U.S. patent application number 11/868405 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for peek-a-boo poker game.
This patent application is currently assigned to Global VR. Invention is credited to Gregory J. Lima.
Application Number | 20080090631 11/868405 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39314723 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080090631 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lima; Gregory J. |
April 17, 2008 |
Peek-A-Boo Poker Game
Abstract
Embodiments described herein include variations of an electronic
video poker game that includes showing all 52 cards of a deck of
cards to a player on a screen. The player selects from the onscreen
deck of 52 cards. The player is presented with a sneak peek of a
determined number of overturned cards while selecting from the
onscreen deck. The player proceeds to select cards from the
onscreen deck, deciding whether or not to use the sneak peek cards.
The player is paid for any 5 card poker hand that is deemed of
value in a predetermined paytable. If the player has or has not
assembled a 5 card poker hand that is deemed payable, then all the
remaining cards are turned over.
Inventors: |
Lima; Gregory J.; (Westport,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COURTNEY STANIFORD & GREGORY LLP
P.O. BOX 9686
SAN JOSE
CA
95157
US
|
Assignee: |
Global VR
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
39314723 |
Appl. No.: |
11/868405 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60851942 |
Oct 16, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
A63F 3/00157 20130101; A63F 2001/005 20130101; G07F 17/3293
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/13 |
International
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20060101
A63F001/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a card game, the method comprising:
presenting a player with a deck of 52 cards, wherein a
predetermined number of the 52 cards are face up and the remainder
of the 52 cards are face down; receiving at least one player input
indicating a choice of a card to be placed in a hand field, wherein
cards in the hand field make up a hand, and wherein the card can be
chosen from the face up cards or the face down cards; and when a
complete hand is in the hand field, turning the face down cards
face up.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: when a complete hand
is in the hand field, determining whether the player is to be paid
for the hand; and displaying a paid amount to the player.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the card game is a poker game and
wherein the hand comprises five cards chosen by the player.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the card game is a poker game and
wherein the face up cards comprise three face up cards.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a paytable
to the player that includes a plurality of hands and a pay amount
for each hand.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the card game is an electronic
card game and wherein the input is received electronically,
comprising the player touching a touch screen to indicate a
choice.
7. An electronic video card game system, comprising: a plurality of
video poker machines each of which comprises, at least one out put
device comprising a monitor configurable to display a video card
game; and and at least one input device. a server configurable to
store instructions comprising a video card game, wherein the server
communicates with the plurality of video poker machines via at
least one network, and wherein the instructions, when executed,
cause the video card game to be played on the plurality of video
poker machines, the video card game comprising, presenting a player
with a deck of 52 cards, wherein a predetermined number of the 52
cards are face up and the remainder of the 52 cards are face down;
and receiving at least one player input indicating a choice of a
card to be placed in a hand field, wherein cards in the hand field
make up a hand, and wherein the card can be chosen from the face up
cards or the face down cards.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of video poker
machines is distributed among a plurality of venues.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the server and the plurality of
video poker machines is located at a venue.
10. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon
which, when executed by a processor cause a video poker method to
be performed, the method comprising: presenting a player with a
deck of 52 cards, wherein a predetermined number of the 52 cards
are face up and the remainder of the 52 cards are face down;
receiving at least one player input indicating a choice of a card
to be placed in a hand field, wherein cards in the hand field make
up a hand, and wherein the card can be chosen from the face up
cards or the face down cards; and when a complete hand is in the
hand field, turning the face down cards face up.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method
further comprises: when a complete hand is in the hand field,
determining whether the player is to be paid for the hand; and
displaying a paid amount to the player.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the card game
is a poker game and wherein the hand comprises five cards chosen by
the player.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the card game
is a poker game and wherein the face up cards comprise three face
up cards.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method
further comprises further displaying a paytable to the player that
includes a plurality of hands and a pay amount for each hand.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the card game
is an electronic card game and wherein the input is received
electronically, comprising the player touching a touch screen to
indicate a choice.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/851,942, titled "Peek a boo poker", filed
Oct. 16, 2006, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety
herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein are related to electronic video
card games.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic card games have been available to be played on
screens in venues such as casinos. Various versions of poker are
popular electronic video card games, for example. In prior video
card games, less than the full deck of 52 cards was shown at one
time. This is due at least in part to technical limitations, such
as pixel resolution or touch screen resolution.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a video poker screen showing a
paytable and a complete turned over (face down) deck of cards
before the payer places a bet and begins a game.
