins by the player obtaining a winning outcome of three money bag symbols on the first three symbols left-to-right on an active payline where an active payline is one upon which the player has placed a wager. As may be seen on top box display 107, three money bag symbols pays an award of ten (10) credits in the base or primary game and is the lowest paying winning outcome, which typically is associated with the winning outcome having the highest frequency.

In one or more embodiments, a game processor is configured to provide one or more games which may include one or more primary, secondary and bonus games and additional related or unrelated content, such as the primary game displayed on primary display 103, the paytable displayed on top box display 107, and signage information displayed on bezel 113. Additionally, the game processor or a jackpot controller may be configured to provide the HF_JP game displayed on middle display 109.

In one or more embodiments, the game processor is configured to accept wagers initiated by a player through player interface 111, such as a button deck or touch panel, randomly or pseudo randomly determine game outcomes using a random number generator, provide game presentations on primary display 103 and/or top box display 107 in accordance with the determined game outcomes, and pay winning outcomes shown on active paylines to a credit meter in accordance with the paytable displayed on top box display 107. Active paylines are identified as ones that the player has placed a wager upon during a given game play; and a winning outcome (or payline) is an active payline upon which a game outcome is associated with an award, such as the game outcomes and associated awards shown in paytable 107. In example reel game shown on display 103, winning outcomes of three, four, or five sequential symbols are identified in the paytable shown on display 107 and may occur on any active payline. In various games, wild symbols may substitute for one or more symbols to achieve a winning outcome.

In one or more embodiments, the HF_JP game may be provided through the game processor and/or one or more separate processors such as an onboard and/or external jackpot controller wherein the HF_JP game comprises a pool of potential jackpots and associated winning game outcomes and number of game plays, and, one of each may be randomly or pseudo-randomly selected or determined collectively or individually by the applicable processor or controller to be active in association with game play on gaming machine 101 and displayed, such as on middle display 109, during the series of game plays in which the selected HF_JP is active. The pool of potential jackpots may comprise fixed or progressive jackpots, one or more of the jackpots may comprise amounts which exceed the average payout from the base or primary game played on gaming machine 101 and the average jackpot in the pool may exceed the average payout from the base or primary game on gaming machine 101. Each of the HF_JP in the pool may be fixedly associated with a game outcome and a number of game plays or the game outcome and number of game plays may be randomly or pseudo-randomly selected from a pool and associated with the selected HF_JP.

As shown in the example gaming device of FIG. 1, gaming machine 101 includes a cabinet or device structure housing multiple displays 103, 107, 109 for displaying a wagering game and related game information. A player interface is provided for a player to insert currency, place wagers, initiate games, and retrieve a credit balance upon conclusion of a playing session. Player interface 111 includes a button deck, a bill acceptor for inserting currency, a printer for retrieving currency, and may include one or more touch screens. The button deck and/or a touch screen overlaying one of the displays may be used to place a wager and initiate play of a game. A game processor is connected to the peripherals including the player interface and one or more of the displays, and, is configured, as with programming stored in memory, to a) receive input from the player interface indicating the amount of currency that has been received and to credit a credit meter with an amount corresponding to the currency inserted by the player; b) debit the credit meter in accordance with a wager placed by the player and to activate paylines associated with the wager; c) upon the player pressing a ‘Play’ button on the button deck or touch screen, execute the primary and any associated secondary or bonus games by randomly or pseudo-randomly determining a game outcome and presenting a game presentation on display 103 with an outcome corresponding to the determined game outcome; and d) credit the credit meter with awards for any winning outcomes on active paylines in accordance with the paytable shown on display 107.

In one or more embodiments, the game processor may also be configured to execute programming to present the HF_JP game wherein the processor randomly or pseudo-randomly determines a HF_JP to activate from a jackpot pool. The processor also is configured to determine or identify a winning outcome and a finite number of game plays to associate with the selected HF_JP; and, upon the occurrence of the HF_JP winning outcome within the first predetermined finite number of game plays, pay the HF_JP amount to the player. In one or more instances when the finite number of game plays associated with the active HF_JP has been completed, a player may be provided with one or more additional opportunities to win the HF_JP with one or more additional wagers.

For example, when a player initiates play of the primary game, the processor may be configured to determine whether a HF_JP is currently active, and if not, determine whether to select a HF_JP from the HF_JP pool to activate during the current game play. In some cases, the processor may be configured to always have a HF_JP active during primary game play; in other cases, there may be a trigger associated with the primary game that may cause the processor to execute code to determine an active HF_JP for the current and/or next successive game play or plays. When a HF_JP is determined, the processor causes a display (such as middle display 109) to show the amount of the active HF_JP, the number of primary, secondary, or bonus game plays that the HF_JP will remain active, and the symbol combination required to win the HF_JP. When a player obtains the winning HF_JP outcome while the HF_JP is active, a celebratory presentation may be initiated by the processor on one of the displays, such as top box display 107 and the processor increments the credit meter with the corresponding award (In some cases, all or a portion of the HF_JP may be hand paid by an operator, in which case none or the remaining portion of the HF_JP may be incremented on the credit meter by the processor).

