U.S. patent application number 10/418310 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-01 for slot machine enhancement.
This patent application is currently assigned to RealTime Gaming, Inc.. Invention is credited to McMain, Michael Parker II, Staw, Michael.
Application Number | 20040002377 10/418310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29782659 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040002377 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Staw, Michael ; et
al. |
January 1, 2004 |
Slot machine enhancement
Abstract
A slot machine enhancement which provides an incentive to users
who have lost one or more games to continue playing. A loss counter
tracks the number of losses and a user can choose to redeem the
losses for at least one prize. Such prizes can include, but are not
limited to, one or more free games, one or more guaranteed wining
games, one or more guaranteed wining games with a guaranteed
minimum payout of an amount greater than the least possible payout,
and the like. When the user wins a game, the loss counter is reset
to zero.
Inventors: |
Staw, Michael; (Atlanta,
GA) ; McMain, Michael Parker II; (Cumming,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG-TRAURIG
1750 TYSONS BOULEVARD, 12TH FLOOR
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
RealTime Gaming, Inc.
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
29782659 |
Appl. No.: |
10/418310 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60392037 |
Jun 28, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3258 20130101;
G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. A system for awarding a game participant, comprising: a payment
acceptor; a wager indicator, for indicating the amount of a payment
to be wagered on at least one game; a game play interface; a game
outcome determiner, for monitoring game play; and a payment
calculator, wherein the payment calculator is capable of awarding a
plurality of additional games based on the outcome of a game.
2. The game participant award system of claim 1, wherein the
payment acceptor is capable of accepting payment by credit
card.
3. The game participant award system of claim 1, wherein at least
one of the awarded plurality of awarded games is guaranteed to
win.
4. The game participant award system of claim 3, wherein all of the
awarded plurality of additional games are guaranteed to win.
5. The game participant award system of claim 3, wherein the at
least one guaranteed winning game awarded is guaranteed to pay at
least a minimum amount, and wherein the minimum amount is greater
than the lowest possible payment for a winning game.
6. The game participant award system of claim 1, wherein payment
calculator awards are based on a winning game, as determined by the
game outcome determiner.
7. The game participant award system of claim 1, further comprising
a player identification means.
8. The game participant award system of claim 7, wherein the
payment calculator awards are based on a number of losing games
experienced by an individual player.
9. The game participant award system of claim 7, wherein the
payment calculator awards are based on a number of consecutive
losing games experienced by an individual player.
10. The game participant award system of claim 7, wherein the
payment calculator awards are based on a percentage of losing games
experienced by an individual player.
11. The game participant award system of claim 1, wherein the
payment calculator awards are based on a number of losing
games.
12. The game participant award system of claim 1, wherein the
payment calculator awards are based on a number of consecutive
losing games.
13. The game participant award system of claim 1, wherein the
payment calculator awards are based on a percentage of losing
games.
14. A game participant award method, comprising: setting a loss
counter related to a game to zero; accepting payment from the
participant; allowing the participant to set a wager amount for at
least one game; letting the participant play the at least one game;
incrementing the loss counter for each game lost by the
participant; resetting the loss counter to zero for each game won
by the participant; indicating the current loss counter value to
the participant; and, permitting the participant to cash in their
accrued losses, wherein the participant can select from a set of at
least one available award based on the loss counter value, wherein
the at least one available award includes at least one free game,
and wherein the loss counter is decremented by the number of cashed
in losses.
15. The game participant award method of claim 14, wherein at least
one of the at least one free game is guaranteed to win.
16. The game participant award method of claim 14, wherein the
participant may only cash in the total number of accrued
losses.
17. The game participant award method of claim 14, wherein the loss
counter is reset to zero for each game won by the participant where
the prize awarded is above a preset level.
18. The game participant award method of claim 14, wherein credit
card payment is accepted.
19. A computerized, wager-based game, playable by a player,
comprising: at least one computing device; at least one visual
display device; at least one user interface element, for allowing
the at least one player to interact with the computing device; a
payment acceptor; a wager indicator; a game play interface; a game
outcome determiner; a loss counter; and, a payment calculator, for
awarding payment based on the outcome of a game.
20. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the computing device
is a server.
21. The computerized game of claim 20, wherein the server is
located remotely from the player.
22. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the computing device
is a handheld computer.
23. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the computing device
and the visual display device are part of the same device.
24. The computerized game of claim 23, wherein the user interface
element is a touch sensitive screen.
25. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the at least one
user interface element is a touch sensitive screen.
26. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the at least one
user interface element is a mouse.
27. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the payment acceptor
accepts payment by credit card.
28. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the payment
calculator can award payment based on the number of consecutive
losses.
29. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the payment
calculator can award payment based on a percentage of losses
experienced by the player.
30. The computerized game of claim 19, wherein the payment
calculator can award a plurality of free games.
31. The computerized game of claim 30, wherein at least one of the
awarded free games is guaranteed to win.
32. The computerized game of claim 31, wherein at least one of the
awarded free games is guaranteed to win at least a minimum
amount.
33. A game participant award method, comprising: monitoring the
number of games in which the participant loses in a loss meter;
incrementing the loss meter for each game lost by the participant;
allowing the participant to cash in at least one but less than all
of the accrued losses for a prize; subtracting the number of losses
cashed in by the participant from the loss meter; and, resetting
the loss meter to zero in the event the participant wins a
game.
34. The game participant award method of claim 33, wherein the
participant cashes in the accrued losses prior to initiating the
game.
35. The game participant award method of claim 33, wherein the loss
meter is reset to zero for each new participant playing the
game.
36. A game participant award method, comprising: initiating a game,
wherein the game has at least one possible winning outcome;
determining whether the participant wishes to cash in any losses as
represented in a loss meter; determining whether the losses qualify
for a jackpot prize, if the participant is cashing in any losses;
awarding the jackpot prize to the participant if the losses qualify
for the jackpot prize; awarding a first prize if the losses do not
qualify for a jackpot prize; resetting the loss meter to zero if
the participant cashes in any losses; allowing the participant to
place a bet for a current game; playing the game; incrementing the
loss counter if the participant loses the game; awarding a second
prize based on the outcome of the game if the participant wins the
game; and, resetting the loss meter to zero if the participant wins
the game.
37. The game participant award method of claim 36, wherein the
first prize is determined from a pay table.
38. The game participant award method of claim 36, wherein the
second prize is determined from a pay table.
39. The game participant award method of claim 36, wherein the
first prize and the second prize are determined from pay
tables.
40. The game participant award method of claim 36, wherein a
portion of the participant's wager is added to a progressive
jackpot.
41. The game participant award method of claim 40, wherein the
second prize is determined from a pay table, and wherein the pay
table includes at least one winning combination for which the
progressive jackpot is the prize.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present invention is related to and claims priority from
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/392,037, entitled
"Slot Machine Enhancement", filed by Michael Staw et al., on Jun.
28, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of gaming, and
more particularly provides a system and methods for enhancing a
slot machine or other similar game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Slot machines have been around for almost 125 years. Early
slot machines resembled pachinko machines, where a user would place
a coin in a slot near the top of the machine and the coin would
bounce around on different metal pins, spinning wheels, or the
like. The coin would land in a space at the bottom of the machine,
and an attendant would pay the player, or participant, based on
where the coin landed.
[0004] As slot machines became more popular, their designs became
more intricate. The first poker trade stimulators appeared around
1890, and by the mid 1890's San Francisco was in a poker slot
craze. The early poker machine employed cards arranged on five
spinning drums. Later models had cards affixed to reels, and were
similar to modern day slots. An attendant paid the winnings for all
these early poker machines.
[0005] By the turn of the century, the first three-reel, automatic
payout slot machines began to hit the market. These machines
quickly became popular with gambling establishments because they
did not require as many employees to service and attend to the
machines.
[0006] As slot machines became more popular, new bells and whistles
were added, including sounds and flashing lights. In fact, slot
machines have been very quick to implement new technologies almost
as soon as they become available. However, one limitation has
always hindered slot machines--they were designed to play only a
single game, and when interest in that game faded, the entire inner
workings of the slot machine had to be revamped to support a new
game.
