Financial trading game

• US 7,819,736 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Eloff, Andrew, Jarvis, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/381,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/10, 463 16- 23, 463 25- 31, 463/37, 463 40- 47, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/138.2, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273459-461, 700 90- 93, 345/501
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A game and in particular an electronic game that simulates trading securities on an exchange. The game is preferably played as a video gaming machine for gambling purposes. A computing device is provided having, among other things, a video screen display on which a line chart is displayed. The computing device also includes a selection device, which provides a means by which the player interacts with the computing device to “buy” or “sell”. The line chart includes a vertical axis that corresponds to the value or price of one or more securities, and a horizontal axis that corresponds to time. A segmented line is plotted on the line chart during a round of play. A random number generator randomly determines the vertical axis value for each point plotted along the segmented line.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

an input device;

a display device; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

(a) display a game operable upon a wager by a player;

(b) display a graph in the game, said graph including values on a first index and an indication of time on a second index;

(c) display an icon on the graph;

(d) display a first value plotted on the graph, in addition to the icon;

(e) display at least one other randomly determined value on the graph;

(f) display a line which intersects the values plotted on the graph;

(g) initiate an event if the line intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(h) provide the player an outcome based on the values plotted on the graph.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device to display the icon before the first value plotted on the graph.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device to display the first value plotted on the graph before the icon.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the values include a buy value and a sell value.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the outcome provided to the player is additionally based on the difference between the buy value and sell value.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome provided to the player is the difference between the first displayed value and another displayed value.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome is also based on a commission deducted from one of the displayed values.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcome is also based on a commission added to the first displayed value.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first displayed value equals the wager placed by the player.

10. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device configured to display a game which includes an item that is associated with a plurality of different values;

an input device; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

(a) display a graph in the game, said graph having a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, wherein the vertical axis corresponds to the different values associated with said item and the horizontal axis corresponds to an indication of time;

(b) display at least one icon on the graph;

(c) randomly generate one of the values associated with the item, in addition to the icon;

(d) display said value plotted on said graph;

(e) initiate an event if one of the displayed values intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(f) repeat (b) to (d) until a termination event occurs; and

(g) when said termination event occurs, provide the player with an outcome based on at least two of the values displayed on the graph.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein at least two of the displayed values are the same.

12. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the outcome is also based on a designated house commission.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the event includes a value added to any displayed value that intersects the icon.

14. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the event includes a value subtracted from any displayed value that intersects the icon.

15. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the event includes an initiation of at least one bonus game.

16. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the termination event is an expiration of time.

17. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the termination event is an input by the player.

18. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

causing a processor to operate with a display and an input device to;

(a) display, game operable upon a wager by a player;

(b) display, a graph in the game, said graph including values on a first index and an indication of time on a second index;

(c) display, an icon on the graph;

(d) display, a first value plotted on the graph, in addition to the icon;

(e) display, at least one other value on the graph;

(f) display, a line which intersects the values plotted on the graph; and

(g) initiate, an event if the line intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

causing the processor to provide, the player an outcome based on the values plotted on the graph.

19. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying the icon before the display of the first value plotted on the graph.

20. The method of claim 18, which includes displaying the first value plotted on the graph before the display of the icon.

21. The method of claim 18, which includes a buy value and a sell value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the outcome provided to the player is additionally based on the difference between the buy value and the sell value.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the outcome provided to the player is the difference between the first displayed value and another displayed value.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the outcome is also based on a commission deducted from one of the displayed values.

25. The method of claim 18, the outcome is also based on a commission added to the first displayed value.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the wager placed by the player equals the first displayed value.

27. The method of claim 18, which is provided through a data network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is an internet.

29. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

causing a processor to operate with a display device to;

(a) display, a game which includes an item that is associated with a plurality of different values and a graph having a first axis and a second different axis transverse to the first axis, wherein the first axis corresponds to the different values associated with said item and the second axis corresponds to an indication of time;

(b) display, at least one icon on the graph;

(c) randomly generate, one of the values associated with the item, in addition to the icon;

(d) display, said value by plotting said value on said graph;

(e) initiate, an event if one of the displayed values intersects the icon displayed on the graph; and

(f) repeat (c) to (e) until a termination event occurs; and

causing the processor,

when said termination event occurs, provide the player with an outcome based on at least two of the values displayed on the graph.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least two of the displayed values are the same.

31. The method of claim 29, which includes reducing at least one of the displayed values by a predetermined value.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the event includes adding a value to any displayed value that intersects the icon.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the event includes subtracting a value subtracted from any displayed value that intersects the icon.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the event includes initiating at least one bonus game.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the termination event is an expiration of time.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the termination event is an input by the player.

37. The method of claim 29, which is provided through a data network.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the data network is an internet.