Gaming machine with separately selectable wagering games
View Patent ↗A gaming system for conducting a wagering game allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to selectively combine base games and bonus games. This modular approach allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to mix and match base games and bonus games as needed. In some embodiments, players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers may also select different game features to employ in the bonus and/or base games. Such an arrangement allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to configure each base game and/or bonus game according to their preferences.
1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one storage unit comprising a base package storage and a bonus package storage;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to:
accept a selection of a first base game package from a plurality of base game packages stored in the base package storage, the first base game package including a first base game expected value;
accept a selection of a first bonus game package from a plurality of bonus game packages stored in the bonus pack storage, the first bonus game package including a first bonus game expected value;
determine whether a sum of the first base game expected value and the first bonus game expected value is within a predetermined range; and
permit the selection of the first base game package and the first bonus game package if the sum is within the predetermined range.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one storage unit comprises separate storage units for each of the base package storage and the bonus package storage.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is included in a gaming machine.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is external to and in communication with a gaming machine.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the first base game expected value is independent of the first bonus game expected value.
6. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein the first base game expected value is within a base game acceptable value range and the first bonus game expected value is within a bonus game acceptable value range.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one input device configured to receive the selection of the first base game package and the selection of the first bonus game package; and
at least one display device;
wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the gaming system to:
accept a wager in response to an input via the at least one input device;
randomly generate an outcome of the first base game package;
display the outcome of the first base game package on the at least one display device;
randomly generate an outcome of the first bonus game package; and
display the outcome of the first bonus game package on the at least one display device.
8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first base game package comprises a plurality of base features;
the first bonus game package comprises a plurality of bonus features; and
the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the gaming system to:
identify at least one of the plurality of base features compatible with the first bonus game and activate the at least one base feature; or
identify at least one of the plurality of bonus features compatible with the first base game and activate the at least one bonus feature.
9. A computer-implemented method in a gaming system, comprising:
receiving via at least one input device a selection of a first base wagering game with a first base game expected value from a plurality of base wagering games of varying base game expected values;
receiving via the at least one input device a selection of a first bonus wagering game with a first bonus game expected value from a plurality of bonus wagering games of varying bonus game expected values;
summing, by at least one of one or more processors, the first base game expected value and the first bonus game expected value;
comparing, by at least one of the one or more processors, the sum of the first base game expected value and the first bonus game expected value to a predetermined expected value range; and
if the sum is within the predetermined range, configuring a gaming machine with a combination of the first base game and the first bonus game.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
if the sum is outside of the predetermined range, generating, by at least one of the one or more processors, a notification of prohibited combination.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
if the sum is higher than the predetermined range,
evaluating, by at least one of the one or more processors, a player history; and
in response to the evaluating the player history, configuring the gaming machine with the combination of the first base game and the first bonus game for a limited period of time.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
if the sum is lower than the predetermined range,
configuring the gaming machine with the combination of the first base game and the first bonus game; and
randomly awarding a mystery prize.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
if the sum is higher than the predetermined range,
configuring the gaming machine with the combination of the first base game and the first bonus game during a tournament.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a wager;
randomly generating, by at least one of the one or more processors, an outcome of the first base game;
displaying the outcome of the first base game on at least one display device;
randomly generating, by at least one of the one or more processors, an outcome of the first bonus game; and
displaying the outcome of the first bonus game on the at least one display device.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising displaying to a user the results of the comparing.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the user is a manufacturer or a casino operator.
17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising tracking the selection of the first base game and the selection of the first bonus game.
18. A gaming system comprising:
a base game storage comprising a plurality of base games;
a bonus game storage comprising a plurality of bonus games;
a regulator executing on at least one processor, the regulator configured to:
evaluate a combination of a base game selected from the plurality of base games and a bonus game selected from the plurality of bonus games; and
identify the combination as a permissible combination or an impermissible combination.
19. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the regulator comprises:
an adder configured to compute a sum of an expected value of the base game and an expected value of the bonus game; and
a comparator configured to compare the sum to a predetermined range;
wherein the regulator is configured to identify the combination as a permissible combination if the sum is within the predetermined range and identify the combination as an impermissible combination if the sum is outside the predetermined range.
20. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the regulator comprises:
a comparator configured to compare the combination to a lookup table; and
wherein the regulator is configured to identify the combination as a permissible combination based on the comparison of the combination to the lookup table.
21. The gaming system of claim 18 , further comprising:
at least one display device configured to display the identification of the combination as permissible or impermissible.
22. The gaming system of claim 21 , wherein:
the gaming system further comprises a gaming machine; and
the regulator is configured to activate the combination of the first base game and the first bonus game at the gaming machine.
23. The gaming system of claim 19 , further comprising:
a gaming machine;
wherein, if the sum is lower than the predetermined range, the regulator is configured to activate the combination of the first base game and the first bonus game at the gaming machine; and
the gaming machine is configured to randomly award a mystery prize to compensate for the difference between the sum and an expected value within the predetermined range.
24. The gaming system of claim 18 , further comprising:
a user interface;
wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
present to a user via the user interface an indication that the combination is impermissible;
accept a command to override a prohibition of the combination; and
activate the combination at a gaming machine.
25. The gaming system of claim 24 , wherein the user is a manufacturer or a casino operator.