Methods and apparatus for facilitating accelerated play of a flat rate play gaming session

• US 20060068903A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• 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:
  US11/273,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

According to some embodiments of the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided for expediting one or more plays of a flat rate play session at a gaming device. In some embodiments, any remaining plays of a session may be determined in an expedited or substantially instantaneous manner. In some embodiments, a player may select one or more options for how expedited plays are displayed at a gaming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing at least one play of a flat rate play session in accordance with a first rate of play; and

executing at least one play of the flat rate play session in accordance with a second rate of play that is different from the first rate of play.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to execute all remaining plays of the flat rate play session at the second rate of play.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to change from the first rate of play to the second rate of play.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of plays remaining for the flat rate play session.

5. The method of claim 4,

in which the flat rate play session is associated with a total number of plays for a flat rate price;

and

in which determining the number of plays remaining comprises;

determining a number of plays that have been executed for the flat rate play session.

6. The method of claim 4,

in which the flat rate play session is associated with a period of time for a flat rate price;

and

in which determining the number of plays remaining comprises;

determining a period of time remaining in the flat rate play session; and

determining the number of plays remaining based on the period of time remaining in the flat rate play session.

7. The method of claim 6, in which determining the number of plays remaining based on the period of time remaining in the flat rate play session comprises:

determining the number of plays remaining based on a predetermined number of plays per unit of time and the period of time remaining in the flat rate play session.

8. The method of claim 1, in which executing the at least one play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the second rate of play comprises:

generating a plurality of outcomes substantially simultaneously.

9. The method of claim 1, in which executing the at least one play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the second rate of play comprises:

decreasing an amount of delay between plays of the session.

10. The method of claim 1, in which executing the at least one play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the second rate of play comprises:

decreasing an amount of delay between outcomes of the session.

11. The method of claim 1, in which executing the at least one play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the second rate of play comprises:

decreasing a period of time for resolving plays of the session.

12. The method of claim 1, in which executing the at least one play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the second rate of play comprises:

decreasing a period of time for presenting final results of plays of the session.

13. A method comprising:

establishing a contract with a player for a session including at least two outcomes generated at a gaming device; and

allowing the player to select at least one of a plurality of options for simultaneous display of multiple results of the session.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

displaying an interface for selecting from the plurality of options for simultaneous display of multiple results.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a plurality of options for respective sizes of multiple displayed results.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a plurality of options for respective positions of multiple displayed results.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

allowing the player to select a number of results to be displayed simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection of an option for simultaneous display of multiple results; and

configuring display of multiple results of the session at the gaming device in accordance with the selected option.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

allowing the player to select a period of time taken to resolve results.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a player to execute automatically a plurality of plays of a prepaid gaming session;

receiving an indication of a selection by the player of a display option;

automatically generating the plurality of plays for the prepaid gaming session; and

outputting respective indications of the automatically generated plays based on the selected display option.