UNIVERSAL OVERLAY GAMES IN AN ELECTRONIC GAMING ENVIRONMENT
A new method and system for displaying winning and non-winning game results in a traditional gaming environment is disclosed. The system of the present invention uses an overlay game to present an entertaining display to a player upon the occurrence of a win or trigger event. An overlay game has limited capabilities, and additionally is engineered to be usable on a variety of gaming machines. To be usable on a variety of gaming machines, the overlay game is intentionally kept simple; in one case, it comprises a visual display that is shown to a player upon the occurrence of a trigger event. In another embodiment, it requires a simple button press to start the overlay game. The overlay games are downloaded on an as-needed basis, run on the gaming machine, and then discarded.
1 . A gaming system, comprising:
a gaming machine having at least one video display and a processor for executing a primary game and an overlay game;
an overlay game module in communication with the gaming machine, wherein the overlay game module interfaces the overlay game with the gaming machine, wherein the overlay game is independent of the primary game, and wherein the overlay game is presented in response to a triggering event and wherein the primary game is restored upon completion of the overlay game; and
a sever in communication with the overlay game module, wherein the server includes a plurality of overlay games that are downloadable to the overlay game module.
2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the overlay game module is located on the gaming machine.
3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the overlay game module is located on a backend device.
4 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine further comprises a memory for storing one or more overlay games.
5 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the overlay game is presented on at least a portion of a video display on the gaming machine.
6 . A method for enhancing game variety in a gaming environment having a plurality of gaming machines networked with a server, the method comprising:
receiving player input to play a primary game on a gaming machine;
downloading an overlay game from the server in response to a triggering event occurring during play of the primary game;
executing and presenting the overlay game on the gaming machine; and
restoring the primary game to an executable state after presenting the overlay game.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
funding a prize of the overlay game; and
transferring the prize to the gaming machine in response to a winning outcome in the overlay game.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the prize is funded with a portion of a wager for play of the primary game, a wager for play of the overlay game, or marketing dollars.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein executing and presenting the overlay game further comprises:
configuring one or more buttons for play of the overlay game; and
starting the overlay game in response to player actuation of the one or more buttons.
10 . A method for providing a multi-player bonus game on a plurality of networked gaming machines, the method comprising:
determining a number of gaming machines eligible for an overlay game, wherein the overlay game is independent from a base game on the networked gaming machines;
randomly selecting a winning gaming machine for the overlay game;
downloading and presenting the overlay game to the eligible gaming machines, wherein the winning gaming machine is presented a winning game outcome and the remaining gaming machines are presented losing game outcomes;
transferring a prize to the winning gaming machine; and
restoring the base game on the gaming machines upon completion of the overlay game.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising funding the prize of the overlay game with a portion of a wager for play of the primary game, a wager for play of the overlay game, or marketing dollars.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
configuring one or more buttons of a gaming machine for play of the overlay game; and
starting the overlay game in response to player actuation of the one or more buttons.
13 . A method for providing a multi-player bonus game on a plurality of networked gaming machines, the method comprising:
establishing a first team and a second team of players that are eligible to play an overlay game, wherein the first and second teams compete for an overlay game prize, wherein the overlay game is independent from a base game on the networked gaming machines;
downloading and presenting the overlay game to the eligible players; and
restoring the base game on the gaming machines upon completion of the overlay game.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising storing a game state of the overlay game for a player on a central sever, wherein the game state is associated with a player tracking identification information.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising restoring the game state of the overlay game in response to a player request.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising issuing a player-portable media to the player, wherein the media includes a game state of the overlay game.