GAMING MACHINE, METHOD, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR INTRODUCING SKILL-DEPENDENT PLAY IN A WAGERING GAME

1 . A method including:

(a) through a user interface operatively connected to a gaming machine, receiving a skill level input specifying a first skill level from two or more different skill levels, each respective skill level of the two or more different skill levels being correlated to a different respective numerical proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for a portion of a wagering game;

(b) in response to the skill level input, placing the gaming machine in a first state corresponding to the first skill level and in which the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component has a first value;

(c) after placing the gaming machine in the first state, providing a number of result opportunities through the gaming machine under control of a processing system associated with the gaming machine;

(d) providing a respective result for each result opportunity under control of the processing system to produce a set of results, at least a portion of the results included in the set of results being selected at random according to the first value of the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component; and

(e) under control of the processing system, awarding a prize at the gaming machine for the set of results.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein each of the number of result opportunities comprises an activation of either a first game having a first proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for the first game or a second game having a second proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for the second game, and further including with the processing system associated with the gaming machine, selecting the first game and the second game for the activations so that an overall proportion between a player skill-dependent component and random component for the number of result opportunities is equal to the first value.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the first proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the first game is equal to 100% and the second proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the second game is equal to 0%.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the number of result opportunities require a number of skill-dependent inputs and the prize awarded at the gaming machine for the number of skill-dependent inputs includes a portion determined at random according to the first value for the proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component for the portion of the wagering game.

5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the prize awarded at the gaming machine is made up of (i) a respective first credit award for each successful skill-dependent input in the number of skill-dependent inputs, and (ii) for each unsuccessful skill-dependent input in the number of skill-dependent inputs, a respective credit award issued according to a probability equal to unity less the first value.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a continuum over a range of skill level values and wherein receiving the skill level input includes receiving an indication of a placement of a position indicator along the continuum.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a control displaying a number of alternatively selectable discrete skill levels and wherein receiving the skill level input includes receiving an input corresponding to a selected one of the discrete skill levels.

8 . The method of claim 1 further including, over a number of wagers placed at the gaming machine by a player, monitoring an indicator of a degree to which the player skill-dependent component is affecting a return to the player and, in response to the indicator reaching a predefined intervention value, placing the gaming machine in a second state having a second value for the proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component for the portion of the wagering game, the second value being different from the first value.

9 . A gaming machine including:

(a) a display system;

(b) a data storage system;

(c) a user interface operable to receiving a skill level input specifying a first skill level from a set of different skill levels, each respective skill level in the set of different skill levels being correlated to a different respective numerical proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for a portion of a wagering game;

(d) a player input system operable to receive a player inputs for the wagering game; and

(e) at least one processor operable to execute program code to control the gaming machine to:

in response to the skill level input, place the gaming machine in a first state corresponding to the first skill level and in which the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component for the portion of the wagering game has a first value, and

(ii) after the gaming machine is in the first state, providing a number of result opportunities through the gaming machine under control of a processing system associated with the gaming machine, and

(iii) providing a respective result for each result opportunity under control of the processing system to produce a set of results, at least a portion of the results included in the set of results being selected at random according to the first value of the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component, and

(iv) awarding a prize at the gaming machine for the set of results.

10 . The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein each of the number of result opportunities comprises an activation of either a first game having a first proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for the first game or a second game having a second proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for the second game, and wherein the at least one processor is also operable to execute program code to control the gaming machine to select the first game and the second game for the activations so that an overall proportion between a player skill-dependent component and random component for the result opportunities is equal to the first value.

11 . The gaming machine of claim 10 wherein the first proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the first game is equal to 100% and the second proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the second game is equal to 0%.

12 . The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein the number of result opportunities require a number of skill-dependent inputs and the prize awarded at the gaming machine for the number of skill-dependent inputs includes a portion determined at random according to the first value for the proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component for the portion of the wagering game.

13 . The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the prize awarded at the gaming machine is made up of (i) a respective first credit award for each successful skill-dependent input in the number of skill-dependent inputs, and (ii) for each unsuccessful skill-dependent input in the number of skill-dependent inputs, a respective credit award issued according to a probability equal to unity less the first value.

14 . The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein the at least one processor is also operable to execute program code to control the gaming machine over a number of wagers placed at the gaming machine to monitor an indicator of a degree to which the player skill-dependent component is affecting a return to the player and, in response to the indicator reaching a predefined intervention value, placing the gaming machine in a second state having a second value for the proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the portion of the wagering game, the second value being different from the first value.

15 . A program product comprising one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable data storage devices storing program code, the program code including:

(a) user interface program code executable by one or more processing devices to receive a skill level input specifying a first skill level from a set of two or more different skill levels, each respective skill level in the set of two or more different skill levels being correlated to a different respective numerical proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for a portion of a wagering game;

(b) skill level configuration program code executable by the one or more processing devices to, in response to the skill level input, place a gaming machine in a first state corresponding to the first skill level and in which the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component has a first value;

(c) game program code executable by one or more processing devices to, while the gaming machine is in the first state, provide a number of result opportunities and a set of results including a respective result for each result opportunity, at least a portion of the results included in the set of results being selected at random according to the first value of the numerical proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component; and

(d) payout program code executable by the one or more processing devices to award a prize at the gaming machine for the set of results.

16 . The program product of claim 15 wherein each of the number of result opportunities comprises an activation of either a first game having a first proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for the first game or a second game having a second proportion between a player skill-dependent component and a random component for the second game, and wherein the game program code is also executable by the one or more processing devices to select the first game and the second game for the activations so that an overall proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the number of result opportunities is equal to the first value.

17 . The program product of claim 16 wherein the first proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the first game is equal to 100% and the second proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the second game is equal to 0%.

18 . The program product of claim 15 wherein the number of result opportunities require a number of skill-dependent inputs and the prize awarded at the gaming machine for the number of skill-dependent inputs includes a portion determined at random according to the first value for the proportion between the player skill-dependent component and the random component for the portion of the wagering game.

19 . The program product of claim 18 wherein the prize awarded at the gaming machine for the number of skill-dependent inputs is made up of (i) a respective first credit award for each successful skill-dependent input in the number of skill-dependent inputs, and (ii) for each unsuccessful skill-dependent input in the number of skill-dependent inputs, a respective credit award issued according to a probability equal to unity less the first value.

20 . The program product of claim 15 wherein the skill level configuration program code is also executable by the one or more processing devices to monitor an indicator of a degree to which the player skill-dependent component is affecting a return to the player and, in response to the indicator reaching a predefined intervention value, placing the gaming machine in a second state having a second value for the proportion between the player skill-dependent component and random component for the portion of the wagering game, the second value being different from the first value.