Amusement devices: games inventions 12/08

20080318653 - Domino tower electronic video game: Embodiments described herein are directed to an electronic version of domino that adds elements of wagering. A player makes a wager for dominoes to be dealt. A minimum of one domino through a maximum of five dominoes can be wagered on and dealt. Once the dominoes are dealt, the player... Agent: Courtney Staniford & Gregory LLP

20080318651 - System and method for playing on-line poker augmented with dynamic and situational information: A computer-controlled system and method for providing information to selected players participating in an on-line poker game with other players, the selected players typically paying a fee for the service. A database of information is maintained pertaining to the play styles of all players, the database containing information gathered during... Agent: Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman PC

20080318652 - Texas holdem peek-a-boo poker: Embodiments described herein are directed to an electronic version of Texas holdem poker that adds peek cards from which the private hole cards can be selected. A player makes a wager for a hand or hands to be dealt. Three cards are dealt to the flop. Another three cards are... Agent: Courtney Staniford & Gregory LLP

20080318654 - Combat action selection using situational awareness: A game environment is disclosed where actions are automatically selected based on a situational awareness for a player in the game environments. The situational awareness can be determined based on conditions of the player, objects and other characters in the game environment.... Agent: Westman Champlin (microsoft Corporation)

20080318655 - Method and apparatus for players of wagering games to find friends in a gaming environment: Disclosed are gaming machines, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for players of wagering games to find friends in a gaming environment. Player identification information identifies a first player of a first gaming device configured to play a game of chance. One... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - Igt Attn: Igt

20080318656 - Apparatus and methods for facilitating automated play of a game machine: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a gaming device such as a slot machine may be operated in an automated play mode in which the need for player input is reduced or eliminated. Termination of and/or changes in the automated play mode may be related to player input,... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080318663 - Gaming machine: A gaming environment is described. If a first specific symbol (for example LION symbol 45A) and a second specific symbol (for example, MEAT symbol 45B) are adjacently displayed, the second specific symbol is changed to the first specific symbol. And then, if a combination of the displayed symbols is any... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080318664 - Gaming machine and gaming method thereof: A gaming environment is described. If the predetermined condition is met and the free game is shifted, reels are changed to other reels to be used in the free game. Also, in the free game, reel display portion on which the WILD symbols are displayed on all of the symbol... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080318665 - Gaming machine with scrolling indicia feature: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a wagering apparatus, a display, and an award apparatus. The wagering apparatus receives a wager from a player. The display depicts a scrolled sequence of elements. The award apparatus provides an award based on an indicated portion of the sequence of... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20080318659 - Gaming system and game server: A gaming system includes: a plurality of gaming machines that provide games to respective players; and a game server that includes: a communication unit that is communicably connected to the gaming machines; and a main controller that operates to: determine symbols to be respectively displayed on each of the gaming... Agent: Mcginn Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20080318666 - Method of playing a slot machine game with awards based upon an order of symbol placement into a symbol matrix: The present invention includes a variety of methods to issue awards based upon the order of appearance of symbols in the symbol matrix. An “In-A-Row” embodiment of the present invention displays symbols in random positions of the symbol matrix and issues awards for three or more same symbols appearing in... Agent: Ptt LLC (d/b/a High 5 Games)

20080318658 - Remote management of a gaming machine: Systems, apparatus and methods for remote management of a gaming machine are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a host platform having a host processor controlled by a host operating system. The host platform has a host storage and a host power state, wherein the host processor is... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080318661 - Slot machine: A processor selects either a first game mode or a second game mode based on the operation by the operator carried out at a server 102. If the first game mode has been selected, a payout is calculated and awarded based on a fixed payout set in advance for each... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080318662 - Slot machine: A processor executes either of two kinds of game modes, including a base game which is carried out by consuming gaming values in accordance with a bet amount on which the player has placed a bet, and a free game which is carried out without the consumption of any gaming... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080318660 - Slot machine game with respin feature which identifies potential wins: A slot machine game that allows the player to respin a selected reel. Before the selected reel is respun, the game displays to the player which paylines can potentially win awards, as well as what particular combinations are available to the player to win. In this manner, a player may... Agent: Muskin & Cusick LLC

20080318667 - Gaming machine: A gaming environment is described. In a base game, if scatter symbols are displayed with a predetermined number and above, a game mode is shifted to a free game. In the free game, different reels are used between in a first reel display portion on which the scatter symbol was... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080318668 - Gaming system, gaming device and method having purchasable game advantages: A gaming device and method enables players to purchase one or more features that provide an advantage in a bonus event. In one embodiment, a player can purchase an advantage by paying a fee. In one embodiment, the advantage is applied to a bonus game, such as a head start... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP

20080318670 - Token management system and method of operation thereof: A method and system for managing tokens in an electronic gaming environment includes managing computer-readable tokens that may be issued by an issuer and transferred to an original recipient of the issued tokens, and thereafter, to one or more players of electronic casino games and/or to electronic gaming devices at... Agent: Mcdonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

20080318669 - Wagering game content approval and dissemination system: Methods and apparatus for implementing a digital vault in a wagering game system are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a digital vault in a wagering game system includes transmitting an indication of locally stored wagering game content for a determination about whether the wagering game content... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080318671 - Prize redemption kiosk: Some preferred implementations of the invention provide a kiosk that can read a cashless instrument, determine one or more corresponding items of merchandise for which the cashless instrument may be redeemed and provide the corresponding item(s) of merchandise. The cashless instrument may be, for example, an ordinary “cash out” ticket,... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - Igt Attn: Igt

20080318673 - Gaming object with biofeedback sensor for interacting with a gaming application and methods for use therewith: A gaming object includes a sensor that generates biofeedback data in response to an action of a user. A transceiver is coupled to send an RF signal to a game device, that indicates the biofeedback data. A game device executes a gaming application that is based the biofeedback data.... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318672 - Methods and apparatus to meter video game play: Methods and apparatus to meter video game play are described. An example apparatus to meter video game play includes a tag to be attached to a video game controller, the tag having a sensor to detect a user interaction with the video game controller. The apparatus also includes a meter... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20080318674 - Game apparatus and game control method: A game apparatus displays a first image being provided with a hit determining area, and a second image being superimposed on the first image to hide the first image. The first image is caused to appear by erasing pixels of the second image corresponding to a specified position coordinate or... Agent: Ipusa, P.l.l.c

20080318675 - Game console and gaming object with motion prediction modeling and methods for use therewith: A game console includes a receiver that receives motion data in response to motion of a gaming object. A trajectory generation module generates trajectory data based on the motion data and based on a motion prediction model. A processor executes a gaming application based on the trajectory data to generate... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318676 - Responsive cutscenes in video games: A determination is made that a player's avatar has performed an action while an audio signal representing a narrative of a non-player character is being produced. The action is mapped to an impression, which is mapped to a response. The audio signal is stopped before it is completed and the... Agent: Westman Champlin (microsoft Corporation)

20080318678 - Entertainment, gaming and interactive spaces based on lifeotypes: The methods and systems described herein may involve determining at least one lifeotype of at least one individual, analyzing the at least one lifeotype, and delivering content to at least one individual based on the analysis. The methods and systems described herein may involve providing a game, determining at least... Agent: Strategic Patents P.C..

20080318677 - Storage medium having information processing program stored thereon and information processing apparatus: Acceleration data is repeatedly acquired, and an acceleration vector having a magnitude and a direction of an acceleration represented by the acceleration data is sequentially accumulated so as to calculate an accumulation vector. A following vector which follows, at a predetermined rate, the accumulation vector calculated by the accumulation vector... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080318682 - Dual transceiver gaming console interface and methods for use therewith: A game device includes a first transceiver section that receives a first RF signal that includes motion data from at least one remote motion sensing device. A second transceiver section receives a second RF signal that includes user data from at least one gaming object. A processor executes a game... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318679 - Foot game controller with motion detection and/or position detection: Systems and methods are disclosed having a mesh network such as a ZigBee mesh network, a game controller coupled to the mesh network; and a display device coupled to the mesh network.... Agent: Bao Q. Tran

20080318680 - Gaming object and gaming console that communicate user data via backscattering and methods for use therewith: A gaming object includes a memory for storing user data. A radio frequency identification (RFID) transceiver is coupled to receive an RF signal from a game console; convert the RF signal into a power signal for powering the gaming object; and backscatter the RF signal based on user data.... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318681 - Gaming object with orientation sensor for interacting with a display and methods for use therewith: A gaming object includes an orientation sensor that generates orientation data in response to the orientation of the gaming object. An actuator that generates interaction data in response to an action of a user. A transceiver sends an RF signal to a game device that indicates the orientation data and... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318684 - Position location system using multiple position location techniques: A position location system includes a first position location sub-system, a second position location sub-system, and processing circuitry. The first position location sub-system determines first position location information regarding a first object using a first position location technique. The second position location sub-system determines second position location information regarding a... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318683 - Rfid based positioning system: The position of a mobile gaming object within a video gaming environment is determined using radio frequency identification (RFID) signals transmitted between RFID devices, at least one of which is positioned on a gaming element. Based on signal information regarding the RFID signals, the distances between the gaming element and... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318687 - Live game lobby: A three-dimensional rendering of a game space for a first instance of a game is displayed. The first instance of the game requests position information of avatars in game spaces of other instances of the game. Position information and a player identification for an avatar in another instance of the... Agent: Westman Champlin (microsoft Corporation)

