Amusement devices: games inventions 11/08

20080293464 - Electronic game utilizing photographs: The present disclosure includes, among other things, methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing an electronic game utilizing photographs.... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080293467 - Skill game that can be played upon a casino type display combining determinative, fixed and random processes: A skill game additively combines at least one determinative process with a random process and/or a fixed process. The skill game can include at least one casino style award generation device that displays various awards for which the skill game is played. The skill game is, for example, a traditional... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20080293466 - Video game apparatus, video game processing program, program recording medium, and video game processing method: In a video game that progresses a game using a limited number of items, the game can be made more interesting. In an area data table 126-1 of a first area, a brand ‘CAT’ having a previous brand point ‘14%’ is ‘BEST 1’, and a brand ‘BOAR’ having a previous... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20080293465 - Video interaction device for a whole-body sport game: The present invention discloses a video interaction device, which integrates areas of a human upper body with a sport game software to achieve a video interaction via a display interface. The video interaction device of the present invention comprises: at least one foot-sensation member and at least one body motion-driving... Agent: Joe Mckinney Muncy

20080293470 - Electronic outdoor game apparatus: In one aspect, an outdoor game system is provided, comprising a plurality of upright towers that are operatively connected and suitable for installation outdoors, each tower including a plurality of contact assemblies, each contact assembly including an interface capable of responding to or detecting contact, a light source that emits... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20080293468 - Process or method for playing a board game that incorporates at least one digital storage device (dsd) and at least one player.: A process or method for playing a board game that incorporates at least one digital storage device, at least one player, playing surface & equipment, and multimedia speaker(s) with the steps of: Digital storage device(s): i.e. MP3 Player, laptop, mobile phone, Tivo, cable box, iPod, etc, access to related website(s)... Agent: Sean Eric Mcgeoghegan

20080293469 - Storage medium storing game program and game apparatus: In accordance with the operation performed by each player, square selection means selects, from the game field, a square on which the panel is to be placed. Panel placing means places, on the square selected by the square selection means, the panel selected by the panel selection means. Combined state... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080293471 - Method and system for providing card game services: Disclosed herein are a method and system for providing card game services. The method includes entering a virtually implemented game room to play a card game provided over the Internet, participating in the card game according to predetermined rules of the card game, setting a betting action depending on a... Agent: Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP

20080293472 - Extendible user input device: A portable electronic gaming device including a user input device including an extendible support having at a first end a tactile member for user actuation and mounted at a second end for pivotal movement, wherein the user input device has a first configuration in which the extendible support is retracted... Agent: Harrington & Smith, PC

20080293473 - Wagering game with character learning: Wagering game terminal and method of operating same are disclosed where the player characters or avatars learn from the experiences of previous games. Thus, the player characters or avatars in effect remember the paths they have taken and/or the choices they have selected previously. This learning or remembrance may occur... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20080293474 - Motivational deployment mechanism for networked systems: The described implementations relate to networked or distributed systems and more particularly to providing motivation for deployment of networked systems. One technique gathers a solicitation hierarchy in a distributed system. This technique also tracks contribution to the distributed system of participants within the hierarchy. This technique further probabilistically determines a... Agent: Lee & Hayes PLLC

20080293475 - Gaming machine, program, and server: In a bingo game or other game using a matrix card, a gaming machine is provided to which is added an element that enables a player to make a selection that can influence the game result. The designs of playing cards, etc. are used in the respective cells of a... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080293476 - Ergonomic gaming machine having electromechanical reels: A new ergonomic game cabinet with a unique layout is disclosed. The gaming machine cabinet includes a display mounted nearly vertically, combined with a player deck extending towards a player having more space at a more useful angle than previously available. The player deck will have open space usable by... Agent: Bally Gaming Inc.

