Collection and Redemption Systems and Methods

Abstract

Collection and redemption systems and methods of operating such systems are disclosed. A collectable symbol accumulator accumulates a plurality of collectable symbols according to certain criteria. At a time based on other criteria, the collectable symbols are subsequently offered for redemption by a player for an award.

1 . A networked gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a host computer, at least one of the gaming machines including a collection and redemption game comprising: an interface activatable by a player, at least one of a set of possible outcomes determined by the gaming machine after activation of the interface by the player, the set of possible outcomes including a winning subset of outcomes; and an accumulator that is incremented by one or more units based on predetermined criteria; the gaming machine presenting a predefined short-term opportunity for the player to redeem the incremented units upon achieving a predetermined milestone.  
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the outcome determined by the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predefined criteria are based on a random selection not related to the outcome determined by the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the number of games played on the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the number of games played on the plurality of gaming machines.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the predefined short-term opportunity for the player to redeem the incremented units expires upon the player accepting or declining the opportunity to redeem the incremented units.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , the at least one gaming machine further including a display, the display including an area wherein the accumulator is represented by one or more collectable symbols.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cash-out interface activatable by the player on the at least one gaming machine and a confirmation message, the confirmation message displayable on the display upon the player activating the cash-out interface.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , the predefined milestone being defined by the accumulation of one or more predefined quantities of the incremented units.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  further including a wager; the number of incremented units being multiplicatively dependent upon the size of the wager.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of incremented units is dependent upon the outcome determined by the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each incremented unit has an expected redemption value; the expected redemption value of each incremented unit remaining constant upon the achievement of the predetermined milestone.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each incremented unit has an expected redemption value; the expected redemption value of each incremented unit increasing upon the achievement of the predetermined milestone.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the incremented units are redeemed for credits, the number of credits determined by the number of incremented units redeemed.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the incremented units are redeemed for the opportunity to play a feature game.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a progressive prize, the progressive prize awardable as a result of the feature game outcome.  
   
   
       17 . A networked gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a host computer, at least one of the gaming machines including a collection and redemption game comprising: an interface activatable by a player, at least one of a set of possible outcomes determined by the gaming machine after activation of the interface by the player, the set of possible outcomes including a winning subset of outcomes; and an accumulator that is incremented by one or more units based on predetermined criteria; a cash-out interface activatable by the player on the at least one gaming machine and a confirmation message, the confirmation message displayable on a display upon the player activating the cash-out interface.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the outcome determined by the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the predefined criteria are based on a random selection not related to the outcome determined by the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the number of games played on the at least one gaming machine.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the display includes an area wherein the accumulator is represented by one or more collectable symbols.  
   
   
       22 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of: 
 connecting a plurality of games;    based on predetermined criteria, incrementing by one or more units an accumulator associated with one of the plurality of games;    and providing a predefined short-term opportunity for a player of the one of the plurality of games to redeem the incremented units upon achieving a predetermined milestone.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the outcome of the one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the predefined criteria are not based on the outcome of the one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the number of times the one of the plurality of games is played.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the predefined short-term opportunity for the player to redeem the incremented units expires upon the player accepting or declining the opportunity to redeem the incremented units.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22  including the step of: offering the player subsequent redemption opportunities upon achieving subsequent milestones, the subsequent milestones corresponding to the accumulation of one or more predefined quantities of the incremented units.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22  including the step of wagering one or more bet units on the one of the plurality of games; and the step of multiplying the number of units to be incremented by the number of bet units wagered.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the number of incremented units is dependent upon the outcome of the one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the incremented units are redeemed for credits, the number of credits determined by the number of incremented units redeemed.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the incremented units are redeemed for the opportunity to play a feature game.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  further including the step of paying a progressive prize awardable as a result of the feature game outcome.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 22  further including the steps of presenting a confirmation message when the player attempts to cash out; and allowing the player to continue play in lieu of cashing out.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the confirmation message identifies the number of any non-redeemed incremented units.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 22  further including the step of presenting an opportunity for the player to redeem incremented units upon losing all wagerable credits.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 22  further including the step of associating the incremented units with the player and saving the incremented units from one playing session to another.  
   
   
       37 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of: 
 connecting a plurality of games;    based on predetermined criteria, incrementing by one or more units an accumulator associated with one of the plurality of games; presenting a confirmation message when a player of the one of the plurality of games attempts to cash out; and allowing the player to continue play in lieu of cashing out.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the outcome of the one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the predefined criteria are not based on the outcome of the one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the number of times the one of the plurality of games is played.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the number of incremented units is dependent upon the outcome of the one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the confirmation message identifies the number of any non-redeemed incremented units.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 37  further including the step of presenting an opportunity for the player to redeem incremented units upon losing all wagerable credits.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 37  further including the step of associating the incremented units with the player and saving unredeemed incremented units from one playing session to another.  
   
   
       45 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of: 
 connecting a plurality of games;    based on predetermined criteria, incrementing by one or more units an accumulator common to the plurality of games;    and providing a predefined short-term opportunity for one or more players of the plurality of games to redeem some portion of the incremented units upon achieving a predetermined milestone.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the predefined criteria are based on an outcome determined by at least one of the games.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the predefined criteria are not based on an outcome determined by at least one of the games.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the predefined criteria are based on the number of plays of least one of the plurality of games.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45 , the predefined milestone being defined by the accumulation of one or more predefined quantities of the common incremented units.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the predefined short-term opportunity for one or more of the players to redeem the incremented units expires upon at least one of the players accepting or declining the opportunity to redeem the incremented units.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the incremented units are redeemed for a progressive award.