Facilitating a payout at a gaming device using audiovisual content

• US 8,814,649 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Patterson, Michael W., Tedesco, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US13/745,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/30, 463/31, 463/35
• 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 17/3232 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming device is adapted to present audiovisual content to players of the game. While the audiovisual content is playing, the player may initiate a game start. A snap shot of the audiovisual content playing at the time of the game start is taken. Reels of the gaming device spin and provide indicia on a payline. The indicia on the payline are compared to characters and elements within the snap shot of the audiovisual content. If there is a match for outcome significant indicia, the player receives a benefit.

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;

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

(b) display audiovisual content initially produced for a purpose other than for being displayed on said at least one display device, said audiovisual content including a plurality of screen shots wherein each screen shot is associated with at least one of a plurality of content characteristics, and said audiovisual content being selected from a group consisting of;

at least one television show, at least one movie, at least one athletic event, at least one cartoon, at least one stage performance, at least one music video, and at least one concert, and

(c) for the wagered on play of the game;

(i)randomly determine a payout

(ii) determine, based on the randomly determined payout amount and at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content, a plurality of symbols, the determined plurality of symbols including at least one characteristic which corresponds with the at least one content characteristic of the at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content,

(iii) display the determined plurality of symbols, and

(iv) display the determined payout amount.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the plurality of symbols based on a symbol output time and the screenshot of the audiovisual content to be displayed at the symbol output time.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic of the determined plurality of symbols which corresponds with the at least one content characteristic of the at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a character of the audiovisual content, a displayed prop of the audiovisual content, and a displayed action of a character of the audiovisual content.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to the audiovisual content prior to the placement of the wager.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of an amount of the wager and the payout amount is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.

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

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

(b) causing at least one display device to display audiovisual content initially produced for a purpose other than for being displayed on said at least one display device, said audiovisual content including a plurality of screen shots wherein each screen shot is associated with at least one of a plurality of content characteristics and said audiovisual content being selected from z group consisting of;

at least one television show, at least one movie, at least one athletic event, at least one cartoon, at least one stages performance, at least one music video, and at least one concert; and

(c) for the wagered on play of the game;

(i) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to randomly determine a payout amount,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on the randomly determined payout amount and at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content, a plurality of symbols, the determined plurality of symbols including at least one characteristic which corresponds with the at least one content characteristic of the at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content,

(iii) causing the at least One display device to display the determined plurality of symbols, and

(iv)causing the at least one display device to display the determined payout amount.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the plurality of symbols based on a symbol output time and the screen shot of the audiovisual content to be displayed at the symbol output time.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one characteristic of the determined plurality of symbols which corresponds with the at least one content characteristic of the at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a character of the audiovisual content, a displayed prop of the audiovisual content and a displayed action of character of the audiovisual content.

9. The method of claim 6, which:

includes causing the at least one display device to display the audiovisual content prior to the placement of the wager.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of an amount of the wager and the payout amount is at least one selected from the group consisting of a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.

11. The method of claim 6, which is provided through a data network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data network is an internet.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

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

(b) cause at least one display device to display audiovisual content initially produced for a purpose other than for being displayed on said at least one display device, said audiovisual content including a plurality of screen shots wherein each screen shot is associated with at least one of a plurality of content characteristics and said audiovisual content being selected from a group consisting of;

at least one television show, at least one movie, at least athletic event, at least one cartoon, at least one stage performance, at least one music video, and at least one concert; and

(c) for the wagered on play of the game;

(i) randomly determine a payout amount;

(ii) determine, based on the randomly determined payout amount and at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content, a plurality of symbols, the determined plurality of symbols including at least one characteristic which corresponds with the at least one content characteristic of the at least one of the screen shots of the audiovisual content,

(iii) cause the at least one display device to display the determined plurality of symbols, and

(iv) cause the at least one display device to display the ;

determined payout amount.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the plurality of symbols based on a symbol output time and the screen shot of the audiovisual content to be displayed at the symbol output time.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic of the determined plurality of symbols which corresponds with the at least one content characteristic of the at least one of screen shots of the audiovisual content is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a character of the audiovisual content, a displayed prop of the audiovisual content, and a displayed action of a character of the audiovisual content.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the audiovisual content prior to the placement of the wager.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of an amount of the wager and the payout amount is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.