Slot driven video story

• US 6,234,896 B1
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Walker, Jay S., Fink, Jesse M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/832,723
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16-22, 463/31, 273/143.R, 273/139, 273/138.1, 273/138.2
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A gaming system includes a network server connected to a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to provide a video payout on each play based on a set of payout parameters. Memory at each gaming device stores payout parameters that correspond to each possible gaming result or outcome. When a play is initiated by a player, a gaming result is generated at a gaming device. The gaming device responds by accessing a corresponding payout parameter from the memory which may be a monetary amount, a video presentation segment or a combination thereof. If the payout is video, the network server receives the payout parameter and transmits video presentation segment to the gaming device accordingly. The gaming device then provides a video payout, in the form of displayed video presentation, to the player. The player thus receives at least one form of payment on each play.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:

receiving from a player an input to initiate play of the gaming device;

determining a category of video information associated with the player;

displaying an indication of a random gaming result; and

providing a video output based on the random gaming result and the category of video information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is a slot machine having a plurality of reels, and said displaying comprises:

displaying the indication of the random gaming result via the plurality of reels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing comprises providing the video output after the play of the gaming device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second player input to initiate a second play of the gaming device,

wherein said providing comprises providing at least a portion of the video output during the second play of the gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a monetary input,

wherein the video output is further based on the monetary input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the video output has a duration based on the monetary input.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a monetary input; and

determining if a monetary payout is associated with the random gaming result, the monetary payout being based on the monetary input and the random gaming result.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the video output has a duration based on the random gaming result.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said gaming device comprises at least one of:

(i) a video poker machine;

(ii) a video blackjack machine;

(iii) a video roulette machine;

(iv) a video keno machine; and

(v) a video bingo machine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the video output comprises a first portion of stored video information, and further comprising:

receiving from the player a second input to initiate a second play of the gaming device;

displaying an indication of a second random gaming result; and

providing a second portion of the stored video information, different than the first portion, based on the second random gaming result.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise sequential portions of the stored video information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the input is received at a first gaming device and the second input is received at a second gaming device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

associating information about the first portion with the player,

wherein the second portion is further based on the information about the first portion associated with the player.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining is performed via a player tracking card.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining is performed via a code received from the player.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining is performed via a player identifier.

17. A gaming device, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device coupled to said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;

receive from a player an input to initiate play of the gaming device;

determine a category of video information associated with the player;

display an indication of a random gaining result; and

provide a video output based on the random gaming result and the category of video information.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the gaming device is a slot machine having a plurality of reels, and the indication of the random gaming result is displayed via the plurality of reels.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the video output is provided after the play of the gaming device.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor further stores instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

receive a second player input to initiate a second play of the gaming device,

wherein at least a portion of the video output is provided during the second play of the gaming device.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor further stores instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

receive a monetary input,

wherein the video output is further based on the monetary input.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the video output has a duration based on the monetary input.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor further stores instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

receive a monetary input; and

determine if a monetary payout is associated with the random gaming result, the monetary payout being based on the monetary input and the random gaming result.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the video output has a duration based on the random gaming result.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein the gaming device comprises at least one of:

(i) a video poker machine;

(ii) a video blackjack machine;

(iii) a video roulette machine;

(iv) a video keno machine; and

(v) a video bingo machine.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the video output comprises a first portion of stored video information, and said processor further stores instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

receive from the player a second input to initiate a second play of the gaming device;

display an indication of a second random gaming result; and

provide a second portion of the stored video information, different than the first portion, based on the second random gaming result.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise sequential portions of the stored video information.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the input is received at a first terminal and the second input is received at a second terminal.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein said processor further stores instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:

associate information about the first portion with the player,

wherein the second portion is farther based on the information about the first portion associated with the player.

30. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor performs the determination via a player tracking card.

31. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor performs the determination via a code received from the player.

32. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor performs the determination via a player identifier.

33. An article of manufacture comprising a medium strong instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of operating a gaining device, said method comprising:

receiving from a player an input to initiate play of the gaining device;

determining a category of video information associated with the player;

displaying an indication of a random gaming result; and

providing a video output based on the random gaming result and the category of video information.

34. The article of claim 33, wherein the gaming device is a slot machine having a plurality of reels, and said displaying comprises:

displaying the indication of the random gaming result via the plurality of reels.

35. The article of claim 33, wherein said providing comprises providing the video output after the play of the gaming device.

36. The article of claim 33, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a second player input to initiate a second play of the gaming device,

wherein said providing comprises providing at least a portion of the video output during the second play of the gaming device.

37. The article of claim 33, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a monetary input,

wherein the video output is further based on the monetary input.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein the video output has a duration based on the monetary input.

39. The article of claim 33, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a monetary input; and

determining if a monetary payout is associated with the random gaming result, the monetary payout being based on the monetary input and the random gaming result.

40. The article of claim 33, wherein the video output has a duration based on the random gaming result.

41. The article of claim 33, wherein said gaming device comprises at least one of:

(i) a video poker machine;

(ii) a video blackjack machine;

(iii) a video roulette machine;

(iv) a video keno machine; and

(v) a video bingo machine.

42. The article of claim 33, wherein the video output comprises a first portion of stored video information, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving from the player a second input to initiate a second play of the gaining device;

displaying an indication of a second random gaming result; and

providing a second portion of the stored video information, different than the first portion, based on the second random gaming result.

43. The article of claim 42, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise sequential portions of the stored video information.

44. The article of claim 42, wherein the input is received at a first gaming device and the second input is received at a second gaming device.

45. The article of claim 42, wherein said method further comprises:

associating information about the first portion with the player,

wherein the second portion is further based on the information about the first portion associated with the player.

46. The article of claim 33, wherein said determining is performed via a player tracking card.

47. The article of claim 33, wherein said determining is performed via a code received from the player.

48. The article of claim 33, wherein said determining is performed via a player identifier.