Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110244952 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE AND NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PLAYER AVATAR - A method, gaming machine, and networked gaming system are disclosed for operating a wagering game that includes an interface activate-able by a player; a set of game plays, with at least one of the game plays occurring after activation of the interface by the player; and a persistent customizable player avatar interactive with a player and the wagering game, and, providing entertainment and companionship for a player during game play. | 10-06-2011 |
20120034968 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM, AND METHOD WITH A PLAYER-DETERMINABLE FEATURE GAME ASPECT - A wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system, and associated methods are disclosed including a bank of gaming machines connected to an overhead display enabling players at the respective gaming machines to qualify to play a player-interactive community feature game displayed on the overhead display wherein each qualified player may sequentially launch one or more virtual objects or projectiles and accumulate awards as the objects traverse a virtual surface shown on the overhead display. A stand-alone wagering game with a player-interactive feature game is also disclosed. Additionally disclosed is a web-based community game system wherein players may login, accumulate points, and redeem awards either online or at networked casino site. | 02-09-2012 |
20120077569 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM, AND METHOD WITH AN EMBEDDED BONUS GAME - A method of operating a gaming machine includes receiving one or more primary game inputs through the gaming machine to initiate one or more plays of a primary game. After the one or more plays of the primary game, a feature game is initiated and presented at the gaming machine through a display device included with the gaming machine. In response to a triggering event in the feature game and prior to completion of the feature game, the method further includes initiating an embedded bonus game and presenting the embedded bonus game through the display device. Upon completion of the embedded bonus game, the method continues with presenting a remainder of the feature game. The method further includes awarding a total prize for the feature game and embedded bonus game. The total prize is made up of a feature game prize component obtained in the presentation of the feature game and an embedded bonus game prize component obtained in the presentation of the embedded bonus game. | 03-29-2012 |
20120077579 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH GAME PLAY INTERRUPT AND RESUME - A wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system, and associated methods are disclosed including a bank of gaming machines connected to an overhead display enabling players at the respective gaming machines to qualify to play a community feature game displayed on the overhead display. Prior to the start of the community feature game, the primary game on the respective gaming machines may be interrupted, the game state stored, and following the conclusion of the community feature game, the game may resume according to its stored game state. | 03-29-2012 |
20120077587 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH REAL-TIME POSITION UPDATES - A wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system, and associated methods are disclosed including a bank of gaming machines connected to an overhead display enabling players at the respective gaming machines to qualify to play a community feature game displayed on the overhead display wherein each qualified player may view general and personalized real-time position updates. | 03-29-2012 |
20120077588 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH SLOW MOTION REPLAY - A wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system, and associated methods are disclosed including a bank of gaming machines connected to an overhead display enabling players at the respective gaming machines to qualify to play a community feature game displayed on the overhead display wherein each qualified player may view a slow motion finish and/or replay including a flash photograph-effect. | 03-29-2012 |
20120083331 | CONVERTIBLE IN-REVENUE AND OUT-OF-REVENUE GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A REAL-TIME STREAMING VIDEO FEED AND DISPLAY - A convertible in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming system is disclosed that includes a server connected to automatically convert operating modes and control in-revenue and out-of-revenue operation of one or more banks of gaming machines. Additionally disclosed are gaming machines with video cameras connected to provide live video feed to one or more displays, such as during tournament play when live video feed of the players and the player tournament positions may be driven in real-time to an overhead display by the server operating in a tournament controller mode. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083908 | CONVERTIBLE IN-REVENUE AND OUT-OF-REVENUE GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A REAL-TIME PLAYER DASHBOARD DISPLAY - A convertible in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming system is disclosed that includes a server connected to automatically convert operating modes and control in-revenue and out-of-revenue operation of one or more banks of gaming machines wherein each of the gaming machines includes a video camera connected to capture live player video feed during competition or tournament operating mode, and each of the gaming machines is operable to display a tournament game presentation simultaneously with a player dashboard. The player dashboard includes a display of the live player video, the player position, the player score, and remaining time in the competition or tournament. | 04-05-2012 |
