Methods and systems for determining a batch run of sessions

• US 9,898,890 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M.
• Primary Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US14/918,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20160042605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a batch run of sessions is executed. The batch run comprises a plurality of sessions characterized by at least one common parameter and value thereof. A session comprises a plurality of outcomes of a wagering game. A video presentation may be created based on each such session of a batch run. The video presentation may be recorded onto a game disc (e.g., a DVD or CD-ROM) and sold to a player for viewing at a location remote from a casino.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

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 at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) receive an input for a first batch, the first batch including a first plurality of plays of a wagering game, said received input corresponding to at least one wagering game parameter of a plurality of different wagering game parameters for said first batch,

(c) for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch;

(i) randomly generate a plurality of symbols that form a symbol combination for said play of the wagering game in accordance with the received input, and

(ii) determine any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game,

(d) for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch, prior to any input to initiate any of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch;

(i) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by a first tangible medium, and

(ii) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the first tangible medium,

(e) cause the stored data associated with the first batch to be obtainable by a player, and

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

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

(i) associate the received input with a second, different batch, the second batch including a second plurality of the plays of the wagering game,

(ii) for each of the second plurality of plays of the wagering game of the second batch;

(A) randomly generate a plurality of symbols that form a symbol combination for said play of the wagering game in accordance with the received input, and

(B) determine any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game,

(iii) for each of the second plurality of plays of the wagering game of the second, different batch, prior to any input to initiate any of the second plurality of plays of the wagering game of the second, different batch;

(A) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by a second, different tangible medium, and

(B) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the second, different tangible medium, and

(iv) cause the stored data associated with the second batch to be obtainable by the player.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to

(i) in response to an occurrence of a first ending condition associated with the first batch, for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch:

(A) cause data representing the video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the first tangible medium, and

(B) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the first tangible medium, and

(ii) in response to an occurrence of a second, different ending condition associated with the second, different batch, for each of the second plurality of plays of the wagering game of the second, different batch;

(A) cause data representing the video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the second, different tangible medium, and

(B) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the second, different tangible medium.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch, determine a unique identifier for said play of the wagering game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch, cause data representing the unique identifier for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the first tangible medium.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to, for each video presentation stored by the first tangible medium, transfer to the first tangible medium at least one of:

(i) an identifier of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination associated with the video presentation, (ii) at least media file corresponding to the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination associated with the video presentation, and (iii) a text description of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination associated with the video presentation.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different wagering game parameters include at least one of:

(i) a designated number of plays of the wagering game, the designated number being at least two,

(ii) a designated credit balance,

(iii) an identifier of the wagering game,

(iv) an identifier of a type of the wagering game,

(v) an identifier of the gaming device,

(vi) an identifier of a type of the gaming device,

(vii) an wager amount for each play of the wagering game,

(viii) a number of paylines activated for each play of the wagering game, and

(ix) an indication of a strategy for playing the wagering game.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the stored data to be obtainable by the player in exchange for a designated purchase price, the designated purchase price being based, at least in part, on at least one of the plurality of different wagering game parameters.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine a redemption value associated with the data stored by first tangible medium, the redemption value being based, at least in part, on at least one of the plurality of different wagering game parameters.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the stored data to be obtainable by the player in exchange for a designated purchase price, the designated purchase price being based, at least in part, on the redemption value associated with the data stored by first tangible medium.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch, the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game is independent from the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for each other play of the wagering game.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data stored by the first tangible medium is obtainable via at least one of a DVD and a CD-ROM.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

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 at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for each of a plurality of plays of a wagering game;

(i) randomly generate a plurality of symbols that form a symbol combination for said play of the wagering game in accordance with at least one wagering game parameter selected from a plurality of different wagering game parameters, and

(ii) determine any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game,

(c) select a first batch of the plays of the wagering game, the first batch including at least two of the plays of the wagering game,

(d) for each one of the plays of the wagering game of the selected first batch, prior to any input to initiate any of the plurality of plays of the wagering game of the selected first batch;

(i) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by a first tangible medium associated with the selected first batch, and

(ii) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the first tangible medium associated with the selected first batch,

(e) causing the stored data to be obtainable by a player, and

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

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine a redemption value associated with the data stored by first tangible medium.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the redemption value associated with the data stored by first tangible medium based, at least in part, on the plays of the wagering game of the selected first batch.

16. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to select the first batch of the plays of the wagering game based, at least in part, on the determined redemption value associated with the data stored by first tangible medium.

17. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of different wagering game parameters include at least one of:

(i) a designated number of the plays of the wagering game for the selected first batch,

(ii) a designated credit balance,

(iii) an identifier of the wagering game,

(iv) an identifier of a type of the wagering game,

(v) an identifier of the gaming device,

(vi) an identifier of a type of the gaming device,

(vii) an wager amount for each play of the wagering game,

(viii) a number of paylines activated for each play of the wagering game, and

(ix) an indication of a strategy for playing the wagering game.

18. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

(i) select a second, different batch of the plays of the wagering game, the second, different batch including at least two of the plays of the wagering game,

(ii) for each one of the plays of the wagering game of the selected second batch, prior to any input to initiate any of the plurality of plays of the wagering game of the selected second batch;

(A) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by a second, different tangible medium associated with the selected second batch, and

(B) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be stored by the second, different tangible medium associated with the selected second batch, and

(iii) cause the stored data to be obtainable by the player.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine a redemption value associated with the data stored by second, different tangible medium.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to determine the redemption value associated with the data stored by second, different tangible medium based, at least in part, on the plays of the wagering game of the selected second, different batch.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to select the second, different batch of the plays of the wagering game based, at least in part, on the determined redemption value associated with the data stored by second, different tangible medium.

22. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the data stored by the first tangible medium is obtainable via at least one of a DVD and a CD-ROM and wherein the data stored by the second, different tangible medium is obtainable via at least one of a DVD and a CD-ROM.

23. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein, for each play of the wagering game, the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game is independent from the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for each other play of the wagering game.

24. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

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 at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) receive an input for a first batch, the first batch including a first plurality of plays of a wagering game, said received input corresponding to at least one wagering game parameter of a plurality of different wagering game parameters for said first batch,

(c) for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch;

(i) randomly generate a plurality of symbols that form a symbol combination for said play of the wagering game in accordance with the received input, and

(ii) determine any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game,

(d) for each of the first plurality of plays of the wagering game of the first batch;

(i) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to a first tangible medium, and

(ii) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to the first tangible medium,

(e) determine a redemption value associated with the first tangible medium, the redemption value being based, at least in part, on at least one of the plurality of different wagering game parameters,

(f) cause the first tangible medium associated with the first batch to be obtainable by a player in exchange for a designated purchase price, the designated purchase price being based, at least in part, on the redemption value associated with the first tangible medium, and

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

25. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

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 at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for each of a plurality of plays of a wagering game;

(i) randomly generate a plurality of symbols that form a symbol combination for said play of the wagering game in accordance with at least one wagering game parameter selected from a plurality of different wagering game parameters, and

(ii) determine any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game,

(c) select a first batch of the plays of the wagering game, the first batch including at least two of the plays of the wagering game,

(d) for each one of the plays of the wagering game of the selected first batch;

(i) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to a first tangible medium associated with the selected first batch, and

(ii) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to the first tangible medium associated with the selected first batch,

(e) determine a redemption value associated with the first tangible medium, wherein the first batch of the plays of the wagering game are selected, based, at least in part, on the determined redemption value associated with the first tangible medium,

(f) cause the first tangible medium to be obtainable by a player, and

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

26. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

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 at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,

(b) for each of a plurality of plays of a wagering game;

(i) randomly generate a plurality of symbols that form a symbol combination for said play of the wagering game in accordance with at least one wagering game parameter selected from a plurality of different wagering game parameters, and

(ii) determine any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game,

(c) select a first batch of the plays of the wagering game, the first batch including at least two of the plays of the wagering game,

(d) for each one of the plays of the wagering game of the selected first batch;

(i) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to a first tangible medium associated with the selected first batch, and

(ii) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to the first tangible medium associated with the selected first batch,

(e) cause the first tangible medium to be obtainable by a player,

(f) select a second, different batch of the plays of the wagering game, the second, different batch including at least two of the plays of the wagering game,

(g) for each one of the plays of the wagering game of the selected second batch;

(i) cause data representing a video presentation of the randomly generated symbols that form the symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to a second, different tangible medium associated with the selected second batch, and

(ii) cause data representing any award associated with the formed symbol combination for said play of the wagering game to be transferred to the second, different tangible medium associated with the selected second batch,

(h) determine a redemption value associated with the second, different tangible medium, wherein the second, different batch of the plays of the wagering game are selected, based, at least in part, on the determined redemption value associated with the second, different tangible medium,

(i) cause the second, different tangible medium to be obtainable by the player, and

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