A gaming machine ( 12 ) is disclosed which comprises at least one meter ( 76 ) arranged to generate game meter data. The gaming machine ( 12 ) is arranged to forward meter data generated by the at least one meter ( 76 ) to a remote data storage device ( 26 ) arranged to store meter data associated with a plurality of games. The gaming machine ( 12 ) is also arranged to retrieve meter data associated with a game from the remote data storage device ( 27 ) when the gaming machine is requested to provide the meter data associated with the game. An associated gaming system and method of gaming are also disclosed.
1. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, each operable to execute a first downloadable game and a second downloadable game, each gaming machine having a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity, a game meter, a game controller, and a local data storage to locally store game meter data for a game meter associated with game play of the first downloadable game or the second downloadable game executable on the gaming machine;
a communication network;
a database server having a meter database, the database server configured to create and store a plurality of game records each respectively associated with one of the gaming machines; wherein each stored game record includes, prior to game play of the one gaming machine, a first meter record and a second meter record respectively associated with the first downloadable game and the second downloadable game executed executable by the one gaming machine;
an accounting system connected to said communication network, and configured to send a request to the one gaming machine; and
an interface configured to, in accord with having established the credit balance via the credit input mechanism receiving the physical item, receive from a player a selection of one of the first downloadable game and the second downloadable game for execution on the one gaming machine;
wherein, when the first downloadable game is selected for execution on the one gaming machine by the player through the interface, the first downloadable game is downloaded onto the one gaming machine and the first meter record is downloaded from the database server, the first meter record being stored and updated locally in the local data storage while the first downloadable game is executed on the one gaming machine;
wherein, while the first downloadable game is being executed, and in response to receiving a request from the accounting system, the gaming machine transmits the request from the accounting system to the database server, and the database server transmits the stored first meter record via the one gaming machine to the accounting system over the communication network; and
wherein, when the second downloadable game is selected for execution on the one gaming machine by the player through the interface, the one gaming machine transmits the locally stored first meter record to the database server before clearing the first meter record from the local data storage of the one gaming machine, clears the game meter, downloads the second downloadable game onto the one gaming machine and the second meter record from the database server, the second meter record being stored and updated locally in the local data storage while the second downloadable game is executed on the one gaming machine.
2. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one gaming machine is configured to transmit the locally stored game meter data to the database server on a periodic basis.
3. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one gaming machine is configured to forward the locally stored game meter data generated by the one gaming machine as the locally stored game meter data is generated.
4. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one gaming machine is configured to retrieve meter data associated with the one gaming machine from the database server at the request of an accounting system connected to the one gaming machine for retransmission of the meter data to the accounting system.
5. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locally stored game meter data includes accounting data selected from a group of accounting data comprising credits received in the one gaming machine, credits dispensed by the one gaming machine, and credits available for game play.
6. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the locally stored game meter data includes game play data indicative of game actions and outcomes for at least one previously played game.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein said accounting system is in communication with the plurality of gaming machines over the communication network to receive the stored meter data for the one gaming machine from the database server, wherein the stored meter data is transmitted from the database server to the accounting server through the one gaming machine.