Gaming device having match game with award determined by prediction of correct matches

• US 7,341,513 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2003
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cuddy, Ryan W., Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/651,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/1, 434/322
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A gaming device having a game which includes a predicted number of matches, and an actual number of matches. An award is provided to the player that is based on the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device; and

a game operable upon a wager by a player,

said at least one processor programmed to;

(a) determine a predicted number of matches,

(b) cause a game sequence to be displayed to the player by the display device and to display an actual number of matches,

(c) determine an absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches, and

(d) provide an award to the player based on the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predicted number of matches is selected from a group consisting of:

a predetermined predicted number of matches;

a randomly determined predicted number of matches; and

a player determined predicted number of matches.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of potential predicted number of matches and means for enabling the player to pick one of the plurality of predicted number of matches.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of potential predicted number of matches is adapted to be displayed to the player before the player picks the predicted number of matches.

5. The gaming device of claim 3, which includes a plurality of potential multipliers, each of the potential multipliers corresponding to one of the plurality of potential predicted number of matches, wherein the award is at least in part based on the multiplier corresponding to the selected predicted number of matches.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game sequence for determining the actual number of matches includes a matching sequence with at least one round, wherein for each round the processor is programmed to:

(a) display a question;

(b) display a plurality of answer choices;

(c) enable the player to pick one of the answer choices; and

(d) reveal if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, including a prize value in each round adapted to be displayed to the player for achieving a match between the player'"'"'s answer and the correct answer.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the prize value in each round is related to the number of answer choices in said round.

9. The gaming device of claim 7, which indicates a consolation award for at least one incorrect match.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game sequence for determining the actual number of matches includes a matching sequence with at least one round, wherein for each round the processor is programmed to:

(a) display a plurality of selections, each selection corresponding to an indicia;

(b) enable the player to pick a first selection;

(c) enable the player to pick a second selection; and

(d) determine if the indicia of the player'"'"'s first selection matches the indicia of the second selection.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, which includes a prize value adapted to be displayed to the player for achieving a match between the indicia of the player'"'"'s first selection and the indicia of the player'"'"'s second selection.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a multiplier and wherein the award is based on the multiplier and said absolute value.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the multiplier is reduced by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

14. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device; and

a game operable on a wager by a player,

said at least one processor programmed to;

(a) determine and display a predicted number of matches,

(b) determine and display an actual number of matches,

(c) determine the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches, and

(d) provide an award to a player based on the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the display device to provide a plurality of potential predicted number of matches and enables the player to pick one of the plurality of predicted number of matches.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor determines the actual number of matches by:

(a) causing the display device to display a question;

(b) causing the display device to display a plurality of answer choices on the display device;

(c) enabling the player to pick one of the answer choices;

(d) revealing if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer; and

(e) repeated steps (a) to (d) at least once if a terminating condition is not fulfilled.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the processor is programmed to provide a prize value to the player for achieving a match between the player'"'"'s answer and the correct answer, wherein the prize value is related to the number of answer choices.

18. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor determines the actual number of matches by:

(a) causing the display device to display a plurality of selections, each selection corresponding to an indicia;

(b) enabling the player to pick a first selection;

(c) enabling the player to pick a second selection;

(d) determining if the indicia of the player'"'"'s first selection matches the indicia of the second selection; and

(e) repeating steps (a) to (d) at least once if a terminating condition is not fulfilled.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the processor is programmed to provide a prize value to the player for achieving a match between the indicia of the player'"'"'s first selection and the indicia of the player'"'"'s second selection.

20. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is programmed to provide an award to a player based on a multiplier and an absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to reduce a multiplier by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches, and the award is the product of the adjusted multiplier and a sum of the prize values.

22. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device; and

a game operable on a wager by a player,

said at least one processor programmed to;

(a) cause a game sequence to be displayed to the player by the display device to determine a predicted number of matches, the game sequence including a display of a plurality of potential predicted number of matches, a player pick of one of the plurality of predicted number of matches, and a display of the selected predicted number of matches,

(b) cause a game sequence to be displayed by the display device to the player to determine an actual number of matches, the game sequence including a display of a question, a plurality of answer selections, and at least one matching attempt by the player,

(c) cause a prize value to be awarded to the player for each correct match between the selected answer and the predetermined answer,

(d) determine an absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches,

(e) adjust a multiplier by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches, and

(f) provide an award to the player that is the product of a sum of the prize values and the adjusted multiplier.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the multiplier is reduced by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the prize value is related to the number of answer choices.

25. The gaming device of claim 22, which includes at least one consolation award provided to the player for an incorrect answer.

26. The gaming device of claim 22, which includes a plurality of potential multipliers, each of the potential multipliers corresponding to one of the plurality of potential predicted number of matches, wherein the award is modified by the multiplier corresponding to the selected predicted number of matches.

27. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device; and

a game operable on a wager by a player,

said at least one processor programmed to;

(a) cause a game sequence to be displayed to the player by the display device and which displays a plurality of selections, each of the plurality of selections corresponding to a value,

(b) enable the player to make a first pick of one of the selection,

(c) enable the player to make a second pick of one of the selections,

(d) determine an absolute value of the difference between a number associated with the first selection and a number associated with the second selection, and

(e) provide an award to the player based on the absolute value of the difference between a number associated with first selection and a number associated with the second selection.

28. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the award is based on a multiplier.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the multiplier is reduced by an absolute value of the difference between a number associated with first selection and a number associated with the second selection.

30. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising;

a display device; and

a game operable upon a wager by a player,

said at least one processor programmed to;

(a) determine a first number,

(b) determine a second number,

(c) determine an absolute value of a difference between the first number and the second number, and

(d) provide an outcome to the player based on the absolute value of the difference between the first number and the second number.

31. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the outcome is based on a multiplier.

32. The gaming device of claim 31, wherein the multiplier is reduced by the absolute value of the difference between the first number and the second number.

33. The gaming device of claim 30, wherein the outcome is selected from one of:

at least one credit, an award, a prize, at least one free game or spin.

34. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, said method comprising:

(a) providing a game sequence to the player to determine a predicted number of matches;

(b) providing a game sequence to determine the actual number of matches;

(c) displaying the actual number of matches;

(d) determining an absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches; and

(e) determining an award based on the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein determining the predicted number of matches includes:

(a) displaying a plurality of potential predicted number of matches; and

(b) enabling the player to pick one of the predicted number of matches.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein determining the predicted number of matches includes:

(a) displaying a plurality of selections;

(b) enabling the player to pick one of the selections; and

(c) displaying the predicted number of matches corresponding to the player'"'"'s selection.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein each selection corresponds to a different multiplier.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein determining the actual number of matches includes:

(a) displaying a question;

(b) displaying a plurality of answer choices;

(c) enabling the player to pick one of the answer choices;

(d) revealing if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer;

(e) displaying a prize value if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer; and

(f) repeating steps (a) to (e) at least once if a terminating condition is not fulfilled.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the value of the prize for each question is directly related to the number of answer choices for each question.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein determining the actual number of matches include:

(a) displaying a plurality of selections, each selection corresponding to an indicia;

(b) enabling the player to pick a first selection;

(c) enabling the player to pick a second selection;

(d) determining if the indicia of the player'"'"'s first selection matches the indicia of the second selection;

(e) displaying a prize value if the player'"'"'s first selection matches the player'"'"'s second selection; and

(f) repeating steps (a) to (e) at least once if a terminating condition is not fulfilled.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the award based on a multiplier.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the multiplier is adjusted by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

43. The method of claim 34, which is controlled through a data network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data network is an internet.

45. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager by a player, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of selections;

(b) enabling the player to pick one of the selections;

(c) displaying a predicted number of matches corresponding to the player'"'"'s selection;

(d) providing a game sequence to determine the actual number of matches;

(e) displaying the actual number of matches;

(f) determining an absolute value of a difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches; and

(g) determining an award based on the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein determining the actual number of matches includes:

(a) displaying a question;

(b) displaying a plurality of answer choices;

(c) enabling the player to pick one of the answer choices;

(d) revealing if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer;

(e) displaying a prize value if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer; and

(f) repeating steps (a) to (e) at least once if a terminating condition is not fulfilled.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the prize value is based on the number of answer choices for said question.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein determining the actual number of matches includes:

(a) displaying a plurality of selections, each selection corresponding to some indicia;

(b) enabling the player to pick a first selection;

(c) enabling the player to pick a second selection;

(d) determining if the indicia of the player'"'"'s first selection matches the indicia of the second selection;

(e) displaying a prize if the player'"'"'s first selection matches the player'"'"'s second selection; and

(f) repeating steps (a) to (e) at least once if the terminating condition is not fulfilled.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the award is modified by a multiplier.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the multiplier is reduced by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

51. The method of claim 45, which is controlled through a data network.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the data network is an internet.

53. A method for operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager by a player, the method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of selections;

(b) enabling the player to input a pick one of the selections;

(c) displaying the predicted number of matches corresponding to the player'"'"'s picked selection;

(d) displaying a question;

(e) displaying a plurality of answer choices;

(f) enabling the player to input a pick one of the answer choices;

(g) revealing if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer;

(h) displaying a prize value if the player'"'"'s answer choice matches the correct answer;

(i) repeating steps (d) to (h) until a terminating condition is fulfilled;

(j) determining an absolute value of a difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches; and

(k) determining an award to provide to the player based on a multiplier, a sum of the displayed prize values, and the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein determining an award includes reducing the multiplier by the absolute value of the difference between the predicted number of matches and the actual number of matches, and applying the modified multiplier to the sum of the prize values.

55. The method of claim 53, which is controlled through a data network.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the data network is an internet.