METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING A PAYOUT AT A GAMING DEVICE USING AUDIO / VIDEO CONTENT

1 . A method, comprising:

determining a first payout to potentially be provided for a current game play of a gaming device, wherein the gaming device is operable to facilitate a wagering game; and

providing the first payout only upon

(i) indicia indicative of the first payout being disposed along a payline of the gaming device, wherein the payline is a component of a first display area of the gaming device, and

(ii) a characteristic of audio/video content associated with the current game play satisfying a requirement for providing the first payout, wherein the audio/video content is output via a second display area of the gaming device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based on a random number, the indicia;

causing the indicia to be disposed along the payline;

determining the audio/video content being output at substantially a time the indicia is disposed along the payline;

determining a requirement corresponding to the indicia, the requirement specifying at least one characteristic of the audio/video content;

determining whether the audio/video content being output at substantially the time the indicia is disposed along the payline satisfies the requirement, thereby determining whether the requirement is satisfied for the current game play;

providing the first payout if the requirement is satisfied; and

providing a second payout if the requirement is not satisfied, wherein the second payout is less than the first payout.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second payout is equal to zero credits.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of a specified character and a specified object appearing on a video screen comprising the secondary output device.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristic comprises a character of the audio/video content speaking a specified term.

6 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining whether a payment has been received from a player associated with the first payout, the payment being in exchange for providing payouts in accordance with the satisfaction of characteristics of the audio/video content; and

providing the first payout only if the payment has been received, otherwise providing the second payout.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, based on a random number, the first payout;

determining a time at which indicia corresponding to the first payout is to be disposed along the payline, thereby determining an indicia output time;

determining a characteristic of the audio/video content at substantially the indicia output time;

selecting the indicia from a plurality of sets of indicia, wherein each indicia of the plurality of sets of indicia corresponds to a requirement,

wherein selecting the indicia is performed such that the requirement corresponding to the selected indicia is satisfied by the determined characteristic of the audio/video content; and

causing the selected indicia to be disposed along the payline at the indicia output time.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of a specified character and a specified object appearing on a video screen comprising the secondary output device.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the characteristic comprises a character of the audio/video content speaking a specified term.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first payout comprises the second payout provided in a first form plus an additional payout provided in a second form.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of the audio video content, thereby determining a selected audio/video content,

wherein the selected audio/video content is a choice of a plurality of available audio/video content available for selection; and

outputting the selected audio/video content.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the selection comprises determining that a player of the gaming device has selected the audio/video content via a player interface of the gaming device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a payment from the player for the output of the audio/video content.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving an indication of the audio/video content from a controller device.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

Selecting the audio/video content from a plurality of available audio/video content.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio/video content comprises an episode of a television show.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing the audio/video content to determine whether the audio/video content possesses the characteristic that satisfies the requirement.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein analyzing the audio/video content comprises analyzing the data comprising the audio/video content.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein analyzing the data comprises analyzing pixels of a screen outputting the audio/video content.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein analyzing the audio/video content comprises accessing a record of a database, the record storing information about characteristics possessed by the audio/video content.

21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

beginning output of the audio/video content at substantially a time of the current game play, such that the audio/video content spans only the current game play.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

selecting the audio/video content for output, wherein the audio/video content is selected such that it possesses the characteristic and the requirement is satisfied.

23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio/video content spans a plurality of game plays.

24 . A gaming device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory operable to store a program for directing the processor to execute a method;

a first output device operable to output indicia of a game play; and

a secondary output device operable to output audio/video content distinct from the indicia,

wherein the gaming device operable to facilitate a wagering game in which a result of a game play is determined on a random basis and in exchange for a payment, and wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determining a first payout to potentially be provided for a current game play of a gaming device; and

provide the first payout only upon

(i) indicia indicative of the first payout being disposed along a payline of the gaming device, wherein the payline is a component of the first output device, and

(ii) a characteristic of audio/video content associated with the current game play satisfying a requirement for providing the first payout, wherein the audio/video content is output via the secondary output device.

25 . The gaming device of claim 24 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine, based on a random number, the indicia;

cause the indicia to be disposed along the payline;

determine the audio/video content being output at substantially a time the indicia is disposed along the payline;

determine a requirement corresponding to the indicia, the requirement specifying at least one characteristic of the audio/video content;

determine whether the audio/video content being output at substantially the time the indicia is disposed along the payline satisfies the requirement, thereby determining whether the requirement is satisfied for the current game play;

provide the first payout if the requirement is satisfied; and

provide a second payout if the requirement is not satisfied, wherein the second payout is less than the first payout.

26 . The gaming device of claim 25 , wherein the second payout is equal to zero credits.

27 . The gaming device of claim 24 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine, based on a random number, the first payout;

determine a time at which indicia corresponding to the first payout is to be disposed along the payline, thereby determining an indicia output time;

determine a characteristic of the audio/video content at substantially the indicia output time;

select the indicia from a plurality of sets of indicia, wherein each indicia of the plurality of sets of indicia corresponds to a requirement,

wherein selecting the indicia is performed such that the requirement corresponding to the selected indicia is satisfied by the determined characteristic of the audio/video content; and

cause the selected indicia to be disposed along the payline at the indicia output time.