20080293477 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine having a display that displays a determined screen including a character, during execution of a game, a touch panel sensor, disposed above the display, that is capable of detecting the contact position, the position of the character contacted by a player, and a CPU that determines the... Agent: Mcginn Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20080293482 - Game server, game control method, and game machine: A plurality of game machines installed in a single hall are collectively controlled. Based on information of coin or credit consumption in a certain game machine on which a player is performing a game, this player's cumulative consumption of coin or credit is judged. As the result of this judgment,... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080293481 - Gaming system with elimination feature: A method is described for running a feature on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming consoles linked by a communication network. The method comprises running at least one elimination round of the feature. A set of participating gaming consoles are determined for the elimination round and a group... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080293479 - Method for the selective display, review, pricing, recommendation and acceptance of free goods and services requiring varying scales of play at a casino via the world wide web: This invention relates to the art of facilitating the ability for the selective display, review, pricing, recommendation and acceptance (“shopping”) of free goods and services requiring varying scales of play at a casino (“comps”) more particularly using the World Wide Web (“Internet”) to do it. The invention will support numerous... Agent: Furr Law Firm

20080293480 - Method of developing the activity of an on-line forecasting site: The on-line forecasting site comprises a question engine coupled with a plurality of terminals controlled by respective players. In response to a question relating to a success parameter for a future event, the players make forecasts about the success parameter. After the event has occurred, the site evaluates the forecasts... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20080293478 - Wagering game having a simulated world-building feature for payoffs: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing at the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal has a basic wagering game and a bonus game. The bonus game simulates the building of a world and provides bonus awards based on an accumulation of assets by... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20080293486 - Method and system for secure distribution of subscription-based game software: Methods and systems for securely distributing software in a subscription-based environment are provided. A Game Security Facility (“GSF”) associated with a game server manages secure communications with game clients. A subscriber is registered in a manner that includes a unique identifier of the machine upon which the subscription data will... Agent: Christensen O'connor Johnson Kindness PLLC

20080293483 - Method of controlling out of order mode on a game: A casino gaming apparatus is provided that allows the user to lock the casino gaming apparatus for a predetermined amount of time in order to hold the casino gaming apparatus until the user returns from a break. The invention provides for an identification reader such as a card reader for... Agent: Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.

20080293485 - Method of developing the activity of an on-line game site: The on-line game site comprises a question engine coupled with a plurality of terminals controlled by respective players, for sending predefined questions to the players and for receiving answers to the questions from the players. The site awards or does not award prizes to the players as a function of... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20080293484 - Programming framework for closed systems: Mechanisms are disclosed that allow for execution of unsigned content and the securing of resources in a closed system when such unsigned content is executing on the system. For example, an application programming interface is used between an access layer implementing unsigned content and an operating system of the closed... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP (microsoft Corporation)

20080293488 - Electronic game utilizing photographs: The present disclosure includes, among other things, methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing an electronic game utilizing photographs.... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080293487 - Game device, game device control method, and information storage medium: To provide a game device capable of increasing the unpredictability of a change given to an image displayed on a game screen and suitably expressing how the image returns to an original state. The present invention relates to the game device for displaying an image including a plurality of element... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080293489 - Gaming apparatus: A gaming apparatus control part is provided with an external output control circuit, configured in such a manner that gaming information can be output and gaming data sent from each gaming machine is collected in a management server in order to solve the issue that internal winning attraction is limited... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080293490 - System for multifuctional remote control: A system for multifunctional remote control is disclosed. The system comprises a remote control (100) for connecting mechanically and electrically with a cartridge (200), reading data stored in the cartridge through the first connection unit (110), storing the read data, and setting the registration of use; and a cartridge (200)... Agent: Young & Thompson

20080293491 - Game controller: A game controller connected to a game device is provided. The game controller includes a holding portion and a device for sensing physiological status. The holding portion is used for allowing the user to hold the game controller. The device for sensing physiological status is disposed at the holding portion.... Agent: Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP

20080293492 - Handheld control device for a processor-controlled system: An example system and method of providing an input to a processor-controlled system uses a handheld control device comprising an accelerometer. The example system and method involve determining magnitudes of outputs of the accelerometer for one or more axes based on movement of the handheld control device and controlling the... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080293495 - Game server and program: By diversifying a variation of so-called difference detection game, a player can enjoy the difference detection game without being tired of it. The difference detection game is played on a display of a terminal device connected to a server via a communication line. When the player sends a correct answer... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080293497 - Game server, game machine under control of the server, and game control method: In a game center installing a plurality of game machine groups (G01, G02, . . . and G10) as a collection of game machines (2), a game server (1) collectively controls the cumulative credit consumption of the individual game machine groups (G01, G02, . . . and G10). With the... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080293496 - Game server, game machine, and game control method: In a collective control of plural game machines placed in the same parlor, it is detected whether there is a player change with each game machine and, based on the detection result, the cumulative credit consumption with each game machine is controlled per player. When the cumulative credit consumption of... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080293493 - Method of developing the activity of an on-line game site: The on-line game site comprises a question engine coupled with a plurality of terminals controlled by respective players, for sending predefined questions to the players and for receiving answers to said questions from the players. The site allocates prizes to the players as a function of the answers it receives,... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20080293494 - Networks for use in gaming: According to one example embodiment disclosed herein, a connection is established between a network and a plurality of gaming units located in a gaming establishment, wherein each gaming unit includes at least one wagering input unit; wherein the network includes one or more network resources and is connected to at... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080293498 - Game machine, game program and recording medium: Provides a game apparatus having game end judging means (4) that judges game end if a game executable time set in executable time storage (1) elapses, and additionally the game status reaches a saving-allowed point or clearing of the current stage is in failure. Such makeup prevents a game to... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080293499 - Gaming system peripherals with automatic system configuration: Embodiments described herein include a method comprising: adding a gaming machine peripheral to a gaming machine including selecting a gaming machine peripheral to be added, wherein the selected gaming machine peripheral appears as a virtual peripheral on the gaming machine so that the gaming machine is not aware of the... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080287173 - Projectile video game: A method of playing a game, including: adjusting a desired direction and desired force used to project a player; projecting the player through the air in the desired direction using the desired force, wherein the player interacts with objects within a game environment as the player passes by the objects.... Agent: Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

20080287174 - Game system and method using twin gage: Disclosed is a game system and method using a twin gage. In the game method, a twin gage for performing the ball game is provided to a user. The twin gage includes first and second swing gages arranged on the basis of an impact zone for determining a movement direction... Agent: Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP

20080287176 - Lottery ticket security method: In a method for manufacturing instant lottery tickets where book numbers and ticket numbers are printed on the tickets utilizing a dual security process such that the book numbers are shuffled in each pool before the tickets are printed to break the link between the book numbers the ticket numbers... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.A.

20080287177 - Method and apparatus for operating lotteries and for generating and processing lottery entries:

20080287175 - Multiplayer competition game device, game machine and game program: After the offensive selection element images are moved along the joining direction to the offensive selection image display area (70c) and displayed one after another in an alternating manner thereon, based on the control of the offensive selector (73), the images are halted and displayed in a matrix-wise arrangement. The... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080287178 - Floating reel gaming activity: A floating reel strip gaming activity involves randomly arranging first symbols on a plurality of gaming reels in response to a gaming event. Second symbols are randomly arranged on a floating reel in response to the gaming event. The floating reel is positioned over the plurality of gaming reels in... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC Suite 125

20080287179 - Gaming activity with secondary symbols forming random paylines: A gaming activity involves a plurality of gaming reels each having a plurality of first symbols that are randomly arranged in response to a gaming event. The gaming apparatus also includes a plurality of second symbols that are each randomly arranged so that each of the second symbols adjacent to... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC Suite 125

20080287180 - Gaming machine communications: A gaming machine that provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and presented and if a winning combination occurs in the selected symbols, the gaming machine awards an award, the gaming machine comprising a communication interface for receiving and sending data to a remote device and... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080287181 - Universal gaming engine: An apparatus for implementing a game having a deterministic component and a non-deterministic component wherein a player uses the game through at least one player interface unit. Each player interface unit generates a player record indicating player-initiated events. A random number generator provides a series of pseudo-random numbers and a... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080287182 - Gaming machine and gaming system: A storage interface unit can exchange player's individual information with an external storage device placed on a gaming machine. An individual information manager unit uses the individual information in player identification or as credits. A game control unit executes a game program and thereby conducts a game. An alarm unit... Agent: GlobalIPCounselors, LLP

20080287184 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: Certain embodiments provide a gaming system including a first player interface operable by a player to input at least one first game instruction to play a first game. The gaming system also includes a second player interface independent of the first player interface and operable by the player to play... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080287183 - Video gaming device and method of wagering on a virtual footall game: The present invention relates to a video gaming device and method for wagering on a virtual football game, referred to as the “2-Minute Warning game,” comprising a video touch screen or display and a selector control panel including a plurality of selector control keys to selectively generate a plurality of... Agent: Allen Reeves, Iii

