Method and system for time gaming with skill wagering opportunities

• US 9,514,596 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Brunet de Courssou, Thierry, Filipour, Cameron Anthony, Singer, Adam, Popovich, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherford, Syvila
• Application Number:
  US12/122,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,126 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A regulated skill-based game includes a plurality of reward generating assets configured such that successful player interactions therewith increase the player'"'"'s score and give rise to wagers whose outcomes are randomly determined. The amount of the wager may be a function of a time elapsed since the last wager was placed. The regulated game may be configured such that a predetermined duration of game play time thereon is purchased for a predetermined amount of money. A first portion of the predetermined amount of money funds the wagers and a second portion thereof funds a progressive jackpot to be awarded to a player having earned the highest score that is not been exceeded after a predetermined point in time. The regulated game is further configured to award credits when the randomly determined outcome is a reward generating outcome. Both the score of the skill-based game and awarded credits may be shown onscreen.

Claims

1. A method of operating a regulated gaming machine, said method comprising:

(i) providing an arcade-type or console-type game, modified such that player interaction with selected ones of a plurality of assets after initiation of and before termination of play of the game give rise to wagering opportunities;

(ii) receiving, via an acceptor supported by a housing of the regulated gaming machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value, and identifying, via the acceptor, the received physical item, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and currency;

(iii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to;

(a) use a first portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded at or after a first point in time; and

(b) exchange a second portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item for a game play contract, the game play contract associated with a credit balance having an initial value and enabling play of the game with the credit balance for a duration that is related to the second portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a player score during play of the game and update the player score upon player interaction with the plurality of assets after initiation of and before termination of play of the game during the duration, the player score being separate from the credit balance;

(v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, upon successful player interaction with one of the selected assets after initiation of and before termination of play of the game during the duration;

(a) initiate a wager from the credit balance,

(b) determine an amount of said wager based at least in part on an amount of time elapsed since a last wager was placed,

(c) randomly determine an outcome of said wager, and

(d) update the credit balance based on the outcome of said wager;

(vi) when the duration is over, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether the updated player score exceeds a pre-stored high score and, if the updated player score exceeds the pre-stored high score, establish the updated player score as a new high score;

(vii) at or after the first point in time, awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to a player associated with the updated player score if the updated player score was established as the new high score and has not been exceeded by the first point in time; and

(viii) after receiving, via a cashout device, a cashout input, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a cashout associated with the credit balance.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to recognize the player when the updated player score is established as the new high score.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a timer meter representing the duration.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a credit meter indicating the credit balance.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a last win meter indicating a win size of a most recent wager and a total win meter indicating cumulative credits won during the duration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the console-type or arcade-type game is one of:

a pinball game, an automobile racing game, a 2D horizontal scrolling game, a first person shooter game, and a 3D maze game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the console-type or arcade-type game is an outer-space themed game in which the player attempts to destroy spacecrafts or aliens.

8. The method of claim 1, which includes causing a printer to print a jackpot redemption ticket when the updated player score is established as the new high score after the duration.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising awarding the player at least a portion of the progressive jackpot if the updated player score is the high score and is not exceeded at the first point in time.

10. The method of claim 8, which includes receiving, via the acceptor, the jackpot redemption ticket;

reading, via the acceptor, the jackpot redemption ticket; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether a holder of the jackpot redemption ticket should be awarded at least a portion of the progressive jackpot.

11. The method of claim 8, which includes receiving, via at least one input device, an input corresponding to information printed on the jackpot redemption ticket, and causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to indicate, based upon the received input, whether the player has won at least a portion of the progressive jackpot.

12. A method of providing a game for a regulated gaming machine, said method comprising:

(i) providing an existing console-type game or arcade-type game, the provided game being configured to maintain and update a player score during game play thereof, the player score being separate from a credit balance, and including a plurality of assets appearing onscreen during game play; and

(ii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to modify the provided game such that;

(a) a session of the provided game is initiated on the regulated gaming machine following receipt, via an acceptor supported by a housing of the regulated gaming machine, of a physical item associated with a monetary value and identification, via the acceptor, of the received physical item, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and currency, an amount of playing time and an amount of credits associated with said session being related to the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(b) player interaction with at least one of the plurality of assets appearing onscreen after initiation of and before termination of the session places a wager from the amount of credits associated with said session, an amount of the wager being based at least in part on an amount of time elapsed since a last wager was placed;

(c) an outcome of each placed wager is determined randomly;

(d) a player score is maintained during game play and updated upon player interaction with the plurality of assets after initiation of and before termination of game play during the playing time of said session, the player score being separate from the credit balance;

(e) a percentage of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item is used to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a first point in time;

(f) when the playing time of said session is over, the game determines if the updated player score exceeds a pre-stored high score and, if the updated player score exceeds the pre-stored high score, the game establishes the updated player score as a new high score; and

(g) at or after the first point in time, the game awards at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to a player associated with the updated player score if the updated player score was established as the high score and has not been exceeded by the first point in time.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the provided game such that a clock meter appears onscreen to visually represent a remaining amount of the playing time.

14. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the provided game such that a credit meter appears onscreen to visually represent the credit balance of the player.

15. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the provided game such that a last win meter appears onscreen to visually represent a win size of a most recent wager and such that a total win meter appears onscreen to visually represent cumulative credits won.

16. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the provided game such that jackpot redemption tickets are issued to players whose player score equals or exceeds a current high score.

17. A method comprising:

(a) providing a regulated gaming machine;

(b) providing a console-type or arcade-type game that includes a plurality of assets configured for player interaction, the game being configured to maintain a player score during game play thereof, the player score being separate from a player credit balance;

(c) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to configure the game to run on the regulated gaming machine and to require a purchase of a game play contract using an amount of money;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, following receipt, via an acceptor supported by a housing of the regulated gaming machine, of a physical item associated with a monetary value and identification, via the acceptor, of the received physical item, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and currency, use a portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item to fund a progressive jackpot that is awarded at or after a first point in time and use a remaining portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item to enable game play on the game for a duration related to the remaining portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to configure selected ones of the plurality of assets such that player interaction therewith after initiation of and before termination of game play gives rise to a wager from the credit balance, an outcome of which is determined randomly, and award credits when the randomly determined outcome is a reward generating outcome, an amount of the credits awarded during the duration being based at least in part on an amount of time elapsed since a last wager was placed; and

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to track and update the player score during game play and award at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to a player associated with the player score if the updated player score at the end of the duration is a highest score that has not been exceeded by the first point in time.

18. A regulated gaming machine, comprising:

a housing;

a processor;

a display device supported by the housing;

an input device supported by the housing;

an acceptor supported by the housing; and

a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device, the acceptor, and the input device to;

(a) after receiving, via the acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value, identify, via the acceptor, the received physical item, wherein the physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and currency;

(b) use a first portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded at or after a first point in time;

(c) exchange a second portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item for a game play contract for play of a game, said game comprising a plurality of reward generating assets, said game play contract associated with a credit balance having an initial value and enabling play of the game with the credit balance for a duration that is related to the second portion of the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(d) upon successful interaction with the reward generating assets after initiation of and before termination of play of the game during the duration;

(i) increase a player score, the player score being separate from the credit balance;

(ii) initiate a wager from the credit balance;

(iii) determine an amount of the wager based at least in part on an amount of time elapsed since a last wager was placed;

(iv) randomly determine an outcome of said wager; and

(v) update the credit balance based on the outcome of said wager;

(e) when the duration is over, determine whether the updated player score is a highest score that has not been exceeded by the first point in time;

(f) if the updated player score is the highest score that has not been exceeded by the first point in time, award at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to a player associated with the updated player score; and

(g) after a cashout input is received via a cashout device, initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

19. The regulated gaming machine of claim 18, wherein the game is configured such that players having a higher level of skill will, on average, interact successfully with the plurality of reward generating assets more frequently than comparatively less skilled players and earn a higher score.