20080318686 - Local game-area network system: A local game-area network includes a plurality of gaming devices and local game-area servers. Each local game-area server is associated with a corresponding gaming device. Each local game-area server in the local game-area network is operatively associated with every other local game-area server in the local game-area network. Additionally, one... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080318689 - Local positioning system and video game applications thereof: A system includes a plurality of Local Positioning System (LPS) base units, an LPS mobile unit, and a game console device. The LPS base units are physically distributed and proximal to a gaming environment and transmit an LPS signal. The LPS mobile unit receives the LPS signal, determines distance to... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318690 - Methods and apparatus for remote play of a gaming device: A method and system for remote play of a gaming device, such as a slot machine. In accordance with one embodiment, a first player playing a first device may benefit from an outcome determined via a second gaming device, the second device being played by a second player. The first... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080318691 - Positioning within a video gaming environment using rf signals: The position of a mobile gaming object within a video gaming environment is determined using at least one combined Radio Frequency (RF) signal. Each combined RF signal includes at least a pair of RF signals that have a known relationship therebetween. Based on signal information representative of properties of the... Agent: Garlick Harrison & Markison

20080318688 - Systems and methods for facilitating competition: Systems and methods for facilitating competition are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, competition is facilitated by combining competition results from competition-event-segments across competition events conducted at different event locations.... Agent: David A. Novais Patent Legal Staff

20080318692 - Storage medium storing video game program for calculating a distance between a game controller and a reference: A game process is performed by obtaining control data from a game controller. Distance data associated with the distance between the game controller and a predetermined measured reference provided in a real space is calculated by using the control data obtained from the game controller. Then, a predetermined game process... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080318657 - Gaming machine: When a predetermined amount of credits has been inserted into a slot machine, a game mode is switched from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode according to the user's input operation via a touch panel. After the switching to the insurance mode, determination is made whether or not the... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080318685 - Controlled access layer system and method: A controlled access device produces a controlled access layer in a packet switching environment. The device includes a game monitoring system, a plurality of Ethernet ports, an internal switch, and an encoding mechanism. The game monitoring system monitors and manages game accounting data. The plurality of Ethernet ports facilitate data... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080311968 - Method for improving self-management of a disease: The invention includes an interactive method of therapy for disease management, and for improving self-management of diabetes and other medical conditions. The invention improves quality of life for users with a medical condition, and decreases the over all cost of health care for insurers. Operation of the invention promotes therapeutic... Agent: Clock Tower Law Group

20080311969 - Systems and methods for indicating input actions in a rhythm-action game: Systems and methods for displaying cues indicating input actions in a rhythm-action game may include: displaying, to a player of a rhythm-action game, a lane divided into at least two sub-lanes, each sub-lane containing cues indicating a drum input element; and displaying, to the player, an additional cue spanning a... Agent: Robert Kay C/o Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.

20080311970 - Systems and methods for reinstating a player within a rhythm-action game: Band members use their own performance during a song to reinstate a band member who has failed during the course of the song. Once a band member has failed, options are given to other members of the band who have achieved a predetermined bonus or performance level to save the... Agent: Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

20080311972 - Cushioned gaming device: A gaming device provides enhanced player comfort by way of one or more cushions, bumpers or other padded members ergonomically located to prevent harmful, injurious or offensive player contact. The gaming device is configured with one or more cushions situated for contact with a player's knees, legs, shins or combinations... Agent: Weide & Miller, Ltd.

20080311976 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine is provided, which includes a cabinet having a front opening, a front door, a display device, an input device and a controller. The front door is pivotably coupled to the cabinet via a hinge that is attached to a lateral end portion at a front face of... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080311977 - Gaming machine: In a gaming machine provided with a function called “super time (ST),” which may change the amount of payout coins, a player moves his sight from a displayed stopping order to a displayed reel during such Super Time (ST) game. In order to prevent fatigue by the sight movement, an... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080311973 - Gaming machine having incremental bonus awards: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a display for displaying a plurality of symbols, the symbols indicating a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes. The plurality of outcomes include at least one winning outcome wherein the winning outcome is associated with a bonus award. The... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20080311971 - Hand held tablet communicating with gaming machine: The present invention is a small tablet that wirelessly communicates with a stationary gaming machine. The player makes bets using the tablet. The gaming machine, and not the tablet, determines the outcome of the game and transmits the award information to the tablet. The gaming machine may be an ordinary... Agent: Patent Law Group LLP