[0005] FIG. 2 is diagram of a video poker screen as it appears when
the player makes a bet.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a video poker screen as it appears
when the player is given a peek at several predetermined cards from
the deck according to an embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a video poker screen as it appears
when the player chooses either a peek card or an overturned card to
be deposited in the "hand" field according to an embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a video poker screen as it appears
when the player chooses a second card to be deposited in the "hand"
field according to an embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a video poker screen as it appears
when the player chooses a third card to be deposited in the "hand"
field according to an embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a video poker screen as it appears
when the player chooses a fourth card to be deposited in the "hand"
field according to an embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a video poker screen as it appears
when the player chooses a fifth card to be deposited in the "hand"
field according to an embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an electronic gaming system
according to an embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an electronic gaming system
according to another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Embodiments described herein include variations of an
electronic video poker game that includes showing all 52 cards of a
deck of cards to a player on a screen. The player selects from the
onscreen deck of 52 cards. The player is presented with a sneak
peek of a determined number of overturned cards while selecting
from the onscreen deck. The player proceeds to select cards from
the onscreen deck, deciding whether or not to use the sneak peek
cards. The player is paid for any 5 card poker hand that is deemed
of value in a predetermined paytable. If the player has or has not
assembled a 5 card poker hand that is deemed payable, then all the
remaining cards are turned over.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of what appears on an electronic game
screen, before a player begins a game. A paytable 100 is at the top
of the screen. The paytable indicates the payout for various hands,
such as a royal flush, a straight flush, etc. In the figure, the
particular payouts are not shown, but would appear in the blank
boxes. The screen is configurable to display any desired
predetermined payouts for each respective hand.
[0016] The screen of FIG. 1 further displays 52 cards 101 that make
up a complete poker deck with each card turned over (face down).
Below the deck of cards are display fields for displaying credits
the player has won, the current total bet, and the amount paid. At
the bottom of the screen are multiple buttons that allow the player
to interact with the game. In and embodiment, the buttons include a
"CHANGE GAME" button that allows the player to choose a new or
different game. The buttons further include a "how to play" button
that, when pressed, displays instructions teaching the game. The
buttons further include a "DEAL" button which starts the hand, and
also allows a processor in the video poker game machine (further
described below) to run the draw if the player chooses not to pick
the cards from the field. The buttons further include a "BET 1"
button that increments the player bet by one, allowing for the
player to not play all hands. The buttons further include a "BET 1
ALL" button that increments the bet to one for the maximum amount
of hands the game offers. For example the maximum amount of games
could be 1, 3, 5, 10, 50, 100, or another amount. The buttons
further include a "BET MAX" button that increments the bet to the
maximum offered by the machine across the maximum amount of
hands.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram of what appears on an electronic game
screen when a player places a bet. The player places a bet by
pressing the "BET 1" button 103. The paytable 104 is then
automatically filled with predetermined amounts for each indicated
hand.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram of what appears on an electronic game
screen after the player has placed a bet. The player is able to
view several "peek" cards 106 (in this case the eight of hearts,
the eight of clubs, and the three of clubs).
[0019] The player can either choose the peek cards 106, or any of
the overturned cards 107 as shown in FIG. 4. The chosen card (in
this case the King of spades) is then deposited into the hand field
108. In an embodiment, the player may choose a card by touching the
card on the screen.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the player then must select the second
card 110 and the second card (in this case the ten of diamonds)
will be deposited into the second spot on the field 109.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 6 the player then must select the third
card 111 and the third card (in this case the eight of hearts) will
be deposited into the third spot on the field 112.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 7 the player then must select the fourth
card 113 and the fourth card (in this case the eight of clubs) will
be deposited into the fourth spot on the field 114.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 8 the player then must select the fifth
card 115 and the fifth card (in this case the two of diamonds) will
be deposited into the fifth spot on the field 117.
