WAGERING GAME, GAMING MACHINE AND NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEM WITH CUSTOMIZABLE PLAYER AVATAR

• US 20110244952A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Games Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multimedia Games Incorporated
• Inventors: Wabschall, Michael, Owen, Clint, Garretsen, William, Schulze, Jennifer, Schueller, Darren, Conway, Michael, Cody, JP
• Granted Patent: US 9,064,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

A method, gaming machine, and networked gaming system are disclosed for operating a wagering game that includes an interface activate-able by a player; a set of game plays, with at least one of the game plays occurring after activation of the interface by the player; and a persistent customizable player avatar interactive with a player and the wagering game, and, providing entertainment and companionship for a player during game play.

Claims

1. A wagering game comprising:

an interface activate-able by a player to initiate a wager;

a wagering game comprising a set of game plays, at least one of the game plays occurring after activation of the interface by the player; and

,

a processor configured to generate an animated player avatar customizable by the player and interactive with the player and wagering game.

2. The wagering game of claim 1, the player avatar selectable by the player from a set of avatar images.

3. The wagering game of claim 2, the set of avatar images including at least one of a male avatar, a female avatar, a pet avatar, or an object avatar.

4. The wagering game of claim 1 including one or more avatar awards, tokens or currency accumulate-able based on the game plays during one or more gaming sessions by the player.

5. The wagering game of claim 4, the avatar awards, tokens or currency being accumulate-able by the player through game plays of one or more distinct wagering games.

6. The wagering game of claim 4, the avatar awards, tokens or currency being exchangeable by the player for one or more customizations of the player avatar.

7. The wagering game of claim 6, the customizations being persistent and recoverable by the player during one or more subsequent gaming sessions following the customizations.

8. The wagering game of claim 1, the processor configured to generate an audio-visual presentation including a celebratory dance of the player avatar after a winning outcome of the wagering game.

9. The wagering game of claim 1, the processor configured to generate an audio-visual presentation including a celebratory cheerful characterization of the player avatar after a winning outcome of the wagering game.

10. The wagering game of claim 9, the processor configured to present one or more avatar awards after one or more winning outcomes of the wagering game.

11. The wagering game of claim 10, the processor configured to generate a presentation ceremony of at least one of the avatar awards with the player avatar.

12. The wagering game of claim 9, the processor configured to present one or more avatar awards after the player achieves one or more playing thresholds associated with the wagering game.

13. The wagering game of claim 12, the processor configured to generate a feature avatar game including presentation of at least one of the avatar awards by a characterized image along with the player avatar.

14. The wagering game of claim 13, the characterized image comprising one of a model, singer, actor, band, group, pet, or object.

15. The wagering game of claim 12, the player avatar characterized to receive the avatar award on behalf of the player.

16. The wagering game of claim 1, the processor configured to generate an audio-visual presentation including a conciliatory characterization of the player avatar after one or more losing outcomes of the wagering game.

17. The wagering game of claim 16, the processor configured to present a consolation avatar award after one or more losing outcomes of the wagering game.

18. The wagering game of claim 17, the processor configured to generate a presentation ceremony of the consolation avatar award with the player avatar after one or more losing outcomes of the wagering game.

19. The wagering game of claim 1, the wagering game including award tokens or virtual currency awardable to the player based on one or more of the game plays.

20. The wagering game of claim 19, the wagering game including an opportunity award, whereby the player is awarded an opportunity to select from a set of items to customize the player avatar.

21. A gaming machine comprising

a wagering game,

a processor configured to operate the wagering game;

and

a player interface connected to enable a player to play the wagering game and interact with a player avatar module;

the gaming machine operable with the player avatar module to display a customizable player avatar interactive with the wagering game and player.

22. A networked gaming system including

a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a server;

at least one of the gaming machines including a wagering game and interactive customizable player avatar;

the player avatar customizable by the player and interactive with the wagering game and player.

23. A method of operating a wagering game includes the step of providing an interactive customizable player avatar.

24. A method of operating a gaming machine played by a player includes the steps of accepting a wager from a wager-input mechanism, initiating play of a first game according to the wager, and providing an interactive customizable player avatar.

25. A method of operating a networked gaming system includes the steps of connecting a plurality of gaming machines to a host computer, and operating a wagering game together with a customizable player avatar interactive with the wagering game and a player.