[0007] Then along came video slot machines. In a video slot
machine, a computer monitor or other display device presents an
interface to a player. In many cases, the interface presented is
similar to an old-fashioned slot machine, and the user interacts
with the interface in a similar way. The big advantages to video
slot machines are that they can be configured to play multiple
games, new games can be added and old games removed easily, and the
computers inside the video slot machines can control payouts and
other features to a very high degree of accuracy. In addition, it
is more difficult to cheat video slot machines than mechanical slot
machines.
[0008] While video slot machines have increased demand for new slot
machine oriented games, perhaps the biggest demand has been
generated with the introduction of Internet gaming. Many states and
countries either completely prohibit games of chance or limit such
gaming to specific regions, specific types of games, or only allow
it where the proceeds will benefit a charity or other
non-commercial entity. These restrictions have made games of chance
inaccessible to a large portion of the population. By making games
of chance available via the Internet, Internet gaming has broadened
the potential market for games of chance such as slot machines.
This, in turn, has increased demand for new video slot machine
games that can increase the marketability of an online or real
casino or other gaming establishment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system
and methods for enhancing the desirability of existing slot machine
games and obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations
and disadvantages of the related art.
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a new slot
machine style game.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a slot
machine style game which can be implemented as a physical machine,
or as an electronic game.
[0012] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
[0013] While slot machines have existed for almost 125 years, one
significant disadvantage of slot machines, at least from a player's
perspective, was the player's inability to exercise some control
over the machine. Many players have expressed frustration with slot
machines because they would play a specific machine for a long
time, adding to its coffers and perhaps occasionally winning a
relatively small amount. A first player would then walk away from
the machine and the next person to sit down would, some times as
soon as on the first or second game, win a significant amount of
what the first player considered to be his or her money. It is
therefore anticipated that giving a player more control over the
game and rewarding the player for losses will encourage a player to
play longer and potentially increase the profits of the gambling
establishment.
[0014] One approach to addressing this need used in the prior art
is the slot machine apparatus taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,409,
issued Aug. 7, 2001, to Schuster. The Schuster patent discloses a
mechanical slot machine, complete with physical spinning reels, a
pull arm, and the like. The Schuster patent also discloses a method
of tracking the number of consecutive losses experienced by a
player and permitting the player "cash in" all of the losses for an
individual prize based on discrete loss levels.
[0015] The present invention is a slot machine that implements a
novel gaming system which allows a player to exercise limited
control over the game while still allowing the gambling
establishment to make a profit. In a preferred embodiment, the
present invention is implemented as a video slot machine which is
playable over the Internet. It should be apparent to one skilled in
the art that alternative embodiments, including, but not limited
to, mechanical slot machines and stand-alone video slot machines
may also be implemented without departing from the spirit or the
scope of the invention.
[0016] A preferred embodiment of the present invention functions
similar to a standard progressive slot machine, gradually
increasing a "jackpot" amount should a specific winning combination
be obtained by the player. However, the present invention also
tracks the number of losing games played by a player. A player can
redeem some or all of the losses for one or more prizes.
[0017] In one embodiment, losses may be redeemable for a "jackpot"
in a manner similar to a progressive slot machine. That is, the
present invention can offer a player a payout based on the number
of losing games played, and also preferably offers a gradually
increasing "jackpot". The progressive jackpot can be awarded if the
number of consecutive losses increases above a certain level, if
the number of consecutive losses increases beyond a certain level
and one of a set of winning slot machine combinations is obtained,
a pre-defined percentage of losses occurs over a number of games, a
predefined percentage of losses occurs over a number of games and
one of a set of winning slot machine combinations is obtained, or
other event occurs.
[0018] The present invention can allow a player to "cash in" his or
her losses for a prize at any time between games. Prizes available
through the present invention can include, but are not limited to,
one or more free games, one or more guaranteed wining games, one or
more guaranteed wining games with a guaranteed minimum payout of an
amount greater than the least possible payout, and the like.
