Methods and apparatus for reviewing game play of a flat rate play session

• US 20060046835A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US11/273,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

At least one embodiment of the present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre established duration that may span, for example, a predetermined period of time or a period of time that ends upon the occurrence of a predetermined number of game plays or handle pulls, or upon the occurrence of another event. In one or more embodiments, a player may review one or more game plays of the flat rate play session. In some embodiments, a player may review a plurality of plays that were automatically generated for the flat rate play session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a contract with a player for a session to include at least two plays of a gaming device;

before generating any outcomes for the session, determining that the player paid for the contract;

generating a first outcome for the session;

storing an indication of the first outcome;

generating a second outcome for the session;

storing an indication of the second outcome;

receiving an indication of a request by the player to review at least one outcome generated for the session; and

after receiving the indication of the request, transmitting information about the first outcome to the player.

2. A method comprising:

in accordance with a contract for a session of flat rate play, executing at least two game play cycles in a gaming device;

after the executing, receiving a request by a player to review the at least two game play cycles; and

replaying the at least two game play cycles for the player.

3. The method of claim 2, in which at least one of the at least two game play cycles is performed during an automated play mode of the gaming device.

4. The method of claim 2, in which at least one of the at least two game play cycles is performed automatically by the gaming device.

5. The method of claim 2, in which execution of at least one of the at least two game play cycles is manually initiated by the player.

6. The method of claim 2, in which receiving the request comprises selection by the player of a review mode of the gaming device.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the review mode of the gaming device includes one or more of a play function, a rewind function, a fast forward function, or a pause function.

8. A method comprising:

activating automated play for a gaming session associated with a contract for a plurality of game plays;

automatically generating a plurality of game plays for the session;

storing information about the plurality of game plays;

receiving an indication of a request by the player to view at least one game play of the plurality of game plays automatically generated for the session; and

after receiving the indication of the request, transmitting information about at least one game play to the player.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the stored information includes a respective outcome of each game play.

10. The method of claim 8, in which the stored information includes a respective payout amount for each game play.

11. The method of claim 8, in which the stored information includes a respective timestamp associated with each game play.

12. The method of claim 8, in which receiving the indication comprises receiving a signal from an input device of the gaming device.

13. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises outputting the information via a display device of the gaming device.

14. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises outputting the information via a player device.

15. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises recreating the at least one game play at the game device.

16. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises replaying the at least one game play.

17. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises transmitting a visual representation of the at least one game play.

18. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises transmitting a representation of a hand of cards dealt in a first game play.

19. The method of claim 18, in which transmitting information comprises transmitting a representation of a first card drawn to the dealt hand.

20. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises transmitting a representation of a final hand of cards.

21. The method of claim 8, in which transmitting information comprises transmitting a representation of an outcome of a slot machine spin.