If a trigger is used to determine whether to select a HF_JP for activation, it may be of any conventional form such as through the use of a counter or count down which may be incremented or decremented with each game play; when the counter reached a threshold (e.g.‘20’, or ‘0’ in the case of a countdown), then the processor determines the HF_JP to activate from the pool and displays the amount, the number of plays for the HF_JP to be active (winnable), and the symbol combination required to win the HF_JP. An alternative trigger may be a primary, secondary, or bonus game event, such as a scatter appearance of two or three frequently occurring one or more symbols (e.g. the appearance of one, two or three bar symbols on any three reels or locations without regard to active paylines).

In one or more embodiments, EGM 101 may include a primary game such as that shown displayed on primary display 103 and may further include a side game (not shown) that may be displayed on the side of primary display 103 such as by shrinking and shifting primary game 105 to accommodate simultaneous display of the secondary game. Example configurations of this type may be Multimedia Games Side Action games as is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/221,819 Wagering Game, Gaming Machine, Networked Gaming System and Method With A Simultaneous Secondary Game and which is hereby incorporated by reference. The secondary game may comprise the HF_JP game wherein a player may initiate a separate or additional wager to the primary game wager in order to be eligible to win the HF_JP, the winning outcome (symbol combination) for the HF_JP being one of the possible outcomes of primary game 105; alternatively, the secondary game may comprise a reel-based game, card-based game or other wagering game with multiple possible outcomes, one of which may be the HF_JP winning outcome.

The game processor as discussed herein may by example comprise a conventional microprocessor, digital signal processor, and/or controller (e.g. an Intel, AMD or Marvel microprocessor) installed on a conventional or custom printed circuit board including conventional memory, such as onboard volatile and/or non-volatile RAM and connected to a hard drive memory, such as a disk or solid-state memory. Executable game programming may be stored in one of the memories accessible to the game processor to provide the configuration for implementing the game methodology as described.

In various example configurations, the game processor and associated coding may be installed onboard or remotely from gaming machine 101 and more than one processor may be implemented to perform the various functions as described. For example, the game processor may be configured to execute a primary game and any associated bonus and/or secondary games displayed during regular game play on one or more of the displays, such as display 103 and 107, while a second processor (e.g. a jackpot controller) may be configured to execute the HF_JP game and drive the display of the HF_JP game on display 109. In such case, the second processor may: i) receive one or more signals from the game processor associated with the primary and/or bonus game play; ii) responsive to one or more of the signals, determine a HF_JP to activate as discussed above; iii) provide instructions to display 109 for displaying the amount of the HF_JP and associated criterion; and iv) transmit the HF_JP information to the game processor. The game processor may store the HF_JP information during the game play when the HF_JP is active and determine whether a game outcome corresponds to a HF_JP winning outcome, in which case, the game processor may signal the second processor of the HF_JP win and enable the second processor to provide display instructions to display 107. The second processor may comprise one or more processors, such as a display controller for display 109, an onboard network controller connecting to the game processor, display 109 and/or display 107, and/or a remote processor, such as a server processor or overhead display controller connecting to an onboard network controller.

As discussed briefly above and further below, in creating the HF_JP pool, one or more of the HF_JP may be set at amounts that are greater than an average award paid by the primary game; where, for example, an average award paid by the primary game may be determined by averaging the awards payable from the paytable at a credit value corresponding to a minimum required wager to be eligible to play for a HF_JP associated with the HF_JP game. For example, if the minimum wager for the primary game is one credit and the minimum wager to be eligible to play for a HF_JP is one credit, then an average of the paytable awards for one credit may be used as a baseline for the amount of one or more of the HF_JP in the pool. In some cases, all of the HF_JP in the pool may be greater than the average paid in the primary (base) game; in other cases, one or more of the HF_JP may be less than the average. Additionally, one or more of the HF_JP may be progressive amounts that may be increased over a period of time, such as with a percent of each wager.

In one or more examples, the average probability of an award of a primary (base) game may be determined as a function of the sum of the likelihood of occurrence of each winning outcome in the paytable divided by the number of winning outcomes in the paytable. Alternatively, the average probability of an award of the primary game may be determined as a function of the target pay percentage of the game divided by the sum of the percentage likelihood of occurrence of each winning outcome in the paytable.

Each HF_JP may be associated with a given HF_JP winning outcome and a given number of plays in which to hit the HF_JP winning outcome, such that when a given HF_JP is selected from the HF_JP pool, a corresponding HF_JP winning outcome and number of plays are identified as associated with the HF_JP. Alternatively, a separate pool may be implemented for the HF_JP, the possible winning outcomes, and the possible number of game plays, such that a random number generator is used by the jackpot controller to determine each of the HF_JP, the winning outcome, and the number of game plays. In the case of a pool of game plays, the number may be selected from a pool of numbers, e.g. {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} In the case of a pool of game outcomes, the pool may include a set of possible winning outcomes, e.g. {two cherries, three gold bars, three money bags}; in which case, for a five reel game, the possible winning outcome would correspond to frequently occurring outcomes. One or more of the HF_JP winning outcomes may correspond to one or more of the winning outcomes in the paytable for the base game; in which case, the player may be paid the HF_JP amount or both the HF_JP amount and the amount listed in the paytable.

