Personalized gaming apparatus and gaming method

• US 7,169,052 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Beaulieu, Nicole, Nelson, Dwayne R., Schlottman, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US10/212,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20040023709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/30, 463/37, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method of operating a gaming apparatus may include identifying a player, accessing stored player data relating to the player, and performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data. The personalized gaming operation may include one of the following personalized gaming operations: generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data, generating a personalized video image based on the stored player data, or generating a game environment, the game environment including video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

identifying a player;

accessing stored player data relating to the player;

performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising modifying the response characteristics of an input device to permit manual manipulation of the input device according to the stored player data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a button.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising modifying the input device to be insensitive to rapid manipulation.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising modifying the input device between a first mode wherein the input device automatically toggles between first and second states and a second mode wherein the input device is manually toggled between first and second states.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first state comprises a depressed state and the second state comprises a released state.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising modifying the input device to respond to slower than normal manipulation.

7. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming apparatus comprising an input device, a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;

a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said computer being programmed to identify a player;

said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player; and

said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising;

modifying the response characteristics of the input device to permit manual manipulation of the input device according to the stored player data.

8. The gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the input device comprises a button.

9. The gaming system according to claim 7, said computer being programmed to cause the input device to be insensitive to rapid manipulation.

10. The gaming system according to claim 7, said computer being programmed to cause the input device to change between a first mode wherein the input device automatically toggles between first and second states and a second mode wherein the input device is manually toggled between first and second states.

11. The gaming system according to claim 10, wherein the first state comprises a depressed state and the second state comprises a released state.

12. The gaming system according to claim 7, said computer being programmed to cause the input device to respond to slower than normal manipulation.

13. A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to identify a player;

a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to access stored player data relating to the player; and

a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising the following personalized gaming operations;

modifying the response characteristics of an input device to permit manual manipulation of the input device according to the stored player data.