U.S. patent application number 11/749694 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-15 for method and apparatus for varying potential results between plays in a bingo gaming system.
Invention is credited to Marc Raymond Pestien, Galen Tanner Svanas, Brian Alexander Watkins.
Application Number | 20080113734 11/749694 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39369840 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080113734 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watkins; Brian Alexander ;
et al. |
May 15, 2008 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VARYING POTENTIAL RESULTS BETWEEN PLAYS IN
A BINGO GAMING SYSTEM
Abstract
A method includes receiving a first game play request at a bingo
player station when the bingo player station is in a first game
state and assigning a result for the first game play request
according to a first pattern table. The first game state
corresponds to a first result indicator state displayed by the
bingo player station, and the first pattern table includes a number
of first result levels with each first result level corresponding
to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or
more first result symbols. The method further includes placing the
bingo player station in a second game state responsive to an aspect
of the result assigned for the first game play request. The second
game state corresponds to a second result indicator state that is
graphically different from the first result indicator state. With
the bingo player station in the second game state, the method
further includes receiving a second game play request at the bingo
player station and assigning a result for the second game play
request according to a second pattern table. The second pattern
table includes a number of second result levels with each such
result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo
patterns and to one or more second result symbols. However, the
second pattern table may be distinct from the first pattern table
such as in terms of the content of the pattern table for example.
Ultimately, the bingo player station is returned from the second
game state to the first game state in response to some reset
event.
Inventors: |
Watkins; Brian Alexander;
(Austin, TX) ; Svanas; Galen Tanner; (Austin,
TX) ; Pestien; Marc Raymond; (Austin, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE CULBERTSON GROUP, P.C.
1114 LOST CREEK BLVD., SUITE 420
AUSTIN
TX
78746
US
|
Family ID: |
39369840 |
Appl. No.: |
11/749694 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60865815 |
Nov 14, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3286 20130101; G07F 17/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/19 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method including: (a) receiving a first game play request at a
bingo player station when the bingo player station is in a first
game state, the first game state corresponding to a first result
indicator state displayed by the bingo player station; (b)
assigning a result for the first game play request according to a
first pattern table, the first pattern table including a number of
first result levels with each first result level corresponding to a
respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more
first result symbols; (c) placing the bingo player station in a
second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned
for the first game play request, the second game state
corresponding to a second result indicator state displayed by the
bingo player station, the second result indicator state being
graphically different from the first indicator state; (d) receiving
a second game play request at the bingo player station when the
bingo player station is in the second game state; and (e) assigning
a result for the second game play request according to a second
pattern table that includes a number of second result levels with
each second result level corresponding to a respective set of one
or more bingo patterns and to one or more second result
symbols.
2. The method of claim 1 further including switching the bingo
player station from the second game state to the first game state
in response to a reset event.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein one or more bonus plays at the
bingo player station represents the reset event.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein each assigned result is displayed
by a game graphic at the bingo player station and the game graphic
includes a base game graphic and also includes a bonus game graphic
which is distinct from the base game graphic.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the base game graphic is presented
at a first display location at the bingo player station and the
bonus game graphic is presented at a second display location at the
bingo player station different from the first display location.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the base game graphic includes a
reel-type game display.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the bonus game graphic is
presented concurrently with the base game graphic.
8. The method of claim 4 wherein the bonus game graphic includes at
least one graphic element shown traversing a graphic element
path.
9. The method of claim 4 wherein the bonus game graphic includes an
array of bonus symbols and wherein a bonus game result
characteristic is presented by two or more matching bonus
symbols.
10. The method of claim 1 further including placing the bingo
player station in an additional game state responsive to an aspect
of the result assigned for the second game play request, the
additional game state corresponding to an additional result
indicator state displayed by the bingo player station which is
graphically different from the first result indicator state, and
the second result indicator state.
11. A bingo gaming apparatus including: (a) a display device
located at a bingo player station; (b) a player input device
located at the bingo player station; and (c) a presentation
controller, the presentation controller for (i) applying a first
pattern table to assign a result for a respective bingo game play
request initiated through the player input device when the bingo
player station is in a first game state, the first pattern table
including a number of first result levels with each first result
level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo
patterns and to one or more first result symbols, and the first
game state corresponding to a first result indicator state
displayed by the display device, (ii) applying a second pattern
table to assign a result for a respective bingo game play request
initiated through the player input device when the bingo player
station is in a second game state, the second pattern table
including a number of second result levels with each second result
level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo
patterns and to a respective set of one or more second result
symbols, the second game state corresponding to a second result
indicator state displayed by the bingo player station which is
graphically different from the first result indicator state, (iii)
switching the bingo player station from the first game state to the
second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned
for the game play request initiated when the bingo player station
is in the first game state, and for (iv) directing the display
device to produce a respective result representation for each
respective bingo game play request initiated through the player
input device.
12. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the presentation
controller is at least partially implemented with a processing
device located remotely from the bingo player station that includes
the display device and player input device.
13. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the presentation
controller is at least partially implemented with a processing
device located at the bingo player station that includes the
display device and player input device.
14. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein the presentation
controller is also for switching the bingo player station from the
second game state to the first game state in response to a reset
event.
15. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 14 wherein one or more
bonus plays at the bingo player station represents the reset
event.
16. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 11 wherein each assigned
result is displayed through a base game graphic and a bonus game
graphic which is distinct from the base game graphic, and wherein
the base game graphic is generated with the display device and the
bonus game graphic is displayed with the display device or an
additional display device included at the bingo player station.
17. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 16 wherein the base game
graphic includes a reel-type game display.
18. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 17 wherein the reel-type
game display includes at least one mechanical reel.
19. The bingo gaming apparatus of claim 16 wherein the bonus game
graphic is displayed at least in part with the additional display
device and the additional display device includes a video
monitor.
20. A program product embodied in one or more computer readable
media, the program product including: (a) first game state program
code executable to cause a bingo player station to operate in a
first game state in which the result for each respective bingo game
play request initiated through the bingo player station is assigned
according to a first pattern table, the first game state
corresponding to a first result indicator state displayed by the
bingo player station, and the first pattern table including a
number of first result levels with each first result level
corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and
to a respective set of one or more first result symbols; (b) second
game state program code executable to cause the bingo player
station to operate in a second game state in which the result for
each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo
player station is assigned according to a second pattern table, the
second pattern table including a number of second result levels
with each second result level corresponding to a respective set of
one or more bingo patterns and to a respective set of one or more
second result symbols, and the second game state corresponding to a
second result indicator state displayed by the bingo player
station, wherein the second result indicator state is graphically
different from the first result indicator state; (c) game state
control program code executable to cause the bingo player station
to switch from the first game state to the second game state
responsive to an aspect of a respective result assigned while the
bingo player station is operating in the first game state; and (d)
result display program code executable for controlling one or more
display devices for displaying a respective result indicating game
graphic at the bingo player station for each assigned result, and
for displaying the first and second result indicator states at the
bingo player station.
21. The program product of claim 20 wherein one display device
includes a mechanical reel arrangement and the result display
program code is executable for controlling the mechanical reel
arrangement.
22. The program product of claim 20 wherein the result display
program code is executable for controlling two or more discrete
display devices which together display both a respective result
symbol specified by one of the first pattern table and the second
pattern table, and a set of one or more result indicator elements
which specify one of the first game state and the second game
state.
23. The program product of claim 20 wherein the state control
program code switches the bingo player station from the second game
state to the first game state in response to a reset event made up
of one or more bonus plays at the bingo player station.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The Applicants claim the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/865,815 filed
Nov. 14, 2006, and entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VARYING
POTENTIAL RESULTS BETWEEN PLAYS IN A BINGO GAMING SYSTEM." The
entire content of this provisional application is incorporated
herein by this reference.
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent
document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and
Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all
rights of copyright.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to bingo gaming systems and to gaming
machines used to present bingo game results. More particularly, the
invention relates to methods for presenting bingo game results to a
player through a bingo player station so that the potential result
for a given play may be varied to accommodate various types of
result presentations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A large number of different gaming machines have been
developed to provide various formats and graphic presentations for
conducting games and presenting game results. For example, numerous
mechanical reel-type gaming machines, also known as slot machines,
have been developed with different reel configurations, reel
symbols, and paylines. The arrangement of symbols that may be
displayed through an arrangement of mechanical reels in these
mechanical reel-type gaming machines represents a game graphic that
may be used to display results to the player. More recently, gaming
machines have been developed with video monitors that are used to
produce simulations of mechanical spinning reels. These video-based
gaming machines may use one or more video monitors to provide a
wide variety of graphic effects in addition to simulated spinning
reels, and may also provide secondary/bonus games using different
reel arrangements or entirely different graphics. Video-based
gaming machines may also be used to show card games or various
types of competitions such as simulated races in which wagers may
be placed. The symbols in a reel-type game simulation and/or other
graphics produced by the video displays of video-based gaming
machines also represent game graphics that may be used to display
results to the player. Game manufacturers are continuously pressed
to develop new game formats and game graphics in an attempt to
provide high entertainment value for players and thereby attract
and keep players.
[0005] Both mechanical reel gaming machines and video-based gaming
machines may be used to present a bingo game result to a player who
has initiated a play in a bingo game. When used in the conduct of
bingo games, these gaming machines may be referred to as "bingo
player stations." A bingo player at one of these bingo player
stations may initiate a play in a bingo game by initiating a game
play request using a player input arrangement associated with the
particular bingo player station. The play in the bingo game which
is initiated by the game play request includes matching a bingo
card or a data representation of a bingo card with bingo
designations drawn or otherwise generated for the bingo game to
produce a pattern of matched bingo card locations. This pattern of
matched bingo card locations correlates to a result for the game
play and game play request which initiated the play, and this
result is displayed at the bingo player station through some game
graphic generated by the result display arrangement associated with
the bingo player station. For example, where the bingo player
station is a mechanical reel device, the mechanical reel(s) provide
the result display arrangement and the various results in the bingo
game may be correlated to various sets of reel symbols. Continuing
with this example, a straight line pattern may be defined as a
winning result in the underlying bingo game, and this winning
result may be displayed through the mechanical reel display as a
game graphic made up of some number of a particular symbol aligned
along a payline defined through the various reel symbol locations
visible when two or more reels are caused to stop spinning.
Alternatively, the stop position of a single mechanical reel may be
used to represent a result in the underlying bingo game. A
video-based reel-type game may present a bingo game result in a
similar fashion. A video-based gaming machine may also serve as a
bingo player station by showing a bingo result as a result in a
card game. For example, a straight line bingo pattern achieved in
the underlying bingo game may be displayed to the player as a game
graphic comprising a representation of a poker hand of three of a
kind or some other hand value.
