IP Library Granted Patent US 8,308,556
Granted Patent B2
US 8,308,556 · App. 13/128,662 · Granted Nov 13, 2012

Normalizing skill-based wagering games

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,308,556
App. No.
13/128,662
Granted
Nov 13, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, a method comprises initiating a plurality of skill-based bonus games across a plurality of wagering game machines; collecting game result data associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games; during a normalization process for one of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, determining a rate of awarding a secondary economy asset for the skillbased bonus game is not within a range based on the game result data; adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games; and deploying the skill-based bonus game with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

Claims (67)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

initiating a plurality of skill-based bonus games across a plurality of wagering game machines;

collecting game result data associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

during a normalization process for one of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, determining a rate of awarding a secondary economy asset for the skill-based bonus game is not within a range based on the game result data;

adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games; and

deploying the skill-based bonus game with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether to initiate the normalization process for the plurality of skill-based bonus games based on whether a predetermined amount of game result data has been collected for the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

if the predetermined amount of game result data has been collected for one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, initiating the normalization process for the one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, for each of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, said determining whether to initiate a normalization process comprises:

determining whether the skill-based bonus game has been played a predetermined number of times across the plurality of wagering game machines based on the collected game result data associated with the skill-based bonus game;

if the skill-based bonus game has been played the predetermined number of times, initiating the normalization process for the skill-based bonus game;

if the skill-based bonus game has not been played the predetermined number of times, collecting additional game result data associated with the skill-based bonus game before initiating the normalization process.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, during a normalization process for a second skill-based bonus game of the plurality of skill-based bonus games:

determining whether a rate of awarding each of a plurality of secondary economy assets for the second skill-based bonus game is within a corresponding range based on the collected game result data;

if the rate of awarding each of the plurality of secondary economy assets for the second skill-based bonus game is not within the corresponding range, adjusting parameters of the second skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding each of the plurality of secondary economy assets across the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

deploying the second skill-based bonus game with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said determining whether the rate of awarding each of the plurality of secondary economy assets for the second skill-based bonus game is within a corresponding range comprises determining whether the rate of awarding a first secondary economy asset for the second skill-based bonus game is within a first range, determining whether the rate of awarding a second secondary economy asset for the second skill-based bonus game is within a second range, and determining whether the rate of awarding a third secondary economy asset for the skill-based bonus game is within a third range.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game comprises adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to increase or decrease a difficulty associated with the skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games such that the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset is within the range.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game and deploying the skill-based bonus game comprises dynamically adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to normalize the awarding of the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games and dynamically deploying the skill-based bonus game with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

8. A wagering game server comprising:

a bonus game controller configured to initiate a plurality of skill-based bonus games across a plurality of wagering game machines; and

a skill-based bonus game normalization unit configured to collect game result data associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games, and to

determine, during a normalization process for one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, whether a rate of awarding a secondary economy asset for the one or more the skill-based bonus games is within a range based on the game result data;

if the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset for the one or more skill-based bonus games is not within the range, adjust parameters of the one or more skill-based bonus games to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games; and

deploy the one or more skill-based bonus game with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

9. The wagering game server of claim 8 , wherein the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is further configured to determine whether to initiate a normalization process for the plurality of skill-based bonus games based on whether a predetermined amount of game result data has been collected for the plurality of skill-based bonus games, wherein, if the predetermined amount of game result data has been collected for one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to initiate the normalization process for the one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games.

10. The wagering game server of claim 9 , wherein, for each of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to determine whether the skill-based bonus game has been played a predetermined number of times across the plurality of wagering game machines based on the collected game result data associated with the skill-based bonus game, wherein, if the skill-based bonus game has been played the predetermined number of times, the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to initiate the normalization process for the skill-based bonus game, wherein, if the skill-based bonus game has not been played the predetermined number of times, the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to collect additional game result data associated with the skill-based bonus game before initiating the normalization process.

11. The wagering game server of claim 8 , further comprising a secondary economy unit configured to manage secondary economy assets and award the secondary economy asset to players of the skilled-based bonus games based on skill exhibited during game play in accomplishing one or more bonus game objectives.

12. The wagering game server of claim 8 , wherein, during a normalization process for a second skill-based bonus game of the plurality of the skill-based bonus games, the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to determine whether a rate of awarding each of a plurality of secondary economy assets for the second skill-based bonus game is within a corresponding range based on the collected game result data, wherein, if the rate of awarding each of the plurality of secondary economy assets for the second skill-based bonus game is not within the corresponding range, the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to adjust parameters of the second skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding each of the plurality of secondary economy assets across the plurality of skill-based bonus games.

13. The wagering game server of claim 12 , wherein the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to determine whether the rate of awarding a first secondary economy asset for the second skill-based bonus game is within a first range, determine whether the rate of awarding a second secondary economy asset for the second skill-based bonus game is within a second range, and determine whether the rate of awarding a third secondary economy asset for the second skill-based bonus game is within a third range.

14. The wagering game server of claim 8 , wherein the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to adjust parameters of the one or more skill-based bonus games to increase or decrease a difficulty associated with the one or more skill-based bonus games to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games such that the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset is within the range.

15. The wagering game server of claim 8 , wherein the skill-based bonus game normalization unit is configured to dynamically adjusting parameters of the one or more skill-based bonus games to normalize the awarding of the secondary economy assets across the plurality of skill-based bonus games and the bonus game controller is configured to dynamically deploy the one or more skill-based bonus games with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

16. A wagering game server including a processor and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the wagering game server comprising:

the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including,

means for initiating, by the processor of the wagering game server, a plurality of skill-based bonus games across a plurality of wagering game machines;

means for collecting game result data associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

means for determining whether to initiate a normalization process for one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

means for determining whether a rate of awarding a secondary economy asset for the one or more skill-based bonus games is within a range based on the game result data;

means for adjusting parameters of the one or more skill-based bonus games to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games; and

means for deploying the one or more skill-based bonus games with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

17. The wagering game server of claim 16 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium further includes means for managing secondary economy assets and awarding secondary economy assets to players of the skilled-based bonus games based on skill exhibited during game play in accomplishing one or more bonus game objectives.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

initiating a plurality of skill-based bonus games across a plurality of wagering game machines;

collecting game result data associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

during a normalization process for one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, determining whether a rate of awarding a secondary economy asset for the one or more skill-based bonus games is within a first range based on the game result data;

if the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset for the one or more skill-based bonus games is not within the first range, determining whether the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset is a predetermined amount outside the first range;

if the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset is a predetermined amount outside the first range, adjusting parameters of the plurality of skill-based bonus games to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games to a rate within a second range;

creating a new secondary economy asset for the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

adjusting parameters of the plurality of skill-based bonus games to normalize a rate of awarding the new secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games at a rate within the first range; and

deploying the plurality of skill-based bonus games with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein, if the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset is not a predetermined amount outside the first range, the method further comprising:

adjusting parameters of the one or more skill-based bonus games to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games to a rate within the first range; and

deploying the one or more skill-based bonus games with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein said adjusting parameters of the plurality of skill-based bonus games comprises adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to increase or decrease a difficulty associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said adjusting parameters of the plurality of skill-based bonus games comprises changing one or more of the speed, the size, the number, the location, and the intelligence of skill-based bonus game elements.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein said adjusting parameters of the plurality of skill-based bonus games and deploying the plurality of skill-based bonus games comprises dynamically adjusting parameters of the plurality of skill-based bonus games to normalize the awarding of secondary economy assets across the plurality of skill-based bonus games and dynamically deploying the plurality of skill-based bonus games with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

23. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprise:

initiating a plurality of skill-based bonus games across a plurality of wagering game machines;

collecting game result data associated with the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

during a normalization process for one of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, determining whether a rate of awarding a secondary economy asset for the skill-based bonus game is within a range based on the collected game result data;

if the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset for the skill-based bonus game is not within the range, adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games; and

deploying the skill-based bonus game with the adjusted parameters across one or more of the wagering game machines.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 23 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether to initiate a normalization process for the plurality of skill-based bonus games based on whether a predetermined amount of game result data has been collected for the plurality of skill-based bonus games;

if the predetermined amount of game result data has been collected for one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games, initiating the normalization process for the one or more of the plurality of skill-based bonus games.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 23 , wherein said operation of adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game comprises adjusting parameters of the skill-based bonus game to increase or decrease a difficulty associated with the skill-based bonus game to normalize the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset across the plurality of skill-based bonus games such that the rate of awarding the secondary economy asset is within the range.

Assignments (13)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: LNW GAMING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071340/0404 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NUMBERS 7963843, 8016666, 9076281, AND 9257001 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0910. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063122/0307 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: SG GAMING, INC.
To: LNW GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: SG GAMING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059793/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; DON BEST SPORTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059756/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 19, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0910 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES REEL/FRAME 034530/0318) Recorded Nov 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
Reel/Frame 047924/0701 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2015
From: WMS GAMING INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 036225/0464 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: BALLY GAMING, INC; SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC; WMS GAMING INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034530/0318 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031847/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2012
From: THOMAS, ALFRED
To: WMS GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 028760/0267 →