Method and system for time gaming with skill wagering opportunities

• US 20090131158A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Cyberview Technology, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: BRUNET DE COURSSOU, Thierry, Popovich, Alexander, Singer, Adam, Filipour, Cameron Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,514,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A regulated skill-based game includes a plurality of reward generating assets configured such that successful player interactions therewith increase the player'"'"'s score and give rise to wagers whose outcomes are randomly determined. The amount of the wager may be a function of a time elapsed since the last wager was placed. The regulated game may be configured such that a predetermined duration of game play time thereon is purchased for a predetermined amount of money. A first portion of the predetermined amount of money funds the wagers and a second portion thereof funds a progressive jackpot to be awarded to a player having earned the highest score that is not been exceeded after a predetermined point in time. The regulated game is further configured to award credits when the randomly determined outcome is a reward generating outcome. Both the score of the skill-based game and awarded credits may be shown onscreen.

Claims

1. A method of determining rewards due to a player playing a regulated gaming machine, comprising the steps of:

providing, in the regulated gaming machine, an arcade-type or console-type game, modified such that player interaction with selected ones of a plurality of assets within the game give rise to wagering opportunities;

accepting funds from a player of the regulated gaming machine and using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to purchase a game play contract, the game play contract enabling the player to play the game, for a duration that is a function of the second portion of the funds, and with an initial credit balance;

keeping score during game play of the game and updating the score whenever the player interacts with the assets within the game for the duration;

initiating a wager whenever the player successfully interacts with any of the selected assets within the game;

randomly determining an outcome of the wager, an amount of the wager being a function of a time elapsed since a last wager was placed and updating the credit balance depending upon the outcome of the wager;

when the predetermined duration is over, determining whether the updated score matches or exceeds a pre-stored high score, and, if so, establishing the updated score as the new high score, and

at or after the predetermined point in time, awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player'"'"'s updated score was established as the high score and has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time.

2. The method of claim 1, further including a recognition step in which at least the player having earned the high score is recognized.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step is carried out with the duration being visually represented to the player as an onscreen timer meter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of providing the credit balance onscreen as a credit meter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of visually presenting the wagers to the player using a last win meter to show a win size of the most recent wager and a total win meter to show cumulative credits won during the duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the accepting step is carried out with the predetermined period of time being one of hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step is carried out with the console-type or arcade-type of game is one of a pinball game, an automobile racing game, a 2D horizontal scrolling game, a first person shooter and a 3D maze game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step is carried out with the console-type or arcade-type of game being an outer-space themed game in which the player attempts to destroy spacecrafts or aliens.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing a jackpot redemption ticket to the player when the player'"'"'s updated score is established as the high score after the duration.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising rewarding the player with at least a portion of the progressive jackpot if the player'"'"'s high score is not exceeded by the predetermined point in time.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of reading the jackpot redemption ticket by one of the regulated gaming machine and a gaming kiosk to determine whether a holder jackpot redemption ticket should be awarded at least a portion of the progressive jackpot.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of accepting input in a website from the player, the input corresponding to information printed on the jackpot redemption ticket, the website being configured to inform the player, based upon the provided input, whether the player has won at least a portion of the progressive jackpot.

13. A method of providing a game for a regulated gaming machine, comprising the steps of:

providing an existing console-type game or arcade-type game, the provided game being configured to keep and update a score during game play thereof and including a plurality of assets appearing onscreen during game play;

modifying the provided game such that;

a session of the provided game is initiated on the gaming machine by a player purchasing playing time with funds, an amount of playing time and an amount of credits being a function of an amount of the funds;

interaction by the player with at least one of the plurality of assets appearing onscreen during the game session places a wager whenever the score increases, an amount of the wager being a function of a time elapsed since a last wager was placed;

an outcome of the wager is determined randomly;

a percentage of the player'"'"'s funds is used to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time;

when the playing time is over, the game determines if the updated score matches or exceeds a pre-stored high score, and, if so, the game establishes the updated score as a new high score, and

at or after the predetermined point in time, the game awards at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player'"'"'s updated score was established as the high score and has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time, and

loading the modified game into the regulated gaming machine.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying step further modifies the provided game such that a clock meter appears onscreen to visually represent a remaining amount of playing time.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying step further modifies the provided game such that a credit meter appears onscreen to visually represent the player'"'"'s credit balance.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying step is carried out such that a last win meter appears onscreen to visually represent a win size of a most recent wager and such that a total win meter appears onscreen to visually represent cumulative credits won.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying step is carried out such that jackpot redemption tickets are issued to players whose score equals or exceeds a current high score.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of configuring the regulated gaming machine to read the jackpot redemption tickets, to inform players if their high score has been subsequently exceeded and to pay players if their high score has not been exceeded and the predetermined point in time has passed.

19. A method, comprising:

providing a regulated gaming machine;

providing a console-type or arcade-type game that includes a plurality of assets configured for player interaction, the game being configured to keep score during game play thereof,

configuring the game to run on the regulated gaming machine and to require a purchase of a game play contract for a predetermined amount of money;

using a portion of the predetermined amount of money to fund a progressive jackpot that is awarded at or after a predetermined point in time and using a remaining portion of the predetermined amount of money to enable game play on the game for a predetermined duration;

configuring selected ones of the plurality of assets such that player interaction therewith during game play gives rise to a wager, an outcome of which is determined randomly and awarding credits when the randomly determined outcome is a reward generating outcome;

tracking and updating the score during game play and awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to a player whose updated score at the end of the predetermined duration is a highest score that has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the asset configuring step is carried out such that an amount of the wager is a function of a time elapsed since a last wager was placed.

21. A regulated game, comprising a plurality of reward generating assets configured such that successful player interactions therewith increase a score and give rise to wagers whose outcomes are determined randomly, an amount of the wager being a function of a time elapsed since a last wager was placed, the regulated game being configured such that a predetermined duration of game play time thereon is purchased for a predetermined amount of money, a first portion thereof funding the wagers and a second portion thereof funding a progressive jackpot to be awarded to a player having earned a highest score that has not been exceeded by a predetermined point in time, the regulated game being further configured to award credits when the randomly determined outcome is a reward generating outcome and to show both the score and awarded credits.

22. The regulated game of claim 21, wherein the game is configured such that players having a higher level of skill will, on average, interact successfully with the plurality of assets more frequently than comparatively less skilled players and earn a higher score.