[0006] U.S. patent application publication No. 2004-0048647-A1
discloses an arrangement for mapping various result levels to
various sets of bingo patterns to produce a desired prize
distribution for a bingo game. This arrangement allows bingo
probabilities, that is, the probabilities associated with achieving
various bingo patterns in a bingo game, to be used to produce a
prize distribution that is, for example, characteristic of a
standard mechanical or video-based reel-type game. Thus, applying
bingo pattern mapping as disclosed in U.S. patent application
publication No. 2004-0048647-A1, allows the play of bingo at a
bingo player station to imitate the play of a traditional gaming
machine in which the results are determined in some random fashion
to produce a target prize distribution.
[0007] It is known in traditional gaming machines to modify the
prize distribution for a given game in order to make the game more
exciting for the player. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,538 to
Weiss discloses a traditional reel-type gaming machine which can be
modified in the course of play to change the likelihood of hitting
a winning combination of reel symbols on a given play. However, the
Weiss patent relates to traditional reel-type gaming machines and
does not disclose any arrangement for presenting results from bingo
games or modifying the likelihood of any given result that may be
presented at a bingo player station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention includes a highly entertaining method
of presenting bingo game results. The entertainment value is
achieved by using two or more different game states, with each game
state associated with its own unique characteristics of play in
terms of the various prizes available for a given play in the game
and/or in terms of the probabilities of obtaining the various
results available for the given play. In addition to a method of
presenting results in bingo games, the present invention also
encompasses both gaming apparatus and program products for
implementing methods according to the invention.
[0009] A method embodying principles of the invention may be
implemented in a bingo player station using one or more display
devices such as CRTs, LCDs, plasma displays, or other types of
display devices. The display device or devices are used to show
graphic elements according to the invention. Alternatively, the
present invention may be implemented with a bingo player station
that includes an arrangement of one or more mechanical reels to
show the various graphic elements. As used in this disclosure and
the accompanying claims, a bingo player station through which the
present invention may be implemented will be referred to generally
as a bingo player station regardless of the nature of the display
arrangement used in the device to show results to the bingo player.
Also, the graphic elements (text, numbers, and artwork) used to
present a result to a player at a player station, including
tangential graphic elements related to the result presenting
graphics, will be referred to in this disclosure collectively as a
"game graphic" regardless of whether individual graphic elements in
the total presentation are presented by mechanical devices such as
mechanical reels, video devices, static displays, or combinations
of these devices.
[0010] A method embodying one form of the present invention
includes receiving a first game play request at a bingo player
station when the bingo player station is in a first game state and
assigning a result for the first game play request according to a
first pattern table. The first game state corresponds to a first
result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station, and
the first pattern table includes a number of first result levels
with each first result level corresponding to a respective set of
one or more bingo patterns and to one or more first result symbols.
The method further includes placing the bingo player station in a
second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned
for the first game play request. As with the first game state, the
second game state corresponds to a particular result indicator
state displayed by the bingo player station. This particular result
indicator state corresponding to the second game state may be
referred to as a second result indicator state and is graphically
different from the first result indicator state. With the bingo
player station in the second game state, the method further
includes receiving a second game play request at the bingo player
station and assigning a result for the second game play request
according to a second pattern table. Similarly to the first pattern
table, the second pattern table includes a number of result levels
(second result levels) with each such result level corresponding to
a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or more
second result symbols. However, the second pattern table may be
distinct from the first pattern table in terms of the content of
the pattern table. Ultimately, the bingo player station may be
returned from the second game state to the first game state in
response to some reset event.
[0011] This method in which results for plays in an underlying
bingo game are assigned according to different pattern tables which
are each associated with a respective game state displayed by the
bingo player station enables various types of game features and
bonus games to be presented to the player at the bingo player
station. The various game features and bonus games may be displayed
concurrently with a base game or otherwise. These advantages
facilitated by the invention will be described in the context of
specific examples below.
[0012] Various definitions will be helpful in understanding the
present invention. As used in this disclosure and the accompanying
claims, a particular "result indicator state" is some graphic
element or arrangement of graphic elements (which may or may not
include text or numbers) that indicates a result or an aspect of a
result that is potentially available for a given play in a game
while the bingo player station is in the corresponding game state.
For example, a result indicator state may include a graphic display
element indicating that any win in the next play is subject to a
multiplier or that a bonus amount will be added to the result in
the next play at the bingo player station. As another example, a
result indicator state may include a graphic display element or set
of elements indicating that a particular event in the next play of
the game may entitle the player to a win multiplier or bonus value.
Such a graphic display element may appear as a bonus game that is
played concurrently with a base game.
[0013] The designation "pattern table" as used in this disclosure
and accompanying claims refers to any data table, set of data
tables, or any other arrangement of data that provides the
correlations between the various result levels available for a
given play in the bingo game, the various patterns that may be
achieved in the bingo game, the various result symbols (e.g. reel
stop symbols in a reel-type game, or playing card face
representations in a playing card-type game) that may be used to
display an assigned result to the player, and the various prizes
that may be available for the given play in the bingo game. The
designation "an aspect of a result" will be used in this disclosure
and accompanying claims to refer to a characteristic of a result
(or the graphic used to display the result to the player) that may
be detected by the bingo gaming apparatus. The result level
associated with the result, one or more symbols used to display the
result (such as reel symbols in a reel-type game or playing card
faces in a playing card-type game), or a relative order of symbols
used to display the result, each represent an "aspect of a result"
as used in this disclosure and accompanying claims, as does some
combination of two or more of these characteristics.
[0014] Although methods according to the invention may include only
two different game states, there is no limit to the number of game
states that may be employed in a given implementation of the
invention. For example, a given implementation of the invention may
move the player through several different game states over a series
of game play requests at a bingo player station until the player
becomes eligible for some increased prize. This technique of moving
through multiple game states builds excitement as the player
continues play and approaches a desirable game state in which
higher or more prizes may be available.
[0015] In addition to methods, the present invention also includes
both gaming apparatus and program products. One bingo gaming
apparatus according to the invention includes a display device, a
player input device, and a presentation controller. The display
device and player input device are both associated with a bingo
player station through which a player may initiate game play
requests in a bingo gaming system. The display device may include a
single video monitor, multiple video monitors, one or more sets of
mechanical reels, or a combination of mechanical reels and one or
more video monitors. The presentation controller may be implemented
through a processing device at the bingo player station or remote
from the bingo player station, or through multiple processing
devices at a single location or distributed over a network. The
presentation controller functions to apply the first pattern table
described above to assign a result for a respective bingo game play
request initiated through the player input device when the bingo
player station is in the first game state, and to apply the second
pattern table described above to assign a result for a respective
bingo game play request initiated through the player input device
when the bingo player station is in the second game state. The
presentation controller also switches the bingo player station
between game states in the method described above and directs the
display device to produce a respective result representation for
each respective bingo game play request initiated through the
player input device. The result representation graphically shows
the player the result that has been assigned for the respective
game play request.
[0016] A program product according to the invention may include
first game state program code, second game state program code, and
game state control program code. The first game state program code
is executable to cause a bingo player station to operate in the
first game state as described above in connection with the
exemplary method, while the second game state program code is
executable to cause the bingo player station to operate in the
second game state as described above. The game state control
program code is executable to cause the bingo player station to
switch between game states, and particularly from the first game
state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of a
respective result assigned while the bingo player station is
operating in the first game state.
[0017] These and other advantages and features of the invention
will be apparent from the following description of preferred
embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bingo player station that
may be used to present bingo gaming results to a bingo player
according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a bingo player
station and bingo gaming system that may be used to implement
methods according to the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method embodying the
principles of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a representation of a first pattern table that may
be employed in the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a representation of a second pattern table that
may be employed in the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a representation of a highly simplified game
graphic in an example first game state.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a representation similar to FIG. 6 but showing the
game graphic in an example second game state.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a representation similar to FIG. 7 but showing a
result for a game play request entered while the bingo player
station was in the second game state.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a representation similar to FIG. 8 but showing an
alternate result for a game play request entered while the bingo
player station was in the second game state.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a representation of a portion of a game graphic
that may be generated at a bingo player station to show several
different game states in a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a representation of a game graphic that may be
generated at a bingo player station to show several different game
states in a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a representation of a game graphic that may be
generated at a bingo player station to show several different game
states in a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 13 is a representation of a portion of a game graphic
that may be generated at a bingo player station to show several
different game states in a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 14 is a representation of a game graphic that may be
displayed at a bingo player station to show several different game
states in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] The claims at the end of this document set out novel
features which the Applicants believe are characteristic of the
invention. The various advantages and features of the invention
together with preferred modes of use of the invention will best be
understood by reference to the following description of
illustrative embodiments read in conjunction with the drawings
introduced above.
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a bingo player station 100 that may be used to
present bingo game results according to the present invention. The
block diagram of FIG. 2 shows further details of bingo player
station 100 connected in a gaming system in which the present
invention may be used to present gaming results to players.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, a bingo player station 100 includes a
cabinet 101 having a front side generally shown at reference
numeral 102. A video display device 104 is mounted in a central
portion of the front surface 102, with a ledge 106 positioned below
the video display device and projecting forwardly from the plane of
the video display device. In addition to the video display device
104, the illustrated bingo player station includes a top glass
display 107 positioned above the video display device. Video
display device 104 may be used to produce the graphic components
and display a result for a given game play request initiated
through bingo player station 100. For example, video display 104
may be used to show a reel-type graphic display such as that shown
in FIG. 6, in which the result assigned for each game play request
is shown at least partially as a particular combination of reel
symbols aligned along a payline. Video display 104 may also be used
to show various result indicator states according to the present
invention as will be described below in connection with various
embodiments of the invention, particularly the simplified example
shown in FIGS. 6-9. Top glass display 107 may be a static display
used to show static graphics related to the result displaying
portion of the game graphic. For example, top glass display 107 may
show a paytable which relates various combinations of reel symbols
to prizes in the game as is known in the art.
[0035] Bingo player station 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, includes
mechanical player control buttons or other input devices 109
mounted on ledge 106. Other forms of the invention may include
switches, joysticks, or other player input devices mounted on ledge
106.
[0036] Bingo player station 100 also includes additional player
interface devices 110. These additional player interface devices
110 may comprise for example, a player card reader, a voucher or
ticket reader/issuer, a currency acceptor/validator, and/or a coin
or token acceptor/dispenser.
[0037] It should be noted that the present invention is by no means
limited to implementation with a bingo player station having a
single video display such as bingo player station 100 shown in FIG.
1. A bingo player station that may be used to implement embodiments
of the present invention may be any player station that includes a
player interface for enabling a player to make direct inputs, and
one or more video display devices, physical reels, or other
mechanical arrangements through which the result displaying symbols
and result indicator states may be displayed. Bingo player station
100 is merely shown as an example of a bingo player station through
which the invention may be implemented. Other bingo player stations
implementing the present invention may include other types of
result displaying devices that may show bingo game play results.
For example, rather than employing video generated representations
of spinnable reels, a bingo player station may include one or more
mechanical spinnable reels to show results. Yet other bingo player
stations implementing embodiments of the present invention may
include a mechanical spinnable wheel similar to a roulette wheel
for example. Other bingo player stations for implementing
embodiments of the present invention may include a combination of
video displays and spinnable mechanical devices. For example, a
bingo player station may include a set of mechanical reels in place
of video display 104 in example player station 100, and a video
monitor in the position of top glass display 107. It should also be
noted that the video display device 104 used in bingo player
station 100, or some other bingo player station implementing the
invention, may comprise any suitable video display device including
a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, plasma display, LED
display or any other type of video display currently known or that
may be developed in the future.
[0038] FIG. 2 provides a block diagram showing various components
of bingo player station 100 together with gaming system components
external to the bingo player station. In particular, FIG. 2 shows
bingo player station 100 connected for communication with a local
area server 200 and a central server 201. Local area server 200 and
central server 201 may be used together with bingo player station
100 and other bingo player stations to implement a bingo gaming
system, such as the bingo gaming system described in U.S. patent
application publication No. 2004-0152499-A1. Local area server 200
and central server 201, or both servers, may cooperate to identify
results that are provided to bingo player station 100 for a bingo
game play that occurs in response to a bingo game play request
entered at the bingo player station. That is, local area server 200
and/or central server 201, or more particularly, one or more
processing devices associated with server 200 and/or server 201 may
serve as a result controller for identifying bingo patterns
achieved for a particular play in a bingo game (that is, a
particular bingo game play). Local area server 200 and/or central
server 201 may also be used to provide player tracking and
accounting services for the bingo player stations included in the
gaming system.
[0039] The bingo player station 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes a
central processing unit (CPU) 205 along with random access memory
206, and nonvolatile memory or storage device 207. All of these
devices are connected on a system bus 208 with an audio interface
device 209, communications interface 210, and a serial interface
211. A graphics processor 215 is also connected on bus 208 and is
connected to drive the video display device 104 (mounted on cabinet
101 as shown in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 2, bingo player station
100 also includes a touch screen controller 217 connected to system
bus 208. Touch screen controller 217 is also connected to receive
signals from a touch screen element associated with video display
device 104. It will be appreciated that the touch screen element
itself comprises a thin film that is secured over the display
surface of video display device 104. The touch screen element
itself is not illustrated or referenced separately in the figures
although the connection between the touch screen element and touch
screen controller 217 is shown generally by line 218.
[0040] Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will
appreciate that other basic components will be included in bingo
player station 100 such as a power supply, cooling systems for the
various system components, audio amplifiers and speakers, and other
devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional
devices are omitted from the drawings so as not to obscure the
present invention in unnecessary detail.
[0041] All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211
shown in FIG. 2 are elements commonly associated with a personal
computer. These elements may be mounted on a standard personal
computer chassis and housed in a standard personal computer housing
which is itself mounted in cabinet 101 shown in FIG. 1.
Alternatively, the various electronic components may be mounted on
one or more circuit boards housed within cabinet 101 without a
separate enclosure such as those found in personal computers. Those
familiar with data processing systems and the various data
processing elements shown in FIG. 2 will appreciate that many
variations on this illustrated structure may be used within the
scope of the present invention. For example, since serial
communications are commonly employed between a main processing
device for a computer system and a touch screen controller, a
system according to the invention may include a touch screen
controller that communicates with the system through serial
interface 211. The serial interface 211 may be any suitable
peripheral interface such as a USB controller or a IEEE 1394
controller. It will also be apparent to those familiar with
personal computers that the various components shown in FIG. 2 may
not be connected directly to system bus 208 as indicated in the
figure. Rather, any of the devices shown in FIG. 2 may be connected
directly to an intermediate bus which is connected to the system
bus 208 through a suitable controller. For example, non-volatile
memory/storage device 207 may be connected via a serial ATA
controller, and audio interface 209 may be connected through a
suitable expansion bus and expansion bus controller such as a PCI
bus and PCI bus controller. Numerous other variations in the bingo
player station internal structure and system may be used in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0042] It will also be appreciated that although separate graphics
processor 215 is shown for controlling video display device 104,
CPU 205 may control the video display device directly without any
intermediate graphics processor. The invention is not limited to
any particular arrangement of graphics processors for controlling
the video display device or devices that may be included in the
bingo player station.
[0043] In the illustrated bingo player station 100, CPU 205
executes software to ultimately control the entire bingo player
station including the receipt of player inputs through input
devices 109 shown in FIG. 1. Software executed at CPU 205 causes
the CPU to control the presentation of graphics displayed through
video display device 104, albeit indirectly through graphics
processor 215. Thus, CPU 205, either alone or in cooperation with
one or more other processing devices serves as the presentation
controller according to the invention. Where the bingo player
station itself identifies bingo patterns for plays initiated at the
bingo player station, CPU 205 also serves as a result controller,
although pattern identification will commonly be performed at a
more centralized processing device such as local area server 200 or
central server 201 in a bingo gaming system. CPU 205 may also
execute software to perform accounting functions associated with
game play. Communications interface 210 provides an interface to
other components of a gaming system that may be involved in game
play, such as local area server 200 and/or central server 201.
Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in
executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile
memory or storage device 207 provides storage for programs not in
use or for other data generated or used in the course of operating
bingo player station 100.
[0044] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to
bingo player stations employing the personal computer-type
arrangement of processing devices and interfaces shown in example
bingo player station 100. Other bingo player stations may include
one or more special purpose processing devices to perform the
various processing steps for implementing the present invention.
Unlike general purpose processing devices such as CPU 205, these
special purpose processing devices may not employ operational
program code to direct the various processing steps.
[0045] FIG. 3 comprises a process flow chart showing the operation
of a bingo player station according to one form of the present
invention. The bingo player station may be of the type shown as
bingo player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2 for example. The process
shown in FIG. 3 includes an initialization step at process block
301, which includes displaying a first result indicator state at
the player station. As will be discussed further below, this first
result indicator state corresponds to the first game state at the
bingo player station. After initialization, the process shown in
FIG. 3 continues with the bingo player station operating in a first
game state to present a bingo result to the player. This bingo
player station operation in the first game state includes the two
steps shown in dashed box 302. In particular, a game play request
is received at the bingo player station in the first game state as
indicated at process block 303, and a result is assigned for the
game play request and ultimately displayed to the player as
indicated at process block 304. If a game state change is not
indicated by some aspect of the result assigned at process block
304, then the process returns to a point above process block 303
and the bingo player station continues to operate in the first game
state for the next game play request that may be entered. However,
if a game state change is indicated as shown by a positive result
at decision block 306, the game state at the bingo player station
switches from the first game state to the second game state as
shown at process block 308. This switch from the first game state
to the second game state includes changing the graphics displayed
by the bingo player station to display a second result indicator
state corresponding to the second game state. The bingo player
station then begins operating in the second game state by
performing steps including those shown in dashed box 309. In
particular, a game play request is received at the bingo player
station in the second game state as indicated at process block 310,
and a result is assigned for the game play request and displayed to
the player as indicated at process block 311. The process proceeds
to identify whether a game state reset event has occurred as shown
at decision block 312. If a game state reset event has not
occurred, then the bingo player station continues to operate in the
second game state, or, if a game state reset event has occurred,
the game state switches back to the first game state and the first
result indicator state is displayed at the bingo player station as
indicated at process block 314.
[0046] The initialization step shown at process block 301 includes
actions necessary to place the bingo player station in condition to
operate in the first game state. The specific actions taken here
will depend upon a number of factors unrelated to the present
invention. For example, the accounting arrangement used by the
bingo player station may require a player login prior to accepting
a game play request. Where a login procedure is not required, the
bingo player station typically will require a player to deposit
currency or currency equivalent in order to provide a balance from
which wagers can be made. Regardless of any other actions taken in
this initialization shown at process block 301 in FIG. 3, the
initialization will include displaying some graphic arrangement
which represents the first result indicator state corresponding to
the first game state. This first result indicator state may take a
number of graphic forms within the scope of the present invention
as will be apparent from the specific examples described below. To
generalize from the specific examples described below, the first
result indicator state comprises some graphical state displayed at
the bingo player station which relates to the potential prizes that
could be assigned for a game play request entered at the bingo
player station when the player station is in the first game state.
Thus the first result indicator state corresponds to the first game
state and to the first pattern table from which results are
assigned for the game play request while the player station is in
the first game state. An example of a first result indicator state
may be a deactivated multiplier symbol displayed by the bingo
player station to indicate that the multiplier does not apply to
any result that might be obtained for a game play request entered
at the bingo player station. While it is possible within the scope
of the present invention that a first result indicator state will
indicate that some multiplier or bonus value might apply to a game
play request entered at the bingo player station at that time, the
lowest game state according to the present invention will typically
not show that a multiplier or bonus value may be available for a
play. Further aspects of the first result indicator state employed
in the present invention will be apparent from the specific game
examples described below.
[0047] The series of steps shown in dashed box 302 representing the
operation of the bingo player station represent generally a single
game cycle to present a bingo game result to the player. Such a
single game cycle may be thought of as a play at the bingo player
station in the sense that from the player's perspective, the player
makes some input at the bingo player station and then sees a result
displayed at the bingo player station. This "play at the bingo
player station" is to be distinguished from the "play" in the
underlying bingo game, which involves the actual matching of bingo
game indicia and bingo card indicia to produce some pattern of
matched card locations. The play in the underlying bingo game may
in fact take place at some location remote from the bingo player
station as will be described further below.
[0048] The game play request received at process block 303 will
typically result from some player input made at the bingo player
station. This player input may be made in any suitable fashion at
the bingo player station and may include one or more separate
inputs. For example, a particular bingo player station could
require that a player make some input to select a bingo card to
place in play, select a wager level, and actually place the
selected bingo card in play. Additional daub inputs or result
claiming inputs may also be required according to the rules of the
particular bingo gaming system, although these daub and result
claiming inputs may not represent a game play request, but only a
requirement for having a result assigned for a given game play
request. In any event, all of these inputs are made through a
suitable input device or multiple devices at the bingo player
station, such as one or more input devices 109 shown in FIG. 1
and/or a touch screen associated with a game display such as video
display device 104 as discussed above in connection with FIG. 2.
