Wagering game method, gaming machine, gaming system, and program product providing a feature club system

Abstract

A gaming machine includes a feature club interface system. This feature club interface system provides an interface through which a player at the gaming machine may access a number of features available through the gaming machine which may or may not be related to wagering games offered through the gaming machine. The feature club interface system may rely on communications with a remote feature club server to initiate or enable various features at the gaming machine.

1 . A gaming machine for providing a wagering game, the gaming machine including:
 (a) a wagering game display system, the wagering game display system defining a primary game display area at a front of the gaming machine cabinet;   (b) a feature club interface system mounted on the gaming machine cabinet below the primary game display area;   (c) a touch screen display included in the feature club interface system;   (d) at least one wagering game processor; and   (e) at least one memory device operatively connected to the at least one wagering game processor and storing instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to (i) receive one or more inputs from a wagering game player interface system to initiate a play in a first wagering game, (ii) obtain an outcome for the respective play in the first wagering game, (iii) cause the at least one wagering game display system to display a graphic representation of the outcome for the respective play, (iv) cause any winning credit amount associated with the outcome for the respective play to be awarded for the respective play, (v) receive one or more inputs from the feature club interface system, (vi) cause a feature club input communication to be sent to a feature club server remote from the gaming machine, the feature club input communication identifying a feature available through the gaming machine, and (vii) receive a feature club output communication from the feature club server, the feature club output communication affecting a feature available through the gaming machine.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to cause a player club input communication to be sent to a player club server remote from the gaming machine to affect a player club account maintained by the player club server, the player club server being separate from the feature club server. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the touch screen display included in the feature club interface system also includes controls for the wagering game player interface system. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to cause the touch screen display included in the feature club interface system to display a graphic for at least one additional wagering game available at the gaming machine other than the first wagering game. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to cause the touch screen display included in the feature club interface system to display a graphic for at least one tournament game available at the gaming machine other than the first wagering game. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to cause the touch screen display included in the feature club interface system to display a graphic for at least one advertisement for a product unrelated to any wagering game available at the gaming machine. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to cause the touch screen display included in the feature club interface system to display a graphic for a software application unrelated to any wagering game available at the gaming machine. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the software application comprises a social networking application. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one memory device also stores instructions executable by the at least one wagering game processor to cause the touch screen display included in the feature club interface system to display a graphic for a feature available in one or more wagering games available at the gaming machine. 
     
     
         10 . A method including:
 (a) receiving one or more inputs to initiate a play in a first wagering game available through a gaming machine;   (b) obtaining an outcome for the respective play in the first wagering game;   (c) displaying a graphic representation of the outcome for the respective play through a wagering game display system of the gaming machine;   (d) displaying any winning credit amount associated with the outcome for the respective play through the wagering game display system of the gaming machine;   (e) receiving one or more inputs from a feature club interface system of the gaming machine;   (f) sending a feature club input communication to a feature club server remote from the gaming machine, the feature club input communication identifying a feature available through the gaming machine; and   (g) receiving a feature club output communication from the feature club server, the feature club output communication affecting a feature available through the gaming machine.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further including sending a player club input communication to a player club server remote from the gaming machine and separate from the feature club server, the player club input communication affecting a player club account maintained by the player club server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the feature club interface system includes a touch screen display and wherein the touch screen display also includes controls for a wagering game player interface system of the gaming machine adapted to provide player inputs to control the play of the wagering game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the feature club interface system includes a touch screen display, and further including displaying at the touch screen display a graphic for at least one additional wagering game available at the gaming machine other than the first wagering game. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the feature club interface system includes a touch screen display, and further including displaying at the touch screen display a graphic for at least one tournament game available at the gaming machine other than the first wagering game. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the feature club interface system includes a touch screen display, and further including displaying at the touch screen display a graphic for at least one advertisement for a product unrelated to any wagering game available at the gaming machine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the feature club interface system includes a touch screen display, and further including displaying at the touch screen display a graphic for a software application unrelated to any wagering game available at the gaming machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the application comprises a social networking application. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the feature club interface system includes a touch screen display, and further including displaying at the touch screen display a graphic for a feature available in one or more wagering games available at the gaming machine. 
     
     
         19 . A program product stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable data storage devices, the program product including:
 (a) player input program code executable by at least one processor to receive one or more inputs to initiate a play in a first wagering game available at a gaming machine;   (b) result program code executable by the at least one processor to obtain an outcome for the respective play in the first wagering game;   (c) game display program code executable by the at least one processor to cause a display system associated with the gaming machine to display a graphic representation of the outcome for the respective play through a wagering game display system of the gaming machine;   (d) feature club program code executable by at least one processor to (i) receive one or more inputs from a feature club interface system of the gaming machine, the feature club interface system including a touch screen display, and to (ii) cause a feature club input communication to be sent to a feature club server remote from the gaming machine, the feature club input communication identifying a feature available through the gaming machine, and to (iii) receive a feature club output communication from the feature club server, the feature club output communication affecting a feature available through the   (e) payout program code executable by the at least one processor to award a prize for each outcome for the respective play of the first wagering game representing a winning outcome.   
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 19  further including player club program code executable by the at least one processor to cause a player club input communication to be sent to a player club server remote from the gaming machine and separate from the feature club server, the player club input communication affecting a player club account maintained by the player club server.