Casino games

• US 9,092,946 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alphard SPRL
• Original Assignee: Think Tek Incorporated
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/921,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/13, 463/25, 463/37
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Apparatus and methods related to multi-player casino games are described. An electronic gaming device is provided that allows a live player to compete against a virtual player in a multi-player wager-based game. The electronic gaming device can comprise a multi-player game engine that does not distinguish between virtual players and live players. The electronic gaming device can be configured to simulate the decision making of a virtual player and associated behaviors of the virtual player during game play. In some instances, the simulated behaviors of the virtual player output at the electronic gaming device can be learned by a live player so that the live player can make better or more advantageous game play decisions. The simulated behaviors of the virtual player can be conveyed to the live player via visual images, such as simulated facial expressions of the virtual player.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a security system, coupled to the cabinet, configured to monitor access to the cabinet;

a video display, coupled to the cabinet, configured to display a presentation of a game;

a bill/ticket acceptor, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive currency or printed ticket vouchers which are converted into credits used to make wagers on the game;

a printer, coupled to the cabinet, configured to print and output ticket vouchers to cash out the credits stored on the electronic gaming machine;

input buttons, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive inputs from a live player which plays the game;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, including a processor, a memory, communicatively coupled to the security system, the video display, the bill/ticket acceptor, the printer and the input buttons, the game controller configured to

     1) receive, via the input buttons, an indication of a wager on the game using the credits wherein the game is played between at least the live player and a virtual player;

     2) receive, via the input buttons, first decision information associated with the live player'"'"'s play of the play of the game;

     3) determine second decision information for the virtual player related to the play of the game;

     4) determine behavioral information associated with the virtual player wherein the behavioral information is conveyed to the live player via a virtual character associated with the virtual player;

     5) generate a visual presentation of the behavioral information wherein the visual presentation includes the virtual character;

     6) control output of the visual presentation to the video display wherein the behavioral information when correctly interpreted by the live player increases a chance of the live player winning the game played against the virtual player;

     7) determine a winner of the game from among at least the virtual player and the live player;

     8) receive security information from the security system; and

     9) control the printer to cash out the credits.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the input buttons are associated with a touch screen.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first decision information or the second decision information is associated with one or more wagers made after a start of the game.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein game controller is further configured to select the behavioral information to reveal information related to one of a current game position of the virtual player, a decision to be made by the virtual player, a game strategy of the virtual player or combinations thereof.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to detect an event that triggers an output of the behavioral information wherein the behavioral information is determined in response to detecting the event.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the event is associated with one or more of a current game position of the virtual player, a past game position of the virtual player, a winning streak of the virtual player, a losing streak of the virtual player, a game state of the game which requires the virtual player to make a decision, a decision made by the live player, a random factor or combinations thereof.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to output the behavioral information prior to revealing the second decision of the virtual player.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to output the behavioral information after revealing the second decision of the virtual player.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to generate game decisions for the live player used to play the game.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the game controller is further configured to receive an input via the input buttons which overrides a first game decision generated by the game controller for the live player.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game is a poker game.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to render an animation of the behavioral information of the virtual player and control output of the animation to the video display.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the animation includes a rendering of a face of the virtual player.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the animation includes the virtual player talking and wherein the game controller is configured to control an output of sound associated with the talking to an audio device coupled to the cabinet.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising an audio device coupled to the cabinet wherein the game controller is further configured to control an output of sound associated with the behavioral information to the audio device.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to select one or more images of an actual person stored in a memory device within the cabinet wherein the one or more images of the actual person are selected to convey the behavioral information of the virtual player.

17. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to establish communications with a remote device and receive, via the remote device, inputs from the live player associated with the live player'"'"'s play of the game.

18. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game is a turn-based game.