Other implementations of the invention employ a much more
streamlined input procedure for entering a game play request. For
example, a given bingo game play request may result from simply
activating a "play" button included in player input devices such as
input devices 109 in FIG. 1 and/or included in a touchscreen
display.
[0049] Regardless of the manner in which a bingo game play request
is received in a game cycle as indicated at process block 303 in
FIG. 3, the game play request is ultimately associated with at
least one bingo card or a data representation of such a card. The
bingo card/card representation for a bingo game play request is
then used for a bingo game play in which the designations included
in the bingo card/card representation are matched to a series of
bingo designations generated for the bingo game, and this matching
may result in a pattern of matches for the bingo card/card
representation. The pattern of matches achieved for a given bingo
card/card representation and/or the manner in which the matches are
made is used to identify a bingo result for the card and associated
bingo game play request. In particular, various patterns of matched
bingo card locations are correlated to various results in the bingo
game through a pattern table such as one of the example pattern
tables illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0050] For purposes of example only, pattern table 400 shown in
FIG. 4 corresponds to a first pattern table as described above, and
is used to assign results while the bingo player station is
operating in the first game state as indicated at process block 304
in FIG. 3. Pattern table 500 shown in FIG. 5 continues with this
example and corresponds to a second pattern table as described
above. Thus pattern table 500 is used to assign results while the
bingo player station is operating in the second game state as
indicated at process block 311 in FIG. 3. It should be noted at the
outset of this description of pattern tables 400 and 500 that these
tables are entirely fictitious in that they do not correspond to an
actual game. These pattern tables are in fact highly simplified in
order to simplify the discussion and more clearly disclose the
invention. In particular, the number of result levels shown in
pattern table 400 and in pattern table 500 are greatly reduced as
compared to a typical pattern table applicable to an actual
game.
[0051] Pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes eight result
levels, levels 0 through 7 in first column 401 labeled "Result
Level." Each result level is correlated to one or more matched
bingo card patterns indicated in the second column 402, one or more
result symbol sets shown in column 403, and a result value shown in
column 404. In example pattern table 400, patterns are represented
by the labels P1 through P11, result symbol sets are represented by
the labels S1 through S10, and result values are represented by the
labels V0 through V7. Each pattern P1 through P11 comprises a
definition of a pattern of matched bingo card locations that may be
achieved in the bingo game. For example, the bingo card may
comprise a 5.times.5 grid of card locations and pattern P10 may be
defined as the first column of five locations in the 5.times.5
grid, while pattern P11 may be defined as the last column of five
locations in the 5.times.5 grid. It should also be noted that a
pattern may be defined not only in terms of matched bingo card
locations but also in terms of the manner in which matches are
made. For example, a pattern may be defined as three matched bingo
card locations where the location with the highest valued bingo
designation is matched first relative to the other two matched card
locations. The present invention is not limited by the way in which
a bingo pattern may be defined.
[0052] Each of result levels 5, 6, and 7 of pattern table 400 is
correlated to multiple result symbol sets. In particular, result
level 5 correlates to both the result symbol set labeled S6 and the
result symbol set labeled S7. Thus, more than one result symbol set
may be used to communicate to the player a result at result level
5. The same can be said for result level 6, which is correlated to
the result symbol sets labeled S8, S9, and S10. The invention is
not limited to any particular number of result symbol sets at a
given result level. Each result level may be correlated to a single
result symbol set, or some or all result levels may be correlated
to multiple alternative result symbol sets for indicating a result
at that result level for a given play in the bingo game. In any
case, each symbol set preferably correlates to a specific
combination of graphic symbols or other elements that indicate a
result to a player according to the rules applicable to the given
game graphic. For example, the symbol set S3 in pattern table 400
may, for a given reel-type game graphic employing a given pay
table, correspond to a series of some reel symbol lined up along a
payline defined in the reel-type game graphic. At result level 7 in
FIG. 4, the pattern set labeled "Others" refers to all other
patterns not included in one of the other patterns sets, and the
result symbol set field labeled "Others" refers to result symbol
sets other than those correlated to another result level.
Typically, the result level in a pattern table corresponding to
result level 7 shown in FIG. 4 correlates to a result value of
zero, that is, a loss for the bingo game play.
[0053] In one preferred form of operation according to the
invention, a result controller either located at the bingo player
station (such as bingo player station 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2)
or located at a local area server or central server (such as
servers 200 and 201, respectively, in FIG. 2), identifies the
matched pattern associated with a bingo card for a given bingo game
play. The result controller communicates the identified pattern to
a presentation controller in some suitable form. For example, the
identified pattern may be communicated in the form of a code
representing the identified pattern. The presentation controller
applies the first pattern table (such as pattern table 400) to
assign a result for the identified pattern and this result
represents the result for the bingo game play initiated through the
bingo player station while the player station is operating in the
first game state.
[0054] Although the pattern table may be applied in a number of
fashions to assign the result, one preferred presentation
controller queries the pattern table to identify the result level
correlated to the identified pattern, and then reads the result
value associated with that result level. The presentation
controller also identifies a result symbol set associated with that
result level so that the display device associated with the bingo
player station may be controlled to show a proper graphic to
display the result to the player. This display of the result to the
player will be described further below in connection with the
example game graphic shown in FIGS. 6-9. One preferred process for
identifying a result symbol set associated with a given result
level includes reading a code or other identifier for a result
symbol set correlated to the given result level in some suitable
fashion. The result symbol set labels shown in example pattern
table 400 may represent suitable identifiers for example.
Regardless of the form of the identifier or how it is associated
with the result level, the identifier may point to stored data
which defines a given result symbol set graphic. The stored data
may be processed or otherwise used to cause a display device to
generate the desired result symbol set graphic. For example, and
with reference to the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, video display
device 104 may be directed by CPU 205 and graphics processor 215 to
generate the desired result symbol set graphic. As an alternative
example, a mechanical reel display device may be controlled by a
suitable reel position controller (which may also include a
processor similar to CPU 205) to cause the reels to stop in the
appropriate orientation to show the desired symbol or symbols
representing the particular result symbol set.
[0055] Referring again to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, any
suitable aspect of a result assigned at process block 304 may be
employed to require a change in the game state of the bingo player
station. The detection of a game state changing aspect of a result
as indicated at decision block 306 may be performed in any suitable
fashion. However, the specific actions required to perform the
detection step indicated at decision block 306 will generally
depend upon the nature of the result aspect which is taken as a
game state changing aspect. For example, one preferred form of the
invention may define a particular result level assigned for a game
play request as a result aspect that dictates a change in game
state. In this case, detecting whether a game state change should
occur may include locating the result level in a game state file as
will be described below and reading a game state value associated
with that result level. Another form of the present invention may
define the appearance of a special symbol anywhere on a reel-type
display as a result aspect that dictates a change in game state. In
this case, the detection step required for decision block 306 must
be capable of detecting the presence of the special symbol. One
arrangement for detecting the presence of the special symbol
evaluates the symbols at the various stop positions of the
reel-type display. Alternatively, each result symbol set for a
given result may define the symbols required at each reel stop
position, and thus the presence of the special symbol will be
apparent from the result symbol set. Different game state changing
result aspects will be discussed further below in connection with
specific implementations of the invention.
[0056] Regardless of the result aspect used to make the decision
indicated at decision block 306 in FIG. 3, placing the bingo player
station in a different game state at process block 308 may be
performed in response to a game state change signal generated as
appropriate for the particular event. For example, where a special
symbol appearing on the array of a reel-type game represents the
result aspect dictating a game state change, the bingo player
station processor such as processor 205 in FIG. 2, or some other
processing device such as local area server 200 or central server
201 includes a process that detects the presence of the special
symbol and generates a game state change signal when the symbol is
detected. This game state change signal, which may be a code or any
other signal as appropriate to the processing device that generates
the signal, is communicated as necessary to the component that
serves as the presentation controller so that the presentation
controller can place the particular bingo player station in the
second game state. This change in states is accomplished by
switching from the first pattern table to a second pattern table
for use in assigning results for the bingo game play requests
entered at the respective bingo player station.
[0057] The second result indicator state displayed at the bingo
player station as indicated at process block 308 in FIG. 3 may
comprise any suitable result indicator state according to the
present invention. As discussed above in the summary section of
this disclosure, preferred forms of the invention include a second
result indicator state that appears to affect the result that may
be awarded for a game play request received at the bingo player
station when the player station is in the second game state. An
example of this preferred form of the invention may include a
second result indicator state that appears to provide a multiplier
for another play in the game, or a number of free plays, or both.
Various second result indicator states will be described further
below in connection with specific game graphic examples.
[0058] The process of operating the bingo player station (such as
bingo player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the second game state
as indicated by the steps in dashed box 309 in FIG. 3 may be
substantially the same as the operation described above in
connection with dashed box 302. However, rather than employing the
first pattern table (such as example table 400) to assign results
for the respective bingo game play, the presentation controller
employs the second pattern table (such as example table 500) to
assign results when the player station is operating in the second
game state.
[0059] The example second pattern table 500 shown in FIG. 5 is
similar to first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4, but includes an
additional result level, level 3A in the "Result Level" column 501.
The reason for this additional result level will be described below
in connection with the example game graphic shown in FIGS. 6-9.
Each result level in second pattern table 500 is correlated to one
or more matched bingo card patterns indicated in the second column
502, one or more result symbol sets shown in column 503, and a
result value shown in column 504. It will be noted that for the
result levels that second pattern table 500 shares with first
pattern table 400, the result symbol sets in column 503 of FIG. 5
and the result values shown in column 504 correspond exactly to the
corresponding result symbol sets and result values shown in columns
403 and 404 of FIG. 4. This correspondence of common result levels
between different pattern tables is not necessary for the present
invention, but may be required for certain embodiments of the
present invention as will be apparent from the example game
described below employing pattern tables 400 and 500 and the game
graphic shown in FIGS. 6-9.
[0060] It will be noted that second pattern table 500 shown in FIG.