In any case, once the three values are known, the jackpot controller may instruct the applicable display to display the HF_JP amount, the winning outcome required to win the HF_JP, and the number of game plays that the HF_JP will remain active and winnable by the player (the number of chances that the player has to win the HF_JP by obtaining the winning outcome, e.g. three plays of the primary game). As part of the HF_JP game design, one or more of the possible winning outcomes may be selected or designed to have a greater likelihood of occurrence than the average likelihood of occurrence of one of the winning outcomes in the paytable.

In accordance with the design of the HF_JP game, one or more or all of the HF_JP in the jackpot pool may be either fixedly or randomly associated with: a) a respective jackpot winning outcome having a greater likelihood of occurrence than the average likelihood of occurrence of one of the winning outcomes in the paytable and b) a respective predetermined finite number of game plays. In one or more examples, at least two of the HF_JP, the associated winning outcome, and a predetermined finite number of game plays may be randomly determined.

Referring to FIG. 2, example flowchart 200 is shown of a method providing a HF_JP game in accordance with one or more embodiments. As discussed above, one or more methods may implement one or more of the steps, or portions thereof such that the methods in accordance with the invention may implement one or more portions of the following steps:

Step 201 provides a player with a device, such as EGM 101, including a user interface, whereby a player may initiate play of a wagering game by uploading or accessing funds identifiable by the gaming system, selecting an amount to wager and pressing a ‘Play’ button. Depending upon the device or gaming system, the player may place wagers on one or more games including primary and/or secondary games. In some instances, a player may be required to place an additional wager or place a minimum wager on a base (primary or secondary) game in order to be eligible for the HF_JP bonus game which may operate simultaneously with a base game as discussed above.

Step 202 provides a response to the wager and initiation of play of a base game wherein the game processor randomly or pseudo-randomly determines a primary and/or secondary game outcome. Based on the determined outcome of Step 202, Step 203 provides for the transmission of instructions from the game processor to one or more displays to cause the display of one or more game presentations with an outcome corresponding to the determined outcome. In the event that more than one primary and/or secondary game are played simultaneously, the game processor may utilize one or more random number generators to obtain independent results for each game. Following the completion of the game presentations, Step 204 provides for the game processor identifying the winning outcomes associated with the active paylines of the game or games and pays awards in accordance with a respective game's paytable.

Simultaneously or sequentially, Step 205 provides for the game processor determining whether the base game outcome associated with the HF_JP game displays a winning HF_JP outcome on an active payline and whether the player is eligible to win the HF_JP, e.g. if there is a minimum or separate bet required or other criterion for eligibility to win the HF_JP. If so, then Step 206 provides for the game processor (or the HF_JP controller if separate from and upon notification from the game processor) to cause a display to play a HF_JP game winner presentation, such as on one or more of the displays of EGM 101, and to pay the amount of the HF_JP to the player. In some instances, the amounts to be paid on the HF_JP may be paid by the player's gaming device, by an operator's agent, or a combination thereof. In some instances instead of a minimum wager, the HF_JP game may apportion the amount paid for the HF_JP win to the player as a function of a maximum wager, such that a player winning the HF_JP when having made a maximum bet may be paid the full face value of the HF_JP amount while a player winning the HF_JP when having made a ½ of maximum bet may be paid ½ of the face value of the HF_JP.

As further shown in FIG. 2, a separate branch of steps may operate synchronously with Steps 201-206 wherein Step 207 provides that responsive to the player's initial wager, the game processor (or HF_JP controller, if different) may determine whether a HF_JP is active on the player's EGM or gaming device. If a HF_JP is not active, the processor may determine whether criteria have been met (if there are any) to select a HF_JP to activate on the player's EGM or playing device from the HF_JP pool. If a HF_JP is selected to activate, the processor transmits an instruction to a designated display (or the jackpot controller may send corresponding instructions to either the game processor or designated display) to display the active HF_JP, the HF_JP winning outcome (which may be a frequently occurring outcome as described above), and the number of game plays during which the player may have an opportunity to win the HF_JP. The amount of the HF_JP may be determined as discussed above from a pool of potential HF_JP and a given HF_JP is made active and winnable for a finite number of predetermined game plays, e.g. one to five games.

As further shown, Step 208 includes the operation of an overhead display, such as may be connected to one or more banks of EGMs 101 wherein the overhead display may be configured through a display controller to show the set or a subset of the pool of HF_JP which may be offered to players during the course of a finite period, such as during the next five hundred game plays of the bank. The overhead display controller may further be configured and connected to the respective EGMs of the bank or banks, such that the game play information of one or more EGMs 101 may be displayed on the overhead display when a HF_JP is active on one or more of the EGMs and/or the winning presentations may be shown on a real-time (R/T) or quasi-R/T basis on the overhead display.

Referring to FIG. 3, example base game paytable 301 is shown including winning outcomes 303 and associated awards 305 together with respective desired frequency 307 of obtaining the respective winning outcome and payout contribution 309 associated with the respective award as may be designed by a game manufacturer in accordance with one or more embodiments. In some cases, an operator may be permitted to adjust one or more of the game factors to increase or decrease payout of the game which may have a range between a legal minimum and maximum of a jurisdiction, e.g. 80-100% payout where a 100% payout statistically provides a $1 return for every $1 wagered. As shown, sum of the frequencies 311 of the respective winning outcomes equals 0.12 where the respective frequencies are the likelihood of occurrence of the respective winning outcomes. As shown, the larger the award for a respective winning outcome, the lower the frequency. Also as shown, sum of the payout contributions 313 associated with each winning outcome equals 0.8 which corresponds to an 80% payout.