20080311975 - Slot machine and method for playing slot machine: In the case where a combination of symbols serving as a bonus trigger is rearranged in execution of a slot game in which the arranged symbols are rearranged, a gaming condition determination game is executed. Under the conditions determined by the gaming condition determination game, a free game is executed.... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080311974 - Slot machine and playing method thereof: A slot machine comprises a display, an input device and a controller. The display has slot game areas and displays slot games on the slot game areas. An individual bet amount is input into the input device. The controller is operable to (a) place a bet of the individual bet... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080311978 - Cashless method operating a network of gaming machines: A cashless method for operating a network of gaming machines from a central host station is provided. The host station issues a unique token with a unique player validation number. The attendant of the host station enters the amount given by the player into host station. The player activates a... Agent: Sean Liam Kelleher KelleherIPPLLC

20080311980 - Method and apparatus for competitive bonus games based upon strategy or skill: The present invention relates to gaming systems and methods where enablement for play of a bonus game is linked to play of a primary game. A player may qualify for the bonus game by preselected criteria associated with play of the primary game. The qualified players may participate in the... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP

20080311979 - Multiplayer gaming device and methods: A plurality of gaming devices is linked so as to effectuate multiplayer game play. Multiplayer game play may cost more than single player game play, but may provide bonus payouts in the multiplayer game play. Various embodiments disclose symbol swapping, best ball, and match multiplayer game play.... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080311981 - Wagering game that allows player to alter payouts based on equity position: A wagering game that allows a player to adjust a positive expectation game situation to a lower expectation game situation. In return, the player can increase the paytable so that awards the player wins will be paid at a higher rate. Alternatively, the player can increase the paytable in exchange... Agent: Muskin & Cusick LLC

20080311982 - Game server, game machine, game control server, and game control method: The cumulative credit consumptions of game machines are controlled per player. When the cumulative credit consumption of a player reaches an upper limit, a return is executed to the player based on a predetermined return rate. In addition, the return rate can be changed to produce high game characteristics. Therefore,... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080311985 - Systems and methods for monitoring video gaming and determining opportunities to display content related applications: A system and method to detect moments of decreased user interactivity in any video game being played over a network, to allow third party advertisements inside visual display of the game during this time. The method generally includes a listening stage, a measuring stage, and a rendering stage. The system... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080311984 - Techniques for use with computerized games having cards: Techniques are described for determining card movement in a computerized game. A representation of one or more cards to be played in a simulated environment is provided. A movement of at least one of said cards is determined in accordance with one or more of an attribute of the card... Agent: Microsoft Corporation

20080311983 - Vehicle entertainment and gaming system: An entertainment system is for a vehicle and includes a vehicle environment sensor apparatus that captures data indicative of the vehicle's environment and that generates a vehicle environment data feed. A video game console is electronically coupled to the vehicle environment sensor apparatus and has an application program interface. The... Agent: Panasonic Automotive System Company Of America

20080311986 - Daisy-chained game audio exchange: A daisy-chainable game exchange facilitates social networking among at least two game consoles by allowing gamers to share audio information, such as voice communication, without having to play the identical game or connect via a local area network or a wide area network such as the Internet. Control of voice... Agent: Christensen, O'connor, Johnson, Kindness, PLLC

20080311987 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine is provided, which includes a cabinet, a display device, an input device, a controller, a pair of speakers, and a pair of exterior frames. The display device that is placed in a front face of the cabinet displays information related to a game. The input device allows... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080311988 - Communication protocol for a wireless device and a game console: An accessory is provided wireless connectivity with a game console by reconfiguring an earlier transport format that was used to solely transport voice data packets. The reconfiguration incorporates the use of a hybrid sub-frame, wherein voice data packets are replaced with communication data packets. The replacement is indicated by a... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP (microsoft Corporation)

20080311989 - Game controller and game system: A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080311991 - Operating device for game machine: An operating device used in a game machine for playing a television game includes a main body and first and second finger-manipulatable operating units positioned symmetrically on the main body. The operating device may include first and second grips projecting at spaced positions from the main body, with the first... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080311990 - Position system for interactive gaming device and method using the same: A position system for interactive gaming device has a main apparatus and a wireless controller. The main apparatus has a first ultrasonic receiving module, a second ultrasonic receiving module and a third ultrasonic receiving module. The three ultrasonic receiving modules are arranged as a triangle shape. The wireless controller has... Agent: Wpat, PC Intellectual Property Attorneys

20080311992 - Video game controller: A game controller comprising: a hand-held base unit comprising one or more base unit actuators, each configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input; and a module comprising two or more module actuators, each configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input.... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20080311993 - Device for generating control signals that can be evaluated electrically: In a device (1) for generating control signals that can be evaluated electrically, which are generated by the manual actuation of a joystick (4) inserted in a housing (3) of the device (1) and which can be deflected in various movement directions, it is intended to ensure that exclusively intended... Agent: Pandiscio & Pandiscio

20080311994 - System and method for wireless gaming with location determination: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P.

