Electronic gaming environment with display of multiple instances of single-player games

Abstract

A multiplayer gaming system facilitates play of a single-player game having a plurality of possible results. The system includes a gaming server communicable with the workstation. The server is operable to transmit data to the workstation comprising the outcome of multiple instances of a single-player game, including the game being played on the instant workstation as well as an instance of the game being played simultaneously on another workstation. The workstation may then display the outcome of multiple instances of the single-player game. Ordinarily, the display of the other instances is for presentation purposes only and the player does not wager on the other instances. Rather, the display of the other instances is provided to simulate a land-based casino experience. In one embodiment, it facilitates a play of a multiplayer game based on the outcomes of separate instances of a single-player game.

1 . A method of facilitating play of a single-player game on a workstation having a display, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) sending data from a central server to the workstation comprising the outcome of a first instance of a single-player game, the first instance comprising an instance of play of the single-player game being engaged in via the workstation; and    (b) sending data from the central server to the workstation comprising the outcome of a second instance of the single-player game, the second instance being an instance of play of the single-player game being engaged in via a second workstation other than the first workstation;    whereby the workstation may simultaneously display on its display the outcomes of play of the instances of the single-player game being engaged in by both the workstation and the second workstation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first workstation and the second workstation comprise computing devices connected to the central server over a computer network.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second instances of the single-player game occur substantially simultaneously and the results of play are determined by the central server.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the game is selected from the group of single-player games consisting of slots, a single-player card game and roulette.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the further step of sending data from the central server to the workstation comprising the outcome of a third instance of the single-player game, the third instance being an instance of play of the single-player game being engaged in by a third workstation other than the first workstation and the second workstation whereby the workstation may display the outcomes of the first, second and third instances of the single-player game.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting data to the workstation associated with sound effects intended to be played on the workstation.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the sound effects include at least one of: a) sound simulating casino background noise; b) sound simulating operation of a gaming machine; c) sound simulating play of at least one of the single-player games; and d) sound simulating a voice reaction related to an outcome of the play of the single-player game being engaged in via the second workstation.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of c) receiving an instant message from the second workstation intended for the first workstation at the central server and d) transmitting the instant message from the central server to the workstation for display at the workstation.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of grouping the first and second workstations into a grouping where the single-player game is played, and 
 wherein data representing the outcome of the play occurring on the workstation and the second workstation is transmitted to the first and second workstations whereby both the workstation and the second workstation may both display substantially simultaneously the outcome of play of the first and second instances of the single-player game.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workstations comprise video gaming terminals.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second instances of the single-player game are combined into a multiplayer game composed, at least in part, of the outcomes of the first and second instances of the single-player game.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the single-player game comprises slots.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data in step b) further comprises a name associated with the instance of play engaged in by the second workstation.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second instances of play occur substantially simultaneously, and wherein the method further comprises the step of: 
 c) sending data comprising the outcome of the first and second instances of the single-player game to the second workstation, whereby both the workstation and the second workstation may both display the results of play of the instances of the single-player game occurring on both the workstation and the second workstation.    
   
   
       15 . A central gaming server facilitating play of a single-player game on a workstation, comprising: 
 a processor and a software process coded as a set of instructions for execution by the processor, the software process causing the gaming server to perform the following functions:    (a) sending data to the workstation comprising the outcome of a first instance of a single-player game, the first instance comprising an instance of play of the single-player game being engaged in via the workstation;    (b) sending data to the workstation comprising the outcome of a second instance of the single-player game, the second instance being an instance of play being engaged in via a second workstation other than the first workstation;    whereby the workstation may simultaneously display the results of play of the instances of the single-player game being engaged in by the workstation and the second workstation.    
   
   
       16 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the first workstation and the second workstation comprise computing devices connected to the central server over a computer network.  
   
   
       17 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second instances of the single-player game occur substantially simultaneously.  
   
   
       18 . The server of  claim 17 , wherein the game is selected from the group of single-player games consisting of slots, a single-player card game, and roulette.  
   
   
       19 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the software further causes the server to send data to the workstation comprising the outcome of a third instance of the single-player game, the third instance being engaged in by a third workstation other than the first workstation and the second workstation, whereby the workstation may simultaneously display the outcomes of the first, second and third instances of the single-player game.  
   
   
       20 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the server further transmits data to the workstation associated with sound effects to be played on the workstation.  
   
   
       21 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the sound effects include at least one of: a) sound simulating casino background noise; b) sound simulating operation of a gaming machine; c) sound simulating play of at least one of the single-player games; and d) sound simulating a voice reaction related to the outcome of play of the second single-player game.  
   
   
       22 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the server receives an instant message from the second workstation and transmits the instant message to the workstation.  
   
   
       23 . The server of  claim 17 , wherein the server operates to group the first and second workstations into a virtual game room where the single-player game is played, and 
 wherein data representing the outcome of the play occurring on the workstation and the second workstation is transmitted to the first and second workstations whereby both the workstation and the second workstation may both display substantially simultaneously the outcome of play of the first and second instances of the single-player game.    
   
   
       24 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the workstations comprise video gaming terminals.  
   
   
       25 . The server of  claim 17 , wherein the instances of the first and second single-player games are combined into a multiplayer game composed, at least in part, of the first and second instances of the single-player game.  
   
   
       26 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein the single-player game comprises slots.  
   
   
       27 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein the data associated with the play of the second workstation further comprises a name associated with the instance of play engaged in by the second workstation.  
   
   
       28 . The server of  claim 25 , wherein the server operates to send data comprising the outcome of the first and second instances of the single-player games to the second workstation, whereby both the workstation and the second workstation may both display the results of play of the instances of the single-player game occurring on both the workstation and the second workstation.  
   
   
       29 . A gaming workstation comprising: 
 1) a display:    2) a processing unit;    3) a memory storing a gaming application for execution by the processing unit,    wherein the application causes the display to display:    a) the outcome of a play of a first instance of a single-player game being engaged in by the gaming workstation; and    b) simultaneously with the display a), the outcome of play of a second instance of the single-player game being engaged in by a second workstation; and    4) a communications interface for receiving datagrams from a central server containing data indicating the outcome of play of the first and second instances of the single-player game.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the communications interface comprises an Internet connection and wherein the gaming workstation comprises a general purpose computing device.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the communications interface comprises a local area network connection and wherein the gaming workstation comprises a video gaming terminal.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the single-player game is selected from the group of single-player games consisting of slots, a single-player card game, and roulette.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the instances of the first and second single-player games are combined into a multiplayer game composed at least in part of the first and second instances of the single-player game.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the datagrams further comprise data associated with sound effects intended to be played on the workstation.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  34 , wherein the sound effects include at least one of: a) sound simulating casino background noise; b) sound simulating operation of a gaming machine; c) sound simulating play of at least one of the single-player games; and d) sound simulating a voice reaction related to an outcome of the play of the single-player game being engaged in via the second workstation.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the gaming application includes a facility allowing the user of the workstation to enter an instant message and transmit the instant message to the central server, the central server sending the instant message to the second workstation for display.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the workstation is grouped in a virtual group of workstations each playing an instance of the single-player game, and wherein the instant message is transmitted by the central server to all the workstations in the group.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending data to the workstation comprising an outcome of an instance of a second single-player game, wherein the second single-player game is a different game from the single-player game of step a) and step b), whereby the workstation may further display the outcome of the instance of the second single-player game.  
   
   
       39 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the gaming server software process is configured to send data to the workstation comprising an outcome of an instance of a second single-player game, wherein the second single-player game is a different game from the single-player game of function a) and function b), whereby the workstation may further display the outcome of the instance of the second single-player game.