U.S. patent application number 13/252119 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-17 for system and method for tournament gaming using social network based team formation.
This patent application is currently assigned to BALLY GAMING, INC.. Invention is credited to Randy Hedrick, Martin S. Lyons, Amy Lynn Monette, John Sommer.
Application Number | 20120122561 13/252119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48044370 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120122561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hedrick; Randy ; et
al. |
May 17, 2012 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOURNAMENT GAMING USING SOCIAL NETWORK BASED
TEAM FORMATION
Abstract
A method is disclosed of enabling a player to use remote home
terminals or mobile devices via a network to enroll in a casino
tournament gaming system, in addition to winning prizes offered as
an outcome of a primary game on underlying gaming machines located
in a casino. The method includes enabling enrollment in the casino
tournament gaming system to form tournament teams via remote home
terminals or mobile devices, wherein the system uses existing
social networks to leverage pre-existing relationships between
players that are members of the social network to form tournament
teams; enabling play of a game of chance on the underlying gaming
machines that award game credits that are redeemable for a payout
and are controlled by overall payout percentages relating to the
game of chance; and facilitating entry into one or more skill-based
tournament games in the player's tournament team against other
tournament teams.
Inventors: |
Hedrick; Randy; (Reno,
NV) ; Lyons; Martin S.; (Henderson, NV) ;
Monette; Amy Lynn; (Reno, NV) ; Sommer; John;
(Las Vegas, NV) |
Assignee: |
BALLY GAMING, INC.
Las Vegas
NV
|
Family ID: |
48044370 |
Appl. No.: |
13/252119 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12946723 |
Nov 15, 2010 |
|
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13252119 |
|
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61413096 |
Nov 12, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 ;
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/35 20140902;
A63F 13/795 20140902; G07F 17/3295 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/323 20130101; A63F 13/792
20140902 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 ;
463/42 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of enabling a player to use remote home terminals or
mobile devices via a network to enroll in a casino tournament
gaming system, in addition to winning prizes offered as an outcome
of a primary game on underlying gaming machines located in a
casino, the method comprising: enabling enrollment in the casino
tournament gaming system using an existing internet-based social
network to form tournament teams via remote home terminals or
mobile devices, wherein the system uses existing social networks to
leverage pre-existing relationships between players that are
members of the social network to form tournament teams; enabling
play of a game of chance on the underlying gaming machines that
award game credits that are redeemable for a payout and are
controlled by overall payout percentages relating to the game of
chance; facilitating entry into one or more skill-based tournament
games in the player's tournament team against other tournament
teams, wherein the one or more skill-based tournament games are a
bonus round of the primary games; wherein the tournament team with
a highest score at the end of a tournament period wins the
tournament.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing a
practice version of the skill-based game on a non-gaming platform,
thereby enabling players to hone their skills for later tournament
participation.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating scores from
the gaming machines to the social network, thereby enabling
notification of tournament status to players away from casino.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tournament period lasts
multiple days enabling players within teams to make multiple visits
to the casino during the tournament period to post scores.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling manual
selection of one or more tournament games for a tournament
team.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling automatic
selection of one or more tournament games for a tournament
team.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system maintains multiple leaderboards including a bank-wide
leaderboard.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system maintains multiple leaderboards including a casino-wide
leaderboard.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino has a social network
web page that displays one or more leaderboards for tournaments in
progress.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino has a social network
web page that presents one or more options to form a team.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein a player that has selected a
form team option has an opportunity to send invitations to join a
tournament team to friends on a previously established friends list
associated with a profile of the player on the social network.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the tournament teams may grow in
size.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the tournament teams may be of
unequal size to other teams against which they are competing.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein only a top number of player
scores from tournament teams are used to compete against other
teams, thereby enabling teams of unequal size to compete against
each other.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system employs a team balancing criteria.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system may award non-cash prizes for tournament wins.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system may award privilege-based prizes for tournament wins.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system may award cash prizes for tournament wins that are not
funded by coin-in from the gaming machines being played.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system may run multiple overlapping tournaments during a same time
period.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino tournament gaming
system maintains multiple leaderboards so that different skill,
bet, or club level players may be matched against each other.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the system includes a free play
game version that attracts players to the tournament, enables
players to practice away from the casino, and enables players to
measure their skill against other players and other teams.
22. A method of enabling a player to enroll in a casino tournament
gaming system, in addition to winning prizes offered as an outcome
of a primary game on underlying gaming machines located in a
casino, the method comprising: enabling enrollment in the casino
tournament gaming system using an existing internet-based social
network to form tournament teams via remote home terminals or
mobile devices, wherein the system uses existing social networks to
leverage pre-existing relationships between players that are
members of the social network to form tournament teams; enabling
game play on the underlying gaming machines that present
pseudo-skill games which award game credits and game points,
wherein the game credits are redeemable for a payout and are
controlled by overall payout percentages relating to the game of
chance, and wherein game points are not redeemable for a payout,
game points are not controlled by overall payout percentages
relating to the game of chance, and a number of game points awarded
is increased according to player skill and performance during game
play of the pseudo-skill games on the underlying gaming machines
located in the casino; and using the game points from the primary
games on the underlying gaming machines located in the casino to
facilitate entry into one or more skill-based tournament games in
the player's tournament team against other tournament teams;
wherein the tournament team with a highest score at the end of a
tournament period wins the tournament.
23. A system for enabling a player to enroll in a casino tournament
gaming system, in addition to winning prizes offered as an outcome
of a primary game on underlying gaming machines located in a
casino, the system comprising: an internet-based social network
server; a plurality of internet terminals connected to the social
network server, wherein the plurality of internet terminals include
remote home terminals or mobile devices, and wherein the casino
tournament gaming system using an existing internet-based social
network to form tournament teams via remote home terminals or
mobile devices, wherein the system uses existing social networks to
leverage pre-existing relationships between players that are
members of the social network to form tournament teams; and a
plurality of gaming machines that enable play of a game of chance
and award game credits which are redeemable for a payout and are
controlled by overall payout percentages relating to the game of
chance, wherein the plurality of gaming machines include a bonus
round in addition to the primary game; a tournament server for
controlling one or more skill-based tournament games that are a
bonus round of the primary game, wherein the tournament server
facilitates entry into one or more skill-based tournament games in
the player's tournament team against other tournament teams.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/946,723, entitled "System and Method for
Bonus Gaming using a Mobile Device," filed Nov. 15, 2010, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application
also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/413,096, filed Nov. 12, 2010, which is also incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This disclosure is directed to wagering games, gaming
machines, networked gaming systems and methods and, more
particularly, to wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming
systems and methods having a skill-based component.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Various types of gaming machines have been developed with
different features to captivate and maintain player interest. In
general, a gaming machine allows a player to play a game in
exchange for a wager. Depending on the outcome of the game, the
player may be entitled to an award which is paid to the player by
the gaming machine, normally in the form of currency or game
credits. Gaming machines may include flashing displays, lighted
displays, or sound effects to capture a player's interest in a
gaming device.
[0005] Another important feature of maintaining player interest in
a gaming machine includes providing the player with many
opportunities to win awards, such as cash or prizes. For example,
in some slot machines, the display windows show more than one
adjacent symbol on each reel, thereby allowing for multiple-line
betting. Feature games of various types have been employed to
reward players above the amounts normally awarded on a standard
game pay schedule. Generally, such feature games are triggered by
predetermined events such as one or more appearances of certain
combinations of indicia in a primary game. In order to stimulate
interest, feature games are typically set to occur at a gaming
machine on a statistical cycle based upon the number of primary
game plays.
[0006] Some gaming machine games today include one or more
progressive prize awards. In some configurations, the progressive
prize may have a small probability of a player winning it; thus
making it possible to have a larger progressive prize. In other
game configurations, the progressive prize may be a small amount;
thus allowing the player patron to win the progressive prize more
frequently. In most typical game configurations, the player wins
the progressive prize as a result of a specific game outcome within
the primary or main game.
[0007] One way to make a feature game more attractive to players is
to introduce an aspect of player skill to the game. Historically,
skill-based gaming has been a niche product. One reason for this
has been a lack of uniform regulation; each jurisdiction where
gaming is allowed has quite different standards concerning
skill-based gaming. In some jurisdictions it is banned altogether,
while other jurisdictions only allow skill-based gaming for
specific types of games, such as video poker.
[0008] Another problem with conventional skill-based gaming
solutions is that it is much harder to produce a game that allows a
minimally skilled player to achieve a reasonable payback (and thus
encourage them to continue playing), while preventing an
exceptionally skilled player from achieving a payback that exceeds
100% of coin-in. Operators are understandably wary about deploying
games that have the potential to lose money, and even if a
skill-based game is developed that cannot exceed 100%
return-to-player (RTP), it must still be able to compete with other
games on the casino floor in terms of overall profit for the
operator.
[0009] While gaming machines including feature games have been very
successful, there remains a need for games that provide a player
with enhanced excitement and increased opportunity of winning. In
particular, there remains a need for a game that enables a player
to exercise their skill while the amount and frequency of prizes
awarded through conventional means, such as a random number
generator, are still completely controlled.
SUMMARY
[0010] Briefly, and in general terms, a method is disclosed of
enabling a player to use remote home terminals or mobile devices
via a network to enroll in a casino tournament gaming system, in
addition to winning prizes offered as an outcome of a primary game
on underlying gaming machines located in a casino. The method
includes: enabling enrollment in the casino tournament gaming
system using an existing Internet-based social network to form
tournament teams via remote home terminals or mobile devices,
wherein the system uses existing social networks to leverage
pre-existing relationships between players that are members of the
social network to form tournament teams; enabling play of a game of
chance on the underlying gaming machines that award game credits
that are redeemable for a payout and are controlled by overall
payout percentages relating to the game of chance; facilitating
entry into one or more skill-based tournament games in the player's
tournament team against other tournament teams, wherein the one or
more skill-based tournament games are a bonus round of the primary
games; wherein the tournament team with a highest score at the end
of a tournament period wins the tournament.
[0011] In still another embodiment, a method is disclosed of
enabling a player to enroll in a casino tournament gaming system,
in addition to winning prizes offered as an outcome of a primary
game on underlying gaming machines located in a casino. The method
comprises: enabling enrollment in the casino tournament gaming
system using an existing internet-based social network to form
tournament teams via remote home terminals or mobile devices,
wherein the system uses existing social networks to leverage
pre-existing relationships between players that are members of the
social network to form tournament teams; enabling game play on the
underlying gaming machines that present pseudo-skill games which
award game credits and game points, wherein the game credits are
redeemable for a payout and are controlled by overall payout
percentages relating to the game of chance, and wherein game points
are not redeemable for a payout, game points are not controlled by
overall payout percentages relating to the game of chance, and a
number of game points awarded is increased according to player
skill and performance during game play of the pseudo-skill games on
the underlying gaming machines located in the casino; and using the
game points from the primary games on the underlying gaming
machines located in the casino to facilitate entry into one or more
skill-based tournament games in the player's tournament team
against other tournament teams; wherein the tournament team with a
highest score at the end of a tournament period wins the
tournament.
[0012] Finally, in some embodiments, a system is disclosed for
enabling a player to enroll in a casino tournament gaming system,
in addition to winning prizes offered as an outcome of a primary
game on underlying gaming machines located in a casino. The system
includes: an internet-based social network server, a plurality of
internet terminals connected to the social network server, a
plurality of gaming machines, and a tournament server. The
plurality of internet terminals are remote home terminals or mobile
devices. The casino tournament gaming system uses an existing
internet-based social network to form tournament teams via remote
home terminals or mobile devices, wherein the system uses existing
social networks to leverage pre-existing relationships between
players that are members of the social network to form tournament
teams. The plurality of gaming machines enable play of a game of
chance and award game credits which are redeemable for a payout and
are controlled by overall payout percentages relating to the game
of chance, wherein the plurality of gaming machines include a bonus
round in addition to the primary game. Finally, the tournament
server controls one or more skill-based tournament games that are a
bonus round of the primary game, wherein the tournament server
facilitates entry into one or more skill-based tournament games in
the player's tournament team against other tournament teams.
