Patent Application
20130274012
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to gaming apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to displaying and changing volatility components for a wagering game.
Gaming terminals, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
Traditionally gaming machines operate under control of a processor which has been programmed to execute base games and bonus games on the machine according to a predetermined mathematical model, which generally determines the volatility of the gaming machines. For example, the volatility of a game may refer to size of awards versus frequency of the awards. Some players enjoy playing gaming machines with a greater volatility, whereby the size of the awards for winning outcomes is relatively large, but the frequency of awarding the awards is relatively low. Other players enjoy games with a lower volatility, whereby the size of the awards for winning outcomes is relatively small, but the frequency of awarding the awards is relatively high. Players select their volatility by choosing amongst the variety of gaming machines available to be played at a casino.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes at least one input device, at least one display device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device. The memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager for playing a wagering game having an overall volatility. A plurality of volatility components are displayed on the display device, the volatility components having respective component ratings. Each component rating contributes to a total rating of the overall volatility. The wagering game is selected from a plurality of wagering games, each of the plurality of wagering games having (a) the same total rating and (b) at least one different component rating.
According to another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method in a gaming system includes receiving a wager in response to an input via at least one input device. The method further includes displaying on at least one display device, by at least one of one or more processors, a wagering game including a plurality of volatility components having respective component ratings. Each component rating contributes to a total rating of the overall volatility. The wagering game is selected from a plurality of wagering games, each of the plurality of wagering games having (a) the same total rating and (b) at least one different component rating.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method in a gaming system includes receiving a wager in response to an input via at least one input device for playing a wagering game of a plurality of wagering games. The plurality of wagering games includes a first wagering game and a second wagering game. The method further includes displaying on at least one display device, by at least one of one or more processors, a plurality of volatility components with respective component ratings. The component ratings of all components of the plurality of volatility components being indicative of a total rating of an overall volatility. First component ratings are assigned, by at least one of the one or more processors, to each component of the plurality of volatility components for the first wagering game and second component ratings to each component of the plurality of volatility components for the second wagering game. A first total rating of the first component ratings is the same as a second total rating of the second component ratings. At least one of the first component ratings is different than at least one of the second component ratings. The wagering game is selected based on the component ratings.
Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.”
Referring to
The gaming terminal 10 illustrated in
Input devices, such as the touch screen 18, buttons 20, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and a virtual input device, accept player input(s) and transform the player input(s) to electronic data signals indicative of the player input(s), which correspond to an enabled feature for such input(s) at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The input(s), once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to a CPU for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
Turning now to
The CPU 30 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 36, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 36 is connected to various input devices 38, output devices 40, and input/output devices 42 such as those discussed above in connection with
The external system 48 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 48 may comprise a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external system interface 46 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the CPU 30, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming terminal 10 optionally communicates with the external system 48 such that the terminal operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. In general, a wagering game includes an RNG for generating a random number, game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.) for presenting the determined outcome to a player in an audio-visual manner. The RNG, game logic, and game assets are contained within the gaming terminal 10 (“thick client” gaming terminal), the external system 48 (“thin client” gaming terminal), or are distributed therebetween in any suitable manner (“intermediate client” gaming terminal).
The gaming terminal 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
Referring now to
In response to receiving a wager, the reels 52 are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with paylines such as paylines 58. The wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels and provides immediate awards and bonus features in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus features based on one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an activated payline (i.e., “line trigger”) or anywhere in the displayed array (i.e., “scatter trigger”). The wagering game may also provide mystery awards and features independent of the symbols appearing in the displayed array.
In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering game outcome is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming terminal 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the CPU (e.g., CPU 30) is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with computer instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 44), the CPU, in accord with associated computer instructions, causing the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM), etc. The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU further, in accord with the execution of the instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 12, other display device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of computer instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by a RNG) that is used by the CPU to determine the outcome of the game sequence, using a game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number. In at least some aspects, the CPU is configured to determine an outcome of the game sequence at least partially in response to the random parameter.
