Computer system communicable with one or more gaming devices having a matching game

• US 7,494,412 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duffy; David W
• Application Number:
  US11/381,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/29, 273/138.1, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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

Abstract

A computer system operable to communicate with one or more gaming devices. The computer system has a processor and a data storage device. The data storage device stores instructions associated with a game. The instructions are executable to cause the gaming device to display a base, selections and characteristics associated therewith. The instructions are executable to enable one or more selections to be picked to match characteristics of the base.

Claims

1. A computer system operable to communicate with at least one gaming device, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor operatively coupled to a network, the network being operatively accessible to the gaming device; and

at least one data storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage device storing a plurality of instructions associated with at least one game which is playable by a player using the gaming device, the instructions being executable to;

(a) cause the gaming device to display a base and at least two different characteristics associated with the base;

(b) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of selections, each selection having at least two different characteristics associated with said selection;

(c) cause the gaming device to display, for each selection, at least one of the characteristics associated with said selection;

(d) enable a pick of one of the selections, if any, having at least one displayed characteristic matching at least one characteristic of the base;

(e) if one of the selections is picked;

(i) cause the gaming device to display all of the characteristics associated with said picked selection, (ii) cause said picked selection to function as the base, and (iii) cause step (d) to be repeated at least once for remaining unpicked selections; and

(f) cause an award to be provided to a player based on the selections picked.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processor and the data storage device are portions of a server.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the network includes a network selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network and an Internet.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the gaming device has at least one processor and at least one data storage device storing at least one instruction, said instruction being executable by the processor of the gaming device to:

(a) store the plurality of instructions; and

(b) execute the plurality of instructions to control the game.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one additional instruction which enables the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to control the game over the network.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the selections has a wild characteristic.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction which is executable to cause the gaming device to display, for each selection, less than all of the characteristics associated with said selection.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to:

(a) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of bases, each of the bases having at least two different characteristics associated with said base; and

(b) enable a pick of one of the selections, if any, having at least one displayed characteristic matching at least one characteristic of at least one of the bases.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause at least one of the selections to function as the base after said selection is picked.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to enable the player to repeatedly pick from an identical quantity of the selections after each pick of one of the selections.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to reduce a quantity of the selections from which the player can pick, wherein the reduction is made after each pick of one of the selections.

12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the base has a quantity of at least three characteristics, and each one of the selections has at least one characteristic less than the quantity of characteristics of the base.

13. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with one group and another plurality of the selections are associated with another group, the data storage device storing at least one instruction executable to:

(a) cause the gaming device to display, for each group, less than all of the selections of said group; and

(b) enable a pick of at least one of the selections of at least one of the groups.

14. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause a wager of the player to affect a quantity of the selections which the player can pick.

15. A computer system operable to communicate with at least one gaming device, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor operatively coupled to a network, the network being operatively accessible to the gaming device; and

at least one data storage device operatively coupled to the processor, the data storage device storing a plurality of instructions associated with the game, the instructions being executable to;

(a) cause the gaming device to display a base and at least two different characteristics associated with the base;

(b) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of selections, each selection having at least two different characteristics associated with said selection;

(c) cause the gaming device to display, for each selection, at least one of the characteristics associated with said selection;

(d) enable a pick of one of the selections, if any, having at least one displayed characteristic matching at least one characteristic of the base;

(e) if one of the selections is picked, causing the gaming device to display all of the characteristics associated with said picked selection and causing said picked selection to function as the base;

(f) cause a repeat of steps (d) and (e) for remaining selections until none of the selections have an associated displayed characteristic which matches a characteristic of a previously picked selection then functioning as the base; and

(g) cause an award to be provided to a player based on the selections picked.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the processor and the data storage device are portions of a server.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the network includes a network selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network and an Internet.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the gaming device has at least one processor and at least one data storage device storing at least one instruction, said instruction being executable by the processor of the gaming device to:

(a) store the plurality of instructions; and

(b) execute the plurality of instructions to control the game.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one additional instruction which enables the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to control the game over the network.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the selections has a wild characteristic.

21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction which is executable to cause the gaming device to display, for each selection, less than all of the characteristics associated with said selection.

22. The computer system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the selections has a wild characteristic.

23. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to:

(a) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of bases, each of the bases having at least two different characteristics associated with said base; and

(b) enable a pick of one of the selections, if any, having at least one displayed characteristic matching at least one characteristic of at least one of the bases.

24. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause at least one of the selections to function as the base after said selection is picked.

25. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to enable the player to repeatedly pick from an identical quantity of the selections after each pick of one of the selections.

26. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to reduce a quantity of the selections from which the player can pick, wherein the reduction is made after each pick of one of the selections.

27. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the base has a quantity of at least three characteristics, and each one of the selections has at least one characteristic less than the quantity of characteristics of the base.

28. The computer system of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with one group and another plurality of the selections are associated with another group, the data storage device storing at least one instruction executable to:

(a) cause the gaming device to display, for each group, less than all of the selections of said group; and

(b) enable a pick of at least one of the selections of at least one of the groups.

29. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause a wager of the player to affect a quantity of the selections which the player can pick.

30. A data storage device comprising:

a storage medium; and

a plurality of instructions stored on the storage medium and associated with at least one game which is playable by a player using a gaming device, the instructions being executable to;

(a) cause the gaming device to display a base and at least two different characteristics associated with the base;

(b) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of selections, each selection having at least two different characteristics associated with said selection;

(c) cause the gaming device to display, for each selection, at least one of the characteristics associated with said selection;

(d) enable a pick of one of the selections, if any, having at least one displayed characteristic matching at least one characteristic of the base;

(e) if one of the selections is picked;

(i) cause the gaming device to display all of the characteristics associated with said picked selection, (ii) cause said picked selection to function as the base, and (iii) cause step (d) to be repeated at least once for remaining unpicked selections; and

(f) cause an award to be provided to a player based on the selections picked.

31. The data storage device of claim 30, wherein at least one of the selections has a wild characteristic.

32. The data storage device of claim 30, which stores at least one instruction which is executable to cause the gaming device to display, for each selection, less than all of the characteristics associated with said selection.

33. The data storage device of claim 30, which stores at least one instruction executable to:

(a) cause the gaming device to display a plurality of bases, each of the bases having at least two different characteristics associated with said base; and

(b) enable a pick of one of the selections, if any, having at least one displayed characteristic matching at least one characteristic of at least one of the bases.

34. The data storage device of claim 30, which stores at least one instruction executable to cause at least one of the selections to function as the base after said selection is picked.

35. The data storage device of claim 30, which stores at least one instruction executable to enable the player to repeatedly pick from an identical quantity of the selections after each pick of one of the selections.

36. The data storage device of claim 30, which stores at least one instruction executable to reduce a quantity of the selections from which the player can pick, wherein the reduction is made after each pick of one of the selections.

37. The data storage device of claim 30, wherein the base has a quantity of at least three characteristics, and each one of the selections has at least one characteristic less than the quantity of characteristics of the base.

38. The data storage device of claim 30, wherein a plurality of the selections are associated with one group and another plurality of the selections are associated with another group, the data storage device storing at least one instruction executable to:

(a) cause the gaming device to display, for each group, less than all of the selections of said group; and

(b) enable a pick of at least one of the selections of at least one of the groups.

39. The data storage device of claim 30, wherein the data storage device stores at least one instruction executable to cause a wager of the player to affect a quantity of the selections which the player can pick.