Method and apparatus for generating a virtual win

• US 8,602,866 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acres Technology
• Original Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem D
• Application Number:
  US12/406,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/22, 463/26
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having at least one winning event and at least one related award that is generated according to a set of rules associated with the game. The game is driven to present a predefined winning outcome and an award is generated as if the winning event and award were generated according to the rules. Also provided are rules and/or conditions for determining when to generate the predefined wining event, including rules that take into account player value to the casino and game volatility preference.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic gaming device having at least one game winning event comprising a first predetermined combination of symbols generated by a random process implemented via computer processor and at least one related award that is generated according to a pay table stored in a memory associated with the gaming device and shown on an award display when so awarded, the method comprising:

receiving a first play actuation input;

responsive to the first play actuation input, generating a first game losing event comprising a second predetermined combination of symbols based on the random process and the pay table associated with the gaming device;

displaying the game losing event on a display associated with the gaming device;

receiving a second play actuation input;

responsive to the second play actuation input, generating at least one game event comprising a third predetermined combination of symbols based on the random process and a related award, if any, that is generated according to the pay table;

determining if a predetermined bonus award for a player of the electronic gaming device is greater than the pay table award that is associated with the third predetermined combination of symbols;

if so, providing the predetermined bonus award by driving the gaming device to generate the first predetermined combination of symbols regardless of the random process;

displaying the first predefined combination of symbols so generated on the display;

generating an award as if the first predefined combination of symbols and generated award were generated according to the random process and pay table; and

displaying the award so generated on the award display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic gaming device has a plurality of game winning events and wherein the method further includes permitting a random number generator to select a game outcome.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising driving the gaming device to present the predefined combination of symbols only if the selected game outcome is not a winning event.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the electronic gaming device includes a plurality of winning events with different award values and wherein the method further comprises displaying the predefined combination of symbols only if the predefined combination of symbols has a greater or equal award value than the game event generated by the random process and the pay table.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic gaming device is operably connected to a network and wherein the method further comprises:

determining the predefined combination of symbols external to the electronic gaming device; and

transmitting data identifying the predefined combination of symbols to the electronic gaming device via the network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic gaming device includes a process for determining the predefined combination of symbols.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising requiring a player of the gaming device to generate an input to the gaming device prior to driving the gaming device to present the predefined combination of symbols and generating the award.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising indicating to the player that an award will be collected when the player generates the input.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising preventing the award from being collected if the player fails to generate the input within a predefined length of time.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining a preferred frequency of winning events of a player of the gaming device;

tracking the player'"'"'s play on the electronic gaming device;

determining the deviation of the frequency of winning events in the tracked play from the player'"'"'s preferred frequency; and

driving the gaming device to present the predefined winning event as a function of the determined deviation.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

estimating the player'"'"'s potential worth; and

driving the gaming device to present the predefined winning event as a function of the potential worth.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

determining the player'"'"'s preferred value of at least one winning event;

tracking the player'"'"'s play on the electronic gaming device;

determining the deviation of the value of at least one wining event in the tracked play from the player'"'"'s preferred value; and

driving the gaming device to present the predefined winning event as a function of the determined deviation.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the player'"'"'s preferred value of at least one winning event;

tracking the player'"'"'s play on the electronic gaming device;

determining the deviation of the value of at least one wining event in the tracked play from the player'"'"'s preferred value; and

driving the gaming device to present the predefined winning event as a function of the determined deviation.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

estimating the player'"'"'s potential worth; and

driving the gaming device to present the predefined winning event as a function of the potential worth.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the predefined winning event is associated with the preferred value.

16. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing at least one criterion related to the frequency of occurrence of winning events on the electronic gaming device;

tracking the level of play on the gaming device;

determining the deviation of the frequency of occurrence of winning events in the tracked level of play from the established criterion; and

driving the gaming device to present the predefined winning event as a function of the determined deviation.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising requiring the player to generate an input to the gaming device prior to driving the gaming device to present the predefined combination of symbols and paying the player.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising indicating to the player that an award may be collected if the player generates the input.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising preventing the award from being collected if the player fails to generate the input within a predefined length of time.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

allowing the gaming device to present a winning event according to the random number generator; and

changing the presented winning event to the predefined winning event.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein if the predefined bonus award for a player of the electronic gaming device is not greater than the pay table award that is associated with the third predefined combination of symbols, the method further comprises:

displaying the third predefined combination of symbols so generated on the display; and

displaying the award related to the third predefined combination of symbols on the award display.