METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TIME GAMING WITH SKILL WAGERING OPPORTUNITIES

• US 20170084124A1
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Brunet De Courssou, Thierry, Filipour, Cameron Anthony, Singer, Adam, Popovich, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 10,607,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 multiple 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 gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

determine a skill level of a player;

determine, based on the determined skill level of the player, one of multiple different return-to-player percentages to employ for a play of a game by the player, wherein a first return-to-player percentage is determined when the skill level is a first skill level and a second return-to-player percentage different from the first return-to-player percentage is determined when the skill level is a second skill level different from the first skill level;

provide the play of the game for the player in accordance with the determined return-to-player percentage, the play of the game associated with receipt of at least one skill-based input; and

responsive to a score increase event that occurs in association with the player of the game, modify a score of the player and display the modified score, wherein the score of the player is separate from a credit balance of the player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first skill level is higher than the second skill level and the first return-to-player percentage is higher than the second return-to-player percentage.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine a duration for the play of the game based on an amount wagered for the play of the game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the score of the player exceeds a high score upon completion of the play of the game, cause the score of the player to be set as the high score and cause a redemption ticket to be provided to the player, the redemption ticket redeemable for a designated award at a later point in time if the score of the player is still the high score at that later point in time.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the later point in time is an end of a predetermined interval.

6. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the designated award is at least partially funded by wagers placed on plays of the game.

7. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

determining, by at least one processor, a skill level of a player;

determining, by the at least one processor and based on the determined skill level of the player, one of multiple different return-to-player percentages to employ for a play of a game by the player, wherein a first return-to-player percentage is determined when the skill level is a first skill level and a second return-to-player percentage different from the first return-to-player percentage is determined when the skill level is a second skill level different from the first skill level;

providing the play of the game for the player in accordance with the determined return-to-player percentage, the play of the game associated with receipt of at least one skill-based input; and

responsive to a score increase event that occurs in association with the player of the game, modifying, by the at least one processor, a score of the player and displaying, by at least one display device, the modified score, wherein the score of the player is separate from a credit balance of the player.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first skill level is higher than the second skill level and the first return-to-player percentage is higher than the second return-to-player percentage.

9. The method of claim 7, which includes determining, by the at least one processor, a duration for the play of the game based on an amount wagered for the play of the game.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes, if the score of the player exceeds a high score upon completion of the play of the game, causing, by the at least one processor, the score of the player to be set as the high score and causing, by the at least one processor, a redemption ticket to be provided to the player, the redemption ticket redeemable for a designated award at a later point in time if the score of the player is still the high score at that later point in time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the later point in time is an end of a predetermined interval.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the designated award is at least partially funded by wagers placed on plays of the game.

13. The method of claim 7, which is at least partially provided through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.

15. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

determine a skill level of a player;

determine, based on the determined skill level of the player, one of multiple different return-to-player percentages to employ for a play of a game by the player, wherein a first return-to-player percentage is determined when the skill level is a first skill level and a second return-to-player percentage different from the first return-to-player percentage is determined when the skill level is a second skill level different from the first skill level;

provide the play of the game for the player in accordance with the determined return-to-player percentage, the play of the game associated with receipt of at least one skill-based input; and

responsive to a score increase event that occurs in association with the player of the game, modify a score of the player and cause at least one display device to display the modified score, wherein the score of the player is separate from a credit balance of the player.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the first skill level is higher than the second skill level and the first return-to-player percentage is higher than the second return-to-player percentage.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine a duration for the play of the game based on an amount wagered for the play of the game.

18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, if the score of the player exceeds a high score upon completion of the play of the game, cause the score of the player to be set as the high score and cause a redemption ticket to be provided to the player, the redemption ticket redeemable for a designated award at a later point in time if the score of the player is still the high score at that later point in time.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the later point in time is an end of a predetermined interval.

20. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the designated award is at least partially funded by wagers placed on plays of the game.