[0013] Features and advantages will become apparent from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the
features of the various embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a feature game in accordance with one or
more embodiments.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram depicting the steps
associated with carrying out an example method in accordance with
one or more embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram depicting alternate
steps associated with carrying out an example method in accordance
with one or more embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates another feature game in accordance with
one or more embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a leader board in accordance with one or
more embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates use of directional, multi-touch gestures
in a feature game in accordance with one or more embodiments.
[0020] FIGS. 7-13 illustrate various aspects of a feature game in
accordance with one or more embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a gaming machine in
accordance with one or more embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the physical and logical
components of the gaming machine of FIG. 14 in accordance with one
or more embodiments.
[0023] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the logical components of a
gaming kernel in accordance with one or more embodiments.
[0024] FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram showing the hardware
elements of a networked gaming system in accordance with one or
more embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram showing the hardware
elements of a networked gaming system in accordance with one or
more embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram showing the hardware
elements of a tournament gaming system employing social network
based team formation.
[0027] FIG. 20 is a logic flow diagram of a tournament gaming
system employing social network based team formation.
[0028] FIG. 21 is another logic flow diagram of a tournament gaming
system employing social network based team formation.
[0029] FIG. 22 illustrates a diagram of a download and registration
process for an example iBonus game played on a mobile smart
phone.
[0030] FIG. 23 illustrates a diagram of a game play process on an
example iBonus game played on a mobile smart phone.
[0031] FIG. 24 illustrates a diagram of a bonus award process on an
example iBonus game played on a mobile smart phone.
[0032] FIG. 25 illustrates a system overview of an iBonus
system.
[0033] FIG. 26 illustrates a smart phone that is displaying an Ad
Hoc tournament on a mobile smart phone.
[0034] FIG. 27 illustrates a logic flow diagram of an image
analysis process.
[0035] FIG. 28 illustrates a diagram of a process for removal of a
perspective distortion of an image.
[0036] FIG. 28A illustrates a live camera image of a gaming machine
screen.
[0037] FIG. 28B illustrates alignment boxes that are used by the
player to overlay onto the live camera image of FIG. 28A.
[0038] FIG. 28C illustrates the alignment boxes of FIG. 28B
overlaid onto the live camera image that was displayed in FIG.
28A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Various embodiments are directed to a game, a gaming
machine, gaming networks and a method for playing a game, wherein
the game includes an aspect of skill. The embodiments are
illustrated and described herein by way of example only, and not by
way of limitation. Referring now to the drawings, and more
particularly to FIGS. 1-28, there are shown illustrative examples
of games, gaming machines, gaming networks and methods for playing
a game in accordance with various aspects of the gaming system.
[0040] An example in accordance with one or more aspects of a
disclosed embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-2. A preferred embodiment
of a gaming system discloses a player participating in a
skill-based feature game and having the opportunity to influence a
number of prizes awarded. The number of prizes awarded is always
more than zero (optimally, more than one) with the amount of each
prize determined by game mathematics and random number generation
algorithms. Thus, while the number of prizes awarded to the player
is influenced by the player, the total prize amount awarded to the
player is not in any way influenced by the skill of the player
(e.g., while the number of prizes increasing, the value of the
prizes decreases correspondingly). In this regard, a payout
parameter for credit prizes may include an overall payout
percentage that is the casino operator's desired percentage of the
monetary income earned by the game apparatus that the operator
wishes to provide back to players in the form of the prizes won
using prize credits.
[0041] This payout percentage is not influenced by any player input
or how the player has played the game of chance. Rather, this
payout percentage governs the overall performance of the gaming
machine for a game of chance so that the gaming machine falls
within business and regulatory requirements. The payout percentage
is a term of art that is defined as the long-term payout percentage
of the game units based upon the amount of money wagered at those
game units. For instance, a 98% payout gaming machine playing a
game of chance, over the long-term, will pay out 98 cents of every
dollar that is wagered at those particular gaming machines.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a pseudo-skill
based game 100 (in which the total prize amount awarded to the
player is not in any way influenced by the skill of the player)
shows an "outer space" themed feature game being played. From the
player's perspective, the game includes graphical images of space
ships moving horizontally across a display. The player touches a
secondary touchscreen (e.g., Bally's iDeck.TM.) to launch
"missiles" to try and destroy the space ships. Each time a
spaceship is hit it is damaged, and after repeated hits it
explodes. At this point the player is awarded either: (1) a
credit/monetary amount, or (2) a number of points. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the current totals are shown as (1)
"Credits Won" and (2) "Score." In this embodiment, the feature game
continues for a set period of time with the player accumulating
both credit and score totals. Once the time expires, the player has
no further control of missiles, but a "defensive shield" activates
and destroys any spaceship remaining on screen, potentially
increasing the credit total to the player.
[0043] After all ships are destroyed, the totals (i.e., credits won
and score) are displayed to the player. The total credits won are
awarded to the player, and the score is compared to a pre-existing
high-score table. Depending upon the score total, the player's
score may merit being included in the high-score table, and if so,
the player is asked to submit their initials/name/handle to
identify their score.
[0044] The above experience may lead the player to believe that
their performance influenced the amount of credits won, but in fact
this is not the case. While their score is derived by their play,
the total credits won is fixed at the beginning of the feature game
being played by a random number generator or other conventional
prize awarding means, such as a marketing budget or mystery
progressive award. One of many techniques for accomplishing this
gaming experience is described below.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 2, a logical flow diagram is shown
that generally depicts the steps associated with a method 200 for
carrying out a game in accordance with one aspect of the pseudo
skill-based game 100. The order of actions depicted in FIG. 2 is
for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered
limiting. For example, the order of the actions may be changed,
additional steps may be added, or some steps may be removed without
deviating from the scope and spirit of the disclosed
embodiments.
[0046] In one embodiment of the method illustrated in FIG. 2, a
preset prize amount is awarded in smaller sub-amounts, spread
throughout a time period during which a feature game is active.
Typically, this embodiment does not award a set of sub-amounts that
causes more than the preset prize to be awarded. In another aspect
of this embodiment, the pseudo skill-based game 100 enables a
player to interact with the feature game as aggressively or
passively as they wish, awarding a large number of small prizes, or
a small number of larger prizes accordingly. Furthermore, a player
may change the aggressiveness of its behavior during the feature
game and the system adjusts accordingly.
[0047] In one embodiment of the pseudo skill-based game 100, a
number of variables are set at step 205. Feature duration (FD) is
the length of time for the feature game to be played. A common
value may be 30 or 60 seconds. The Time Left variable (TL) is set
to equal this value initially. A variable (TP) is set to the total
prize to be awarded, as chosen by the RNG or other prize awarding
means. A minimum sub-prize (MS) is also set. This is the smallest
amount that may be awarded for any given "hit" on a spaceship, or
equivalent event. Typically, setting an MS value is a matter of
choice for the game designer. It may be set to a fraction of TP
(e.g., 0.1), a multiple of the player's wager, or as an absolute
value. The only hard requirement is that MS<TP. A smaller MS
value allows for more credit scoring "hits," but may lead to many
prizes not being seen as being worthwhile by a very aggressive
player. In one embodiment, an example value for MS may be
three.
[0048] The variable MF is the maximum fraction variable. This is
the maximum proportion of TP that may be awarded in one "hit." For
example, if TP=1000, and MF=0.2, then the maximum sub-amount that
may be awarded for a particular "hit" on a spaceship is 200. The
choice of this value is controllable be the game designer. A higher
MF may lead to more spaceships being hit without scoring, while a
lower MF may ensure that more hits score credit awards, but with
lower sub-amounts awarded each time.
[0049] Continuing with this embodiment, the next variable, CP, is
initialized. The CP variable is the "cumulative prize," and is the
total of sub-amounts already awarded during the feature game. This
variable is set to zero at the beginning of the feature game.
Another variable, IFD, is optionally set. The variable IFD
represents the nominal time period at the end of a feature game
when a player can no-longer participate, but scoring still occurs.
In the space game example, this is the period during which the
"defensive shields" obliterate all remaining spaceships still on
screen. The reason for setting this variable to a meaningful value,
such as 3.0 seconds, is so that a player may receive an award
during the end of feature game that is consistent with their play
throughout the active portion of the feature game.
[0050] Using a value of 3.0 for IFD and 30.0 for FD, one would
expect to receive 10% of the overall prize during the "defensive
shields phase" and 90% during the active phase. Setting the IFD
variable to zero has the effect that all of the credits to be
awarded may be awarded during the active phase (but not
necessarily). The final variable initially set is the Success
Factor (SF). The SF variable is used to calibrate the feature game
by the game designer. In this regard, a lower value for the SF
variable causes the player to receive zero credit amounts for
"hits" more often, and thus higher credit amounts for the hits that
do score. Adjusting the SF variable while keeping the MS variable
low, and the MF variable high may be used to "balance" the feature
game. An example value for the SF variable may be 8.0.
[0051] Once initialized, the feature game begins playing at step
210, and space ships start to appear on the display. Periodically,
after some very small interval of time (I), which is usually at the
rate of screen refresh ( 1/60th of a second), the main section of
the process shown in FIG. 2 is followed.
[0052] In step 215, the variable "I" is subtracted from TL (the
time left in the feature game). If, at step 220, TL is smaller or
equal to IFD, then the interactive portion of the feature game has
finished, and the inactive portion ("defensive shields active")
commences at step 225. At this point, TP is compared to CP. To
re-iterate, CP is the cumulative amount of sub-prizes awarded.
[0053] If, at step 225, CP<TP then a sub-prize of (TP-CP) is
awarded to the player at step 230 during the course of all
remaining ships on display being destroyed. This sub-prize of
(TP-CP) may be split up using Gaussian distribution methods
disclosed below. It should be noted here that if the player
performs no action at all during the active portion of the feature
game, CP will be zero, and thus the total prize (TP) would be
awarded at this point. Notably, this inactive portion is meaningful
because it ensures that exact TP credits are awarded in total to
the player.
[0054] If, however, the time left (TL) in the feature game is
larger than IFD at step 225, then the interactive portion of the
feature game is presented starting at step 235. During this time,
graphic images of space ships are being moved across the screen,
and a player may interact by touching the iDeck.TM. to cause a
"missile" to be fired upwards. The length of time of the touch
determines the size, or intensity of the "missile," with long
presses resulting in more powerful, and thus more destructive
missiles. As a missile makes contact with a spaceship, a
determination is made as to whether the contact has caused the
spaceship to be destroyed. In the preferred embodiment, multiple
smaller hits or one large hit (from a long press of the iDeck.TM.
touchscreen) are required for a spaceship to be destroyed. If a
spaceship is destroyed, then an Award Event occurs (see step
235).
[0055] If an award event occurs at step 235, then a calculation for
a variable C is made at step 240. The variable C represents the
optimum amount of credits to be awarded at the current time of the
feature game. If a player has had multiple successful hits over a
short period of time, C may be low. In contrast, if most of the
interactive portion of the feature game has already passed without
a successful hit, C may be quite high, maybe as much as TP*MF.
[0056] The variable C is calculated to be
((TP/(FD-ID))*(FD-TL)*(FD/(FD-IFD))-CP. Breaking down this
equation, the constant (FD-IFD) represents the interactive portion
of the feature game, so if the feature duration (FD) is 30 seconds,
and the inactive feature duration is 5 seconds then (FD-IFD) would
be 25.0. The variable TP/(FD-ID) is therefore the total amount to
be awarded during the feature game divided by the active time.
(FD-TL) is the time elapsed in the feature game, and (FD/(FD-IFD))
is a constant scaling factor to ensure that all of the total amount
is available to be offered during the interactive portion of the
feature game. The variable CP (the amount already awarded to the
player) is subtracted, and from this an optimal amount for the
variable C is derived.
[0057] Next, the variable C is tested against the minimum sub-prize
(MS) at step 245. If it is smaller, the variable C is set to MS at
step 250 in order to ensure that a prize smaller than MS is not
awarded.
[0058] Continuing with the description of this embodiment, a random
fractional number R is chosen in the range of 0.0 and 1.0 at step
255. The reason for introducing a random factor into the process is
to give the player a more interesting and varied experience. The
random factor makes the outcome less predictable for the player in
terms of both size and frequency of cash awards.
