Amusement devices: games inventions 07/09

20090191929 - Golf simulator connected to the internet: A system for playing in a simulated indoor golf tournament comprises a web enabled physical golf simulator configured to transmit indoor golf performance data over a computer network during an indoor golf tournament. Tournaments can be conducted between players in different locations so that the participants in a given tournament... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090191930 - System and method for gaming based upon intermediate points in a race event: Systems and methods related to gaming based on the results at intervals of a race. Other embodiments are disclosed.... Agent: Dean P. Alderucci

20090191932 - Methods and apparatus for stringed controllers and/or instruments: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20090191931 - Skill crane games and other amusement vending machines having display devices and other interactive features: Skill crane games and other amusement vending machines having display devices and other interactive features to enhance game play are disclosed herein. A skill crane game configured in accordance with one embodiment includes at least one prize positioned within a transparent enclosure. The skill crane game further includes a user-operated... Agent: Perkins Coie LLP Patent-sea

20090191933 - Table with sensors and smart card holder for automated gaming system and gaming cards: Methods and systems for intelligent tracking and/or play and/or management of card gaming use an intelligent card distribution or holding device with detectors for determining the value and unique identity of individual cards and for recording card play. Playing cards are equipped with a read/write data storage connected to a... Agent: Quine Intellectual Property Law Group, P.C.

20090191934 - Skill based adaptation of a poker game: Disclosed herein is a method and system for a skill based adaptation of a poker game. Each of a first player and a plurality of second players of the poker game are evaluated for correct play after bets are placed. The correct play of the first player and second players... Agent: Ashok Tankha Of Counsel, Lipton, Weinberger & Husick

20090191937 - Electronic gaming device and system with configurable multi-lingual audio and other player preference options: Described is an 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

20090191935 - Gaming method, gaming apparatus for performing the gaming method, and computer program product storing a gaming program of the gaming method: A gaming method is implemented using an electronic gaming apparatus, and includes: upon initiating a game, displaying a cell matrix including a plurality of cell groups, each of the cell groups including a plurality of cells, each displaying a randomly selected indicium, the indicia displayed in the cells of the... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20090191936 - Gaming system, a game controller, a player interface, and a method of gaming: A gaming system comprising: a touch screen display arranged to display a plurality of reels; and a game controller arranged to: control display of the plurality of reels; receive a signal from the touch screen display indicative that the touch screen display has been touched at a position corresponding to... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191938 - Online terminal based lottery game with a slot machine theme: A method and system for playing a terminal based lottery game having a slot machine theme includes assigning a defined set of objects to respective slot positions, the objects being unknown to game players. A player chooses at least one grouping of the slot positions from a plurality of possible... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.A.

20090191939 - Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system: A method of gaming comprising: generating a game outcome by selecting symbols for a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, at least some of the selected symbols being displayed to a player; generating a win entitlement by selecting a symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191947 - gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system comprising: a display; and a game controller arranged to: carry out a first game during which play of the first game is displayed as a first game display on the display; add at least a second game display to the display in response to a trigger event;... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191941 - Adding secondary game to conventional gaming machines: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a gaming apparatus. The gaming apparatus includes a primary display area, a wager data device, a secondary display area, and a controller. The wager data device receives wager data indicative of a wager submitted by a player.... Agent: Mollborn Patents, Inc.

20090191943 - Gaming device with special symbol: A gaming machine that provides a game in which an array of symbol positions are populated with game symbols from a set of game symbols, the set of game symbols including ordinary game symbols and at least one special symbol, the gaming machine being adapted to award an award if... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191945 - Gaming machine poviding return to a player and control method thereof: A gaming machine of the present invention provides a normal award, based on symbols rearranged to a first display portion or a combination thereof; meanwhile, only when a first specific symbol or a second specific symbol different from the first specific symbol is rearranged to any of display blocks in... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090191944 - Gaming machine providing return to a player and control method thereof: A gaming machine of the present invention provides a normal award, based on symbols rearranged to a first display portion or a combination thereof; meanwhile, every time a specific symbol is rearranged to any of display blocks in the first display portion, the gaming machine additionally displays the specific symbol... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090191949 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system comprising a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a display area at a plurality of display positions and to select a plurality of win line elements. The gaming system is arranged to define a special win line... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191950 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions, each display position including at least two symbols, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether symbol combinations defined by the displayed symbols correspond to... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191948 - Gaming system and a method of playing a game: A method of gaming including: (a) generating and displaying a plurality of first symbols as a plurality of first symbol rows; (b) generating a plurality of second symbols; (c) adding the second symbols as one or more rows of second symbols to the plurality of first symbol rows to form... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191942 - Gaming system, a group game controller, a method of displaying an outcome of a group game and a group game display: A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices; a common physical group game display comprising a an object arranged to travel on a path relative to the plurality of gaming devices; and a group game controller in data communication with the plurality of gaming devices and the group game... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191940 - Slot machine and control method thereof: In a slot game executed by a slot machine, three reels are scrolled and then stopped, and an image for an effect is displayed on an image display area. Then an award is provided according to a symbol combination displayed when the reels have been stopped and the image displayed... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090191946 - Wagering game with multi-point gesture sensing device: A gaming machine having a multipoint sensing device capable of sensing a multipoint gesture, which includes at least two simultaneously touched points. One or both of the points can serve as an initial starting point for a gesture, which represents a continuous movement across the multipoint sensing device. The multipoint... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090191951 - Validation of network devices: A system and method for actively validating a network device is provided. Nodes in a network game community are prompted to engage in interrogation and response to facilitate the identification of nodes operating with hacked, modified and non-typical game configurations. In one embodiment, a query is presented to a user's... Agent: Carr & Ferrell LLP

