Ball draw based random number generation
A random number is generated using two or more designations taken from a ball draw and applied to affect a game. The random number generation process preferably results in a uniform distribution of random numbers across a certain range. The uniformity in which the random numbers may be distributed over a certain range allows the numbers to be employed to affect games in a uniform and unbiased fashion.
1 . A method including:
(a) generating a random number using two or more designations of a ball draw; and
(b) employing the random number to affect a game.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the random number is generated in a process that produces a uniform distribution of random numbers over a potential range, each respective random number in the uniform distribution being generated using two or more designations from a respective ball draw.
3 . The method of claim 1 further including employing the ball draw in conducting the game.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein employing the random number to affect the game includes selecting a graphic presentation from a number of alternate graphic presentations.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein selecting the graphic presentation includes correlating the random number to an index value range and identifying a respective graphic presentation associated with that index value range.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the random number is generated from the first three designations in the ball draw using a formula (n-1)*(n-2)*x+(n-2)*(y−(y>x))+z−(z>x)−(z>y) where n equals a number of designations available for the ball draw, where x, y, and z are, respectively, the first three designations in the ball draw, and where the ball draw is produced from a pool of designations 0 through n-1.
7 . A method including:
(a) generating a ball draw for a game;
(b) generating a random number from two or more designations of the ball draw; and
(c) applying the random number to affect the game.
8 . The method of claim 7 further including selecting a graphic presentation for display in the game, the graphic presentation being selected at least in part according to the random number.
9 . The method of claim 7 wherein the random number is generated in a process that produces a uniform distribution of random numbers over a potential range, each respective random number in the uniform distribution being generated using two or more designations from a respective ball draw.
10 . The method of claim 7 wherein the game includes a bingo-type game and wherein the ball draw matched against bingo cards in the bingo-type game to identify bingo results for the bingo-type game.
11 . The method of claim 7 wherein the random number is generated from the first three designations in the ball draw using a formula (n-1)*(n-2)*x+(n-2)*(y−(y>x))+z−(z>x)−(z>y) where n equals the number of designations available for the ball draw, where x, y, and z are, respectively, the first three designations in the ball draw, and where the ball draw is produced from a pool of designations 1 through n-1.
12 . A system including:
(a) a ball draw generating device;
(b) an indexing controller for generating a random number based on two or more designations taken from a ball draw generated by the ball draw generating device; and
(c) a game controller for applying the random number to affect a game.
13 . The system of claim 12 further including a video display device for producing a video display for the game.
14 . The system of claim 12 wherein the game controller has access to an index table correlating each one of a number of index values to a respective game affecting feature, and wherein the game controller correlates the random number with one of the index values to select a respective one of the game affecting features.
15 . The system of claim 14 wherein each game affecting feature includes at least a portion of a graphic presentation to be displayed to a player through a player video display.
16 . The system of claim 14 wherein each game affecting feature includes a bonus game indicator for indicating a bonus game to be presented to a player through a player station.
17 . A program product having a set of machine-readable instructions that when executed are configured to:
(a) generate a random number using two or more designations of a ball draw; and
(b) employ the random number to affect a game.
18 . The program product of claim 17 wherein the machine-readable instructions are executable to generate the random number using a process that produces a uniform distribution of random numbers over a potential range, each respective random number in the uniform distribution being generated using two or more designations from a respective ball draw.
19 . The program product of claim 17 wherein the machine-readable instructions are executable to employ the ball draw to conduct the game affected by the random number.
20 . The program product of claim 17 wherein the machine-readable instructions are executable to access an index table correlating each one of a number of index values to a respective game affecting feature, and to correlate the random number with one of the index values to select a respective one of the game affecting features.