Referring now to
For example, each of the volatility components 151-155 is rated with a component rating selected from a range varying from a minimum rating of one star to a maximum rating of five stars. The star ratings are representative of metric values for each of the volatility components 151-155. In another example, money bags are used as symbols instead of star symbols. A minimum rating, represented by a single star symbol, indicates the lowest volatility assigned to the respective volatility component. A maximum rating, represented by five star symbols, indicates the highest volatility assigned to the respective volatility component.
A first volatility component 151 is directed to bonus frequency. This component of the overall volatility is indicative of how often a bonus game is triggered. In the illustrated example, the Yahtzee® wagering game has a minimum rating of one star. Thus, the Yahtzee® wagering game has a low volatility with respect to how often bonuses are triggered. Because bonus frequency is inversely proportional with volatility value, this means that a player will expect the Yahtzee® wagering game to trigger the most frequent bonus games (in contrast to a game with the greatest volatility possible in which bonus games are triggered least frequently).
A second volatility component 152 is directed to bonus potential. This component of the overall volatility is indicative of the potential of the bonus pay (i.e., how much of a payout amount can be won during the bonus game). For example, the bonus potential 152 is measured by expected value (“EV”) in bonus wins over 100× bet. In other words, the bonus potential 152 is determined based on a percentage of the bonus EV as averaged, for example, over the course of 10,000 wagers. In the Yahtzee® wagering game, the bonus potential 152 has the minimum rating of one star. This means that a player of the Yahtzee® wagering game will, on average, win the smallest payout amount, relatively speaking
A third volatility component 153 is directed to bonus consistency. This component of the overall volatility is indicative of the predictability of the bonus game (i.e., how volatile is the bonus game standing alone). One way of measuring the bonus consistency is to calculate an average median/mean of the bonus game. In the Yahtzee® wagering game, the bonus consistency 153 has a component rating of two stars. This means that the Yahtzee® wagering game is next-to-least consistent in how consistent the bonus pay is awarded.
A fourth volatility component 154 is directed to base-game wins. This component of the overall volatility is indicative of how volatile the base game is in awarding winning outcomes. The base-game-wins component 154 refers to the base game standing alone, without bonus features or bonus games. In the Yahtzee® wagering game, the base-game-wins component 154 has a component rating of four stars. A higher percentage of base-game wins corresponds to a lower component rating (i.e., lower volatility), while a lower percentage of base-game wins corresponds to a higher component rating (i.e., higher volatility). This means that the Yahtzee® wagering game has the next-lowest percentage of contribution from the base game (i.e., the Yahtzee® wagering game has the next-highest volatility for the base-game-wins component 154).
A fifth volatility component 155 is generally a catch-all “X”-factor component used for balancing the overall volatility. Specifically, the “X”-factor component 155 ensures that the overall volatility appears constant regardless of changes to the component rating of any of the volatility components 151-155. For example, it is assumed that the overall volatility of the Yahtzee® wagering game has a total rating of twelve stars. According to the illustrated component rating of the first four volatility components 151-154, the total rating is only eight stars. As such, to maintain the overall volatility constant, the “X”-factor component must have a component rating of four stars: component rating of “X”-factor component (four stars)=total rating (twelve stars)−sum of component rating for each of the first four volatility components 151-154 (one star+one star+two stars+four stars).
The “X”-factor component contributes to the overall volatility as and if needed. For example, if the sum of the component rating for each of the first four volatility components 151-154 is equal to the total rating of the overall volatility, the “X”-factor component is not necessary (and, thus, not used). Specifically, the “X” factor may be utilized to ensure that different wagering games, of different star distributions in the first four volatility components 151-154 have the same overall number of stars. As such, players will not be discouraged from playing a particular game because it has fewer volatility stars than another game.