20080311995 - Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium having stored therein information processing program: A storage medium includes an ID registration area for storing therein a main body ID which is an ID unique to an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus has the main body ID stored therein. The information processing apparatus includes copying means for, when the storage medium is attached... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080311996 - System and method for influencing an on-going event: A system and method for enabling spectators to participate in a sporting event in a way that may materially affect the course, and outcome, of the event. The players, or teams, participating in the sporting event agree to have certain decisions made by spectators who are supporters of the player... Agent: Fox Rothschild LLP

20080311997 - Data capture for interactive operation: A console is adapted to capture audio, video and other associated data to be rendered on a display during operation of an interactive media file. Captured data can be stored in a buffer so that selectable portions thereof can be persisted and/or transmitted as a media file.... Agent: Westman Champlin (microsoft Corporation)

20080305844 - Determining game performance statistics without revealing specific gaming meter data: In one embodiment, a system to determine relative performance data of a gaming machine may have a memory having a database stored therein, a processor configured to obtain a relative performance value determined by confidential delta meter data and confidential gross meter data, transform the relative performance value to a... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - Igt Attn: Igt

20080305845 - Golf game having collateral military ranking system: A golf game operable by data processing apparatus by one or more players comprising a video golf game having various scoring features emulating a corresponding feature of a golf game played on an actual golf course; a rank-assigning element for responsively assigning a virtual military ranking for each of the... Agent: Donald R. Schoonover

20080305849 - Gaming machine shortening the playing time and playing method thereof: In a bonus game, a predetermined time at which the symbols 180 being variably being variably displayed are rearranged is switched between a base time and a special time shorter than the base time, based on an operation received by a start button 11a.... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305850 - Gaming machine specifying relation between symbols using two-dimensional code and playing method thereof: The reels having many symbols and two-dimensional codes corresponding to each of the symbols are rotated and stopped, so that the symbols are arranged in a display. When the symbols are rearranged, a photographing apparatus takes a photograph of the two-dimensional codes and a relation between the symbols rearranged in... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305847 - Slot machine with symbol detection feature: With a slot machine, a reel band having symbols is wound around a reel and a magnetic tape including magnetic data is provided on the reel band. Then, while the reel is spinning, the symbols displayed on the display windows are detected by reading the magnetic data recorded on the... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305846 - Slot machine with symbol sensor and control method thereof: A slot machine repeatedly detects symbols displayed in the middle columns of display windows even after the respective rotatable reels are stopped, and judges whether or not the symbols displayed in the display windows are changed after all the rotatable reels are stopped.... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305848 - Slot machine with symbol sensor and control method thereof: In a slot machine, reel bands are fitted to circumferential surfaces of rotatable reels. Multiple symbols drawn on the reel bands and multiple identifiers corresponding to the symbols are disposed on the reel bands at certain intervals in the rotating direction of the rotatable reels. Each of the identifiers includes... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305851 - Slot machine and playing method thereof: A slot machine of the present invention comprises: a display having a screen capable of displaying a symbol arrangement image in which a plurality of symbols are arranged and a valid area image having a shape capable of including one or more of the symbols; and a controller in communication... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080305852 - Card game: A card game and video gaming system includes a matrix of card positions in addition to cards dealt for a player's hand. The player may select betting lines or line paths in the matrix to play and set a wager for the selected line paths. Line paths may include a... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20080305854 - Database queries within a gaming machine: Methods and devices are provided for querying databases maintained by electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”). The databases preferably follow a predetermined naming convention. In some such implementations, a query is written in a predetermined message field. For example, the query string may be written in a predetermined extension of the Gaming... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - Igt Attn: Igt

20080305853 - Device, system and method of gaming: Device, system and method of gaming. For example, a method of operating a game includes: based on a received pre-paid amount, assigning to a user a subscription period and a substantially unlimited amount of virtual game-related operations that the user is permitted to perform during the subscription period; virtually performing,... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080305859 - Electronic device for personalized control by biometric fingerprint identification: A device able to execute the customer identification, the administration of his operative credit and to provide methods for the control of compulsive gambling and fostering customer loyalty to be applied in gambling, entertainment and skill electronic machines. It comprises a unit constituted by an embedded PC, a fingerprint detector,... Agent: Merek, Blackmon & Voorhees, LLC

