| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080242401 | Wagering Game System with Bistable Lcd Display - A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a display. In one embodiment, the display comprises a printed bistable liquid crystal display assembly, including a plurality of bistable liquid crystal display elements formed by printing at least a portion of each element onto a substrate. In another embodiment, the display comprises an emissive carbon nanotube display assembly, including a plurality of carbon nanotube elements operable to selectively emit electrons such that they strike a phosphor and cause it to emit light. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080311973 | Gaming Machine Having Incremental Bonus Awards - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a display for displaying a plurality of symbols, the symbols indicating a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. The plurality of outcomes include at least one winning outcome wherein the winning outcome is associated with a bonus award. The gaming machine includes a controller operative to vary and display at least a portion of the plurality of symbols. If the symbols indicate the winning outcome, the controller is operative to award a payoff associated with the winning outcome and change the value of the bonus award for a future play of the gaming machine. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090069071 | GAMING SYSTEM WITH CASCADING SYMBOL FEATURE - A gaming system comprising an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system also includes a display for displaying an array of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination is removed from the array and causes other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090075717 | Wagering game with modified award expected value - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming machine further includes a display arrangement that is in communication with a controller. The display arrangement displays a plurality of positions and a range of awards associated with each of the symbol position. The controller is programmable to successively populate the plurality of positions with respective symbols, and, in response to the symbol at any of the plurality of positions being a special award symbol, provide an award randomly selected from the range associated with that position, and modify an expected value of the award randomly selected from the range as a result of each subsequent occurrence of the special award symbol. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090082088 | GAMING MACHINE WITH COLLECTIBLE GAME CARDS - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a plurality of game cards that may be read by one or more card readers of the gaming machine. The game cards may provide a variety of enhancements for the gaming machine, including enhanced game features, enhanced rules of game play, enhanced game characters, and the like. Players may collect the game cards for use in the gaming machine in hopes of increasing their likelihood of achieving a desirable outcome or altering the characteristics of the game to offer more entertaining variations on game play. The players may also trade the game cards with one another and with the casino, thereby creating excitement and interest in the gaming machine. Special interest groups and even entire industries may be formed to facilitate the collecting and trading of the game cards. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090117989 | Wagering Game System With Player Rewards - According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090117990 | Gaming Machine Having An Enhanced Game Play Scheme - A gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme is provided where, in response to receipt of a second wager to select an option, a player is provided with enhanced game play. Enhanced game play may include (1) providing more frequent bonus game play, (2) providing a larger bonus game value payout, (3) providing more frequent bonus game play and providing a larger bonus game value payout, (4) providing a larger or multiplied game value payout, (5) providing a guaranteed value payout for a non-winning outcome, (6) providing game features (7) providing a larger game value payout based on a partial game outcome, (8) providing an extra wild symbol capable of repositioning, and (9) providing a possibility of an additional reel movement to reposition an extra reel symbol or (10) providing a possibility of an extra pay line to include an extra reel symbol to increase a value payout. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090131145 | Wagering Game with Overlying Transmissive Display for Providing Enhanced Game Features - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the game display directly in the player's line of sight including game-play regions at which symbols appear and regions above, below, between, and to the sides the game-play regions. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the game display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. The transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with a bonus game played at the gaming machine. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090131159 | Adjustment of awards in progressive system based on wager - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event. The gaming system includes a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager. The gaming system further includes a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager. A first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine. A second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090170590 | Wagering Game With Enhanced Cascading Reel Symbol Feature - A gaming machine. The gaming machine includes an input device for receiving inputs from a player during the wagering game. The inputs include a wager amount. The gaming machine also includes a display for displaying a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The plurality of symbols is located on a plurality of reels and the randomly selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes. The plurality of outcomes includes a cascade-triggering outcome and a plurality of winning outcomes. Each of the plurality of winning outcomes has an associated initial game payout. In response to the randomly selected outcome being the cascade-triggering outcome, a corresponding symbol is moved and the display displays a cascade outcome. In response to the cascade outcome being one of the plurality of winning outcomes, a cascade payout is awarded that is greater than the initial game payout for that one of the plurality of winning outcomes. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090176558 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Responsible Gaming - A method for promoting responsible wagering game play is provided which includes the acts of tracking a player's wagering losses and triggering a wagering restriction feature when the player's wagering losses exceed a predetermined loss limit and/or a predetermined loss rate. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090239631 | Wagering Game With Symbols Forming An Altered Array or Secondary Array - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system further includes a primary display ( | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090253483 | Wagering Game System with Community Gaming System - A gaming system for playing a wagering game and a community-event includes a plurality of gaming machines configured to participate in a community-event game. A controller is configured to determine eligibility of each of the plurality of gaming machines to play a community-event. At least one of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to determine a randomly selected community-event outcome for a community-event and to transmit a signal related to the community-event outcome to an eligible gaming machine. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090270168 | Progressive Game Eligibility And Winning - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes both enhanced as well as new ways of winning a progressive jackpot. New ways of becoming eligible for a progressive jackpot are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the reset amount, startup value, and funding percentage may be selected as needed to improve player excitement and anticipation. Players may also customize various aspects of the progressive game upon payment of a fee. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090280890 | Wagering Game With Active Paytable Highlighting Winning Combinations - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a game display, a display arrangement, and a controller. The game display is operable to display a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in response to receiving a wager from a player. The display arrangement displays a video image and overlays the game display. The video image includes a paytable having paytable regions indicating respective winning combinations. The controller is in communication with the display arrangement, wherein in response to the randomly selected outcome including symbols of a winning symbol combination, the controller causes one or more aspects of the paytable region associated with the winning combinations to be distinguished from the other paytable regions. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090291731 | WAGERING MACHINES HAVING THREE DIMENSIONAL GAME SEGMENTS - Systems and methods provide a three-dimensional wagering game segment on a wagering game machine. The systems and methods provide three-dimensional representations and movement through a scene. The scene may include target objects, and input may be received indicating actions to be taken with respect to the target objects. The scene may be defined as parts of a tile, and the tile may be part of a track of tiles. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090325681 | Wagering Game With Enhanced Wager-Per-Line Feature - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game by a player includes a display, a credit indicator and a controller. The display is for displaying a wagering-game outcome having a plurality of symbols arranged in an array. The array includes a plurality of paylines for indicating symbol combinations in the array. The player is required to play all of the plurality of paylines in exchange for a minimum wager amount. The credit indicator indicates the number of available credits for making a wager amount. The controller is in communication with the display and the credit indicator. In response to the number of available credits being less than the minimum wager amount, the controller causes the display to display a group of player options for allowing the player to select a disposition for the available credits. The group of player options includes a reduced-payline option to play less than all paylines for a subsequent wagering-game outcome. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100016060 | Wagering Game With Progressive Award Indicator Having An Incrementing Feature - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device, a first display, and a second display. The wager input device receives a wager. The first display displays an array of symbols that indicates a randomly selected outcome. The second display displays an amount of at least one progressive award in at least one display window. The progressive award has an integer value. At least a first incrementing marker moves about the display window in response to changes in value of the progressive award. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100016063 | Wagering Game With Episodic Feature Determined By Player - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a game display and a controller. The game display is operable to display a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in response to receiving a wager from a player. The wagering game has a game-play progression that includes a plurality of game episodes, at least one of the plurality of game episodes having a plurality of episode features. The controller is in communication with the game display and is programmable to cause, in response to a manual selection received from the player, the start of the wagering game from any previously played feature of the plurality of episode features. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100016071 | Wagering Game With Triggering Feature For Special Event - A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a special event that is triggered by a progression through a plurality of subfeatures of the wagering game. The subfeatures are completed upon the collection of a predetermined number of items. The items collected are associated with wagering-game enhancement parameters that are applied to the wagering game in response to the items being randomly awarded during the wagering game. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100029361 | WAGERING GAME MACHINE WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL WAGERING GAME EFFECTS - Systems and methods provide three-dimensional transformations on graphical images. The transformations may vary in accordance with various wagering game functions. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100041464 | COMMUNITY GAMING SYSTEM OUTCOME INDICATORS - A gaming system for playing a wagering game is provided which includes a plurality of gaming machines ( | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100048284 | Wagering Game With Color-Coordinated Progressive Award Indicators - A gaming machine for conducting wagering games comprises a plurality of reels, each reel having one or more reel symbols with a colored background and one or more reel symbols with a white background. The gaming machine may include a progressive game having multiple progressive jackpots that are awarded based on patterns formed by the reel symbols with the colored background in the outcomes of the wagering game. In some embodiments, a video display device is provided for overlaying a video image on the reels. The video image operates as a colored placeholder to hold any partial patterns that were formed by the reel symbols having the colored background for multiple plays of the wagering game. Reel symbols having the colored background appearing in subsequent outcomes of the wagering game may then be used to complete one or more patterns. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100056251 | Wagering System With Improved Expected Value During A Special Event - A method and system for conducting a wagering game with a changed expected value for a special event based on the achievement of a wagering-game enhancement parameter award. The wagering game includes a base game and a special event. The wagering game has a first expected value attributable to the base game and a second expected value attributable to the special event. The special event occurs in response to a triggering event. The first expected value attributable to the base game is decreased. The second expected value attributable to the special event is subsequently increased to compensate for decreasing the first expected value attributable to the base game. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100056252 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING INCREMENTALLY ACTIVATED BONUS AWARDS - A gaming system comprises a wager input device and a display for displaying a plurality of primary symbols, a first bonus reel, and a second bonus reel. The first and second bonus reels have a plurality of bonus symbols thereon. The system further comprises a controller operative to detect a primary wager, a first bonus wager, and a second bonus wager. The controller varies the primary symbols and spins and stops the first bonus reel and the second bonus reel to display a randomly selected outcome. The controller provides a primary award if the primary symbols display a winning outcome. The controller provides a first bonus award if the first bonus wager is detected and the first bonus reel displays a first bonus winning outcome, and provides a second bonus award if the second bonus wager is detected and the second bonus reel displays a second bonus winning outcome. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100056261 | Wagering Gaming With Inter-Player Competition Feature - A variety of inter-player competition features for incorporation into a gaming system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gaming system is provided with a trail-based game and comprises a plurality of gaming machines, signage, and at least one controller. The community event is triggered by an underlying wagering game. The controller is operative to conduct a trail-based game including a token and a trail having a plurality of steps, mark one or more of the plurality of steps with a marker, display a token on at least one of the steps, reduce an award value for the step on which the token is displayed when the step is marked by one or more marker. The award value being reduced for each of the plurality of players whose marker does not mark the step. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100120530 | ADJUSTABLE PLAYING AREA FOR ELECTRONIC GAMING TERMINAL - A gaming terminal includes a gaming cabinet, at least one display, an adjustable playing area, and a player-input button. The at least one display is mounted to the gaming cabinet and configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game. The randomly selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player. The adjustable playing area is mounted to the gaming cabinet below the at least one display. The adjustable playing area is operable to translate linearly between a proximal position and a distal position, the proximal position being near the gaming cabinet and the distal position being away from the gaming cabinet. The player-input button is mounted in the adjustable playing area for receiving game play input from the player. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100130280 | MULTI-PLAYER, MULTI-TOUCH TABLE FOR USE IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100137055 | Wagering Game With Single-Symbol Reel For Enhancing Winning Combinations - A system and method for conducting a wagering game providing an opportunity to earn an increased award is disclosed. A randomly selected outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes is displayed. The plurality of possible outcomes each including a plurality of symbols arranged in an array. An additional symbol is displayed separate from the array. If the displayed randomly selected/outcome includes a winning symbol combination resulting in a first award, a determination is made whether the displayed additional symbol can be combined with the winning symbol combination to yield a second award being larger than the first award. The first award is provided if the additional symbol cannot be combined with the winning symbol combination to yield the second award. The larger second award is provided if the additional symbol can be combined with the winning symbol combination to yield the second award. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100173689 | SWARMING BEHAVIOR IN WAGERING GAME MACHINES - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered; to present an initial image including a subset of a swarm in space representing a portion of the wagering game; and to determine the actual outcome of the wagering game based on player input indications, swarm behavior modeling, and a selected statistical game outcome. An updated image may then be generated and presented, derived from the initial image and the actual outcome. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100190543 | Wagering Game With Rule Set Altered Prior To Completion Of Reel Spin - A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a display and a controller. The display displays a plurality of spinning reels that stop to indicate a randomly selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to accepting a wager input from a player. The controller is in communication with the display and is operative to conduct the wagering game in accordance with a basic set of gaming rules. The controller is further operative to cause a modification to a gaming rule of the basic set of gaming rules and to indicate the modification to the player. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100197385 | WAGERING GAME WITH DUAL-PLAY FEATURE - Multi-player games that foster cooperation or competition between players. A multi-player wagering game system includes a first display to display a first wagering game; a first input device corresponding to the first display to accept input from a first player; a second display to display a second wagering game, the second display being adjacent to the first display; a second input device corresponding to the second display to accept input from a second player; and a bonus display to display a bonus game. The bonus game receiving input from both the first and the second input devices. Computer software causes the first wagering game and the second wagering game to be executed. A multi-person seating device is configured to permit the first player and the second player to sit side-by-side in front of the first display and the second display, respectively. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100240436 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING OUTCOMES INTERACTIVE WITH PLAYING FIELDS - A gaming system comprises a wager input device and at least one display for displaying a primary wagering game and a secondary wagering game. The secondary wagering game comprises a playing field, the playing field having a set of field attributes associated therewith. The system further comprises a controller operative to (i) determine and display a first outcome of the primary wagering game, (ii) determine if a first set of game attributes associated with first outcome is eligible for play in the secondary wagering game, (iii) if the first outcome is eligible, determine a second outcome of the secondary wagering game by resolving the first set of game attributes with the set of field attributes in accordance with a first rule set, and (iv) if the second outcome is a winning outcome, award a first award. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100240442 | PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE PERSISTENT STATE RECOVERY TECHNIQUES - This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for alternative persistent state recovery methods. A method comprises detecting persistent state recovery information from one of two or more persistent state recovery techniques, wherein the persistent state recovery information identifies a persistent state in a wagering game; and restoring the persistent state of the wagering game from the detected persistent state recovery information. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100248806 | Wagering Game With Pyramidal Bonus Selection Feature - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes at least one display and a controller coupled to the display. The display is adapted to display a randomly selected outcome of a basic game of the wagering game. The display displays at least one free spin of a plurality of reels to indicate a free-spin outcome in response to satisfaction of a free-spin event condition in the basic game. At least one possible free-spin outcome is a special-event outcome for permitting play of the special-event. The special-event includes a plurality of levels. Each level has player-selectable elements masking awards including a level-advance outcome. The level-advance outcome allows the player to advance to a next level in the special-event. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100248811 | WAGERING GAME WITH ENHANCED BONUS FEATURE - A gaming system includes at least one display configured to display a plurality of symbols positions. The plurality of symbol positions are configured to display symbols indicative of a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in relation to a plurality of paylines. The gaming system further includes a controller configured to award an award for any winning outcome occurring along a payline and to add a number of winning paylines to a counter configured to track a number of winning paylines. The controller is further configured, in response to a number of winning paylines in the counter exceeding a predetermined threshold number, to activate a game feature in which a second award is awarded. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100267437 | WAGERING GAME MACHINE OPERATIONAL SIMULATION - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to acquire an original player input value associated with a wagering game. One or more simulations may be run in reverse from a randomly selected statistical outcome to determine at least one of a modified starting game parameter value, a modified intermediate-time game parameter value, and a modified player input value. Original starting game parameter values, intermediate-time game parameter values, and/or player input values may be modified to provide the modified starting game parameter values, intermediate-time game parameter values, and player input values, respectively. At least a portion of the simulation running forward based on the modified values may be displayed. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100267439 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING COMMUNITY GAMES WITH ENHANCED INDIVIDUAL OUTCOMES - A gaming system comprises at least one wager input device, a plurality of gaming devices each displaying at least one primary wagering game, and a community display for displaying a community game. At least one controller is operative, in response to a triggering event, to (i) determine which of the plurality of gaming devices are eligible for participation in the community game, (ii) determine an individual award for each of the eligible gaming devices, (iii) determine a community award in the community game, (iv) select an individual award enhancement from a plurality of available individual award enhancements, (v) select one of the plurality of gaming devices to receive the selected individual award enhancement, and (vi) if the selected gaming device is eligible for participation in the community game, enhance the determined individual award for the selected gaming device with the selected individual award enhancement. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100285857 | Wagering Game With Fantasy-Sports Feature - A gaming system and method of conducting a wagering game having a fantasy-sports feature on a gaming system is disclosed. A wager is received from a user to play the wagering game. A roster having one or more player is created, via user selection. A projected team score and an actual team score for the created roster are determined. A ratio is calculated for the actual team score to the projected team score. An award is provided to the user if the calculated ratio meets a predetermined criterion. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100298049 | WAGERING GAME APPARATUS AND METHOD TO PROVIDE A TRUSTED GAMING ENVIRONMENT - A method of configuring a wagering game system to provide a trusted gaming environment includes the acts of randomly selecting at least one simulated physical imperfection from a plurality of available simulated physical imperfections to associate with at least one element of a video image output to a wagering game machine video display and associating the selected simulated physical imperfection with at least one element of the video image. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100317424 | WAGERING GAME WITH COMMUNITY GAME HAVING A PERSISTENT-STATE FEATURE - A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a plurality of gaming machines configured to receive a wagering input and to access a group game including a persistent-state gaming environment. A controller is configured to maintain the persistent-state gaming environment and to control game play within the persistent-state gaming environment. The persistent-state gaming environment is configured to permit ingress and egress of players into and out of the persistent-state gaming environment. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110003629 | Gaming Machine Having Enhanced Game Play Scheme - A gaming machine having an enhanced game play scheme is provided where, in response to receipt of a second wager to select an option, a player is provided with enhanced game play. Enhanced game play may include (1) providing more frequent bonus game play, (2) providing a larger bonus game value payout, (3) providing more frequent bonus game play and providing a larger bonus game value payout, (4) providing a larger or multiplied game value payout, (5) providing a guaranteed value payout for a non-winning outcome, (6) providing game features (7) providing a larger game value payout based on a partial game outcome, (8) providing an extra wild symbol capable of repositioning, and (9) providing a possibility of an additional reel movement to reposition an extra reel symbol or (10) providing a possibility of an extra pay line to include an extra reel symbol to increase a value payout. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110014975 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING DISPLAYS WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE CAPTURE CAPABLITIES - A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving at least one wager and a display for displaying a wagering game. The display includes an integrated image capture device for visually capturing objects proximate the display. The system further comprises at least one controller operative to (i) detect the presence of at least a first object proximate the display, (ii) cause the image capture device to visually capture the first object and create a stored image thereof, (iii) graphically integrate the stored image of the first object into the wagering game, and (iv) display one or more outcomes of the wagering game which include one or more symbols comprising at least a portion of the stored image. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110021260 | Wagering Game With Multiple Episode-Based Bonus Games - A gaming machine for playing an episodic wagering game includes a game display and a controller. The game display is operable to display a randomly selected outcome of an episodic wagering game in response to receiving a wager from a player. The display further displays creative material content in one or more episodes of the episodic wagering game. The controller is in communication with the game display and is programmable to provide an award based on the randomly selected outcome and, in response to collecting a predetermined number of game items in one or more of the game episodes, cause the display of new creative material content of the wagering game without affecting the expected value of the episodic wagering game. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110021266 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING RE-AWARDING OF STORED AWARDS - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game, at least one display for displaying the wagering game, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to display a first outcome of the wagering game and award a first award associated with the first outcome, store the first award in a stored awards group, cause the at least one display to display the stored awards group, and re-award one or more awards in the stored awards group upon the occurrence of a triggering event. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110028207 | INTEGRATING VIDEO BROADCASTS INTO WAGERING GAMES - Described herein are processes and devices that integrate video broadcasts into wagering games. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can receive a video feed and detect activity performed in the video feed. The system can generate a wagering game character that in some way emulates the activity performed in the video feed. The system can detecting activities performed by the wagering game character and utilize the activities to generating a wagering game outcome. The system can also generate overlay objects to be used as wagering game elements and integrate the overlay objects with the video feed as a wagering game, or in conjunction with wagering games. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110034239 | Wagering Game with Community Game Features - A community game having a “winner-takes-all” feature in which at least one eligible proxy winning player of a round of the community game, which is initiated by a triggering event and is played by multiple players at linked gaming terminals, accrues the highest award among the awards accrued by other proxy players of the community game. The winning proxy player must satisfy an eligibility criterion to participate in the community game and to be eligible to receive the winner-takes-all award, which includes all of the awards accrued by the winning eligible proxy player during one or more rounds and at least the other respective awards accrued by the other proxy players during the round(s). These awards can include those accrued by non-eligible proxy players as well, who are awarded nothing at the end of the round(s). Non-winning eligible proxy players of the community game are awarded whatever awards they accrued during the round(s). | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110034241 | Wagering Award Amount Determined By Wager Size And/Or Speed Of Play - A gaming system for playing a progressive wagering game includes a progressive award having a default value, which is determined based on wagers received from a plurality of players. A bonus eligibility time period is enabled, in accordance with at least one of a wager size and a player speed of play, during which an award modifier is available to at least one of the players. Based on the award modifier, the default value is changed to a modified value that is displayed in response to the award modifier being available to the player. In response to the award modifier becoming unavailable, the default value of the progressive award is displayed. The progressive award is awarded in response to achieving a winning outcome. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110045908 | SERVING PATRONS IN A WAGERING GAME ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for serving patrons in a wagering game environment are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving patron service information, wherein the patron service information indicates activities of a patron in a casino. The method can also include selecting, based on the patron service information, a service for the patron, wherein the patron has not requested the service. Additionally, the method can include presenting a service order instructing a service attendant to deliver the service. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110053671 | Enhanced Poker Game System With Additional Bonus Challenges - A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a display having a display area showing a poker-themed wagering game. A wager input device receives a base wager to play the poker-themed wagering game. A controller is coupled to the display and the wager input device. The controller is operative to provide a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a user-playable hand and award a payoff based on a ranking of the user-playable hand meeting a predetermined criterion. The controller may receive a side wager separate from the base wager from the player to trigger a challenge based on meeting a condition in at least one of a predetermined number of future plays of the wagering game. Additional free challenges may be triggered for the predetermined number of future plays. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110065495 | NETWORKED COMMUNITY CHEST - A wagering game in which a bonus event is triggered and during the bonus event possible bonus awards are displayed on corresponding displays of electronic gaming devices (EGDs) and eliminated one at a time until the predetermined bonus award remains and is revealed to the player. The EGDs are linked together to a main controller, and a predetermined bonus award is randomly determined for each EGD. The main controller stores all of the predetermined bonus awards for all of the EGDs participating in the bonus event, and communicates a subset of possible bonus awards to each of the EGDs, where each subset includes the predetermined bonus award to be awarded at each EGD and at least one decoy bonus award that will not be awarded. The EGDs display a bonus award show in which the decoy bonus awards are eliminated, one at a time, preferably such that the highest valued decoy bonus awards are eliminated last, until one remaining predetermined bonus award is revealed to the player. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110065496 | AUGMENTED REALITY MECHANISM FOR WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting, at a gaming machine, a fiducial marker in one or more images captured by an image capture device of the gaming machine, determining an orientation of the fiducial marker, and detecting a fiducial code embedded within the fiducial marker. The operations can also include providing, via a network, fiducial code information and fiducial marker orientation information to a wagering game server to identify an augmented reality object associated with the fiducial code and determine attributes of the augmented reality object. The operations can further include receiving, at the gaming machine, wagering game content and the augmented reality object from the wagering game server, incorporating the augmented reality object within the wagering game content, and presenting the wagering game content comprising the augmented reality object on a display device of the gaming machine. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110070940 | COMPETITIVE-COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY EVENT - A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming terminals. Each terminal includes a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. Each gaming terminal further includes at least one display displaying a portion of a continuous image. Each gaming terminal further includes a controller coupled to the one or more displays and the wager input device. The controller is operative to cause at least one of the displays to display a community gaming event. At least one display of each of the linked gaming terminals displays a portion of a continuous image. Two or more of the plurality of linked gaming terminals are associated with a first team and two or more of the plurality of linked gaming terminals are associated with a second team. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110081959 | REPRESENTING PHYSICAL STATE IN GAMING SYSTEMS - In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes determining physical inputs applicable to a wagering game event, wherein the wagering game event involves game elements of a wagering game. The method can also include determining, based on the physical inputs, a first force to be applied to a first object representing a first of the game elements, and applying the first force to the first object; determining that a collision has occurred between the first object and a second object representing a second of the game elements. The method can also include determining a second force to be applied to the first object because of the collision, presenting the first and second objects based on the first and second forces, determining an outcome of the wagering game event based on the first and second forces, and presenting the outcome of the wagering game event. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110092268 | Gaming Machine With Synchronized Bezel Lights - A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device, and a display for displaying a wagering game. The wagering game includes at least one moveable game element, at least one bezel light positioned proximate the display, and a controller operative to activate the bezel light in coordination with movement of the at least one moveable game element. The gaming system may have a plurality of bezel lights respectively positioned proximate the display, and the controller may be operative to activate the bezel lights singly or in combination in coordination with movement of the at least one moveable game element. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110092277 | Wagering Game With Multi-Level Progressive Jackpot With Partial Reset - A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a bonus feature that awards percentages of a progressive jackpot award without resetting the progressive jackpot award. A wager input receives a wager from a player to play a single play of a wagering game. The wagering increases the progressive jackpot award. A bonus feature is triggered that includes awarding a first award that has an amount that is a percentage less than 100% of the progressive jackpot award. The bonus feature may also award a second award that is at least the entire progressive jackpot award. If the first award is awarded, the progressive jackpot award remains at the same level. If the second award is awarded, the progressive jackpot award is reset to a predetermined minimum value. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110098102 | Wagering Game For Awarding Attributes In A Plurality Of Plays - A method for conducting a computer-implemented wagering game includes using a processor to execute a plurality of plays of the wagering game, each play having an expected value. A plurality of randomly selected symbols, which are associated with each play, are displayed on a display. The processor is used to randomly assign a plurality of attributes across the plurality of plays. Each attribute increases an expected value of the play to which the attribute is assigned, from a first value to a second value. The first value is in the absence of the attribute and the second value is in the presence of the attribute. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110098107 | Gaming System With Non-Cash-Based Progressive Awards - A gaming method includes displaying on a display a progressive award as a cash value and incrementing the progressive award in response to play of one or more processor-controlled wagering games or gaming devices linked to the progressive award. One or more processors are used to convert the cash value of the progressive award to a plurality of non-cash values of respective different game parameters, and, in response to a triggering event, a progressive game is awarded using the non-cash value of one of the game parameters. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110105218 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE WAGERING GAMES WITH SHARED FEATURES - A method of playing a wagering game comprises receiving a wager, and generating a randomly selected first outcome of a first wagering game, the first outcome comprising a first plurality of symbols arranged in a first matrix. The method further comprises generating a randomly selected second outcome of a second wagering game, the second outcome comprising a second plurality of symbols arranged in a second matrix, and simultaneously displaying the first outcome and the second outcome on at least one display. The method further comprises detecting an occurrence of a triggering event, in response to the triggering event, copying a first special symbol occurring in the first outcome into the second outcome to yield a modified second outcome, and evaluating the first outcome and the modified second outcome for winning combinations of symbols. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110117987 | Wagering Game With Overlying Transmissive Display for Providing Enhanced Game Features - A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a primary display and a secondary display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the primary display directly in the player's line of sight. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the primary display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. Where the gaming machine includes a bonus game, the transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with the gaming machine. In some embodiments, the transmissive display may also be positioned over the secondary display. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110118034 | IMMERSIVE WAGERING GAME MACHINE LIGHTING STRUCTURES - A lighting controller can be configured to control a variety of immersive lighting structures proximate to a wagering game machine (e.g., surrounding, affixed to, flanking, etc.) in accordance with game events (e.g., the wagering game being played, a bonus game, a portal game, etc.) and/or non-game events (e.g., emergency notifications, non-emergency casino announcements, etc.). The lighting controller can control the immersive lighting structure for a single wagering game machine and/or immersive lighting structures of multiple wagering game machines to produce light effects based on a lighting scheme that corresponds to a game event or non-game event. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110143841 | WAGERING GAME DIGITAL REPRESENTATIVE - A wagering game developer can support an online wager gaming community and provide digital representatives to members to enhance real-life wager gaming experience. A digital representative of a wagering game player can be imported from a remote store associated with an online wager gaming community. Data associated with the digital representative can also be imported. Wagering game activity of the wagering game player at one or more electronic wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment is determined. One or more digital representative data updates for the digital representative are determined based, at least in part, on the determined wagering game activity of the wagering game player. The one or more digital representative updates are applied to the data associated with the digital representative. The digital representative and the updated data associated with the digital representative are exported. | 06-16-2011 |