20120083909 | TOURNAMENT GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A PLAYER-INTERACTIVE BONUS FEATURE - A tournament game, gaming machine, gaming system and method are disclosed wherein a player-interactive bonus feature is triggered and displayed simultaneously with a tournament game presentation and a bonus award is paid responsive to a player selecting a displayed bonus target, such as a balloon. The bonus award is paid in addition to any award payable based on the tournament game outcome. | 04-05-2012 |
20120115599 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A TOUCH- ACTIVATED RESIDUAL GRAPHIC EFFECT FEATURE - A wagering game includes a display assembly having a touch-sensitive display adjacent to or overlaying a display area operable to present a wagering game presentation. The touch-sensitive display is operable to display a residual graphic effect such as a trailing particle effect following the path of a player's finger or other contactor in contact with the touch-sensitive display. The residual graphic effect may include repeated discrete graphic elements such as a star or sparkle, or a game theme-associated element such as a butterfly or butterflies corresponding to a butterfly themed game. The residual graphic effect may also or alternatively include an effect such as a wave or ripple visual effect or a shockwave visual effect which does not necessarily include any discrete graphic element. | 05-10-2012 |
20120122545 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING NETWORK, AND METHODS INCLUDING A DYNAMIC WHEEL - A wagering game, gaming machine, gaming network, and associated methods are disclosed including a dynamic wheel wherein a wheel game includes re-programming the wheel display and associated awards during successive plays. The dynamic wheel may be displayed in a wheel display area of a flat panel display device. The wheel display area along with other display areas may be defined by a bezel positioned over the display surface of the flat panel display device. | 05-17-2012 |
20120122550 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SECONDARY GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display. | 05-17-2012 |
20120122571 | TOP BOX WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND GAMING MACHINE HAVING A TOP BOX WHEEL ASSEMBLY - A top box wheel assembly and method are disclosed wherein a flat panel display is mounted on a rectangular shaped cabinet top box structure and a circular bezel structure overlays the flat panel display such that a wheel-shaped display area is provided. The circular bezel structure also is shown to include a rectangular cutout base to also provide a rectangular-shaped display area. The circular bezel structure is further shown to include a circular pattern of LEDs which may be operated synchronously or quasi-synchronously with the wheel-shaped display area on which a rotating wheel may be displayed together with an indicator. | 05-17-2012 |
20120172105 | GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A DYNAMIC BINGO CARD - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more dynamic bingo cards or artifices wherein each daubed number on a bingo card is removed from its initial location and re-located to the last position of the payline on which the daubed number is positioned and at least one other number on the associated payline is moved to replace the position vacated by the daubed number. Once the final number is drawn, paylines with all daubed numbers are paid according to the paytable. If all positions on a bingo card are daubed, then a progressive or other jackpot award may be paid. | 07-05-2012 |
20120295688 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH NUDGING RE-SPINNING STACKED WILDS - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more stacked wild symbols which when appearing, trigger one or more re-spins wherein stacked wild symbols are locked in place for at least one re-spin. Awards are paid following each game outcome. In the event that a portion of a stacked wild symbol is displayed as part of a game outcome, the associated reel may nudge upward or downward to shift the entire stacked wild symbol into view, awards are then paid on the winning outcomes, and one or more re-spins may ensue with any displayed stacked wild symbols being locked for at least one subsequent re-spin. | 11-22-2012 |
20120295689 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A MATCHING SYMBOLS BONUS TRIGGER - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with a first set of reels operable to randomly determine a primary game outcome and a pair of reels positioned about the first set of reels and operable to randomly determine an indicia pair outcome, the indicia pair outcome operable to modify the primary game outcome. In the event that the indicia pair outcome includes a matching pair of designated indicia, then a bonus (or feature) game may be triggered wherein the matching pair are locked in place while one or more free spins of the first set of reels occurs, and, awards are provided for each winning outcome. | 11-22-2012 |
20130029739 | Personalized Jackpot Wagering Game, Gaming System, and Method - A gaming system and method is disclosed that includes a personalized tournament or group event hosting website wherein players may participate in or organize one or more groups and/or associated group events online or at participating casinos, invite friends and acquaintances to join one or more groups, accept or extend invitations to play in tournaments or competitions, and, set up and enter tournaments or competitions. | 01-31-2013 |
