IP Library Granted Patent US 8,734,232
Granted Patent B2
US 8,734,232 · App. 13/252,128 · Granted May 27, 2014

System and method for games having a skill-based component

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,734,232
App. No.
13/252,128
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a predetermined award presented in a manner in which a player's skill at the game appears to affect the amount of the award without actually having an effect on its amount.

Claims (18)

1. A method of enabling game play of a pseudo skill-based game that includes a game of chance component and an apparent game of skill component, the method comprising:

providing a gaming machine having a primary game presentation, the gaming machine presenting the pseudo skill-based game that awards game credits and game points;

enabling game play on the gaming machine that presents the pseudo skill-based game, wherein the game credits are redeemable for a payout and are controlled by overall payout percentages and a random number generator relating to the game of chance component, and wherein the game points are not redeemable for the payout, game points are not controlled by the overall payout percentages and the random number generator relating to the game of chance component, and a number of game points awarded is increased according to player skill during game play of the pseudo skill-based game on the gaming machine;

awarding a number of game credits per game that is not effected by the player skill, and awarding a number of game points per game that is effected by the player skill; and

displaying one or more high scores in the game points for the pseudo skill-based game over a period of time;

wherein a user input device is a secondary touchscreen to the primary game presentation, and the user input device is configured to receive directional, multi-touch gestures to facilitate skill based user input;

wherein the pseudo skill-based game is an outer space themed game in which a player touches the secondary touchscreen to launch virtual missiles from a point of touch to destroy space ships, wherein a length of time of a touch by the player on the secondary touchscreen determines a size or intensity of the virtual missile, wherein long presses result in more powerful and destructive virtual missiles.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a number of prizes awarded to the player is influenced by the player skill, but a total prize amount awarded to the player is not influenced by the player skill since prize value decreases in correspondence with increases in prize frequency.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each time a space ship is destroyed the player is awarded monetary game credits, non-monetary game points, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the awarding of the monetary game credits, the non-monetary game points, or combinations thereof gives an appearance that player skill effects a number of monetary game credits awarded, but the number of monetary game credits awarded is controlled by the overall payout percentages and the random number generator.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein an amount of the monetary game credits won is fixed at a beginning of game play by the random number generator, while an amount of the non-monetary game points is derived by the player skill during game play.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein a player with a high score in non-monetary game points is encouraged to enter its initials or name to enable competition against other players.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a skilled player may receive a larger number of tickets than an unskilled player, presenting the skilled player with tangible evidence of skilled game play.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a casino tournament gaming system, wherein the casino tournament gaming system maintains multiple leaderboards including a bank-wide leaderboard.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a casino tournament gaming system, wherein the casino tournament gaming system maintains multiple leaderboards including a casino-wide leaderboard.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pseudo skill-based game may award privilege-based prizes.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pseudo skill-based game may award cash prizes for tournament wins that are not funded by coin-in from gaming machines being played.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each game continues for a set period of time at the end of which fixed monetary game credits determined at a beginning of play are awarded.

Assignments (10)
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 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0164. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063460/0211 →
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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0164 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031745/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2011
From: BUNCH, DAVID; KELLY, BRYAN M.; MARTIN, SEAN C.; ANG, RODERICK; LYONS, MARTIN S.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 027051/0964 →