20090191952 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine performs an effect using a Morse code.... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090191954 - Jackpot system: A jackpot system comprising at least two jackpot controllers including a first jackpot controller arranged to act at least as a master jackpot controller and a second jackpot controller arranged to act as either a master or a slave jackpot controller, the first jackpot controller arranged to act as the... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191955 - Location detection system for use with gaming devices and method of use: A location detection and tracking system for use in a casino. The system includes several gaming devices that are configured to allow a player to place a wager and to play a game. A player locator device is configured to transmit at least one location of the player. A server... Agent: Ian F. Burns & Associates

20090191953 - Method of organizing a collective on-line game: The invention is implemented by a computer system comprising a game site administering a collective on-line game between a plurality of players, and a plurality of terminals available to the respective players. The method comprises at least one game session comprising the steps consisting in: a) selecting a first sub-population... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20090191956 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: Certain embodiments relate to a gaming system and method for playing a game which is able to achieve a jackpot outcome when a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied. The jackpot trigger condition may be changed on instructions from a jackpot controller. In one embodiment, the jackpot trigger condition of an... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191959 - Gaming system and method of gaming: A method of gaming comprises initiating a jackpot event responsive to receiving an event trigger; determining whether to award a prize to a player in the jackpot event, the probability of awarding the prize in the jackpot event being dependent on a value of a jackpot evaluation parameter accumulated over... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191958 - Gaming system, jackpot controller, and a jackpot triggering method: A jackpot triggering method comprising: determining a jackpot trigger value from a current value of at least one jackpot trigger parameter; generating a submission value in response to receipt of a contribution associated with a gaming device participating in the jackpot, by using a value of at least one contribution... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191957 - Method of gaming, a game controller, and a gaming system: A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the selected symbols at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191960 - Jackpot prediction controller, a gaming system and a method of gaming: A method of gaming comprising conducting a jackpot having a jackpot prize awarded from a jackpot pool; receiving at least one player prediction of a final value of a parameter characterizing the jackpot prize when the jackpot is awarded determining that a jackpot prize is to be awarded; determining a... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191961 - Electronic gaming machine including a smartcard for protection, and method of use: A method of protecting game program code of an electronic gaming machine (EGM) comprising: determining prior to execution of the game program code whether there is a dongle in data communication with the EGM that contains a valid game token corresponding to the game program code; and taking at least... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191963 - Hybrid gaming system: A hybrid gaming system comprising: an electronic gaming machine (EGM) comprising: a cabinet; a base game interface disposed within the cabinet and comprising a display and a base game player instruction input mechanism, a processor disposed within the cabinet and arranged to conduct a base game based on at least... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191962 - Method and apparatus for providing player incentives: A system and method is provided for incentivizing players to visit a gambling location. In one aspect, a qualified person is invited to play an electronic game which has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome. In one embodiment, the qualified person may be... Agent: Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090191965 - Wagering game with multiple viewpoint display feature: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system further includes at least one display for displaying a plurality of game elements. The at least one display is adapted to display a first three-dimensional view... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090191966 - Video game controller: A video controller adapted to be used with a video game may include a first end section which includes a fretted area, buttons and/or switches and a second end section which includes a buttons or switches and is connected to the first end section. The second end section can telescope... Agent: Wilson Daniel Swayze, Jr.

20090191967 - Game apparatus and controller: The game apparatus 1 includes a circuit housing member 17 which incorporates a tilt sensor 46 for detecting the tilt of the game apparatus 1, a ROM 50 for storing a game program and image and sound data, and a processor 48 for performing various types of arithmetic operations and... Agent: Jerome D. Jackson (jackson Patent Law Office)

20090191968 - Methods and apparatus for a video game magic system: A system for allowing a player to invoke magic or other special powers in a video game is provided. To activate the magic, the player moves a motion detecting controller in accordance with one or more provided instructions. The outcome of the activation of the magic can be determinate on,... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20090191970 - Interactive computer game: A method for providing an interactive video game over a digital communications network. The method involves operating an interactive computer game on interconnected computer games terminals. The method includes receiving, at each of the computer games terminals, interactive user input data from a controller associated with the computer games terminal... Agent: Disney Enterprises, Inc. C/o Marsh Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP

20090191969 - Method of organizing a collective on-line game: The invention is implemented by a computer system comprising a game site administering a collective on-line game between a plurality of players, and a plurality of terminals available to the respective players. The method comprises at least one game session comprising steps consisting in: a) selecting a first sub-population of... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20090191971 - Interactive computer game: A computer game terminal, and associated method and code, for operating an online interactive computer game. The terminal includes an interface receiving non-interactive user input data from a controller associated with the computer games terminal and an interface receiving interactive game data associated with at least one interactive game element.... Agent: Disney Enterprises, Inc. C/o Marsh Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP

20090191972 - \"gaming network\": A gaming network is disclosed which includes point to point cabling infrastructure connectable to at least one first gaming machine and connectable to at least one second gaming machine. Each first gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a master/slave protocol, and each second gaming machine is arranged to communicate... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090191973 - Gaming system and a method of managing usage of gaming machines: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of gaming machines and a communications network arranged to facilitate communications to and from the gaming machines. Each gaming machine is arranged to implement a game, and to generate status information indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied,... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090191964 - Gaming system and method for enabling a player to select progressive awards to try for and chances of winning progressive awards: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for... Agent: K&l Gates LLP

20090186675 - High / low card game with a feature: The present invention provides a method of playing a card game including categorising cards into different types; providing a game table with a number of regions for players to place bets on; allowing players to place bets in relation to the type of cards to be dealt; dealing cards, one... Agent: Joel D. Skinner, Jr. Skinner And Associates

20090186676 - Game with interim betting: Systems and methods related to the play of games that include interim betting. Other embodiments are also disclosed.... Agent: Dean P. Alderucci

20090186677 - Table game related broadcast show and lottery: A method for providing a poker-related game related broadcast show, comprising selecting players, providing each player with a medal indicative of a gaming position order, positioning the players at respective gaming surfaces according to the order associated with the medal provided at step, playing hands of the poker-related game until... Agent: Polsinelli Shughart PC

20090186679 - Prediction game system and method: A game executed on a data processing system receives one or more prediction selections from participants of possible outcomes expected for an event such as a sports game. Data regarding the event (e.g., historical data) is stored in a database or other form of data storage in memory. At least... Agent: Greenberg Traurig LLP (la)

20090186678 - System, method and graphic user interface for simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions: A system, method and graphic user interface for providing a user with a simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions has a gaming interface presented to a user who provides, via the gaming interface, a gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns. A purchase... Agent: Dr. Mark M. Friedman C/o Bill Polkinghorn - Discovery Dispatch

20090186680 - System and method for facilitating the operation of a combined lottery/raffle game: Systems and methods for administering an instant win lottery game where one prize may be entry into a future draw raffle game are disclosed. The holder of an instant win ticket with a future draw raffle indicator may redeem the ticket and receive a future draw raffle entry that is... Agent: Ip Patent Docketing K&l Gates LLP

20090186683 - gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system comprises a first rotatable symbol selector and a second rotatable symbol selector. The first rotatable symbol selector has a surface divided into segments, with each segment having at least one of a plurality of a first set of symbols allocated thereto, each segment being associated with a... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186682 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A method of gaming including: displaying at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; locating an overlay on the at least one symbol; and determining whether the overlay makes the hidden symbol visible.... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186685 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming apparatus comprises a movable symbol selector and a reference object. The symbol selector has a plurality of presentation portions. Each portion is associated with one or more symbols of a first set of symbols. The reference object comprises a plurality of parts over which the selector can be... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186684 - Gaming system and method of gaming: The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a method of gaming. A game is played by displaying a representation of selection of a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols. The game enables selection of at least one additional symbol in addition to those originally selected,... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186686 - Gaming system and method of gaming: Gaming system(s) and/or method(s) of gaming are provided in which a plurality of symbols are selected from a set of symbols for play of the game. A display displays selected symbols at symbol positions in rows and columns. The symbols are rearranged so that at least one of selected symbols... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186687 - Gaming system and method of gaming: A gaming system, comprising a game controller arranged to control play of a game, and a display arranged to display representations of play of the game, the game controller being arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for play of the game, and control the... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090186681 - Slot machine having characteristic award condition and control method thereof: A slot machine of the present invention is a slot machine comprising: a display including a first display region for arranging first symbols thereto and a second display region for arranging a comparative symbol to be compared with the first symbols thereto; and a controller. The controller is programmed to... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090186688 - Wagering game using dice or electronically simulated dice: A method of playing a dice game or an electronic simulation thereof includes having at least one player place a wager and the rolling of either three dice or two dice or representations thereof on a gaming machine. In a three dice version, the dice include a single players' die... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20090186691 - Prize awarding mechanism for a gaming machine or system of linked gaming machines: Systems and methods for use with a gaming machine that, in response to the staking of a wager by a player, is arranged to randomly determine an outcome of a game, display on a display representations of the outcome, and award an award if a winning outcome occurs, wherein the... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186690 - System and method of providing rewards for casino gaming: A method of providing rewards for casino gaming includes a system receiving a request and creating a player record in a database by obtaining player data including a balance, and assigning the player record a unique key. A casino bank communicates with the database and creates a player debit account.... Agent: Greer, Burns & Crain

20090186689 - Systems and methods for providing investment opportunities: In general, in one aspect, a method for motivating participants in a plurality of trading competitions includes conducting a plurality of trading competitions in which contestants each trade a portfolio of securities. In each competition, the contestants' performance is evaluated. Performance may be evaluated as straight return and/or may include... Agent: Goodwin Procter LLP

20090186692 - Wagering game system having bonus game configurations: A method and system for making a plurality of bonus games available on a gaming machine. The bonus games each have associated bonus game instructions. The bonus game instructions are stored in a bonus game memory. The bonus game is selectable by a player of the gaming machine. The bonus... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090186695 - Impression normalization: An impression normalization function can be established and applied against recorded values for impressions occurring in two or more games. A normalized impression record is created to provide advertisers independent and realistic measurements by which they can compare impressions to enable agreement on the degree of exposure offered by a... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20090186693 - Interactive video game display method, apparatus, and/or system for object interaction: Electronic display systems, apparatuses, and methodologies, and, in particular, interactive display methods, apparatuses, and systems for video games, or the like (220) with embodiments employing one or more altered-time indications (402) and/or context-appropriate interaction previewing (410).... Agent: NorthwestIPLaw Group

20090186694 - Virtual world platform games constructed from digital imagery: An interactive game within a virtual world platform is provided wherein a sender can hide an object within a mapping application. An intended recipient of the object can be notified that the object is available and a clue can be provided. The clue can direct the recipient in searching for... Agent: Turocy & Watson, LLP

20090186696 - Gaming system, method of gaming and a sound controller: A method of providing sound to accompany a game, the method comprising: outputting a game accompanying sound derived from a plurality of sounds associated with respective ones of a plurality of objects to compete in a competition; and modifying the contribution of sounds to the game accompanying sound based on... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090186697 - Electronic device for command for virtual games in computers: “Electronic device of command of virtual games in computers”, constituted by a stick (1) with contacts (4) to coupling to the recharge base (B) connected to the a power source (computer), external key trigger (5) in its grip (3), interconnected to a electronic circuit plate (6) with microphone entry (7)... Agent: Clark & Brody

20090186698 - Game controller: There is described a system for a user to control the movement of an object in a video game, comprising: a direction sensor arranged to sense a directional input by the user; a movement sensor arranged to sense gross movement of the user; and a processor arranged to combine the... Agent: Workman Nydegger 1000 Eagle Gate Tower

20090186702 - Method and system for facilitating electronic communication between the public and a public personality or representative: The invention is concerned with a virtual trading card system, comprising a data source that provides information associated with a public figure, and a user device configured to display a first and a second virtual view of an electronic card associated with the public figure, wherein the second virtual view... Agent: Mcguirewoods, LLP

20090186703 - Method, apparatus, and system for entertaining users of an electronic information distribution system: Some embodiments provide a method of presenting a game show through a computer network. The method presents an item to a number of contestants through the computer network. The method asks the contestants to answer through the computer network a question about an attribute of the item. The method also... Agent: Adeli & Tollen, LLP

20090186704 - Network advertising and game playing: The a method and apparatus is disclosed for collecting information about network (Internet) users for determining advertising to be presented to the users. User profiles may be determined, and advertising is selectively provided by comparing user personal information in such profiles with a desired demographic profile. The advertising may be... Agent: Sheridan Ross PC

20090186699 - Network gaming system: 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

20090186701 - Networked gaming system with stored value cards and method: Disclosed are gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including stored value cards. Networked gaming systems are described which include one or more gaming machines with a stored value card acceptor, casino and/or slot management systems with a stored value server for authenticating stored value cards, verifying stored value, and updating... Agent: Bally Gaming Inc.

20090186700 - System and method for providing interactive content for multiple networked users in a shared venue using short messaging service communication: Computer-implemented systems and methods supporting multiple networked users in a shared venue using short messaging service communication is described. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a game server, a display system in data communication with the game server, the display system including a shared screen, and a plurality of... Agent: Jim H. Salter

20090186705 - Method and apparatus for generating special effects: Systems and methods for generating special effect are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving an input information from a game controller; generating an output data set based on the input information received by the game controller at a game console; transmitting the output data to a stage kit;... Agent: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

20090181736 - System and method for lock on target tracking with free targeting capability: An example video game includes a virtual game world including a video game character movable within the virtual game world and one or more targets. A first target in the virtual game world can be locked onto so that the first target remains substantially at the center of a field... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20090181737 - Video game controller: Improvements relating to a control device for controlling a display of a computer system for use with a video game includes a coordinate control unit for providing information related to a vertical and horizontal tilt of the control device, a game control unit for inputting game control information and a... Agent: Lawrence Edelman, Esq

20090181738 - Fantasy football system: A fantasy football game which is carried out as a tournament play over the Internet. The fantasy football game can be played between different computers. The hosting computer maintains information indicative of the teams performance as well as their strength of schedule. Winners who play in the playoffs are selected... Agent: Law Office Of Scott C Harris Inc

20090181739 - Competition cheat-preventing system and method: A competition cheat-preventing system and method are applicable in a pigeon racing competition, wherein racing pigeons each wear a pigeon ring. An encrypted code-generating module is configured to generate contest encrypted codes from contest codes of the racing pigeons through specific parameter calculations. A barcode converting module is configured to... Agent: Law Offices Of Mikio Ishimaru