5 also employs some patterns in the "Pattern Set" column 502 which
are also used in first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4. However,
some of the result levels in second pattern table 500 include
additional patterns. For example, the result level 4 in second
pattern table 500 includes patterns P5, P6, and P1 whereas result
level 4 in first pattern table 400 includes just patterns P5 and
P6. The effect of including an additional pattern in result level 4
in second pattern table 500 is that the probability of a player
achieving that result level is increased with respect to the
probability under first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4. That is,
if a player in the underlying bingo game achieves either pattern
P5, P6, or P11 in the bingo game, the player will be awarded the
prize associated with result level 4 when results are assigned
according to second pattern table 500. Thus, the probability of
obtaining result value V4 for a bingo game play initiated when the
second game state is in effect is greater than the probability of
obtaining result value V4 when the bingo player station is operated
in the first game state. The probability of achieving any of the
result levels may be increased or decreased by changing the
patterns at each result level with respect to those patterns
specified in the first pattern table 400. It will be noted that
result level 5 is correlated to patterns P7, P8, and P15 in second
pattern table 500, and is correlated to patterns P7, P8, and P9 in
first pattern table 400 shown in FIG. 4. The substitution of
patterns in this fashion may increase or decrease the probability
of achieving that result level. It should also be noted that the
change of patterns for one result level may affect the probability
of achieving one or more patterns at another result level, and thus
affect the overall probability of obtaining a result at another
result level.
[0061] All of the variations described above in connection with
events that require a game state change are also applicable to
events that may produce a positive result at decision block 312 in
FIG. 3 require the game state to be reset from the second game
state to the first game state. In particular, some preferred forms
of the present invention may define the assignment of a given prize
level for a game play request as an event dictating that the bingo
player station be reset to the first game state. Regardless of the
specific event or series of events that may be chosen to serve as a
game state reset event, an appropriate component at the bingo
player station or elsewhere preferably generates a suitable reset
game state signal and communicates that signal as necessary to the
system component serving as the presentation controller. The
presentation controller then responds to the reset game state
signal by placing the bingo player station back in the first game
state as indicated at process block 314 in FIG. 3. Placing the
bingo player station back in the first game state includes causing
the presentation controller to assign results again according to
the first pattern table for further game play requests. Because the
first game state is correlated to the first result indicator state,
the player station is also directed to change graphics as necessary
to cause the bingo player station to display the first result
indicator state. As indicated by the process flow from process
block 314 in FIG. 3 back to dashed box 302, the bingo player
station may then be operated again in the first game state until
another game state change is indicated.
[0062] The relationship between the respective pattern tables
employed for different game states at a bingo player station and
the respective result indicator state displayed at the bingo player
station according to the invention may be described with the
simplified examples of pattern tables 400 and 500 shown in FIGS. 4
and 5 respectively, and with reference to the example game graphic
600 shown in FIGS. 6-9. It should be noted that game graphic 600 is
highly simplified in order to eliminate display elements that are
unnecessary for an understanding of the relationship between the
pattern tables and result indicator states. Thus, game graphic 600
includes simply a reel-type graphic component 601 defining a single
payline and a simple bonus indicator 602 generated on a suitable
display device of a bingo player station 603. Reel-type graphic
component 601 includes three video-generated reel representations
604, 605, and 606, each providing a respective reel symbol location
608, 609, and 610. These three reel symbol locations define a
single payline such that a result for a given play in an underlying
bingo game may be displayed to a player at the bingo player station
603 generating graphic display 600 by causing the reels to appear
to stop to show a respective set of reel symbols correlated to a
prize or other result through a pay table as is known in the art of
reel-type gaming machines. Bonus indicator 602 in this simple
example takes the form of a wheel 612 which is divided into
alternating sections including sections 613 labeled "0" and
sections 614 labeled "1." A pointer 616 is included to point to a
given section 613 or 614 once the wheel comes to rest after a spin
about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
[0063] In order for the two example pattern tables 400 and 500 to
apply to a game display employing game graphic 600, certain rules
must be defined dictating how a result for a given bingo game play
may be displayed with the game graphic. These rules are defined
here only for purposes of providing a simple example of an
application of the present invention. Implementations of the
invention are by no means limited to these rules or the simple
example of FIG. 6. The first rule to be assumed for this example is
that in a first game state, bonus indicator 602 is inactive and a
result for a given game play request received at the bingo player
station 603 showing game graphic 600 is communicated to the player
exclusively by the set of symbols that line up along the payline
defined by locations 608, 609, and 610. The second rule for
purposes of this example is that the display of one of the result
symbol sets corresponding to result level 6 shown in pattern table
400 when the bingo player station is in the first game state is
defined as the event that causes the bingo player station 603 to be
placed in the second game state. The third rule for this example is
that bonus indicator 602 is active when the bingo player station is
in the second game state, and will start spinning along with the
simulated reels 604, 605, and 606 when a game play request is
received at bingo player station 603. Further according to the
third rule, if the simulated reels 604, 605, and 606 stop showing
the result symbol set defined as result symbol set S4 in pattern
table 400 while bonus indicator 602 is active then the result for
the play will either correspond to result value V3 from tables 400
and 500 if wheel 612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section
613 on the wheel, or correspond to result value V3A if wheel 612
stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 614 on the wheel.
Finally, the fourth rule is that after result level 3A in pattern
table 500 is assigned for a game play request (and thus result
value V3A is awarded for the game play request entered while bonus
indicator 602 is active), the bingo player station is caused to
return to the first game state in which bonus indicator 602 is not
active and does not appear to affect any result displayed through
simulated reels 604, 605, and 606.
[0064] With these game rules in mind, FIG. 6 shows game graphic 600
when the bingo player station 603 is in the first game state with
bonus indicator 602 inactive. FIG. 7 shows game graphic 600 after
result symbol set S10 (assumed to be three single bar symbols) is
displayed at bingo player station 603 which has caused the bingo
player station to be placed in the second game state with bonus
indicator 602 active. The active state of bonus indicator 602 is
indicated graphically at bingo player station 603 by the symbol
"BINARY BONUS" flashing or otherwise displayed adjacent to wheel
612. FIG. 8 shows the alternative for a game play request entered
while bingo player station 603 is in the second game state, in
which the simulated reels stop to show the result symbol set
defined by set S4 (assumed to be three 7 symbols), and wheel 612
stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 613. FIG. 9 shows the
alternative for a game play request entered while bingo player
station 603 is in the second game state and the simulated reels
stop to show result symbol set S4 similarly to FIG. 8, but wheel
612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 614.
[0065] It should be noted here that each of the versions of game
graphic 600 shown in FIGS. 6-9 is dictated by a result identified
from a bingo game, particularly a respective pattern achieved for a
respective play in the bingo game. The symbols shown at locations
608, 609, and 610 in FIG. 6 correspond to some result symbol set
shown in column 403 of first pattern table 400. The position of
wheel 612 is dictated by where the wheel came to rest the last time
it was active, which was in turn dictated by a bingo pattern
achieved in some previous play. The three "BAR" symbols shown in
the example of FIG. 7 resulted from the player achieving for a play
in the bingo game either pattern P 10 or P 11 in pattern table 400,
which in turn resulted in one of result symbol set S8, S9, or S10
having been selected according to first pattern table 400. Thus for
purposes of our example, the three "BAR" symbols shown in FIG. 7
correspond to result symbol set S8, S9, or S10. The three "7"
symbols shown in the example of FIG. 8 and the stop position of
wheel 612 pointing to "0" section 613, was dictated by the player
achieving pattern P4 from second pattern table 500. This
arrangement of three "7" symbols and the wheel stop position on a
section 613 corresponds to result symbol set S11 in second pattern
table 500. Finally, the three "7" symbols shown in the example of
FIG. 9 and the stop position of wheel 612 pointing to "1" section
614, was dictated by the player achieving pattern P12 from second
pattern table 500. This arrangement of three "7" symbols and the
wheel stop position on a section 614 corresponds to result symbol
set S12 in second pattern table 500.
[0066] It will be noted now that the additional result level 3A is
required for second pattern table 500 (used when the bingo player
station is in the second game state) because the game rules for
this simple example game add one additional potential result that
may be assigned for a game play request entered while the bingo
player station is in the second game state. That result corresponds
to result value V3A in pattern table 500 and is assigned for a game
play request if the result controller for the bingo gaming system
identifies the pattern P12 for the bingo game play resulting from
the game play request entered while bingo player station 603 is in
the second game state. This simple example described with reference
to FIGS. 4-9 demonstrates that applying different pattern tables
for different game states according to the present invention allows
game rules to temporarily add various prizes for the bingo game
results while retaining the basic result identifying procedure
based on patterns achieved for a given player in a bingo game.
Numerous different entertaining game states may be defined and
applied according to the present invention to enhance player
enjoyment and hold the player's interest.
[0067] The simple example game described in connection with tables
400 and 500 the game graphics in FIGS. 6 through 9 also provides
insight into the nature of result indicator states and their
correspondence to game states according to the invention. In
particular, it will be noted that the first game state illustrated
in FIG. 6 corresponds to a first result indicator state in which
bonus indicator 602 is inactive. The second game state illustrated
in FIG. 7 corresponds to a second result indicator state in which
bonus indicator 602 is active as shown at least by the "BINARY
BONUS" symbol. In each case, the respective result indicator state
represents some state that is apparent to the player at bingo
player station 603 and which indicates to the player some status in
the play of the game according to the applicable game rules. In the
example, the respective result indicator state affects the result
values available for a game play request entered during the
corresponding game state. However, this affect on the available
result values is not a requirement of the present invention.
[0068] The example described in connection with FIGS. 6-9 also
provides insight into the nature of result aspects that may be used
according to the invention to prompt a change in game state. In the
example, it is the assignment of result level 6 in FIG. 4,
corresponding to either of result symbol sets S8, S9, or S110 along
the payline defined by reel symbol locations 608, 609, and 610
which prompts the change in game state. However, numerous other
aspects of a game result may be used to prompt a change in game
state. For example, a single set of reel symbols aligned along a
payline or a single reel symbol appearing on a game display may
prompt a change in game state. Also, the result aspect that prompts
a game state change may not be associated with the display of the
result itself through a reel-type display or otherwise. In the
embodiment described below in connection with FIG. 11 for example,
a random event produced in connection with a display of results
assigned for a game play request is used as a game state changing
aspect of a result.
[0069] The example described above in connection with FIGS. 6-9 is
also illustrative of the nature of result symbol sets that may be
defined according to the invention. It will be noted that all of
the result symbol sets shown for pattern table 400 in FIG. 4 define
symbols that align along the payline made up of symbol locations
608, 609, and 610 in FIGS. 6-9. The same can be said for all of the
result symbol sets shown for pattern table 500 in FIG. 5 except for
result symbol sets S11 and S12. Result symbol set S11 defines not
only the set of reel symbols that must align along locations 608,
609, and 610, but also defines the stop configuration for bonus
indicator 602. Similarly, result symbol set S12 in pattern table
500 defines the set of reel symbols that align along locations 608,
609, and 610, and also defines the stop configuration for bonus
indicator 602. The result symbol sets defined for a pattern table
within the scope of the invention may not only define combinations
of reel stop symbols and graphics external to the reels, but may
also define any suitable graphical arrangement that may be used to
convey a result to the player through the respective bingo player
station.