[0019] When a player cashes in his or her losses, the loss tracking
means is preferably reset to zero. In an alternative embodiment,
the value indicated by the loss tracking means may be decremented
based on the number of losses cashed in by the player. The loss
tracking means is also preferably reset to zero each time a player
wins a game. Alternatively, the loss tracking means may be reset to
zero each time the player wins a game in which the prize is above a
preset value. By way of example, without intending to limit the
present invention, the preset value may be the lowest possible
prize level. Thus, the player's losses may not be forfeited if the
lowest payout is obtained.
[0020] While the preferred embodiment described herein is
implemented as an online playable version of a traditional,
progressive slot machine, it should be apparent to one skilled in
the art that the present invention is equally applicable to
alternative styles of slot machines, and even other slot machine
style games, such as, but not limited to, video poker, video
blackjack, video roulette, and the like.
[0021] One contemplated embodiment of the present invention
includes a payment acceptor; a wager indicator, for indicating the
amount of a payment to be wagered on at least one game; a game play
interface; a game outcome determiner, for monitoring game play; and
a payment calculator, wherein the payment calculator is capable of
awarding additional game plays based on the outcome of a game.
[0022] The game participant award method of the present invention
preferably involves setting a loss counter related to a game to
zero; accepting payment from the participant; allowing the
participant to set a wager amount for at least one game; letting
the participant play the at least one game; incrementing the loss
counter for each game lost by the participant; resetting the loss
counter to zero for each game won by the participant; indicating
the current loss counter value to the participant; and, permitting
the participant to cash in their accrued losses, wherein the
participant can select from a set of at least one available awards
based on the loss counter value for at least one award, and wherein
the at least one available award includes at least one free
game.
[0023] An alternative participant award method involves monitoring
the number of games in which the participant loses in a loss meter;
incrementing the loss meter for each game lost by the participant;
allowing the participant to cash in at least one but less than all
of the accrued losses for a prize; subtracting the number of losses
cashed in by the participant from the loss meter; and, resetting
the loss meter to zero in the event the participant wins a
game.
[0024] Still another alternative game participant award method
comprises initiating a game, wherein the game has at least one
possible winning outcome; determining whether the participant
wishes to cash in any losses as represented in a loss meter;
determining whether the losses qualify for a jackpot prize, if the
participant is cashing in any losses; awarding the jackpot prize to
the participant if the losses qualify for the jackpot prize;
awarding a first prize if the losses do not qualify for a jackpot
prize; resetting the loss meter to zero if the participant cashes
in any losses; allowing the participant to place a bet for a
current game; playing the game; incrementing the loss counter if
the participant loses the game; awarding a second prize based on
the outcome of the game if the participant wins the game; and,
resetting the loss meter to zero if the participant wins the
game.
[0025] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0027] In the drawings:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred control
structure implemented in the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a screen capture of a preferred slot machine
interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a control structure
implemented in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As
a player initiates a single play of the game (Block 100), the
player first decides whether or not to redeem, or "cash in", losses
for a prize (Block 110). Such prizes may be single awards, such as,
but not limited to, a fixed sum of money, or multiple awards,
including multiple free games, free games and money, free games
guaranteed to win, or the like.
[0032] If a player redeems the losses for a prize, a preferred
embodiment of the present invention first determines whether the
user is redeeming a Jackpot prize (Block 150). If so, a prize based
on a progressive Jackpot value is awarded (Block 160) and the
Jackpot meter is reset to a default value (Block 165). If the
player is not redeeming a Jackpot prize, then the player is awarded
one or more prizes based on a pay table (Block 155). Once any
appropriate prizes have been awarded, the loss meter is reset to
zero (Block 170). In an alternative embodiment, a player may choose
to cash in some, but not all, of the accrued losses. In such an
embodiment, the loss meter is not reset to zero unless the player
has cashed in all or almost all of the accrued losses.
[0033] If a player has no losses to redeem or decides not to redeem
losses in an attempt to allow any losses to accrue, the player
makes a bet for a single play, or "spin", of the game (Block 115).
