Virtual gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming method includes repetitive plays simulating rolls of virtual dice by a player and at least one of a bonus feature and a progressive feature. A gaming method includes scoring dice.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of scoring dice having a plurality of score value designations and a plurality of master designations and providing a master die having one or more master designations corresponding to the plurality of master designations on the plurality of scoring dice;   designating a non-zero shake score where during a player's turn the player receives at least one master type from the plurality of scoring dice that matches the master type on the master die;   designating a zero value shake score if during the player's turn none of the master types on the plurality of scoring dice matches the master type on the master die; and   determining a shake score for one or more players during the player's turn by identifying the plurality of scoring dice that have the same master type as the master type of the master die and calculating the shake score based upon the score value designations on the plurality of scoring dice having the same master type as the master die.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the master die has a total number of master sides and total number of master value designations, wherein the total number of master value designations is half the total number of master sides, and wherein each one of the master value designations is borne on two master slides. 
     
     
         3 . A virtual gaming method, comprising:
 repetitive plays simulating rolls of virtual dice by a player; and   at least one of a bonus feature and a progressive feature.   
     
     
         4 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein the bonus feature comprises an option in the game so that, after each successful roll of the virtual dice, the player can either select to make the next roll as usual, or to make the next roll by risking the winnings of a previous play on the next play, or to cash out. 
     
     
         5 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein the virtual game is played with points, virtual monetary amounts or other symbols. 
     
     
         6 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein the progressive feature is played on an individual machine. 
     
     
         7 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein the progressive feature is played on a plurality of individual machines that are joined in a group of machines. 
     
     
         8 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 7  wherein points or virtual monetary amounts can be linked together to accumulate bonus points or bonus monetary value in bonuses for the group of machines. 
     
     
         9 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein the virtual game is played progressively by multiple users at different times on an individual machine features to accumulate winning for later players. 
     
     
         10 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein a virtual game is played in turns with multiple players who compete with one another to reach a predetermined winning amount. 
     
     
         11 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein time delays are inserted into selected parts of the virtual game operation on an heuristic basis. 
     
     
         12 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein sound effects are included. 
     
     
         13 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein the virtual game operates in an operating system environments selected from the group of Windows XP, Windows Mobile, Apple OS X, Windows Vista, a casino gambling machine, Unix operating environments, PDA operating environments, video game consoles. 
     
     
         14 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein inputs from players are selected from the group of keystrokes, touch screen entry, mouse, and stylus. 
     
     
         15 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein credits are transferred in and out of a machine electronically, by credit or cash card, by tokens, or by cash. 
     
     
         16 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein multiple linked machines are linked wireless or wired networks or optical communication. 
     
     
         17 . The virtual gaming method of  claim 3  wherein multiple linked machines are linked by the internet, a local area network, or a wide area network.