20080305856 - Facilitating a payout at a gaming device using audiovisual content: A gaming device is adapted to present audiovisual content to players of the game. While the audiovisual content is playing, the player may initiate a game start. A snap shot of the audiovisual content playing at the time of the game start is taken. Reels of the gaming device spin... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080305858 - Gaming apparatus: The invention relates to a device which can be used in a gaming environment, typically to allow the user to place bets on specific games which are represented on the display screen of the device. The device is wireless which allows the user to be free to move around an... Agent: Grady K. Bergen

20080305857 - Gaming machine capable of changing the volume level in the predetermined audio range and tone control method: Disclosed is a gaming machine. The gaming machine comprises a game that is operated by a betting of a player, background music information of a sound signal having a frequency characteristic that becomes a background music of the game, function music information of a sound signal having a frequency characteristic... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305861 - Method for a plurality of players to simultaneously wager on the same gaming device: The Present Invention teaches methods to allow multiple players to simultaneously wager on the same gaming device. In one embodiment, two or more players place simultaneous wagers upon the results of the same gaming device and each player collects the maximum award, if issued. In another embodiment, two or more... Agent: Ptt LLC (d/b/a High 5 Games)

20080305855 - System and method for facilitating back bet wagering: A system and method for facilitating back bet wagering is disclosed. The system includes a central processor in communication with information gathering devices that gather information about game play and a display device. The central processor is able to manipulate the information provided by the information gathering devices in order... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080305860 - Systems, media and methods for determining a winner of a multiplayer game: The present invention provides systems, media and methods for determining a winner of a prize in a multiplayer game. A first player grab command is received from a first player device. A second player grab command is received from a second player device. A winner of the prize is determined... Agent: Carr & Ferrell LLP

20080305862 - Facilitating a flat rate play session with a parallel game: A gaming device adapted to operate in a flat rate play mode has two credit meters. The first credit meter shows a credit balance associated with the flat rate play session. The second credit meter shows a concurrent credit balance associated with a parallel transactional play session. The player may... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20080305863 - Gaming machine, control method thereof and playing method of card game: A gaming machine comprises a controller, a first display and a second display. The controller is operable to (a) execute a poker game as a base game, (b) execute the base game to be played subsequently as a high-probability game with a raised winning probability for some game plays if... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305865 - Power winners processing engine: A progressive processing engine is disclosed for a multi-site casino or resort wide promotional winners selection. The system selects a winner based on playing with a card at a table game or slot machine, or just being at an active slot machine, opened table game, or other activity within a... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080305866 - Power winners processing method: A system and method is disclosed for a multi-site casino or resort wide promotional winners selection. The system selects a winner based on playing with a card at a table game or slot machine, or just being at an active slot machine, opened table game, or other activity within a... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080305864 - Power winners processing system: A system and method is disclosed for a multi-site casino or resort wide promotional winners selection. The system selects a winner based on playing with a card at a table game or slot machine, or just being at an active slot machine, opened table game, or other activity within a... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080305868 - Gaming machine system having automatic reporting feature: The present invention relates to a method of reporting alterations to the operation of a gaming machine. The method includes operating the gaming machine in a standard mode of operation, and subsequently altering the standard mode of operation. In response to this altering, a report is automatically generated for submission... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20080305869 - Prevention of cheating in on-line interaction: A method for preventing cheating by users of client computers running a network game program includes installing a monitoring program, independent of the network game program, on a group of the client computers so as to detect, using the monitoring program, an anomalous use of an asset of at least... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20080305867 - Systems and methods for managing demand driven sporting games: A demand driven game system and method uses a communications network driven by an engine to facilitate the scheduling of demand driven (sporting) games (DDG's), through passively accepting electronic expressions of interest for open slots (registrations), and actively filling slots through a matching service. Such functions can be performed through... Agent: Stites & Harbison PLLC

20080305871 - Game program, game machine, and game control method: A game character releasing a moving object is displayed on an image display device. In a game program, correspondence between releasing form data and third image data that are for a process of releasing the moving object are recognized by a control unit. One of a plurality of the releasing... Agent: GlobalIPCounselors, LLP

20080305870 - Interactive display: For a playing experience in a computer game that more accurately captures the experience of professional football or another sport, it would be advantageous to be able to hide from an opponent a selected player formation and play selection until the play actually begins. Similarly, in other computer games such... Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

20080305872 - Gaming machine adjusting the volume level of background music: Disclosed is a gaming machine. The gaming machine comprises a game that is operated by a betting of a player; background music information that is a sound signal that becomes a background music of the game; function music information that is a sound signal that becomes a function music representing... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080305873 - Universal toy controller system and methods: An apparatus, system, and methods, for an game controller system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that allows for universal control of games. In some embodiments, the games are hosted at an online portal, which contains a software module allowing a game programmer to specify a controller... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20080305875 - Gaming system, apparatus and method of performing a game: A game gaming system (10) comprises a gaming device (12) for at least part of a game at a first location (14) and an image capturing device (16) coupled to be in communication with a communications network (18) for capturing images of the gaming device. At least one output device... Agent: Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C.

