Wagering game interface including a plurality of base games and a common virtual top box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9355522-B2
Application number	US-201313789344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2013
Priority date	Mar 7, 2013
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A gaming system and method includes a primary wagering game displayed in a display area that is subdivided into display regions. The primary game includes a plurality of base games. The base games are displayed in a respective one of the display regions and each has a virtual character associated therewith. A simulated top box is displayed in one of the display regions. The simulated top box includes a secondary game common to the plurality of base games. In response to play of the primary wagering game being initiated, an outcome is determined for each of the plurality of base games and the outcomes are concurrently displayed. In response to a bonus trigger, at least two of the plurality of base games combine into a single bonus array of symbols for a bonus game. The single bonus array of symbols is displayed in one or more of the display regions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gaming system, comprising:
a gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine including an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices; and
one or more controllers configured to:
detect, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance,
initiate a primary casino wagering game associated with a single player in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance,
display on the electronic display device the primary casino wagering game in a display area subdivided into a plurality of display regions, the primary casino wagering game including a plurality of base games each having an array of symbols, each of the base games being displayed in a respective one of the plurality of display regions and having a virtual character associated therewith,
display on the electronic display device a simulated top box in one of the plurality of display regions, the simulated top box including a secondary game common to at least the plurality of base games,
in response to play of the primary casino wagering game being initiated, determine an outcome for each of the plurality of base games,
direct the electronic display device of the gaming machine to display the outcomes concurrently in the display area,
in response to a bonus trigger, cause at least two of the plurality of base games to combine into a single bonus array of symbols for a bonus game, the single bonus array of symbols being displayed in one or more of the plurality of display regions,
award an award in response to the displayed bonus array of symbols meeting a predetermined award criterion, the award increasing the credit balance, and
receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the bonus trigger comprises that the outcomes of at least two of the plurality of base games include a bonus trigger symbol.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the bonus game is a bonus slots game and the secondary game is a virtual world game, and the one or more controllers are further configured to:
in response to the outcome of at least two of the plurality of base games including a bonus trigger, cause at least one of the virtual characters from the at least two of the plurality of base games to activate in the virtual world game displayed in the simulated top box, the at least one of the virtual characters configured to implement a special feature in the bonus game.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the special feature includes at least one of an expanding symbol, a multiplier, and a scatter symbol.

5. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to:
cause a virtual villain character to activate and be displayed in the virtual world game, the virtual villain character having a first health value;
in response to a winning outcome during play of the bonus slots game, decrease the first health value of the virtual villain character; and
in response to a non-winning outcome during play of the bonus game, decrease a second health value associated with the at least one virtual character associated with the non-winning outcome.

6. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to award a special feature in response to the first health value decreasing below a first threshold value.

7. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to cause the gaming system to end the bonus game in response to the second health value decreasing below a second threshold value.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to in response to ending the bonus game, display each of the plurality of base games in their respective display regions in the primary display area.

9. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein at least two virtual characters are activated in the virtual world game displayed in the simulated top box, each virtual character being associated with a respective base game.

10. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of villain characters are activated.

11. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the outcome of all of the plurality of base games including a bonus trigger, the player being awarded a plurality of free spins, the play of the secondary game being determined by the outcomes of the free spins.

12. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary game includes a social media game, and wherein the respective virtual characters are persistent and further associated with the social media game.

13. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein virtual characters are accessible to a player as part of the secondary game during play of the primary casino wagering game and as part of the social media game during non-wagering game play.

14. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the social media game is a community game accessible to a plurality of players, each of the plurality of players being associated with at least one virtual character.

15. The gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of players include wagering game players and non-wagering game players.

16. A casino gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, comprising:
an electronic display device;
one or more electronic input devices; and
one or more controllers configured to:
detect, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance,
initiate a primary wagering game associated with a single player in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance,
display on the electronic display device the primary wagering game in a display area subdivided into a plurality of display regions, the primary wagering game including a plurality of base games each having an array of symbols, each of the base games being displayed in a respective one of the plurality of display regions, each of the base games further having a different virtual character associated therewith,
display on the electronic display device a simulated top box in one of the plurality of display regions, the simulated top box including a bonus game common with at least the plurality of base games,
in response to initiating play of the primary wagering game, determine an outcome for each of the plurality of base games,
direct the electronic display device to display the outcomes concurrently in the display area,
award an award in response to the outcomes meeting a predetermined award criterion, the award increasing the credit balance,
in response to a bonus trigger, cause at least one of the virtual characters to engage in an activity in a virtual world of the bonus game displayed in the simulated top box, wherein the bonus game is a social media game, and wherein at least some of the virtual characters are persistent and further associated with the social media game, and
receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

17. The casino gaming machine of claim 16 , wherein the social media game is accessible outside of the casino gaming machine environment such that a virtual character can engage in activities in th

Assignees

• Wms Gaming Inc
• Bally Gaming Inc

Inventors

• Wood Thomas Robert
• Guinn Andrew C
• Gura Damon E
• Robbins Richard B
• Vann Jamie W

Classifications

• G07F17/326 Primary

  Game play aspects of gaming systems · CPC title