[0059] For example, in this embodiment a temporary variable X is
now computed to be C*SF/TP. The variable X is therefore the optimal
amount to be awarded, C, multiplied by the success factor and
divided by the total prize. X is then compared to R. The likelihood
of X being bigger than R is directly proportional to C. The success
factor (SF) is used as a tuning characteristic for the game
designer, depending upon how objectively difficult it is for a
player to trigger an award event during the feature game. If it is
very difficult to "blow up" a spaceship, then SF may be set
correspondingly high. In contrast, if a player can expect to have
many award events then SF should be set low, to say 1.0. The SF
variable may be set to different values for individual or groups of
players. Additionally, players with a consistent record of high
scores may have a lower SF value than a player who has never played
the game before. Notably, modifying the SF variable does not change
the total prize value to be awarded, it simply changes the number
of sub-awards within the feature game.
[0060] At step 260, if X is smaller than R or CP=TP (which means
that all credits to be awarded in the feature game have already
been awarded), a "miss" is presented to the player at step 265. In
one embodiment, this miss does not give the player a cash award,
but it does add to a secondary "score" meter, which is discussed
below.
[0061] If, at step 260, a "hit" has occurred, two more potential
adjustments are made before the prize may be awarded. First, at
step 270, the variable C is compared against TP*MF and if it is
larger, set to be TP*MF at step 275. This ensures that the variable
C is not larger than the maximum fraction of the total prize.
Second, (CP+C) is compared against (TP-MS) at step 280. If (CP+C)
is greater than (TP-MS), then C is set to be TP-CP at step 285.
This represents the edge case where the amount of the total award
still available to be awarded is less than the minimum allowed
sub-prize if C was awarded. In this scenario, C is set to be all of
the remaining credits to be awarded. This completes the feature
game in terms of awarding of a prize, though a player may still
obtain additional points for their "score total."
[0062] At step 290, the final task of the award event is to present
the value C as a prize that the player has obtained. In one
embodiment of this presentation, the value of C is super-imposed
over an exploding "spaceship" graphic image. At step 290, the
variable C is also added to the variable CP so that the running
total of prizes awarded is correct.
[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a game with an
"aquatic" theme. In this game, a modification permits the feature
game to offer a range of fixed prize amounts for successful "hits."
In this example, hitting a "shark" with a bubble may give the
player a chance to potentially earn $200, but hitting a "blowfish"
may only have a prize value of $5 or $20 depending upon the
blowfish's color. Again, it is notable that the overall prize award
does not change. If a player is very successful at hitting a number
of sharks, with an overall prize award that is low, the player will
find that instead of being awarded cash awards, they will instead
be awarded large numbers of points. In the example shown in FIG. 3,
one shark 310 has a value of $200, and the other shark 320 has a
value of $100. Typically, these values are only shown to the player
upon a successful hit, and in the event of a cash award being
given.
[0064] Referring now to FIG. 4, a logical flow diagram is shown
that generally depicts the steps associated with a method 400 for
carrying out a game in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3.
The order of actions as shown in FIG. 4 is for illustrative
purposes only, and should not be considered limiting in any manner.
For example, the order of the actions may be changed, additional
steps may be added or some steps may be removed without deviating
from the scope and spirit of the invention. To emphasize the
differences between the two methods, descriptions of steps common
to the methods of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 (i.e., 415, 215; 410; 210, and
the like) are not reiterated here.
[0065] At step 405, a number of variables common to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 2 are set and will not be reiterated here. However,
step 405 additionally includes: (i) removal of minimum and maximum
sub-prize values (as they are not needed), and (ii) creation of an
array of fixed prize values AV.
[0066] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there are
multiple entries in the AV array for "sharks" 310 and 320 (e.g.,
$100 and $200), respectively. The selection of which entry to use
may be randomly set when the graphic image of the shark appears on
screen (but not shown to the player unless they have an awarding
hit event). Alternatively, at the stage where the variable C is
compared to AV[N], the variable C may be compared against multiple
entries of the AV array so that an award of either $100 or $200 may
be possible.
[0067] Presenting a "miss" to a player if the optimal prize to be
awarded, "C," is smaller than the fixed prize desired (AV[N], where
N is an index into an array of fixed prize values), differs from
the method of FIG. 2. At step 445, C is tested against AV[N]. If C
is larger or equal to AV[N] then C is set to be AV[N] at step 450
so that the exact prize desired is awarded. If C is less than
AV[N], a miss has occurred. It is presented to the player at step
465.
[0068] If, at step 460, a "hit" has occurred, unlike the method of
FIG. 2, only one potential adjustment is made before the prize may
be awarded. (CP+C) is compared against TP at step 480. If (CP+C) is
greater than TP, C is set to be TP-CP at step 485. All other steps
are common between the two methods.
[0069] A further alternative embodiment is also possible using the
method of FIG. 4. By testing multiple entries of the AV array, a
fixed pay table of awards may be used. In such an embodiment, a
gold coin may have a value of $200, a diamond may have a value of
$40, and a pearl may have a value of $5. Shooting the "blowfish"
may cause it to "spit out" a diamond, pearl or gold coin graphic
that the player collects in a collection area at the bottom of the
display. The choice of which graphic is "spat out" is therefore set
by the method shown in FIG. 4, dependent on the total award, the
amount already awarded, and the time left in the feature game.
[0070] In another aspect, the presentation of the award of any
remaining credits, (TP-CP), can be achieved by ensuring that the
pay table includes elements that cover both very small (one unit)
up to larger prizes. This ensures that the final award may always
be made up to the correct TP amount.
[0071] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the pseudo-skill based
game 100. As stated above, to add to the entertainment value of the
feature game, a player may be awarded non-cash points for scoring
events that cannot, or do not, pay an award. These points
accumulate during a feature game, and thus represent the true skill
of the player. While no cash award is given for a high points
score, the player is encouraged to enter their initials or name for
particularly high scores so that they may compete against other
players either at the same property or elsewhere. In some
jurisdictions where true skill gaming is allowed, it is possible
that the players who achieve the highest scores over a period of
time may be given feature prizes or entry into tournaments.
[0072] FIG. 6 shows an additional feature of the pseudo skill-based
game 100. In this example, a "shooting gallery" is offered to the
player using either variable or fixed prize values as described
above. In both of the other embodiments previously described
("space" and "fishing") a player interacts by touching the
iDeck.TM. touchscreen, causing a missile or bubble to be sent
vertically upwards from the point of touch. In contrast, in this
embodiment, a player performs a "flick" gesture on the iDeck.TM.
touchscreen. The vector derived from this gesture determines the
velocity and direction of the "bean-bag" graphic that is first
displayed on the iDeck.TM. screen, and then on the main display as
it moves upwards.
[0073] In the embodiment of the pseudo skill-based game 100 shown
in FIG. 6, a player has used the multi-touch technology of the
iDeck.TM. to simultaneously launch "bean bags" from both his left
hand and his right hand. In this embodiment, the left-handed "bean
bags" are launched along a vector of roughly 20 degrees from the
vertical, while the right-handed "bean bags" are launched roughly
vertically.
[0074] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the pseudo skill-based
game 100. In this embodiment, a game of "skee ball" is offered to
the player. In "skee ball" a player is given a number of balls to
aim at a target composed of a number of chutes. Each chute has a
value associated with it, and the most difficult chutes to target
have the largest values. Conventionally, skee ball is a skill-based
game. A player tries to aim the ball to land in the highest prize
chutes. The more skilled the player, the more tickets they are
awarded, as tickets are awarded at regular intervals of scoring. As
has been noted above, if this were to be offered in a casino
environment as-is, it would be classed as a skill-based game with
all the associated regulations. An alternative to such a
"skill-based" embodiment is to remove the player control of the
ball, and instead have the launch trajectory of the ball be
determined by a random number generator. While this alternative
does remove the skill element, it also has the problem of removing
most, if not all, of the entertainment value from the skee-ball
feature game.
[0075] However, the following is another non-skill based embodiment
of a skee-ball feature game. In this embodiment, a player is given
a number of "balls" (the number may be a variable set by the game
designer, the operator, or in accordance with player loyalty
status). As shown below, the number of balls does not affect the
total prize amount to be awarded. There is also a score with
tickets that are awarded. The player is able to aim a ball by
placing their finger on the touchscreen over the point at which
they wish to launch the ball, then making a vertical gesture to
launch the ball. This gesture generates a velocity and direction
for the ball, which travels through the simulation of the skee-ball
arena up to the target chutes.
[0076] To ensure this game works optimally, the lowest score
required for a single ticket should be low enough that a player is
guaranteed to achieve at least one, and the interpretation of the
gesture should be such that a minimum velocity and variation from
vertical direction is enforced. This ensures that the player always
hits at least the target marked with "10." As an example, if a
player is given 5 balls to aim and throw, and the lowest possible
score from any particular attempt is 10 points, then awarding a
ticket for 50 points total or less will ensure that the player
always receives at least one ticket per game.
[0077] Assuming the player has 5 balls to aim and throw, and that
he or she is guaranteed at least a score of 10, it can also be
determined that a maximum score of 500 is achievable. If a ticket
is awarded for every 50 points achieved, it may be determined that
a player may receive between a total of 1 and 10 tickets for any
given feature game.
[0078] Notably, the number of tickets obtained by the player does
not influence the prize to be awarded. In a first embodiment shown
in FIGS. 8 and 9, a player has won 4 tickets, which has the result
of giving the player the choice of four tickets to choose from to
reveal the prize. If the player had only won one ticket, the player
would have only one ticket to touch. Correspondingly, if the player
had won 10 tickets, the player would have 10 tickets from which to
choose. In FIG. 9, the player has touched one ticket and revealed a
prize of $250.00. This award ends the feature game. Each of the
prizes "hidden" behind the tickets is chosen independently by a pay
table using a random number generator or other conventional means,
and thus may be revealed at the end of the feature game (if desired
by the game designer).
[0079] The benefit of this embodiment is that the greater level
skill from the player does not result in a larger prize. Instead
this embodiment results in the player receiving more opaque tickets
to choose from, but only the same final prize. The additional
tickets only lead to a wider selection of (non-winning) prizes to
be revealed. Because each hidden prize is selected independently
from the pay table, the odds of a prize appearing behind a
particular ticket are consistent no matter how many tickets appear.
This result, of course, is not necessarily known by the player.
Additionally, when the skilled player receives a larger number of
tickets, the player has tangible evidence of the highly skilled
play, which may be used for "bragging rights" over the player's
friends.
[0080] FIGS. 10 and 11 show an alternative embodiment for the
outcome of a skee-ball game. In these examples, a first play of the
feature game has won eight tickets and a second play has won three
tickets, but both plays have an underlying award (not shown to the
player) of 1000 credits.
[0081] In this embodiment, the player is able to touch all of the
tickets to reveal prizes, and the total they receive is the sum of
all the prizes revealed. FIGS. 12 and 13 therefore show the
corresponding outcomes for a total prize award of 1000 credits. The
method for splitting the total prize into smaller portions may use
a Gaussian random number distribution centered around the average
prize to be given per ticket, as disclosed in provisional
application "A System and Method for Providing a System Generated
In-Game Bonus in a Gaming Environment," Patent App. No. 61/412,888,
filed Nov. 12, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety. For a Gaussian distribution, if there are N tickets
to be awarded for a prize of P, then N tickets are computed to be
random numbers R[N] centered around (N/P), with an appropriate
sigma factor of, for example, 2.0 standard deviations. Each ticket
value is then normalized by multiplying each element of R by
P/.SIGMA.R.
[0082] In other embodiments, additional creative methods may be
used to split up the total prize using the methods disclosed in
"System, Apparatus And Method For Saving Game State And For
Utilizing Game States On Different Gaming Devices," patent
application Ser. No. 12/792,466, filed Jun. 2, 2010, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In the above
examples, a prize of 1000 credits may be split into either three or
eight smaller prizes with expected values of 333 or 125,
respectively. Each of these expected values are not be real values,
but instead values to be fed into the feature retrieval process. So
eight tickets with an expected value of 125 could lead to a player
receiving 15 free games in one ticket (real value 300), five free
games in another ticket (real value 100), a ticket with a value of
50, another ticket with a value of 200, and so on.
[0083] In accordance with one or more embodiments of the pseudo
skill-based game 100, progressive prizes may be awarded as part of
feature game play. The progressive prizes may be calculated by a
progressive controller such as a controller manufactured by Mikohn,
Inc. The progressive controller monitors wagering during base game
play, calculates a current value for one or more progressive
jackpot pools, and transmits the current pool values to the gaming
machine. In one or more embodiments, progressive awards are
accumulated during regular play as a percentage, such as three
percent, of the game play take. The prizes may be sized according
to the preferences of the casino operator. The number of prizes may
vary without deviating from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
The size of the prizes is dependent on the amount of play, prior to
initiating feature game play, and may come from the contributions
of a single gaming machine or a number of linked gaming machines.
