Casino games

• US 9,111,412 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alphard SPRL
• Original Assignee: Think Tek Incorporated
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/348,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20120115590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• 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 using playing cards derived from the insertion of a physical denomination of currency. 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. A gaming device 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 wager-based 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 wager-based game;

a printer, coupled to the cabinet, configured to print and output ticket vouchers to cash out the credits;

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

a game controller, including a processor and a memory, disposed within the cabinet and coupled to the security system, the video display, the bill/ticket acceptor, the printer and the input buttons, designed or configured to control a play of the wager-based game played by two or more players wherein the wager-based game is played by at least a live player and a virtual player and wherein the live player or the virtual player can win the game,

     2) receive, via the input buttons, information indicating a wager on an outcome of the play of the wager-based game from the live player wherein the wager is made using the credits,

     3) receive decision information from each of the live player and the virtual player wherein the decision information received by the virtual player affects an amount won or lost by the virtual player;

     4) determine the outcome of the wager-based game including determining whether the live player or the virtual player has won and

     5) generate the presentation including the play of the wager-based game and the determined outcome to the wager-based game;

     6) control output of the presentation to the video display;

     7) receive security information from the security system and

     8) control the printer to cash out the credits;

a multi-player game engine configured to a) progress the wager-based game from an initial position to a final position for each of the live player and the virtual player;

b) request the decision information from each of the live player and the virtual player and receive the decision information relating to decisions made by each of the live player and the virtual player;

a bill card game engine comprising,

a translator configured to translate each serial number digit from a denomination of currency into a bill card for use in playing a card game;

a plurality of bill cards assembled into a bill card deck; and

a shuffler to shuffle the bill card deck; and

a virtual player, instantiated by the game controller, configured to make the decisions requested by the multiplayer game engine during the play of the wager-based game, said virtual player comprising,

a decision engine configured to make the decisions requested by the multi-player game engine based upon at least a current position of the virtual player in the wager-based game;

a behavioral engine configured to determine when to a trigger a behavior of the virtual player wherein the behavior when correctly interpreted by the live player increases a live player'"'"'s chance of winning the wager-based game played against the virtual player; and

a personality engine configured to receive, when the behavior is triggered, information regarding the behavior, determine an action of a virtual character that is generated in response to the behavior;

wherein a second presentation of the virtual character performing the determined action is output to the video display.

2. A gaming device 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 value acceptor, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive a value instrument which is converted into credits used to make wagers on the game;

a value dispenser, coupled to the cabinet, configured to cash out the credits;

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

a game controller, including a processor and a memory, disposed within the cabinet and coupled to the security system, the video display, the value acceptor, the value dispenser and the input buttons, configured to

     1) generate the game wherein the game is played between at least one live player and at least one virtual player;

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

     3) determine second decision information associated with the virtual player'"'"'s play of the game;

     4) advance the game from a first position to a second position based upon the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof;

     5) generate a visual presentation of the first position and a visual presentation of the second position;

     6) to determine behavioral information associated with the virtual player;

     7) to generate a visual presentation of the behavioral information;

     8) output the visual presentation of the first position, the visual presentation of the second position and the visual presentation of the behavioral information to a display wherein the behavioral information when correctly interpreted by the live player increases a live player'"'"'s chance of winning the game played against the virtual player;

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

     10) receive security information from the security system and

     11) control the value dispensing device to cash out the credits.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the value acceptor is a bill/ticket acceptor or a card reader.

4. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the value dispenser is a printer.

5. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the input buttons include a touch screen.

6. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the behavioral information is selected to reveal information related to one of a current game position of the virtual player, a decision made by the virtual player, a decision to be made by the virtual player, a game strategy of the virtual player or combinations thereof.

7. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the game controller is further configured to detect an event that triggers an output of the behavioral information wherein behavioral information is determined in response to detecting the event.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, 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.

9. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the game controller is further configured to output information in a textual format which describes a meaning of the behavioral information.

10. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the live player plays the game as part of a team.

11. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the game is played by one of a plurality of live players, a plurality of virtual players or combinations thereof.

12. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the game is a poker game.

13. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof is associated with a bet using all or a portion of the credits.

14. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the visual presentation of the behavioral information includes one or more of images of a virtual character associated with the virtual player.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the virtual character is a human or non-human character.

16. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the credits are redeemable for cash or points.