Slot game with additional skill element
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to play a game on an electronic device, the method comprising:
- storing a finite pool of predetermined awards in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
providing an input device, an output device, and a processing unit operationally connected to the input device and the output device;
providing a payment mechanism being either a ticket reader configured to read a ticket or a card reader to read a card, and crediting entries to a player via the payment mechanism;
executing instructions on the processing unit to perform a following operations;
receiving an activation from a player without immediately collecting any entry from the player;
spinning reels using computer generated animation after the receiving the activation;
retrieving a stored award from the finite pool;
stopping the reels on a combination representing the stored award;
receiving an entry from the player after the stopping the reels and before a new activation is received from the player; and
determining that the stored award is greater than zero, which then triggers performing of a) animating a graphical element until receiving a button press from the player which causes the graphical element to become a frozen graphical element, b) determining an earned percentage based on a position of the frozen graphical element;
c) computing an actual award by applying the earned percentage to the stored award; and
d) awarding the player the actual award.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a slot machine (or other game) which allows the player to activate the game (spin the reels) without having to place a wager (entry). Only after the reels have stopped spinning can the player decide to place the wager (entry) or the player can choose to walk away from the game. If the player places the wager (entry) then the player is presented with a skill game which converted a result from the slot reels into an actual award amount which is then awarded to the player.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method to play a game on an electronic device, the method comprising:
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storing a finite pool of predetermined awards in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; providing an input device, an output device, and a processing unit operationally connected to the input device and the output device; providing a payment mechanism being either a ticket reader configured to read a ticket or a card reader to read a card, and crediting entries to a player via the payment mechanism; executing instructions on the processing unit to perform a following operations; receiving an activation from a player without immediately collecting any entry from the player; spinning reels using computer generated animation after the receiving the activation; retrieving a stored award from the finite pool; stopping the reels on a combination representing the stored award; receiving an entry from the player after the stopping the reels and before a new activation is received from the player; and determining that the stored award is greater than zero, which then triggers performing of a) animating a graphical element until receiving a button press from the player which causes the graphical element to become a frozen graphical element, b) determining an earned percentage based on a position of the frozen graphical element;
c) computing an actual award by applying the earned percentage to the stored award; and
d) awarding the player the actual award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus to play a game, the apparatus comprising:
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an input device; an output device; a payment mechanism being either a ticket reader configured to read a ticket or a card reader to read a card; a processing unit operationally connected to the input device and the output device, the processing unit configured to execute computer readable instructions which are programmed to cause; credit entries to a player via the payment mechanism; receive an activation from a player without immediately collecting any entry from the player; spin reels using computer generated animation after the receive the activation; retrieve a stored award from a finite pool; stop the reels on a combination representing the stored award; receive an entry from the player after the stop the reels and before a new activation is received from the player; and upon the stored award being greater than zero, perform a) animate a graphical element until receipt of a button press from the player which causes the graphical element to become a frozen graphical element, b) determine an earned percentage based on a position of the frozen graphical element;
c) compute an actual award by applying the earned percentage to the stored award; and
d) award the player the actual award. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification