Perceived skill game and method

• US 9,418,512 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Crowder, Robert William, LaSalvia, John Francis, White, Warren Rapelye, Luciano, Robert Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/261,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed are a game device and method for providing a predetermined prize to a player of an apparent skill game. The player perception is that his skill in playing the device affects the outcome even though the win amount is predetermined. Even if the player does not play with optimum skill, the player will still win the predetermined amount. The perceived skill game may be played as part of a game including wagering or as part of an amusement-only game.

Claims

1. A wagering gaming device comprising:

a processor;

one or more controls operable by a player;

a perceived skill game under control of the processor,

the game determining a predetermined credit award to be paid at the conclusion of the game, producing one or more player obstacles based on the predetermined credit award, and awarding a number of points to the player based on the skill with which the player may operate the controls;

a dynamically-produced payscale based on the number of points awarded to the player further comprising a plurality of possible credit awards including the predetermined credit award; and

an indicator configured to indicate the predetermined credit award on the payscale at the conclusion of the game.

2. A non-wagering amusement device comprising:

a processor;

one or more controls operable by a player;

a perceived skill game under control of the processor, the game determining a predetermined credit award to be paid at the conclusion of the game, producing one or more player obstacles based on the predetermined credit award, and awarding a number of points to the player based on the skill with which the player may operate the controls;

a dynamically-produced payscale based on the number of points awarded to the player further comprising a plurality of possible credit awards including the predetermined credit award; and

an indicator configured to indicate the predetermined credit award on the payscale at the conclusion of the game.

3. A method of providing a perceived skill game under control of a processor, the steps comprising:

predetermining a credit award payable for play of the perceived skill game;

producing one or more player obstacles based on the predetermined credit award;

awarding a number of points to a player based on the skill with which the player may operate controls coupled to the processor;

based on the number of points awarded to the player, dynamically producing a payscale comprising a plurality of possible credit awards including the predetermined credit award; and

indicating the predetermined credit award on the payscale at the conclusion of the game.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the perceived skill game is playable as part of a wagering game.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the perceived skill game is playable as part of a non-wagering amusement game.