Patent US6050895A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6050895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hybrid gaming apparatus and method
Assignee: I G T
•
Filing: 1997-03-24
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Granted: 2000-04-18
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Expires: 2017-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A gaming device and method for a hybrid game including a coordination/dexterity portion and/or traditional game portion is provided. Preferably, both a coordination/dexterity game and a traditional game are part of a single hybrid game, both of which portions are played using a single display device. In one embodiment, a player first plays a coordination/dexterity game and is given an opportunity to play a traditional game upon the occurrence of certain predetermined or predefined events during play of the coordination/dexterity game. Preferably, game outcome for both portions is controlled by an already-approved controller, such as a traditional game controller.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Luciano, Jr.
- 👤 Anthony J. Baerlocher
- 👤 Chris T. Brune
- 👤 Jason Mayeroff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:14
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3286; G07F17/3295; A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00; A63F2001/008; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F7/0664
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Hybrid gaming apparatus comprising: display means for displaying a coordination/dexterity game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion; a controller for determining game outcome of said coordination/dexterity game wherein said controller is substantially identical to a controller used for controlling a traditional game, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game, and wherein said traditional game can only be played, in said hybrid gaming apparatus, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Hybrid gaming apparatus comprising: display means for displaying a coordination/dexterity game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion; a controller for determining game outcome of said coordination/dexterity game wherein said controller is substantially identical to a controller used for controlling a traditional game, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game, and wherein said traditional game can only be played, in said hybrid gaming apparatus, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
157 words
Hybrid gaming apparatus comprising: first display means for displaying a coordination/dexterity game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion; second display means for displaying a traditional game portion, different from said coordination/dexterity game portion, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game; a first controller, coupled to said first display means for controlling said first display means; and a second controller, coupled to said second display means, for controlling said second display means and for determining game outcome of said coordination/dexterity game portion and said traditional game portion and wherein said traditional game can only be played, in said hybrid gaming apparatus, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
Hybrid gaming apparatus comprising: first display means for displaying a coordination/dexterity game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion; second display means for displaying a traditional game portion, different from said coordination/dexterity game portion, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game; a first controller, coupled to said first display means for controlling said first display means; and a second controller, coupled to said second display means, for controlling said second display means and for determining game outcome of said coordination/dexterity game portion and said traditional game portion and wherein said traditional game can only be played, in said hybrid gaming apparatus, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second controller is coupled to said first controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second controller is substantially identical to a controller which is approved by a gaming regulatory agency.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for use by a user in playing a hybrid game on a single gaming terminal, comprising: providing a programmable computer coupled for controlling a first display device; providing at least a first user input device; controlling said first display device, using said computer, to display a first gaming display, to permit said user to play a first coordination/dexterity game portion for at least a first time period, using said input device, wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion wherein said computer is configured to recognize the occurrence of any of a plurality of events during said first time period; controlling said gaming terminal to display a second gaming display for a traditional game, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game, to permit said user to play a second game portion different from said first game portion, and wherein said computer is configured to display said second display automatically in response to at least a first one of said plurality of events and wherein said traditional game can only be played, on said gaming terminal, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for use by a user in playing a hybrid game on a single gaming terminal, comprising: providing a programmable computer coupled for controlling a first display device; providing at least a first user input device; controlling said first display device, using said computer, to display a first gaming display, to permit said user to play a first coordination/dexterity game portion for at least a first time period, using said input device, wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion wherein said computer is configured to recognize the occurrence of any of a plurality of events during said first time period; controlling said gaming terminal to display a second gaming display for a traditional game, wherein said traditional game provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the traditional game, to permit said user to play a second game portion different from said first game portion, and wherein said computer is configured to display said second display automatically in response to at least a first one of said plurality of events and wherein said traditional game can only be played, on said gaming terminal, after playing said coordination/dexterity game portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the probability of said first one of said plurality of events is dependent on said user's skill.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first one of said plurality of events is unrelated to said user's skill.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second game portion relates to a game of chance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising coupling said single gaming terminal and at least one other gaming terminal in a progressive gaming system providing for one or more common prizes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising coupling said single gaming terminal and at least one other gaming terminal in a wide-area progressive gaming system providing for one or more common prizes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said user wagers on at least one of said first and said second game portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said computer maintains a tally of points in connection with at least one of said first and said second game portion and wherein said computer deducts a number of points in response to at least some of said first events.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said number of points deducted is different for at least two different events.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said number of points added is different for at least two of said two different events.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least two different pay tables are associated with at least two different events.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said computer stores an indication of a player's level of skill, and wherein said computer selects among pay tables in response to said indicator of a level of skill.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, at least some of said events being winning events, wherein said user is entitled to a monetary prize in response to at least some of said winning events, and wherein said user is permitted to play a second different game in response to at least one of said winning events.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
