Return-driven casino game outcome generator

• US 20090061991A1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Cyberview Technology, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Popovich, Alexander, Singer, Adam, Filipour, Cameron Anthony, Brunet De Courssou, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,321 B2
• 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 17/3262 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 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

The Return Driven Casino Game Outcome Generator (RDOG) makes the first true class of casino video game possible by creating games that measure and reward skills like fast reflexes and manual dexterity while earning consistent and reliable profits for game operators. In RDOG, a method of determining a reward due to a player of a regulated game may include steps of enabling the player to interact with one or more reward generating assets within the regulated game; measuring a level of skill of the player in interacting with the reward generating assets, and determining the reward due to the player for each successful interaction with the reward generating assets, the reward being determined according to the measured skill level, a random number and the time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the reward generating assets.

Claims

1. A method of determining a reward due to a player of a regulated game, comprising the steps of:

enabling the player to interact with at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game;

measuring a level of skill of the player in interacting with the at least one reward generating asset, and

determining the reward due to the player for each successful interaction with the at least one reward generating asset, the reward being determined according to the measured skill level, a random number and a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step is carried out with the reward being comparatively smaller on average when the time elapsed is smaller than when the time elapsed is larger.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step is carried out with the measured skill level determining an average return to player (RTP) percentage of the regulated game.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining step is carried out with higher measured skill levels being associated with comparatively higher average return to player (RTP) percentages than lower measured skill levels.

5. The method of claim 1, further including steps of:

selling to the player a contract of play time of a predetermined duration in the regulated game for a predetermined cost, and wherein at least the enabling and determining steps are carried out as long as the predetermined duration has not elapsed.

6. The method of claim 5, further including a step of computing a cost per unit of time of the contract by dividing the cost of the contract by the duration of the contract.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining step is carried out with the reward due to the player for each successful interaction with the at least one reward generating asset also being determined according to the cost per unit of time of the contract.

8. A regulated gaming machine, comprising:

a display;

a source of random numbers;

at least one reward generating asset shown on the display, the at least one reward generating asset being configured to enable a player of the regulated gaming machine to interact therewith,

wherein the regulated gaming machine is configured to measure a level of skill of the player in interacting with the at least one reward generating asset, the regulated gaming being further configured to determine the reward due to the player for each successful interaction with the at least one reward generating asset, the reward being determined according to the measured skill level, a random number obtained from the source of random numbers and a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset.

9. The regulated gaming machine of claim 8, further configured such that the reward is comparatively smaller on average when the time elapsed is smaller than when the time elapsed is larger.

10. The regulated gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the measured skill level determines an average return to player (RTP) percentage of the regulated gaming machine.

11. The regulated gaming machine of claim 10, wherein higher measured skill levels are associated with comparatively higher average return to player (RTP) percentages than lower measured skill levels.

12. The regulated gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the regulated gaming machine is further configured to sell to the player a contract of play time of a predetermined duration for a predetermined cost, and wherein at least the enabling and determining steps are carried out as long as the predetermined duration has not elapsed.

13. The regulated gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the regulated gaming machine is further configured to compute a cost per unit of time of the contract by dividing the cost of the contract by the duration of the contract.

14. The regulated gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the regulated gaming machine is further configured to also determine the reward due to the player for each successful interaction with the at least one reward generating asset according to the cost per unit of time of the contract.

15. A regulated multi-level game of chance, comprising:

a source of random numbers;

a first game level, the first game level including a plurality of first reward generating assets, a successful interaction with any one of the first reward generating assets generating a first reward, the first reward being dependent upon a first random number obtained from the source of random numbers and a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the first reward generating assets, and

a second game level, the second game level including a plurality of second reward generating assets, a successful interaction with any one of the second reward generating assets generating a second reward, the second reward being dependent upon a second random number obtained from the source of random numbers and a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the second reward generating assets, wherein a second average return to player (RTP) percentage of the second level is comparatively higher than a first average RTP percentage of the first level.

16. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, wherein the game is configured to determine a level of skill of a player of the game in the first game level, and wherein the game is further configured to allow the player to play the second level only when the determined level of skill reaches a predetermined threshold.

17. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, further comprising successively higher numbered game levels, each having with progressively higher average return to player (RTP) percentages, and each accessible to the player upon being determined to have reached progressively higher levels of skill.

18. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, wherein the regulated game is configured as a first person shooter.

19. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, wherein the game levels include a scripted narrative.

20. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, wherein the first reward generating assets of the first game level are configured to return, on average, lower rewards upon successful player interaction therewith than are returned upon successful player interaction with the second reward generating assets of the second game level.

21. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, further comprising a first reward table associated with the first reward generating assets, the first reward table including a first reward multiplier probability distribution and a corresponding range of first reward multipliers, the first reward generating assets being configured such that, upon successful player interaction therewith, the first random number is used as a first index into the first reward multiplier probability distribution to obtain a corresponding first reward multiplier within the range of first reward multipliers and wherein the first reward due is a product of the first reward multiplier and a first collision wager that is dependent upon the time elapsed since the last successful interaction with any of the first reward generating assets.

22. The regulated game of chance of claim 15, further comprising a second reward table associated with the second reward generating assets, the second reward table including a second reward multiplier probability distribution and a corresponding range of second reward multipliers, the second reward generating assets being configured such that, upon successful player interaction therewith, the second random number is used as a second index into the second reward multiplier probability distribution to obtain a corresponding second reward multiplier within the range of second reward multipliers and wherein the second reward due is a product of the second reward multiplier and a second collision wager that is dependent upon the time elapsed since the last successful interaction with any of the second reward generating assets.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the regulated game as a first person shooter.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the regulated game as a scripted narrative.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising configuring the first reward generating assets of the first level to return, on average, lower rewards upon successful player interaction therewith than are returned upon successful player interaction with the second reward generating assets of the second game level.

29. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a first reward table associated with the first reward generating assets, the first reward table including a first reward multiplier probability distribution and a corresponding range of first reward multipliers and,

upon a successful player interaction with any one of the first reward generating assets;

using the first random number as a first index into the first reward multiplier probability distribution to obtain a corresponding first reward multiplier within the range of first reward multipliers, and

calculating the first reward due as a product of the first reward multiplier and a first collision wager that is dependent upon the time elapsed since the last successful interaction with any of the first reward generating assets.

30. The method of claim 15, further comprising

providing a second reward table associated with the second reward generating assets, the second reward table including a second reward multiplier probability distribution and a corresponding range of second reward multipliers and,

upon a successful player interaction with any one of the second reward generating assets:

using the second random number as a second index into the second reward multiplier probability distribution to obtain a corresponding second reward multiplier within the range of second reward multipliers, and

calculating the second reward due as a product of the second reward multiplier and a second collision wager that is dependent upon the time elapsed since the last successful interaction with any of the second reward generating assets.

23. A regulated gaming method, comprising:

providing a source of random numbers;

providing a first level of a regulated game, the first level including a plurality of first reward generating assets;

setting a first average return to player (RTP) percentage for the provided first level;

generating a first reward upon a successful player interaction with any one of the first reward generating assets generating a first reward, the first reward being dependent upon the first average RTP percentage, a first random number obtained from the source of random numbers and a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the first reward generating assets;

providing a second level of the regulated game, the second game level including a plurality of second reward generating assets;

setting a second average RTP percentage for the provided second level, the second average RTP being comparatively higher than the first average RTP percentage, and

generating a second reward upon a successful player interaction with any one of the second reward generating assets, the second reward being dependent upon the second average RTP percentage, a second random number obtained from the source of random numbers and a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the second reward generating assets.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining a level of skill of a player in the first level of the regulated game, and

enabling the player to play the second level of the regulated game only when the determined level of skill reaches a predetermined threshold.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising steps of providing successively higher numbered levels of the regulated game, each having with progressively higher average return to player (RTP) percentages, and each accessible to the player upon being determined to have reached progressively higher levels of skill.