Name your prize game playing methodology

• US 6,857,959 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology), Nutech O3 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/515,717
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 12- 13, 463/16, 463 20- 22, 463/25, 463/29, 463/36, 463 40- 42, 273292-293, 273/143.R, 340/323.R, 705/14
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine has a memory storing a list of one or more prizes, a prize display for viewing prize information, and a prize selection mechanism that allows a user playing a game on the gaming machine to select one or more prizes specific to one or more outcomes of the game played on the gaming machine. One or more gaming machines may be connected in a “prize distribution network” to a “prize server.” The prize server may include an interface for providing prize information to the gaming machines connected in the prize distribution network and a memory storing the prize information as groups of prizes for separate display on the gaming machines. With the prize server and prize distribution network, the prizes available as an award on each gaming machine in the prize distribution network may be easily changed.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller designed or configured to control a game of chance played on the gaming machine wherein the gaming machine is operable for each a played game of chance to;

1) receive a selection of a non-cash prize from a game player from a list of prizes prior to determining the outcome of the played game of chance wherein the non-cash prize corresponds to an award for at least one outcome for the played game of chance and the non-cash prize is only awarded after the outcome of the played game of chance is determined and wherein the gaming machine is operable to award the selected non-cash prize as a result of only the game of chance to be played following the prize selection, independent of any previous games of chance played on the gaming machine and to only provide prize redemption of non-cash prizes that are awarded in this manner;

2) determine the outcome for the played game of chance wherein odds for all possible outcomes of the played game of chance are generated prior to the selection of the non-cash prize;

3) display the outcome for the played game of chance and

4) indicate an award of the non-cash prize when the determined outcome for the played game of chance is the same as the at least one outcome for the played game of chance corresponding to the non-cash prize;

a memory for storing the list of prizes; and

a prize display mechanism for displaying the list of prizes stored in the memory; and

a prize selection mechanism for allowing the game player to select the non-cash prize wherein the list of prizes includes cash prizes and two or more non-cash prizes.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the non-cash prizes are selected from the group consisting of merchandise, vacations, airline miles, ad shopping sprees.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the prize selection mechanism allows the user to select one or more specific to a wager amount of the game of chance played on the gaming machine.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot a machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein a probability of the outcome of the game of chance played on the gaming machine is specific to a value of the selected prize.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the prize selection mechanism is a key pad a button panel, a video touch screen, a mouse, a touch pad, a joystick, a microphone or a magnetic card.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the prize display mechanism is a printed sign a video display screen, a bonus wheel, a video touch screen, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a back-lit glass panel ar a prize.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the memory is an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable-Read only Memory), a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a non-volatile memory, or a magnetic storage device.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine provides a display format for the one or more prizes displayed on the display mechanism.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the display format is graphical or textual.

11. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the display format indicates a feature of the prize.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the prize feature is a prize value.

13. The gaming machine of claim 11 wherein the prize feature is a prize theme.

14. A prize distribution network comprising:

(a) a prize server comprising;

an interface for providing prize information to one or more gaming machines wherein at least one of the gaming machines is external to the prize server; and

a memory storing the prize information as groups of prizes for separate display one or more gaming machines; and

(b) a plurality of gaming machines each machine comprising;

a memory storing a list of prizes; and

a prize display mechanism displaying the prizes; and

a prize selection mechanism for selecting one or more for one or more outcomes of a game of chance played on the gaming machine wherein the prizes include cash es and non-cash prizes and wherein at least one gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines is operable for each played game of chance on the at lest one gaming machine to;

     1) receive a selection of a non-cash prize from a game player from a list of prizes prior to determining the outcome of the played game of chance wherein the non-cash prize corresponds to an award for at least one outcome for the played game of chance and wherein the non-cash prize is only awarded after the outcome of the played game of chance is determined and wherein the gaming machine is operable to award the selected non-cash prize as a result of only the game of chance to be played following the prize selection and independent of any previous games of chance played on the gaming machine and only provide prize redemption of non-cash prizes that are awarded in this manner,

     2) determine the outcome for the played game of chance wherein odd for all possible outcomes of the played game of chance are generated prior to the selection of the non-cash prize;

     3) display the outcome for the played game of chance and

     4) indicate an award of the non-cash prize when the determined outcome for the played game of chance is the same as the at least one outcome for the played game of chance corresponding to the non-cash prize.

15. The prize distribution network of claim 14 wherein the game of chance is selected from the group consisting of a slot game, keno game a lottery game or a poker game.

16. The prize distribution network of claim 14 wherein the non-cash prizes are selected from the group consisting of merchandise, vacations, airline miles, and shopping sprees.

17. The prize distribution network of claim 14, wherein the prize server is a one of the plurality of gaming machines.

18. The prize distribution network of claim 14, wherein the prize server is configured to receive prize fulfillment information used to redeem prizes won by players playing the gaming machines.

19. The prize distribution network of claim 14, further comprising:

a prize fulfillment center that is used to acquire and deliver prizes.

20. In a gaming machine having a prize selection mechanism, a prize display mechanism for displaying a list of prizes, a method of selecting a prize specific to an outcome of a game of chance played on a gaming machine, the method comprising;

displaying multiple prizes available for selection on the prize display mechanism wherein the prizes include cash prizes and two or more non-cash prizes;

receiving an input signal from the prize selection mechanism for selecting a non-cash prize from the list of prizes prior to determining the outcome of the game of chance said input signal corresponding to a game players selection of the selected prize wherein the selected prize corresponds to an award for one of the outcomes of the game of chance and wherein the prize is only awarded after the outcome of the played gone of chance is determined wherein the gaming machine is operable to award the selected non-cash prize as a result of only the game of chance to be played following the prize selection, independent of any previous games of chance played on the gaming machine and only to provide prize redemption of non-cash prizes that are awarded in this manner;

receiving a wager for the game of chance;

determining the outcome for the game of chance wherein odds for all possible outcomes of the played game of chance are generated prior the selection of the prize;

presenting the outcome for the game of chance; and

indicating an award of the selected prize when the determined outcome for the game of chance is the same as the one the outcomes of the game of chance corresponding to the prize selection.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the non-cash prizes are selected from the group consisting of merchandise, vacations, airline miles, and shopping sprees.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining a pay table to be used in determining the outcome for the game of chance, wherein the pay table is chosen according to the value of the selected prize.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising outputting the selected prizes to a portable memory device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the portable memory device is a magnetic card, a personal digital assistant or a smart card.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the prize selection mechanism is a key pad, a button panel, a touch screen, a mouse, touch pad, joystick a microphone, a smart card or a magnetic card.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving a signal for initiating the game of chance.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying a group of prizes available for selection in the prize display mechanism specific to a wager amount.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the game of chance is a slot game, a keno game, a lottery game, or a poker game.

29. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying the selected prize on the prize display mechanism.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the prize display mechanism is a printed sign, a video display screen, a bonus wheel a video touch screen, back-lit glass panel or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

31. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

printing a record of the selected prizes.

32. In a prize distribution network comprising a plurality of gaming machines connected to a prize server, a method for distributing information about prizes available on specific gaming machines, the method comprising,

establishing communication with each gaming machine connected to the prize server;

and

sending prize information from a memory on the prize server to a memory on each gaming machine;

said prize information specific to prizes which are available for selection by game players as game awards on games played on the gaming machines

wherein the prizes include cash prizes and non-cash prizes and wherein at least one gaming machine is operable for each played game of chance on the least one gaming machine to;

     1) receive a selection of a non-cash prize from a game player from a list of prizes prior to determining the outcome of the played game of chance wherein the non-cash prize corresponds to an award for at least one outcome for the played game of chance and wherein the non-cash prize is only awarded after the outcome of the played game of chance is determined and wherein the gaming machine is operable to award the selected non-cash prize as a result of only the game of chance to be played following the prize selection and independent of any previous games of chance played on the gaming machine and to only provide prize redemption non-cash prizes that are awarded in this manner,

     2) determine the outcome for the played game of chance wherein odds for all possible outcomes of the played game of chance are generated prior to the selection of the non-cash prize;

     3) display the outcome for the played game of chance and

     4) indicate an award of the non-cash prize when the determined outcome for the played game of chance is the same as the at least one outcome for the played game of chance corresponding to the non-cash prize.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the game of chance is a slot game, a keno game, a lottery game, or a poker game.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the prizes are selected from the group consisting of merchandise, vacations, airline miles and shopping sprees.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising displaying the prize information to a video display screen associated with one or more of the gaming machines.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising identifying one or more prizes selected by a user.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising outputting the selected prize information to a portable storage device which can be read by one or more of the gaming machines.