Game based on speed of play

• US 8,021,222 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/790,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,759 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463 20- 23, 463/25, 463/26, 463 41- 43, 463/46, 463/47, 463/13, 463/6, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/141.R, 273/141.A, 273/143.R, 273/143.A, 700 90- 92
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a gaming device such as a slot machine calculates a speed of game play, and in turn determines a pay schedule based on the speed of game play. In some embodiments, a count is adjusted throughout a multiple play session based on point values associated with symbols on the reels of a slot machine, and payouts are awarded in accordance with (i) a finishing count, and/or (ii) a “virtual average speed”.

Claims

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

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(a) determine a plurality of plays at a gaming device;

(b) calculate a speed of game play for the plurality of plays based on a number of plays per unit time;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a pay schedule for at least one subsequent play based on the calculated speed of game play; and

causing at least one display device to display a racing object having a position which changes based on the calculated speed of game play,

wherein a player payout percentage defined by the determined pay schedule for the at least one subsequent play is greater for a first speed of game play than for a second speed of game play, the first speed being greater than the second speed.

2. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to calculate the speed of game play based on a number of plays which have occurred since a predefined amount of time.

3. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to calculate the speed of game play based on a predetermined number of plays.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a payout based on at least the determined pay schedule.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to calculate a running count based on the speed of game play; and

providing a payout based on at least the running count.

6. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

receiving payment for a predetermined number of at least three distinct plays of a game;

calculating a speed of game play for each of the plurality of predetermined number of plays of the game, said calculated speed of game play being based on a number of plays of the game per unit of time;

for each of the predetermined number of plays of the game, generating a slot machine outcome; and

causing at least one display device to display a racing object having a position which changes based on the calculated speed of game play.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing a payout based on at least the calculated speed of game play.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing a payout based on at least the position.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to calculate an average speed; and

providing a payout based on at least the average speed.

10. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(a) determine revenue received per unit of time from a player playing a wagering game at a gaming device;

(b) determine a magnitude of a multiplier based on the revenue, wherein the multiplier is of a first magnitude for a first revenue and of a second magnitude for a second revenue and further wherein the first revenue is greater than the second revenue and the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude;

(c) determine a base amount for a payout;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to calculate the payout by multiplying the base amount by the multiplier; and

providing the payout to the player.

11. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a value indicative of revenue received per unit of time from a player playing a wagering game at a gaming device;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a payout based on the value; and

providing the payout to the player,

wherein determining the value indicative of revenue received comprises determining a multiplier,

wherein the multiplier is of a first magnitude if the revenue is a first revenue and the multiplier is of a second magnitude if the revenue is a second revenue, and wherein the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude and the first revenue is greater than the second revenue, and further

wherein determining the payout based on the multiplier comprises

determining a base value for the payout and

determining the payout by multiplying the multiplier by the base value.

12. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a speed at which a wagering game is being played at a gaming device for each of a plurality of plays;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on the speed, a reward to provide to a player participating in the wagering game; and

providing the reward to the player for each of the plurality of plays, wherein the reward is determined such that a more beneficial reward is determined and provided to the player if the speed is a first speed that is greater than a second speed.

13. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(a) determine a plurality of plays at a gaming device;

(b) calculate a speed of game play for each of the plurality of plays based on a number of plays per unit time; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a pay schedule for at least one subsequent play based on the calculated speed of game play;

wherein a player payout percentage defined by the determined pay schedule for the at least one subsequent play is greater for a first speed of game play than for a second speed of game play, the first speed being greater than the second speed.