Gaming system and method for providing a slot driven video story

• US 8,529,339 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Fink, Jesse M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US13/686,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20130084964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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

Abstract

A gaming system includes a network server connected to a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to provide a video payout on each play based on a set of payout parameters. Memory at each gaming device stores payout parameters that correspond to each possible gaming result or outcome. When a play is initiated by a player, a gaming result is generated at a gaming device. The gaming device responds by accessing a corresponding payout parameter from the memory which may be a monetary amount, a video presentation segment or a combination thereof. If the payout is video, the network server receives the payout parameter and transmits video presentation segment to the gaming device accordingly. The gaming device then provides a video payout, in the form of displayed video presentation, to the player. The player thus receives at least one form of payment on each play.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display 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;

(a) enable a player to place a wager amount on a play of a game,

(b) determine an outcome associated with the wagered on play of the game, the determined outcome being one of;

(i) a first outcome corresponding to;

(A) an award value greater than zero, and

(B) one of a plurality of video presentations, said video presentation corresponding to the first outcome including content which is distinct and independent from;

 

(1) any outcome determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game,

 

(2) any award value determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game, and

 

(3) any values of any determined awards, and

(ii) a second outcome corresponding to;

(A) no award value, and

(B) one of said plurality of video presentations, said video presentation corresponding to the second outcome including content which is distinct and independent from;

 

(1) any outcome determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game,

 

(2) any award value determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game, and

 

(3) any values of any determined awards,

(c) if the determined outcome is the first outcome;

(i) in addition to any display of the wagered on play of the game, display a portion of less than all of the content of the video presentation corresponding to the first outcome, and

(ii) provide the award value corresponding to the first outcome, and

(d) if the determined outcome is the second outcome, in addition to any display of the wagered on play of the game, display a portion of less than all of the content of the video presentation corresponding to the second outcome.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the displayed portion of the content of the video presentation based, at least in part, on at least one previously displayed portion of the video presentation.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the determination of the displayed portion of the content of the video presentation is based, at least in part, on the outcome associated with the wagered on play of the game.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein an end point of the at least one previously displayed portion of the video presentation corresponds to a start point of the displayed portion of the content of the video presentation.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the end point of the at least one previously displayed portion of the video presentation is associated with a resume code and when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to input said resume code.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game includes a skill game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the wager amount and the award value corresponding to the first outcome is selected from the group consisting of;

an amount of monetary credits, an amount of non-monetary credits, an amount of complimentary points and an amount of player tracking points.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the content of the video presentation is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a movie, a music video, a soap opera, at least one clue for solving a puzzle, and a sporting event.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to display:

(i) an indication of the determined outcome in a game play area, and (ii) the content of the video presentation in a separate video presentation area.

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

(a) enabling a player to place a wager amount on a play of a game;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine an outcome associated with the wagered on play of the game, the determined outcome being one of;

(i) a first outcome corresponding to;

(A) an award value greater than zero, and

(B) one of a plurality of video presentations, said video presentation corresponding to the first outcome including content which is distinct and independent from;

(1) any outcome determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game,

(2) any award value determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game, and

(3) any values of any determined awards, and

(ii) a second outcome corresponding to;

(A) no award value, and

(B) one of said plurality of video presentations, said video presentation corresponding to the second outcome including content which is distinct and independent from;

(1) any outcome determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game,

(2) any award value determinations associated with the wagered on play of the game, and

(3) any values of any determined awards;

(c) if the determined outcome is the first outcome;

(i) in addition to any display of the wagered on play of the game, causing at least one display device to display a portion of less than all of the content of the video presentation corresponding to the first outcome, and

(ii) providing the award value corresponding to the first outcome; and

(d) if the determined outcome is the second outcome, in addition to any display of the wagered on play of the game, causing the at least one display device to display a portion of less than all of the content of the video presentation corresponding to the second outcome.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the displayed portion of the content of the video presentation based, at least in part, on at least one previously displayed portion of the video presentation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determination of the displayed portion of the content of the video presentation is based, at least in part, on the outcome associated with the wagered on play of the game.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein an end point of the at least one previously displayed portion of the video presentation corresponds to a start point of the displayed portion of the content of the video presentation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the end point of the at least one previously displayed portion of the video presentation is associated with a resume code and which includes enabling the player to input said resume code.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the game includes a skill game.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of:

the wager amount and the award value corresponding to the first outcome is selected from the group consisting of;

an amount of monetary credits, an amount of non-monetary credits, an amount of complimentary points and an amount of player tracking points.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the content of the video presentation is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a movie, a music video, a soap opera, at least one clue for solving a puzzle, and a sporting event.

18. The method of claim 10, which includes causing at least one display device to display:

(i) an indication of the determined outcome in a game play area, and (ii) the content of the video presentation in a separate video presentation area.

19. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a data network.

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