Video gaming device having multiple stacking features

• US 6,159,095 A
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jaffe, Joel R., Giobbi, John J., Frohm, Erica A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/447,109
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/21, 463/27, 463/12, 463/13, 273/143 R, 273/273, 273/293
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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

Abstract

An electronic video gaming machine for playing multiple games is set forth. The gaming machine includes a first set of game elements for playing a game having a plurality of possible game outcomes. A first game outcome is selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes including at least one predetermined carry-over outcome. The carry-over outcome occurring in the first game outcome is automatically duplicated by the processor into at least one other game outcome. Game elements of the first game outcome are also manually selectable by a player and the selected game elements are duplicated by the processor into at least one other game outcome. Multiple game elements are shown on game boards arranged in a stack and displayed on a touch screen. The stack includes a top end and a bottom end and each game board has a face on which a single game is displayed. A plurality of game control buttons and game control indicators are provided for operating the game and selecting game elements, such as lucky numbers, random numbers, and bingo patterns, to be applied to each game board in the stack. A number of game boards to be played in the stack is selectable by the player and a winning game board is indicated to the player such that the winning game board appears to pop-up from the stack in cash-register-like fashion such that the face of the winning game board is more visible relative to prior said game board popping up. The face of any game board is viewable by the player by touching the touch screen at a location of the game board to be viewed. After touching the game board, the game board slides out from the stack to expose its face.

Claims

1. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising:

a first set of game elements for playing a game having a plurality of possible game outcomes, said possible game outcomes including at least one predetermined carry-over outcome, said first set having a first game outcome selected by the processor from said plurality of possible game outcomes; and

at least a second set of game elements having a second game outcome, wherein in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said first game outcome, one or more of said game elements of said first set are automatically duplicated by the processor into said second game outcome and said second game outcome is determined, said duplicated game elements being selected by said processor in accordance with a game program and not being manually selected by a player.

2. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said game elements of said first set are determined one at a time.

3. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said one or more of said game elements of said first set are duplicated into said second game outcome substantially immediately after being determined.

4. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said one or more of said game elements of said first set are duplicated into said second game outcome after all of said game elements of said first set are determined.

5. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said carry-over outcomes are displayed on a pay table.

6. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 1 further including a third set of game elements having a third game outcome.

7. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 6 wherein said one or more of said game elements of said first set are automatically duplicated into said third game outcome and said third game outcome is determined.

8. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 6 wherein in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said second game outcome, one or more of said game elements of said second set are automatically duplicated by the processor into said third game outcome and said third game outcome is determined.

9. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 6 further including a fourth set of game elements having a fourth game outcome.

10. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 9 wherein one or more of said game elements of said first set are automatically duplicated into said fourth game outcome and said fourth game outcome is determined.

11. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 9 wherein in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said third same outcome, one or more of said game elements of said third set are automatically duplicated by the processor into said fourth game outcome and said fourth game outcome is determined.

12. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said game is selected from a group consisting of a card game, a reel-type slot game, bingo and keno.

13. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 12 wherein said game is a reel-type slot machine, said first set of game elements being a first set of reels bearing symbols, said first set of reels including at least three reels and at least one pay line, said first game outcome corresponding to said symbols appearing along said pay line.

14. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 13 wherein said second set of gaming elements is a second set of reels bearing symbols for playing a reel-type slot game, said second set of reels including at least three reels and at least one pay line, wherein at least one of said symbols of said first game outcome corresponding to said carry-over outcome are duplicated into said pay line of said second set of reels, said second game outcome corresponding to said symbols appearing along said pay line of said second set of reels.

15. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 12 wherein said game is a card game, said first set of gaming elements being a first hand of cards for playing a card game, wherein cards are dealt into said first hand to determine said first game outcome, said second set of gaming elements being a second hand for playing the card game.

16. The electronic video gaming machine of claim 1 further including a plurality of sets of game elements arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said set of game elements at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said set of game elements at said bottom end is substantially hidden.