20080287186 - Gaming machine determining one progressive award among a plurality of types of progressive awards: A gaming machine is provided, which includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores a plurality of progressive awards. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) start a game; (b) cause the game to be switched to a predetermined game state when a result of the game satisfies... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20080287187 - Incentive system for gaming player tracking: An incentive method is provided for encouraging use of a credit or debit card sponsored by, or affiliated with, a first vendor having consumer offerings, such as a casino offering gambling on games of chance, food, lodging, or other goods or services. The method includes offering the card to a... Agent: Ian F. Burns & Associates

20080287185 - Method and apparatus for variable contribution progressive jackpots: Methods and apparatuses for variable contribution progressive jackpots are disclosed. A variable contribution rate is determined as a function of a wager level. A contribution amount is determined by multiplying each wager by its corresponding contribution rate. The contribution amount is then added to the progressive jackpot meter.... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080287188 - Method and system for the generation of a file of auditable records for remote and on-site electronic gaming: Methods and systems that enable reliable audits of a number of predetermined trust requirements for games by electronic means, either on-site or remote, are disclosed. A system including a gaming module to which the players interact with a security module and an audit module capable of several degrees of dispersion... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20080287189 - System and method for using accelerometer outputs to control an object rotating on a display: An example system and method controls a rotatable object on a display using a handheld control device comprising an accelerometer. The example system and method involve determining an orientation of the handheld control device using an interpolation of an output for a first axis of the accelerometer and an output... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080287192 - Distributed network architecture for introducing dynamic content into a synthetic environment: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.... Agent: Kokka & Backus, PC

20080287193 - Distributed network architecture for introducing dynamic content into a synthetic environment: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.... Agent: Kokka & Backus, PC

20080287194 - Distributed network architecture for introducing dynamic content into a synthetic environment: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.... Agent: Kokka & Backus, PC

20080287195 - Distributed network architecture for introducing dynamic content into a synthetic environment: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-based simulations and synthetic environment generation, and more particularly, to a system, a computer-readable medium, a method and an apparatus for generating synthetic environments in a distributed architecture to, among other things, introduce dynamic content.... Agent: Kokka & Backus, PC Suite 103

20080287190 - Game hosting service: A network gaming service accesses attributes of a particular user to match the user to a gaming session with users having similar attributes. A game hosting service uses preferences of the users in a session and determines parameters for a match. Subsequent match parameters can be further determined based on... Agent: Westman Champlin (microsoft Corporation)

20080287191 - Method and system for computing online/offline multimedia data: A method and system for processing online/offline multimedia data are disclosed. The system comprises a remote mainframe, a local host and a portable apparatus. When the portable apparatus is electrically connected with the remote mainframe and the local host, the portable apparatus can immediately exchange multimedia data exchange with the... Agent: Wpat, PC

20080287196 - Network game system: A network game system is provided in which players can play a considerable number of matches without spending a long period of time, and in which it is difficult for teams that are long left on a server without being logged in to maintain high ranking. In the network game... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20080287198 - System and method for conducting a fantasy sports competition: The present invention embodiments pertain to conducting fantasy sports or other competitions, where users select or draft an entirely new team of professional players each week (or at other suitable time interval). The competition types (including playoffs) include fee based and free. Each fee based competition has a pre-determined entry... Agent: Edell, Shapiro & Finnan, LLC

20080287197 - Udp brodcast for user interface in a download and configuration gaming system: A modified form of the UDP multicast protocol is disclosed to implement a one-way download progress notification system between a server and one or more clients. The UDP multicast download progress notification system enables UDP messages to be sent only to registered clients, not broadcasted to all clients. This architecture... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080287199 - Gaming machine apparatus: An electronic gaming machine includes, in an embodiment, an embedded processing module, which is compliant with a Computer-On-Module Express standard, and which includes at least one processor. The electronic gaming machine may further include a network interface controller, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a first serial, differential... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080287200 - Gaming table: A gaming table includes a table body, a display device, and a positioning unit. The display device is mounted pivotably to the table body, is pivotable relative to the table body between at least one viewing position and a storage position, and is operable to display a gaming screen thereon.... Agent: Butzel LongIPDocketing Dept

20080280660 - Sensing ball game machine: A sensing baseball game apparatus (10) has a game machine (12) connected to a television monitor (18). A bat input device (32) is provided with an acceleration sensor. An acceleration signal is transmitted by an infrared-ray LED (34) to an infrared-ray receiving part of the game machine (12) whereby the... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20080280661 - Projectile roulette arcade game: An arcade game is disclosed wherein a player actuates a projectile delivery system such as an air stream created by depressing a pump or bellows to cause a projectile such as a ball to be propelled over a rotating playing field. In a first preferred embodiment the projectile is a... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20080280662 - System for evaluating game play data generated by a digital games based learning game: Methods and devices for assessing a user's skill level in a field of expertise based on game play data generated by that user. In one embodiment, a user plays a game which simulates an auditing interview. The user selects predefined questions to ask a computer controlled interviewee and a game... Agent: Cassan Maclean

20080280663 - On-line gaming tournament: A method and information processing system for allowing a plurality of users to compete against one another via a network in at least one game. The method includes providing at least one virtual environment comprising at least one game tournament for a game of skill and chance. The game tournament... Agent: Paul D. Bianco Fleit Gibbons Gutman Bongini & Bianco Pl

20080280664 - Powering devices in wagering game machines: Methods for powering devices in wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the method can include receiving, over an Ethernet connection, communications and power in a PoE device, where the PoE device disposed inside a wagering game machine. The method can also include using the power and communications... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080280665 - Method for playing multi-level games of chance: A method for playing a multi-level game of chance wherein players can advance to the next level with a win. As the game progresses through levels, non-winning players are eliminated and winning players are segregated by type of win. In general, each level provides greater winnings. In another example game... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20080280673 - Gaming device having multiple symbols at a single symbol position: A gaming device including a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols including at least one replicator symbol. The replicator symbol includes at least two of the same symbols in a single symbol position on the reels. The replicator symbol may include any suitable number of the same symbols.... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP

20080280672 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine includes a display device, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) determine a combination of symbols to be displayed on the display device by performing a lottery in response to acceptance of manipulation to start the game by a player; (b)... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080280670 - Gaming machine apparatus having a plurality of gaming machines performing a multi-player-type game: A gaming machine includes client terminals and a controller. Each client terminal includes a memory, a display device, and an input device. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) receive a signal indicating a request for a game played by a team from an input device of a particular... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20080280669 - Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance: The field of the invention relates generally to video gaming, and more particularly, to systems for conducting casino-based gaming. A player may be provided the option to personalize the design of the video game. The player may choose design options from pre-set themes or develop a personalized theme. A player... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20080280668 - Paradise box gaming center: A centralized gaming system and the method of using the same is disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

20080280667 - Paradise box gaming system: A system for playing a casino game and a slot machine game is disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

20080280666 - Slot machine and control method of game: A slot machine of the present invention comprises: a symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols; an image display device; and a controller, said controller programmed to execute the processing of: (A) executing a game in which said plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080280671 - Wagering game system with vacuum fluorescent display: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a vacuum fluorescent display assembly comprising at least one vacuum fluorescent display element.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080280674 - Gaming machine apparatus performing a multi-player-type playing game and game rules: A gaming machine apparatus includes gaming machines and a central controller. Each gaming machine includes a memory storing a game program, a display and an input device. The display device displays a result of a first game performed in accordance with a first game program applied to a single game.... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20080280675 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine includes a display device, a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured with logic to: (a) determine a combination of symbols to be displayed on the display device by performing a lottery; (b) cause the display device to perform a variable display of symbols; (c) cause... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080280677 - Pre-programmed optical disc designed for secure game players allowing for pay television services: A game cartridge includes instructions designed to transform a state-of-the-art game player device into a platform for numerous pay television-related services and offerings. In one aspect the systems and methods described may include the leveraging of emerging state-of-the-art and highly secure game players to create applications targeted toward Pay Television... Agent: Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

20080280676 - Wireless gaming method and wireless gaming-enabled mobile terminal: A wireless gaming method and wireless gaming-enabled mobile terminal are provided for enabling a number of players to participate simultaneously in a game using their mobile terminals. A wireless gaming method of the present invention includes inviting, if a multi-player gaming mode for a game is activated, at least one... Agent: Martin D. Moynihan D/b/a Prtsi, Inc.

20080280678 - Method and apparatus for generating tactile feedback via relatively low-burden and/or zero burden telemetry: A method and a device for providing a tactile sensation are provided. The device includes a plurality of actuators. The plurality of actuators includes first and second actuators. The first actuator is adapted to provide a first tactile sensation, and the second actuator is adapted to provide a second tactile... Agent: Craig Thorner

20080280679 - Sound filtering system for gaming environments: Methods and systems for providing improved audio environments in relation with gaming systems are described. According to one embodiment, a gaming system comprises a gaming device comprising sound producing components and a sound processing system for transmitting sounds to a player based on sounds produced by the components. The sound... Agent: Labtronix Concept C/o Benoit & Co Inc.