Referring to
In
In
Referring to
For example, the selectable options 162-165 include a Yahtzee® option 162 (i.e., continue playing the current game), a Cirque option 163, a Great Eagle option 164, and a Sea Tales option 165. Based on the different component ratings of each wagering game, the player can select the desired wagering game. For example, if the player is interested to change from the current low-bonus-potential volatility 152 to a greater potential volatility 152, the player would select the Great Eagle option 164 (which has the greatest component rating of five stars) or the Cirque option 163 (which has the next-greatest component rating of four stars). To determine whether to choose the Great Eagle wagering game or the Cirque wagering game, the player would have to determine whether he or she would rather prefer the greatest bonus potential 152 of five stars with a lower bonus frequency 151 of one star (of the Great Eagle game), or the next-greatest bonus potential 152 of four stars with a slightly greater bonus frequency 151 of two stars (of the Cirque game).
Thus, the breakdown and/or comparison of the wagering games based on one or more of the volatility components 151-155 can be utilized by players to better understand how volatility is implement in a particular game. Similarly, the breakdown can also be utilized, for example, by casino personnel (e.g., slot floor managers) to better and more quickly understand how games are related mathematically. Based on this understanding, the casino personnel should know better which games are preferred by the players, and, therefore, which games should be purchased.
Referring to
As such, for example, the bonus frequency 251 has a component rating represented by a single large star symbol, which is generally equal in size to an overall size of the two star symbols representing the bonus potential 252. Thus, each of the two stars of the bonus potential 252 have a size is that is approximately half the size of the single star of the bonus frequency 251. In another example, the base-game wins 254 has a component rating represented by four stars, each of the stars having a size that is approximately a quarter in size relative to the single star of the bonus frequency 251.
Optionally, the rating system can be reversed to have a small number of symbols represent a high volatility and a large number of symbols represent a low volatility. According to this system, a single large star may indicate a high volatility and five small stars may indicate a low volatility. Thus, a player may quickly understand that a volatility component with a single large star indicates a highly volatile event in which the player will receive fewer award outcomes (e.g., the number of stars being directly proportional to the number of award outcome), but those awards will be larger in value (e.g., the single star has a size that is directly proportional to the size of the awards). Nevertheless, the overall payouts, regardless of the rating, remain the same because the overall volatility is constant.
Referring to
The selected character could be the player's avatar that the player associates with himself, and any game across the casino that allows customization could be automatically customized based on the attributes of the selected avatar. Additionally, this flexibility provides a platform that can be extended such that certain characters provide their own bonuses, skinning, and/or art for a base game.
One unique aspect of allowing volatility to be adjusted via selection of a character is that characters may be unlockable over time (e.g., the “Robin” character 300c is displayed in a de-emphasized manner to represent its current locked status). Thus, unlike a typical volatility selection that either (a) allows the player to select any volatility level or (b) expressly locks the player out from certain volatilities (which is likely to result in player frustration), this manner of adjusting volatility makes it relatively hidden from the player that he or she is being restricted from selecting particular volatilities. Instead, the player is likely to perceive locked characters (with the corresponding locked volatility adjustments) as a goal to unlock those characters.
For example, it may be desirable to prevent a player form adjusting a game to a highly volatile state until the player has played the game for a certain length of time and, accordingly, has grown to like the game itself. Thus, a highly volatile character may not become unlocked to the player until the player has played, for example, 100 game instances of a particular wagering game.
In alternative embodiments, volatility selection is represented based on various symbols and/or environments. According to one example, a bonus game offers a gear shifter for changing the evaluation of outcomes. The gear shifter can be adjustable between at least two positions (e.g., a lower gear and a high gear). For example, wins are represented by passing cars on straight-aways illustrated in dynamically generated corners of the game screen 150. If the gear shifter is in a low gear, the wins will be frequent, but smaller. In the low gear, the volatility can be represented by numerous smaller cars moving in the dynamically generated corners. If the gear shifter is in a high gear, the wins will be less frequent, but larger. Correspondingly, the volatility can be represented by a few larger cars moving in the dynamically generated corners.
In one example, the gear shifter is in a locked position during game-play, similar to a mechanical reel pull-arm. In another example, instead of being locked, the gear shifter is dynamically positioned during game-play. For example, the gear shifter is in an initial position recorded at the time that an initial game-event trigger determines a path or outcome presented to the player. When a next game-event trigger occurs, the gear shifter is dynamically adjusted to a second position for determining the path or outcome presented to the player.
In an alternative example, a Monopoly® themed wagering game may offer a vehicle for Mr. Monopoly® to drive. Based on the vehicle selected, the game volatility is determined. In a specific example, the player may select a vehicle periodically during game-play. For example, a train may offer smaller, but more frequent wins; a luxury car may offer larger, but moderately frequent wins; and a sports car may offer large, but infrequent wins.
Volatility can optionally be determined based on a choice of environment, venue, track, and/or location. For example, a base or bonus game of the wagering game may be themed for a cross-country journey. The path offered on this journey, which may end at any time, offers a way to select a desired volatility. For example, a long path may offer frequent, small wins, but a short path offers infrequent, large wins.
In another example, the player is shown environmental conditions for the journey. A wintery, icy road offers high volatility since a vehicle may make obtaining a winning outcome more difficult, but more rewarding. A clear sky, summer day can offer smaller wins, but observed more often.
In yet another example, the wagering game offers a choice of race tracks. The race tracks can display high-performance cars on a track with many turns, position changes between the cars, goal markers, etc. A race track with shorter corners and goal markers set closely apart may represent a game with a low volatility. A race track with longer corners and goal markers set further apart may represent a game with a high volatility.
Referring to
As the player moves the slide 400 from the LOW position to the HIGH position, the Base-game wins gauge 402 also moves to illustrate that the amount of the wins has increased. Simultaneously, to maintain the overall volatility intact, the Bonus Frequency gauge 404 moves to illustrate that the frequency of the wins has decreased.
Optionally, a side wager can be used, for example, as a side bet to increase the amount of Base-game wins 402 without lowering the Bonus Frequency 404. In this example, the overall volatility is changed based on the additional side wager.
An alternative embodiment is directed to providing separate monetary and non-monetary volatilities. In this embodiment, volatilities for monetary aspects of wagering games are controllable and selectable independently from non-monetary aspects. Because monetary aspects are heavily regulated (in contrast to non-monetary aspects, which are allowed more freedom), treating non-monetary aspects independently allows unique volatilities to be created for non-regulated aspects of wagering games. For example, in episodic gaming where players collect assets (e.g., miles, medals, player-tracking points, award displays, audio/visual celebrations, etc.) to unlock EV-neutral content, the volatility of the assets awarding can be set to highly volatile, while the wagering (i.e., monetary) aspect of the wagering game can remain unchanged.
Another alternative embodiment is directed to representing volatility classification by generally accepted everyday terms. For example, the volatility components can be represented in terms of a financial portfolio. Most players are likely familiar with financial investment strategies, which include risky and safe strategies. For example, depositing money into a savings account or purchasing bonds provides a smaller risk for an investor, and, consequently, the potential rewards is minimal. However, purchasing penny stocks or stock-options are generally considered high-risk investments, and, consequently, the payouts are potentially very lucrative. Using the portfolio approach, the player can choose to invest their spins in either a low-risk or a high-risk investment model (e.g., a low volatility model or a high volatility model).
Some options that can be presented for the portfolio approach can include (a) a low risk portfolio (less risk, less reward), (b) a balanced portfolio (medium risk, medium reward), and (c) a high risk portfolio (more risk, more reward). By using terms and associations with real-life money investments, the player may discern more readily the consequences of their decision in changing volatility options.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/624,819, titled “Display Mechanism For Volatility-Alteration Features” and filed on Apr. 16, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its respective entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61624819 | Apr 2012 | US |
