Systems and methods for determining an outcome of a game on a gaming device based on a factor other than a random number

• US 20030109300A1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a player input is used as a value for a variable in an algorithm of a gaming device. The algorithm, in turn, is used to generate a pseudorandom value. The pseudorandom value, in turn, is used to determine an outcome for a game of the gaming device. Accordingly, a player is allowed to influence the outcome of a game by providing an input. The input may comprise, for example, a numeric input, a biometric input, or a physical input. The latter two types of inputs may be converted to a numeric form before being used in the algorithm. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a player input comprises selection of an algorithm for use in generating a pseudorandom value to be used to determine an outcome for a game of a gaming device. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a player input comprises a player selection of a visual representation of a pseudorandom value to be used to determine an outcome for a game of a gaming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a player input;

inserting the player input as a value for a variable in an algorithm;

generating the numeric pseudorandom output using the algorithm, such that the numeric pseudorandom output is generated as a function of at least the player input; and

determining an outcome for a game of a gaming device based on the numeric pseudorandom output.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the player input to a numeric format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a player input comprises:

receiving a biometric measurement associated with a player; and

converting the biometric measurement to a numeric format.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a processor, and

a memory that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 1.

5. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

perform the method of claim 1.

6. A method comprising:

receiving a selection of one of a plurality of algorithms that a player of a gaming device desires to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device;

determining a random number that was generated using the algorithm selected by the player; and

determining an outcome for the game based on the random number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining a random number comprises:

generating a random number using the algorithm selected by the player.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining a random number comprises:

selecting, from a table of random numbers generated using the algorithm selected by the player, one of the random numbers stored in the table.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of receiving a selection of an algorithm comprises:

receiving a selection of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device; and

determining an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining an algorithm comprises:

generating an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining an algorithm comprises:

selecting, from a plurality of available algorithms, an algorithm that includes the selected at least one function.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of receiving a selection of at least one function comprises:

receiving a selection of a representation of at least one function that a player of a gaming device desires to be included in an algorithm to be used to determine a random number for a game of the gaming device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

outputting a plurality of representations, each representation corresponding to one function available for inclusion in an algorithm.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of receiving a selection of at least one function comprises:

receiving a player input, wherein the player input comprises at least one of a biometric input, a physical measurement, and a numeric input; and

determining which of a plurality of functions available for inclusion in an algorithm the player input corresponds to.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

converting the player input to a predetermined format.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor, and

a memory that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 6.

17. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

perform the method of claim 6.

18. A method comprising:

outputting, on a gaming device, a plurality of representations, each representation corresponding to a respective random number;

receiving a selection, by a player of the gaming device, of one of the representations; and

determining an outcome for a game of the gaming device based on the random number corresponding to the selected representation.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating each of the random numbers corresponding to the plurality of representations.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

retrieving, from a memory, each of the random numbers and the corresponding representations.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of outputting comprises:

displaying, on a display of a gaming device, a plurality of visual representations, each visual representation corresponding to a respective random number.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of displaying comprises:

displaying, in a continuous stream on a display of the gaming device, each of a plurality of visual representations in succession, each visual representation corresponding to a respective random number.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a processor, and

a memory that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 18.

24. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

perform the method of claim 18.

25. A method comprising:

determining a random number;

determining an outcome for a game of a gaming device that corresponds to the random number;

determining a player input;

adjusting the outcome based on the player input; and

displaying the adjusted outcome as the result of the game on the gaming device.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

determining a rule based on the player input; and

wherein the step of adjusting the outcome comprises;

adjusting the outcome based on the rule.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

converting the player input to a numeric format.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of adjusting comprises:

changing at least one of a plurality of symbols comprising the outcome from a first symbol to a second symbol.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a processor, and

a memory that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 25.

30. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

perform the method of claim 25.