Gaming system providing group-based awards
AssigneeAristocrat Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSteven Santisi, T. Grant Bolling, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Innovations in game design features of an electronic gaming device are presented. Groups of players can be defined that may win an award that is also available to non-group based players. If the award is won by a group-based player, the award can be distributed to at least a portion of the group members in addition to the player who won the award. A group profile can define criteria for group membership, awards associated with the group, how awards will be distributed among the group, and how and when groups can be altered. Groups can be associated with awards other than those associated with gaming activity. In addition, a value of a gaming award can be increased based on non-gaming activity.
Claims20
An electronic gaming system comprising:
- a first gaming device configured to present a game, the first gaming device comprising a display device configured to display a user interface;
- and
- a server in communication with a plurality of gaming devices including the first gaming device and with a database storing a plurality of user profiles, at least some of the plurality of user profiles including one or more group identifiers, the one or more group identifiers defining one or more respective groups associated with a corresponding user profile of the plurality of user profiles;
- at least one processor in communication with the server;
- computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
- receive, from a first player via the user interface of the first gaming device, a first selection to participate in a game instance of the game associated with a first award, the first player associated with a first profile of the plurality of user profiles, the first profile including a first group identifier;
- in response to receiving the first selection, parse the database using the first group identifier to identify a first group of players that each have a user profile of the plurality of user profiles that includes the first group identifier;
- receive at least one second selection to participate in the game instance of the game from at least one second player not associated with the first group of players, the at least one second player associated with a second profile that does not include the first group identifier, wherein the second selection is associated with a chance to be awarded the at least the first award associated with the game instance of the game;
- determine that a game outcome for the game instance of the game associated with the first player comprises at least the first award;
- and
- in response to the determination, distribute the at least the first award to each player of the first group of players and not to the at least one second player not associated with the first group of players.
A method for electronic gaming performed by a server in communication with a plurality of gaming devices including a first gaming device configured to present a game and with a database storing a plurality of user profiles, at least some of the plurality of user profiles including one or more group identifiers, the one or more group identifiers defining one or more respective groups associated with a corresponding user profile of the plurality of user profiles, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a first player via a user interface of the first gaming device, a first selection to participate in a game instance of the game associated with a first award, the first player associated with a first profile of the plurality of user profiles, the first profile including a first group identifier;
- in response to receiving the first selection, parsing the database using the first group identifier to identify a first group of players that each have a user profile of the plurality of user profiles that includes the first group identifier;
- receiving at least one second selection to participate in the game instance of the game from at least one second player not associated with the first group of players, the at least one second player associated with a second profile that does not include the first group identifier, wherein the second selection is associated with a chance to be awarded the at least the first award associated with the game instance of the game;
- determining that a game outcome for the game instance of the game associated with the first player comprises at least the first award;
- and
- in response to the determination, distributing the at least the first award to each player of the first group of players and not to the at least one second player not associated with the first group of players.
At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor in communication with a plurality of gaming devices including a first gaming device configured to present a game and with a database storing a plurality of user profiles, at least some of the plurality of user profiles including one or more group identifiers, the one or more group identifiers defining one or more respective groups associated with a corresponding user profile of the plurality of user profiles, cause the at least one processor to:
- receive, from a first player via a user interface of the first gaming device, a first selection to participate in a game instance of the game associated with a first award, the first player associated with a first profile of the plurality of user profiles, the first profile including a first group identifier;
- in response to receiving the first selection, parse the database using the first group identifier to identify a first group of players that each have a user profile of the plurality of user profiles that includes the first group identifier;
- receive at least one second selection to participate in the game instance of the game from at least one second player not associated with the first group of players, the at least one second player associated with a second profile that does not include the first group identifier, wherein the second selection is associated with a chance to be awarded the at least the first award associated with the game instance of the game;
- determine that a game outcome for the game instance of the game associated with the first player comprises at least the first award;
- and
- in response to the determination, distribute the at least the first award to each player of the first group of players and not to the at least one second player not associated with the first group of players.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.