Gaming machines using multiple personalities

• US 8,360,872 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaming Enhancements Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gaming Enhancements Incorporated
• Inventors: Parham, Tyler T.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US12/859,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes determining player information for a player. A game personality is determined for a gaming machine. The game personality is a set of behavior characteristics for the gaming machine. It is determined if a solicitation for a gaming machine is triggered by applying the player information for a player to the game personality. The solicitation is performed for the player if the solicitation is triggered.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining player information for a player;

determining a first game personality for a first gaming machine, the first game personality being a first set of behavior characteristics that is individually configured for the first gaming machine, wherein a second gaming machine is individually configured with a second game personality being a second set of behavior characteristics, and wherein at least one of the first or second set of behavior characteristics is separate from game logic of a first or second game that the first or second gaming machine is offering;

determining if a solicitation for the first gaming machine is triggered by applying the player information for a player to the first game personality, wherein the solicitation for the first gaming machine is individually determined based on the first set of behavior characteristics for the first gaming machine and a solicitation for the second gaming device is individually determined based on the second set of behavior characteristics for the second gaming machine; and

causing the solicitation to be performed for the player if the solicitation is triggered.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the solicitation comprises using the first gaming machine to communicate with the player.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein communicating with the player is through a wireless network to a wireless device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein communicating with the player is through a network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication comprises sending a message to the player through a player tracking system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the solicitation comprises sending a message to solicit the player who is using another gaming machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the solicitation comprises changing game play for the player if the player is currently playing the first gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the solicitation comprises outputting an audible message when the player is detected to be within a certain distance of the first gaming machine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the personality comprises rules and actions, wherein the player information is applied to the rules to determine the solicitation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the game personality changes over time based on interaction of the player with the first gaming machine, wherein the set of behavior characteristics change based on the interaction.

11. The method of claim 1, a controller associated with the first gaming device is programmed with the first set of characteristics.

12. A method comprising:

determining a first game personality for a first gaming machine that is not being played, the first game personality being a first set of behavior characteristics that is individually configured for the first gaming machine, wherein a second gaming machine is individually configured with a second game personality being a second set of behavior characteristics, and wherein at least one of the first or second set of behavior characteristics is separate from game logic of a first or second game that the first or second gaming machine is offering;

triggering a solicitation offer for the first gaming machine that is not being played based on the first game personality, wherein the solicitation for the first gaming machine is individually determined based on the first set of behavior characteristics for the first gaming machine and a solicitation for the second gaming device is individually determined based on the second set of behavior characteristics for the second gaming machine;

causing the first gaming machine to enter an attract mode to offer the solicitation offer; and

providing the solicitation offer on the first gaming machine when a player interacts with the first gaming machine in response to the attract mode.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a message the player to alert the player of the solicitation offer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first gaming machine is associated with a first game manufacturer, wherein the player is sent the message while the player is playing another gaming machine associated with a second game manufacturer.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining the player by applying player information for a plurality of players to the first game personality; and

soliciting the player in the attract mode.

16. A system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein a portion of gaming machines include different game personalities, wherein a first game personality includes a first set of behavior characteristics that is individually configured for a first gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines, and a second gaming machine is individually configured with a second game personality being a second set of behavior characteristics, and wherein at least one of the first or second set of behavior characteristics is separate from game logic of a first or second game that the first or second gaming machine is offering;

wherein the first gaming machine and the second machine are configured to;

determine player information for a player;

determine if a solicitation for the first or the second gaming machine is triggered by applying the player information for a player to the first or second game personality; and

cause the solicitation to be performed for the player if the solicitation is triggered.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein different game personalities cause different solicitations to be performed.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first gaming machine is associated with a first game manufacturer, wherein the solicitation solicits the player that is playing the second gaming machine associated with a second game manufacturer.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first gaming machine is configured to send a message to the player playing the second gaming machine to solicit the player.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first gaming machine is configured to go into a bonus attract mode to solicit the player.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein different gaming machines have different favorite players, wherein the different gaming machines solicit different favorite players when the solicitation is to be performed.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein different game personalities include different rules and actions, wherein the player information is applied to the different rules to determine different solicitations.

23. A method comprising:

receiving a game personality for a gaming machine, the game personality being a set of behavior characteristics that is individually configured for the gaming machine;

determining, individually by the gaming machine, that the gaming machine has not been played for a period of time, wherein the period of time is a random or predetermined period of time since the last time the gaming machine was played that is determined based on the set of behavior characteristics;

triggering, individually by the gaming machine, a solicitation offer for the gaming machine that is not being played based on the random or predetermined period of time;

causing the gaming machine to enter an attract mode to offer the solicitation offer; and

providing the solicitation offer on the gaming machine when a player interacts with the gaming machine in response to the attract mode.