Hybrid gaming apparatus and method

• US 6,050,895 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Mayeroff, Jason, Baerlocher, Anthony J., Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Brune, Chris T.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US08/822,019
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/17, 463/19, 463/25, 463/29, 463/7, 463/8, 463/30, 463/31, 463/36, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 273/292, 273/293, 273/143 R, 273/269, 273/274, 273/454, 273/460
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0664 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A gaming device and method for a hybrid game including a coordination/dexterity portion and/or traditional game portion is provided. Preferably, both a coordination/dexterity game and a traditional game are part of a single hybrid game, both of which portions are played using a single display device. In one embodiment, a player first plays a coordination/dexterity game and is given an opportunity to play a traditional game upon the occurrence of certain predetermined or predefined events during play of the coordination/dexterity game. Preferably, game outcome for both portions is controlled by an already-approved controller, such as a traditional game controller.

Claims

1. Hybrid gaming apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying a coordination/dexterity game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion;

a controller for determining game outcome of said coordination/dexterity game wherein said controller is substantially identical to a controller used for controlling a traditional game, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game, and wherein said traditional game can only be played, in said hybrid gaming apparatus, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.

2. Hybrid gaming apparatus comprising:

first display means for displaying a coordination/dexterity game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion;

second display means for displaying a traditional game portion, different from said coordination/dexterity game portion, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game;

a first controller, coupled to said first display means for controlling said first display means; and

a second controller, coupled to said second display means, for controlling said second display means and for determining game outcome of said coordination/dexterity game portion and said traditional game portion and wherein said traditional game can only be played, in said hybrid gaming apparatus, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second controller is coupled to said first controller.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second controller is substantially identical to a controller which is approved by a gaming regulatory agency.

5. A method for use by a user in playing a hybrid game on a single gaming terminal, comprising:

providing a programmable computer coupled for controlling a first display device;

providing at least a first user input device;

controlling said first display device, using said computer, to display a first gaming display, to permit said user to play a first coordination/dexterity game portion for at least a first time period, using said input device, wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion wherein said computer is configured to recognize the occurrence of any of a plurality of events during said first time period;

controlling said gaming terminal to display a second gaming display for a traditional game, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game, to permit said user to play a second game portion different from said first game portion, and

wherein said computer is configured to display said second display automatically in response to at least a first one of said plurality of events and wherein said traditional game can only be played, on said gaming terminal, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the probability of said first one of said plurality of events is dependent on said user'"'"'s skill.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first one of said plurality of events is unrelated to said user'"'"'s skill.

8. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second game portion relates to a game of chance.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising coupling said single gaming terminal and at least one other gaming terminal in a progressive gaming system providing for one or more common prizes.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising coupling said single gaming terminal and at least one other gaming terminal in a wide-area progressive gaming system providing for one or more common prizes.

11. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said user wagers on at least one of said first and said second game portion.

12. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said computer maintains a tally of points in connection with at least one of said first and said second game portion and wherein said computer deducts a number of points in response to at least some of said first events.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said number of points deducted is different for at least two different events.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said number of points added is different for at least two of said two different events.

15. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least two different pay tables are associated with at least two different events.

16. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said computer stores an indication of a player'"'"'s level of skill, and wherein said computer selects among pay tables in response to said indicator of a level of skill.

17. A method as claimed in claim 5, at least some of said events being winning events, wherein said user is entitled to a monetary prize in response to at least some of said winning events, and wherein said user is permitted to play a second different game in response to at least one of said winning events.

18. A method as claimed in claim 5:

wherein each of at least a first sub-plurality of said plurality of events is associated with first corresponding values;

wherein said computer is configured to recognize the occurrence of any of a second plurality of events during a second time period and wherein each of at least a second sub-plurality of said second plurality of events is associated with second corresponding values;

wherein said computer is configured to store at least a first total, said computer is configured to add one of said first corresponding values to said first total when one of said first sub-plurality of events occurs, and to add one of said second corresponding values to said first total when one of said second sub-plurality of events occurs.

19. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said user plays said second game portion using said first input device.

20. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first input device is a touch screen.

21. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first input device is selected from among a joystick, a mouse, and a button.

22. A computer-implemented method for use by a user in playing a hybrid skill/chance game, said computer having an associated memory, the method comprising:

providing display means for displaying a skill game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said skill game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the skill game portion and a chance game portion, wherein said chance game portion provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the chance game portion;

storing, in said memory, at least first and second paytables for use with said chance game portion in determining the probability or amount of prize awards from play of said chance game portion;

allowing said user to play said skill game portion, wherein said skill game portion is configured such that play of said skill game portion can result in at least either of first and second skill game outcomes;

allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said first paytable when said first skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion, wherein said chance game can only be played, after playing said skill game portion; and

allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said second paytable when said second skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion.

23. A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said skill game portion is configured such that, on average, said first skill game outcome requires greater skill than said second skill game outcome.

24. A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein said paytables are configured such that the probability of winning at least a first prize determined by said first paytable, is greater than the probability of winning said first prize determined by said second paytable.

25. Apparatus for accommodating side bets comprising:

first electronic gaming terminal having a first display configured for playing a game of coordination/dexterity wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion;

a central computer coupled to said first gaming terminal; and

at least a first betting station separate from said first electronic gaming terminal coupled to said central computer configured to receive at least a first wager wherein said first betting station displays a payout amount related to an outcome of said game of coordination/dexterity.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a second display for displaying an image related to play of said coordination/dexterity game and viewable from said betting station.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said central computer calculates odds based in part on bets placed at said betting stations.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said game is a competitive game and further comprising an input device for permitting at least first and second players to provide input to said game of coordination/dexterity.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, comprising a plurality of betting stations.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, comprising a second gaming station for playing the same game of coordination/dexterity.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means to prevent communication between said player of said game and users of said betting station.