20080280680 - System and method for using a touchscreen as an interface for music-based gameplay: An interactive computerized game system including a visual display, one or more user input devices, and a processor executing software that interacts with the display and input device(s) is disclosed. The software displays images of musical targets on the visual display, the musical targets possibly corresponding to a pre-recorded source... Agent: Disney Enterprises, Inc. C/o Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP

20080280681 - Game controller with internal enclosure: A game controller includes a control unit and a control housing. The control unit includes a circuit board and a plurality of functional controls, wherein each of the functional controls has a movable control end and a signal end operatively coupling with the circuit board. The control housing includes an... Agent: David And Raymond Patent Firm

20080280682 - Gaming system having a set of modular game units: A game system comprises a set of independent units, preferably wirelessly connected. One of the displays preferably is a master unit that manages the game and its display on the remaining, satellite units. The master unit typically has Internet connectivity. Each unit can stand on its own, has a touch... Agent: David H. Judson

20080280683 - Information supply system, information supply method, and information storage medium: An information supply device including: a communication section that communicates with a plurality of terminal devices; a determination section that determines whether or not the number of intending human players who desire to participate in a multi-player game has reached a setting value; a game calculation section that performs single-player... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080280686 - Balancing distribution of participants in a gaming environment: Systems for balancing distribution of participants in a gaming environment are provided. In various embodiments, systems of the present invention may include multiple application servers each hosting a common game application, a lobby server for assigning new client devices to one of the application servers, and a universe manager for... Agent: Carr & Ferrell LLP

20080280685 - Video games including real-life attributes and/or fanstasy settings: A video gaming console and related network interfaces with a server computer hosting an online fantasy sports game. The video game machine acquires a fantasy team roster of the fantasy sport game over a network that includes the Internet and the video game console is programmed to create a video... Agent: Workman Nydegger

20080280684 - Virtual world electronic game: An electronic game for playing on a portable handheld game unit and on-line includes a dynamic animated virtual character that can be customized and updated both visually and functionally through game play and that can translate from a two dimensional visual presentation on a game unit to a higher order... Agent: Intellectual Property Law Office Of Joel Voelzke

20080280687 - Method and system to authenticate interactive children's toys: A method and a system (10) which is capable of being implemented as a children's' toy. The system (10) is operable to interface an add-on device (20a) or a story to an interactive environment hosted by the system (10). The system (10) includes a response engine (30) which is operable... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20080274779 - Universal puzzle piece with customizable surface: A universally shaped puzzle piece is provided that may mate with any side of a puzzle piece having the same universal shape. Instead of placing a portion of an overall puzzle image on the universally shaped puzzle piece, indicia related to a theme are placed on one side. The other... Agent: Ropes & Gray LLP

20080274780 - Computer device for implementing a trading card game and control method therefor, program executed by computer device, controller, system, and game cards: A card game program is executed in a computer device for playing a game using a plurality of cards. The identification information of each card is used to generate a combination of the cards for a game player. The combination of the cards is changed in response to an instruction... Agent: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto

20080274783 - Session play with high volatility bet option: A method for improving gambling sessions includes providing one or more conditional wagers with heightened volatility for the player. The player may purchase the session through appropriate purchasing forms and receive payouts at the end of the session. Conditions applied to the wager may include session balances, cards dealt to... Agent: Walter Digital Management, LLC

20080274782 - System and method of playing a game based on the prediction of the outcome of sporting events: A system and method for playing a game is herein disclosed wherein a listing of teams competing in scheduled events and an additional piece of information is presented to the participants, the predetermined number of teams selected by the participants are received and upon completion of the sporting events, the... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080274781 - Video card game machine: There is provided a video card game machine, having a visual display unit (VDIU), a user control panel for a control unit, means for awarding a prize such as a coin/token delivery hopper, and acceptance means to receive an input payment from a player such as a coin/token acceptor. The... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080274784 - Lottery method and system: A method and system for performing a recurring lottery sustainable by a sustaining pool is claimed and described. In the method of the present invention, a drawing is held. Winners of the drawing receive a jackpot and are required to transfer part of the jackpot to a sustaining pool. Any... Agent: Chris A. Caseiro

20080274787 - Gaming machine and gaming method thereof: A gaming environment is described. An award to be provided is determined by lottery. If the determined award is an execution of a bonus game, an animated cartoon display pattern, which indicates the bonus game is executed, is selected. On the other hand, if the determined award is not the... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20080274786 - Gaming machine utilizing distinctive paylines: A slot style gaming machine displays on a video screen distinctive pay lines such as pay lines having alphabetical or numerical configurations, or closed loop configurations such as geometric shapes. The shape of the pay line is preferably thematically associated with the symbols making up the pay line. A given... Agent: Sand & Sebolt

20080274788 - Gaming machine utilizing hidden and shadow symbols: A gaming machine includes a game playable on a video display screen on which are displayable a set of reels with display blocks on each reel. Symbols are displayable on the display blocks to make up standard and distinctive pay lines. In one aspect of the game, primary symbols are... Agent: Sand & Sebolt

20080274785 - Gaming system: This invention relates to a gaming system (50) involving one or more gaming machines (52, 54) and a plurality of servers (56, 58) connected thereto. In a one embodiment a gaming machine (52, 54) has a plurality of client software components (52.1, 52.2) configured to interact with a plurality of... Agent: Lawrence M. Jarvis Mcandrews, Held & Malloy

20080274789 - Slot machine game having a plurality of ways for a user to obtain payouts for one or more additional pay lines formed by the appearance of special symbols in a symbol matrix: A gaming device including a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols. The symbols include at least one bonus payline symbol. In a game, the gaming device or player spins the reels to indicate symbols on the reels. After the reel stops spinning, the gaming device evaluates the symbols... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP

20080274790 - Class of feature event games suitable for linking to multiple gaming machines: A gaming method, apparatus and system for playing a game of chance is disclosed in which a plurality of gaming machines may be linked together for mutually competitive play. According to one embodiment, two or more gaming machines are linked to a centrally located display exhibiting a game board comprising... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP

20080274802 - Apparatus and method for facilitating gaming activity and/or gambling activity: An apparatus, including a receiver which receives a bet message regarding a proposed bet for a gaming activity on or involving a gaming account, a processing device which processes information regarding the proposed bet and generates a notification message containing information regarding the use of the gaming account in connection... Agent: Raymond A. Joao, Esq.

20080274791 - Card game: A card game is played between a dealer and at least one player. Each player is required to ante a bet before receiving a hand of cards. Cards are dealt to the dealer and each player so that the dealer and each player each receive two cards with at least... Agent: Hanes & Schutz, LLC

20080274797 - Gaming display with moveable indicator and methods of use: The present invention comprises a gaming apparatus that includes a display device comprising a display surface. The display surface comprises a plurality of indicia. A display device actuator is in communication with the display surface and is configured to move the display surface on a first predetermined path. A moveable... Agent: Ian F. Burns & Associates

20080274800 - Gaming machine with loyalty bonus: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the fist or base game may be provided by the slot... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080274801 - Gaming machine with loyalty bonus: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20080274793 - Lighting system for gaming devices and method of use: A gaming apparatus includes several gaming devices. Lights are mounted in association with the gaming devices. A controller is in communication with the gaming devices and the lights. The controller is configured to receive a wager from the gaming devices and to play a base game on the gaming devices.... Agent: Ian F. Burns & Associates

20080274792 - Methods and apparatus for facilitating gaming sessions via a session ticket: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a session comprising a plurality of game plays of a wagering game may be initiated via a session ticket. A session ticket may comprise, for example, a paper substrate, a plastic card or information stored electronically (e.g., in a wireless handheld device). In... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080274798 - Methods and systems for replaying a player's experience in a casino environment: A method and system is provided wherein an event experienced by a player is documented and the documentation of the event is stored (e.g., in association with an indication of the event). One example of an event experienced by a player is an outcome obtained by a player on a... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080274795 - Monitoring wagering game machines in a network: Methods and apparatus for monitoring wagering game machines in a network are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for monitoring wagering game machines in a network includes receiving, in a wagering game machine, a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include receiving status information associated... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080274796 - System and method for enhanced gaming platform interactions: A gaming console configured with picture-in-picture (PIP) capability for use to gain entry into a group level or competitive level of play. The PIP window is used to form teams or provide information related to group play. The PIP screen may also be used to make request for special services... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080274794 - System and method for entering a customer in sweepstakes: A computerized method and system for providing an incentive for participating in an activity, comprising: establishing an account with the user; tracking usage of the account made by the user during a period of time, the usage associated with a numerical and/or character string; and transforming the numerical and/or character... Agent: Dla Piper US LLP

20080274799 - System and method for presenting payouts in gaming systems: A system and method for facilitating a shell game activity as a primary or secondary/bonus gaming activity in a mechanistic, electronic, or combined mechanistic/electronic manner. Embodiments of methods for presenting gaming payouts involve providing an automated shell-game device and presenting, to a player, a plurality of award elements having a... Agent: Hollingsworth & Funk, LLC

20080274805 - Attribute building for characters in a virtual environment: Systems and method provided herein involve a mechanism that allows users to have more input and influence in customizing their virtual characters' profile by developing their attributes. By developing and improving attributes of their characters, the social value of their characters can be increased within the virtual environment. Additional attributes... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080274804 - Method and system for adding a new player to a game in response to controller activity: A method for use in operation of a game apparatus includes obtaining a time series of samples containing information usable to determine activity of a plurality of predetermined objects used for controlling the game apparatus, processing the time series to determine whether one of the plurality of predetermined objects has... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20080274803 - System for processing data in a community, and methods thereof: Disclosed is a system and method for processing data in a community such as a café, homepage, blog, mini-room, mini-homepage, and the like, which are established in web sites on the Internet. The method for processing data in a community established on a website includes a) by a community visitor,... Agent: Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP

20080274806 - Character development and exchange: There is provided a character development and exchange system for a virtual environment and related method. A character, such as an animal, human or human-like figure, doll, or other animated or cartoon-like object can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code.... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080274807 - Conjuring assisting toy: The invention provides a conjuring assisting toy which can make a viewer feel the supernatural force and interestedness which are inherent in a conjuring trick by displaying the result of a conjuring trick through simple operations, there is provided a conjuring assisting toy including a display means for displaying an... Agent: Hansen Huang Technology Law Group, LLP

20080274808 - Methods and systems for replaying a player's experience in a casino environment: A method and system is provided wherein an event experienced by a player is documented and the documentation of the event is stored (e.g., in association with an indication of the event). One example of an event experienced by a player is an outcome obtained by a player on a... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080274809 - Interactive image throwing apparatus: An interactive image throwing apparatus includes a throwing device for ball games that has a plurality of sensors and a display interface to allow users to throw balls made from different materials to image game pictures displayed on the display interface. The sensors detect throwing signals and send the signals... Agent: Joe Mckinney Muncy

20080274810 - Controlling communications between players of a multi-player game: A method for controlling communications between players of a multi-player game while they participate in the multi-player game, including automatically changing communication parameters to define a first group of players that hear a first player and a second, different group of players that are heard by the first player in... Agent: Harrington & Smith, PC

20080274811 - Character training and development: There is provided a character training and development system for a virtual environment and related method. A character, such as an animal, human or human-like figure, doll, or other animated or cartoon-like object can be purchased by a user and then registered on a communication network via a unique code.... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080274813 - Storage medium having information processing program stored thereon and information processing apparatus: An acceleration data acquisition means obtains acceleration data repeatedly. An acceleration determination means determines whether an acceleration represented by the acceleration data acquired by the acceleration data acquisition means is an acceleration at the time of accelerating, which is applied when a housing is moved and accelerated in a predetermined... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080274812 - System of electronic pet capable of reflecting habits of user and method therefor and recording medium: An electronic pet system capable of reflecting habits of users is provided, which allows the electronic pets raised by different users to have different personalities and reflect the habits of the users. The electronic pet system includes a parameter collection module, a parameter database, and a parameter setting module. The... Agent: Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC

20080274814 - Wagering game device with secure storage device: Embodiments of a wagering game device with a secure storage device are described herein. In one embodiment, the wagering game device includes a wagering game processor operable to receive a wager for a wagering game. The wagering game device can also include a main memory operable to store wagering game... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080274815 - Interactive sports-themed game: An interactive sports-themed game is disclosed. The game involves generating a list of predicted outcomes of the next play of a live sporting event, ranking the list, selecting one or more of the predicted outcomes to form a subset list. The outcome of the next play of the live sporting... Agent: Eugene E. Renz, Jr., P.C.