20080305876 - Method and system for response authorization: A method and system for response authorization. In one embodiment, authorization data and response data may be received over a paging network on a user device. The authorization data may be compared against a device identifier of the user device. A response indicated by the response data may be triggered... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080305874 - Methods for the unambiguous association of at least one autonomous storage unit with at least one player in a score keeping device: The invention relates to methods for the unambiguous personal association of at least one autonomous storage unit (10) with at least one player in a score keeping device (20) in order to store at least one status of a game, especially a computer game, network game, or trading card game.... Agent: Bodner & O'rourke, LLP

20080305877 - Game machine and information communication system using data carrier: A game apparatus includes an apparatus body; and a plurality of small playing members each having a data carrier for transmitting driving electric power and performing mutual communications with the apparatus body. The number of points is added by the apparatus body when a change is given from the outside... Agent: North America Intellectual Property Corporation

20080300032 - Golf solitaire video game: A Golf Solitaire Video Game is described in which a user plays a video playing card game. Playing cards are positioned in piles where one pile initially contains only a home playing card. The playing cards on top of the piles and the home playing card reveal their front sides,... Agent: Lee & Hayes, PLLC

20080300033 - Storage medium storing puzzle game program, puzzle game apparatus, and puzzle game controlling method: A game apparatus includes a first LCD and a second LCD, and on the second LCD, a touch panel is set. On the first LCD and the second LCD, game screens each including gear objects provided with a socket object are displayed. When a player makes a touch operation, the... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20080300034 - Multi-player games with individual player decks: An automatic multiple player gaming machine includes a central game processor and multiple player terminals wherein each player terminal includes a player input and a player display. The gaming machine also includes a common game display and a game program residing in the processor, wherein the game program executes an... Agent: Stockwell & Smedley, Psc

20080300035 - Clear path electronic game: A clear path electronic game is described in which one or more vessels are placed adjacent a mines of various sizes on rows of a grid. The game player then activates one mine at a maximum size to shoot a projectile at another mine. The mine shooting the projectile is... Agent: Lee & Hayes, PLLC

20080300036 - Gambling machine: The present invention relates to a gambling machine comprised of a display unit (1) to display a course of a game and to display game results, and comprised of an operating unit (3) to influence the course of a game, and comprised of an electronic control unit (2) connected to... Agent: Collard & Roe, P.C.

20080300037 - Gaming machine having combinable paylines: A slot style gaming machine includes a variety of features which make the game played thereon more attractive to potential game players. The machine includes a video display screen for viewing a computer generated game. A value-adding symbol may randomly appear on the screen to activate a pay-related event, such... Agent: Sand & Sebolt

20080300038 - Wagering game machine having image copied file system: Systems and methods provide a mechanism for a wagering game machine to access game components on an image file system contained in a disk image file that resides on a second file system. The gaming components may include banner content, advertising content, denomination data, pay table, language data, video content,... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080300041 - Crossmatch lottery game: In a gaming method, player symbol data indicative of a plurality of sets of player symbols associated with a player may be received. A value payout based on respective numbers of winning symbols in respective sets of player symbols may be determined. For at least some value payouts the value... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080300040 - Game apparatus: A game apparatus includes: a winning-object selecting unit for selecting winning-objects from a plurality of selection-objects; a game control unit for controlling progression of a game, which carries out selections a predetermined number of times using the winning-object selecting unit during one game term; an array information generating unit for... Agent: Rader Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080300039 - Gaming system utilizing wheels & enhanced input/output systems: Additionally, the invention provides method and article of manufacture for implementing a user profile-driven gaming and prize redeeming system. The user profile-driven gaming and prize redemption system allows for the tailoring of a user's experience of playing a computer implemented game on a network gaming system by first receiving an... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20080300042 - Methods for selections with logic in elections, games, shows and lottery: The invention herein is novel and practical in providing a method for introducing mathematical logic in games, show-games and lottery, upon which election may be made between two choices that survive elimination. The mathematical logic is simply the product of a division of group of choices into small and large... Agent: Ezra Shimshi

20080300043 - Slot machine for accepting a bet of a gaming value on one-by-one reel display part basis and variably displaying symbols at betted reel display parts: A slot machine is provided with first to third reel display areas 10 to 12 at a lower image display panel 6. In a start accepting process (S11), a main CPU41 accepts a bet of a gaming value on a one-by-one reel display area basis. At this time, the number... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080300044 - Card game machine: An object is to provide a card game machine capable of enhancing gameplay. A card game machine has a game board including a plurality of reader/writers configured to communicate with a semiconductor device which is mounted on a card and capable of wireless communication, and a control device connected to... Agent: Eric Robinson

