1. A method comprising:
generating content that depicts a wagering game;
providing the content to a plurality of machines via a wagering game network venue, wherein the plurality of machines are configured to receive the content and present a depiction of the wagering game, wherein a first machine, from the plurality of machines, is associated with a first user that plays the wagering game, and wherein a second machine, from the plurality of machines, is associated with a second user that views the wagering game as an audience member;
detecting a first user input associated with the second machine, said first user input indicating performance of an activity by the second user; and
increasing a chance that a second user input associated with the first machine will result in a winning outcome of the wagering game in response to detecting the first user input associated with the second machine.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity is one or more of visiting a specific website, playing a game, accepting an offer, and viewing an advertisement.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing the chance that the second user input associated with the first machine will result in the winning outcome of the wagering game comprises modifying one or more of game rules for the wagering game and a number of game elements of the wagering game.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the first user to play the wagering game based on one or more of a number of social contacts associated with the player, activity of friends associated with the player, and an auction.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting via the network wagering venue a counter that indicates a short time period before the network-wide wagering game event will occur.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting a third user input, via the first machine, during the wagering game, wherein the third user input indicates a selection, by the first user, of the second user to play a portion of the wagering game; and
assigning control of the portion of the wagering game to the second machine in response to the third user input.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting one or more features via the second machine, wherein the features are configured to receive, from the second user one or more of shadow betting and side betting on a performance of the first user in the wagering game.
8. One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors causes the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
initiating, simultaneously, a plurality of instances of a progressive bonus game on an online wagering game website;
selecting a first user account, associated with a player of the online wagering game website, to play in one of the plurality of instances of the progressive bonus game;
detecting that a second user account is subscribed to the first user account via the online wagering game website; and
broadcasting web content to a web browser associated with the second user account in response to detecting that the second user account is subscribed to the first user account, wherein the web content presents the one of the plurality of the instances of the progressive bonus game for a second user, associated with the second user account, to view the play of the one of the plurality of instances of the progressive bonus game.
9. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 8, said operations further comprising:
providing a plurality of wagering games via the wagering game website;
receiving contribution amounts from wagers from the plurality of wagering games;
using the contribution amounts to fund the plurality of instances of the progressive bonus game.
10. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 8, said operations further comprising:
automatically presenting the web content via the web browser in response to detecting that the second user accounts is subscribed to the first user account.
11. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 8, wherein said operations further comprising:
presenting a picker grid of selectable game play elements via the web content; and
associating each of the selectable game play elements with game result elements, wherein the game result elements are revealed when the player participant selects any one of the selectable game play elements, wherein the game result elements comprise progression result elements and loss result elements, wherein the progression result elements advance the one instance of the progressive bonus game to one or more successive game rounds, and wherein in the one or more successive game rounds said operations further comprising increasing chances of revealing loss result elements.
12. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 8, said operations further comprising:
determining that the second user is not logged on to the wagering game website via the second user account;
detecting contact information associated with the second user account; and
sending a notification of the one of the plurality of the instances of the progressive bonus game to a personal mobile device of the second user using the contact information
13. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein if the associated game result element is the progression result element, for each of the one or more successive additional game rounds, said operations further comprising:
presenting an avatar that represents the second user, via the web content, during play of the one of the plurality of instances of the progressive bonus game; and
awarding the second user account in response to the presenting the avatar.
14. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 8, said operations further comprising:
automatically including the second user account as a participant in a chat room in response to broadcasting the web content to the web browser.
15. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 8, said operations further comprising:
awarding the second user account based on progress made by the first user account.
