FINANCIAL TRADING GAME

• US 20060205501A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Eloff, Andrew, Jarvis, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A game and in particular an electronic game that simulates trading securities on an exchange. The game is preferably played as a video gaming machine for gambling purposes. A computing device is provided having, among other things, a video screen display on which a line chart is displayed. The computing device also includes a selection device, which provides a means by which the player interacts with the computing device to “buy” or “sell”. The line chart includes a vertical axis that corresponds to the value or price of one or more securities, and a horizontal axis that corresponds to time. A segmented line is plotted on the line chart during a round of play. A random number generator randomly determines the vertical axis value for each point plotted along the segmented line.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager by a player;

an input device in communication with the processor;

a display device controlled by the processor; and

a graph in the game and displayable by the display device, said graph including values on a first index and an indication of time on a second index;

wherein said processor is programmed to operate with the display device and the input device to;

(a) cause the display of an icon on the graph;

(b) cause the display of a first value plotted on the graph;

(c) cause the display of at least one other randomly determined value on the graph;

(d) cause the display of a line which interests the values plotted on the graph;

(e) initiate an event if the line intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(f) provide the player an outcome based on the values plotted on the graph.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the display of the icon before the display of the first value plotted on the graph.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the display of the first value plotted on graph before the display of the icon.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the values include a buy value and a sell value.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the outcome provided to the player is additionally based on the difference between the buy value and sell value.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome provided to the player is the difference between the first displayed value and another displayed value.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome is also based on a commission deducted from one of the displayed values.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome is also based on a commission added to the first displayed value.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the wager placed by the player equals the first displayed value.

10. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game which includes an item that is associated with a plurality of different values;

a display device controlled by the processor; and

a graph displayable by the display device, said graph having a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, wherein the vertical axis corresponds to the different values associated with said item and the horizontal axis corresponds to an indication of time;

wherein the processor is programmed to;

(a) cause the display of at least one icon on the graph;

(b) randomly generate one of the values associated with the item;

(c) cause the display of said value plotted on said graph;

(d) initiate an event if the one of the displayed values intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(e) repeat (b) to (d) until a termination event occurs; and

(f) when said termination event occurs, provide the player with an outcome based on at least two of the values displayed on the graph.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein at least two of the displayed values are the same.

12. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the outcome is also based on a designated house commission.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the event includes a value added to any displayed value that intersects the icon.

14. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the event includes a value subtracted from any displayed value that intersects the icon.

15. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the event includes an initiation of at least one bonus game.

16. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the termination event is an expiration of time.

17. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the termination event is an input by the player.

18. A method of operating a gaming device including a game operable upon a wager by a player and a graph in the game which includes value on a first index and an indication of time on a second index, said method comprising:

(a) displaying of an icon on the graph;

(b) displaying a first value plotted on the graph;

(c) displaying at least one other value on the graph;

(d) displaying a line which interests the values plotted on the graph;

(e) initiating an event if the line intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(f) providing the player an outcome based on the values plotted on the graph.

19. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying the icon before the display of the first value plotted on the graph.

20. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying the first value plotted on the graph before the display of the icon.

21. The method of claim 18, which includes a buy value and a sell value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the outcome provided to the player is additionally based on the difference between the buy value and the sell value.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the outcome provided to the player is the difference between the first displayed value and another displayed value.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the outcome is also based on a commission deducted from one of the displayed values.

25. The method of claim 18, the outcome is also based on a commission add to the first displayed value.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the wager placed by the player equals the first displayed value.

27. The method of claim 18, which is provided through a data network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is an internet.

29. A method of operating a gaming device including a game which includes an item that is associated with a plurality of different values and a graph having a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, wherein the vertical axis corresponds to the different values associated with said item and the horizontal axis corresponds to an indication of time, said method comprising:

(a) displaying at least one icon on the graph;

(b) randomly generating one of the values associated with the item;

(c) displaying said value by plotting said value on said graph;

(d) initiating an event if the one of the displayed values intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(e) repeat (b) to (d) until a termination event occurs; and

(f) when said termination event occurs, provide the player with an outcome based on at least two of the values displayed on the graph.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least two of the displayed values are the same.

31. The method of claim 29, which includes reducing at least one of the displayed values by a predetermined value.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the event includes adding a value to any displayed value that intersects the icon.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the event includes subtracting a value subtracted from any displayed value that intersects the icon.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the event includes initiating of at least one bonus game.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the termination event is an expiration of time.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the termination event is an input by the player.

37. The method of claim 29, which is provided through a data network.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the data network is an internet.