Wagering gaming device having simulated control of movement of game functional elements

• US 9,147,310 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jones, Aaron T., Beaulieu, Nicole M., Peterson, Lance R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Milap
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINHEIRO, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US14/657,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20150187169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 200 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A wagering gaming device that enables a player to affect the movement of a functional element of a game by use of a user input device. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled wagering gaming device that receives input from a user input device. The user manipulates the input device in the manner in which he wishes the functional element or to move. The processor receives the information from the input device and calculates parameters. The processor moves the functional element. This sequence or feature may be employed in a primary game, bonus game or in any stand alone game.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of display devices supported by the housing and including a first video display device and a second video display device;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including;

(i) a first touch screen disposed in front of the first video display device,

(ii) a second touch screen disposed in front of the second video display device,

(iii) an acceptor associated with a validator, and

(iv) a cashout 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 plurality of display devices and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor;

(i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and

(ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(b) receive a wager from a player;

(c) after receiving the wager, cause the first video display device to display a plurality of video reels spinning and then cause the first video display device to display the plurality of video reels stopped to display a randomly determined outcome;

(d) cause the second video display device and the second touch screen to provide a defined rectangular strip having a length and width, the length being at least twice as long as the width, said defined rectangular strip enabling the player to touch;

(i) a first set of multiple locations of said defined rectangular strip to cause a first movement of a functional game element displayed by one of the plurality of display devices, and (ii) a second set of multiple locations of said defined rectangular strip to cause a second movement of the functional game element, the first set of locations and the second set of locations being different and the first movement and the second movement being different, said functional game element being in addition to, different than, and separate from the video reels;

(e) cause one of the plurality of display devices to display instructions to the player to inform the player to touch the defined rectangular strip to cause movement of the functional game element;

(f) after the player touches one of the first and second sets of multiple locations in said defined rectangular strip, cause one of the video display devices to display the functional game element moving in accordance with the corresponding movement and then cause said video display device to display the functional game element in a stopped position such that said stopped functional game element indicates a randomly determined symbol, wherein said movement of the functional game element to the stopped position which indicates the randomly determined symbol is at least in part based on a determination of the set of multiple locations at which the player touched the defined rectangular strip and on the randomly determined symbol;

(g) provide a result associated with the randomly determined symbol to the player; and

(h) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a direction of movement of the functional game element is based on a direction from a first touch of a first location of the defined rectangular strip by the player to a second touch of a second location of the defined rectangular strip by the player.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a direction of movement of the functional game element is based on a direction from a first coordinate of a first location of the defined rectangular strip touched by the player to another different coordinate of a second location of the defined rectangular strip touched by the player.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a speed of movement of the functional game element is based on an amount of time between a first touch of a first location of the defined rectangular strip by the player and a second touch of a second location of the defined rectangular strip by the player.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a speed of movement of the functional game element is based on an amount of time between a first touch of a first coordinate of the defined rectangular strip by the player and a second touch of another different coordinate of the defined rectangular strip by the player.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the functional game element is a video wheel having a plurality of sections, said sections including a plurality of different symbols, and said randomly determined symbol being one of said different symbols.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the functional game element is at least one die.

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

(a) receiving at least one wager on a play of a game, wherein the at least one wager is deducted from a credit balance, and said credit balance is;

(i) increasable via;

(A) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and

(B) a validator configured to identify the physical item, and

(ii) decreasable via a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance,

(b) causing a processor to operate with a plurality of display devices including a first video display device and a second video display device, and a plurality of input devices including a first touch screen disposed in front of the first video display device and a second touch screen disposed in front of the second video display device to;

(i) receive a wager from a player;

(ii) after receiving the wager, cause the first video display device to display a plurality of video reels spinning and then cause the first video display device to display the plurality of video reels stopped to display a randomly determined outcome;

(iii) cause the second video display device and the second touch screen to provide a defined rectangular strip having a length and width, the length being at least twice as long as the width, said defined rectangular strip enabling the player to touch;

(a) a first set of multiple locations of said defined rectangular strip to cause a first movement of a functional game element displayed by one of the plurality of display devices, and (b) a second set of multiple locations of said defined rectangular strip to cause a second movement of the functional game element, the first set of locations and the second set of locations being different and the first movement and the second movement being different, said functional game element being in addition to, different than, and separate from the video reels;

(iv) cause one of the plurality of display devices to display instructions to the player to inform the player to touch the defined rectangular strip to cause movement of the functional game element; and

(v) after the player touches one of the first and second sets of multiple locations in said defined rectangular strip to cause movement of the functional game element, cause one of the video display devices to display the functional game element moving in accordance with the corresponding movement and then cause said video display device to display the functional game element in a stopped position such that said stopped functional game element indicates a randomly determined symbol, wherein said movement of the functional game element to the stopped position which indicates the randomly determined symbol is at least in part based on a determination of the set of multiple locations at which the player touched the defined rectangular strip and on the randomly determined symbol; and

causing the processor to provide a result associated with the randomly determined symbol to the player.

9. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the processor to base a direction of movement of the functional game element on a direction from a first touch of a first location of the defined rectangular strip by the player to a second touch of a second location of the defined rectangular strip by the player.

10. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the processor to base a direction of movement of the functional game element on a direction from a first coordinate of a first location of the defined rectangular strip touched by the player to another different coordinate of a second location of the defined rectangular strip touched by the player.

11. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the processor to base a speed of movement of the functional game element on an amount of time between a first touch of a first location of the defined rectangular strip by the player and a second touch of a second location of the defined rectangular strip by the player.

12. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the processor to base a speed of movement of the functional game element on an amount of time between a first touch of a first coordinate of the defined rectangular strip by the player and a second touch of another different coordinate of the defined rectangular strip by the player.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the functional game element is a video wheel having a plurality of sections, said sections including a plurality of different symbols, and said randomly determined symbol being one of said different symbols.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the functional game element is at least one die.