GAMING DEVICE HAVING SKILL/PERCEIVED SKILL GAME

• US 20070129133A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Bansemer, Mark, Hughs-Baird, Andrea, Baerlocher, Anthony, Nolz, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,846,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/142 with pay-out or rewarding with a prize
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/38 Ball games; Shooting apparatus

Abstract

A gaming device, wherein a player'"'"'s skill at an action or event determines the player'"'"'s success or failure in the round. The game is readily adaptable to becoming a pseudo-skill game that would be required in most gaming jurisdictions. In one pseudo-skill embodiment, the skill game is converted to a game employing skill, but which is controlled by a set number of successful outcomes. That is, the player keeps playing until the player'"'"'s skill produces the set number of successful outcomes. In another pseudo-skill embodiment, the game only appears to the player as involving skill. Instead, the gaming device randomly determines when and how many times to produce a successful outcome and increase the player'"'"'s award.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the at least one processor;

a number of successful outcomes in the game, said number being at least two;

a plurality of awards in the game; and

at least one display device;

said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device to;

(a) display a plurality of sequential attempts at a skill event, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of at least one player input device, and

(b) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the skill event;

(i) sequentially display if said attempt is successful based on how or when the at least one player input device is activated, and

(ii) if said attempt is successful, display one of the awards to be provided to a player,

wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the awards are different.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one determination in the game is based on a communication received from at least one remote network server.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor includes a remote network server.

8. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the at least one processor;

a number of successful outcomes in the game, said number being at least two;

a skill event in the game;

a plurality of awards; and

at least one display device;

said at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device to;

(a) display an attempt at the skill event, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of at least one player input device,

(b) display if said attempt is successful based on how or when the at least one player input device is activated,

(c) if said attempt is successful, display one of the awards to be provided to a player, and

(d) sequentially repeat (a) to (c) until said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

9. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein at least two of the awards are different.

10. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the number of awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

11. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

12. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

13. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein at least one determination in the game is based on a communication received from at least one remote network server.

14. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor includes a remote network server.

15. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of successful outcomes being at least two, and a plurality of awards;

(b) displaying a plurality of sequential attempts at a skill event, wherein each attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of at least one player input device; and

(c) for each of the plurality of sequential attempts at the skill event

(i) sequentially displaying if said attempt is successful based on how or when the at least one player input device is activated, and

(ii) if said attempt is successful, displaying one of the awards to be provided to a player, wherein said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least two of the awards are different.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the number of awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

20. The method of claim 15, which is provided through a data network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the data network is an internet.

22. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game including a number of successful outcomes, said number being at least two, a skill event, and plurality of awards;

(b) displaying an attempt at the skill event, wherein the attempt includes a display resulting from an activation of at least one player input device;

(c) displaying if said attempt is successful based on how or when the at least one player input device is activated;

(d) if said attempt is successful, displaying one of the awards to be provided to a player; and

(e) repeating (b) to (d) until said plurality of successful attempts at the skill event is at least is equal to the number of successful outcomes in the game.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least two of the awards are different.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the number of awards is greater than the number of successful outcomes.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the number of successful outcomes is randomly determined.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the number of successful outcomes is predetermined.

27. The method of claim 22, which is provided through a data network.

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