In another aspect, the prizes may be set amounts established by the
casino operator from non-coin-in funds, such as marketing
funds.
[0084] In one or more embodiments, the prizes for feature game play
may be accumulated based on funding mechanisms other than a
percentage of wagers accumulated by the gaming machine. For
example, an operator may initially fund various award pools with a
pre-determined amount of money, such as $1000 for one progressive,
$500 for a second progressive, $100 for a third progressive, and so
on. Subsequently, the casino operator may determine to increase the
amounts of one or more of the awards at pre-determined times, which
may be periodically or randomly selected with a range of times or
periods. Once a winner has occurred at any level, the award levels
may be rolled back to the initial funding level. In one or more
embodiments, only the winning award level is rolled back to the
initial funding level.
[0085] In one or more embodiments, the prizes for feature game play
may be set amounts, i.e., non-progressive. In one or more
embodiments, the algorithms to determine the amounts may be
determined by a statistical percentage based on an average take of
a gaming machine and the likelihood of the win over a period of
time. In the case where one or more gaming machines are networked,
a common award table may be utilized where the award algorithms are
determined based on an average take (total wagers) of all the
networked gaming machines and the likelihood of a win of an award
over a period of time. Each award may be calculated in a similar
manner based on the likelihood of a winning outcome being achieved
during a game play session.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 14, the gaming machine 1400 is capable of
supporting various embodiments of the pseudo skill-based game 100,
including cabinet housing 1420, primary game display 1440 upon
which a primary game and feature game may be displayed, top box
1450 which may display multiple progressives that may be won during
play of the feature game, player-activated buttons 1460, player
tracking panel 1436, bill/voucher acceptor 1480, and one or more
speakers 1490. Cabinet housing 1420 may be a self-standing unit
that is generally rectangular in shape and may be manufactured with
reinforced steel or other rigid materials which are resistant to
tampering and vandalism. Cabinet housing 1420 may alternatively be
a handheld device including the gaming functionality as discussed
herein and including various elements of the described components
herein. For example, a handheld device may be a cell phone,
personal data assistant, or laptop or tablet computer, each of
which may include a display, a processor, and memory sufficient to
support either stand-alone capability, such as gaming machine 400,
or thin client capability, such as that incorporating some of the
capability of a remote server.
[0087] In one or more embodiments, cabinet housing 1420 houses a
processor, circuitry, and software (not shown) for receiving
signals from the player-activated buttons 1460, operating the
games, and transmitting signals to the respective displays and
speakers. Any shaped cabinet may be implemented with any embodiment
of gaming machine 1400 so long as it provides access to a player
for playing a game. For example, cabinet 1420 may comprise a
slant-top, bar-top, or table-top style cabinet, including a Bally
Cinevision.TM. or CineReels.TM. cabinet. The operation of gaming
machine 1400 is described more fully below.
[0088] The plurality of player-activated buttons 1460 may be used
for various functions such as, but not limited to, selecting a
wager denomination, selecting a game to be played, selecting a
wager amount per game, initiating a game, or cashing out money from
gaming machine 400. Buttons 460 may be operable as input mechanisms
and may include mechanical buttons, electromechanical buttons or
touch screen buttons. Optionally, a handle 1485 may be rotated by a
player to initiate a game.
[0089] In one or more embodiments, buttons 1460 may be replaced
with various other input mechanisms including, but not limited to,
a touch screen system, touch pad, track ball, mouse, switches,
toggle switches, or other input means used to accept player input
such as a Bally iDeck.TM.. One other example input means is a
universal button module as disclosed in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/106,212, entitled "Universal Button Module," filed on
Apr. 14, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Generally, the universal button module provides a dynamic button
system adaptable for use with various games and capable of
adjusting to gaming systems having frequent game changes. More
particularly, the universal button module may be used in connection
with playing a game on a gaming machine and may be used for such
functions as selecting the number of credits to bet per hand.
[0090] In one embodiment, the cabinet housing 1420 may optionally
include top box 1450 which contains "top glass" 1452 comprising
advertising or payout information related to the game or games
available on gaming machine 1400. Additionally, the player tracking
panel 1436 may include a player tracking card reader 1434 and a
player tracking display 1432. Continuing, a voucher printer 1430
may be integrated into player tracking panel 1436 or installed
elsewhere in cabinet housing 1420 or top box 1450.
[0091] In another aspect of one embodiment, a game display 1440 may
present a game of chance wherein a player receives one or more
outcomes from a set of potential outcomes. For example, one such
game of chance is a video slot machine game. In other aspects of
the embodiment, the gaming machine 1400 may present a video or
mechanical reel slot machine, a video keno game, a lottery game, a
bingo game, a Class II bingo game, a roulette game, a craps game, a
blackjack game, a mechanical or video representation of a wheel
game, or the like.
[0092] Mechanical or video/mechanical embodiments may include game
displays such as mechanical reels, wheels, or dice as required to
present the game to the player. In video/mechanical or pure video
embodiments, game display 1440 is typically a CRT or a flat-panel
display in the form of, but not limited to liquid crystal, plasma,
electroluminescent, vacuum fluorescent, field emission, or any
other type of panel display known or developed in the art. Game
display 1440 may be mounted in either a "portrait" or "landscape"
orientation and be of standard or "widescreen" dimensions (i.e., a
ratio of one dimension to another of at least 16.times.9). For
example, a widescreen display may be 32 inches wide by 18 inches
tall. A widescreen display in a "portrait" orientation may be 32
inches tall by 18 inches wide. Additionally, game display 440
preferably includes a touch screen or touch glass system (not
shown) and presents player interfaces such as, but not limited to,
credit meter (not shown), win meter (not shown) and touch screen
buttons (not shown). An example of a touch glass system is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,571, entitled "Gaming Device with
Direction and Speed Control of Mechanical Reels Using Touch
Screen," which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0093] Game display 1440 may also present information such as, but
not limited to, player information, advertisements and casino
promotions, graphic displays, news and sports updates, or even
offer an alternate game. This information may be generated through
a host computer networked with gaming machine 1400 on its own
initiative, or it may be obtained by request of the player using
either one or more of the plurality of player-activated buttons
1460; the game display itself, if game display 1440 comprises a
touch screen or similar technology; buttons (not shown) mounted
about game display 1440 which may permit selections such as those
found on an ATM machine, where legends on the screen are associated
with respective selecting buttons; or any player input device that
offers the required functionality.
[0094] Cabinet housing 1420 incorporates a single game display
1440. However, in alternate embodiments, cabinet housing 1420 or
top box 1450 may house one or more additional displays 1453 or
components used for various purposes including additional game play
screens, animated "top glass," progressive meters or mechanical or
electromechanical devices (not shown) such as, but not limited to,
wheels, pointers or reels. The additional displays may or may not
include a touch screen or touch glass system.
[0095] Referring to FIG. 15, electronic gaming machine (EGM) 1501
is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. EGM 1501
includes a base game integrated circuit board 1503 (EGM Processor
Board) connected through a serial bus line 1505 to game monitoring
unit (GMU) 1507 (such as a Bally MC300 or ACSC NT), and a player
interface integrated circuit board (PIB) 1509 connected to player
interface devices 1511 over bus lines 1513, 1515, 1517, 1519, 1521,
1523. Printer 1525 is connected to PIB 1509 and GMU 1507 over bus
lines 1527, 1529. Base game integrated circuit board 1503, PIB
1509, and GMU 1507 connect to Ethernet switch 1531 over bus lines
1533, 1535, 1537. Ethernet switch 1531 connects to a slot
management system (SMS) and a casino management system (CMS)
network over bus line 1539. GMU 1507 also may connect to the SMS
and CMS network over bus line 1541. Speakers 1543 connect through
audio mixer 1545 and bus lines 1547, 1549 to base game integrated
circuit board 1503 and PIB 1509. The proximity and biometric
devices and circuitry may be installed by upgrading a commercially
available PIB 1509, such as a Bally iView unit. Coding executed on
base game integrated circuit board 1503, PIB 1509, and/or GMU 1507
may be upgraded to integrate a game having adjustable, multi-part,
indicia as is more fully described herein.
[0096] Peripherals 1551 connect through I/O board 1553 to base game
integrated circuit board 1503. For example, a bill/ticket acceptor
is typically connected to a game input-output board 1553 which is,
in turn, connected to a conventional central processing unit
("CPU") base game integrated circuit board 1503, such as an Intel
Pentium microprocessor mounted on a gaming motherboard. I/O board
1553 may be connected to a base game integrated circuit board 1503
by a serial connection such as RS-232 or USB or may be attached to
the processor by a bus such as, but not limited to, an ISA bus. The
gaming motherboard may be mounted with other conventional
components, such as are found on conventional personal computer
motherboards, and loaded with a game program which may include a
gaming machine operating system (OS), such as a Bally Alpha OS.
Base game integrated circuit board 1503 executes a game program
that causes base game integrated circuit board 1503 to play a game.
In one embodiment, the game program provides a slot machine game
having adjustable multi-part indicia. The various components and
included devices may be installed with conventionally and/or
commercially available components, devices, and circuitry, into a
conventional and/or commercially available gaming machine cabinet,
examples of which are described above.
[0097] When a player has inserted a form of currency such as, for
example and without limitation, paper currency, coins or tokens,
cashless tickets or vouchers, electronic funds transfers or the
like into the currency acceptor, a signal is sent by way of I/O
board 1553 to base game integrated circuit board 1503 which, in
turn, assigns an appropriate number of credits for play in
accordance with the game program. The player may further control
the operation of the gaming machine by way of other peripherals
1551, for example, to select the amount to wager via
electromechanical or touch screen buttons. The game starts in
response to the player operating a start mechanism, such as a
handle or touch screen icon. The game program includes a random
number generator to provide a display of randomly-selected indicia
on one or more displays.
[0098] In some embodiments, the random generator may be physically
separate from gaming machine 1500. For example, the random
generator may be part of a central determination host system which
provides random game outcomes to the game program. Thereafter, the
player may or may not interact with the game through
electromechanical or touch screen buttons to change the displayed
indicia. Finally, the base game integrated circuit board 1503 is
under control of the game program, and the OS compares the final
display of indicia to a pay table. The set of possible game
outcomes may include a subset of outcomes related to the triggering
of a feature game. In the event the displayed outcome is a member
of this subset, the base game integrated circuit board 1503, under
control of the game program and by way of I/O Board 1553, may cause
feature game play to be presented on a feature display.
[0099] Predetermined payout amounts for certain outcomes, including
feature game outcomes, are stored as part of the game program. Such
payout amounts are, in response to instructions from base game
integrated circuit board 1503, provided to the player in the form
of coins, credits or currency via I/O board 1553 and a pay
mechanism, which may be one or more of a credit meter, a coin
hopper, a voucher printer, an electronic funds transfer protocol,
or any other payout means known or developed in the art.
[0100] In various embodiments, the game program is stored in a
memory device (not shown) connected to, or mounted on, the gaming
motherboard. By way of example, but not by limitation, such memory
devices include external memory devices, hard drives, CD-ROMs,
DVDs, and flash memory cards. In an alternative embodiment, the
game programs are stored in a remote storage device. In one
embodiment, the remote storage device is housed in a remote server.
The gaming machine may access the remote storage device via a
network connection, including but not limited to, a local area
network connection, a TCP/IP connection, a wireless connection, or
any other means for operatively networking components together.
Optionally, other data including graphics, sound files and other
media data for use with the EGM are stored in the same or a
separate memory device (not shown). Some or all of the game program
and its associated data may be loaded from one memory device into
another, for example, from flash memory to random access memory
(RAM).
[0101] In one or more embodiments, peripherals may be connected to
the system over Ethernet connections directly to the appropriate
server or tied to the system controller inside the EGM using USB,
serial or Ethernet connections. Each of the respective devices may
have upgrades to their firmware utilizing these connections.
[0102] GMU 1507 includes an integrated circuit board and GMU
processor and memory including coding for network communications,
such as the G2S (game-to-system) protocol from the Gaming Standards
Association, Las Vegas, Nev., used for system communications over
the network. As shown, GMU 1507 may connect to card reader 1555
through bus 1557 and may thereby obtain player card information and
transmit the information over the network through bus 1541. Gaming
activity information may be transferred by the base game integrated
circuit board 1503 to GMU 1507 where the information may be
translated into a network protocol, such as S2S, for transmission
to a server, such as a player tracking server, where information
about a player's playing activity may be stored in a designated
server database.
[0103] PIB 1509 includes an integrated circuit board, PID
processor, and memory which includes an operating system, such as
Windows CE, a player interface program which may be executable by
the PID processor together with various input/output (I/O) drivers
for respective devices which connect to PIB 1509, such as player
interface devices 511, and which may further include various games
or game components playable on PIB 1509 or playable on a connected
network server and PIB 1509 is operable as the player interface.
PIB 1509 connects to card reader 1555 through bus 1523, display
1559 through video decoder 1561 and bus 1521, such as an LVDS or
VGA bus.
[0104] As part of its programming, the PID processor executes
coding to drive display 1559 and provide messages and information
to a player. Touch screen circuitry interactively connects display
1559 and video decoder 1561 to PIB 1509, such that a player may
input information and cause the information to be transmitted to
PIB 1509 either on the player's initiative or responsive to a query
by PIB 1509. Additionally, soft keys 1565 connect through bus 1517
to PIB 1509 and operate together with display 1559 to provide
information or queries to a player and receive responses or queries
from the player. PIB 1509, in turn, communicates over the CMS/SMS
network through Ethernet switch 1531 and busses 1535, 1539 and with
respective servers, such as a player tracking server.
[0105] Player interface devices 1511 are linked into the virtual
private network of the system components in gaming machine 1501.
The system components include the iVIEW processing board and game
monitoring unit (GMU) processing board. These system components may
connect over a network to the slot management system (such as a
commercially available Bally SDS/SMS) and/or casino management
system (such as a commercially available Bally CMP/CMS).
[0106] The GMU system component has a connection to the base game
through a serial SAS connection and is connected to various servers
using, for example, HTTPs over Ethernet. Through this connection,
firmware, media, operating system software, and gaming machine
configurations can be downloaded to the system components from the
servers. This data is authenticated prior to installation on the
system components.
[0107] The system components include the iVIEW processing board and
game monitoring unit (GMU) processing board. The GMU and iVIEW can
be combined into one device (e.g., the commercially available Bally
GTM iVIEW device). This device may have a video mixing technology
to mix the EGM processor's video signals with the iVIEW display
onto the top box monitor or any monitor on the gaming device.
[0108] In accordance with one or more embodiments, FIG. 16 is a
functional block diagram of a gaming kernel 1600 of a game program
under control of base game integrated circuit board 1503. The game
program uses gaming kernel 1600 by calling into application
programming interface (API) 1602, which is part of game manager
1603. The components of game kernel 1600, as shown in FIG. 16, are
only illustrative and should not be considered limiting. For
example, the number of managers may be changed, additional managers
may be added or some managers may be removed without deviating from
the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments.
[0109] As shown in the example, there are three layers: a hardware
layer 1605; an operating system layer 1610, such as, but not
limited to, Linux; and a game kernel layer 1600 having game manager
1603 therein. In one or more embodiments, the use of a standard
operating system 1610, such a UNIX-based or a Windows-based
operating system, allows game developers interfacing to the gaming
kernel to use any of a number of standard development tools and
environments available for the operating systems. This is in
contrast to the use of proprietary, low level interfaces which may
require significant time and engineering investments for each game
upgrade, hardware upgrade, or feature upgrade. The game kernel
layer 1600 executes at the user level of the operating system 1610,
and itself contains a major component called the I/O Board Server
1615. To properly set the bounds of game application software
(making integrity checking easier), all game applications interact
with gaming kernel 1600 using a single API 1602 in game manager
1603. This enables game applications to make use of a well-defined,
consistent interface, as well as making access points to gaming
kernel 1600 controlled, where overall access is controlled using
separate processes.
[0110] For example, game manager 1603 parses an incoming command
stream and, when a command dealing with I/O comes in (arrow 1604),
the command is sent to an applicable library routine 1612. Library
routine 1612 decides what it needs from a device and sends commands
to I/O Board Server 1615 (see arrow 1608). A few specific drivers
remain in operating system kernel, shown as those below line 1606.
These are built-in, primitive, or privileged drivers that are (i)
general, (ii) kept to a minimum, and (iii) are easier to leave than
extract. In such cases, the low-level communications is handled
within operating system 1610, and the contents are passed to
library routines 1612.
[0111] Thus, in a few cases library routines may interact with
drivers inside operating system 1610, which is why arrow 1608 is
shown as having three directions (between library utilities 1612
and I/O Board Server 1615, or between library utilities 1612 and
certain drivers in operating system 1610). No matter which path is
taken, the logic needed to work with each device is coded into
modules in the user layer of the diagram. Operating system 1610 is
kept as simple, stripped down, and common across as many hardware
platforms as possible. The library utilities and user-level drivers
change as dictated by the game cabinet or game machine in which it
runs. Thus, each game cabinet or game machine may have a base game
integrated circuit board 1503 connected to a unique, relatively
dumb, and as inexpensive as possible I/O adapter board 1540, plus a
gaming kernel 1600 which has the game-machine-unique library
routines and I/O Board Server 1615 components needed to enable game
applications to interact with the gaming machine cabinet. Note that
these differences are invisible to the game application software
with the exception of certain functional differences (e.g., if a
gaming cabinet has stereo sound, the game application makes use of
API 1602 to use the capability over that of a cabinet having
traditional monaural sound).
[0112] Game manager 1603 provides an interface into game kernel
1600, providing consistent, predictable, and backwards-compatible
calling methods, syntax, and capabilities by way of game
application API 1602. This enables the game developer to be free of
dealing directly with the hardware, including the freedom to not
have to deal with low-level drivers as well as the freedom to not
have to program lower-level managers 1630, although lower-level
managers 630 may be accessible through game manager's interface
1602 if a programmer has a such a need. In addition to the freedom
derived from not having to deal with the hardware level drivers and
the freedom of having consistent, callable, object-oriented
interfaces to software managers of those components (drivers), game
manager 1603 provides access to a set of upper level managers 1620
also having the advantages of consistent callable, object-oriented
interfaces, and further providing the types and kinds of base
functionality required in casino-type games. Game manager 1603,
providing all the advantages of its consistent and richly
functional interface 1602 as supported by the rest of game kernel
1600, thus providing a game developer with a multitude of
advantages.
[0113] Game manager 1603 may have several objects within itself,
including an initialization object (not shown). The initialization
object performs the initialization of the entire game machine,
including other objects, after game manager 1603 has started its
internal objects and servers in appropriate order. In order to
carry out this function, the kernel's configuration manager 1621 is
among the first objects to be started; configuration manager 1621
has data needed to initialize and correctly configure other objects
or servers.
[0114] The upper level managers 1620 of game kernel 1600 may
include game event log manager 1622 which provides, at the least, a
logging or logger base class, enabling other logging objects to be
derived from this base object. The logger object is a generic
logger. Otherwise stated, the logger object is not aware of the
contents of logged messages and events. The log manager's (1622)
job is to log events in non-volatile event log space. The size of
the space may be fixed, although the size of the logged event is
typically not fixed. When the event space or log space fills up,
one embodiment will delete the oldest logged event (each logged
event will have a time/date stamp, as well as other needed
information such as length), providing space to record the new
event. In this embodiment, the most recent events will thus be
found in the log space, regardless of their relative importance.
Further provided is the capability to read the stored logs for
event review.
[0115] In accordance with one embodiment, meter manager 1623
manages the various meters embodied in the game kernel 1600. This
includes the accounting information for the game machine and game
play. There are hard meters (counters) and soft meters. The soft
meters may be stored in non-volatile storage, such as non-volatile
battery-backed RAM to prevent loss. Further, a backup copy of the
soft meters may be stored in a separate, non-volatile storage such
as EEPROM. In one embodiment, meter manager 1623 receives its
initialization data for the meters, during startup, from
configuration manager 1621. While running, the cash in (1624) and
cash out (1625) managers call the meter manager's (1623) update
functions to update the meters. Meter manager 1623 will, on
occasion, create backup copies of the soft meters by storing the
soft meters' readings in EEPROM. This is accomplished by calling
and using EEPROM manager 1631.
[0116] In accordance with still other embodiments, the progressive
manager 1626 manages progressive games playable from the game
machine. The event manager 1627 is generic, like log manager 1622,
and is used to manage various gaming machine events. The focus
manager 628 correlates which process has control of various focus
items. The tilt manager 1632 is an object that receives a list of
errors (if any) from configuration manager 1621 at initialization,
and during game play from processes, managers, drivers, and the
like, that may generate errors. Random number generator manager
1629 is provided to allow easy programming access to a random
number generator (RNG), as a RNG is required in virtually all
casino-style (gambling) games. RNG manager 1629 includes the
capability of using multiple seeds.
[0117] In accordance with one or more embodiments, a credit manager
object (not shown) manages the current state of credits (cash value
or cash equivalent) in the game machine, including any available
winnings, and further provides denomination conversion services.
The cash out manager 1625 has the responsibility of configuring and
managing monetary output devices. During initialization, the cash
out manager 1625, using data from configuration manager 1621, sets
the cash out devices correctly and selects any selectable cash out
denominations. During play, a game application may post a cash out
event through the event manager 1627 (the same way all events are
handled), and using a callback posted by cash out manager 1625,
cash out manager 1625 is informed of the event.
[0118] The cash out manager 1625 updates the credit object, updates
its state in non-volatile memory, and sends an appropriate control
message to the device manager that corresponds to the dispensing
device. As the device dispenses dispensable media, there will
typically be event messages being sent back and forth between the
device and cash out manager 1625 until the dispensing finishes.
After this point, the cash out manager 1625, having updated the
credit manager and any other game state (such as some associated
with meter manager 1623) that needs to be updated for this set of
actions, sends a cash out completion event to event manager 1627
and to the game application. The cash in manager 624 functions
similarly to cash out manager 1625, only controlling, interfacing
with, and taking care of actions associated with cashing in events,
cash in devices, and associated meters and crediting.
[0119] In a further embodiment, in accordance with one or more
embodiments, I/O server 1615 may write data to the gaming machine
EEPROM memory, which is located in the gaming machine cabinet and
holds meter storage that must be kept even in the event of power
failure. The game manager 1603 calls the I/O library functions to
write data to the EEPROM. The I/O server 1615 receives the request
and starts a low priority EEPROM thread 1616 within I/O server 1615
to write the data. This thread uses a sequence of 8-bit commands
and data writes to the EEPROM device to write the appropriate data
in the proper location within the device. Any errors detected are
sent as IPC messages to game manager 1603. Typically, all of this
processing is asynchronous.
[0120] In accordance with one embodiment, button module 1617 within
I/O server 1615, polls (or is sent) the state of buttons every 2
milliseconds. These inputs are debounced by keeping a history of
input samples. Certain sequences of samples are required to detect
that a button was pressed, in which case the I/O server 1615 sends
an inter-process communication event to the game manager 1603 that
a button was pressed or released. In some embodiments, the gaming
machine may have intelligent distributed I/O which debounces the
buttons, in which case button module 1617 may be able to
communicate with the remote intelligent button processor to get the
button events and simply relay them to the game manager 1603 via
IPC messages. In still another embodiment, the I/O library may be
used for pay out requests from the game application. For example,
hopper module 1618 must start the hopper motor, constantly monitor
the coin sensing lines of the hopper, debounce them, and send an
IPC message to the game manager 1603 when each coin is paid.
[0121] Further details, including disclosure of lower-level, fault
handling and/or processing, are included in U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,151
entitled "Gaming Board Set and Gaming Kernel for Game Cabinets" and
provisional U.S. Patent App. No. 60/313,743, entitled "Form Fitting
Upgrade Board Set For Existing Game Cabinets," filed Aug. 20, 2001,
both patent and provisional application are incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety.
[0122] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, enterprise gaming system 1801
is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments. Enterprise
gaming system 1801 may include one casino or multiple locations and
generally includes a network of gaming machines 1803, floor
management system (SMS) 1805, and casino management system (CMS)
1807. SMS 1805 may include load balancer 1811, network services
servers 1813, player interface (iVIEW) content servers 1815,
certificate services server 1817, floor radio dispatch
receiver/transmitters (RDC) 1819, floor transaction servers 1821
and game engines 1823, each of which may connect over network bus
1825 to gaming machines 1803. CMS 1807 may include location
tracking server 1831, WRG RTCEM server 1833, data warehouse server
1835, player tracking server 1837, biometric server 1839, analysis
services server 1841, third party interface server 1843, slot
accounting server 1845, floor accounting server 1847, progressives
server 1849, promo control server 1851, feature game (such as Bally
Live Rewards) server 1853, download control server 1855, player
history database 1857, configuration management server 1859,
browser manager 1861, tournament engine server 1863 connecting
through bus 1865 to server host 1867 and gaming machines 1803.
[0123] The various servers and gaming machines 1803 may connect to
the network with various conventional network connections (such as,
for example, USB, serial, parallel, RS485, Ethernet). Additional
servers which may be incorporated with CMS 1807 include a
responsible gaming limit server (not shown), advertisement server
(not shown), and a control station server (not shown) where an
operator or authorized personnel may select options and input new
programming to adjust each of the respective servers and gaming
machines 1803. SMS 1805 may also have additional servers including
a control station (not shown) through which authorized personnel
may select options, modify programming, and obtain reports of the
connected servers and devices, and obtain reports. The various CMS
and SMS servers are descriptively entitled to reflect the
functional executable programming stored thereon and the nature of
databases maintained and utilized in performing their respective
functions.
[0124] Gaming machines 1803 include various peripheral components
that may be connected with USB, serial, parallel, RS-485 or
Ethernet devices/architectures to the system components within the
respective gaming machine. The GMU has a connection to the base
game through a serial SAS connection. The system components in the
gaming cabinet may be connected to the servers using HTTPs or G2S
over Ethernet. Using CMS 1807 and/or SMS 1805 servers and devices,
firmware, media, operating systems, and configurations may be
downloaded to the system components of respective gaming machines
for upgrading or managing floor content and offerings in accordance
with operator selections or automatically depending upon CMS 1807
and SMS 1805 master programming. The data and programming updates
to gaming machines 1803 are authenticated using conventional
techniques prior to installation on the system components.
[0125] In various embodiments, any of the gaming machines 1803 may
be a mechanical reel spinning slot machine, video slot machine,
video poker machine, keno machine, video blackjack machine, or a
gaming machine offering one or more of the above-described games,
including a group play game. Alternately, gaming machines 1803 may
provide a game with a skill-based component as a primary or base
game or as one of a set of multiple primary games selected for play
by a random number generator, as described above. A gaming system
of the type described above also allows a plurality of games in
accordance with the various embodiments of the pseudo skill-based
game 100 to be linked under the control of a group game server (not
shown) for cooperative or competitive play in a particular area,
carousel, casino or between casinos located in geographically
separate areas. For example, one or more examples of group games
under control of a group game server are disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/938,079, entitled "Networked System and
Method for Group Play Gaming," filed on Nov. 9, 2007, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
[0126] The above-disclosed embodiments relate to a pseudo
skill-based bonus game in FIGS. 1-18. In these embodiments of the
pseudo skill-based bonus game, players use the iDeck.TM. to shoot
virtual missiles at virtual space ships on a playing field. Points
are awarded for correct hits, and credits may be awarded for some
hits using a technique to ensure that no matter how skillful the
player is in aiming at the targets, the same amount of credits are
awarded.
Tournament Gaming System Using Social Network Based Team
Formation:
[0127] Referring now to FIGS. 19-21, the following disclosure is
related to various embodiments of a Tournament Gaming System
employing Social Network-Based Team Formation 1900 that uses the
normally non-paying points as an incentive for players to return to
the casino for further play. As discussed above, a leaderboard is
typically maintained of the highest scores attained by players
during the bonus feature.
[0128] In one aspect of the Tournament Gaming System employing
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, multiple leaderboards may
be maintained. While each EGM may maintain its own individual
leaderboard, in some embodiments casino-wide or bank-wide
leaderboards are maintained and displayed, either on signage, or
periodically on each EGM.
[0129] In one embodiment of the Tournament Gaming System employing
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, the casino-wide
leaderboards are used for periodic tournaments. Preferably,
multiple leaderboards are maintained so that different skill, bet,
or club level players may be matched against each other. A
preferred technique for implementation is described below.
[0130] In one aspect of the Tournament Gaming System employing
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, while players may play as
an individual, gaining a high score only for bragging rights, they
may also play as part of a team. As a team, they are eligible to
enter the periodic tournaments organized by the casino. In a basic
scenario, a casino may elect to run a tournament over a period of
time (e.g., a weekend). As players within teams play the gaming
machines with the bonus game, scores are posted onto the
leaderboard. The teams with the highest scores at the end of the
tournament period win the prizes.
[0131] One embodiment of the Tournament Gaming System employing
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900 optimally uses social
networks to enable players to form teams. Preferably an existing
social network such as Facebook is used. One embodiment of the
configuration of the system 1900 is shown in FIG. 19. In FIG. 19,
users connect to a social network server 1920 from internet
terminals 1910. As shown, in one embodiment the terminals may be
located in the home as web browsers, but in other embodiments the
primary access devices are smart phones (not shown), running either
dedicated applications or mobile browsers.
[0132] Players may access a "Play for Fun" (PFF) version of the
game via the social network server 1020. Typically, this
application is hosted on a separate server 1930, which interfaces
to the social network server 1020 using standard APIs such as
Facebook. The PFF version may differ from the conventional casino
game in that it only consists of the skill bonus round, and no cash
prizes may be awarded. Alternatively, the PFF version may be a
free-to-play version of the casino game, periodically awarding
entry into the bonus round as happens in the casino. In this
scenario, players may only have a limited number of free play
credits per day, and to obtain more credits they may purchase them
as In-App-Purchases (IAP). While players may purchase additional
credits to practice more, in the PFF version of the game there are
never prizes awarded. The PFF game enables the Tournament Gaming
System 1900 to attract players to the tournament, and by extension
to the casino, allowing them to practice away from the casino, and
providing a means for players to measure their skill against other
players and other teams.
[0133] The social network server 1920 also hosts one or more
leaderboard for each casino with which it has an association. For
example, a casino may have a "Facebook Page" (FP), and within this
page one or more leaderboards may be displayed for tournaments in
progress. Icons may also be displayed on the FP to allow players to
initiate the creation of a team, or joining an existing team.
[0134] Teams are an important aspect of the Tournament Gaming
System employing Social Network Based Team Formation 1900. Players
form teams that compete in a tournament to gain the highest score
playing the bonus game in the casino. Unlike conventional slot
tournaments, which force players to play concurrently over a short
period of time, in the Tournament Gaming System employing Social
Network Based Team Formation 1900, the tournament period is
expected to last a period of days, and players within teams may
make single or multiple visits to the casino during this period to
post a score.
[0135] The basic lifecycle of one embodiment of a tournament is
shown in FIG. 20. First, a player forms a team, initially
consisting solely of themselves. In some implementations this is
done by the player selecting "form team" from a user interface
presented on the casino's FP. The player is then given the
opportunity to issue invitations to join the team to friends in
their friends list, via email, or other contact methods. By
leveraging existing social networks, the Tournament Gaming System
employing Social Network Based Team Formation 1900 makes it much
easier for players to form teams. The invitations are sent to other
potential team members and then the team is allocated to a
tournament. Initially, a team consisting of new players is
allocated to a default tournament, but over time other tournaments
may be chosen depending upon some criteria.
[0136] In one embodiment of the Tournament Gaming System Using
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, multiple tournaments may
overlap such that when a team is allocated to a tournament, the
tournament is not yet started. While a team must be enrolled in a
tournament before it begins to be eligible for prizes, it may be
preferable that team members may be able to respond to the
invitation after the tournament begins. Thus, a team may continue
to grow in size. Regardless of how formation occurs, in some
embodiments individual team members may only be members of one team
in a particular casino at any one time.
[0137] As each team member joins the team, they are sent an email
or other type of message giving them information on the tournament
and the social network webpage with which it is associated. Members
may use this information to track the tournament leaderboards as
they are updated on the social network.
[0138] During the tournament period, players are encouraged to
visit the casino and participate. Team creators may send messages
to their team giving such encouragement, and the casino may
auto-generate messages to teams that are jockeying for winning
positions. In this manner, as the lead changes the new and old
leading teams may be informed.
[0139] In another aspect of the Tournament Gaming System employing
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, the system enables teams
to be formed of arbitrary size. To achieve this type of team
formation, in one embodiment a team creator may invite as many
friends as they like to join the team. Each of these members may
join and play the game. During the tournament, only the current top
N (e.g., five) team member high scores are used to compute an
aggregate team high score. This embodiment does not discriminate
against teams of at least a minimum size, while allowing teams to
not have to be of a fixed size. In this manner, teams of various
sizes may compete against each other by only using a top few number
of scores. For example, a team of five may compete against a team
of eight and a team of twelve. In this scenario, the top five
scores of each team could be used for the competition. In other
embodiment, alternative methods of ranking teams in tournaments may
use the mean score of team members, the mean score of the top N
members, or different weightings for different team sizes.
[0140] Many gaming advances are designed to increase the total
coin-in. While the tournament in itself encourages more play, in
some embodiments it is advantageous to weight team member
contributions by average or instant bet at the time of playing the
bonus round. In this manner, a player betting five (5) credits per
line may be given a bonus score that is five (5) times the score of
someone betting one credit per line. Alternatively, a fixed bonus
amount may be given to players depending upon their bet at the time
of the bonus round.
[0141] In a further enhancement, players may be given additional
bonus amounts or multipliers to their score depending upon their
loyalty club level. A platinum level player may therefore be given
a higher multiplier than a silver level player. In yet another
embodiment, players may be given additional bonus amounts or
multipliers to their score depending upon a combination of multiple
factors, including by way of example only, and not by way of
limitation, their loyalty club level, instant bet, average bet, and
the like. At the end of the tournament period, the leaderboard is
used to determine prizes to be awarded. Prizes may be awarded for
the highest scoring team(s) and also possibly for the highest
scoring individual members of teams.
[0142] As described with respect to FIG. 21, once prizes are
awarded, teams may be automatically entered into new competitions.
In some embodiment, as teams finish a tournament, a list is
generated of these teams for assignment to new tournaments. In such
an embodiment, in the event of a casino running multiple
tournaments concurrently, more than one tournament may finish at or
around the same time (e.g., at the end of the weekend).
Accordingly, the process shown in FIG. 21 may only be run
periodically to ensure that teams from multiple tournaments may be
considered for a new tournament.
[0143] In one embodiment, a reason for considering teams from
multiple tournaments relates to the variance between team
performances. As such, it is a feature of some embodiments of the
Tournament Gaming System employing Social Network Based Team
Formation 1900 that tournaments are "balanced" according to some
criteria, with similar teams being matched together. Some examples
of balancing criteria include the following which are listed by way
of example only, and not by way of limitation. Regarding a first
balancing criteria, teams with similar tournament scores are
matched together. These balancing criteria make tournaments more
competitive. Regarding a second balancing criteria, teams with
similar total bets throughout the last tournament they participated
in are matched together. This balancing criteria enables teams with
excess members (who do not contribute to the highest scores) to
participate in higher stakes tournaments. Regarding a third
balancing criteria, teams with higher club level memberships are
matched together. These balancing criteria encourage higher overall
slot play to participate in higher prize tournaments. Regarding a
fourth balancing criteria, teams that have won a tournament in a
previous period of time are matched together. These balancing
criteria enable a "champion of champions" tournament to be held for
a higher prize or bragging rights.
[0144] Embodiments of the system 1900 that use balancing techniques
enable players and teams to "find their own level." Lower stakes
players may still compete against each other, but higher skilled
teams may be encouraged to bet higher so that they may compete for
bigger prizes against other high skill teams. In some embodiments,
some tournaments are only available to certain classes of players
(e.g., platinum players only, or at least one platinum member per
team).
[0145] Prizes for winning tournaments need not be cash-based in
accordance with embodiments of the system 1900. A tournament for
gold club level players may offer the chance to win platinum level
privileges for a period of time. In one embodiment, club point
multipliers may be won if a player is part of a team that wins a
2.times. multiplier, then all points they earn in the player club
for the next week are multiplied by two. In some embodiments,
cash-based prizes may be funded uses marketing funds, or other
funds not related to the "coin-in" of the gaming machines being
played.
[0146] Returning to the process shown in FIG. 21, in some
embodiments, some teams may elect to be automatically assigned to
the best tournament available (i.e., the one with the largest
prize). In other embodiments, other team leaders may elect to have
their team not automatically assigned. Instead, after a tournament
finishes they may manually enter any tournament for which they are
eligible. In this case, while they may not be eligible for high
prize tournaments if their skill, bet or club membership level does
not support such tournaments level access, the players may also not
be eligible for lower prize tournaments if their skill level has
proven to be of too high a standard. So long as multiple
tournaments are running concurrently, this prevents high skill
players from preying on weaker teams, in some embodiments of the
Tournament Gaming System Using Social Network Based Team Formation
1900.
[0147] In some embodiments of the Tournament Gaming System Using
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, players may form teams at
home, but must return to the casino to play the game and win
prizes. Advantageously, the system 1900 uses existing social
networks to leverage pre-existing relationships between players to
form teams. The use of existing social networks also makes
developing tournament user interface easier by employing a
non-gaming platform. Continuing, the system 1900 balances multiple
competitions to maintain player interest and match suitable sets of
players. In one embodiment, the Tournament Gaming System Using
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, encourages use of player
cards such that players must associate a player card number with
their Facebook account to participate in a team. Moreover, the
free-to-play game feature of the system 1900 encourages players to
try the game for real and to practice without cost.
[0148] In one embodiment of the Tournament Gaming System Using
Social Network Based Team Formation 1900, an EGM runs the Total
Blast game bonus (or other similar game). In another embodiment of
the Tournament Gaming System Using Social Network Based Team
Formation 1900, an Ethernet connection links each gaming machine
1940 to a tournament server 1950. In still another embodiment of
the Tournament Gaming System Using Social Network Based Team
Formation 1900, an internet-based social network application,
hosted on an external server, provides the free-to-play version of
the bonus game, team management for users, displays current high
scores from tournament server 1950, and sends team information to
the tournament server.
[0149] One embodiment of the Tournament Gaming System Using Social
Network Based Team Formation 1900 enables: (1) forming teams on
social networks to play at a casino; (2) balancing multiple
tournaments based on criteria such as skill, bet and player club
level; (3) implementing a practice version of game on non-gaming
platform allowing players to hone their skills for later tournament
participation; (4) implementing a practice version of game that
consists only of bonus round, and no underlying casino game; and
(5) updating scores from gaming machines to social network allowing
notification of tournament status to players away from casino.
[0150] In another aspect of some embodiments, gaming systems are
utilized that include mobile gaming capabilities 2200. In such
embodiments of the disclosed gaming system, smart phones are
utilized that include built in object recognition technologies and
OCR (Optical character recognition) techniques combined with
location/orientation derivation to provide players in casinos with
additional gaming options and opportunities. In one embodiment of a
gaming system that includes mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the
gaming system leverages the possession by players of smart phones
to enable the manufacturer to build profiles of players and target
valuable players for promotions of key products of the
manufacture.
[0151] Referring now to FIGS. 22-24, the overall arrangement of the
modules that make up an embodiment of a gaming system having mobile
gaming capabilities 2200 is shown. In some embodiments of the
gaming system having augmented reality gaming capabilities 2200,
the gaming process proceeds in the following manner. A player
downloads the "iBonus" application from an Application Store (e.g.,
a gaming manufacturer's application store, the Apple Application
store, the Goggle Application Store, or the like) onto their smart
phone. The player uses the iBonus application to enroll in the
iBonus system. The iBonus application then displays a list of
targeted promotions.
[0152] In one embodiment, a promotion may be "Hit 3 Cash Spin
symbols to win a free Cash Spin t-shirt." The player then goes to
the casino and plays Cash Spin. Once the player meets the
requirements of the promotion, such as by hitting a combination
that includes three Cash Spin symbols, the player takes out their
phone, selects the iBonus application, and uses the inbuilt camera
(controlled by the iBonus application) to take a photo of the game
result. The iBonus Application securely transmits the photo to a
web service, where the photo is analyzed to confirm that the player
has indeed met the terms of the promotion. Once confirmed, the
player is awarded the bonus by mail or electronically.
[0153] Referring now to FIG. 25, an embodiment is shown that
displays the general arrangement of logical modules in the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200. These modules
include, by way of example only, and not by way of limitation:
Player Value Tracking, Player Registration, Player Web Interface,
Bonus Match, Bonus Award, Bonus Rule Creation, and Image
Analysis.
[0154] Regarding the Player Value Tracking feature of the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, as players register,
they are added to a database managed by the Player Value Tracking
module. Initially, a player is assigned a zero value. Otherwise
stated, the player will be offered bonuses available to all other
players in their demographic (such as location/jurisdiction or
age). As players participate in the bonus system their value may go
up based upon their average bet, and thus they may be offered
higher value, more targeted bonuses. The important difference
between this module and a conventional player tracking system is
that instead of each wager made by the player contributing to the
value, this system only tracks events captured by the mobile phone
application, which are generally bonus-qualifying wins.
[0155] Referring now to the Player Registration feature of the
gaming system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the player
registration module handles the creation of new records for the
Player Value Tracking system. Since fraud prevention is an
important facet of the disclosed gaming system, the player
registration module generally requires some identification data to
ensure that players do not register multiple accounts. A simple way
to achieve this is to use an online service such as an online
Application Store as a means of downloading the smart phone
application. After being downloaded, each application may be
electronically "fingerprinted" so as to be tied to one smart phone
account and/or smart phone, without requiring payment from the
player.
[0156] Regarding the Player Web Interface feature of the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the player web
interface provides some other important functionality, in addition
to providing a portal to the Player Registration module. Initially,
the web interface provides general advertising of the iBonus system
and current promotions within. This advertising may also be
accessed from the smart phone application. Furthermore, the web
interface provides the ability to push updates to the smart phone
application. As an anti-hacking measure, the software and
encryption keys on the smart phone are periodically updated to
increase the cost of reverse engineering the communication protocol
beyond the economic value of any bonuses fraudulently earned.
[0157] Referring now to the Bonus Match feature of the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, once an image or
image set has been analyzed to determine the state of the gaming
machine at capture time, the correct bonus to be awarded can be
calculated. In this manner, the Bonus Match module parses the list
of possible bonuses to generate a list of matching bonuses. It is
expected that each possible bonus record would include some or all
of the following fields, including but not limited to: Type of
bonus, Game Identifier, Game qualifying conditions, Bet qualifying
conditions, Geographic restrictions, Demographic restrictions, Time
restrictions, and Quantity.
[0158] In some embodiments of the gaming system having mobile
gaming capabilities 2200, the "Type Of Bonus" may be physical or
virtual. A physical bonus may be an item such as a t-shirt or a
prepaid debit card, while a virtual bonus may be loyalty points
that can be redeemed for physical items or funds. In another aspect
of some embodiments, the "Game Identifier" is the name of the game
being "bonused." In still another aspect, the "Game Qualifying
Conditions" are the symbols or game state that must be matched. For
example, in one embodiment, the symbol qualifying condition is "4
or more scatter symbols," and a game state may be "a win above
>$100." In yet another aspect, the "Bet Qualifying Conditions"
are a bonus that may be restricted to a minimum denomination and/or
other conditions such as a minimum number of lines played, or a
minimum total bet.
[0159] Continuing, in some embodiments of the gaming system having
mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the "Geographic Restrictions" file
includes some combination of a cell tower identifier, a reverse DNS
lookup, and a GPS address to restrict the eligibility of some
bonuses. In another aspect of some embodiments, the "Demographic
Restrictions" file includes some bonuses that are available to
players in certain demographic groups such as age-ranges. In still
another aspect, the "Time Restrictions" field includes bonuses that
may be only available at certain times of the week or for a fixed
length of time. Finally, in yet another aspect of one embodiment,
the "Quantity" filed includes the ability to set a limit on the
number of redemptions before the bonus expires.
[0160] Desirably, the combining of these attributes enables a
manufacturer to generate some interesting promotion types. For
example, in some embodiments, the manufacturer may choose to offer
an "ad-hoc" tournament to certain players. In such an embodiment,
the players are sent a message telling them, for example, that if
the players play "Cash-Spin" from 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM on
Independence Day, the first fifty players to hit the Cash Spin will
be awarded an extra prize.
[0161] In another embodiment of the gaming system having mobile
gaming capabilities 2200, tournaments are formed by having bonus
awards predicated upon the highest wins by players participating
over a period of time. For example, in one embodiment, the
manufacturer sends a message to targeted players, informing the
players that the highest win on a Blazing 7s game between 8:00 PM
and 9:00 PM on Tuesday will win a bonus of $1000. In such a
scenario, each player participating during this time would be
encouraged to take photos of significant wins, and at the end of
the period the player with the highest win submitted would win the
bonus. Notably, as shown in FIG. 26, the smart phone application
may also be used to enter the tournament. Next, updates would be
pushed to all of the smart phones of the participating players
every time the leader board changed, thus enabling the players to
monitor their positions in the tournament rankings. At the
completion of the tournament, any awards may be notified directly
to players through the smart phone application.
[0162] Referring now to FIG. 25, the Bonus Match Module interfaces
with the Player Value Tracking module in that all data captured by
the Bonus Match Module (e.g., the arrangement of symbols,
denomination, current credits played) are passed to the Player
Value Tracking module so that a history of interaction for each
player may be generated. This data may be used to compute an
average bet for a player (and thus their value to casinos) and also
to determine the particular game types (e.g., high volatility) that
a player prefers to play.
[0163] Referring now to the Bonus Award module of the gaming system
having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, this module performs the
function of distributing awards to players. In one more basic
embodiment, players may be awarded physical awards such as t-shirts
or prepaid debit cards, which may be mailed out to the players. In
another aspect of some embodiments, a loyalty points program is
implemented that enables players to accumulate points to be
redeemed for larger awards.
[0164] Regarding the Bonus Rule Creation feature of the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, each bonus is
constructed from a set of rules such as those described above. In
some embodiments, bonuses may be created from these rules by using
a GUI (graphical user interface). However, in other embodiments,
Business Intelligence may be used to target the players who would
benefit from some bonuses. In one such embodiment, if a
manufacturer launches "Cash Spin 2," the manufacturer may target
players who had previously won a bonus playing "Cash Spin" as being
eligible for a special bonus opportunity.
[0165] Referring now to the Image Analysis module of the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the processes of
this module are shown in FIG. 27. The image analysis module
performs two major functions: (1) determination of the arrangement
of symbols present in the photo taken by the player; and (2)
detection of attempted fraud. In some embodiments, the first task
that the image analysis module performs upon receiving an image
from the smart phone application is the extraction of the symbol
matrix from the image. Standard image analysis techniques are
utilized, such as the OpenCV software library. In one aspect of
this embodiment, the image analysis has copies of all of the
candidate symbol images that may be detected. From this library of
images, the arrangement of symbols on the screen may be determined.
Notably, in another embodiment, manual intervention may be used. In
such an embodiment, a person located at a manufacturer's office
quickly analyzes a photo and enters the arrangement of symbols into
the Image Analysis system.
[0166] In another aspect of the gaming system having mobile gaming
capabilities 2200, additional data may be sent from the smart phone
to assist in automatic image analysis. The smart phone location
(i.e., "geotag") information may be used to narrow down the number
of possible games against which to compare. Such a location may be
determined by various combinations of the phone's GPS position, IP
address, and/or smart phone tower location.
[0167] Referring now to FIG. 28, one embodiment of the gaming
system 2200 is shown that illustrates how a gaming machine screen
image may be processed from a photo taken by a smart phone camera.
Initially, the screen image is extracted. Next, the screen image is
transformed by a reverse perspective (or keystone)
transformation.
[0168] In some embodiments, to assist the keystone transformation
of the image, the orientation of the smart phone is determined by
reading the smart phone's accelerometer values at the instant the
image is captured. Typically, the accelerometer values indicate
orientation about the x, y, and z axis. While rotation about the
vertical (y) axis is only useful if the orientation of the gaming
machine cabinet is known (which may be possible if the location of
the camera is known precisely enough), rotation about the x and z
axis may be used to reduce the complexity of the transformation
required, given that the orientation of the gaming machine screen
for a particular cabinet is a known constant about the x and z
axis. In this manner, reducing the transform to one axis makes
determining the "best fit" relatively straightforward. Once the
extent of the gaming machine screen is determined in the image, the
angle of rotation of the top or bottom of the gaming machine screen
from the horizontal is all that is needed to compute the reverse
perspective transformation.
[0169] Furthermore, FIG. 28 also illustrates another feature of
certain manufacturer-specific games. In this feature, the symbols
constituting a win flash are otherwise animated in the event of a
win. To compensate for the difficulty this may add to determining
the arrangement of symbols, the following steps are taken.
Initially, the Image Analysis module has access to every frame of
animation of each animated symbol. In this manner, each frame is
used to compare against candidate sub-images. Next, the smart phone
application takes multiple photos when the player presses the "Take
Picture" (or similar) button. These photos are spaced in time such
that at least a half a cycle of the known symbol flash time
(approximately ten frames or one-third of a second) elapses between
consecutive captures. In the event that the symbol matrix cannot be
determined from the first image captured, the second and subsequent
captures are used to fill in any blanks. In another aspect,
multiple image capture is also used as part of the fraud detection
strategy described below.
[0170] Referring again to FIG. 27, the image captured is analyzed
to determine the state of the game with respect to the current
denomination being played, current play line configuration, amount
bet, and credits available. These values are preferably determined
by the use of known OCR (Optical Character Recognition) techniques
in conjunction with templates available to the Image Analysis
module. The Image Analysis module describes where on the primary
gaming machine LCD screen the meter values may be expected to be
located. Notably, in another embodiment, manual intervention may be
used. In such an embodiment, these values are extracted for the
purpose of ensuring that bonus conditions may be met, to help
prevent fraud (as described in further detail below), and for
passing to the Player Value Tracking system.
[0171] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 28, since the game is known
to have progressive meters displayed on the screen, these meters
are also extracted. Once the symbol matrix and meter values have
been determined, they are passed (along with any geographic
identification) to the Bonus Match module. If no bonus condition
has been met, the player is informed accordingly. In the event that
the symbol matrix was not captured correctly, this gives the player
another chance to take a photo.
[0172] In another aspect of the gaming system having mobile gaming
capabilities 2200, if a bonus condition has been met, the image(s)
is further analyzed for the purposes of player value tracking and
fraud detection. Typically, the first task of the fraud detection
method is the analysis of the symbol matrix to ensure that the
matrix is valid. One non-limiting embodiment is illustrated by the
following result:
TABLE-US-00001 Reel 1 Reel 2 Reel 3 Reel 4 Reel 5 Line 2 KING KING
KING KING ACE Line 1 NINE SEVEN QUEEN KING JACK Line 3 ACE NINE
KING SEVEN JACK
[0173] In this non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a player is
eligible for a bonus if the player has four Kings in a line.
However, the player is only awarded the bonus in this scenario if
they have elected to play at least two lines. Furthermore, the
following checks are performed to prevent a hacker trying to
subvert the process.
[0174] In the first hacker prevention step, each of the reel
segments is compared against every legal reel strip for this
particular game to ensure that they are possible. For example, if
there is no known reel strip for reel 4 that contains a sequence of
"KING KING SEVEN," then this configuration may be identified as
illegal. Accordingly, a suspicious notification may be generated.
In another aspect, games may have different reel strips in
different jurisdictions, which in conjunction with the known
geographic position of the smart phone may be used to limit the
possible legal strips. If the reel segments are found to be valid,
the game configuration (in terms of hold) may also be determined to
be valid. As such, the game configuration may be passed as data to
the Player Value Tracking module for later business intelligence
methods, with respect to the evaluation of the success of different
holds for games.
[0175] In the second hacker prevention step, the winning amount won
by the player as represented on the screen and extracted above
(along with the associated bet value) is validated against the
known pay table to ensure the winning amount has not been faked.
Continuing, in the next hacker prevention step, the progressive
meters, if present, are compared against the known legal ranges. In
the case of wide-area-progressives, where the values of the
progressives are known for a given time, the time stamp of the
image is used to determine the expected progressive values. If the
progressive meter values are not within a small range of these
expected values, the bonus may be flagged as suspicious.
[0176] Finally, in yet another hacker prevention step relating to a
scenario in which multiple image captures are taken, each image is
analyzed in turn to ensure that it is consistent with a correct set
of animations for the game result. For example, if it is expected
that a winning symbol would flash at a certain rate, the bonus can
be flagged as suspicious if this flash is not present in the image
and/or the sequence is not captured at the correct rate.
[0177] If an image passes all of these above-described hacker
prevention checks, the system will likely conclude that an image
has been taken of a legal bonus. A further set of checks are also
performed, however, to guard against "replay attacks." A replay
attack occurs when an unscrupulous person takes multiple photos of
the bonus triggering game result, and submits the photos as
multiple entries, thereby attempting to earn multiple awards.
[0178] In some embodiments, the gaming system 2200 guards against
replay attack by comparing the following data obtained from the
image against other bonus redemptions for the same game. Such data
includes: the arrangement of the symbol matrix, the values of the
credit, denomination, bet and win meters, and progressive meters,
and the time and geographic location of the bonus being submitted.
Regarding the arrangement of the symbol matrix, the odds of two
persons hitting the same exact arrangement of paying and non-paying
symbols is actually quite high (i.e., in the hundreds of thousands,
if not millions to one) for most reasonably high paying game
outcomes. With respect to the values of the credit, denomination,
bet and win meters, and progressive meters (if present), it is
highly unlikely that two bonus winners would have identical values
for all of these. Lastly, regarding the time and geographic
location of the bonus being submitted, it is highly unlikely that
the same winning result would be achieved at the same place and
close to the same time. When taken in combination, it is
mathematically clear that if two bonus images are submitted that
match all of the above, it is likely that fraudulent behavior is
the cause of such a result. Once an award attempt passes these
hacker prevention checks, the Bonus Award module is signaled to
award the bonus, and the smart phone application is signaled to
inform the player that the award has been earned.
[0179] As described above, various strategies may be performed to
prevent "replay attacks" against the gaming system 2200 in which a
number of identical submissions are made by one or more players at
a similar time. In this type of fraud, when a player wins, in
addition to the winning player submitting their photo, one or more
other people around the winning player also take photos of the
screen in an attempt to try and also get the prize. Normally, only
the first submission of a group of identical game results is
awarded the prize, with the subsequent submissions being
denied.
[0180] In another fraud-attempt scenario, a player wins a prize on
a gaming machine, but before the winning player has a chance to get
their phone out, another person behind the winning player (or at an
adjacent gaming machine) takes a photo of the winning game screen
and submits the photo. To prevent this type of fraud, in a case
where multiple submissions are received by the gaming system 2200,
if the first submission is taken at a much further distance, or at
a significantly more acute angle (as measured by the perspective
distortion of the captured image of the reels) to a second
submission then the later submission is determined to be the valid
one. This analysis may be performed either automatically, or more
preferably, with human interaction.
[0181] Referring now to the smart phone application of the gaming
system having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the smart phone
application is comprised of a number of smaller modules. In some
embodiments, the smart phone application has a user interface that
interfaces with the Player Web Interface module. This enables the
smart phone application to provide periodic updates with new offers
which may be targeted to the player.
[0182] In another aspect, the application also includes an image
capture module. The image capture module is activated by the player
upon them pressing the "Take Picture" button for a particular
offer. In some embodiments, the image capture module controls the
in-built camera on the smart phone and displays a copy of the
current camera captured image on the phone's display, much like a
conventional camera application. Additionally, a button is also
presented to the player to be pressed when the display of the
gaming machine is roughly centered in the camera view. In another
embodiment, no button is used, and image analysis algorithms built
into the capture module detect the presence of game symbols in the
camera view and immediately begin capturing images. The presence of
game meters (read by OCR) or a physical barcode sticker may be used
to automatically begin capturing images.
[0183] In some preferred implementations of the gaming system
having mobile gaming capabilities 2200, the image capture module
reads the values of the accelerometers from the phone and does not
capture images unless the phone is relatively stable (i.e., only
small amounts of acceleration detected). This assists the player in
making a good image capture in the low (in-door) light of a casino.
In some embodiments, the auto-focus algorithms of the phone's
camera only allow photos to be taken that are sharp. Additionally,
as each image is taken it may be analyzed using box filters and
Fourier transforms to detect the overall sharpness of the image.
The application may also take multiple image captures until an
image is taken that is suitably sharp and contains recognizable
data (such as meter values) in acceptable areas of the image.
[0184] In one embodiment of the gaming system having mobile gaming
capabilities 2200, when a player wishes to submit a result, the
player activates the capture function. After activation, the player
starts to receive a live feed of the images being received by the
phone's camera on the phone's display, which allows the player to
see what they are about to capture. For example, as shown in FIG.
28A, a live camera image of a gaming machine screen is displayed.
Referring next to FIG. 28B, alignment boxes may be seen that are
used by the player to overlay onto the live camera image. FIG. 28C
shows the alignment boxes overlaid onto the live camera image that
was displayed in FIG. 28A in the manner of a heads up display.
[0185] One purpose of the alignment boxes is to make it very easy
for a player to know how to align his camera. Another purpose of
the alignment boxes is to ensure that other data (such as meter
values) will also be captured for hacker detection or player
tracking purposes. In this manner, the alignment boxes are sized
dependent upon the individual game and are small enough to ensure
the data around the reels is also captured. Notably, the "three
alignment box" example shown in FIGS. 28A-28C is a single,
non-limiting example. In other embodiments, one large box
encompassing all three reels may be used. In still another
embodiment, a cross hair graphic may be utilized that is aligned
with the center of the middle reel.
[0186] In another aspect of the gaming system, the Image Encoder
module in the smart phone application encodes the image for
transmission to the Image Analysis Module. Since the link between
the Image Analysis module and the mobile phone is over a public
data network such as the internet (in some embodiments), it is
important that all communication is encrypted. Furthermore, public
key encryption may be used, with server applications only
permitting the connection from phones that can prove to be
authorized to participate in the bonus system by means of a digital
signature. To prevent hacking, it is preferred that the smart phone
application platform be relatively secure, with the application
only being distributed through authorized channels such as the
smart phone manufacturer's Application store or the gaming machines
manufacturer's website. In some embodiments of the gaming system,
encryption keys and methods are periodically updated to make it
more difficult for a hacker to insert their own images into the
system. Along with the fraud detection methods disclosed above,
these hacker prevention modules are configured to make the risk of
significant loss very low.
[0187] An alternative for players who do not have access to a smart
phone is that casinos or bars may be supplied with phones capable
of running the mobile phone application. In the event of a
qualifying win, the player calls for assistance and has an
attendant or bartender perform the photo verification process.
[0188] In some embodiments of the disclosed gaming system, players
may use their smart phone to take a photo of the machine and obtain
access to the following capabilities: (a) Tournament across venues
(e.g., each player signs in, time limited, and the like); (b) take
photo of a game (or barcode) to download a mobile application
version of the game; (c) obtain a free copy of the mobile game for
winning some trivial amount (which ensures players play a game a
minimum amount of time); and (d) take a photo of the game to see
what gaming machine manufacturer offers are available.
[0189] Some preferred implementations of the disclosed embodiments
use (1) a smart phone for the client, (2) any suitable web server
for communication with the smart phone and registration of players,
and (3) OpenCV image analysis software. Additionally, some
embodiments provide features that include, by way of example only:
(1) alternative player tracking, bonusing, and a marketing method
for gaming manufacturers, (2) the capabilities to work with
existing games without requiring any modification, and (3)
leveraging existing smart mobile phone infrastructure. In other
aspects, some embodiments provide: (1) detection of a win by image
analysis, without any access to game code; (2) detection of
fraudulent entries by analysis of symbols displayed, meters on the
screen, location and time of image taken; (3) capture of multiple
images to prevent fraud and also more accurately detect wins; (4)
alternative method of determining player value (e.g., using win
amounts instead of using coin in); (5) enabling the addition of
ad-hoc tournaments to existing games; and (6) enabling the targeted
marketing of new games for valuable players.
[0190] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various
modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention
without following the example embodiments and applications
illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the
true spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
* * * * *