Gaming apparatus and systems

Abstract

Gaming apparatus 1 may include a number of player terminals 2 , e.g. Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs), which may be networked with a central controller 3 for implementing a linked feature game. When a feature game triggers from a basic game, the player triggering the feature may compete for a prize against a previous feature game winner. Other players may also be involved. A winner of a feature game becomes a champion, and plays in the next feature game that is triggered. Responsibility for running the feature game may rest with the player terminals 2 and/or with a central controller 3 as is appropriate to the implementation. A single player competitive feature game is also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Gaming apparatus including: 
 game means for playing a basic game;    trigger means for triggering a feature game of the basic game; and    feature means for playing a feature game when a feature game is triggered, wherein a winner of a previous feature game is included to play in a subsequent feature game.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a single gaming machine, and wherein a feature game is played by a player of the machine and a virtual player.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a single gaming machine, and wherein a feature game is played by a player of the machine as both a champion and a contender.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , including two or more player terminals that play in a linked feature game.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , including a central controller for conducting a linked feature game between the player terminals.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus consists of or includes one or more electronic gaming machines.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a central control for conducting the basic game and feature the game, and a plurality of remote devices in communication with the central control for receiving bets and displaying results.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feature game is a two-player game and is played by a recorded champion and a player that triggers a feature game.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the triggered feature game is played by one or more further players.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein more than one player from a first feature game is retained to play in a subsequently triggered feature game.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feature game includes a luck-based element.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the odds of each player winning the feature game are equal.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the odds of a champion winning the feature game are different from the odds of another player winning.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feature game includes an element of player choice.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feature game is represented as a virtual sports or virtual talent contest.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when no champion exists, a player who triggers the feature game is recorded as a champion.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when no champion exists, a player who triggers the feature game plays a virtual opponent as a champion.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a feature game is triggered based on the outcome of a basic game.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a feature game is triggered randomly.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the feature game includes a jackpot prize.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a player wins a jackpot if they win a set number of consecutive feature games.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the jackpot is a progressive jackpot.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a player plays a side bet in the basic game to be eligible to play in a feature game.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the basic game is a slot machine or casino type game.  
     
     
         25 . A gaming system including: 
 game means for playing a basic game;    trigger means for triggering a feature game of the basic game; and    feature means for playing a feature game when a feature game is triggered, wherein a winner of a previous feature game is included to play in a subsequent feature game.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , including a plurality of electronic gaming machines and a central controller for conducting the feature game.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the system includes a central control for running a gaming algorithm, and a plurality of remote clients in communication with the central control over a communications network, the remote clients including means for inputting bets and displaying the results of bets.  
     
     
         27 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the method including the steps of: 
 playing a basic game;    monitoring for the triggering of a feature game of the basic game; and    playing a feature game when a feature game is triggered, wherein a winner of a previous feature game is included to play in a subsequent feature game.    
     
     
         28 . Gaming software including: 
 a main game component for playing a basic game;    a trigger component for triggering a feature game of the basic game; and    a feature game component for playing a feature game when a feature game is triggered, wherein a winner of a previous feature game is included to play in a subsequent feature game.    
     
     
         29 . A computer software product, including a storage medium on which is stored gaming software according to  claim 28 .  
     
     
         30 . Electronic gaming apparatus including: 
 game means for playing a basic game;    trigger means for triggering a feature game of the basic game; and    feature means for playing a feature game when a feature game is triggered, wherein a winner of a previous feature game is included to play in a subsequent feature game.    
     
     
         31 . A gaming system, including: 
 a plurality of electronic gaming machines that operate one or more basic games from which a linked feature game can be played; and    a central controller that is in communication with the electronic gaming machines, and that is configured to operate the linked feature game between the electronic gaming machines when a feature game is triggered for one of the electronic gaming machines;    and wherein the central controller records a winner of a linked feature game as a champion, records win details associated with the champion, and includes the champion in the next linked feature game that is triggered.    
     
     
         32 . A gaming system, including: 
 a central server for operating one or more basic games and one or more linked feature games that can be played from the basic game;    and a plurality of remote terminals that communicate with the central server for receiving player inputs and for displaying game results;    wherein the central server records a winner of a linked feature game as a champion, records win details associated with the champion, and includes the champion in the next linked feature game that is triggered.    
     
     
         33 . An electronic gaming machine, including: 
 means for running a basic game and a feature game that can be played from the basic game;    means for recording a player of a feature game as a champion if the player wins a feature game; and    means for recording win details associated with the champion, and for including the champion in the next feature game triggered.    
     
     
         34 . An electronic game in which the game includes a feature game in which a player that triggers the game plays against a designated champion.  
     
     
         35 . Gaming apparatus including a feature game, wherein the identity of a player that wins a feature game is recorded, and wherein when a feature game is subsequently triggered, the identified player takes part.  
     
     
         36 . Gaming apparatus including a feature game, wherein a player that wins a feature game plays in the next feature game.  
     
     
         37 . A gaming apparatus feature game, in which at least two players compete against one another, and in which a winner of a feature game plays in the next feature game.  
     
     
         38 . Gaming apparatus including a feature game associated with a main game, wherein one or more competitors from a first feature game are automatically included to play in the next feature game.  
     
     
         39 . Gaming apparatus, including: 
 game means for playing a basic game;    trigger means for playing a feature game of the basic game;    player selection means for determining participants in a triggered feature game, the selection means identifying a winner of a previous feature game, and including the identified winner in the triggered game; and    feature playing means for playing the triggered feature game with the selected players.