Apparatus and method for player interaction

• US 7,980,936 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mead, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/261,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20040063486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,214 Days
• Field of Search: 463/10, 463/11, 463/36, 463/37, 463/43, 463 13- 20, 463 29- 31
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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 gaming apparatus includes a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The controller is programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a first video image to be generated on the display unit, the first video image representing a first video game, to determine a game event associated with the first video game, to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on the display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, to animate the second video image, to receive a player'"'"'s input to stop animation of the second video image, to stop animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s input, and to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a player to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, said first video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,

said controller being programmed to determine a game event associated with the first video game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, wherein the second video image is different than the first video image and the second video game ends after a predefined duration of time has elapsed,

said controller being programmed to receive an input of the player by sensing a contact by the player to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image after the second video image is generated on the display unit,

said controller being programmed to progressively animate the second video image without repetition according to the player'"'"'s input to initiate animation until a separate input of the player to stop animation is received, wherein the separate input is a removal of the contact from the touch-sensitive device,

said controller being programmed to receive the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation of the second video image, wherein the player'"'"'s separate input is received before the predefined duration of time elapses,

said controller being programmed to stop progressive animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation, and

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game, wherein the value payout is based at least in part on a duration of the animation of the second video image.

2. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

said controller being programmed to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

3. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

4. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined; and

said controller being programmed to initiate animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

5. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine at least a portion of a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

6. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user input to stop animation is without prompting during progressive animation.

7. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 1, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

8. A gaming system as defined in claim 7, wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.

9. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a player to make a wager;

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image to be generated on said display unit, said first video image representing a first video game,

said controller being programmed to determine a game event associated with the first video game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, wherein the second video game ends after a predefined duration of time has elapsed,

said controller being programmed to receive an input of the player by sensing a contact by the player to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image after the second video image is generated on the display unit,

said controller being programmed to progressively animate the second video image without repetition according to the player'"'"'s input to initiate animation until a separate input of the player to stop animation is received, wherein the separate input is a removal of the contact from the touch-sensitive device,

said controller being programmed to receive the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation of the second video image, wherein the player'"'"'s separate input is received before the predefined duration of time elapses,

said controller being programmed to stop progressive animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation,

said controller being programmed to determine if an amount of time has elapsed after animation of the second video image has been initiated by the player'"'"'s input to initiate the animation,

said controller being programmed to stop animation of the second video game image if the amount of time has elapsed, and

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game, wherein the value payout is based at least in part on a duration of the animation of the second video image.

10. The gaming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on said display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

said controller being programmed to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

11. The gaming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

12. The gaming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined; and

said controller being programmed to initiate animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

13. The gaming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine at least a portion of a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

14. The gaming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the user input to stop animation is without prompting during progressive animation.

15. A gaming system, comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 9, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

16. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a player to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to allow the player to make a payline selection,

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image to be generated on said display unit, said first video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols,

said controller being programmed to determine a game event associated with the slots game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the slots game, wherein the second video game ends after a predefined duration of time has elapsed,

said controller being programmed to determine if an amount of time has elapsed after the game event is determined,

said controller being programmed to receive an input of the player by sensing a contact by the player to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image after the second video image is generated on the display unit,

said controller being programmed to progressively animate the second video image without repetition after the amount of time has elapsed or according to the player'"'"'s input to initiate animation until a separate input of the player to stop animation is received, wherein the separate input is a removal of the contact from the touch-sensitive device,

said controller being programmed to receive the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation of the second video image, wherein the player'"'"'s separate input is received before the predefined duration of time elapses,

said controller being programmed to stop progressive animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation, and

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout to be associated with the second video game, wherein the value payout is based at least in part on a duration of the animation of the second video image.

17. The gaming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the slots game.

18. The gaming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine a slots game outcome associated with the slots game; and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the slots game outcome associated with the slots game.

19. The gaming apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

said controller being programmed to determine at least a portion of a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

20. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said controller is programmed to allow a user to select a number of paylines.

21. The gaming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the user input to stop animation is without prompting during progressive animation.

22. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 16, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

23. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

causing a first video image representing a first video game to be generated on a display unit, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno, and

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo; and

determining a game event associated with the first video game;

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on said display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, wherein the second video image is different than the first video image and the second video game ends after a predefined duration of time has elapsed;

receiving an input of a player by sensing a contact by the player to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image after the second video image is generated on the display unit;

progressively animating the second video image without repetition according to the player'"'"'s input to initiate animation until a separate input of the player to stop animation is received, wherein the separate input is a removal of the contact from the touch-sensitive device;

receiving the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation of the second video image, wherein the player'"'"'s separate input is received before the predefined duration of time elapses;

stopping progressive animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation; and

determining a value payout to be associated with the second video game based at least in part on a duration of the animation of the second video image.

24. The gaming method according to claim 23, further comprising:

causing a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on a display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

determining that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

25. The gaming method according to claim 23, further comprising:

determining a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

26. The gaming method according to claim 23, further comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

initiating animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

27. The gaming method according to claim 23, further comprising:

determining at least a portion of a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

28. The gaming method according to claim 23, wherein the user input to stop animation is without prompting during progressive animation.

29. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

causing a first video image representing a first video game to be generated on a display unit;

determining a game event associated with the first video game;

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, wherein the second video game ends after a predefined duration of time has elapsed;

receiving an input of a player by sensing a contact by the player to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image after the second video image is generated on the display unit;

progressively animating the second video image without repetition according to the player'"'"'s input to initiate animation until a separate input of the player to stop animation is received, wherein the separate input is a removal of the contact from the touch-sensitive device;

receiving the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation of the second video image, wherein the player'"'"'s separate input is received before the predefined duration of time elapses;

stopping progressive animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation;

determining if an amount of time has elapsed after animation of the second video image has been initiated by the player'"'"'s input to initiate the animation;

stopping progressive animation of the second video game image if the amount of time has elapsed; and

determining a value payout to be associated with the second video game based at least in part on a duration of the animation of the second video image.

30. The gaming method according to claim 29, further comprising:

causing a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on a display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

determining that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

31. The gaming method according to claim 29, further comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined; and

initiating animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

32. The gaming method according to claim 29, further comprising:

determining at least a portion of a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

33. The gaming method according to claim 29, wherein the user input to stop animation is without prompting during progressive animation.

34. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

receiving a payline selection,

causing a first video image representing a first video game to be generated on a display unit, said video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols,

determining a game event associated with the first video game;

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the game event associated with the first video game, wherein the second video game ends after a predefined duration of time has elapsed;

determining if an amount of time has elapsed after the game event is determined;

receiving an input of a player by sensing a contact by the player to a touch-sensitive device to initiate animation of the second video image after the second video image is generated on the display unit;

progressively animating the second video image without repetition after the amount of time has elapsed or according to the player'"'"'s input to initiate animation until a separate input of the player to stop animation is received, wherein the separate input is a removal of the contact from the touch-sensitive device;

receiving the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation of the second video image, wherein the player'"'"'s separate input is received before the predefined duration of time elapses;

stopping progressive animation of the second video image according to the player'"'"'s separate input to stop animation; and

determining a value payout to be associated with the second video game based at least in part on a duration of the animation of the second video image.

35. The gaming method according to claim 34, further comprising:

causing a first video image of a plurality of slot machine reels representing a first video game to be generated on a display unit, each of the slot machine reels including at least one reel symbol;

determining that a second video game initiator reel symbol should be displayed on at least one of the plurality of slot machine reels; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the second video game initiator symbol associated with the first video game.

36. The gaming method according to claim 34, further comprising:

determining a first game outcome associated with the first video game; and

causing a second video image representing a second video game to be generated on a display unit according to the first game outcome associated with the first video game.

37. The gaming method according to claim 34, further comprising:

determining if a unit of time has elapsed after the game event is determined; and

initiating animation of the second video game image if the unit of time has elapsed.

38. The gaming method according to claim 34, further comprising:

determining at least a portion of a payout to be associated with the second video game prior to animating the second video image.

39. The gaming method according to claim 34, wherein the user input to stop animation is without prompting during progressive animation.