20090181740 - Game system and game control method: A game system for executing a competition game in which a plurality of players compete. The game system comprises a competition score storing unit; a handicap information storing unit; a matching control unit; a rank deciding unit; a handicap selecting unit; a handicap deciding unit; and a handicap setting unit.... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20090181741 - Card game apparatus with card displays: A card game apparatus with card displays has a gaming server apparatus, multiple client interfaces and multiple card displays. The gaming server apparatus runs a card game program, deals cards and sends card images to the card displays. Each client interface is electronically connected to the gaming server apparatus, displays... Agent: Hershkovitz & Associates, LLC

20090181743 - Central determination poker game: An poker game which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. In one embodiment, a plurality of playing cards are provided to a player wherein one or more of the provided playing cards are based on the predetermined game outcome. The player is enabled to select one or more of... Agent: K&l Gates LLP

20090181742 - Rummy-type game for electronic casino gaming: A method of playing a wagering rummy-type card game on an electronic device wherein the object of the game is to create sets or melds of cards that each comprise exactly a straight, flush, straight flush, royal flush, and/or like ranks. The game begins with a total wager from each... Agent: Precedent Gaming, Inc.

20090181744 - Gaming machine which can receive regular payout and bonus payout by one bet operation and game method: A bet which may cause a regular payout to be given to a player is received, and at the same time a bet which may cause a bonus payout which is given to the player separately from the regular payout to be given together with the regular payout is received.... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181748 - Gaming machine comprising display performing dice game using roulette and playing method thereof: The gaming machine 1 is a gaming machine that executes a game using identification numbers of 1 to 6 and is programmed to store a bet area bet on, which area corresponds to any one of the identification numbers 1 to 6, and a credit placed as a bet on... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181746 - Gaming machine performing dice game using roulette and playing method thereof: A gaming machine 1 of the invention is a gaming machine that uses identification numbers of 1 to 6 to repeatedly execute a game and is programmed to store a bet area bet on, which area corresponds to any one of the identification numbers 1 to 6, and a credit... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181747 - Gaming machine performing dice game using roulette having extra cage pocket and playing method thereof: A gaming machine 1 of the invention is a gaming machine that executes a game using identification information indicative of any one of numbers 1 to 6 and is programmed to store a bet area bet on, which area corresponds to any one of the identification numbers 1 to 6,... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181745 - Gaming machine providing bonus based on special bet and playing method thereof: When a bet having a bonus chance is performed and a winning is made, a payout that is awarded to a player is smaller, as compared to a case where a base bet it performed and a winning is made. However, a bonus chance having a possibility that a bonus... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181752 - Gaming machine: A gaming machine 1 includes a card reader 15. When a player inserts an ID card 112 into the card reader 15, player information stored in the ID 112 card is read by the card reader 15. The player information includes ID information with which the player can be identified.... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181756 - Gaming machine and gaming process including further game symbols: A method for use with a gaming machine including presenting an outcome by displaying a symbol as travelling along a path and stopping in a stopping position that overlies another game symbol. An award is paid or changed when there is a particular relationship between the symbol... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090181750 - Gaming machine having glass cabinet: A gaming machine includes a device that executes a game, a display that displays thereon an effect image of the game executed by the device, a control panel having a button disposed thereon which outputs to the device a command on the game by a player's control, a main door... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181758 - Gaming machine with superimposed display image: A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090181753 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A method of gaming comprising: receiving a bet from a player; awarding to the player an entitlement to a plurality of game outcomes in exchange for the bet; determining that the player has exhausted the entitlement; and determining, subsequent to exhaustion of the entitlement, whether the player is entitled to... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090181754 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a display including a plurality of standard display positions and at least one additional display position. Each standard display position includes at least one visible standard symbol and each additional display position includes at least one visible additional symbol. An additional position selector... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090181751 - Method and apparatus for a secondary game played in conjunction with a primary game: The present invention is a method, device and system for playing a primary game played in conjunction with a secondary game in an attractive format. The primary game can be played with or without playing the secondary game in any of a multiple of embodiments. Various pre-determined step or steps... Agent: Mcdonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

20090181757 - Multiple reel roulette game: A gaming system which is operable to receive an input associated with at least one betting option specified by a roulette betting layout. A plurality of roulette reels are rotatable about a common axis, and each one of the roulette reels has a side display surface or side wall. Each... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC

20090181749 - Wagering game with associated outcomes: A gaming machine (10) for conducting a wagering game comprises a value input device (16) for receiving a wager from a player and a display (26) for displaying a first plurality of locations in a first formation and a second plurality of locations in a second formation. The second... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090181755 - Wagering game with simulated mechanical reels: A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090181764 - Downloadable operating system for wager gaming systems: This disclosure describes embodiments of a wagering game machine that includes a wager gaming operating system including downloadable components. This disclosure also describes methods for downloading such components. In one embodiment, the method includes booting the wagering game machine for operation, wherein the booting is performed in-part by core operating... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20090181760 - Gaming device executing game program based on form of input from outside and playing method thereof: In a Derby game in which a bet of a game value on a BET object is received, either of a first game having a possibility that a bonus payout will be awarded or a second game having no possibility that a bonus payout will be awarded is executed in... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181761 - Gaming machine in which bet is made for various events and playing method thereof: The present sportsbook machine 1 is a gaming machine operable under control of a controller 100, and includes a display 110 and a touch panel 120. The display 110 displays thereon several betting objects selectable as a result of various events. By the touch panel 120, a regular bet on... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181759 - Gaming machine providing free game pots to reward extended playing: For each bet on a slot machine game, such as a conventional reel-type game, a fraction of a free game is stored in the machine's memory, where the stored free game fraction is associated with the amount bet. Thus, each possible bet amount option is associated with a particular free... Agent: Patent Law Group LLP

