Method and apparatus for outputting outcomes of a gaming device

• US 8,162,735 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Sammon, Russell P., Friesen, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US11/942,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for outputting an outcome for a game of a gaming device is presented, wherein the method comprises first outputting an apparent outcome for the game and then outputting an actual outcome for the game. In one or more embodiments, a benefit corresponding to the apparent outcome may not be provided to the player playing the gaming device. For example, a hopper may be prevented from dispensing a payout associated with the apparent outcome. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a character (e.g., an animated character) may be displayed as changing the apparent outcome into the actual outcome.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored on a memory device to determine an outcome value of a play of a wagering game at a gaming device;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a method for displaying the outcome value at the gaming device by selecting a display method from a plurality of potential display methods associated with the outcome value, the plurality of potential display methods include at least;

(i) displaying only the determined outcome value, (ii) displaying an apparent outcome value and then displaying the determined outcome value, and (iii) displaying the determined outcome value, then displaying the apparent outcome value, and then displaying the determined outcome value again, wherein selecting the display method occurs after the determination of the outcome value; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a display device to display the determined outcome value of the play of the wagering game using the selected display method.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the display method occurs during the play of the wagering game at the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to determine the method for displaying includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to generate a first random number.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to determine the outcome value includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to generate a second random number distinct from the first random number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to determine the outcome value includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to generate a random number and wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to determine the method for displaying includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to reuse the random number.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to determine the method for displaying includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to reference a computer memory.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to reference the computer memory includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instruction to reference a database within the computer memory.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a play of a wagering game at a gaming device;

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored on a memory device to determine an outcome value of the play of the wagering game at the gaming device;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a method for displaying the outcome value at the gaming device by selecting a display method from a plurality of potential display methods associated with the outcome value, the plurality of potential display methods include at least;

(i) displaying only the determined outcome value, (ii) displaying an apparent outcome value and then displaying the determined outcome value, and (iii) displaying the determined outcome value, then displaying the apparent outcome value, and then displaying the determined outcome value again, wherein selecting the display method occurs after the initiation of the play of the wagering game; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a display device to display the determined outcome value of the play of the wagering game using the selected display method.

9. A gaming device comprising:

a user interface; and

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

determine an outcome value of a play of a wagering game at the gaming device;

determine a method for displaying the outcome value at the gaming device by selecting a display method from a plurality of potential display methods associated with the outcome value, the plurality of potential display methods include at least;

(i) displaying only the determined outcome value, (ii) displaying an apparent outcome value and then displaying the determined outcome value, and (iii) displaying the determined outcome value, then displaying the apparent outcome value, and then displaying the determined outcome value again, wherein selection of the display method occurs after the determination of the outcome value; and

cause a display device to display the determined outcome value of the play of the wagering game using the selected display method.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to:

determine an outcome value of a play of a wagering game at a gaming device;

determine a method for displaying the outcome value at the gaming device by selecting a display method from a plurality of potential display methods associated with the outcome value, the plurality of potential display methods include at least;

(i) displaying only the determined outcome value, (ii) displaying an apparent outcome value and then displaying the determined outcome value, and (iii) displaying the determined outcome value, then displaying the apparent outcome value, and then displaying the determined outcome value again wherein selection of the display method occurs after the determination of the outcome value; and

cause a display device to display the determined outcome value of the play of the wagering game using the selected display method.