Techniques for facilitating multiplayer/tournament hybrid skill-based, wager-based gaming via computer networks

1. A computer-implemented method of operating a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine, comprising:

providing the first and second gaming machines, each of the first and second gaming machines comprising a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and an interface configured to enable a hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game to be played;

receiving, at each of the first and second gaming machines, a configuration of the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game comprising at least one of wagering parameters, wager funding sources and game attributes by first and second players, respectively;

accepting funds from the first and second players and initiating game play of the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game as configured at the first and second gaming machines, the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game being configured to provide a same virtual game environment at both the first and second gaming machines and to present wagering opportunities within the virtual game environment to both the first and second players, such that interaction therewith by the first player via the interface of the first gaming machines gives rise to wagering events for the first player and such that interaction therewith by the second player via the interface of the second gaming machine gives rise to wagering events for the second player;

during game play, generating and tracking random outcomes of wagering events for each of the first and second players and correspondingly determining and distributing payouts to the first and second players;

periodically generating, on each of the first and second gaming machines, tournament status information based on at least one of game play and outcomes of wagering events for each of the first and second players; and

determining, at each of the first and second gaming machines, a ranking of the first and second players based at least in part upon the generated tournament status information and the outcomes of the wagering events.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, displaying and distributing tournament awards to at least one of the first and second players based on at least one of the tournament status information and the determined ranking.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second gaming machines comprises a separate display and wherein the method further comprises;

displaying the periodically-generated tournament status information and the determined rankings on the separate displays of the first and second gaming machines.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second gaming machines share a display and wherein the method further comprises;

displaying the periodically-generated tournament status information and the determined rankings on the shared display.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein game play is configured such that the first and second players compete via their respective interactions with the wagering opportunities presented within the virtual game environment.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein game play is configured such that the first and second players cooperate to accomplish a shared objective via their respective interactions with the wagering opportunities presented within the virtual game environment.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game further comprises an arcade non-wager portion and a wager-based game portion and wherein the random outcomes of wagering events are shown on the wager-based game portion.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the wager-based game portion comprises a slot reel game portion configured to reveal the random outcomes of the wagering events.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the outcomes of wagering events for each of the first and second players includes at least one of monetary and non-monetary rewards.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the accepted funds for each of the first and second players each include a first portion for game play and a second portion for a shared pool and wherein the method further includes awarding the shared pool to a higher-ranked one of the first and second players.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual game environment is further configured for simultaneous game play by the first and second players and wherein the method further comprises displaying, to both the first and second players, at least one of player game performance data, tournament status information and outcomes of wagering events for both the first and second players.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the random outcomes of wagering events are generated before the wagering events are triggered by the first and second players within the virtual game environment.

13. The computer-generated method of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game is a skill-based hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game in which a higher-skilled one of the first and second players earns, on average a higher Return To Player (RTP) than the other one of the first and second players.

14. An electronic, wager-based gaming system configured to enable a player to play a hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game, comprising first and second gaming machines, each comprising:

a memory;

a user interface;

a processor coupled to the memory and to the user interface, and

a plurality of processes spawned by the processor, the plurality of processes comprising processing logic to:

receive, at each of the first and second gaming machines, a configuration of the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game comprising at least one of wagering parameters, wager funding sources and game attributes by first and second players, respectively;

accept funds from the first and second players and initiate game play of the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game as configured at the first and second gaming machines, the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game being configured to provide a same virtual game environment at both the first and second gaming machines and to present wagering opportunities within the virtual game environment to both the first and second players, such that interaction therewith by the first player via the interface of the first gaming machines gives rise to wagering events for the first player and such that interaction therewith by the second player via the interface of the second gaming machine gives rise to wagering events for the second player;

during game play, generate and track random outcomes of wagering events for each of the first and second players and correspondingly determine and distribute payouts to the first and second players;

periodically generate, on each of the first and second gaming machines, tournament status information based on at least one of game play and outcomes of wagering events for each of the first and second players; and

determine, at each of the first and second gaming machines, a ranking of the first and second players based at least in part upon the generated tournament status information and the outcomes of the wagering events.

15. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , further comprising processing logic to:

determine, displaying and distribute tournament awards to at least one of the first and second players based on at least one of the tournament status information and the determined ranking.

16. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second gaming machines comprises a separate display and wherein the system further comprises processing logic to:

display the periodically-generated tournament status information and the determined rankings on the separate displays of the first and second gaming machines.

17. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second gaming machines share a display and wherein the system further comprises processing logic to:

display the periodically-generated tournament status information and the determined rankings on the shared display.

18. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein game play is configured such that the first and second players compete via their respective interactions with the wagering opportunities presented within the virtual game environment.

19. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein game play is configured such that the first and second players cooperate to accomplish a shared objective via their respective interactions with the wagering opportunities presented within the virtual game environment.

20. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the multi-player tournament arcade game further comprises an arcade non-wager portion and a wager-based game portion and wherein system further comprises processing logic to show the random outcomes of wagering events on the wager-based game portion.

21. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the wager-based game portion comprising a slot reel game portion configured to reveal the random outcomes of the wagering events.

22. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the outcomes of wagering events for each of the first and second players includes at least one of monetary and non-monetary rewards.

23. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the accepted funds for each of the first and second players each include a first portion for game play and a second portion for a shared pool and wherein the system further includes processing logic to award the shared pool to a higher-ranked one of the first and second players.

24. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the virtual game environment is further configured for simultaneous game play by the first and second players and wherein the system further comprises processing logic to display, to both the first and second players, at least one of player game performance data, tournament status information and outcomes of wagering events for both the first and second players.

25. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , further comprising processing logic to generate the random outcomes of wagering events before the wagering events are triggered by the first and second players within the virtual game environment.

26. The electronic, wager-based gaming system of claim 14 , wherein the hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game is a skill-based hybrid multi-player tournament arcade game in which a higher-skilled one of the first and second players earns, on average a higher Return To Player (RTP) than the other one of the first and second player.