20130029746 | WAGERING GAME WITH LEFT-TO-RIGHT VARIABLE PRIZE ARRANGEMENT - A wagering game, gaming machine, gaming network, and associated methods are disclosed including scatter symbols, and more specifically a left-to-right scatter feature having variable increasing payouts associated with each symbol. The symbols in the left-to-right scatter may interact visually in a sequential manner according to a theme. | 01-31-2013 |
20130059655 | GAME AUTHENTICATION METHOD FOR GAMING MACHINES AND GAME PLATFORM WITH AUTHENTICATION CAPABILITY - A gaming machine is configured to calculate hash values for both game loader software and game software. The game loader software is executed to load game software into random access memory at the gaming machine, and game software is executed at the gaming machine to provide a wagering game or a portion thereof. The calculated hash values are compared to hash values produced from a known authentic version of the game software and of the game loader software. The game software is allowed to load and present a wagering game if both of these comparisons are true, that is, if both comparisons show that the calculated and pre-calculated values are equal. | 03-07-2013 |
20130065659 | TOURNAMENT GAME, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A PLAYER-INTERACTIVE BONUS FEATURE - A tournament game, gaming machine, gaming system and method are disclosed wherein a player-interactive bonus feature is triggered and displayed simultaneously with a tournament game presentation and a bonus award is paid responsive to a player selecting a displayed bonus target, such as a balloon. The bonus award is paid in addition to any award payable based on the tournament game outcome. The award may be non-credit prizes redeemed in various ways such as printing a coupon at the player machine. | 03-14-2013 |
20130065693 | MULTI-SITE TOURNAMENT GAMING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A multi-site tournament gaming system and method are disclosed wherein multiple casino operators are engaged to initiate a series of player qualifying events and to hold a multi-session tournament of the qualified players to determine the site winners; and, a final tournament is operated wherein the site winners are provided prizes and compete to be named the ultimate champion. | 03-14-2013 |
20130072278 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A PLAYER-SELECTABLE MULTI-GAME MIX AND MATCH FEATURE - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides a player-selectable base game and a player-selectable side game, both of which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The selected base game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the selected side game may be one of several themes or types of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary or an alternate display. The potential prizes may be stand-alone as with a prize table or networked as with a prize pool having fixed or progressive prizes. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072293 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SECONDARY SCRATCH-OFF-STYLE GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaining machine provides both a base game and a scratch-off-style side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a ticket or number-based type of game, such as a lottery or sweepstakes style game, displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display wherein a player may be able to directly purchase chances to win one or more prizes in the ticket/number-based side game and/or be awarded a selected number of tickets/numbers/win-opportunities based on the amount of the player's wager in the primary game. The potential prizes may be stand-alone as with a prize table or networked as with a prize pool, such as in the case of a lottery or sweepstakes style game. | 03-21-2013 |
20130116031 | CONVERTIBLE IN-REVENUE AND OUT-OF-REVENUE GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A REAL-TIME PLAYER DASHBOARD DISPLAY - A convertible in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming system is disclosed that includes a server connected to automatically convert operating modes and control in-revenue and out-of-revenue operation of one or more banks of gaming machines wherein each of the gaming machines includes a video camera connected to capture live player video feed during competition or tournament operating mode, and each of the gaming machines is operable to display a tournament game presentation simultaneously with a player dashboard. The player dashboard includes a display of the live player video, the player position, the player score, and remaining time in the competition or tournament. | 05-09-2013 |
20130157757 | WAGERING GAME METHOD, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT PROVIDING PROGRESSIVE PRIZE CONTROL - A progressive gaming method may be conducted in a distributed fashion without a progressive controller. In such a method game play inputs are received through a respective player input system of each of two or more gaming machines. Each game play input defines a wager for a respective play of a wagering game. A progressive contribution value for each respective wager is calculated and a local progressive register value is incremented by that calculated amount. Calculating the progressive contribution value and incrementing the local progressive register value may each be performed at the gaming machine at which the respective wager is defined, and these calculated progressive contribution values are then communicated to each other gaming machine of the two or more gaming machines. Each gaming machine maintains a total progressive value based on the locally calculated progressive contribution values and the values communicated from other gaming machines. | 06-20-2013 |
