Asynchronous persistent group game management

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for preserving game state data for an asynchronous persistent group game may have a plurality of gaming machines associated with the asynchronous persistent group game and at least one network server having at least one processor and at least one non-volatile memory. The processor may be configured to determine whether a group game session is triggered on any of the plurality of gaming machines; and if the group game session is triggered, display live game monitor activities, and periodically save the persistent game state and other data on the at least one non-volatile memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for preserving persistent game state data for an asynchronous group game, the system comprising:
 at least one network server configured to:
 communicate with a plurality of gaming machines; 
 operate an asynchronous group game for participation by one or more players playing a wager-based game of the plurality of gaming machines; 
 determine a set of players associated with at least a first team; 
 initiate a first team session in the asynchronous persistent group game for the first team if it is determined that the one or more players is associated with the at least first team; 
 associate game play in the asynchronous persistent group game by the set of player of the first team; 
 allow the set of players of the first team as well as other players associated with at least one other team to concurrently play the asynchronous persistent group game; 
   wherein the asynchronous persistent group game remains active after the first team session ends to permit the other players associated with the at least one other team to asynchronously play the asynchronous persistent group game.   
     
     
         2 . A system for playing an asynchronous group game, the system comprising:
 at least one network server configured to:
 communicate with a plurality of gaming machines; 
 operate an asynchronous group game for participation by one or more players playing a wager-based game of the plurality of gaming machines; 
 determine if a player is associated with at least one persistent team game; 
 initiate a session of the at least one persistent team game in the asynchronous persistent group game if it is determined that the player is associated with the at least one persistent team game; 
 associate the player with at least one of the at least one persistent team game if it is determined that the player is not associated with at least one persistent team game; 
 update the asynchronous persistent group game to include at least a portion of the at least one persistent team game; and 
 allow other players associated with the one of the at least one persistent team game to concurrently play the at least one of the at least one persistent team game that operates in conjunction with the asynchronous persistent group game, 
   wherein the asynchronous persistent group game remains active after the at least one of the at least one persistent team game ends to permit a plurality of players to asynchronously play the asynchronous persistent group game; and   an award server configured to:
 determine if the player wins a monetary award; 
 adding the monetary award to a progressive award if it is determined that the player won the monetary award; 
 determine one or more winners from the players that played the at least one persistent team game; and 
 award a portion of the progressive award to each of the determined one or more winners. 
   
     
     
         3 . A method for preserving persistent game state data for an asynchronous persistent group game on at least one network server configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising:
 determining if a player is associated with at least one persistent team game;   initiating a session of the at least one persistent team game in the asynchronous persistent group game if it is determined that the player is associated with the at least one persistent team game;   associating the player with at least one of the at least one persistent team game if it is determined that the player is not associated with at least one persistent team game;   updating the asynchronous persistent group game to include at least a portion of the at least one persistent team game;   allowing other players associated with the one of the at least one persistent team game to concurrently play the at least one of the at least one persistent team game that operates in conjunction with the asynchronous persistent group game,   wherein the asynchronous persistent group game remains active after the at least one of the at least one persistent team game ends to permit a plurality of players to asynchronously play the asynchronous persistent group game.   
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining if the player wins a monetary award; and   adding the monetary award to at least one progressive amount if it is determined that the player wins the monetary award.   
     
     
         5 . A system for preserving persistent game state data for a group game, the system supporting a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines having a processor configured to determine whether a group game session is initiated, the system comprising:
 at least one network server configured to:
 operate an asynchronous persistent group game for participation by one or more players when it is determined that a group game session is to be initiated, the asynchronous persistent group game having game state data, and the group game session having player group game state data, wherein the game state data is associated with at least the group game session, and wherein the player group game state data pertains to players of the group game session; 
 save the game state data for the asynchronous persistent group game; and 
 save the player group game state data from the group game session, the saving distinctly saves at least a portion of the player group game state data such that it is associated with a respective one of the players of the group game session, 
   wherein players can play, via the gaming machines, the asynchronous persistent group game using at least a portion of the game state data when playing one or more different group game sessions instantiated in the asynchronous persistent group game, each of the one or more different group game sessions generating its own different group game state data,   wherein the asynchronous persistent group game remains active after the group game session for a player ends to permit other of the players to continue to play the asynchronous persistent group game during the one or more different group game sessions, and   wherein the at least one network server is further configured to:
 accumulating a progressive prize across multiple different group game sessions; 
 determine one or more winners from the players of the group game sessions; and 
 award the progressive prize to each of the determined one or more winners.