Patent Application
20140370953
The present invention relates generally to gaming systems, and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to the field of skill-based poker games that involve dealing multiple poker hands to a player.
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. The introduction of social media has expanded the reach and play of the games associated with gaming terminals to a much broader market. Many games that were typically only available for play at a physical casino are now available for “free” play online.
In one embodiment, a computerized method for playing an game having a number of rows R and a number of columns C arranged in an R×C matrix is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, R defines the number of rows displayed to a player and where C defines the number of columns displayed to the player. A display configured for displaying a plurality of symbol positions within the rows and columns of the R×C matrix is provided, where each symbol position is defined by the intersection of a row and a column, and further where the number of symbol positions in each column are defined by the number of rows in the R×C matrix. A separate virtual reel is provided for each column. A set of symbols is associated with each virtual reel, where each set of symbols for each virtual reel are equal in number and identity. A plurality of pay lines is provided, each pay line associated with a preselected number of positions from the plurality of symbol positions.
An indication of a wager associated with one or more of the pay lines is received from the player. For each position in a column, a symbol is randomly selected from the set of symbols associated with the virtual reel provided for the column. The plurality of symbol positions associated with each column are then populated with the randomly generated symbols from the virtual reel provided for the column. The selected pay lines and the randomly generated symbols are displayed. The pay lines having a wager associated therewith are evaluated for winning combinations of symbols, where the winning combinations identify a plurality of symbols that make up a predetermined combination of symbols in a pay table. A player is paid a winning wager associated with a pay line having a winning combination of symbols, said winning wager being determined based upon a multiple of the wager associated with the winning combination of symbols.
In another embodiment, the symbols are virtual playing cards, and the set of symbols is a virtual deck of 52 virtual playing cards.
In yet another embodiment, a computerized method for playing a poker game is provided. Typically, a matrix is provided having a plurality of positions arranged in rows and columns for receiving a plurality of virtual playing cards. A plurality of pay lines is also provided where each pay line is associated with a row, column or diagonal of positions in the matrix. An indication of a wager associated with one or more of the pay lines is received. In response, a virtual playing card is generated in each of the plurality of positions in the matrix. The matrix and the virtual playing cards in each position are displayed. An option is provided to the player for rearranging one or more of the virtual playing cards in the matrix. The system evaluates the matrix for winning poker combinations of virtual playing cards on the pay lines where the player placed a wager. The pay line identifies a plurality of virtual playing cards that make up a poker hand. The player is paid a winning wager associated with a pay line having a winning poker combination where the winning wager is determined based upon a multiple of the wager associated with a poker hand value.
In another embodiment, a method for playing a card game at a gaming table is provided. The gaming table and a single deck of playing cards are provided, typically in casino environment. A matrix is provided on the gaming table having a plurality of positions arranged in rows and columns for receiving a plurality of the playing cards. A plurality of pay lines is also provided on the gaming table where each pay line associated with a row, column or diagonal of positions in the matrix. A player places a wager with one or more of the pay lines. The playing cards are dealt from a deck of playing cards to the plurality of positions in the matrix. The player is given an option to rearrange one or more of the playing cards in the matrix. The matrix is evaluated for winning poker combinations of playing cards on the pay lines having a wager associated therewith, where each pay line identifies a plurality of playing cards that make up a poker hand. The player is paid a winning wager associated with a pay line having a winning poker combination based upon a multiple associated with a poker hand value.
In another embodiment, the wager multiple is determined by a pay table, where the structure of the pay table is arranged to show a multiple associated with a winning poker hand value.
In another embodiment, the matrix is a 3×3 matrix having three rows and three columns.
In yet another embodiment, the matrix is a 3×5 matrix having three rows and five columns.
Reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others. In general terms, an algorithm is conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps of an algorithm require physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. It is further contemplated within the scope of this invention that calculations can also be done mentally, manually or using processes other than electronic.
The present invention also relates to one or more apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored within the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a machine readable storage medium, such as, for example, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical card, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions and coupled to a computer system bus.
The algorithms and displays presented and described herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus or apparatuses. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings, or it may prove convenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will become readily apparent from the description alone. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language, and accordingly, a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the illustrated invention.
The present disclosure may be implemented in various configurations for gaming machines, gaming devices, or gaming systems, including but not limited to: (1) a dedicated gaming machine, gaming device, or gaming systems wherein the computerized instructions for controlling any games (which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) are provided with the gaming machine or gaming device prior to delivery to a gaming establishment; and (2) a changeable gaming machine, gaming device, or gaming system wherein the computerized instructions for controlling any games (which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) are downloadable to the gaming machine or gaming device through a data network after the gaming machine or gaming device is in a gaming establishment.
In the embodiments illustrated in
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the gaming device randomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based on a probability table. In one such embodiment, this random determination is provided through utilization of a random number generator (RNG), such as a true random number generator, a pseudo random number generator, or other suitable randomization process. In one embodiment, each award or other game outcome is associated with a probability and the gaming device generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to the player based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, since the gaming device generates outcomes randomly or based upon one or more probability calculations, there is no certainty that the gaming device will ever provide the player with any specific award or other game outcome.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in
The display devices of the gaming device are configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of game or other suitable images, symbols and indicia such as any visual representation or exhibition of the movement of objects such as mechanical, or video reels and wheels, dynamic lighting, video images, images of people, characters, places, things, faces of cards, and the like.
