System and method for saving status of paused game of chance
AssigneeWMS Gaming Inc.
InventorsJohn J. Giobbi, Larry J. Pacey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.
Claims10
A method of conducting a game of chance on a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player;
- initiating play of the game of chance;
- pausing the game of chance;
- storing a status of the paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine;
- receiving another wager at another gaming machine operating a different game of chance;
- retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;
- and
- if the status meets predetermined criteria, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player in the different game of chance.
A method of conducting a game of chance on a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player to play a first wagering game;
- conducting the first wagering game;
- and
- if a status of the first wagering game meets predetermined criteria, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature of a second wagering game such that the feature is available to the player.
A method for playing a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player;
- initiating play of a game of chance;
- pausing the game of chance;
- storing a status of the paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine;
- receiving another wager from the player;
- retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;
- continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused;
- and
- wherein if the status meets predetermined criteria, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.
A method for playing a gaming machine, comprising:
- receiving a wager from a player,
- initiating play of a game of chance;
- pausing the game of chance;
- storing a status of the paused game of chance at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine;
- receiving another wager from the player;
- retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;
- continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused;
- and
- wherein if the status fulfills predetermined requirements in the game of chance, unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.
A system for conducting a game of chance, comprising:
- a gaming machine including
- means for receiving a wager from a player;
- means for initiating play of the game of chance;
- and
- means for pausing the game of chance;
- and
- a central database for storing a status of the paused game of chance, the central database being linked to and remote from the gaming machine;
- means for retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;
- means for continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused;
- means for receiving another wager;
- and
- means, responsive to the status meeting predetermined criteria, for unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.
A system for conducting a game of chance, comprising:
- a gaming machine including
- means for receiving a wager from a player;
- means for initiating play of the game of chance;
- and
- means for pausing the game of chance;
- and
- a central database for storing a status of the paused game of chance, the central database being linked to and remote from the gaming machine;
- means for retrieving the status of the paused game of chance from the central database;
- means for receiving another wager;
- means for continuing play of the game of chance beginning from a point at which the game of chance was paused;
- and
- means responsive to the status meeting predetermined requirements in the game chance, for unlocking an otherwise unavailable feature such that the feature is available to the player.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.