Method, apparatus, and program product for producing and applying a graphic simulation across multiple gaming machines

Abstract

An apparatus for producing shared image games includes a number of gaming machines, with each gaming machine having a respective video display device. The apparatus also includes a shared image display control arrangement and a shared image prize controller. The shared image display control arrangement controls the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a shared image graphic effect such as a multi-segmented prize reel that appears to extend across the different video display devices. The shared image prize controller operates to award a shared image prize for at least one of the gaming machines. This shared image prize corresponds to a prize represented at least in part by a respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the respective gaming machine when the reel segments appear to come to a stop. For example, a given reel segment may show a prize value that is awarded to the player at the particular gaming machine, or may show a multiplier value that is applied to some value accumulated for the player at the particular gaming machine.

1 . An apparatus including:
 (a) a number of gaming machines;   (b) each respective gaming machine including a respective video display device;   (c) each respective gaming machine including a respective primary game controller for obtaining a respective result in a primary game and causing the respective gaining machine to display the respective result in the primary game;   (d) a shared image display control arrangement for controlling the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a simulation of a prize reel having a series of reel segments about its periphery, the series of reel segments being displayed by the video display devices over the course of the simulation so as to appear to travel sequentially across the video display devices in a rotation direction and ultimately stop to display a respective reel segment at each respective video display device; and   (e) a shared image prize controller for awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the respective video display device for the first one of the gaming machines comprises a secondary video display device for that gaming machine and wherein the first one of the gaming machines further includes a primary display device in addition to the secondary video display device, the primary display device for displaying the respective result in the primary game. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop includes a symbol for a multiplier value and the shared image prize comprises a value accumulated in the primary game for the first gaming machine multiplied by the multiplier value. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shared image display control arrangement includes:
 (a) a display control server component for causing a start command to be communicated to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and   (b) a respective client component located at each respective gaming machine for causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at each respective gaming machine is determined by an immediately preceding prize reel simulation. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the display control server component is also for causing a respective sequence command to be communicated to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines, and wherein the respective client component utilizes the respective sequence command to access image data stored at the respective gaming machine to identify a sequence of images to be displayed at the respective gaming machine to produce the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation at that respective gaming machine. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shared image prize controller comprises a component unique to the first one of the gaming machines and each other gaming machine in the number of gaming machines includes a respective shared image prize controller for awarding a respective shared image prize for the respective gaming machine with which the respective shared image prize controller is included when that respective gaming machine is in an eligible state for the respective shared image prize, the respective shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the respective gaming machine when the series of reel segments stop. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first one of the gaming machines displays the respective result in the primary game with the video display device for that gaming machine. 
     
     
         9 . A method including:
 (a) at each of a number of gaming machines, receiving a respective wager in a primary game and obtaining a respective gaming result for the respective wager;   (b) displaying the respective gaming result at the respective gaming machine at which the respective wager was received;   (c) controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect where each respective video display device is associated with a different one of the number of gaming machines, the shared image graphic effect including a simulation of a prize reel having a series of reel segments about its periphery, the series of reel segments being displayed by the video display devices over the course of the simulation so that the reel segments appear to travel sequentially across the video display devices in a rotation direction and ultimately stop to display a respective reel segment at each respective video display device; and   (d) awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the respective video display device for each respective gaming machine comprises a secondary display device for that gaming machine and wherein the respective gaming result is displayed at the respective gaming machine through a respective primary display device of that gaming machine, the respective primary display device being separate from the respective secondary display device for that gaming machine. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stops includes a symbol for a multiplier value and method includes multiplying a value accumulated in the primary game for the first gaming machine by the multiplier value to arrive at the shared image prize. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect includes:
 (a) communicating a respective start command to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and   (b) responding to the respective start command at each respective gaming machine by causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further including determining a respective starting point for the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at each respective gaming machine by an immediately preceding prize reel simulation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further including:
 (a) communicating a respective sequence command to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and   (b) at each respective gaming machine, determining the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at the respective gaming machine based on the respective sequence command communicated to the respective gaming machine.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  further including:
 (a) storing a video sequence at each respective gaming machine; and   (b) wherein the prize reel simulation is produced by displaying the video sequence through the respective video display device at each respective gaming machine, the video sequence starting at a different sequence location at each respective gaming machine.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further including detecting an ineligible condition at one of the gaming machines and modifying a single machine component of the prize reel simulation at that gaming machine to indicate that the respective gaming machine is not eligible for the shared image prize. 
     
     
         17 . A program product stored in one or more computer readable devices, the program product including:
 (a) for each different gaming machine in a number of gaming machines, respective primary game program code executable at the respective gaming machine for obtaining a respective result in a primary game for that gaming machine and causing the respective gaming machine to display the respective result in the primary game;   (b) shared image display program code executable for controlling a number of video display devices to produce a shared image graphic effect, each respective video display device being included in a respective gaming machine in the number of gaming machines, the shared image graphic effect including a simulation of a prize reel having a series of reel segments about its periphery, the series of reel segments being displayed by the video display devices over the course of the simulation so that the reel segments appear to travel sequentially across the video display devices in a rotation direction and ultimately stop to display a respective reel segment at each respective video display device; and   (c) shared image award program code executable for awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by the respective one of the reel segments displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines when the series of reel segments stop.   
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 17  wherein the shared image display program code includes:
 (a) display control server program code executable for causing a respective start command to be communicated to each respective gaming machine; and   (b) respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine, the respective display control client program code being executable for responding to the respective start command by causing the video display device of the respective gaming machine to display a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation.   
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 17  wherein the shared image display program code includes:
 (a) display control server program code executable for causing a respective sequence command to be communicated to each of the gaming machines included in the number of gaming machines; and   (b) respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine, the respective display control client program code being executable for applying the respective sequence command received at the respective gaming machine to determine the respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation to be displayed at the respective gaming machine.   
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 17  wherein the shared image display program code includes respective display control client program code located at each respective gaming machine, the respective display control client program code being executable for storing a video sequence at each respective gaming machine, and for causing the video sequence to be displayed through the respective video display device at each respective gaming machine to produce a respective single machine component of the prize reel simulation, the video sequence starting at a different sequence location at each respective gaming machine. 
     
     
         21 . The program product of  claim 20  wherein the shared image display program code is also executable for detecting an ineligible condition at one of the gaming machines and modifying a local component of the prize reel simulation to indicate that the respective gaming machine is not eligible for the shared image prize. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus including:
 (a) a number of gaming machines;   (b) each respective gaming machine including a respective player control arrangement for enabling player inputs at the respective gaming machine;   (c) each respective gaming machine including a respective video display device;   (d) each respective gaming machine including a respective primary game controller for obtaining a respective result in a primary game and causing the gaming machine to display the respective result in the primary game;   (e) a shared image display control arrangement for controlling the respective video display device associated with each gaming machine in the number of gaming machines to produce a shared image graphic effect, the shared image graphic effect including one or more distinct prize-conveying graphic elements which appear at selected ones of the video display devices; and   (f) a shared image prize controller for awarding a shared image prize for a first one of the gaming machines which is in an eligible state for the shared image prize, the shared image prize corresponding to a prize represented at least in part by a respective one of the distinct prize-conveying graphic elements displayed at the video display device of the first one of the gaming machines at a conclusion of the shared image graphic effect.