Central determination gaming system which provides a player a choice in outcomes

• US 7,785,189 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wolf, Bryan D., Brosnan, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US11/687,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 21, 463/26, 463/42, 463/43, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A central determination gaming system which provides a player a choice in outcomes. In one embodiment of the present invention, upon a player initiating a game play at one of a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller, the central controller selects a plurality of game outcomes from a pool of game outcomes. The selected game outcomes are communicated to the gaming terminal and the gaming terminal provides one of the selected game outcomes to the player based on at least one choice made by the player regarding the game play. The provided game outcome is prevented from further selections from the pool of game outcomes.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a central controller programmed to;

(a) generate a plurality of game outcomes, wherein at least two of said game outcomes are different and each generated game outcome is either a losing gaming outcome associated with a value of zero or one of a plurality of different winning game outcomes, each different winning game outcome associated with one of a plurality of different values greater than zero; and

(b) output a plurality of signals, each signal representing the value associated with one of the plurality of generated game outcomes;

a plurality of gaming devices remote from the central controller and configured to operate with the central controller, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device,

(ii) at least one input device, and

(iii) at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device to;

(a) receive said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes,

(b) after an initiation of a play of a game including a designated quantity of at least two choices, enable a selection of at least one of said choices in the play of the game, and

(c) provide one of the values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to a player, wherein said provided value is based on the at least one selected choice in the play of the game

and said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game are stored to be subsequently provided for at least one subsequent play of at least one game including at least the designated quantity of choices.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game are stored in a memory device of said gaming device which received said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game are stored in a memory device of the central controller.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one processor of at least one of said gaming devices is programmed to:

enable a selection of a plurality of said choices in the play of the game and provide one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to the player, wherein said provided value is based on said plurality of selected choices in the play of the game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of generated game outcomes includes an initial game outcome and a plurality of potential game outcomes whereby the potential game outcomes are selected based on the initial game outcome.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein said at least one processor of at least one of said gaming devices is programmed to:

display said initial game outcome to the player and enable a selection of at least one choice based on the displayed initial game outcome.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said game is a wagering game.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said generated game outcomes includes a presentation component.

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

at least one display device configured to operate with said at least one processor; and

at least one input device configured to operate with said at least one processor;

said at least one processor programmed to;

(a) receive a plurality of signals, each signal representing a value associated with one of a plurality of generated game outcomes, wherein at least two of said generated game outcomes are different and each generated game outcome is either a losing gaming outcome associated with a value of zero or one of a plurality of different winning game outcomes, each different winning game outcome associated with one of a plurality of different values greater than zero; and

(b) after an initiation of a play of a game including a designated quantity of at least two choices, control the play of the game by;

(i) enabling a selection of at least one of said choices in the play of the game, and

(ii) providing one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to a player, wherein said provided value is based on the at least one selected choice in the play of the game

and said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game are stored to be subsequently provided for at least one subsequent play of at least game including at least the designated quantity of choices.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said plurality of signals representing said values associated with said plurality of generated game outcomes are outputted from a remote central controller.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game are stored in a memory device of said gaming device.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game are stored in a memory device of a remote central controller.

13. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the game by enabling a selection of a plurality of said choices in the play of the game and providing one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to the player, wherein said provided value is based on said plurality of selected choices in the play of the game.

14. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of generated game outcomes includes an initial game outcome and a plurality of potential game outcomes whereby the potential game outcomes are selected based on the initial game outcome.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein said at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the game by displaying said initial game outcome to the player and enabling a selection of at least one choice based on the displayed initial game outcome.

16. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said game is a wagering game.

17. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein at least one of said generated game outcomes includes a presentation component.

18. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) at least one input device, and

a central controller remote from said plurality of gaming devices and configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices, said central controller programmed to;

(a) generate a plurality of game outcomes, wherein at least two of said game outcomes are different and each generated game outcome is either a losing gaming outcome associated with a value of zero or one of a plurality of different winning game outcomes, each different winning game outcome associated with one of a plurality of different values greater than zero;

(b) output a plurality of signals, each signal representing the value associated with one of the plurality of generated game outcomes;

(c) cause at least one of said gaming devices to;

(i) receive said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes,

(ii) after an initiation of a play of a game including a designated quantity of at least two choices, enable a selection of at least one of said plurality of choices in the play of the game, and

(iii) provide one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to a player, wherein said provided value is based on the at least one selected choice in the play of the game; and

(d) cause said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game to be stored to be subsequently provided for at least one subsequent play of at least one game including at least the designated quantity of choices.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein each gaming device includes at least one processor configured to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device.