20080300048 - Game support system and method: A game support system includes a DB server for storing in a DB user information including a user's unique identification and the user's own money, a web server for posting information about a plurality of game rooms, and a game processing server for admitting the user to a game room... Agent: Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP

20080300047 - Gaming machine and gaming system allowing purchase of credits by means of card: A system for settling accounts at a casino includes a card issuing terminal, a credit writing device, a gaming machine, a card checkout terminal, and a card data management server. The card issuing terminal, the credit writing device, the gaming machine and the card checkout management server are communicatively connected... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20080300050 - Method and apparatus for providing an advantage to a player in a bonus game: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP

20080300045 - Method and system for prize contests in a game: A method and system is provided for operating prize-contest in a gaming space. In a virtual space associated with an online game having a plurality of participants, a prize-contest operation is conducted to promote a prize contest to the participants of the online game. At the completion of the prize-contest,... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20080300051 - Methods and apparatus for managing an account to fund benefits for a player: In accordance with one or more embodiments, an account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in an increase in the balance is a... Agent: Magdalena M. Fincham

20080300049 - Transient or persistent game play in wagering games: According to one example embodiment disclosed herein, a wagering game is operated on a first platform, wherein the first platform is capable of supporting all or fewer than all of a plurality of game assets associated with the wagering game, and further wherein the wagering game is capable of receiving... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080300046 - Wireless mesh networking in wagering game environments: Systems and methods for wireless mesh networking in a gaming environment are described herein. In one embodiment, the system includes a network interface unit to wirelessly receive gaming data from ones of a plurality of components of a wireless mesh network, the network interface unit to wirelessly transmit the gaming... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080300052 - Progressive jackpot system: A method for playing a game of chance includes distributing game cards from a set of game cards to a plurality of players, each of the game cards in the set displaying at least one game face which includes a set of indicia selected from a pool of indicia. A... Agent: Fay Sharpe LLP

20080300053 - Scripted interactive screen media: Input from a text editor containing lines of text of a script is received, commands to control objects in a simulation are identified in the lines of text in the editor, a state of the simulation is updated in accordance with the input and the commands, and the simulation is... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080300054 - Method and apparatus for generating simulated game control signals: An apparatus and a method for interfacing a gaming device with a gaming system having a proprietary or secure protocol for inputting gaming signals. The gaming system is communicatively coupled to an input device for receiving gaming signals encoded according to the proprietary or secure protocol. The apparatus comprises a... Agent: Bennett Jones LLP

20080300055 - Game with hand motion control: In various embodiments, the motion of a wristband is used to control games.... Agent: Dean P. Alderucci

20080300057 - Gaming system and gaming machine therefor: A gaming system and a gaming machine, in which a player of a first game can participate in a second game having different game contents without moving between gaming machines. In the gaming system and the gaming machine, a first gaming machine is provided with a second display different from... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080300056 - Telephone enabled elimination game: An interactive tournament which involves sending questions to interactive devices such as cell phones or PDAs. The question that is received must be answered in a specified period of time e.g. 10 minutes. Proper answers go on to the next round, improper or late answers cause the player to be... Agent: Fish & Richardson, PC

20080300058 - Electronic gaming device and system with player preference options: Described is a electronic gaming device and system with player preference options. With the device or system, a player may select certain game parameters, including, but not limited to, whether or not to play for a progressive jackpot, whether or not to listen to game tones associated with the game... Agent: Dickinson Wright PLLC

20080300059 - Gaming network using host-configured networking protocols: Methods and systems for using user-configured networking protocols in wagering game networks are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for using user-configured networking protocols includes receiving values for one or more user-specified options associated with a gaming device and receiving a network address request originating from the gaming... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20080300060 - Online game server, online game program product and game apparatus: An online game server delivers an online game to a player terminal via a communication network. The online game is played in the player terminal operated by a player. The online game server receives object selection information indicating that an object selectably displayed on a game display screen of the... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20080300061 - Online interactive game system and methods: An apparatus, system, and methods, for an online entertainment system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that allows for universal control of games. In some embodiments, the games are hosted at an online portal, which contains a software module allowing a game programmer to specify a controller... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20080300062 - Electronic device for enhancing an interactive experience with a tangible medium of expression: An electronic device for enhancing an interactive experience with a tangible medium of expression is disclosed. The device is operable with a ny of a plurality of preprogrammed, removable memory, modules; at least one memory module having content relating to the tangible medium. The electronic device has a processor coupled... Agent: Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP