Multi-player gaming machines played on-line
View Patent ↗A multi-player on-line gaming method is disclosed where different players independently play different games on their computers in a common gaming environment. Each of the players sharing the common environment is presented with a similar display by the game server. In one embodiment, each player is presented with a display of four slot machines after registering with a server for an on-line gaming session. Each player selects, using a cursor pointing device, one of the four slot machines to play, and that machine is then associated with the player. The remote web-based game server controlling the game allows the player to see other on-line players playing on the other slot machines displayed on the same screen so the players share a common gaming experience as in a casino. The players may chat in real time by typing in their conversations via a keyboard on their home computer.
1. A gaming method performed by a plurality of local terminals comprising:
establishing communication by a first local terminal with a remote server;
establishing communication by a second local terminal with the remote server;
transmitting signals by the first local terminal to the server for selecting a first type of game to be played by a first player at the first local terminal, the first type of game causing multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a first display screen connected to the first local terminal;
transmitting signals by the second local terminal to the server for selecting the first type of game to be played by a second player at the second local terminal, the first type of game causing the multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a second display screen connected to the second local terminal;
automatically assigning by the server the first player and the second player to a common playing environment;
displaying the multiple gaming devices on the first display screen;
displaying the multiple gaming devices on the second display screen;
enabling the first player to select at least a first gaming device out of the multiple gaming devices to play;
enabling the second player to select at least a second gaming device out of remaining multiple gaming devices to play;
displaying play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the first display screen along with displaying play of at least the second gaming device selected by the second player on the first display screen;
displaying play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the second display screen along with displaying play of at least the second gaming device selected by the second player on the second display screen,
the display of the play of at least the first gaming device and the display of the play of at least the second gaming device being identical on the first display screen and the second display screen such that play of at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device appear to be occurring in a common playing environment; and
displaying outcomes of games played on at least the first gaming device and on at least the second gaming device on the first display screen and the second display screen so that the first player and the second player share a common gaming experience,
wherein displaying at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device comprises displaying images of slot machines having slot machine screens.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving commands by the first player for chatting with the second player; and
displaying conversations between the first player and the second player.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating sounds associated with operations of at least the first gaming device being played by the first player and at least the second gaming device being played by the second player.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device comprises displaying images of at least portions of reel-type slot machines.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device comprises displaying images of at least portions of video poker slot machines.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device comprises displaying images of at least portions of video slot machines.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device comprises displaying images of at least portions of slot machines, the method further comprises displaying one or more slot machines that are not in use by any player.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating sounds relating to outcomes of the games played on at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device comprises displaying up to four gaming devices.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing communication with a remote server comprises establishing communication via the Internet.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a menu to the first player offering the first player choices of games to play, the games comprising community games where the first player plays a game independently from one or more other players also playing independent games, where the first player's game and the one or more other players' games are displayed to the first player.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising additional players at additional local terminals selecting and playing remaining gaming devices and viewing displays on display screens identical to displays on the first display screen and second display screen.
13. A computer usable medium containing a program code comprising instructions for carrying out a method comprising:
controlling a first computer to interact with a remote server;
controlling a second computer to interact with the remote server;
controlling the first computer to communicate with the server to select a game to be played by a first player, the game causing multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a first display screen connected to the first computer;
controlling the second computer to communicate with the server to select a game to be played by a second player, the game causing the multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a second display screen connected to the second computer;
controlling the first computer to display multiple gaming devices on the first display screen;
controlling the second computer to display the multiple gaming devices on the second display screen;
controlling the first computer to enable the first player to select at least a first gaming device out of the multiple gaming devices to play;
controlling the second computer to enable the second player to select at least a second gaming device out of the multiple gaming devices to play;
controlling the first computer to display play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the first display screen along with displaying play of at least the second gaming device selected by a remote second player;
controlling the second computer to display play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the second display screen along with displaying play of at least the second gaming device selected by the second player;
the display of the play of at least the first gaming device and the display of the play of at least the second gaming device being identical on the first display screen and on a second display screen such that play of at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device appear to be occurring in a common playing environment; and
controlling the first computer and the second computer to display outcomes of games played on at least the first gaming device and on at least the second gaming device on the first display screen and the second display screen so that the first player and the second player share a common gaming experience,
wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are displayed as images of slot machines having slot machine screens.
14. A computer for carrying out a gaming program, the computer comprising a processor programmed for carrying out the method comprising:
controlling the computer to interact with a remote server for running a gaming program;
controlling the computer to communicate with the server to select a game to be played by a first player, the game causing multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a first display screen connected to the computer;
controlling the computer to display multiple gaming devices on the first display screen;
controlling the computer to enable the first player to select at least a first gaming device out of the multiple gaming devices to play; and
controlling the computer to display play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the first display screen along with displaying play of at least a second gaming device selected by a remote second player;
the display of the play of at least the first gaming device and the display of the play of at least the second gaming device being identical on the first display screen and on a second display screen of a remote terminal played by the second player such that play of at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device appear to be occurring in a common playing environment so the first player and the second player share a common gaming experience,
wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are displayed as images of slot machines having slot machine screens.
15. A server for carrying out a gaming program, the server comprising a processor programmed for carrying out the method comprising:
establishing communication with a first local terminal;
establishing communication with a second local terminal;
transmitting signals to the first local terminal for displaying a first type of game selected to be played by a first player at the first local terminal, the first type of game causing multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a first display screen connected to the first local terminal;
transmitting signals to the second local terminal for displaying the first type of game selected to be played by a second player at the second local terminal, the first type of game causing the multiple gaming devices to be displayed on a second display screen connected to the second local terminal;
transmitting signals to the first local terminal to cause the first local terminal to display the multiple gaming devices on the first display screen;
transmitting signals to the second local terminal to cause the second local terminal to display the multiple gaming devices on the second display screen;
automatically assigning by the server the first player and the second player to a common playing environment;
enabling the first player to select at least a first gaming device out of the multiple gaming devices to play;
enabling the second player to select at least a second gaming device out of remaining multiple gaming devices to play;
transmitting signals to the first local terminal for displaying play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the first display screen along with displaying play of at least the second gaming device selected by the second player on the first display screen;
transmitting signals to the second local terminal for displaying play of at least the first gaming device selected by the first player on the second display screen along with displaying play of at least the second gaming device selected by the second player on the second display screen,
the display of the play of at least the first gaming device and the display of the play of at least the second gaming device being identical on the first display screen and second display screen such that play of at least the first gaming device and at least the second gaming device appear to be occurring in a common playing environment; and
transmitting signals to the first local terminal and the second local terminal for displaying outcomes of the games played on at least the first gaming device and on at least the second gaming device on the first display screen and the second display screen so that the first player and the second player share a common gaming experience,
wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are displayed as images of slot machines having slot machine screens.