Computerized game with cascading strategy and full information

• US 7,294,058 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Case Venture Management, LLC
• Inventors: Slomiany, Scott D., Brown, Duncan F., DeMar, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deodhar; Omkar A.
• Application Number:
  US09/539,286
• Time in Patent Office: 2,784 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463 9- 14, 273/138.1, 273/237, 273/260, 273/143.R, 273/243, 434128-129
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A gaming machine and method for operating the same has gameplay elements provided in a manner that can be visualized, with the gameplay elements having a specific nature which is revealed to the player at a beginning to the game. That is, the player knows the value, or ranking, or position, etc., of the gameplay elements upon inception of the game. In a base level for the game of the gaming machine, no unknown gameplay element or random event is injected into the gameplay elements. This is a full information format for the gaming machine and method, and success is measured by the player'"'"'s ability to manipulate the gameplay elements presented. A gaming machine and a method for operating the same is also provided with the gameplay elements once again having a specific nature which is known to the player at a start to game play, and in a preferred embodiment not subject thereafter to a random or unknown event, with the gameplay elements being arranged in one of a variety of different arrangements presenting a plurality of choices to a player for subsequent play of the elements. Outcome of the game is dependent upon the choices made by the player, with a given choice potentially influencing the next choice that may be available. Embodiments of the invention in the form of a checkers game and in the form of a poker-type game are disclosed, among others.

Claims

1. A computerized checkers game for a gaming machine, comprising:

a cpu;

a visual display of a checkerboard;

a first set of at least one computer-generated player checker(s);

a second set of computer-generated game checkers;

a player input mechanism interfacing with said cpu responsive to player commands, said input mechanism including a wagering device responsive to player wagering input; and

a computer program which (i) places said first set of player checker(s) on said visual display, (ii) places said second set of game checkers on said visual display, (iii) responds to player commands to effect movement of said player checker(s) on said display without movement of said game checkers thereafter in response to any player checker movement, including a capture jump movement relative to said game checkers, and (iv) provides an output based upon a wagering input and movement of said player checker(s).

2. The checkers game of claim 1 wherein said computer program further:

(v) counts any said capture jump movement and produces a count result as a sum displayed on said visual display.

3. The checkers game of claim 2 wherein said computer program further:

(vi) has a pre-determined payout tabulation, and a payout is generated from said payout table based upon said count result.

4. The checkers game of claim 1 wherein said computer program includes a random number generator which randomly places said game checkers on said board.

5. The checkers game of claim 4 wherein said player checker(s) are placed in a predetermined order on one side of said board.

6. The checkers game of claim 4 wherein said player checker(s) are placed in a random pattern on said board.

14. The computerized checkers game of claim 1 wherein said computer program further provides a visual indication of any available move.

15. The computerized checkers game of claim 1 further including a bonus round.

16. The computerized checkers game of claim 15 wherein said bonus round is earned by a capture jump movement of a special game checker which is randomly provided in the game.

17. The computerized checkers game of claim 15 wherein said computer program generates said bonus round by:

(a) providing a set of bonus checkers each having either a value indicia or an end-round indicium, with said value and end-round indicia being initially hidden from the player, (b) responding to player commands to select at least one said bonus checker, (c) revealing an indicium of said bonus checker selected by said player, (d) compiling any value indicia revealed, and (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) unless an end-round indicium is revealed.

18. The computerized checkers game of claim 17 wherein if no end-round indicium is revealed after a predetermined number of bonus checker selections, then said program generates a final bonus event wherein a plurality of final bonus checkers are displayed and are randomly removed until a single final bonus checker remains, said single final bonus checker having a value.

7. A method for operating a processor-controlled gaming machine comprising the steps of:

providing gameplay elements in a manner that can be visualized, with said gameplay elements having a specific nature which is revealed to the player at a beginning to the game,

providing a means for inputting a wager placed by the player;

providing a mechanism enabling the player to manipulate said gameplay elements no more than an average of ten times toward a game outcome without any chance event being introduced to affect said manipulation; and

calculating an output based upon said wager and said game outcome,

wherein said gaming machine is for a checkers game, and said gameplay elements include a first set of game checkers and a second set of at least one player checkers, said method further including;

placing said game checkers on a checkerboard in a generally random manner at said game beginning; and

wherein said player manipulates said player checker(s),

wherein said player checkers are manipulated by a capture jump movement relative to said game checkers,

further including the step of counting any said capture jump movement and producing a count result as a sum displayed on a visual display,

wherein the gaming machine includes a program having a pre-determined payout tabulation, and a payout is generated from said payout table based upon said count result.

8. A computerized card game comprising:

a cpu;

a visual display of a card layout;

a set of computer-generated cards each having a value;

a subset of cards randomly selected from said set of cards;

a player input mechanism interfacing with said cpu responsive to player commands, said input mechanism including a wagering device responsive to player wagering input;

a computer program which (i) records input from said wagering device as a wager, (ii) places said subset of cards on said visual display such that said value of each card in said subset is revealed to the player at a beginning to and continuously throughout the game, (iii) responds to player commands to effect movement of said cards in said subset on said display to a final arrangement; and

(iv) generates a payout based upon said wager and said final arrangement, and not based upon any chance event in the play of the game, other than said random selection of said subset of cards from said set of cards.

9. The computer game of claim 8 wherein said card game is a poker-type game and wherein said set of cards is a standard card deck, and said computer program further:

(iv) establishes a first and a second hand for said subset of cards;

wherein said player commands manipulate said subset of cards into said first and second hands.

10. The computer game of claim 9 wherein each of said first and second hands have a hierarchical value according to traditional poker protocol.

11. The computer game of claim 10 wherein said computer program further includes predetermined payout tables for each of said first and second hands, each payout table being based at least in part upon said hierarchical value.

12. The computer game of claim 9 wherein said first hand is comprised of five cards and said second hand is comprised of less than five cards.

13. The computer game of claim 12 wherein said payout tables are different, and said payout table associated with said second hand is a multiplier of value for values of said first hand as established by said payout table for said first hand.

19. A computerized card game for a gaming machine, comprising:

a cpu;

a visual display of a card layout;

a set of computer-generated playing cards, each having a face among a plurality of different faces that relate together in accordance with a game-playing methodology;

a subset of computer-generated game cards randomly selected from said set of cards;

a player input mechanism interfacing with said cpu responsive to player commands, said input mechanism including a wagering device responsive to player wagering input; and

a computer program which (i) records input from said wagering device as a wager, (ii) places said subset of game cards face-up to the player and remaining face-up throughout the game on said visual display as a first group and a second group, (iii) responds to player commands to effect movement of said cards between said groups on said display to a final arrangement, and (iv) provides an output based upon said wager and said final arrangement, and not based upon any chance event in the play of the game.

20. The computer game of claim 19 wherein said card game is a poker-type game and wherein said set of cards is a standard card deck, and said computer program further:

(v) establishes a first and a second hand for said subset of cards;

wherein said player commands manipulate said subset of cards into said first and second hands.

21. The computer game of claim 20 wherein each of said first and second hands have a hierarchical value according to traditional poker protocol.

22. The computer game of claim 21 wherein said computer program further includes predetermined payout tables for each of said first and second hands, each payout table being based at least in part upon said hierarchical value.

23. The computer game of claim 20 wherein said first hand is comprised of five cards and said second hand is comprised of less than five cards.

24. The computer game of claim 23 wherein said payout tables are different, and said payout table associated with said second hand is a multiplier of value for values of said first hand as established by said payout table for said first hand.