16. A system comprising:
a server comprising,
a first content controller configured to
provide content for a wagering game event to a plurality of clients via a network wagering venue, wherein the plurality of clients are configured to receive the content and present a depiction of the wagering game event, and
a network event controller configured to
provide playing controls, via the content, to a first client of the plurality of clients, wherein the first client is associated with a first user of the network wagering venue,
detect use of the playing controls, wherein said use of the playing controls represents a performance in the wagering game event by the first user, wherein a second client of the plurality of clients is associated with a second user of the network wagering venue, and wherein the second client is configured to present a depiction of the performance of the wagering game event to the second user as an audience member, and
provide an award to the second user based on the performance in the wagering game event by the first user;
the first client comprising a second content controller configured to receive the content and present the depiction of the wagering game event; and
the second client comprising a third content controller configured to receive the content and present the depiction of the wagering game event.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server further comprises
an agency controller configured to
select a third user account before providing the playing controls to the first client of the plurality of clients, wherein the third user account is eligible to play the wagering game event;
determine that the third user is not logged on to a user network associated with the network wagering venue, and
select the first user as an agent to perform in the wagering game event in place of the third user.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured to
present additional content via the second client, wherein the additional content comprises a game for the second user to play during the performance by the first user for the wagering game event; and
increase chances that the performance will result in a winning outcome for the wagering game event based on an additional performance by the second user of the game.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a wagering game module configured to, via the processor
detect a payment by a first user of an amount of money via an online wagering venue,
select the first user to play a bonus game on the online wagering venue in response to the payment by the first user of the amount of money,
generate content that depicts the bonus game,
present the content via the online wagering venue, said content configured to receive first user input from the first user to play the bonus game and receive second user input from second users to participate as audience members of the bonus game,
detect performance of social communications by the second users via the content while the first user plays the bonus game, and
increase a chance that the bonus game will result in a winning outcome in response to the performance of the social communications by the second users.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the wagering game module is configured to detect the performance of the social communications by the second users via the content while the first user plays the bonus game being configured to
present chat controls in the content; and
detect use of the chat controls by the second users while the first user plays the bonus game.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wagering game module is configured to detect the payment by the first user of the amount of money via an online wagering venue being configured to
present additional content configured to accept bids for an auction to play the bonus game,
detect a high bid for the auction user of the additional content, wherein the high bid is associated with the first user,
obtain the payment via a player account associated with the first user, wherein the payment is equivalent to the high bid.
22. An apparatus comprising:
means for selecting a player to control play in a network-wide wagering game event on a network wagering venue, wherein audience members, associated with the network wagering venue, view the network wagering venue via web browsers;
means for detecting a selection by the player of one of the audience members to control the wagering game elements during at least a portion of the network-wide wagering game event;
means for detecting user inputs by the one of the audience members during the portion of the network-wide wagering game event via one of the web browsers associated with the one of the audience members;
means for generating, in response to the user inputs, one or more winning outcomes of the network-wide wagering game event; and
means for awarding one or more of the player and the one of the audience members in response to generating the one or more winning outcomes of the network-wide wagering game event.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:
means for presenting a game for the audience members to play during the network-wide wagering game event;
means for generating, in response to play by the first user, one or more additional winning outcomes of the network-wide wagering game event; and
means awarding the audience members via the game based at least in part on the one or more additional winning outcomes.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:
means for determining one or more activities performed by one or more of the audience members; and
means for increasing chances of the player obtaining a desired goal in the network-wide wagering game event based on the one or more activities.
25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for selecting the player to control the play in the network-wide wagering game event further comprises,
means for detecting an outcome of an a non-gaming event that occurs external to the network wagering venue, wherein the non-gaming event has a predictable occurrence with a random value;
means for determining that the player correctly guessed the random value; and
means for selecting the player to control the play in the network-wide wagering game in response to determining that the player correctly guessed the random value.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An outboard trolling motor deployment and control system for a boat, said system comprising:
an outboard trolling motor assembly,
a deployment assembly disposed in a cooperative engagement with said outboard trolling motor assembly,
said deployment assembly further disposed in an interconnecting orientation with a hull of the boat,
said deployment assembly structured to facilitate positioning said outboard trolling motor assembly along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and at least one predetermined deployed position,
said predetermined deployed position at least partially defined by said outboard trolling motor assembly disposed laterally outward from at least one side of the boat,
said outboard trolling motor assembly comprising at least one thrust axis, said at least one thrust axis disposed and continuously maintained substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the boat, and
a control assembly disposed in a communicative relationship with said outboard trolling motor assembly, said control assembly structured to at least actuate said outboard trolling motor assembly.
2. A system as recited in claim 1 comprising at least one power supply disposed in an at least temporary energizing relation with said outboard trolling motor assembly.
3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein said control assembly is disposed in a further communicative relationship with said at least one power supply and is structured to actuate said outboard trolling motor assembly by at least temporarily disposing said at least one power supply into said energizing relation with said outboard trolling motor assembly.
4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined deployed position is further defined by said outboard trolling motor assembly disposed laterally outward from at least one side of a stern of the boat.
5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said substantially arcuate path of travel is disposed in a generally vertical plane.
6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said outboard trolling motor assembly comprises at least one outboard trolling motor.
7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said outboard trolling motor assembly comprises at least one pair of outboard trolling motors.
8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said outboard trolling motors is structured to generate an amount of thrust along a corresponding thrust axis, each of said thrust axes disposed and continuously maintained substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the boat.
9. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said predetermined deployed position is further defined by each of said pair of outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward from an opposite side of the boat.
10. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said predetermined deployed position is further defined by each of said pair of outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward a substantially equal distance from an opposite side of the boat.
11. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said predetermined deployed position is further defined by each of said pair of outboard trolling motors disposed a substantially equal depth below a normal surface of the body of water.
12. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein each said outboard trolling motor comprises a propeller interconnected thereto by a drive shaft.
13. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said deployment assembly comprises at least one pair of positionable mounting members, each of said positionable mounting members operatively engaging a different one of said outboard trolling motors.
14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein said deployment assembly further comprises at least one pair of mounting sleeve mechanisms, each of said mounting sleeve mechanisms structured to interconnect a different one of said positionable mounting members to the boat through a portion of the hull.
15. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein said deployment assembly further comprises at least one pair of mounting sleeve mechanisms, each of said mounting sleeve mechanisms structured to movably interconnect a different one of said positionable mounting members to the boat through a portion of the hull.
16. A system as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said mounting sleeve mechanisms is further structured to rotatably interconnect a different one of said positionable mounting members to the boat through the portion of the hull.
17. A system as recited in claim 14 wherein each said mounting sleeve mechanism comprises a sealing mechanism, each of said sealing mechanisms structured to provide a liquid restrictive interconnection between a corresponding one of said positionable mounting members and the portion of the hull of the boat.
18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the portion of the hull is a transom.
19. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said deployment assembly comprises at least one positionable mounting member wherein said predetermined deployed position is further defined by said thrust axis being disposed and continuously maintained in said substantially parallel disposition to the longitudinal centerline of the boat by said positionable mounting member.
20. An outboard trolling motor deployment and control system for a boat disposed in a body of water, said system comprising:
an outboard trolling motor assembly,
said outboard trolling motor assembly comprising at least one pair of outboard trolling motors,
a deployment assembly comprising at least one pair of positionable mounting members, each of said positionable mounting members operatively engaging a different one of said outboard trolling motors,
each of said positionable mounting members further disposed in an interconnecting orientation with the boat via a corresponding mounting sleeve mechanism,
said deployment assembly structured to facilitate positioning each of said outboard trolling motors along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and at least one predetermined deployed position,
said predetermined deployed position at least partially defined by each of said outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward from an opposite side of a stern of the boat into a substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water,
each of said outboard trolling motors structured to generate an amount of thrust along a corresponding thrust axis, each of said thrust axes disposed and continuously maintained substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the boat, and
a control assembly disposed in a communicative relationship with at least said outboard trolling motors.
21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said predetermined deployed position is further defined by each of said thrust axes submerged in the substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water and disposed substantially parallel to a normal surface of the body of water.
22. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said deployment assembly is further structured to facilitate rotatably positioning each of said outboard trolling motors along said substantially arcuate path of travel between said stowed position and said predetermined deployed position.
23. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein each of said positionable mounting members comprise a positionable stop member structured to facilitate disposing a corresponding one of said outboard trolling motors between said stowed position and said at least one predetermined deployed position.
24. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said mounting sleeve mechanisms comprise at least one deployment stop member.
25. A system as recited in claim 24 wherein said predetermined deployed position is at least partially defined by a portion of one of said positionable stop members abutting a portion of a corresponding one of said at least one deployment stop member.
26. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said mounting sleeve mechanisms comprise a plurality of deployment stop members.
27. A system as recited in claim 26 wherein said deployment assembly is further structured to facilitate positioning each of said outboard trolling motors along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and each of a plurality of predetermined deployed positions.
28. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein each of said plurality of predetermined deployed positions is at least partially defined by a portion of one of said positionable stop members abutting a portion of a corresponding one of said plurality of deployment stop members.
29. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said mounting sleeve mechanisms comprise at least one stowage stop member.
30. A system as recited in claim 29 wherein said stowed position is at least partially defined by a portion of one of said positionable stop members abutting a portion of a corresponding one of said at least one stowage stop member.
31. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said stowed position is at least partially defined by said outboard trolling motors disposed out of the body of water and positioned above a portion of the hull of the boat.
32. A system as recited in claim 31 wherein the portion of the hull is a transom.
33. An outboard trolling motor deployment and control system for a boat disposed in a body of water, said system comprising:
an outboard trolling motor assembly comprising at least one pair of outboard trolling motors,
a deployment assembly comprising at least one pair of positionable mounting members, each of said positionable mounting members operatively engaging a different one of said outboard trolling motors,
said deployment assembly further disposed in an interconnecting orientation with the boat,
said deployment assembly structured to facilitate positioning each of said outboard trolling motors along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and at least one predetermined deployed position,
said predetermined deployed position at least partially defined by each of said outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward from an opposite side of the stern of the boat in a substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water,
each of said outboard trolling motors structured to generate an amount of thrust along a corresponding thrust axis, each of said thrust axes disposed and continuously maintained substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the boat,
a control assembly disposed in a communicative relationship with at least said outboard trolling motors,
at least one power supply at least temporarily disposed in an energizing relation with said outboard trolling motors, and
said control assembly structured to at least actuate said outboard trolling motors.
34. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises at least one actuation switch, said actuation switch structured to actuate at least one of said outboard trolling motors.
35. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises a plurality of actuation switches, each of said actuation switches structured to actuate a corresponding one of said outboard trolling motors.
36. A system as recited in claims 33 wherein said control assembly comprises a master actuation switch, said master actuation switch structured to actuate at least said pair of outboard trolling motors.
37. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises at least one direction switch, said direction switch structured to operate at least one of said outboard trolling motors in either a forward direction or a reverse direction.
38. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises a plurality of direction switches, each of said direction switches structured to operate a corresponding one of said outboard trolling motors in either a forward direction or a reverse direction.
39. A system as recited in claims 33 wherein said control assembly comprises a master direction switch, said master direction switch structured to operate at least said pair of outboard trolling motors in either a forward direction or a reverse direction.
40. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises at least one speed switch, said speed switch structured to operate at least one of said outboard trolling motors at any one of a plurality of motor speeds.
41. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises a plurality of speed switches, each of said speed switches structured to operate a corresponding one of said outboard trolling motors at any one of a plurality of motor speeds.
42. A system as recited in claim 33 wherein said control assembly comprises a master speed switch, said master speed switch structured to operate at least said pair of outboard trolling motors at any one of a plurality of motor speeds.
43. A system as recited in claim 33 further comprising a safety switch, said safety switch structured to prevent said actuation of said outboard trolling motors when said motors are not disposed in said predetermined deployed position.
44. An outboard trolling motor deployment and control system for a boat disposed in a body of water, said system comprising:
an outboard trolling motor assembly comprising at least one pair of outboard trolling motors,
each of said outboard trolling motors structured to generate an amount of thrust along a corresponding thrust axis, each of said thrust axes disposed and continuously maintained substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the boat,
a deployment assembly comprising at least one pair of positionable mounting members each operatively engaging a different one of said outboard trolling motors,
said deployment assembly further disposed in an interconnecting orientation with a transom of the boat,
said deployment assembly structured to facilitate rotatably positioning each of said outboard trolling motors along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and at least one predetermined deployed position,
said deployment assembly further structured to maintain each of said thrust axes disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal centerline of the boat at each point along said substantially arcuate path of travel,
said predetermined deployed position at least partially defined by each of said outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward a substantially equal distance from an opposite side of the stern of the boat in a substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water,
said predetermined deployed position further defined by each of said outboard trolling motors disposed a substantially equal depth below a normal surface of the substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water,
a control assembly disposed in a communicative relationship with at least said outboard trolling motors,
at least one power supply at least temporarily disposed in an energizing relation with said outboard trolling motors, and
said control assembly structured to at least actuate said outboard trolling motors.
45. An outboard trolling motor deployment and control system for a boat disposed in a body of water, said system comprising:
an outboard trolling motor assembly comprising at least one pair of outboard trolling motors,
a deployment assembly comprising at least one pair of positionable mounting members, each of said positionable mounting members structured to be disposed in an interconnecting orientation with a portion of the boat and structured to operatively engage a different one of said outboard trolling motors,
each of said positionable mounting members further structured and disposed to facilitate positioning a corresponding one of said outboard trolling motors along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and at least one predetermined deployed position,
said predetermined deployed position at least partially defined by each of said outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward from an opposite side of the stern of the boat in a substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water,
each of said outboard trolling motors structured to generate an amount of thrust along a corresponding thrust axis, and
said predetermined deployed position is further defined by each of said thrust axes being disposed and continuously maintained in said substantially parallel disposition to the longitudinal centerline of the boat by a corresponding one of said positionable mounting members.
46. An outboard trolling motor deployment and control system for a boat disposed in a body of water, said system comprising:
an outboard trolling motor assembly comprising at least one pair of outboard trolling motors,
a deployment assembly comprising at least one pair of positionable mounting members, each of said positionable mounting members operatively engaging a different one of said outboard trolling motors,
each of said positionable mounting members further disposed in an interconnecting orientation with a transom of the boat via a corresponding mounting sleeve mechanism,
said deployment assembly structured to facilitate positioning each of said outboard trolling motors along a substantially arcuate path of travel between a stowed position and at least one predetermined deployed position,
said predetermined deployed position at least partially defined by each of said outboard trolling motors disposed laterally outward from an opposite side of a stern of the boat in a substantially undisturbed portion of the body of water,
each of said outboard trolling motors structured to generate an amount of thrust along a corresponding thrust axis, each of said thrust axes disposed and continuously maintained substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the boat,
a control assembly disposed in a communicative relationship with at least said outboard trolling motors,
at least one power supply at least temporarily disposed in an energizing relation with said outboard trolling motors, and
said control assembly structured to at least actuate said outboard trolling motors.