17. A method for playing an electronic video gaming machine, comprising:

providing a first set of game elements for playing a game having a plurality of possible game outcomes, said possible game outcomes including at least one predetermined carry-over outcome, said first set having a first game outcome selected by a processor from said plurality of possible game outcomes;

providing at least a second set of game elements having a second game outcome;

determining said first game outcome of said first set;

determining whether said first game outcome includes said predetermined carry-over outcome;

in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said first game outcome, automatically duplicating one or more of said game elements of said first set into said second game outcome, said duplicated game elements being selected by said processor in accordance with a game program and not being manually selected by a player;

determining said second game outcome of said second set; and

determining a payout amount.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of determining said first game outcome of said first set includes determining said game elements of said first set one at a time.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said steps of determining whether said first game outcome includes said predetermined carry-over outcome and automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said second game outcome are performed substantially immediately after each of said game elements of said first set are determined.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of determining said first game outcome of said first set includes determining said game elements of said first set at substantially the same time.

21. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of:

providing a third set of game elements having a third game outcome;

in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said first game outcome, automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said third game outcome; and

determining said third game outcome of said third set.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said third game outcome is performed substantially at the same time as said step of automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said second game outcome.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of determining said third game outcome of said third set includes the step of determining said game elements of said third set that are not duplicated from said first set.

24. The method of claim 21 further including the steps of:

providing a fourth set of game elements having a fourth game outcome;

in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said first game outcome, automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said fourth game outcome; and

determining said fourth game outcome of said fourth set.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said fourth game outcome is performed substantially at the same time as said step of automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said first set into said second game outcome.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of determining said fourth game outcome of said fourth set includes the step of determining said elements of said fourth set that are not duplicated from said first set.

27. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of:

providing a third set of game elements having a third game outcome;

determining whether said second game outcome includes said carry-over outcome;

in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said second game outcome, automatically duplicating one or more of said same elements of said second set into said third game outcome; and

determining said third game outcome of said third set.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of determining said third game outcome of said third set includes the step of determining said elements of said third set that are not duplicated from said second set.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said second set into said third game outcome is performed substantially immediately after said step of determining whether said second game outcome includes said carry-over outcome.

30. The method of claim 27 further including the steps of:

providing a fourth set of game elements having a fourth game outcome;

determining whether said third game outcome includes said carry-over outcome;

in response to said carry-over outcome occurring in said third game outcome, automatically duplicating one or more of said game elements of said third set into said fourth game outcome; and

determining said fourth game outcome of said fourth set.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said step of determining said fourth game outcome of said fourth set includes the step of determining said elements of said fourth set that are not duplicated from said third set.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said step of automatically duplicating said one or more of said game elements of said third set into said fourth game outcome is performed substantially immediately after said step of determining whether said third game outcome includes said carry-over outcome.

33. The method of claim 17 wherein said game is selected from a group consisting of a card game, a reel-type slot game, bingo and keno.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said game is a card game, said first set of game elements being a first hand of cards for playing said card game, said second set of game elements being a second hand of cards.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said game is a reel-type slot game, said first set of game elements being a first set of reels bearing symbols having at least three reels and at least one pay line, said second set of game elements being a second set of reels bearing symbols having at least three reels and a pay line.

36. The method of claim 17 further including providing a display on a video screen including said sets of game elements arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said set of game elements at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said set of game elements at said bottom end is substantially hidden.

37. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said game board at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said game board at said bottom end is substantially hidden, each of said game boards bearing a plurality of playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes.

38. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 37 wherein one or more of said game elements on one of said game boards are duplicated into all of said remaining game boards.

39. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 38 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, twenty-one, keno and bingo, said duplicated game elements being selected by the processor in accordance with a game program and not being manually selected by a player.

40. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 38 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of bingo and keno, said duplicated game elements being manually selected by a player.

41. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 37 wherein one or more of said game elements on a preceding game board are duplicated into a subsequent game board.

42. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 41 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, twenty-one, keno and bingo, said duplicated game elements being selected by the processor in accordance with a game program and not being manually selected by a player.

43. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 41 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of bingo and keno, said duplicated game elements being manually selected by a player.

44. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 38 wherein said duplicated game elements are displayed on a pay table.

45. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 37 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, twenty-one, bingo and keno.

47. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 37 wherein said games on said respective game boards are the same.

49. An electronic video gaming machine of claim 37 wherein said games on said respective game boards are played substantially simultaneously.

46. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said game board at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said game board at said bottom end is substantially hidden, each of said game boards bearing a plurality of playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes. wherein each game board with a winning game outcome is displayed on the visual display such that said winning game board appears to pop up from said stack so that said face of said winning game board is more visible than before said winning game board popped up from said stack.

48. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said game board at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said game board at said bottom end is substantially hidden, each of said game boards bearing a plurality of playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes, wherein said stack of game boards is displayed on the visual display in a substantially three-dimensional top perspective view such that said game boards adjacent to said top end appear larger relative to said game boards adjacent to said bottom end.

50. A method for playing a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising:

providing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said game board at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said game board at said bottom end is substantially hidden;

providing games on said game boards to be played in said stack, each of said game boards bearing a plurality of playable game elements; and

playing said games to determine respective game outcomes for said respective game boards, said game outcomes being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes.

51. The method of claim 50 further including the step of duplicating one or more of said game elements on one of said game boards into the remaining game boards.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said games are selected from the group consisting of a reel-type slot game, poker, blackjack, twenty-one, keno and bingo, said step of duplicating said one or more of said game elements including selecting said one or more of said game elements for duplication in accordance with a game program executed by the processor.

53. The method of claim 51 wherein said games are selected from the group consisting of bingo and keno, said step of duplicating said one or more of said game elements including selecting said one or more of said game elements for duplication in accordance with manual selections by a player using an input device.

54. The method of claim 50 further including the step of duplicating one or more of said game elements on a preceding game board into a subsequent game board.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said games are selected from the group consisting of a reel-type slot game, poker, blackjack, twenty-one, keno and bingo, said step of duplicating said one or more of said game elements including selecting said one or more of said game elements for duplication in accordance with a game program executed by the processor.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein said games are selected from the group consisting of bingo and keno, said step of duplicating said one or more of said game elements including selecting said one or more of said game elements for duplication in accordance with manual selections by a player using an input device.

57. The method of claim 50 wherein said games are selected from the group consisting of a reel-type slot game, poker, blackjack, twenty-one, bingo and keno.

58. The method of claim 50 further including the step of identifying each game board with a winning game outcome.

61. The method of claim 50 wherein said step of providing games on each of said respective game boards to be played in said stack further includes providing the same games on all of said game boards to be played in said stack.

59. A method for playing a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising:

providing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said game board at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said game board at said bottom end is substantially hidden;

providing games on said game boards to be played in said stack, each of said game boards bearing a plurality of playable game elements;

playing said games to determine respective game outcomes for said respective game boards, said game outcomes being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes; and

identifying each game board with a winning game outcome by causing said game board with said winning outcome to pop-up from said stack in cash-register-like fashion such that said face of said game board with said winning game outcome is more visible than prior to said game board popping up.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said step of identifying each game board with a winning game outcome includes successively identifying each winning game board from said bottom end of said stack towards said top end or vice versa.

62. A method for playing a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, comprising:

providing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end such that a face of said game board at said top end is substantially visible and a face of said game board at said bottom end is substantially hidden;

providing games on said game boards to be played in said stack, each of said game boards bearing a plurality of playable game elements;

playing said games to determine respective game outcomes for said respective game boards, said game outcomes being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes; and

displaying said stack of said game boards in a substantially three-dimensional top perspective view such that said game boards adjacent said top end appear larger relative to said game boards adjacent to said bottom end.

63. A method of playing bingo on an electronic video gaming machine, said method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying first and second bingo game boards on a visual display, said first and second game boards including respective first and second arrays of pre-selected numbers;

duplicating at least a portion of the pre-selected numbers in said first array into said second array;

calling a group of numbers and designating those pre-selected numbers in said first array which coincide with one of said randomly-called numbers; and

awarding a payoff if said designated pre-selected numbers in said first array form a predetermined pattern.

64. The method of claim 63, further including:

calling a second group of numbers and designating those pre-selected numbers in said second array which coincide with one of said called numbers of said second group; and

awarding a second payoff if said designated pre-selected numbers in said second array form a second predetermined pattern.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein at least some of said called numbers of said second group correspond to some of said randomly called numbers of said first group.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein said second predetermined pattern is different from said predetermined pattern.

67. A method of playing bingo on an electronic video gaming machine, said method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying first and second bingo game boards on a visual display said first and second game boards including respective first and second arrays of pre-selected numbers;

duplicating at least a portion of the pre-selected numbers in said first array into said second array;

selecting a pattern including certain ones of the pre-selected numbers in said first array, said pattern being selected by a player or a game processor;

duplicating said pattern onto said second game board;

randomly calling a group of numbers and designating those pre-selected numbers in said first array which coincide with one of said randomly-called numbers; and

awarding a payoff if said designated pre-selected numbers in said first array form said pattern.

68. A method of playing bingo on an electronic video gaming machine, said method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying first and second bingo game boards on a visual display, said first and second game boards including respective first and second arrays of pre-selected numbers;

duplicating at least a portion of said pre-selected numbers in said first array into said second array;

selecting a first pattern including certain ones of the pre-selected numbers in said first array;

selecting a second pattern including certain ones of the pre-selected numbers in said second array;

randomly calling a group of numbers and designating those pre-selected numbers in said first and second arrays which coincide with one of said randomly-called numbers;

awarding a first payoff if said designated pre-selected numbers in said first array form said first pattern; and

awarding a second payoff if said designated pre-selected numbers in said second array form said second pattern.

69. A method of playing keno on an electronic video gaming machine, said method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying first and second keno game boards on a visual display, said first and second game boards each including a field of numbers;

selecting a first set of lucky numbers and designating those numbers of said field on said first game board which coincide with one of said lucky numbers of said first set;

selecting a second set of lucky numbers and designating those numbers of said field on said second game board which coincide with one of said lucky numbers of said second set;

randomly selecting a first set of winning numbers from said field of numbers and identifying those designated numbers of said field on said first game board which match one of said winning numbers of said first set;

selecting a second set of winning numbers from said field of numbers and identifying those designated numbers of said field on said second game board which match one of said winning numbers of said second set, at least some of said winning numbers of said second set corresponding to some of said winning numbers of said first set;

awarding a first payoff based on a quantity of the designated numbers of said field on said first game board which match one of said winning numbers of said first set; and

awarding a second payoff based on a quantity of the designated numbers of said field on said second game board which match one of said winning numbers of said second set.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein at least some of said lucky numbers of said second set correspond to some of said lucky numbers of said first set.

71. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end, each of said game boards bearing one or more playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes, said one or more playable game elements on said game board at said top end being substantially visible, said one or more playable game elements of said game board at said bottom end being substantially hidden such that numerical values of said one or more playable game elements of said game board at said bottom end are hidden.

72. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end, each of said game boards bearing one or more playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes, said one or more playable game elements on said game board at said top end being substantially visible, said one or more playable game elements of said game board at said bottom end being entirely hidden.

73. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end, each of said game boards bearing one or more playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes, said game board at said top end substantially overlaying and appearing larger than an adjacent one of said game boards.

74. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager, said gaming machine comprising a visual display showing at least ten game boards arranged in a stack from a top end to a bottom end, each of said game boards bearing one or more playable game elements of a respective game to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes, said one or more playable game elements on said game board at said top end being substantially visible, said one or more playable game elements of said game board at said bottom end being substantially hidden.

75. A method for playing an electronic video gaming machine, comprising:

providing a visual display showing a plurality of game boards, each of said game boards bearing one or more playable game elements of a respective game of chance;

separating said plurality of game boards into at least first and second sets in response to selection by a player of a number of game boards to be included in each of said first and second sets;

receiving a first wager for playing said games on a first set of said game boards;

receiving a second wager for playing said games on a second set of said game boards, said second wager being different from said first wager;

playing said games on said first set of said game boards in response to said first wager;

playing said games on said second set of said game boards in response to said second wager; and

awarding a payoff if any of said games on said first and second sets of said game boards generate a winning outcome.

76. An electronic video gaming machine controlled by a processor, comprising a visual display showing a plurality of game boards, each of said game boards bearing one or more playable game elements of a respective game of chance to be played by the processor to determine a respective game outcome, said game outcome being selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes, said plurality of game boards being separable into at least first and second sets, a number of said game boards in each of said first and second sets being selectable by a player, said games on said game boards in said first set being played in response to a first wager, said games on said game boards in said second set being played in response to a second wager, said second wager being different from said first wager.