20130231180 | NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM INCLUDING ANONYMOUS PLAYER BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING - A system and method are set forth which provides for biometric identification at a first server of an identified user and an established anonymous user and a device such as a gaming device and for using a second device such as a cellular telephone interfacing with the device to also access a second server which may also store biometric information as well as chargeable account information. If a user cannot be identified the first server establishes a new anonymous player account. Location determination may also be used where use of the device is subject to area use restrictions, such as remote gaming, to enable or disable the restricted use. | 09-05-2013 |
20130274004 | WAGERING GAME METHOD, GAMING MACHINE, GAMING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT PROVIDING LOCAL AND GROUP PROGRESSIVE PRIZES - A progressive prize method for a group of linked gaming machines includes maintaining both a respective local progressive pool for each respective gaming machine in the group and a group progressive pool shared among the group of gaming machines. A local progressive prize trigger is used to determine when a progressive prize is to be awarded from a local progressive pool and a separate group progressive trigger is used to determine when a progressive prize is to be awarded from the group progressive pool. The group progressive trigger may be based on a count of local progressive prizes that have been awarded. Thus a local progressive trigger may ultimately result in the award of a progressive prize from the group progressive pool rather than the respective local progressive pool. | 10-17-2013 |
20130281197 | CONVERTIBLE IN-REVENUE AND OUT-OF-REVENUE GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A REAL-TIME STREAMING VIDEO FEED AND DISPLAY - A convertible in-revenue and out-of-revenue gaming system is disclosed that includes a server connected to automatically convert operating modes and control in-revenue and out-of-revenue operation of one or more banks of gaming machines. Additionally disclosed are gaming machines with video cameras connected to provide live video feed to one or more displays, such as during tournament play when live video feed of the players and the player tournament positions may be driven in real-time to an overhead display by the server operating in a tournament controller mode. | 10-24-2013 |
20130324211 | GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A DYNAMIC BINGO CARD - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more dynamic bingo cards or artifices wherein each daubed number on a bingo card is removed from its initial location and re-located to the last position of the payline on which the daubed number is positioned and at least one other number on the associated payline is moved to replace the position vacated by the daubed number. Once the final number is drawn, paylines with all daubed numbers are paid according to the paytable. If all positions on a bingo card are daubed, then a progressive or other jackpot award may be paid. | 12-05-2013 |
20140024442 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A BASE GAME AND A SIMULTANEOUS BONUS CURRENCY GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a bonus currency game is operable simultaneously with the primary game. When a player initiates play of the primary game, the bonus currency game is initiated as well. The bonus currency game includes a set of target symbols which have corresponding bonus currency values such that, when a target symbol is activated, such as by a random or quasi-random determination, the bonus currency value associated with the target symbol is awarded to the player. After a player accumulates bonus currency, the player may utilize the currency to purchase various available online items, such as game plays in an arcade. | 01-23-2014 |
20140045587 | WAGERING GAMES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS WITH LIMITED PLAY HIGH FREQUENCY OUTCOME ASSOCIATED JACKPOTS - Gaming devices, systems and related methods are disclosed that include a jackpot controller which offers players the opportunity to win awards and/or jackpots (fixed or progressive awards) that are greater than the average award of the base game and which are associated with symbol combinations that have a likelihood of occurrence that is greater than the average probability of occurrence of winning outcomes in the base game. The jackpots are determined randomly, pseudo-randomly, or through other algorithmic processes from a pool and are activated for a finite number of game plays wherein a player may have a chance to win the jackpot. | 02-13-2014 |
20140100035 | WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE, NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH A SIMULTANEOUS SECONDARY GAME - A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display. | 04-10-2014 |
20140148250 | Multi-Site Tournament Gaming Method and System - A multi-site tournament gaming system and method are disclosed wherein multiple casino operators are engaged to initiate a series of player qualifying events and to hold a multi-session tournament of the qualified players to determine the site winners; and, a final tournament is operated wherein the site winners are provided prizes and compete to be named the ultimate champion. | 05-29-2014 |