IP Library Granted Patent US 7,566,267
Granted Patent B2
US 7,566,267 · App. 11/002,384 · Granted Jul 28, 2009

Method for casino game

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,566,267
App. No.
11/002,384
Granted
Jul 28, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of playing a casino game by offering a player a plurality of objects, each of which has a probability of success and associated award. The player chooses an object and receives the associated award when the chosen object is successful. The player continues to chose objects until the casino game ends. Ending may occur randomly after each object is chosen, upon all chosen objects resulting in a success, or upon the player choosing a fixed number of objects.

Claims (80)

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

(a) causing a display device to display a finite number of game objects to a player for a play of a game, each of the finite number of game objects having a probability of success and an associated award;

(b) causing the display device to display a player object to the player;

(c) enabling the player to choose one of the displayed game objects;

(d) causing a processor to execute said program to determine either a successful result or an unsuccessful result for the chosen game object, wherein said determination is based on the probability of success for the chosen game object;

(e) for each determination of the successful result for the chosen game object, awarding to the player the associated award for the chosen game object;

(f) for each determination of the unsuccessful result for the chosen game object, causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if a game end result occurs for the displayed player object, wherein said separate and random determination is based on an end game probability which is greater than zero; and

(g) when the game end result is determined to occur for the displayed player object, causing the processor to execute said program to end the play of the game; and

(h) when the end game result is not determined to occur for the displayed player object:

(i) enabling the player to chose another one of the game objects for the play of the game, and

(ii) causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when the end game result is not determined to occur for the displayed player object:

causing the processor to execute said program to remove the chosen game object from the finite number of game objects displayed;

enabling the player to choose another game object from the remaining number of displayed game objects; and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining either the successful result or the unsuccessful result for the chosen game object further comprises:

causing the display device to display a firing at the chosen game object from the player object, wherein a displayed firing miss of the chosen game object is the determined unsuccessful result.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if the game end result occurs for the displayed player object further comprises:

causing the processor to execute said program to select one of the displayed game objects;

causing the display device to display a firing from the selected displayed game object at the player object, wherein a displayed firing miss of the player object is a continue game result;

enabling the player to choose another one of the displayed game objects in response to the continue game result; and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if the game end result occurs for the player object further comprises:

causing the processor to execute said program to select one of the displayed game objects;

causing the display device to display a firing from the selected displayed game object at the player object, wherein a displayed firing miss of the player object is a continue game result; and

in response to the continue game result:

causing the processor to execute said program to remove the chosen game object from the finite number of game objects displayed,

enabling the player to choose another game object from the remaining number of displayed game objects and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

awarding a bonus award to the player when the end game result is not determined to occur for the displayed player object.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein multiplying the probability of success and the associated award together for each of the finite number of game objects results in an expected value that is constant for all game objects.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when the successful result is determined for the chosen game object:

causing the processor to execute said program to remove the chosen game object from the finite number of displayed game objects;

enabling the player to choose another game object from the remaining displayed game objects; and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

9. A method of operating a gaming machine including a program, said method comprising:

(a) causing a display device to display a number of game objects to a player for a play of a bonus game, each of the number of game objects having a probability of success and an associated award;

(b) causing the display device to display a player object to the player;

(c) enabling the player to chose one of the displayed number of game objects;

(d) causing a processor to execute said program to randomly determine either an successful result or an unsuccessful result for the chosen game object, wherein said determination is based on the probability of success for the chosen game object;

(e) for each determination of the success result for the chosen game object;

(i) awarding to the player the associated award for the chosen game object; and

(ii) causing the processor to execute said program to remove the chosen game object;

(f) for each determination of the unsuccessful result for the chosen game object, causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if a game end result occurs for the displayed player object, wherein said separate and random determination is based on an end game probability which is greater than zero;

(g) causing the processor to execute said program to end the play of the bonus game when the game end result is determined to occur for the player object; and

(h) enabling the player to choose one of any remaining game objects and causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once when the end game result is not determined to occur for the player object or when the successful result is determined for the chosen game object.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein causing the processor to execute said program to randomly determine either the successful result or the unsuccessful result for the chosen game object further comprises:

causing the display device to display a firing at the chosen game object from the player object, wherein a displayed firing miss of the chosen game object is the determined unsuccessful result.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if the game end result occurs for the player object further comprises:

causing the processor to execute said program to select one of the displayed gaming objects;

causing the display device to display a firing from the selected displayed game object at the player object, wherein a displayed firing miss of the player object is a continue game result; and in response to the continue game result:

enabling the player to choose another displayed game object, and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if the game end result occurs for the player object further comprises:

causing the processor to execute said program to select one of the displayed gaming objects;

causing the display device to display a firing from the selected displayed game object at the player object, wherein a displayed firing miss of the player object is a continue game result; and

in response to the continue game result:

causing the processor to execute said program to remove the chosen game object from the number of displayed game objects,

enabling the player to choose another displayed game object from the remaining number of displayed game objects, and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (h) at least once.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein multiplying the probability of success and the associated award together for each of the number of game objects results in an expected value that is constant for all game objects.

14. A method of operating a gaming machine including a program, said method

comprising:

(a) causing a display device to display a number of game objects to a player for a play of a game, each of the number of game objects having a probability of success and an associated award wherein the probability of success when multiplied by the associated award is constant for all game objects;

(b) causing the display device to display a player object to the player;

(c) enabling the player to choose one of the displayed game objects;

(d) causing a processor to execute said program to determine either a successful result or an unsuccessful result for the chosen game object, said determination based on the probability of success for the chosen game object;

(e) for each determination of the unsuccessful result for the chosen game object, causing the processor to execute said program to separately and randomly determine if a game end result occurs for the displayed player object, wherein said separate and random determination is based on an end game probability which is greater than zero;

(f) when the game end result is determined to occur, causing the processor to execute said program to end the play of the game;

(g) when the game end result is not determined to occur for the chosen game object:

(i) enabling the player to chose another one of the game objects for the play of the game, and

(ii) causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (g) at least once.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

when the game end result is not determined to occur:

causing the processor to execute said program to remove the chosen game object from the number of game objects displayed,

enabling the player to choose another game object from the remaining number of displayed game objects, and

causing the processor to execute said program to repeat (d) to (g) at least once.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2009
From: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 022973/0989 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2009
From: PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 022245/0098 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 11, 2009
From: MIKOHN GAMING CORPORATION
To: PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022245/0124 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2009
From: PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
To: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 022101/0907 →
LICENSE Recorded Dec 31, 2008
From: PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
To: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 022051/0953 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 18, 2008
From: PGIC NV; MGC, INC.; PROGRESSIVE GAMES, INC.; GAMES OF NEVADA, INC.; VIKING MERGER SUBSIDIARY, LLC; PRIMELINE GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; MIKOHN INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MIKOHN HOLDINGS, INC.; ENDX, INC. (USA); PGI (MACAO) LTD.; PGIC HOLDINGS, LIMITED; PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL (GROUP) LTD.; PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL (UK) LTD.
To: INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 021398/0485 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 15, 2008
From: PGIC NV; MGC, INC.; PROGRESSIVE GAMES, INC.; GAMES OF NEVADA, INC.; VIKING MERGER SUBSIDIARY, LLC; PRIMELINE GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; MIKOHN INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MIKOHN HOLDINGS, INC.; ENDX, INC. (USA); PGI (MACAO) LIMITED; PGIC HOLDINGS, LIMITED; PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL (GROUP) LTD.; PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL (UK) LTD.
To: PRIVATE EQUITY MANAGEMENT GROUP FINANCIAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 021398/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2008
From: ABLECO FINANCE LLC
To: PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; MIKOHN NEVADA; MGC, INC.; PROGRESSIVE GAMES, INC.; MIKOHN INTERNATIONAL, INC.; VIKING MERGER SUBSIDIARY, LLC; PRIMELINE GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GAMES OF NEVADA, INC.
Reel/Frame 021266/0403 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 7, 2008
From: VANCURA, OLAF
To: MIKOHN GAMING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020794/0486 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 24, 2006
From: PROGRESSIVE GAMING INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; MIKOHN NEVADA; MGC, INC.; PROGRESSIVE GAMES, INC.; MIKOHN INTERNATIONAL, INC.; VIKING MERGER SUBSIDIARY, LLC; PRIMELINE GAMING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GAMES OF NEVADA, INC.
To: ABLECO FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 017663/0288 →