Gaming device methods and apparatus employing audio/video programming outcome presentation

• US 8,029,362 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Zucker, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino; Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US11/423,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

In a first aspect, a method (e.g., of operating a gaming device) is provided. The method includes the steps of (i) receiving audio/video content; (ii) associating a plurality of sets of outcome values with the audio/video content; (iii) determining a play session; (iv) determining which of the plurality of sets of outcome values to associate with the audio/video content for a duration of the play session, thereby determining an active set of outcome values; (v) determining a result of a game play during the session; (vi) selecting, based on the result, a value from the active set of outcome values; and (vii) outputting, as an indication of the result, the audio/video content and an indication of the selected value.

Claims

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

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a plurality of different paytables including at least a first paytable and a second, different paytable, the plurality of different paytables being predetermined prior to any player input and prior to any player wager;

enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

causing at least one display device to display a single segment of audio/video programming in association with the wagered on play of the game, wherein the audio/video programming is pre-recorded programming produced for a purpose other than in association with the wagered on play of the game, and the displayed single segment of audio/video programming includes a plurality of different events;

causing at least one of the plurality of paytables to be selected in association with the wagered on play of the game;

if the first paytable is selected in association with the wagered on play of the game, for each display of a first one of the plurality of different events included in the displayed single segment of audio/video programming generated, providing a first award to the player; and

if the second paytable is selected in association with the wagered on play of the game, for each display of the first one of the plurality of different events included in the displayed single segment of audio/video programming generated, providing a second, different award to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single segment of audio/video programming is a television sitcom.

3. The method of claim 1, further including associating the plurality of paytables with the single segment of audio/video programming.

4. The method of claim 1, further including providing a bonus event upon an occurrence of a designated one of the plurality of events included in the single segment of the audio/video programming.

5. The method of claim 1, further including triggering a negative outcome upon an occurrence of a designated one of the plurality of events included in the single segment of the audio/video programming.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein associating the plurality of paytables with the single segment of audio/video programming includes associating a subset of the plurality of paytables with a character in the single segment of audio/video programming.

7. The method of claim 3, further including receiving a selection of one of the plurality of paytables.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of paytables are associated with the single segment of audio/video programming such that a desired house edge is maintained.

9. The method of claim 3, further including randomly selecting from the plurality of paytables.

10. The method of claim 6, which includes providing an award to the player each time the character acts in a predefined manner.

11. The method of claim 6, which includes providing an award to the player each time the character speaks a particular line.

12. The method of claim 6, which includes providing an award to the player each time the character uses a particular prop.

13. The method of claim 6, further including changing paytables from within the subset of the plurality of paytables associated with the character between sequential viewings of the single segment of audio/video programming.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the selection includes receiving the selection from the player.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the bonus event upon the occurrence of the designated one of the plurality of events includes providing the bonus event upon the occurrence of an event selected from a group consisting of:

a particular phrase, a type of phrase, a prop, and a type of prop.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the negative outcome upon the occurrence of the designated one of the plurality of events includes providing the negative outcome upon the occurrence of an event selected from a group consisting of:

a particular phrase, a type of phrase, a prop, and a type of prop.

17. A gaming system comprising:

a user interface; and

a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and configured to;

(a) maintain a plurality of different paytables including at least a first paytable and a second, different paytable, the plurality of different paytables being predetermined prior to any player input and prior to any player wager;

(b) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

(c) display a single segment of audio/video programming in association with the wagered on play of the game, wherein the audio/video programming is pre-recorded programming produced for a purpose other than in association with the wagered on play of the game, and the displayed single segment of audio/video programming includes a plurality of different events;

(d) select at least one of the plurality of different paytables in association with the wagered on play of the game; and

(e) provide multiple awards to a player in conjunction with the display of the single segment of audio/video programming, wherein;

(i) if the first paytable is selected in association with the wagered on play of the game, for each display of a first one of the plurality of different events included in the displayed single segment of audio/video programming is generated, provide a first award to the player; and

(ii) if the second paytable is selected in association with the wagered on play of the game, for each display of a second, different one of the plurality of different events included in the displayed single segment of audio/video programming is generated, provide a second, different award to the player.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the user interface is located within a mobile terminal.

19. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes a community screen.

20. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the mobile terminal is selected from a group consisting of:

a personal computer, a telephone, a portable handheld gaming device, and a personal digital assistant.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

maintain a plurality of different paytables including at least a first paytable and a second, different paytable, the plurality of different paytables being predetermined prior to any player input and prior to any player wager;

enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

cause a display device to display a single segment of audio/video programming in association with the wagered on play of the game, wherein the audio/video programming is pre-recorded programming produced for a purpose other than in association with the wagered on play of the game, and the displayed single segment of audio/video programming includes a plurality of different events;

select at least one of the plurality of paytables in association with the wagered on play of the game; and

provide multiple awards to a player of the gaming device in conjunction with the display of the single segment of audio/video programming, wherein;

(a) if the first paytable is selected in association with the wagered on play of the game, for each display of a first one of the plurality of different events included in the displayed single segment of audio/video programming is generated, provide a first award to the player; and

(b) if the second paytable is selected in association with the wagered on play of the game, for each display of a second, different one of the plurality of different events included in the displayed single segment of audio/video programming is generated, provide a second, different award to the player.