128 words
A method as claimed in claim 5: wherein each of at least a first sub-plurality of said plurality of events is associated with first corresponding values; wherein said computer is configured to recognize the occurrence of any of a second plurality of events during a second time period and wherein each of at least a second sub-plurality of said second plurality of events is associated with second corresponding values; wherein said computer is configured to store at least a first total, said computer is configured to add one of said first corresponding values to said first total when one of said first sub-plurality of events occurs, and to add one of said second corresponding values to said first total when one of said second sub-plurality of events occurs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said user plays said second game portion using said first input device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first input device is a touch screen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first input device is selected from among a joystick, a mouse, and a button.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
245 words
A computer-implemented method for use by a user in playing a hybrid skill/chance game, said computer having an associated memory, the method comprising: providing display means for displaying a skill game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said skill game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the skill game portion and a chance game portion, wherein said chance game portion provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the chance game portion; storing, in said memory, at least first and second paytables for use with said chance game portion in determining the probability or amount of prize awards from play of said chance game portion; allowing said user to play said skill game portion, wherein said skill game portion is configured such that play of said skill game portion can result in at least either of first and second skill game outcomes; allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said first paytable when said first skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion, wherein said chance game can only be played, after playing said skill game portion; and allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said second paytable when said second skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
245 words
A computer-implemented method for use by a user in playing a hybrid skill/chance game, said computer having an associated memory, the method comprising: providing display means for displaying a skill game portion wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said skill game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the skill game portion and a chance game portion, wherein said chance game portion provides substantially no penalty based on an amount of time it takes a user to provide a particular input to the chance game portion; storing, in said memory, at least first and second paytables for use with said chance game portion in determining the probability or amount of prize awards from play of said chance game portion; allowing said user to play said skill game portion, wherein said skill game portion is configured such that play of said skill game portion can result in at least either of first and second skill game outcomes; allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said first paytable when said first skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion, wherein said chance game can only be played, after playing said skill game portion; and allowing said user to play said chance game portion using said second paytable when said second skill game outcome is the result of play of said skill game portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as claimed in claim 22, wherein said skill game portion is configured such that, on average, said first skill game outcome requires greater skill than said second skill game outcome.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as claimed in claim 23, wherein said paytables are configured such that the probability of winning at least a first prize determined by said first paytable, is greater than the probability of winning said first prize determined by said second paytable.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for accommodating side bets comprising: first electronic gaming terminal having a first display configured for playing a game of coordination/dexterity wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion; a central computer coupled to said first gaming terminal; and at least a first betting station separate from said first electronic gaming terminal coupled to said central computer configured to receive at least a first wager wherein said first betting station displays a payout amount related to an outcome of said game of coordination/dexterity.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for accommodating side bets comprising: first electronic gaming terminal having a first display configured for playing a game of coordination/dexterity wherein ability to achieve at least a first outcome, in said coordination/dexterity game portion, is at least partially determined by how long it takes a user to provide a particular input to the coordination/dexterity game portion; a central computer coupled to said first gaming terminal; and at least a first betting station separate from said first electronic gaming terminal coupled to said central computer configured to receive at least a first wager wherein said first betting station displays a payout amount related to an outcome of said game of coordination/dexterity.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a second display for displaying an image related to play of said coordination/dexterity game and viewable from said betting station.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said central computer calculates odds based in part on bets placed at said betting stations.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said game is a competitive game and further comprising an input device for permitting at least first and second players to provide input to said game of coordination/dexterity.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, comprising a plurality of betting stations.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, comprising a second gaming station for playing the same game of coordination/dexterity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, further comprising means to prevent communication between said player of said game and users of said betting station.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-18 | 2003-10-18 | 2004-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-18 | 2007-10-18 | 2008-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-18 | 2011-10-18 | 2012-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |