Gaming machine, linked gaming system and method with variable eligibility for an award
AssigneeAristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
InventorClaudio Daniel Dias Pires
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of awarding an award on a gaming machine is set forth. The method includes selecting an eligibility criterion or eligibility criteria from a plurality of possible eligibility criteria. The selected criterion is deemed to be an active award trigger event. Game play activity on the gaming machine is then monitored for occurrence of this trigger event. When the active award trigger event occurs, the award is awarded. Following award of the award, or following the occurrence of another event, the selected eligibility criterion are rendered inactive award trigger event, and another eligibility criterion is selected as the active award trigger event.
Claims16
A gaming machine comprising:
- a game controller comprising a computational device and data storage in communication with the computational device;
- and
- a user interface comprising at least one display and one or more input devices in communication with the game controller to facilitate play of a game at the gaming machine;
- wherein the data storage includes a definition of a plurality of possible eligibility criteria, each defining a winning outcome of the game that may occur during play of the game on the gaming machine;
- wherein the game controller selects, using a random selection process, one or more of the plurality of possible eligibility criteria to thereby define at least one active award trigger event associated with an active award, and displays information on a display at the gaming machine identifying the selected eligibility criteria, and wherein the game controller further monitors play of the game on the gaming machine for occurrence of the active award trigger event and, in response to a predefined change event occurring before the active award trigger event, the game controller selects, using the random selection process, a new one or more of the plurality of possible eligibility criteria;
- wherein the game controller delays the selection for a delay period following occurrence of the predefined change event;
- and
- wherein when the active award trigger event occurs, the game controller causes the gaming machine to award the active award.
A gaming system comprising a plurality of linked gaming machines, each gaming machine comprising a communication interface for communicating with the gaming system, and a game controller and a user interface for providing a game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and presented on a display of the user interface and if a winning combination occurs, the gaming machine awards an award, wherein the gaming system further comprises an award controller that selects, using a random selection process, one or more of a plurality of possible eligibility criteria each defining at least one possible combination of the plurality of symbols corresponding to a winning outcome of the game, and communicates the selected eligibility criteria to the game controller of each of the linked gaming machines where information identifying the selected eligibility criteria is displayed, the selected one or more eligibility criteria defining an active award trigger event associated with an active award, and wherein the game controller monitors play of the game for the occurrence of the active award trigger event, and, in response to a predefined change event occurring before the active award trigger event, the award controller selects, using a random selection process, a new one or more of the plurality of possible eligibility criteria, wherein the game controller delays the selection for a delay period following occurrence of the predefined change event;
- and in response to the occurrence of the active award trigger event, the game controller controls the communication interface to send a notice of the occurrence of the active award trigger event to the gaming system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.