Gaming system, a method of gaming and an award controller

Abstract

A method of gaming comprising: keeping a score of at least one award for each participating gaming device of a plurality of gaming devices; updating the respective scores based on play of the respective gaming devices; keeping an aggregate score of each at least one award; updating the aggregate score in response to score aggregation events associated with the respective gaming devices, each update based at least on a current score of the individual gaming device with which the respective aggregation event is associated; determining, in response to each aggregation event, whether to make a prize award based on a current aggregate score and a prize award score to the player of the gaming device with which the aggregation event is associated.

1 . A method of gaming comprising:
 keeping a score of at least one award for each participating gaming device of a plurality of gaming devices;   updating the respective scores based on play of the respective gaming devices;   keeping an aggregate score of each at least one award;   updating the aggregate score in response to score aggregation events associated with the respective gaming devices, each update based at least on a current score of the individual gaming device with which the respective aggregation event is associated;   determining, in response to each aggregation event, whether to make a prize award based on a current aggregate score and a prize award score to the player of the gaming device with which the aggregation event is associated.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each award comprises a symbol, and the score for each gaming device comprises a current total of awarded symbols for the respective gaming device. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising keeping separate scores for a plurality of different symbols for each gaming device. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein updating each respective score comprises resetting the respective score to an initial value upon the aggregate score being updated. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising determining during each play of each gaming device, whether to make the at least one award for which the score is kept. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the determination comprises conducting at least one random trial for the award. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the determination comprises evaluating a game outcome generated during play of the gaming device to determine whether it corresponds to the at least one award. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each award is of points, and the score comprises a total of awarded points. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each score aggregation event comprises an occurrence of an aggregation symbol during play of the respective gaming devices. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the score aggregation event comprises carrying out a play of a game with an individual gaming device. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising keeping the aggregate score at an award controller in data communication with each of the gaming devices. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , comprising determining whether to make the prize award at the award controller. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising keeping scores for respective gaming devices at the respective gaming devices. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether to make an award includes determining whether the current aggregate score is or exceeds a prize award score. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein there are a plurality of prize awards associated with respective ones of the awards, and wherein only one of the awards may be made in response to an aggregation event such that if an aggregation event results in two or more aggregate scores reaching or exceeding a prize award score, only one of the prize awards is made, whereby the next aggregation event may result in the award of another prize award without the aggregate score associated with that prize award increasing. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming devices, each individual gaming device arranged to keep a score of at least one award and update the score based on play of the gaming device; and   an award controller in data communication with the gaming devices, arranged to:
 keep an aggregate score of each at least one award; 
 update the aggregate score in response to score aggregation events associated with the respective gaming devices, each update based on a current score of the individual gaming device with which the respective aggregation event is associated, and 
 determine, in response to each aggregation event, whether to make a prize award based on a current aggregate score and a prize award score to the player of the gaming device with which the aggregation event is associated. 
   
     
     
         17 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each award comprises a symbol, and the score for each gaming device comprises a current total of awarded symbols for the respective gaming device. 
     
     
         18 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein each gaming device is arranged to keep separate scores for a plurality of different symbols and the award controller keeps an aggregated score for each different symbol. 
     
     
         19 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each game device is arranged to update the score, in part by resetting the respective score to an initial value upon the aggregate score being updated. 
     
     
         20 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , where each gaming device is arranged to determine during each play of the respective gaming device, whether to make the at least one award for which the score is kept. 
     
     
         21 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the determination comprises conducting at least one random trial for the award. 
     
     
         22 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the determination comprises evaluating a game outcome generated during play of the gaming device to determine whether it corresponds to the at least one award. 
     
     
         23 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each award is of points, and the score and aggregate score comprise a total of points. 
     
     
         24 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein each score aggregation event comprises an occurrence of an aggregation symbol during play of the respective gaming devices. 
     
     
         25 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the score aggregation event comprises carrying out a play of a game with an individual gaming device. 
     
     
         26 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the award controller determines whether to make an award by determining whether the current aggregate score is or exceeds a prize award score. 
     
     
         27 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein there are a plurality of prize awards associated with respective ones of the awards, and the award controller is arranged to make only one of the awards in response to a specific aggregation event such that if an aggregation event results in two or more aggregate scores reaching or exceeding a prize award score, whereby the next aggregation event may result in the award of another prize award without the aggregate score associated with that prize award increasing. 
     
     
         28 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the award controller is a jackpot controller. 
     
     
         29 . An award controller for a gaming system, the award controller arranged to:
 keep an aggregate score of at least one award;   update the aggregate score in response to score aggregation events associated with respective ones of a plurality gaming devices, each update based on a current score of awards made at the individual gaming device with which the respective aggregation event is associated; and   determine, in response to each aggregation event, whether to make a prize award to the player of the gaming device with which the aggregation event is associated, based on a current aggregate score and a prize award score.   
     
     
         30 . An award controller as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein each award comprises a symbol, and the aggregate score for comprises a current total of aggregated symbols. 
     
     
         31 . An award controller as claimed in  claim 30 , arranged to keep separate aggregate scores for each of a plurality of different symbols. 
     
     
         32 . An award controller as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein each award is of points, and the aggregate score comprises a total of points. 
     
     
         33 . An award controller as claimed in  claim 29 , arranged to determine whether to make an award by determining whether the current aggregate score is or exceeds a prize award score. 
     
     
         34 . An award controller as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein there are a plurality of prize awards associated with respective ones of the awards, and the award controller is arranged to make only one of the awards in response to a specific aggregation event such that if an aggregation event results in two or more aggregate scores reaching or exceeding a prize award score, whereby the next aggregation event may result in the award of another prize award without the aggregate score associated with that prize award increasing. 
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising executing computer program code. 
     
     
         36 . A method as claimed in  claim 35 , further comprising storing said computer program code in a tangible computer readable medium. 
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting said computer program code.