A portion of the player's bet is added to the progressive meter
(Block 120) and the outcome is checked to see if it is a winner or
a loser (Block 125). If the outcome is a winner, the player is paid
according to a pay table (Block 135) and the loss meter is reset to
zero (Block 140). If the outcome is a loser the loss meter is
incremented by 1 (Block 130).
[0034] At this point the game is over (Block 180) and a player can
decide to play again, in which case the process begins anew at
Block 100. A player can continue playing the game until he or she
decides to quit. In a preferred embodiment, the loss counter is
reset to zero for each new player. In an alternative embodiment,
the loss meter may carry over from one user to another. Such an
alternative embodiment may be preferable in a casino environment,
where the combination of the progressive jackpot value and the
number of losses currently registered on a slot machine may make
that slot machine more attractive to a player than another slot
machine.
[0035] Another aspect of the present invention that may make it
more attractive to gaming establishments like casinos is that the
present invention can provide increasingly valuable prizes based on
the number of accrued losses. By way of example, without intending
to limit the present invention, a player may earn one free,
guaranteed winning game for the first five losses; a free,
guaranteed winning spin for every three additional losses until the
eleventh loss; and a free, guaranteed winning spin for every two
additional losses beyond that point. As another example, again
without intending to limit the present invention, the prize may be
a monetary value based on a formula which provides increasing prize
value for each additional accrued loss. Such increasingly valuable
prizes may encourage players to not cash in their losses in the
hopes of an even larger payout.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a screen capture of a video slot machine in which
the present invention is implemented. In this embodiment, a player
is given, or pays to receive, a starting balance, which is tracked
in "balance" 295. The player can then determine the value of his or
her bet based on the desired level of winnings as represented on
pay table 285. The player can insert varying amounts of money into
the machine, such as by pressing buttons 230, 235 or 240. Money
inserted into the machine is stored as credit, and the credit value
is reflected in credit display 250. Credit display 250 preferably
displays the credit value in terms of the number of coins available
to be bet.
[0037] Alternatively, the player can press manual coin inserter 242
to insert individual coins to place a bet. In this case coins bet
display 245 indicates the number of coins bet in this manner. Any
coins entered above the maximum bet allowed by the machine are
simply stored as machine credits and shown in credit display
250.
[0038] Once the machine holds credits, the player can make bets on
the machine. Single coin bets are made using button 215, and button
225 can be used to bet the maximum number of coins in a single
action. The number of coins bet is displayed in bet meter 245.
[0039] Once the player has entered a desired bet, the player can
activate reel arm 265 or press spin reel button 220 to play the
game. A portion of the bet is added to the progressive Jackpot and
the change is reflected in progressive Jackpot display (not
shown).
[0040] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, game window 200
acts like three separate, rotating reels that stop after a certain
time. In some alternative embodiments, the user interface may
include a button to stop each reel successively, or multiple
buttons to control each reel individually.
[0041] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, when the reels have
stopped the game determines whether the player has won or lost. As
described above, if the player has won the game, loss counter 280
is reset to zero. In addition, if the player has won, a payout is
calculated based on pay table 285. The calculated payout is
reflected in player winnings 255, and is added to machine credits
250.
[0042] A player can "cash out" the credits held in the machine
reflected in credit display 250 by pressing cash out button 205.
When cash out button 205 is pressed, the value of credit display
250 is added to fun balance 295 and the credit display 250 is reset
to zero.
[0043] If the player has lost the game, loss counter 280 is
incremented. A user can choose to redeem his or her losses for a
free prize, as reflected in loss pay table 210, by pressing redeem
button 205. In a preferred embodiment, prizes available for
redeemed losses include a number of free games or free spins. In
the example game illustrated in FIG. 2, this is indicated by the
five free, guaranteed winning spins shown in free prize meter 260.
If the user has lost enough games to warrant winning the Jackpot as
reflected in loss pay table 210, the redeem button 205 allows them
to redeem the Jackpot. Such a Jackpot may consist of a special
prize, including a portion of or the entire progressive Jackpot, a
straight monetary payout, a number of free spins, or the like.
[0044] While the invention has been described in detail and with
reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *