Value wheel game method and apparatus

• US 6,162,121 A
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Morro, Stephen W., Lam, Yin Zin Mark, Baerlocher, Anthony J., Crowder, Robert W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/201,671
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/12-13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25-27, 463/30-31, 463/36, 463/40-42, 700/91-93, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143 R, 273/292-293
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A computer-implemented game includes a wheel of fortune portion. The wheel is positioned in a location spaced from the main game housing. In this way even relatively large wheels can be provided without undesirable dimensional enlargement of the main housing.

Claims

1. A computer implemented game process comprising:

controlling a first display device housed in a first housing to display an image of a plurality of indicia using a first controller coupled to said first display device, said image, during at least a first period of said display, including at least one indicium designated as a next level indicium; and

upon the next level indicium being selected during the first period, controlling a second display using a second controller coupled to said second display device to simulate selection of an indicium from a second plurality of indicia;

wherein said second display is in a second housing different from and spaced from said first housing.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of controlling said second display includes controlling said second display to display at least a portion of a value wheel.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said value wheel is positioned above said first housing.

4. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said value wheel is a physical wheel rotatable about a rotation axis.

5. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said value wheel is an electronically controlled video display of a wheel.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first display is controlled in response to first software associated with said first controller, said first software including at least first game win/loss determination procedures;

wherein said second display is controlled in response to second software associated with said second controller; and

wherein said second software is configured such that said second display can be changed by changing said second software, substantially without modification of said first game win/loss determination procedures.

7. Apparatus for gaming comprising:

a first display device housed in a first housing;

a first controller coupled to said first display device to display an image of a plurality of indicia, said image, during at least a first period of said display, including at least one indicium designated as a next level indicium;

a second display device housed in a second housing different from and spaced from said first housing;

a second controller, separate from said first controller, coupled to said second display, configured to, upon the next level indicium being selected during the first period, control said second display to simulate selection of an indicium from a second plurality of indicia.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said step of controlling said second display includes controlling said second display to display at least a portion of a value wheel.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said value wheel is positioned above said first housing.

10. Apparatus for gaming comprising:

first display means housed in a first housing;

means coupled to said first display means for controlling said first display means to display an image of a plurality of indicia, said image, during at least a first period of said display, including at least one indicium designated as a next level indicium;

second display means housed in a housing different from and spaced from said first housing for displaying a second plurality of indicia;

means coupled to said second display, distinct from said means coupled to said first display means for controlling said second display to simulate selection of an indicium from said second plurality of indicia upon the next level indicium being selected during the first period.

11. Gaming apparatus comprising:

an array of N gaming terminal housings, each housing having a first computer-implemented control for playing a first game portion involving receiving wagers and providing a win/loss first game portion outcome wherein N is greater than 1, and wherein N is an integer value;

M value wheel display means each display means having a second computer-implemented control for playing a second game portion, spaced from said gaming terminal housings, and configured to display at least a second game portion outcome, different from said first game portion outcome wherein M is an integer value.

12. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein M is greater than 1.

13. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said value wheel display means are positioned in the absence of a direct structural connection to said N gaming terminal housings.

14. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said value wheel display means are positioned above said N gaming terminal housings.

15. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein M is equal in value to N and wherein each value wheel display means is positioned substantially above and aligned with a corresponding one of said gaming terminal housings.

16. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said computer-implemented control is configured to provide at least a first output for use in controlling said second game portion outcome.

17. Gaming apparatus comprising:

an array of N gaming terminals housings, each housing having a first computer-implemented control for playing a first game portion involving receiving wagers and providing a win/loss first game portion outcome wherein N is greater than 1;

M value wheel display devices each display device having a second computer-implemented control for playing a second game portion, spaced from said gaming terminal housings, and configured to display at least a second game portion outcome, different from said first game portion outcome wherein M is greater than 1.

18. Gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein M is equal to N and wherein each value wheel display means is positioned substantially above and aligned with a corresponding one of said gaming terminal housings.

19. A gaming method comprising:

providing a plurality of gaming terminal housings, each housing having a first computer-implemented control for playing a first game portion involving receiving wagers and providing a win/loss first game portion outcome;

positioning a plurality of value wheel display devices, each display device having a second computer-implemented control for playing a second game portion and each value wheel display device substantially aligned with and spaced from a corresponding one of said gaming terminal housings, and configured to display at least a second game portion outcome, different from said first game portion outcome.