Tournament gaming machine and methods

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods, gaming machines, and gaming systems capable of simultaneously presenting two independent games for play. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a cabinet for housing a display that simultaneously presents a first game that is independent from a second game. The first and second games are primary games, and a trigger event in either the first game or the second game initiates play of a tournament game. The gaming machine also includes a first set of player input devices for the first game and a second set of player input devices for the second game. The gaming machine also includes a player input device that allows a player to play both the first and second game simultaneously.

1 . A method for presenting a game, the method comprising:
 receiving player credits on a gaming machine that simultaneously presents a first game that is independent from a second game on a main display of the gaming machine, and wherein the first game and the second game are playable at the same time by one or two players;   initiating a player-selected game;   determining whether a triggering event has been established;   initiating play of a tournament game on the main display in response to the triggering event, wherein the tournament game has a head-to-head tournament mode for two players and a single player tournament mode for a single player;   awarding a prize to a winner of the tournament game.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger event is a winning outcome, a randomly selected game outcome, a specialized bonus symbol, a predetermined number of maximum wagers, a predetermined number of paylines played, a player card level, time of play, frequency of play, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein initiating play of the tournament game further comprises reconfiguring the first and second games into the head-to-head tournament mode or the single player tournament mode. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving player input controlling rate of play of one game during play of the tournament game. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising playing the non-player controlled game at a predetermined rate of play. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising awarding a consolation prize at the conclusion of the tournament game. 
   
   
       7 . A method for presenting a game, the method comprising:
 receiving player credits on a gaming machine that simultaneously presents a first game that is independent from a second game on a main display of the gaming machine;   simultaneously initiating the first game and the second game in response to a maximum wager;   determining whether a triggering event has been established in the first game or the second game;   initiating play of a tournament game on the main display in response to the trigger event occurring during play of first game and the second game; and   awarding a prize to a winner of the tournament game.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the trigger event is a winning outcome, a randomly selected game outcome, a specialized bonus symbol, a predetermined number of maximum wagers, a predetermined number of paylines played, a player card level, time of play, frequency of play, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein initiating play of the tournament game further comprises reconfiguring the gaming machine for a single player tournament game, wherein the player competes against a computer during play of the tournament game. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving player input controlling rate of play of the first and second games during play of the tournament game. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising awarding a consolation prize at the conclusion of the tournament game. 
   
   
       12 . A method for presenting a game, the method comprising:
 receiving player credits on a gaming machine simultaneously presenting a first game that is independent from a second game on a main display of the gaming machine;   initiating the first game in response to player input from a first player;   initiating the second game in response to player input from a second player;   determining whether a triggering event has been established in the first game or the second game;   initiating play of a tournament game on the first game and the second game in response to the trigger event; and   awarding a prize to a winner of the tournament game.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the trigger event is a winning outcome, a randomly selected game outcome, a specialized bonus symbol, a predetermined number of maximum wagers, a predetermined number of paylines, a player card level, time of play, frequency of play, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein initiating play of the tournament game further comprises reconfiguring the first and second games into a head-to-head tournament game mode. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving player input from the first player controlling rate of play of the first game during the tournament game; and   receiving player input from the second player controlling rate of play of the second games during the tournament game.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising awarding a consolation prize at the conclusion of the tournament game.