Gaming method and system with a hidden image game piece

• US 20060030394A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Crivelli, Franco, Paulsen, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A gaming method and system includes determining if at least one first trigger event has occurred, dispensing at least one game piece if the at least one trigger event has occurred, the at least one game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one concealing image disposed thereon, the at least one concealing image limiting the visibility of the at least one hidden image, determining if a second trigger event has occurred, receiving at least one identifier associated with the at least one game piece if the second trigger event has occurred, determining a payout according to the at least one identifier, and causing a display unit to generate a reveal pattern, the reveal pattern cooperating with the at least one concealing image of the at least one game piece to make the at least one hidden image visible if the second trigger event has occurred.

Claims

1. A gaming method for a gaming system, the gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

causing a display unit to generate an image representative of a game;

determining an outcome of the game represented by the image;

determining a payout according to the outcome of the game and the wager received;

determining if at least one first trigger event has occurred;

dispensing at least one game piece if the at least one first trigger event has occurred, the at least one game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one concealing image disposed thereon, the at least one concealing image limiting the visibility of the at least one hidden image;

determining if a second trigger event has occurred;

receiving at least one identifier associated with the at least one game piece if the second trigger event has occurred;

determining a payout according to the at least one identifier; and

causing a display unit to generate a reveal pattern, the reveal pattern cooperating with the at least one concealing image of the at least one game piece to make the at least one hidden image visible if the second trigger event has occurred.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a plurality of first trigger events have occurred; and

dispensing a plurality of game pieces if the plurality of first trigger events have occurred, at least one of the game pieces dispensed according to the occurrence of one of the plurality of the first trigger events, and each of the plurality of game pieces having at least one hidden image and at least one concealing image disposed thereon, the at least one concealing image limiting the visibility of the at least one hidden image.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of identifiers associated with the plurality of game pieces, each of the plurality of game pieces having at least one identifier associated therewith;

determining a payout according to each of the plurality of identifiers.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of identifiers associated with the plurality of game pieces, each of the plurality of game pieces having at least one identifier associated therewith;

determining a payout according to a group defined as less than all of the plurality of identifiers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the game pieces associated with the identifiers in the group have hidden images that collectively define at least one of an image and a phrase.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first trigger event comprises at least one of a game play event, a player tracking event, a time event and a promotional event.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the game play event is at least one of a particular combination of game elements, a particular series of combinations of game elements, a bonus round trigger event, and a progressive level trigger event.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the player tracking event is at least one of a card-in event, an elapsed gaming time, a number of coins in, a number of coins out, a rate of coins in and a rate of coins out.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the time event is at least one of a particular time of day, a particular day of a year, a predetermined time, and a randomly selected time.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the promotional event is at least one of an event to encourage use of underutilized machines and an event to encourage participation in a tournament.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reveal pattern comprises a colored light that cooperates with the concealing image to make the hidden image visible.

12. A gaming system comprising:

one or more display units;

a game piece dispenser capable of dispensing a game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one concealing image disposed thereon, the at least one concealing image limiting visibility of the at least one hidden image;

an identification input device; and

a controller operatively coupled to the one of the one or more display units, the game piece dispenser, and the identification input device,

the controller programmed to receive a wager;

the controller programmed to cause one of one or more display units to generate an image representative of a game;

the controller programmed to determine an outcome of the game represented by the image;

the controller programmed to determine a payout according to the outcome of the game and the wager received;

the controller programmed to determine if at least one first trigger event has occurred;

the controller programmed to cause the game piece dispenser to dispense at least one game piece if the at least one first trigger event has occurred;

the controller programmed to determine if a second trigger event has occurred;

the controller programmed to receive at least one identifier associated with at least one game piece via the identification input device if the second trigger event has occurred;

the controller programmed to determine a payout according to the at least one identifier; and

the controller programmed to cause one of one or more display units to generate a reveal pattern, the reveal pattern cooperating with at least one concealing image of the at least one game piece to make at least one hidden image visible if the second trigger event has occurred.

13. The gaming system according to claim 12, wherein the game piece dispenser comprises:

a printer capable of printing in a first color and a second color, the first color defining at least one hidden image on a substrate and the second color defining at least one concealing image on a substrate.

14. The gaming system according to claim 13, further comprising a game piece server,

the game piece server being programmed to determine whether a winning game piece or a non-winning game piece should be dispensed if the first trigger event occurs;

the game piece server being programmed to control the printer to fabricate a game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one identifier associated with a payout if the game piece server determines that a winning game piece should be dispensed; and

the game piece server being programmed to control the printer to fabricate a game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one identifier associated with no payout if the game piece server determines that a non-winning game piece should be dispensed.

15. The gaming system according to claim 13, further comprising a game piece server,

the game piece server being programmed to control the printer to fabricate a game piece having at least one hidden image, at least one concealing image disposed on the at least one hidden image and limiting the visibility of the at least one hidden image, and at least one identifier;

the game piece server being programmed to receive the at least one identifier from the controller;

the game piece server being programmed to determine if the at least one game piece associated with the at least one identifier is a winning game piece; and

the game piece server being programmed to provide an indication to the controller that the at least one game piece is a winning game piece.

16. The gaming system according to claim 15, wherein the game piece server is programmed to provide an indication to the controller of the payout associated with the at least one game piece if the at least one game piece is a winning game piece.

17. The gaming system according to claim 12, wherein the game piece dispenser comprises a hopper, the hopper capable of receiving a plurality of game pieces, each game piece having at least one hidden image and at least one concealing image disposed thereon, the at least one concealing image limiting the visibility of the at least one hidden image.

18. The gaming system according to claim 12, in combination with at least one game piece, the at least one game piece comprising:

at least one hidden image;

at least one concealing image disposed on the at least one hidden image, the at least one concealing image limiting the visibility of the at least one hidden image; and

at least one identifier.

19. The gaming system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one concealing image is disposed on the at least one identifier.

20. The gaming system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one game piece further comprises at least one security element.

21. The gaming machine according to claim 20, wherein the at least one security element is one of a bar code, a representation of biometric data associated with a player, and a radio frequency identification device.

22. The gaming system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one game piece includes a plurality of hidden images, the at least one concealing image limiting the visibility of the plurality of hidden images.

23. The gaming system according to claim 12, wherein the identification input device comprises at least one of a touch-sensitive display, a keyboard, a keypad, a ticket reader, a card reader, a bar code scanner, an optical scanner, a magnetic scanner, and a light sensor.