[0024] When the poker hand in the hand field is complete, the
player is shown the result of the hand. For example, if the hand is
one of the hands in the paytable, the player is paid an amount
indicated in the "PAID" area on the lower right of the screen. The
screen is then returned to the state shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] After the fifth card is deposited, all the remaining,
unchosen cards in the 52 card deck are shown to the player. This
reassures the player that the content of the deck is as
expected.
[0026] In various embodiments, the poker game can include multiple
fields 102 with one deck of cards. In other embodiments, the
multiple fields 102 each contain identical hands as chosen by the
player. In yet other embodiments, multiple decks of cards 101 are
shown with multiple fields 102, each of which is associated with
one of the decks of cards.
[0027] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an electronic gaming system 900
according to an embodiment. System 900 includes a server 902 that
hosts and serves the electronic video poker game as described
herein. The server 902 can include any known data servers, storage
devices and/or processors capable of communicating via a network.
The server 902 is coupled to a network 904 that can be a wide area
network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), the Internet, or any
other network via which the electronic video game data can be
efficiently transferred.
[0028] Various venues 906, 908, and 910 are coupled to the network
904 for receiving the electronic video poker game from the server
902. Each of the venues 906, 908, and 910 include video poker
machines. The video poker machines include display device or
monitors that display the game as shown in FIGS. 1-8. The video
poker machines also include a processor as known in the art. The
video poker machines also include input and output devices for
receiving input from a player and generating appropriate output.
For example, input devices include buttons for the player to push,
and a touch screen the player can touch to select and/or move items
displayed. Output devices include the monitor and speakers for
outputting auditory information and sound effects.
[0029] Venue 906 includes machines 912A and 912B through 912N.
Venue 909 includes machines 914A and 914B through 914N. Venue 910
includes machines 916A and 916B through 916N.
[0030] One or more of the venues 906, 908, and 910 can be casinos
licensed to accept wagers and pay bets. Alternatively, one or more
of the venues 906, 908, and 910 can be private homes that purchase
the electronic video poker game and play the game privately. In yet
another alternative, one or more of the venues 906, 908 and 910 are
establishments that provide the electronic video poker game to
patrons who do not wager real money when playing the game. Other
alternatives are possible.
[0031] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an electronic gaming system
1000 according to another embodiment. System 1000 includes venues
1002, 1004 and 1006. Each of the venues 1002, 1004 and 1006 include
a server that stores and serves the electronic video poker game as
described herein. Each of the venues 1002, 1004 and 1006 further
include video poker machines that display the game as shown in
FIGS. 1-8. Venue 1002 includes server 1008 and machines 1010A and
1010B through 1010N. Venue 1004 includes server 1012 and machines
101 4A and 1014B through 1014N. Venue 1006 includes server 1018 and
machines 1018A and 1018B through 1018N.
[0032] Further variations on the system configurations shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10 are also within the scope of the claimed
invention.
[0033] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout
the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising,"
and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed
to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of
"including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or plural
number also include the plural or singular number respectively.
Additionally, the words "herein," "hereunder," "above," "below,"
and words of similar import refer to this application as a whole
and not to any particular portions of this application. When the
word "or" is used in reference to a list of two or more items, that
word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any
of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any
combination of the items in the list.
[0034] The above description of illustrated embodiments of the
systems and methods is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the systems and methods to the precise forms disclosed. While
specific embodiments of, and examples for, the systems components
and methods are described herein for illustrative purposes, various
equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the
systems, components and methods, as those skilled in the relevant
art will recognize. The teachings of the systems and methods
provided herein can be applied to other systems and methods for
video card games, not only for the systems and methods described
above.
[0035] The elements and acts of the various embodiments described
above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and
other changes can be made to the systems and methods in light of
the above detailed description.
[0036] In general, in the following claims, the terms used should
not be construed to limit the systems and methods to the specific
embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but
should be construed to include all systems and methods that operate
under the claims. Accordingly, the systems and methods are not
limited by the disclosure, but instead the scope of the systems and
methods is to be determined entirely by the claims.
[0037] While certain aspects of the systems and methods are
presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate
the various aspects of the systems and methods in any number of
claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the systems and
methods may be recited as embodied in machine-readable medium,
other aspects may likewise be embodied in machine-readable medium.
Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional
claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim
forms for other aspects of the systems and methods.
* * * * *