Method and system for gaming and brand association

• US 7,455,586 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US10/946,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20060063580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 49
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 method includes receiving a first wager from a player, displaying a first image representing a game, determining a first outcome associated with the game, and determining a first payout according to the first outcome and a first paytable. The gaming method also includes determining if a brand-association event has occurred, selecting a brand if the brand-association event has occurred, using a second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable including at least one payout associated with the selected brand, receiving a second wager from the player, displaying a second image representing a game, determining a second outcome associated with the game, and determining a second payout according to the second outcome and the second paytable, the second payout comprising the at least one payout associated with the selected brand.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first wager from a player;

(b) displaying a first image representing a first play of a game;

(c) displaying a first outcome associated with the first play of the game;

(d) determining whether to associate a first payout with the first play of the game, the first payout based on the displayed first outcome and a first paytable;

(e) displaying the first payout, if any, for the first play of the game; and

when a brand-association event occurs in the first play of the game;

(i) selecting one of a plurality of different brands for a second play of the game;

(ii) associating the selected brand with at least one payout of the second play of the game, the at least one payout being part of a second paytable for the second play of the game, the second paytable being different than the first paytable;

(iii) receiving a second wager from the player;

(iv) displaying a second image representing the second play of the game;

(v) displaying a second outcome associated with the second play of the game;

(vi) determining whether to associate a second payout with the second play of the game, the second payout based on the displayed second outcome and the second paytable; and

(vii) displaying the second payout, if any, for the second play of the game.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

modifying the first paytable to define forming the second paytable by adding said at least one payout associated with the selected brand to the first paytable if the brand-association event has occurred in association with the first play of the game.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising:

modifying the first paytable to define the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred in association with the first play of the game, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand for a game outcome of the first paytable that is unassociated with a payout.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

downloading the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred in association with the first play of the game, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising:

downloading the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred in association with the first play of the game, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand for a game outcome of the first paytable that is unassociated with a payout.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

displaying an image representing the second play of the game, the image including a plurality of game elements, the plurality of game elements defining one or more game outcomes for the second play of the game; and

using if the brand-association event has occurred in association with the second play of the game, including said at least one payout associated with the selected brand and at least one game element comprising information regarding the selected brand in the second paytable.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the information regarding the selected brand is a link and comprising:

receiving an input from the player in regard to the link;

retrieving an image associated with the link, the image displaying information regarding the selected brand; and

displaying the image associated with the link.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of game elements include at least one of cards, reel symbols, keno tickets, and bingo cards.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the information regarding the selected brand comprises at least one of audio and video associated with the selected brand.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the information regarding the selected brand comprises a video clip and an audio clip, both of which are associated with the selected brand.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one payout associated with the selected brand comprises at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

receiving an input from the player, the input associated with at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand; and

requesting delivery of the at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

delivering to the player the at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one payout associated with the selected brand of the second paytable comprises at least one brand point, the brand point being redeemable for at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand.

15. The method according to claim 14, comprising:

receiving an input from the player, the input associated with an exchange of the at least one brand point for at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand; and

requesting delivery of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising:

delivering to the player the at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

17. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving a player profile associated with the player, the player profile having data regarding the player associated therewith;

comparing the data associated with the player profile with brand criteria associated with a brand; and

selecting the brand according to the comparison of the data associated with the player profile and the brand criteria data associated with the brand.

18. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving a player profile associated with the player, the player profile having data regarding the player associated therewith;

comparing the data associated with the player profile with brand criteria data associated with a plurality of brands;

transmitting requests to a plurality of brand-promoters, each brand-promoter associated with at least one brand of the plurality of brands;

receiving offers from the plurality of brand-promoters; and

selecting one of the brands according to the offers received from the plurality of brand-promoters.

19. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device configured to display at least one play of a game operable upon placement of a wager, the game including a plurality of outcomes;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device configured to store a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) display a first image representing a first play of the game,

(b) display a first one of the outcomes associated with the first play of the game,

(c) determine whether to associate a first award with the displayed first outcome based on a first paytable,

(d) display the first award, if any, for the first play of the game, and

(e) when a brand-association event occurs in the first play of the game;

(i) select one of a plurality of different brands for a second play of the game,

(ii) associate the selected brand with a second, different award based on a second paytable, the second paytable being different than the first paytable,

(iii) display a second image representing the second play of the game upon placement of another wager,

(iv) displaying a second outcome associated with the second play of the game,

(v) determine whether to associate the second, different award with the displayed second outcome based on the second paytable, and

(vi) display the second, different award, if any, for the second play of the game.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the brand association event includes a designated outcome occurring in association with the first play of the game.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store the plurality of different brands.

22. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to randomly select the selected brand for the second play of the game.

23. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the selected brand is associated with at least one of:

(i) the second outcome, and (ii) the second, different award based on the second paytable.