[0070] The process illustrated in FIG. 3 and the example game
graphics described in connection with FIGS. 6-9 refer to only a
first and second game state. However, two game states are
referenced in the above discussion only as a matter of convenience
in describing the basic nature and characteristics of the
invention. The invention is by no means limited to only a first and
second game state, but encompasses implementations that employ many
different game states. The game graphics described below in
connection with FIGS. 10-14 may each require more than two game
states, each game state associated with a particular pattern table
and also corresponding to a particular result indicator state
displayed at the bingo player station. It should be noted that for
game graphics and associated game rules that require three or more
game states, the invention encompasses any possible progression
through the various game states. That is, the invention is not
limited to progressing from a first game state, to a second game
state, to a third and highest game state, and then back to the
first game state. Also, games that allow different bet levels for a
given game play request may use a different pattern table for each
bet level and may thus define each bet level as a respective game
state. In the case of the game state being dependent upon bet
level, the result indicator state displayed at the bingo player
station includes an indicator of the bet level.
[0071] Regardless of the number of game states that may be required
according to the present invention to implement a particular game
graphic and a set of rules regarding how the game graphic displays
results, it will be apparent that the present invention requires
some mechanism for ensuring that the correct game state is selected
for each transition in order to properly carry out the game rules.
Any suitable system may be used according to the invention in order
to ensure that the bingo player station is placed in the proper
game state, that is, to ensure that the proper pattern table is
used to assign a result for a given game play request at the bingo
player station consistent with the result indicator state displayed
at the bingo player station.
[0072] One preferred form of the present invention employs a data
file to maintain information on the current game state in effect at
the given bingo player station and to maintain information on the
next game state to which the bingo player station will be
transitioned given the possible game state changing events. This
data file may be referred to as a "game state file" and in one
preferred form includes an identifier for each game state together
with an identifier for the pattern table which is to be used for
game play requests received while the bingo player station is in
that particular game state. The pattern table identifier may be
referred to as a "game index." In addition to associating each game
state with a respective game index pointing to the pattern table to
be applied for that game state, this preferred game state file
associates each game state with an indicator for each event that
triggers a change in game state together with an indicator of the
state to which the bingo player station should be changed in
response to that event. For example, each game state may be
associated in the game state file with a number of bet level
entries with each bet level entry pointing to a game state that is
applicable if that bet level is selected by the player at the bingo
player station. Also, each game state in the game state file may be
associated with a number of result aspect indices where each result
aspect index corresponds to an aspect of a result which may be
relied upon to prompt a state change at the respective bingo player
station.
[0073] In some implementations of the present invention, each game
state is associated with a pattern table that is distinct from any
other pattern table used in the implementation. The distinctiveness
between pattern tables may be in terms of result levels, prize
distribution, or both. However, distinctiveness between pattern
tables is required only if it is desirable or necessary to change
the characteristics associated with a game play request in terms of
available results, prize distribution, or otherwise. There may also
be implementations of the invention in which it is not necessary or
desirable to change the characteristics associated with a game play
request from one game state to another, and thus it may be
desirable to define a game state that uses the same pattern table
as another game state. Accordingly, two game states identified in
the game state file may refer to the same pattern table via the
game index for that pattern table. It is also possible that a game
graphic and accompanying game rules may require that the bingo
player station in a first game state transitions to a second game
state associated with the same pattern table as that associated
with the first game state.
[0074] Although the game state file represents one preferred
arrangement employed by the presentation controller for enabling
the presentation controller to navigate through the various game
states available for a given game graphic and set of game rules,
the invention is not limited to this state tracking arrangement.
Other state tracking arrangements may use counters, registers, or
other tracking arrangements as may be appropriate for the
respective game graphic and game rules.
[0075] FIGS. 10 through 14 may be used to describe certain specific
applications of the present invention employing multiple game
states each corresponding to a respective result indicator state
displayed by the bingo player station. It should be noted that the
various game graphics described below and elsewhere in this
disclosure are in each case ultimately driven by a result in an
underlying bingo game which is assigned for a game play request
initiated at the respective bingo player station. That is, although
a result may be shown by a reel-type display either alone or
together with some additional game graphic portion, the result is
in fact identified using a pattern achieved in a bingo game for a
given game play request and this pattern is used together with a
respective pattern table to select the result symbol or symbols to
indicate the result to the player.
[0076] It should also be noted that the various game graphics
described below and others implemented according to the present
invention may not employ a one-to-one correspondence between a
particular result assigned according to a pattern table and an
arrangement of graphic symbols such as reel-type game symbols along
a payline of a reel-type display. For example, some implementations
of the present invention may show a result awarded for a bingo game
play request as a number of "free" spins at the particular bingo
player station. The various prizes that may be indicated by these
individual free spins may in fact be dictated by a result assigned
for a single bingo game play and corresponding bingo game play
request. For example, a game graphic may indicate that the player
has won ten free spins for a respective game play request initiated
by the player at the bingo player station. However, what the player
has actually won is some value that will be displayed to the player
through a set of ten individual free spins (what appear to the
player to be individual plays) at the bingo player station.
Continuing with this example, the value that the player has
actually won may be 100 credits, and the individual results
displayed for the ten free spins will be controlled in a suitable
fashion by the presentation controller to display the total win of
100 credits. Some forms of the invention may include one or more
result symbol sets (such as set S1 in pattern table 400 of FIG. 4
for example) that define a number of different instances of the
game graphic to display the assigned result value to the player.
The different instances of the game graphic correspond to the "free
spins" and the game graphic that indicates the award of the "free
spins." In the case of a predefined group of instances of the game
graphic used to show an assigned result value, the predefined group
of instances of the game graphic represents a script that the
presentation controller causes the display device or devices of the
bingo player station to follow in order to display the assigned
result value. In yet other forms of the invention, a result symbol
set may be variable in the sense that the actual instances of the
game graphic to be used to display the awarded result value are not
set but are selected according to some random or other process
after the result symbol set is invoked from the respective pattern
table.
[0077] Referring now to FIG. 10 a game graphic portion 1000 may be
used in connection with another display arrangement not shown in
the figure. In particular, the other display arrangement for the
respective bingo player station may include a reel-type display
comprising a set of three mechanical reels or a video generated set
of three reels. Although game graphic portion 1000 may be located
either above, below, or to the side of the reel-type graphic, one
preferred game graphic may place game graphic portion 1000 above
the reel-type graphic, displayed by a video monitor in the position
of top display 107 shown in bingo player station 100 in FIG. 1.
[0078] Game graphic portion 1000 includes representations of three
different objects 1001, 1002, and 1003, each associated with a
respective path 1004, 1005, and 1006 toward a target 1007. In this
particular example, each object comprises a representation of a
rocket and the target comprises a representation of a planet. Also,
each path 1004, 1005, and 1006 includes a number of stop positions
between an initial position of the respective object shown in FIG.
10 and the target 1007. In particular, the path 1004 for rocket
1001 includes five stop positions 1010 whereas path 1005 for object
1002 includes three stop positions 1011, and path 1006 for object
1003 includes seven stop positions 1012.
[0079] According to one preferred game using game graphic portion
1000, each respective rocket 1001, 1002, and 1003 is associated
with a respective reel of the associated reel-type display (not
shown). Any time a designated symbol appears on a payline for a
particular reel of the reel-type display, the rocket corresponding
to that reel advances one stop position along the respective path
toward target 1007. When the appearance of a special symbol on a
respective reel causes a particular rocket to reach target 1007,
some enhanced award is available to the player. The enhanced award
may be a number of free spins at a multiplier value for example,
where the multiplier value is represented by the multiplier value
shown on the respective rocket reaching target 1007. It will be
noted that under this rocket advancing rule, the result aspect for
a given game state which prompts the bingo player station to go to
another game state includes the presence of the designated symbol
on a given reel and payline.
[0080] To account for the possibility of enhanced awards based on
the multiplier value appearing to be applicable based on the
condition of game graphic portion 1000, and to provide a desired
distribution for the enhanced awards, different pattern tables may
be used for different positions of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003
along their respective path 1004, 1005, and 1006. At least eight
different pattern tables may be used according to the invention to
accommodate the enhanced awards available for game graphic portion
1000. Each pattern table corresponds to a respective condition of
the final stop position of each path 1004, 1005, and 1006 to target
1007 as either having the respective object at the stop position or
not. In this particular embodiment, each of the eight pattern
tables correspond to a respective game state and each game state
corresponds to a respective result indicator state defined by the
location of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 in relation to target
1007. In particular, a first game state may correspond to a result
indicator state defined by the each rocket 1001, 1002, and 1003
residing in the start position shown in FIG. 10. A second game
state may correspond to a result indicator state in which rocket
1001 is at the respective final stop position 1010 before target
1007 and rockets 1002 and 1003 are each not at their respective
last stop position before target 1007. Another game state may
correspond to a result indicator state in which rocket 1002 resides
at the final stop position 1011 before target 1007 and rockets 1001
and 1003 each do not reside at their respective final stop position
before target 1007. The remaining game states each correspond to a
result indicator state defined by whether the respective object is
at the final stop position before target 1007.
[0081] It should be noted here that this example embodiment for a
game graphic portion 1000 including a total of eight game states is
merely one example of an arrangement according to the invention.
Other embodiments of the invention may include more than eight game
states. For example, one embodiment of the invention may define a
different game state for each potential arrangement of positions of
the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along their respective path. This
embodiment defining a different game state for each arrangement of
rocket positions in game graphic portion 1000 is useful in storing
game state information for state tracking according to one
embodiment of the invention. In this arrangement in which each
possible state of rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along their
respective path is defined as a separate game state, all of the
game states corresponding to a rocket position state in which no
enhanced award may be available on the next game play request may
correspond to the same pattern table for assigning results.
[0082] In an overall game graphic including game graphic portion
1000 shown in FIG. 10 and the corresponding three-reel, reel-type
display as described above but not shown in the figure, the
reel-type display portion of the overall game graphic may be
referred to as a base game or base game graphic. This base game
graphic shows results to the player for plays in which one of the
enhanced awards is not available. Game graphic portion 1000 may be
thought of as a bonus game graphic. It will be noted in this
example that the bonus game graphic may be shown on an entirely
different graphic display device than the display device showing
the base game graphic. In particular, the base game graphic in this
example may be shown by a mechanical reel arrangement or a video
reel arrangement whereas the bonus game graphic may be shown on a
separate video display device. It will also be noted that in this
particular embodiment of the invention the bonus game graphic is
displayed concurrently with the base game graphic. Finally, in
forms the invention employing game graphic portion 1000 to
represent a bonus game which provides enhanced awards for certain
bonus plays, the completion of the one or more bonus plays may be
defined as the reset event that causes the bingo player station to
revert back to the first game state. For example, a game using game
graphic portion 1000 may be implemented so that the player receives
ten "free spins" at the applicable multiplier level when the
respective rocket (or combination of rockets) 1001, 1002, or 1003
reaches target 1007. After these ten free spins are completed, the
bingo player station may automatically revert back to the first
game state in which rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 are in their
initial position shown in FIG. 10.