As illustrated in
As seen in
In one embodiment, as mentioned above and as seen in
The present disclosure may also be implemented in various configurations for online social media play, such as the platforms for Facebook, Google and Yahoo! games. In one embodiment,
In most cases, server 150 is coupled to Internet 160 so as to provide access to users of the site of the present invention. Users may access the website of the present invention in several different ways. In one embodiment, a user may use his or her personal computer or desktop computer 165 to access the information located on server 150. In another embodiment, a user may choose to use his or her PDA device or cell phone 170 to access the information on server 150. In any event, any suitable device may be used to access server 150, including a direct connection not connected to Internet 160, so long as the connection is secure and able to receive information from the hosted website. In addition to a user of the website described herein, a site administrator may access the server 150 through a remote access over the Internet 160 using a personal computer 175 or other secure device to remotely update game content or game play.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific shapes, components etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in general terms in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Matrix Poker with Optional Rearrange Feature
As illustrated in
As shown in
One example of payback amounts for a single credit wager on any one line of the 3×3 matrix poker (i.e., the value of a 3-card poker hand) is shown in Table 1.
One example of payback amounts for a single credit wager on any one horizontal line of the 3×5 matrix poker (i.e., the value of a 5-card poker hand) is shown in Table 2.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that Table 1 may be used for the value of a 3-card poker hand for the 3×5 matrix poker game. It should be noted that these values are for example only, and would need to be optimized for these games to be offered as casino games.
In another embodiment, the computerized method associated with play of the 3×3 and 3×5 matrix poker game provides a matrix having a plurality of positions arranged in rows and columns for receiving a plurality of virtual playing cards. For example, the virtual playing cards may be presented to the player as symbols representing each card in a fifty two card deck, or the symbols may be unique symbols for playing a slot-type game. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any type of symbol may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In addition to the matrix, the game provides the player with a plurality of pay lines, each pay line associated with a row, column or diagonal of positions in the matrix. Prior to the game “dealing” the virtual playing cards and filling the plurality of positions within the matrix, the player makes a wager on one or more of the pay lines and the game receives an indication of a wager associated with one or more of the pay lines. In response, the game play generates virtual playing cards in the plurality of positions in the matrix and displays the matrix and the virtual playing cards in each position.
Typically, the player is given an option for rearranging one or more of the virtual playing cards in the matrix. In some embodiments, the player is limited by the number of virtual playing cards that may be rearranged. In other embodiments, the player is limited by time for rearranging the playing cards. Continuing with the game play, the game evaluates the matrix for winning poker combinations of virtual playing cards on the pay lines where the player placed a wager. The pay line identifies a plurality of virtual playing cards that make up a poker hand. The game pays a player a winning wager associated with a pay line having a winning poker combination. Typically, the winning wager is determined from a pay table and is based upon a multiple of the wager associated with a poker hand value.
In another embodiment, the players are dealt nine cards at a poker table or gaming table in a physical or virtual casino. Each player plays against an opponent (or multiple opponents, e.g. in a poker room) and forms a high hand in the top row, a middle hand in the second row, and a low hand in the third row. All players, including a dealer if present, form their three hands in a similar way. The three hands are then compared, high, middle and low, and any player that wins two out of three hands wins the round. If no one player wins 2 hands, then the game continues.
Continuing,
The multi-deck video poker slot game can be offered as an R×C slot game, where R is the number of rows displayed to a player, and C is the number of reels or columns used in the slot game. In one embodiment, a 3×5 video poker slot game (R=3, C=5; 3 stops on each of 5 reels displayed to a player) is described. In one embodiment, there are a total of 52 symbols on each reel (52 cards in a standard deck of cards), i.e., a deck of cards is used for each of the 5 reels. Each of the five decks is shuffled separately, and three cards per reel are dealt, one for each display position. Winning hands and associated payouts for 1 credit wager are shown in the illustrated payout table of
In the payout table of
An indication of a wager associated with one or more of the pay lines is received from the player. In step 320, for each position in a column, a symbol from the set of symbols associated with the virtual reel provided for the column is randomly selected. The plurality of symbol positions associated with each column are then populated with the randomly generated symbols from the virtual reel provided for the column, as shown in step 325. Continuing, in step 330, the selected pay lines and the randomly generated symbols are displayed. In step 35, the pay lines having a wager associated therewith are evaluated for winning combinations of symbols, where the winning combinations identify a plurality of symbols that make up a predetermined combination of symbols in a pay table. Finally, in step 340, a player is paid a winning wager associated with a pay line having a winning combination of symbols, where the winning wager being determined based upon a multiple of the wager associated with the winning combination of symbols.
As stated above, the player is awarded a BONUS with a specified probability. The game screen changes and goes into the Match Card Bonus round. Two versions of this game are illustrated and described.
Match Card Bonus Game 1: A shuffled standard deck of 52 cards is displayed, out of which one card is drawn by the player (say K♡). The player keeps drawing cards from the same deck until another K appears.
Match Card Bonus Game 2: Two shuffled standard decks of 52 cards each are displayed. The player selects one of the two decks. From the selected deck, one card is randomly drawn by the player (say K♡). The player keeps drawing cards from the other deck until another K appears.
In either of the two versions of the Match Card Bonus game, the award is a function of the number of cards drawn until the player draws the card to be matched.
A random Free Spin trigger will send the slot game display into a Free Spin Screen, such as the one shown in
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
