Patent Application
20060035706
The present invention relates generally to gaming terminals and, more particularly, to a gaming terminal having a payoff rounding feature.
Gaming machines, 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 each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are most likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting of the machines.
Consequently, shrewd operators strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines available because such machines attract frequent play and, hence, increase profitability to the operator. In the competitive gaming machine industry, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games, or enhancements to existing games, which will attract frequent play by enhancing the entertainment value and excitement associated with the game.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is that of a “bonus” game which may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, and is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome of the basic game. Such a bonus game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the basic game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the basic game.
Another concept that has been employed is the use of a progressive jackpot. In the gaming industry, a “progressive” involves collecting coin-in data from participating gaming device(s) (e.g., slot machines), contributing a percentage of that coin-in data to a jackpot amount, and awarding that jackpot amount to a player upon the occurrence of a certain jackpot-won event. The percentage of the coin-in is determined prior to any result being achieved and is independent of any result. A jackpot-won event typically occurs when a “progressive winning position” is achieved at a participating gaming device. If the gaming device is a slot machine, a progressive winning position may, for example, correspond to alignment of progressive jackpot reel symbols along a certain payline. The initial progressive jackpot is a predetermined minimum amount. That jackpot amount, however, progressively increases as players continue to play the gaming machine without winning the jackpot. Further, when several gaming machines are linked together such that several players at several gaming machines compete for the same jackpot, the jackpot progressively increases at a much faster rate, which leads to further player excitement.
As progressive jackpot games become more advanced, there is a need to display values of the progressive jackpot and award values of the progressive jackpot in ways that appeal to the player.
The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by creating actual values and the displayed values of the progressive jackpot that are increased and incremented with different denominations.
The present invention involves a method for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The wagering game allows a player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot having an actual value. The method comprises conducting the wagering game that has a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes, and displaying a displayed value of the progressive jackpot to the player. The displayed value is less than the actual value. The method further includes increasing the displayed value by increments of a first denomination, and awarding a player an award value of the progressive jackpot in response to the player achieving the progressive jackpot. The award value may be greater than the displayed value and is equally divisible by a second denomination that is larger than the first denomination.
In another aspect, the present invention involves a method for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The wagering game allows a player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot with an actual value. The method comprises, in response to wager inputs, conducting the wagering game having a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes, and displaying a displayed value of the progressive jackpot to players competing for the progressive jackpot. The displayed value is equal to or less than an award value of the progressive jackpot. The method further includes maintaining the displayed value and the award value as equal amounts until an escrow pool for the progressive jackpot has been established. The escrow pool is funded with a portion of the wager inputs and is, preferably, at least a maximum difference between the award value and the displayed value. The method further includes, after the escrow pool has been established, increasing the displayed value and the award value in response to additional wager inputs.
In a further aspect of the invention, the present invention is a method for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The wagering game allows a player to be eligible for a plurality of progressive jackpots. Each of the plurality of progressive jackpots has an actual value. The method comprises, in response to wager inputs, conducting the wagering game that has a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes, and displaying a displayed value for each of the progressive jackpots to players competing for the progressive jackpots. The displayed value is equal to or less than an award value of the corresponding progressive jackpot. The method includes, in response to a player achieving at least two jackpots from the plurality of progressive jackpots, adding the displayed value of the at least two progressive jackpots to result in a total displayed value, and awarding the player with a total award value that is greater than the total displayed value. The total award value is an equal increment of a denomination used for playing the wagering game. The difference between the total award value and the total displayed value can be funded by an escrow pool established by a portion of the wager inputs.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. The detailed description and Figures will describe many of the embodiments and aspects of the present invention.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.
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.
As shown, the gaming terminal 10 includes input devices, such as a wager acceptor 16 (shown as a card wager acceptor 16a and a cash wager accepter 16b), a touch screen 21, a push-button panel 22, and an information reader 24. For outputs, the gaming terminal 10 includes a payout mechanism 23, a main display 26 for displaying information about the basic wagering game, and a secondary display 27 that may display an electronic version of a pay table, and/or also possibly game-related information or other entertainment features. In this embodiment, the secondary display 27 displays a progressive jackpot array 28 (or matrix). While these typical components found in the gaming terminal 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming terminal.
The wager acceptor 16 may be provided in many forms, individually or in combination. The cash wager acceptor 16a may include a coin slot acceptor or a note acceptor to input value to the gaming terminal 10. The card wager acceptor 16b may include a card-reading device for reading a card that has a recorded monetary value with which it is associated. The card wager acceptor 16b may also receive a card that authorizes access to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming terminal 10.
Also included is the payout mechanism 23, which performs the reverse functions of the wager acceptor. For example, the payout mechanism 23 may include a coin dispenser or a note dispenser to output value from gaming terminal 10. Also, the payout mechanism 23 may also be adapted to receive a card that authorizes the gaming terminal to transfer credits from the gaming terminal 10 to a central account.
The push button panel 22 is typically offered, in addition to the touch screen 21, to provide players with an option on how to make their game selections. Alternatively, the push button panel 22 provides inputs for one aspect of operating the game, while the touch screen 21 allows for inputs needed for another aspect of operating the game.
The outcome of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player on the main display 26. The main display 26 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD, a plasma display, LED, or any other type of video display suitable for use in the gaming terminal 10. As shown, the main display 26 includes the touch screen 21 overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, the gaming terminal 10 may have a number of mechanical reels to display the game outcome, as well.
In some embodiments, the information reader 24 is a card reader that allows for identification of a player by reading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. Currently, identification is used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled in the gaming establishment's players' club and may be awarded certain complimentary services as that player collects points in his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her card into the information reader 24, which allows the casino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming terminal 10. The information reader 24 may also include a keypad (not shown) for entering a personal identification number (PIN). The gaming terminal 10 may require that the player enter their PIN prior to obtaining information. The gaming terminal 10 may use the secondary display 27 for providing the player with information about his or her account or other player-specific information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 24 may be used to restore assets that the player achieved during a previous game session and had saved.
As shown in
Communications between the peripheral components of the gaming terminal 10 and the CPU 30 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 35a. As such, the CPU 30 also controls and receives inputs from the peripheral components of the gaming terminal 10. Further, the CPU 30 communicates with external systems via the I/O circuits 35b. Although the I/O circuits 35 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuits 35 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.
In some embodiments, the CPU 30 may not be inside the gaming terminal 10. Instead, the CPU 30 may be part of a game network 50 (
Turning now to
In this particular embodiment, a particular group of symbols 52 indicates that the player has achieved one of the progressive-jackpot outcomes. In this embodiment, a combination of three dollar signs along an active payline indicates the progressive-jackpot outcome. In other embodiments, all award-winning combinations generate the progressive-jackpot outcome 52 or a single particular symbol may generate the progressive-jackpot outcome 52.
The progressive-jackpot outcome 52 corresponds to the progressive jackpot array (or matrix) 28 illustrated on the secondary display 27, which will be described with respect to
When a progressive jackpot receives a contribution due a player's wager input, the jackpot is generally increased by an amount that is less than one unit of a denomination that is played at the gaming terminal 10. In accordance with the present invention, the increase in actual value of the progressive jackpots is not necessarily directly proportional to the increase in the displayed value of the progressive jackpot. In other words, a progressive jackpot may, in some instances, increase at a rate that is proportional to the actual value. In other instances, however, the increase in the displayed value may have no relation to the increase in the actual value. In doing so, the present invention provides for a buffer between the displayed value and the actual value. The buffer typically fluctuates based on the wager inputs that dictate the actual value of the progressive jackpot. The buffer provides flexibility in allowing the gaming terminal 10 to continuously display increases in the displayed value of the progressive jackpot, although there has not been any recent wager inputs to have caused an increase in the actual value of the progressive jackpot. As such, the players perceive that the value is continuously increasing.
Turning now to
As shown in
The progressive jackpots can be incremented in various denominations in accordance with the present invention. For example, the displayed values of the Progressive 2 and Progressive 3 columns are incremented and equally divisible by $0.25 (i.e., a quarter), but the award values are incremented in units of $1.00 (i.e., a dollar). Hence, winning any of the progressive jackpots in the Progressive 2 and Progressive 3 columns will result in an award value that is the rounded from the displayed value to the next dollar.
The process of this progressive jackpot system will now be described in more detail in reference to the flow chart in
Regarding eligibility for the progressive jackpots, in some embodiments, the player is only eligible for any of the progressive jackpots if the player chooses to play all of the paylines and/or the player wagers the maximum amount on each of the paylines played. In other embodiments, the player is automatically eligible to play for the progressive jackpots, and is not required to make a minimum wager or to play a minimum number of lines. In some other embodiments, there is a “side-wager” option that allows the player to be eligible for the progressive jackpots. The “side-wager” option is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/659,878, filed on Sep. 11, 2003, entitled “Gaming Machine With Multi-Level Progressive Jackpot,” which is commonly owned and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
At step S106, the player begins the basic wagering game, thereby causing the reels to spin. A randomly selected outcome is a selected by the CPU 30 (
If the answer is “yes” at S108, then the gaming system progresses to step S110, and there is a decision as to whether the winning outcome results in a basic game award or a progressive jackpot. If the answer is that the outcome results in a basic game award, the system progresses to step S112, and the player is awarded a set amount that is associated with that particular winning outcome (generally available to a player in a pay table).
If the answer is that the outcome results in a progressive jackpot award, the system next progresses to step S114 to determine how much the player should be awarded. At step S114, the system determines whether the displayed value of the jackpot is equal to a unit of increment of the award value. If the answer is YES at step S114, then the award value of the jackpot is the exact value of the displayed jackpot as shown in step S116. If the answer is NO at step S114, then the award value of the jackpot is rounded up to the next increment of the award values as shown in step S118. Step S118 corresponds to the example of
The flowchart of
Steps S208-S212 determine whether a contribution should cause an increase in the current displayed value for a jackpot. At step S208, it is determined whether (i) the difference between the actual value and the current award value is less than (ii) the difference between the current award value and the displayed value. If the answer is YES, then at step S210, then the current displayed value is incremented by one displayed value unit increment, which is usually an increment (e.g., denomination) that is less than the award value unit increment. If the answer is NO at step S208, then the current displayed value is maintained at step s212. In summary, steps S208-S212 illustrate one way of incrementing the displayed value by ensuring the difference between the actual value and the current award value is about the same as the difference between the current award value and the displayed value.
In short, there are numerous algorithms like those examples in
It should be noted that an award value that is less than the actual value, leaving a surplus, can result in a few possibilities. Most commonly, the surplus can be automatically added to the next progressive jackpot, which is reset to a base value after it has been won. Or, the surplus could be added to other progressive jackpots, if a multiple jackpot progressive system (
The end result of
The escrow pool concept of
In other embodiments, the escrow pool could be paid out even if the payments will result in a negative value. This could happen if multiple progressives are hit in a very short period of time by several players. Over time, the negative value would be reestablished to a positive value and, preferably, to the desired value (e.g., $0.25 or $2.25).
Further, the escrow pool could also be used to create extra movement in the displayed value at times when the displayed values is stagnant due to minimal player activity. This way, the players are provided with more excitement as the jackpots always seem to be increasing. Hence, the escrow pool could act as a buffer that allows for movement of the displayed values.
The embodiment of
Also, while the present invention has been described showing the displayed values changing on the secondary display 27 of the gaming terminal, the displayed value can also change on signage or displays that are adjacent to the gaming terminal 10, as they are typically used in progressive jackpot systems.
Further, it should be noted that while the present invention has been described with respect to a basic game triggering the progressive jackpot, the bonus or secondary game could be equally employed to perform this task. Furthermore, the determination of whether a player has achieved a progressive jackpot can be conducted by the gaming terminal 10 or by the game network 50 (
While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 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 priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/601,308, filed Aug. 13, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60601308 | Aug 2004 | US |