As discussed above with reference to the HF_JP game, one or more of the outcomes associated with the HF_JP in the pool have a greater likelihood of occurrence than the average probability of a win in the base game. In the example of FIG. 3, average probability 317 of a win in the base game may be calculated as total frequency 311 divided by the number of winning outcomes which in this case equals 0.0212. Therefore, example representative outcomes that have a greater likelihood of occurring than the average may include three bars (0.04 frequency) or two cherries (0.05 frequency), either of which might be associated with a HF_JP. Additionally, other outcomes not associated with the paytable may have a greater likelihood of occurrence than the average in the base game and may be associated with a given HF_JP to meet the criterion of having a greater than average occurrence on a given play of a base game.

As further discussed above with reference to the HF_JP game, one or more of the HF_JP in the pool may have an associated award which is greater than the average win of the base game. In the example of FIG. 3, average weighted prize 317 (average base game win) may be calculated as the base game pay percentage (sum of the payout contributions 313) divided by the hit percentage (sum of the frequencies 311) which in this case equals 6.1. Therefore example representative HF_JP having a larger than average base game award would be those that that are greater than 6.1.

FIG. 4 illustrates example limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpot paytable (HF_JP paytable) 401 including HF_JP 403 in the pool and associated winning outcomes 405, selection frequency 407 of selecting the HF_JP from the HF_JP pool (conventionally designed in by the manufacturer, and potentially modifiable collectively by an operator to increase or decrease base game projected payout 313 and/or payout contribution sum 413) which may be based on the number of base game plays (for example, the HF_JP=25 may be have a desired selection frequency to be active once every 25 spins of the base game corresponding to 0.04), number of spins 408 for a HF_JP to be active once selected, outcome frequency 409 of a winning outcome to occur in a base game, and expected payout contribution 411 associated with the respective HF_JP, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

In designing HF_JP paytable 401, an assumption is made that a desired payout for the base game together with the HF_JP game is to be roughly 95%. From example paytable 301 of the base game, we may note that the projected payout is 65%. Therefore, a 30% payout may be designed for the HF_JP game. For a simplest case, a HF_JP pool is set up wherein each HF_JP is tied to (associated with) a given outcome and number of spins. As designed in this example, each HF_JP has an award value exceeding the average award of the example base game of FIG. 3 (6.1) and each associated winning outcome has a likelihood of occurrence that is greater than the average probability of a win in the base game (0.0212). As shown, each of the associated winning outcomes 405 include an outcome shown with corresponding outcome frequency 409 of occurrence on a given base game play and corresponding number of spins 408 for the respective HF_JP to be active when selected from the pool. Desired selection frequency 407 of selecting the given HF_JP=200 may be designed to be 0.01, and payout contribution 411 of the given HF_JP may be calculated as HF_JP award 403 times selection frequency 407 times number of spins 408 times outcome frequency 409 times frequency of no active HF_JP 412 and yield payout contribution 411 of 0.0517. Similarly, each of the other HF_JP in the pool may be designed and determined, such that payout contribution sum 413 may be determined as 0.2957 (or an amount just under 29.57%).

Referring to FIG. 5, example bank 501 of gaming machines 101 are shown with overhead display 503 including limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpots in accordance with one or more embodiments. As referenced in FIG. 2 and discussed elsewhere herein, a jackpot controller may be used to implement the HF_JP game. In one or more embodiments, the controller for overhead display 503 may include coding to perform the functionality of the HF_JP controller and to provide instructions and/or information to one or more respective EGMs 101 in the bank as to the activation of a HF_JP on the respective EGMs 101. For example, as each EGM initiates game play of the base game associated with the HF_JP game, the game processor for the respective EGM 101 may send a message to the jackpot controller including information about the game initiation which may include an amount of the wager (for example, if there is a minimum bet required to be eligible to play the HF_JP game). Responsive to the message, the jackpot controller may determine whether a HF_JP is active on a respective EGM or whether criteria have been met to select a HF_JP to activate on the respective EGM and to send corresponding information to the game processor of the respective EGM 101. Upon receipt of information concerning the activation of a HF_JP, the game processor or another processor configured to receive such information may instruct one or more of the displays of the respective EGM 101 to display the HF_JP information; thereafter, the game processor will determine the results based on the game outcome including whether the HF_JP has been won, and pay any corresponding awards. In the event that the HF_JP is won, the game processor or a designated processor, such as the network controller or player interface unit controller, of the respective EGM 101 may transmit instructions to one or more of the displays of the respective EGM 101 to play a HF_JP win presentation and may also transmit information to the overhead display controller which may be configured to play a corresponding HF_JP win presentation on overhead display 603. The HF_JP win presentation on overhead display 603 may be a stored program executed by the overhead display controller or may be a direct feed from the respective EGM 101 such that the HF_JP win presentation on the respective EGM 101 may be mirrored on overhead display 603.

In addition to win presentations, overhead controller may be configured to accept live (R/T) data stream from each of the respective EGMs 101 with an active HF_JP so that the respective base games may be shown on overhead display 603 either simultaneously or in a sequence substantially in R/T. Additionally, the overhead display controller may be configured to display the pool of HF_JP or a subset of the pool that has been selected to be transmitted to respective of the EGMs 101 during the course of a gaming session, such as within the next five hundred games on the bank.

Referring to FIG. 6, example logical diagram 600 of gaming machine 101 is shown including CPU 601, memory 603 with wagering game 604 and applicable coding associated with the HF_JP game, user interface 605, network controller 607, audio/visual controllers, and reel assembly 613 (if mechanical reel configuration). Game processor (CPU) 601 may comprise a conventional microprocessor, such as an Intel Pentium microprocessor, mounted on a printed circuit board with supporting ports, drivers, memory, and coding to communicate with and control gaming machine operations, such as through the execution of coding stored in memory 603 including one or more wagering games 604. Game processor 601 connects to user interface 605 such that a player may enter input information and game processor 601 may respond according to its programming, such as to apply a wager and initiate execution of a game.

In one or more alternate embodiments, the HF_JP game coding may only reside with network/jackpot controller 607/608 and game processor 601 may be functionally unaware of the HF_JP game. In such cases, network/jackpot controller 607/608 may have a designated display on which it may control the display content, such as on display 109 in the case of Class III games which may for example be part of a player interface unit. In the case when a HF_JP is won, network/jackpot controller 607/608 may obtain control of one of the larger displays, such as top box display 107, to display a HF_JP win presentation and the network/jackpot controller 607/608 may transmit an instruction to game processor 601 to credit the credit meter an amount corresponding to the HF_JP.

Referring to FIG. 7, example gaming network 700 is shown including one or more gaming machines 101 with limited play high frequency outcome associated jackpots in accordance with one or more embodiments. Game processor 601 also may connect through network controller 607 to a gaming network, such as example casino server network 700 (referring generally to FIG. 7) which may be implemented over one or more site locations and include host server 701, remote game play server 703 and HF_JP server 704(which may be configured to provide game processor functionality including determining game outcomes and providing audio/visual instructions to a remote gaming device, e.g. EGMs 101 and/or external gaming devices 702), central determination server 705 (which may be configured to determine lottery, bingo, or other centrally determined game outcomes and provide the information to networked gaming machines 101 providing lottery and bingo-based wagering games to patrons), progressive server 707 (which may be configured to accumulate a progressive pool from a portion of wagering proceeds or operator marketing funds and to award progressive awards upon the occurrence of a progressive award winning event to one or more networked gaming machines 101 and/or to provide progressive information to HF_JP server 704 to be applied to any progressive HF_JP in the HF_JP pool), player tracking server 709 (which may be configured to collect and store player information and/or awards and to provide player information to gaming machines 101 after receiving player identification information such as from a player card), and accounting server 711 (which may be configured to receive and store data from networked gaming machines 101 and to use the data to provide reports and analyses to an operator). Through its network connection, gaming machine 101 may be monitored by an operator through one or more servers such as to assure proper operation, and, data and information may be shared between gaming machine 101 and respective of the servers in the network such as to accumulate or provide player promotional value, to provide server-based games, or to pay server-based awards.

Referring generally to the figures, activity at gaming machine 101 is initiated by a player inserting currency and/or a player card into a bill acceptor and card reader, respectively. Upon insertion, a signal is sent to game processor 601. In the case of the insertion of a player card, the card reader transmits card information which is directed through network controller 607 to a player tracking server connected to the network. Player data is transmitted to gaming machine 101; responsive to the data, game processor 601 may execute coding causing player data and a display (and possibly an audio) command to be transmitted to one of the video and/or audio controllers 615, 617, 619 instructing the controllers to display player information on a respective display and possibly issue an audio greeting through one or more respective speakers. Concurrently, the bill acceptor sends a signal to game processor 601 which may include an identification of the currency that has been read, and game processor 601 in accordance with its coding may convert the currency amount to credits and transmit a store and display signal to a credit meter and its associated display (“Credits”, e.g. FIG. 1). Once credits have been associated with the credit meter, the player may select the number of paylines and credits per line that the player wishes to wager, whereupon game processor 601, in accordance with its coding, receives the wager information from user interface 605, transmits accounting and display information to the payline (“Lines”), credits per payline (“Bet per Line), and total bet (“Total Bet”) meters and displays, transmits an update to the credit meter and display (“Credits”) deducting the amount of the total bet, and initiates the wagering game.

In the case of a Class III gaming devices, when a game is initiated, a random number generator (RNG) is operated by game processor 601 to determine the game outcome. Commonly, game processor 601 is positioned within gaming machine 101 and configured to manage the operation of the gaming machine components, such as shown in FIG. 6; however, the game processor may be either onboard or external to a gaming device played by a player, such as an electronic tablet (e.g. Apple iPad or gaming specific tablet), personal data assistant (PDA), cellular telephone (e.g. Blackberry or Apple iPhone), surface table (e.g. Microsoft/IGT touch sensitive gaming surface table), etc. In such case, when the player places a wager and initiates play of the game through user interface 605 of the gaming device, the game processor may be onboard or remotely located such as within network gaming server 703. In the latter case, an onboard microprocessor, controller, or digital signal processor may execute coding to transmit the wager and game request information through the network and the remote game processor may operate an RNG to determine the game outcome.

In the case of Class II gaming devices, the overall structure of the various devices as discussed above is essentially the same with the major difference being the method of determining the game outcome. Commonly, Class II gaming devices utilize the game of bingo as the basis for determining a winning outcome where the ball draw is performed remotely by a network or central determination server (alternative games may be used for determining game outcomes, such as through a lottery drawing of a finite set of numbers, if permitted by the licensing jurisdiction). Class II gaming systems are commonly referred to a central determination systems wherein pools and sub-pools of game outcomes are determined by a central server (or gaming device) and distributed amongst a set of networked gaming devices. The distribution step may be on demand, such as when a gaming device receives a game request, or sets of game outcomes may be distributed to the various networked gaming devices in which case the game processor of the requesting gaming device may select a game outcome from the set of game outcomes, such as by using an RNG or other selection process.

Additionally, Class II gaming devices, such as a bingo-based gaming device may have multiple displays, such as are shown in FIG. 1 wherein one of the displays, such as display 109, may be used to display one or more electronic bingo cards and one or more ball drawings after a game has been initiated in accordance with the game outcome that has been provided to the gaming device by a central determination server and in which case one or more of the other displays may be used to display HF_JP information. In the case, as in FIG. 1, where the primary display comprises a set of reels, game processor 501 converts the centrally-determined game outcome to a corresponding value outcome of the reel-based game as shown in FIG. 2 and operates the reel-based game as described above and with respect to the figures. In one or more embodiments, when a player enters a wager on both base game 105 and side game (if available) and enters ‘PLAY’, a game play request may be transferred to central determination server 705 which may provide a single game outcome to the respective gaming machine 101 and game processor 601 may initiate a game presentation corresponding to the game outcome provided by server 705. In the case of central determination, the HF_JP win determination may be part of a single or dual determination by central determination server 705; for example, on a Class II EGM 101 and as in the case of a dual determination (two independent RNG determinations), there may be a first reel spin to present the outcome of the base game and a second reel spin to present the outcome of the HF_JP game. In the case of a single determination for both games, a single spin may be used to display the outcome of both the base and HF_JP games.

In one or more embodiments, coding may be implemented and stored in memory 603 and/or 621, executable by game processor 501 to control game operation, display content, lighting, and audio through video, audio, reel drive motor controllers (for mechanical reels), and lighting controllers.

As discussed herein, various alternative embodiments and implementations are contemplated. For example, as shown, top box display 107 may show a paytable; however various alternative cabinet styles and display may be implemented. For example, top box display 107 may display a wheel or some other style game such as a card or dice game or a Multimedia Games Moneyball display and may comprise a high rise display. In such instances, the paytable may be shown in a lower or upper section of the display along with the game or may be available by player request, such as through a help screen accessible with a help button such as may be found on button deck 111 or on an area of a touch panel such as may overlay display 103.

Gaming machine 101 is also shown to include middle display 213 which may display a server-based game (such as bingo, in the case of a Class II gaming machine), advertising or other content as may be provided over a network or through the gaming machine; and, user interface 605 with which a patron may place wagers and initiate play of one or more games at gaming machine 101, all of which is housed in or about a gaming machine cabinet. User interface 605 may include: a commercially available player tracking interface unit, such as a Bally iView unit; a button deck including buttons for selecting paylines and wagers per payline on base game 105, one or more additional buttons for selecting wagers associated with a side game (if available), and, a ‘Play’ button and/or handle with which the player may use to initiate play of the games selected by the player. The button deck may be provided on a touch panel (such as shown as player interface/button deck 111) in addition to or in the alternative to a physical button deck. The ‘Play’ button may be also useable to simultaneously with base game 103 or separately (if the option is provided to play only a side game) initiate play of a side game. The player tracking unit may include a card reader, a bill acceptor/printer, and player display which may include a greeting to the player, player points, a menu for communicating with player tracking server 709, and other casino operator content.

While gaming machine 101 is shown as an upright gaming machine cabinet style, various cabinet styles or device types may be utilized including a slant top cabinet style, a bar top cabinet style (where the cabinet may be part of a bar/table top and/or housed therein), a personal computer, or, a tablet, cell phone or other handheld device.

As in the reel games shown in the figures, each reel includes a series of symbols (for example, as shown in FIG. 1) viewable in display 103 (e.g. through a glass window or transparent display, in the case of mechanical reels, or, as displayed in a video format). With the reels in a stationary position, the symbols may be viewed as an array of symbols. During a wagering game (as may be initiated by a player by placing a wager and pressing a ‘PLAY’ button), the reels may be simulated to spin (or electro-mechanically spun in the case of mechanical reels) about an axle under the control of a game processor which randomly or pseudo-randomly determines the game outcome and causes the reels to stop in accordance with the determined game outcome. Alternative, or in addition to a reel game, card or table games may be implemented in the same manner as otherwise discussed herein in association with a HF_JP game.

One or more paylines, combinations, or patterns of the symbols including those visible in display 103 may be correlated to one or more game outcomes on active paylines and payable in accordance with the primary game paytable shown on display 107. A patron may wager on one or more of the paylines during each game play (active paylines). Display 103 may thereby be used to display game results to one or more patrons who may view gaming machine 101 and game processor 601 may make payment to the patron by incrementing a credit meter (or a players account or directly paying) for winning outcomes of paylines in accordance with the paytable and upon which the patron has wagered. In example gaming machine 101, various paylines are provided across the five reels; a player may be provided the option to bet one, two, three, or more credits on each payline (depending on the game configuration) to play base game 105. While example gaming machine 101 includes a set of five reels, various numbers of reels and paylines may be selected or utilized in an implementation of one or more embodiments, such as one, two, three, four, five, six, seven reels, and so forth.

Primary display 103 may comprise a single display or may comprise two or more displays (e.g. two displays in over- or under-laying relation to each other). For example, primary display 103 may comprise a touch-sensitive display panel, such as a flat panel LCD or LED display, which may be programmed to display an opaque or thematic frame image (which may include video and/or still images) except over a reel display area. Primary display 103 may be programmed to be transparent or translucent during game play of the primary wagering game, so that the patron may view the game presentation in the reel display area where a set of mechanical reels may be viewable or a set of video reels may be displayed by an underlying display, then when a HF_JP is won, game processor 601 may cause the overlaying display to become opaque to block the view of the underlying reels and present a HF_JP game win presentation. In addition, the entire display surface of primary display 103 (or a portion thereof) may be configured to respond to the patron's touch such as to select paylines, select credits wagered per payline, and/or initiate play of the primary and/or secondary game.

In one or more alternative embodiments, primary display 103 may be programmed to display a bonus or feature game that may be triggered by the appearance of one or more special symbols or other random event. In one or more embodiments, when a bonus or feature game is triggered, primary display 103 (or a portion thereof) may be transformed to display content associated with the bonus or feature game and once the bonus or feature game is complete, primary display 103 may revert to the primary game display state.

In one or more alternative embodiments, a touch sensitive portion of display may be programmed to display a player interactive element such as for example by displaying a selection of buttons and displaying a message to the player ‘choose a button’ implemented to enable player interactivity with the game, such as to select a displayed button or item, in order to cause the game to perform additional steps and/or provide one or more bonus or feature game outcomes and awards to the player.

In one or more alternative embodiments, gaming machine 101 may include mechanical reels with fixed or dynamic symbols. Conventionally, mechanical reels include reel strips with fixed symbols; however, reel strips may be, for example, implemented using FOLED (flexible organic LED) or comparable reel strips wherein one or more symbols may be programmed dynamically to vary the symbol and/or its appearance, either from one fixed image to another (such as changing a symbol to a wild symbol or changing a series of symbols to wild symbols), or, from a fixed image to a dynamic (e.g. animated or video) image or a set of miniature video reels. In various instances when a symbol changes to another symbol, a bonus or enhanced award may be paid in accordance with the paytable or a multiple thereof or may be a bonus (a fixed or progressive amount) paid separate from the paytable.

In the event that the payment is a progressive, a progressive pool may be generated from an operator's marketing dollars or from play at one or more gaming machines which may be eligible for the progressive award; and the progressive pool may be maintained by progressive server 707. In cases when a progressive is associated with an individual gaming device, the progressive pool may be maintained through a processor (such as the game processor) associated with the device. In cases when the progressive associated with a game is personal to the player, the amount of the progressive award may be maintained a processor associated with the game while the player is playing the particular device, and when the player's gaming session ends, the amount accumulated towards the personal progressive award, if not won, may be forwarded to a server, such as player tracking server 409, which may forward the information to a subsequent device when the player returns to play or selects another gaming machine on which to play.

Another conventional game display approach is to implement reels virtually (video reels) on a display, such as primary display 103 as shown in the figures discussed herein. In the case of virtual displays of the reels, the symbols may be fixed or animated on each of the reels. In one or more embodiments, the appearance of one or more special symbols may trigger a re-spin of the reels and provide an award according to the standard paytable both for the original outcome and the re-spin outcome. In one or more embodiments, a multiplier symbol may appear on a winning payline or as a scatter symbol in the primary game, which may trigger another game (such as a wheel top box or a Multimedia Games MoneyBall display) to modify one or more awards associated with an original game outcome with a multiplier value (e.g. 1×, 2×, 3×, etc.) and/or one or more free base game spins and/or bonus games. For example, a multiplier game may provide a game presentation and outcome, and based on the outcome, an associated multiplier award may be applied to one or more paylines on a primary game to determine the award that is paid to the player (e.g. credited to a credit meter on the gaming machine), which may based on the currently displayed outcome and/or one or more free base game plays. If two or more multiplier symbols appear in the primary (or base) game, the multipliers associated with the multiplier game paytable may be multiplied by two or more. In another example, one or more free spin symbols may appear on the base game which may trigger a free spin game to award a number of free spins of the base game depending on the free spin game outcome; and in which case, the number of game plays associated with an active HF_JP may run or may be increased to enable a player to have one or more additional chances to win the HF_JP.

In one or more embodiments, a player may be provided an option to save a multiplier or number of free spins, as described above, for use at a later time in the gaming session or if the player doesn't use the multiplier or number of free spins during the gaming session, the multiplier and free spin information may be transmitted to a server, such as player tracking server 709, stored, and then transmitted from the server to a gaming device selected by the player at a later time (e.g. the player may enter a player card into a gaming device card reader, which then communicates with player tracking server 709 to receive player information including any saved game information). In one or more embodiments, the multiplier and free spins may be used with the same game as previously played or, in some cases, may be used with one or more other games (such as games of the same denomination). In one or more embodiments, saved multipliers and/or free spins may be increased such as by hitting a multiplier or free spin win additional times. For example, a player may win a 2× multiplier on a first win and subsequently win a 3× multiplier on a second win; a player may be able to then play a game with the 2× multiplier and play another game with the 3× multiplier; alternatively, the multipliers may accumulate 2×+3×=5× and the player may play a single game with a 5× multiplier; in one or more embodiments, the player may be provided the option to split up the multipliers in two or more games or play the multipliers in a single game. In a case when a player has accumulated multipliers totaling 6× or more, a player may have the option to split the multipliers into two games (e.g. 2×, 4× or 3×, 3×) or three (e.g. 2×, 2×, 2×) games or to play the accumulated multiplier in a single game. In one or more instances, the player may have the opportunity to save an extra spin for a HF_JP in the same manner as for the base game and may also receive and save a multiplier of a HF_JP that may be used at a subsequent time to multiply the amount that may be won on an active HF_JP.

In one or more alternative embodiments, overlapping display panels may be implemented to generate video or display effects over the primary game reels; for example, the reel display area may be implemented as a transmissive (e.g. Aruze or WMS transmissive display panels) display or a transparent (e.g. Bally's transparent display panels) display configured to display visual effects together (or cooperatively) with the primary reels under the control of the game processor during the operation of a wagering game. In the case of virtual reels, the virtual reels may be recessed a distance from an overlaying display and segregated by dividers similar to dividers separating mechanical reels, which may provide a spatial characteristic (e.g. IGT's PureDepth display panels). In either case, the overlapping display may be touch sensitive and configured to interact with the player by transmitting and receiving signals as described above.

While the primary display has been depicted as displaying a set of reels, in one or more base game embodiments, base game 103 may comprise a card-based (e.g. various poker variations) or board game. In the case of a card game, each indicia location corresponds to a card that may be randomly or pseudo-randomly drawn, e.g. as in a poker game wherein a player may have an opportunity to hold selected cards while a respin occurs.

Also, while gaming machine 101 has been described as a stand-alone or networked game device, in one or more embodiments gaming machine 101 may be operable in a tournament or community gaming mode wherein players may compete for one or more awards or triggering of special features and if an active HF_JP is hit during a tournament the player may receive additional points and/or a special award such as the face amount of the HF_JP award value. For example, in one or more example configurations, one or more banks of gaming machines 101 may be networked connected to an overhead display which may display a feature game and when triggered, the player triggering the feature game may be indicated on the overhead display as the wheel-based game is played. For example, an additional wager may be required to activate and potentially win a wheel bonus which may be triggered by a specially designated symbol on outer reels 104, and when triggered, the wheel bonus may provide an opportunity to win additional awards or provide interactive features with the base game (e.g. multipliers, free spins, etc.)

In another example, the base game may be played conventionally with payouts according to the paytable on display 107 and players who are linked in a community game may compete against each other during each play for additional awards; for instance, of the competing players, the player with the highest award on a single play or cumulative play during a selected period may receive a first award, a player with the second highest award may receive a second award, etc. In one or more embodiments, the base game outcome (e.g. reel or card game outcome) and respective player identifiers may be displayed on an overhead screen, along with the awards paid to each participating player. In one or more embodiments, the participating players may be required to pay an additional fee to participate (e.g. a network inquiry to play in the community game may be made on a player tracking display, player acceptance including a debit of the player's account or gaming device credit meter, and a community game controller may transmit a message to each participating player advising of their participation). In one or more embodiments, a player's highest game outcome occurring during a selected time span may be used by the community game controller as the player's entry into the community competition or tournament.

In one or more embodiments, a gaming website may be accessible by players, e.g. gaming website 721, whereon one or more games may be displayed as described herein and played by a player such as through the use of personal computer or handheld wireless device 702 (e.g. Blackberry cell phone, Apple iPhone, personal data assistant (PDA), iPad, etc.). To enter the website, a player may log in with a user name (that may be associated with the player's account information stored on player account server 709 or be accessible by a casino operator to obtain player data and provide promotional offers), play various games on the website, make various personalizing selections and save the information, so that during a next gaming session at a casino establishment, the player's playing data and personalized information may be associated with the player's account and accessible at the player's selected gaming machine 101.

Referring generally to the forgoing description, as used herein the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, shall be considered exclusionary transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised September 2007), Section 2111.03. Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term). The term ‘presentation’ as used herein is meant to refer to the display of any image and/or video performance and/or the performance of one or more sound bites or audio tracks (such as digital or analog sound tracks or information stored on a memory device and processed by an audio controller to emit sound through a speaker) whether in an attract mode or as part of a game presentation or outcome.

The above described example embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

WAGERING GAMES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS WITH LIMITED PLAY HIGH FREQUENCY OUTCOME ASSOCIATED JACKPOTS

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