Hybrid gaming apparatus and method

• US 6,267,669 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J, Mayeroff, Jason, Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Brune, Chris T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/450,825
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/9, 463/17, 463/29, 463/19, 463/20, 463/10, 463/8, 463/30, 463/31, 463/36, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/25, 273/143.R, 273/269, 273/274, 273/292, 273/293, 273/454, 273/460
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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; and

wherein said particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion involves eye-coordination dexterity.

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;

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; and

wherein said particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion involves eye-coordination dexterity.

3. 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;

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; and

wherein said particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion involves eye-coordination dexterity.

4. 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 payable 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 partible 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;

allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said second partible when said second skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion; and

wherein said particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion involves eye-coordination dexterity.

5. 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;

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; and

wherein said particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion involves eye-coordination dexterity.