20. A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) causing a central controller to execute at least one of the instructions to;

(i) generate a plurality of game outcomes, wherein at least two of said game outcomes are different and each generated game outcome is either a losing gaming outcome associated with a value of zero or one of a plurality of different winning game outcomes, each different winning game outcome associated with one of a plurality of different values greater than zero; and

(ii) output a plurality of signals, each signal representing the value associated with one of the plurality of generated game outcomes;

(b) causing at least one of a plurality of gaming devices remote from the central controller to;

(i) receive said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes;

(ii) after an initiation of a play of a game including a designated quantity of at least two choices, enable a selection of at least one of the plurality choices in the play of the game; and

(iii) provide one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to a player, wherein said provided value is based on the at least one selected choice in the play of the game; and

(c) causing said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game to be stored to be subsequently provided for at least one subsequent play of at least one game including at least the designated quantity of choices.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes causing at least one processor of said gaming device which received said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes to execute at least one of the instructions to store said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game.

22. The method of claim 20, which includes causing the central controller to execute at least one of the instructions to store said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game.

23. The method of claim 20, which includes causing said at least one of said gaming device which received said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes to:

enable a selection of a plurality of said choices in the play of the game and provide one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to the player, wherein said provided value is based on said plurality of selected choices in the play of the game.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of generated game outcomes includes an initial game outcome and a plurality of potential game outcomes whereby the potential game outcomes are selected based on the initial game outcome.

25. The method of claim 24, which includes:

(i) causing at least one display device of said at least one gaming device which received said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes to display said initial game outcome and (ii) enabling a selection of at least one choice based on the displayed initial game outcome.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said game is a wagering game.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of said generated game outcomes includes a presentation component.

28. The method of claim 20, which is provided through a data network.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the data network is an internet.

30. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of signals, each signal representing a value associated with one of a plurality of generated game outcomes, wherein at least two of said generated game outcomes are different and each generated game outcome is either a losing gaming outcome associated with a value of zero or one of a plurality of different winning game outcomes, each different winning game outcome associated with one of a plurality of different values greater than zero;

(b) after an initiation of a play of a game including a designated quantity of at least two choices, enabling a selection of at least one of the plurality of choices in the play of the game;

(c) providing one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to a player, wherein said provided value is based on the at least one selected choice in the play of the game; and

(d) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game to be stored to be subsequently provided for at least one subsequent play of at least one game including at least the designated quantity of choices.

31. The method of claim 30, which includes receiving a plurality of signals representing said values associated with said plurality of generated game outcomes from a remote central controller.

32. The method of claim 30, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to store said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game.

33. The method of claim 30, which includes causing a remote central controller to store said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game.

34. The method of claim 30, which includes enabling a selection of a plurality of said choices in the play of the game and providing one of the values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to the player, wherein said provided value is based on said plurality of selected choices in the play of the game.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of generated game outcomes includes an initial game outcome and a plurality of potential game outcomes whereby the potential game outcomes are selected based on the initial game outcome.

36. The method of claim 35, which includes:

(i) causing at least one display device to display said initial game outcome and (ii) enabling a selection of at least one choice based on the displayed initial game outcome.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein said game is a wagering game.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of said generated game outcomes includes a presentation component.

39. The method of claim 30, which is provided through a data network.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the data network is an internet.

41. A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one of the instructions to be executed to generate a plurality of game outcomes, wherein at least two of said game outcomes are different and each generated game outcome is either a losing gaming outcome associated with a value of zero or one of a plurality of different winning game outcomes, each different winning game outcome associated with one of a plurality of different values greater than zero;

(b) causing at least one of the instructions to be executed to output a plurality of signals, each signal representing the value associated with one of the plurality of generated game outcomes;

(c) causing at least one gaming device to;

(i) receive said outputted signals representing the values associated with the plurality of generated game outcomes,

(ii) after an initiation of a play of a game including a designated quantity of at least two choices, enable a selection of at least one of said plurality of choices in the play of the game, and

(iii) provide one of said values associated with one of said generated game outcomes to a player, wherein said provided value is based on the at least one selected choice in the play of the game; and

(d) causing said values associated with said generated game outcomes not provided to the player in the play of the game to be stored to be subsequently provided for at least one subsequent play of at least one game including at least the designated quantity of choices.

42. The method of claim 41, which is provided through a data network.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the data network is an internet.