Method and apparatus for placement of a product or service in a gaming system

• US 20060009284A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Richard T., Lichtman, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• 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

Abstract

There is described herein methods and apparatuses for the placement of offerings in gaming systems, wherein such is paid for by the purveyors of the placed offering. For example, according to one example embodiment of a method according to the inventive subject matter illustrated herein, a gaming system manufacturer enters into a placement agreement with a provider of a product, service, or message (generally sometimes referred to herein as a “placement”), wherein the agreement calls for the provider to pay the gaming system manufacturer for the placement in the game. The manufacturer produces the gaming system including a desired offering or message. For example, this may be at least in part a trademark owned by a provider of an offering. The gaming system with the placement is provided to a casino for play by gambling customers. Gambling customers or others in turn play the gaming system and view the product placement. According to another example embodiment, the placement may be a trademark, logo, other visual element, a phrase, a tactile sensation such as a vibration, or a musical or other audio element, such as a product jingle or chime. According to another example embodiment, the method provides for dynamically introducing the placement into the gaming system, such as by dynamically programming the machine to display the placement at a desired time, for example at a particular time of year that coincides with a seasonal product, or at a particular time of day that coincides with the time of day an offering or message may be most desirable to present. Systems for establishing and tracking and controlling placements are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

producing a gaming system by a producer that is based on a game design, wherein the game design includes a plurality of design elements and at least some of the design elements are generic elements of a particular type;

offering to place a product or service on a gaming system on which the game design is used, wherein the offer is to use a branded element in place of a selected one of the generic elements of the game design, and further wherein the offer is made on behalf of the producer of the gaming system;

placing a branded element in the game in place of the selected one of the generic elements on the gaming system, wherein the branded element is of the same type as the generic element; and

compensating the producer of the gaming system for the placement of the branded element in the gaming system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a fruit or vegetable.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a can of fruit or a can of vegetables.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a meat product.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a delivery service.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a canned or bottled beverage.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a jewelry item.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises an automobile.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the generic element comprises a consumer product.

10. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the producer of the gaming system is a manufacturer of the gaming system.

11. A method according to claim 1 further including the producer of the gaming system authorizing distribution of the gaming system to a customer.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the offer is made by an employee of the producer.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the offer is made by an agent of the producer.

14. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game design includes one or more elements selected from the group of:

visual, audio, tactile, thematic, plot, character, behavioral, or object elements.

15. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game design includes a theme for the entire game, or for a sub-part of the game.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the theme is derived from one of the group of:

a television show, a movie, a comic book story, or a board game.

17. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game includes a plot element including a plot line that runs through all or part of the game design.

18. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game includes a plot with a character.

19. A method according to claim 18 further wherein the character uses a product or service that is depicted with a branded element.

20. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game design includes a branded element that is used on a cabinet for the gaming system.

21. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game design includes an attract mode.

22. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the game includes a play sequence involving a plurality of generic elements.

23. A method comprising:

producing a gaming system by a producer that is based on a game design;

offering to place a product or service on a gaming system on which the game is played, wherein the offer is to place an advertisement in the game or on the gaming system, wherein the offer is made on behalf of the producer;

placing an advertisement in the game or on the gaming system; and

compensating the producer of the gaming system for the placement of the advertisement.

24. A method according to claim 23 further wherein the producer of the gaming system is a manufacturer of the gaming system.

25. A method according to claim 23 further including the producer of the gaming system authorizing the distribution of the gaming system to a customer.

26. A method according to claim 23 wherein the offer is made by an employee of the producer.

27. A method according to claim 23 wherein the offer is made by an agent of the producer.

28. A method comprising:

producing a gaming system by a producer that is based on a game design;

offering to place a product or service on a gaming system on which the game is played, wherein the offer is to place an advertisement in the game or on the gaming system, wherein the offer is made on behalf of the producer;

placing an advertisement in the game or on the gaming system;

compensating the producer of the gaming system for the placement of the advertisement; and

offering a player of the game a reward if the branded element is displayed to the player one or more times during the play of the game.

29. A method comprising:

producing a gaming system by a producer that is based on a game design, wherein the game design includes a plurality of design elements and at least some of the design elements are generic elements;

offering to place a product or service on a gaming system on which the game design is used, wherein the offer is to use a branded element in place of selected one of the generic elements of the game design, and further wherein the offer is made on behalf of the producer of the gaming system;

placing a branded element in the game in place of the selected one of the generic elements on the gaming system;

compensating the producer of the gaming system for the placement of the branded element in the gaming system; and

offering a player of the gaming system a reward if the branded element is displayed to the player one or more times during play of the gaming system.