[0083] FIG. 11 shows a game graphic 1100 that may be driven by
results in underlying bingo games using various game states
according to the present invention. Game graphic 1100 includes a
reel-type game display 1101 which includes three reels 1102, 1103,
and 1104. In addition to reel-type game display 1101, game graphic
1100 also includes a game graphic portion 1106 made up of a
representation of a baseball field. Each base on the baseball
diamond includes a runner indicator 1108 that produces a
distinctive appearance to indicate the presence of a runner at the
base. Game graphic portion 1106 also includes an out indicator
field 1109, a run scored indicator field 1110 and a bonus field
1111.
[0084] Game graphic 1100 can be produced on a single video display
device such as the video display device 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Alternatively, the reel-type game display 1101 may be made up of a
mechanical reel arrangement and a separate video monitor or other
suitable display device to the side of the mechanical reel
arrangement or elsewhere that may be used to produce game graphic
portion 1106.
[0085] Regardless of how the reel-type display 1101 and baseball
field game graphic portion 1106 are produced at a bingo player
station, the following example rules may dictate the behavior of
the bingo player station and game graphic 1100. In this
illustrative set of rules, if a game play request for a particular
play in a game produces a winning result display on the reel-type
display 1101, a random baseball event such as a single, double,
triple, or home run is generated. If, on the other hand, a game
play request results in a non-winning outcome as displayed by
reel-type display 1101, an "out" is counted. The random baseball
events produced for each winning result, cause base runners to
appear at different bases on game graphic portion 1106. However
once three outs are tallied, game graphic 1106 is reset by clearing
the bases and resetting the "outs" field 1109 to zero. The player
wins bonus credits when runs score based on a baseball event
occurring and the state of game graphic portion 1106. Preferably,
the baseball bonus shown by graphic 1106 is only available when the
player places a maximum bet.
[0086] The following example is illustrative of how these rules of
the game may be applied. Assume that game graphic portion 1106
shows one out in field 1109 and indicators 1108 show runners at
second and third base. Assume also that at this state of game
graphic portion 1106, the player initiates a game play request at
the gaming machine producing the graphic and is assigned a result
of that dictates a payline win of 20 credits shown by suitable reel
stop symbols according to the paytable for the game. Assume also
that the random baseball event generated for this payline win is a
double. In this case, the runners at second and third score on the
double and the overall value awarded for the game play request is
equal to 60 credits. This total amount is made up of the 20 credit
value of the payline win plus the two runs scored (in view of the
baseball event and the prior state of game graphic portion 1106)
times the 20 credit value of the payline win.
[0087] Game graphic 1100 and the game rules described above may be
driven by bingo game results by applying different pattern tables
depending upon the state of game graphic portion 1106. A first game
state according to the invention may be defined as the state of
game graphic portion 1106 with no runners on base. In this first
game state, the condition of no runners on base represents the
first result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station.
A second game state may be defined as game graphic portion 1106
showing a runner on first base. The condition of the first base
runner indicator 1108 activated and second and third base runner
indicators 1108 inactive represents a second result indicator state
displayed by a bingo player station. Other game states are defined
by different base runner positions in game graphic portion 1106.
Because the potential award values for game play requests made at
the bingo player station showing game graphic 1100 vary from one
state of game graphic portion 1106 to another, each different game
state is associated with a respective pattern table that includes
suitable result levels including sufficient result levels to
encompass all of the potential results for the given game state
encompassing every combination of base runner arrangement and
baseball event on a payline win.
[0088] It should be noted that the random baseball event may be
generated in any suitable fashion either at the bingo player
station producing game graphic 1100 or some other component in
communication with the bingo player station. In one preferred
arrangement, the presentation controller is also responsible for
producing the random baseball event. Regardless of which component
produces the random baseball event, the event may be produced with
a random number generator and a table relating various random
numbers or ranges of numbers to some baseball event. In this
example arrangement, the random baseball event is generated by
first generating a random number and then locating the table entry
associated with that random number and reading the baseball event
for that table entry. However it should be noted that the invention
is not limited to any particular arrangement for producing a random
baseball event. Also, baseball events for this example game graphic
may be produced in some nonrandom fashion within the scope of the
present invention. It will also be noted that the aspect of the
result which causes a change in game state in this form of the
invention described in connection with FIG. 11 is a combination of
the result for the game play plus the random baseball event
generated as described above.
[0089] FIG. 12 shows yet another example game graphic 1200 that may
be employed to display bingo game results according to the present
invention. Game graphic 1200 includes a reel-type display 1201 and
an additional game graphic portion 1202. In this particular
example, the reel-type display 1201 includes five video-simulated
reels 1203 and additional game graphic portion 1202 is located to
one lateral side of the reel-type display. Additional game graphic
portion 1202 includes a graphic representation of a jack-in-the-box
1206. In the particular state of game graphic 1200 shown in FIG.
12, jack-in-the-box 1206 is in a closed state and the label
"1.times." appears on the front side of the jack-in-the-box to
indicate a multiplier value that is potentially available for a
play in the game. In this example game graphic 1200, the reel-type
display 1201 and additional game graphic portion 1202 may be
displayed on a single video monitor. This game graphic could also
be produced with a mechanical reel-type display and a separate
video display device for displaying the additional game graphic
portion. It is also possible that the function of the
jack-in-the-box graphic as described below could be implemented
with an electro-mechanical device rather than a video monitor.
[0090] The method of the present invention may be employed to
implement the following game rules relating to game graphic 1200.
Starting from an initial game state in which the multiplier value
for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206 is 1.times., each time
a designated symbol is shown when the reels of reel-type display
1201 come to rest to show a result for a play in an underlying
bingo game, the jack-in-the-box will be shown to receive one crank
on a handle (not visible in this example illustration). If the jack
pops out for that crank, the player is awarded a number of free
spins and the illustrated multiplier applies to each free spin.
However, if the jack does not pop out on that crank, the multiplier
value will be shown to increase to a higher value, 2.times. for
example. The next time the designated symbol is shown at a reel
symbol location after the reels stop spinning for a play at the
bingo player station producing the graphic, the jack-in-the-box
representation 1206 receives another crank. If the jack pops out on
that crank, the player is awarded a number of free spins and the
multiplier then displayed on jack-in-the-box representation 1206 is
applied to each free spin. If the jack does not pop out on the
crank, the multiplier value is shown to increase again. The process
continues until a maximum multiplier value is reached so that
further cranks do not increase the multiplier value. At any point
at which the jack pops out of the box, the player is awarded free
spins at the displayed multiplier value applied to each free spin.
After the player plays their free spins, the game reverts back to
the initial 1.times. multiplier condition for the next game play
request entered at the bingo player station providing the game
graphic.
[0091] The present invention employing multiple game states is
applicable to this game graphic and game rule combination in that
the potential value of the free spin award may vary according to
the multiplier value displayed on the jack-in-the-box
representation 1206. A first game state according to the invention
employs a first pattern table and corresponds to a result indicator
state defined by the lowest multiplier value displayed for the
jack-in-the-box representation 1206. A second game state using a
second pattern table to assign results corresponds to the result
indicator state defined by the next higher multiplier value
displayed for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206, and so forth
for each possible multiplier value. Whether the jack pops out of
the box on a given play may be randomly determined by the
presentation controller or some other component. Alternatively,
whether the jack pops out on a given play may be based on some
other aspect of the result in the underlying bingo game.
[0092] As in the example shown in FIG. 11, the reel-type display
1201 in FIG. 12 may be considered the base game. The
jack-in-the-box display 1206 in FIG. 12 may be considered a bonus
game. In the example game graphic 1200 then, the bonus game is not
only concurrently displayed with the base game graphic, but may
also be displayed with the same display device, for example, a
video monitor such as device 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0093] FIG. 13 shows another game graphic portion 1300 that may be
used with a reel-type display (not shown in FIG. 13) to implement
multiple game states according to the present invention. Game
graphic portion 1300 is preferably displayed on a video display
monitor located at a particular bingo player station. For example,
a bingo player station may include or produce a reel-type display
in the position of video display device 104 in FIG. 1, and include
a video monitor in the position of top display 107 rather than a
static display. Game graphic portion 1300 would be generated at
that top video monitor. Regardless of specifically how and where
game graphic portion 1300 is displayed at the bingo player station,
the graphic portion includes an array 1301 of symbol locations
1302, and this array corresponds to the array of reel symbol
locations provided by the associated reel-type display. Example
graphic portion 1300 includes a three-by-five array of symbol
locations 1302 corresponding to the three-by-five array provided by
a traditional five reel reel-type display such as reel-type display
1201 shown in FIG. 12. Symbols 1304 in the various symbol locations
1302 appear as gaming chips. These gaming chips may be caused to
appear to flip over as described below to reveal various bonus
values such as bonus amounts, multipliers, or numbers of free
spins. The various symbols 1304 displayed at symbol locations 1302
may thus define various game states according to the present
invention.
[0094] The rules of a game graphic using a reel-type display and
game graphic portion 1300 may specify that under certain conditions
associated with the reel-type display, certain of the gaming chips
1304 flip over to reveal a credit amount, a free spin number, or a
multiplier value. For example, the presence of a designated reel
symbol appearing at a given location on the reel-type display after
a spin may cause the gaming chip 1304 at the corresponding location
1302 of array 1301 to flip over and stay in that position until the
array 1301 is reset to a base state shown in FIG. 13. The rules may
also require that any time the revealed information on two chips
match, the player receives that prize, and immediately thereafter,
graphic portion 1300 reverts to the base state shown in FIG.
13.
[0095] In order to implement these rules, the various states of
array 1301 may be defined as different game states according to the
present invention in order to account for the enhanced prizes that
may be available according to the game graphic rules. For example,
if a credit amount of 500 credits is available according to the
matching rules for game graphic portion 1300, a pattern table may
be used which includes a result level for each result possibility
for the reel-type display alone and a result level for each
possible combination of result displayed by the reel-type display
and array 1301 showing the additional 500 credit award in addition
to the award for the reel-type display. The result display state
corresponding to this game state is the condition in which one
flipped gaming chip in array 1301 shows the 500 credit award.
