GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR REAL-TIME SELECTION OF OUTCOME DISTRIBUTION IN A WAGERING GAME
A method includes, for a given play of a wagering game, displaying a visual depiction which varies over a range of visual states. The visual depiction is displayed through a display system of the gaming machine and each visual state is correlated to a respective outcome distribution from a set of different outcome distributions. The method may then include receiving a player input through a player input system of the gaming machine. This player input selects one of the visual states of the visual depiction, so that the outcome distribution correlated to that selected visual state may be applied to randomly identify an outcome for a play of a game at the gaming machine. The method then includes awarding any prize correlated to the identified outcome.
1 . A method for selecting an outcome distribution in a wagering game, the method including:
(a) through a display system of a gaming machine, displaying a visual depiction which varies over a range of visual states, each visual state being correlated to a respective outcome distribution from a set of different outcome distributions;
(b) receiving a player input through a player input system of the gaming machine, the player input selecting one of the visual states;
(c) applying the outcome distribution correlated to the selected visual state to randomly identify an outcome for a play of a game at the gaming machine; and
(d) awarding any prize correlated to the identified outcome, the prize being awarded through the gaming machine.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of an element which oscillates back and forth across a range of angular orientations, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective angular orientation in the range of angular orientations.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of an element which travels continuously along a path, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective position along the path.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of a target area traversing a grid of grid locations, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective grid location.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein:
(a) each respective grid location is correlated to a respective outcome for a play of the game; and
(b) the outcome distribution correlated to each respective grid location includes the outcome correlated to that grid location and the respective outcome correlated to each of a number of grid locations adjacent to that grid location.
6 . The method of claim 5 further including displaying the target area landing at the grid location correlated to the outcome which is identified for the play of the game at the gaming machine.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein each different outcome distribution has approximately the same expected prize value.
8 . A gaming machine providing a wagering game, the gaming machine including:
(a) a display system;
(b) a player input system;
(c) at least one processor; and
(d) at least one memory device storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
(i) cause the display system to display a visual depiction which varies over a range of visual states, each visual state being correlated to a respective outcome distribution from a set of different outcome distributions;
(ii) receive a player input entered through a player input system of the gaming machine, the player input selecting one of the visual states;
(iii) apply the outcome distribution correlated to the selected visual state to randomly identify an outcome for a play of a game at the gaming machine; and
(iv) cause the display system to display an award of any prize correlated to the identified outcome.
9 . The gaming machine of claim 8 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of an element which oscillates back and forth across a range of angular orientations, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective angular orientation in the range of angular orientations.
10 . The gaming machine of claim 8 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of an element which travels continuously along a path, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective position along the path.
11 . The gaming machine of claim 8 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of a target area traversing a grid of grid locations, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective grid location.
12 . The gaming machine of claim 11 wherein:
(a) each respective grid location is correlated to a respective outcome for a play of the game; and
(b) the outcome distribution correlated to each respective grid location includes the outcome correlated to that grid location and the respective outcome correlated to each of a number of grid locations adjacent to that grid location.
13 . The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the instructions are also executable by the at least one processor to cause the display system to display the target area landing at the grid location correlated to the outcome which is identified for the play of the game at the gaming machine.
14 . The gaming machine of claim 8 wherein each different outcome distribution has approximately the same expected prize value.
15 . A program product stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable data storage devices, the program product including:
(a) player input program code executable by at least one processor to receive a player input entered through a player input system of a gaming machine;
(b) game program code executable by the at least one processor to
(i) cause a display system to display a visual depiction which varies over a range of visual states, each visual state being correlated to a respective outcome distribution from a set of different outcome distributions; and
(ii) apply the outcome distribution correlated to the selected visual state to randomly identify an outcome for a play of a game at the gaming machine; and
(c) payout program code executable by the at least one processor to award any prize correlated to the identified outcome, the prize being awarded through the gaming machine.
16 . The program product of claim 15 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of an element which travels continuously along a path, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective position along the path.
17 . The program product of claim 15 wherein the visual depiction includes a depiction of a target area traversing a grid of grid locations, and wherein each visual state is correlated to a respective grid location.
18 . The program product of claim 17 wherein:
(a) each respective grid location is correlated to a respective outcome for a play of the game; and
(b) the outcome distribution correlated to each respective grid location includes the outcome correlated to that grid location and the respective outcome correlated to each of a number of grid locations adjacent to that grid location.
19 . The program product of claim 18 wherein the game program code is also executable to cause the display system to display the target area landing at the grid location correlated to the outcome which is identified for the play of the game at the gaming machine.
20 . The program product of claim 15 wherein each different outcome distribution has approximately the same expected prize value.