Financial trading game

• US 8,231,457 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jarvis, Eugene, Eloff, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US12/039,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 273/138.1, 273/292, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 more particularly to 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 system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to control a play of a wagering game by;

(a) receiving a wager from a player, said wager having a value greater than zero;

(b) displaying an initial payout value corresponding to said wager;

(c) randomly determining a first payout value, wherein said first payout value is a most recent payout value determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said initial payout value;

(d) displaying said first payout value while continuing to display said initial payout value;

(e) randomly determining another payout value, wherein said another payout value is determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said most recent payout value;

(f) displaying said another payout value as said most recent payout value while continuing to display previous said most recent and initial payout values;

(g) if a terminating event occurs, terminating the play of the wagering game; and

(h) if the terminating event does not occur, repeating (e) to (g) at least once.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the terminating event occurs if the player accepts the most recent payout value or the most recent payout value is a final payout value.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the terminating event occurs when a designated period of time remains in the play of the wagering game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the terminating event occurs when a designated quantity of payout values are displayed.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said initial payout value in (b) is selected from a range of payout values associated with the value of said received wager.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said another payout value in (e) is selected from a range of payout values associated with said first payout value.

7. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to control a play of a wagering game by;

(a) receiving a wager from a player, said wager having a value greater than zero;

(b) displaying an initial payout value corresponding to said wager;

(c) randomly determining a first payout value, wherein said first payout value is determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said initial payout value;

(d) displaying said first payout value as a most recent displayed payout value while continuing to display said initial payout value;

(e) if the most recent displayed payout value is not a final payout value, enabling the player to accept or reject the most recent displayed payout value;

(f) if the player accepts the most recent displayed payout value or the most recent displayed payout value is the final payout value, providing the most recent displayed payout value to the player; and

(g) if the player rejects the most recent displayed payout value;

(i) randomly determining another payout value, wherein said another payout value is determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said the most recent displayed payout value,

(ii) displaying said another payout value as said most recent displayed payout value while continuing to display said initial and previous said most recent displayed payout values, and

(iii) repeating (e) to (f) at least once.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to control the play of the wagering game by repeating (e) to (f) until a designated period of time remains in the play of the wagering game.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to control the play of the wagering game by repeating (e) to (f) until a designated quantity of payout values are displayed.

10. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein said initial payout value in (b) is selected from a range of payout values associated with the value of said received wager.

11. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein said another payout value in (g)(i) is selected from a range of payout values associated with said first payout value.

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

(a) receiving a wager from a player for a play of a wagering game, said wager having a value greater than zero;

(b) displaying an initial payout value corresponding to said wager;

(c) randomly determining a first payout value, wherein said first payout value is a most recent payout value determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from, said initial payout value;

(d) displaying said first payout value while continuing to display said initial payout value;

(e) randomly determining another payout value, wherein said another payout value is determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said most recent payout value;

(f) displaying said another payout value as said most recent payout value while continuing to display said previous said most recent and initial payout values;

(g) if a terminating event occurs, terminating the play of the wagering game; and

(h) if the terminating event does not occur, repeating (e) to (g) at least once.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the terminating event to occur if the player accepts the most recent payout value or the most recent payout value is a final payout value.

14. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the terminating event to occur when a designated period of time remains in the play of the wagering game.

15. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the terminating event to occur when a designated quantity of payout values are displayed.

16. The method of claim 12, which includes selecting said initial payout value in (b) from a range of payout values associated with the value of said received wager.

17. The method of claim 12, which includes selecting said another payout value in (e) from a range of payout values associated with said previously displayed payout value.

18. The method of claim 12, which is provided through a data network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data network is the internet.

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

(a) receiving a wager from a player for a play of a wagering game, said wager having a value greater than zero;

(b) displaying an initial payout value corresponding to said wager;

(c) randomly determining a first payout value, wherein said first payout value is determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said initial payout value;

(d) displaying said first payout value as a most recent displayed payout value while continuing to display said initial payout value;

(e) if the most recent displayed payout value is not a final payout value, enabling the player to accept or reject the most recent displayed payout value;

(f) if the player accepts the most recent displayed payout value or the most recent displayed payout value is the final payout value, providing the most recent displayed payout value to the player; and

(g) if the player rejects the most recent displayed payout value;

(i) randomly determining another payout value, wherein said another payout value is determined, at least in part, on a random determination of a change from said most recent displayed payout value,

(ii) displaying said another payout value as said most recent displayed payout value while continuing to display said initial and previous most recent displayed payout values, and

(iii) repeating (e) to (f) at least once.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes repeating (e) to (f) until a designated period of time remains in the play of the wagering game.

22. The method of claim 20, which includes repeating (e) to (f) until a designated quantity of payout values are displayed.

23. The method of claim 20, which includes selecting said initial payout value in (b) from a range of payout values associated with the value of said received wager.

24. The method of claim 20, which includes selecting said another payout value in (g)(i) from a range of payout values associated with said previously displayed payout value.

25. The method of claim 20, which is provided through a data network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data network is the internet.