[0096] It will be noted that in this example game graphic employing
game graphic portion 1300 and a reel-type display (not shown in
FIG. 13), the aspect of the result used to indicate a change in
game state is the specified condition causing a state affecting
gaming chip to be flipped in display. For example, the game state
changing result aspect may be the appearance of the designated reel
symbol at a reel symbol location in the reel-type display.
[0097] It should also be noted that not all of the bonus amounts
that appear to be available through game graphic portion 1300
require a change in the game state of the bingo player station and
a different pattern table to be invoked. For example, if a number
of free spins are awarded, the value of such free spins may be
controlled to coincide with a prize value available in the current
pattern table. In this case, the result symbol set selected to show
the result will cause the game graphic to be controlled for the
free spins. However, even in the case of a prize awarded through
free spins, it may be desirable to change game states in order to
apply a pattern table that includes a different prize distribution.
The present invention encompasses the situation in which the game
state is changed at a bingo player station simply to change the
prize distribution to be applied for a game play request entered at
the bingo player station.
[0098] FIG. 14 shows a diagrammatic representation of another game
graphic 1400 that may be driven by bingo game play results using
multiple game states according to the present invention. Game
graphic 1400 includes a reel-type display 1401, additional display
symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404, and a separate video or alphanumeric
display device 1405. Reel-type display 1401 includes three reels or
reel representations 1408 which define a single payline through
reel symbol locations 1409. This reel-type display 1401 may be a
video-generated reel-type display or a mechanical reel display. In
the event reel-type display 1401 is generated on a video monitor,
the same video monitor may be used to produce symbols 1402, 1403,
and 1404. In the event reel-type display 1401 is a mechanical reel
display, symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404 may be display glass which
may be selectively back-lit to indicate that the symbol is active
as will be described below.
[0099] Game graphic 1400 may be used in connection with game rules
that may apply a multiplier to some subsequent game play request
entered at the bingo player station generating the game graphic.
For example, the game rules may require that every time a
designated symbol appears at a reel symbol location 1409, a
respective multiplier is made active for a subsequent game play
request. Different designated symbols may correspond to the
different multiplier values or a single designated symbol may cause
a jump to the next highest multiplier value up to a maximum value.
The subsequent game play request may be the next game play request
that produces a winning result (as indicated by the text on display
device 1405) or the next game play request regardless of the
outcome. It is also possible that the subsequent game play request
to which the multiplier will apply will be some designated game
play request in the future, the tenth game play request for
example. It will be noted that the multiplier value to be applied
may be shown by activating one of the symbols 1402, 1403, or 1404,
or by display device 1405, or both one of the symbols and the
display device.
[0100] A game following these game rules may be implemented
according to the present invention by defining a first game state
as that state in which no multiplier is invoked. In this case, the
first result indicator state is the state in which none of the
symbols 1402, 1403, or 1404 are active and display device 1405
indicates that no multiplier value is applicable. A game play
request entered at the bingo player station in this first game
state is assigned a result according to a first pattern table.
However, when a multiplier value becomes active according to the
game rules, the bingo player station is placed in another game
state to use a pattern table that accounts for the larger prizes
available for the game play request. In the event the multiplier
only applies to a given game play request in the future, the change
in game state actually occurs just before the game play request to
which the multiplier value applies. In any event, the activated
multiplier symbol or multiplier value displayed at display device
1405 represents the second result indicator state corresponding to
the second game state.
[0101] Where the game rules apply the multiplier value to the next
play only regardless of whether or not there is a win on the play,
the bingo player station switches back to the first game state
after the game play request to which the multiplier applies and
before the next game play request. Where the game rules require
that the multiplier applies to the next win, the bingo player
station will remain in the second game state until a winning result
is assigned for a game play request and then the bingo player
station is returned to the first game state immediately after the
game play request for which a winning result is assigned.
[0102] A variation on the multiplier arrangement described above
may be implemented with just a reel-type game presentation and no
additional display to indicate a multiplier value applies. In this
variation, the reel-type display starts out in a first game state
in which no multiplier value applies. However, when a designated
symbol appears on the payline at a respective reel symbol location
such as a location 1409 in FIG. 14, that respective reel is locked
in place for the next game play request at the bingo player station
and the reel lock and displayed symbol represents a second result
indicator state indicating that a multiplier value applies to the
next game play request. The second game state that applies to this
second result indicator state may persist until a winning result is
assigned for a game play request or until a second designated
symbol appears on the payline, at which point that reel locks in
place to correspond to a third game state at which an even higher
multiplier value applies to a win. From this third game state, the
game transitions back to the first game state upon the assignment
of a winning result for a game play request at the third game
state. This game is similar to that described in connection with
FIG. 14 except in the different result indicator states. In the
example of game graphic 1400 shown in FIG. 14, the different result
indicator states are represented by an activated symbol and
information displayed at display device 1405. In the locking reel
variation, the second and third game states correspond to the one
and two locked reels respectively, and there may be no other
display or symbol showing that a multiplier applies.
[0103] The example displays shown in FIGS. 6-14, are shown only as
convenient examples for describing the principles of the invention.
Many variations on these basic examples may be employed within the
scope of the present invention. In particular, the invention is not
limited to any particular manner for displaying the results for the
game play. It will be appreciated that although the example game
graphics all rely at least partially on a reel-type display, other
implementations of the invention may display results using non-reel
arrangements for showing game results, such as playing card hands
and simulated races or other competitions, for example.
Furthermore, other forms of the present invention may allow only a
single bet level and may not provide different prizes based on
different wager/bet levels. Where multiple bet levels are available
the invention may still use a single pattern table for each
respective play mode, although multiple result values will be
associated with each result level, each result value corresponding
to a respective bet level. Information on the bet level for a given
bingo game play may be used in connection with the pattern table to
select the correct result value corresponding to the bet level.
Alternatively to a single pattern table with a respective result
value for each bet level, each bet level may itself correlate to a
respective game state employing a respective pattern table.
[0104] It should be noted that restrictions may be placed on bet
levels available in game states that are more favorable to the
player. In particular, a bingo player station implementing the
present invention may be programmed or otherwise operated to
prevent a player from increasing their bet level when the bingo
player station is switched to a game state that is more favorable
to the player. In one arrangement for preventing an increase of bet
levels in a more player-favorable game state, the presentation
controller may take an increased bet level in a player-favorable
game state as a reset event to cause the bingo player station to
switch back to the less favorable game state. The player may be
warned through a display such as video display 104 in FIG. 2,
before switching back to the less favorable game state, and allowed
an opportunity to withdraw the increased bet. Alternatively, the
bingo player station may simply not accept an input that attempts
to increase the bet level in the more player-favorable game state,
and/or may lock the bet level in to the bet level in effect at the
time of the switch to the more player-favorable game state for all
bingo game play requests initiated in the more player-favorable
game state.
[0105] In forms of the invention implemented through general
purpose processing devices such as the devices shown in the example
bingo player station 100 of FIG. 2, the various steps described
above in connection with FIG. 3 are performed under the control of
operational program code. This program code may be stored in any
suitable computer readable physical medium such as one or more CDs,
DVDs, hard drives, flash drives, magnetic media, or data
transmission media for example. One preferred form of the invention
executes first game state program code to cause a bingo player
station such as player station 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2 to operate in
the first game state in which the result for each respective bingo
game play request initiated through the bingo player station is
assigned according to the first pattern table. Second game state
program code is executed to cause the bingo player station to
operate in the second game state in which the result for each
respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo
player station is assigned according to the second pattern table,
and in which the bingo player station displays the second result
indicator state. In this preferred embodiment, game state control
program code is executed to cause the bingo player station to
switch from the first game state to the second game state, and
result display program code is executed for controlling the game
graphics to display results at the bingo player station and to
display the first and second result indicator states at the bingo
player station as appropriate for the game state. This result
display program code may operate to control any type of game
graphic that may be produced according to the invention, including
game graphics that include a mechanical reel-type display and a
separate game graphic portion to show various result indicator
states. The state control program code is also executed to switch
the bingo player station from the second game state to the first
game state in response to the applicable reset event.
[0106] All of this program code may be executed by processor 205
associated with the bingo player station shown in FIG. 2. In this
case, processor 205 represents the presentation controller included
in the invention. As indicated previously however, the invention is
not limited to a presentation controller comprising a general
purpose processing device, and is not limited to a presentation
controller implemented at the bingo player station. Rather, the
functions of the presentation controller described above
particularly in connection with FIG. 3, may be performed at a
processing device remote from the bingo player station. For
example, local area server 200 or central server 201 shown in FIG.
2 may represent the presentation controller according to some
preferred forms of the invention. The presentation controller
functions may also be split between multiple processing devices
within the scope of the present invention.
[0107] As discussed above, the present bingo gaming apparatus and
method relies on a result controller for identifying a pattern
matched in a bingo game to select a result for the player in the
bingo game. However, the present invention is not limited to any
particular arrangement for the result controller. As discussed
above in connection with FIG. 2, the result controller for
identifying a bingo pattern for a given bingo game play may be
performed by a centralized processing device such as local area
server 200 or central server 201. Further details on one preferred
system for conducting a bingo game in a network setting with
centralized bingo pattern identification are set out in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2004-0152499-A1, the entire content of
which is incorporated herein by this reference. Other forms of
bingo gaming systems in which the present invention may be used may
include a result controller implemented with a processing device at
the bingo player station such as bingo player station 100 in FIGS.
1 and 2. For example, processing device 205 at the player station
may be programmed or otherwise adapted to match the bingo
designations called in the bingo game with the bingo card/card
representation for a given bingo game play initiated through the
bingo player station, and to identify any resulting pattern of
matched locations at the end of the bingo game. Thus, processing
device 205 may be employed as the result controller in some
implementations of the invention. Regardless of specifically where
in the bingo gaming system the pattern identification occurs, this
pattern identification may be accomplished in any suitable fashion
within the scope of the invention. Computerized or otherwise
automated bingo pattern matching arrangements are well known in the
field of bingo gaming systems and will not be disclosed here since
the operation of such arrangements forms no part of the present
invention.
[0108] As used herein, whether in the above description or the
following claims, the terms "comprising," "including," "carrying,"
"having," "containing," "involving," and the like are to be
understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not
limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and
"consisting essentially of," respectively, shall be considered
exclusionary transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to
claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent
Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised
October 2005), Section 2111.03.
[0109] Any use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third,"
etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself
connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element
over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such
ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim
element having a certain name from another element having a same
name (but for use of the ordinal term).
[0110] The above described preferred embodiments are intended to
illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the
scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications
to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the
art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *