Apparatus and method for player interaction

• US 20040063486A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mead, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The controller is programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a first video image to be generated on the display unit, the first video image representing a first video game, to determine a game event associated with the first video game, to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on the display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, to animate the second video image, to receive a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image, to stop animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input, and to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, said first video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,

said controller being programmed to determine a game event associated with the first video game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game,

said controller being programmed to animate the second video image,

said controller being programmed to receive a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image,

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input, and

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

2. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

said controller being programmed to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

3. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

4. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to receive a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

5. The gaming apparatus according to claim 4, comprising:

said controller being programmed to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

said controller being programmed to sense removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

6. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

7. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed;

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

8. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

said controller being programmed to initiate animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

9. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

10. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 1, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

11. A gaming system as defined in claim 10, wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.

12. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager;

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image to be generated on said display unit on said display unit, said first video image representing a first video game,

said controller being programmed to determine a game event associated with the first video game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game,

said controller being programmed to animate the second video image,

said controller being programmed to receive a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image,

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input, and

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

13. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

said controller being programmed to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

14. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

15. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to receive a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

16. The gaming apparatus according to claim 15, comprising:

said controller being programmed to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

said controller being programmed to sense removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

17. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

18. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed;

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

19. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

said controller being programmed to initiate animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

20. The gaming apparatus according to claim 12, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

21. A gaming system, comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 12, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

22. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a payline selection,

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image to be generated on said display unit, said first video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols,

said controller being programmed to determine a game event associated with the slots game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the slots game,

said controller being programmed to animate the second video image,

said controller being programmed to receive a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image,

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input, and

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

23. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the slots game.

24. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a slots game outcome associated with the slots game; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the slots game outcome associated with the slots game.

25. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to receive a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

26. The gaming apparatus according to claim 25, comprising:

said controller being programmed to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

said controller being programmed to sense removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

27. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

28. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed;

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

29. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

said controller being programmed to initiate animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

30. The gaming apparatus according to claim 22, comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

31. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said controller is programmed to allow a user to select a number of paylines.

32. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 22, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

33. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

causing a first video image representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno, and

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo; and

determining a game event associated with the first video game;

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game;

animating the second video image;

receiving a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image;

stopping animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input; and

determining a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

34. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

causing a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

determining that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

35. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

determining a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

36. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

receiving a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

37. The gaming method according to claim 36, comprising:

sensing application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

sensing removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

38. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

sensing application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

39. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed;

stopping animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

40. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

initiating animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

41. The gaming method according to claim 33, comprising:

determining a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

42. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

causing a first video image representing a first video game to be generated;

determining a game event associated with the first video game;

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the game event associated with the first video game;

animating the second video image;

receiving a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image;

stopping animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input; and

determining a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

43. The gaming method according to claim 42, comprising:

causing a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

determining that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

44. The gaming method according to claim 42, comprising:

determining a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

45. The gaming method according to claim 42, comprising:

receiving a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

46. The gaming method according to claim 45, comprising:

sensing application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

sensing removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

47. The gaming method according to claim 45, comprising:

sensing application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

48. The gaming method according to claim 45, comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed;

stopping animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

49. The gaming method according to claim 45, comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

initiating animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

50. The gaming method according to claim 45, comprising:

determining a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

51. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

receiving a wager;

receiving a payline selection,

causing a first video image representing a first video game to be generated, said video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols,

determining a game event associated with the first video game;

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the game event associated with the first video game;

animating the second video image;

receiving a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image;

stopping animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input; and

determining a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

52. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

causing a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

determining that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

53. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

determining a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

54. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

receiving a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

55. The gaming method according to claim 54, comprising:

sensing application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

sensing removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

56. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

sensing application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

57. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed;

stopping animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

58. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

initiating animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

59. The gaming method according to claim 51, comprising:

determining a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

60. A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to allow a person to make a wager;

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on a display unit, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo;

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine a game event associated with the first video game,

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game,

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to animate the second video image,

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to receive a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image,

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to stop animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input, and

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

61. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

62. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

63. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to receive a player input to initiate animation of the second video image.

64. The memory according to claim 63, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image; and

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to sense removal of a player'"'"'s finger from a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

65. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to sense application of a player'"'"'s finger to a touch-sensitive device to stop animation of the second video image.

66. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine if a unit of time has elapsed;

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to stop animation of the second video image if the unit of time has elapsed.

67. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to initiate animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

68. The memory according to claim 60, comprising:

a memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to determine a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.