20090181762 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A method of gaming comprising: determining at least one game outcome; determining a total award from the at least one game outcome; modifying the total award based on a size of the total award to obtain a modified total award; and awarding the modified total award.... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090181763 - Gaming system, a gaming device, a bonus controller, and a method of gaming: A gaming system comprising, a bonus controller arranged to make an award, the award having at least one associated game parameter which specifies at least one game round; and a gaming device in data communication with the bonus controller, the gaming device adapted to receive the game parameters and to... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090181765 - Method and apparatus for data communication in a gaming system: In a method for configuring a first computing device to send or receive formatted data is provided, wherein the formatted data includes a plurality of formatting tags, an indication of a set of formatting tags recognized by a second computing device may be received via a network. A mapping of... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - Igt Attn: Igt

20090181766 - Gaming machine and gaming system: An accumulate (increment) according to an amount of predetermined ratio of the number of bets made with respect to a game is repeated with respect to an award amount of a plurality of progressive jackpots, respectively. An award amount of a progressive jackpot which is the object of the increment... Agent: Ndq&m Watchstone LLP

20090181767 - Method, apparatus and system for joining online game: A method for inviting an Instant Messaging (IM) user to join an online game is provided. An inviter generates a first instant message according to an online game selected by an inviter user, and sends the message to an invitee, where the first instant message contains description information describing the... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20090181768 - Illuminated interface dashboard for gaming machine: A display system includes a cabinet, a transparent dashboard and a lighting system. The dashboard is fabricated to have at least two refractive indices such that when light from the lighting system is projected therethrough, a unique lighting effect is created.... Agent: Cadillac Jack, Inc

20090181769 - System and method for 3d image manipulation in gaming machines: Embodiments include a user interface method in a gaming machine that produces a gaming outcome. The user interface method includes displaying a virtual control; detecting a movement by the user, translating the movement into movement of the virtual control; and determining the gaming outcome as a function of movement of... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20090181770 - System and method for touchscreen video game combat: 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 avatars. At least one of the user input devices is a touchscreen. During gameplay, the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090181771 - Game program, game device, and game control method: The present invention is related to controlling a video game in which ability of a game character is adjusted on the basis of events in the video game. For example, in a baseball video game, if the game player operating a pitcher character keeps selecting a pitching trajectory that a... Agent: GlobalIPCounselors, LLP

20090181776 - Gaming machine collection and management: A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify game devices and other related activities. A computerized method and system manage a collection of electronic gaming... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20090181773 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming machine comprising, a standalone module arranged to implement a standalone game; and a server module arranged to generate server game data to be employed by at least one other gaming machine to implement a server game.... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090181775 - Gaming system with failover and takeover capability: Managing failover and takeover of a game session in a computerized gaming system adapted for operating a plurality of client gaming machine terminals communicatively coupled to one of a plurality of game application servers, comprising: sending a request of a game session from a client gaming machine to a first... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090181777 - Network computer game linked to real-time financial data: A network-based computer game that both uses real-time financial data to affect game state and uses participants' actions to determine and engage in financial transactions. A game server receives financial data on market conditions (such as currency markets) from a financial server and regularly synchronizes user's game environments to match... Agent: W. Edward Ramage

20090181772 - Untrusted gaming system access to online gaming service: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a trusted proxy to intercept communications between an untrusted computerized gaming system and an online multi-player gaming service that requires games to be trusted, allowing the untrusted computerized gaming system to use the multi-player gaming service. In addition to allowing the... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP (microsoft Corporation)

20090181774 - Video game for interactive engagement between multiple on-line participants in competition over internet websites: A gaming method for interactive engagement between multiple participants in competition over internet websites or virtual assets associated with internet websites is provided. The method provides for selection of an internet website that has a website value associated with it, or assigned to it. The selected first character has player... Agent: Mcdermott, Will & Emery LLP Attn:IPDepartment

20090176544 - Gaming system with moveable display: If one has at his disposition a robust display which can be thrown around, a whole new range of computer games can be designed. The electronic gaming system comprises: a robust, moveable display (101); a game controller (103), arranged to generate a game scenario, comprising generation of pictures to be... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090176545 - Interactive toy with visual and audio feedback: Disclosed herein is an amusement device, the amusement device having: a display device rotatably mounted to a structure, the display device being configured to create a plurality of images via a persistence of vision effect; a device for rotating the display device; a sensor for determining whether an object has... Agent: Cantor Colburn, LLP

20090176546 - Method of monitoring a table game using playing cards and gaming chips: The inventive gaming equipment for table games using playing cards and tokens comprises a playing table provided with a covering divided into sectors for betting and sections for placing cards faceup, a shoe-type element for storing and distributing playing cards withdrawn therefrom facedown, a computer and a system for supervising... Agent: Smith-hill And Bedell, P.C.

20090176547 - Card game interface: Among other things, a system includes a card-game table that includes visually defined regions on a surface of the card-game table to accommodate one or more card hands of each of one or more participants in addition to one or more separate card hands of a house entity. An analysis... Agent: Fish & Richardson, PC

20090176549 - Mobile lottery: A system and a method for a mobile lottery for providing the service of participation in a lottery draw at the push of a single button, by sending a SMS message from a mobile phone.... Agent: Dr. Mark M. Friedman C/o Bill Polkinghorn - Discovery Dispatch

20090176548 - Secondary roulette game: A plurality of gaming machines for paying out award corresponding to a play, comprising an executor for starting a primary game and a secondary roulette game, a controller for manipulating a secondary roulette to determine a winning gaming machine in the secondary game, a display for representing a winning odds... Agent: Masuvalley & Partners

20090176551 - Gaming machine with two-stage feature determination: A gaming machine offering a game where an outcome of the game is a set of symbols chosen from a plurality of symbols. The plurality of symbols includes trigger symbols that each has a first and a second identifying characteristic. A bonus is awarded when the outcome includes two or... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090176553 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a display, a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a plurality of display positions on the display, and a display modifier arranged to modify the displayed symbols such that after modification of the symbols the locations of... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090176550 - Reel mechanism and control assembly: A reel control assembly for a plurality of like reel mechanisms for a gaming machine, comprises a support structure having a plurality of electronic connection ports. Each of the connection ports is provided to receive a connection means provided on a reel mechanism for an electronic connection therebetween. The connection... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20090176552 - Wagering game with bonus-selection feature: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a display for displaying a plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome and a selection-input device for selecting at least one bonus item from a plurality of bonus items. Each time a winning outcome is achieved, the selected bonus item... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090176554 - Wagering game, gaming machine and networked gaming system and method with a multiple-progressive wheel game and associated methods: A method and gaming machine are disclosed for operating a game with a primary and embedded game. An embedded game is disclosed as a bonus game with one embodiment animating miniature reels inside the primary game symbol. Each embedded slot game may have its own progressive, or may be tied... Agent: Bally Gaming Inc.

20090176555 - Game play of thirty like items: The present invention relates to a method of playing a game in which the players determine a value for a point total that would equal a win and a total of wins that would equal a champion. For example, one point equals a win and one win equals a champion... Agent: Russell W. Mullins

20090176558 - Apparatus, system, and method for responsible gaming: A method for promoting responsible wagering game play is provided which includes the acts of tracking a player's wagering losses and triggering a wagering restriction feature when the player's wagering losses exceed a predetermined loss limit and/or a predetermined loss rate.... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090176557 - Leaderboard event notification: A system and methods for notifying a subscriber of a gaming event. For example, a Leaderboard Alert Service receives notification from a messenger service that a subscriber is present on a messenger client device. The Service then identifies one or more players associated with the subscriber and begins to monitor... Agent: Vierra Magen/microsoft Corporation

20090176559 - Managing portable wagering game machines: Systems and methods manage the presentation of wagering games on a portable wagering game machine. The systems and methods determine if an authorized user is in possession of the portable wagering game machine, and further determine if the portable wagering game machine is in a location where wagering games are... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20090176561 - Method and apparatus for facilitating monetary and reward transactions and accounting in a gaming environment: One or more methods and apparatus for facilitating financial and player tracking/reward transactions. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one server and a plurality of gaming machines and/or a game generator for transmitting game information to a remote game play location. The server has a memory containing data... Agent: Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP - Igt Attn: Igt

20090176560 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090176556 - Wagering game system with shared outcome determined by a gaming machine: A gaming system for playing a wagering game and a community event includes a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine. The first gaming machine determines a randomly selected community-event outcome for the community event, and sends information related to the outcome to at least one other gaming machine... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090176562 - Method of presenting and playing games with enhanced outcomes: A method of presenting and playing a game provides the opportunity for enhanced awards. In one embodiment, if a winning game outcome is a predetermined winning outcome, an enhanced paytable or award is activated. The enhanced paytable or award offers the player a chance for enhanced winnings in one or... Agent: Weide & Miller, Ltd.

20090176565 - Gaming devices for biometrically identifying a player: Various systems, gaming devices, and methods for biometrically identifying a player are disclosed herein. The capture of the biometric information is undisclosed to the player. The captured biometric information may be used to verifying a player's age, prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gaming, authorize and/or authenticate an electronic funds transfer.... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20090176563 - Method of gaming, game controller, and a gaming system: A method of gaming comprising conducting at least one dual game round, each dual game round being conducted by: generating a game outcome; determining whether to make an award in respect of the game outcome; and randomly determining whether to make a special award independently of the game outcome.... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090176566 - Methods for biometrically identifying a player: Various systems, gaming devices, and methods for biometrically identifying a player are disclosed herein. The capture of the biometric information is undisclosed to the player. The captured biometric information may be used to verifying a player's age, prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gaming, authorize and/or authenticate an electronic funds transfer.... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20090176564 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090176567 - Hand-held game apparatus and game program: A hand-held game apparatus and a game program are provided which allow a user to play a game while going back and forth between two kinds of maps, namely, a narrow-range map and a broad-range map game, and arbitrarily change the displayed state of at least one of the broad-range... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, P.C.

20090176569 - Ambient environment effects: An ambient effects system and method of operation is described in which regions (30, 38) of a game or movie screen (10) are analysed (32, 40). The result of the analysis is then processed using logical, heuristic, or a combination of both techniques to determine a content related event. An... Agent: Burns & Levinson, LLP

20090176568 - Gaming machine having interchangeable display content and methods: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods, gaming machines, and gaming systems with multiple displays having interchangeable display content. According to one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a first display for presenting a primary game, a second display for presenting secondary display content to a player, and a player... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20090176570 - Camera control for third-person console video game: In a third-person shooter video game, the viewing perspective is smoothly transitioned between an “explorer” viewpoint and a “ready” viewpoint as game conditions change. In the “explorer” viewpoint, scenes are depicted from a camera positioned behind and removed from a character. The explorer viewpoint offers a wide angle of view... Agent: Lee & Hayes, PLLC

20090176571 - System for and method of operating video game system with control actuator-equipped stylus: A system and method expand game action functionality of a portable game system in which user manipulation of a stylus contributes to control of game action in the operation of two-handed game play. The stylus is equipped with one or more control actuators that are integrally associated with (i.e., positioned... Agent: Stoel Rives LLP - Pdx

20090176573 - Assembly for a gaming machine and player interface: Certain embodiments relate to gaming machines and in particular to electronic gaming machines having a monitor and one or more than touch sensitive screen. The touch sensitive screen is releasably or detectably mounted in front of the monitor so that in the event of either one of the touch screen... Agent: Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman, LLC

20090176572 - Gaming machine having interchangeable display content: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods, gaming machines, and gaming systems with multiple displays having interchangeable display content. According to one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a first display for presenting a primary game, a second display for presenting secondary display content to a player, and a player... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

20090176574 - User interface for a communication device: A device for use in a communication system the device comprising processing means arranged to execute first and second applications, and first and second interface means, the first application for detecting a communication event, the second application comprising means for controlling the second interface to allow a user to use... Agent: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C.

20090176575 - Game server system, game element providing method, game device, and program product: There are stored in a database stored in a host server (12) of a server system (10), a portable phone terminal ID, a player ID, a card ID, and individual information in association with one another. The card ID is identical to a card ID stored in a card (28)... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090176577 - Incentive-based video gaming system: There is provided a method of playing a video game with at least one interactive information element incorporated within the game. The method includes: a player manipulating a control unit to play the game in a preferred mode; and the player having an option to engage the interactive information element... Agent: Summa, Additon & Ashe, P.A.

20090176576 - Playbook for online gaming: An online gaming system includes logic to apply a playbook to an active team competition and to score the playbook according to acts of the team competition.... Agent: Fsp LLC

20090176581 - Instructional gaming methods and apparatus: An instructional gaming apparatus and method implements adaptive instructional gaming from a start point along a trajectory to a final goal. The system comprises a receiver for electronically receiving data from a user. The system further includes an electronic subject matter database with a clearly defined set of discrete heuristics... Agent: Stolowitz Ford Cowger LLP

20090176578 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090176579 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090176580 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090176582 - Gaming machine with belly located media dispenser: A gaming machine has a media dispenser, such as a ticket printer. The media dispenser is located in a belly portion of the gaming machine below a console portion. The media dispenser may be located in front of a cabinet portion of the gaming machine and behind a door thereof.... Agent: Weide & Miller, Ltd.

20090170579 - Method of controlling movement of moving object, storage medium, and game device: A player brings a stylus pen into contact with a batting position mark 32 displayed on a second liquid crystal display that includes a touch panel, and inputs a batting start timing and a hitting direction by inputting a stroke operation along the direction of a hitting direction guide 34R,... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20090170581 - Game apparatus: A game apparatus is provided, in which a player may not lose interest in a game when new character data are provided from a different player. Appearance parameter setting means (27) sets appearance parameters for the new character data which have been received from a different player via communication, based... Agent: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP

20090170580 - Method of playing a game: A method of playing a game including the steps of: providing a cache with a device through which an input can be made by a player to generate output information for the player; placing the cache at a first location; and identifying for a player general location information that will... Agent: Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer

20090170582 - Blackjack variation with up-card bonus: A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a variation of a blackjack game. If the dealer's up-card is of a predetermined card, then the dealer will automatically reveal the dealer's hole card, thereby providing the player with additional information. If the player's initial hand comprises a predetermined... Agent: Muskin & Cusick LLC

20090170583 - Tournament video poker: Each player who is participating in the video poker tournament plays a designated group of video poker hands. The designated group of video poker hands comprises preselected starting hands so that each tournament participant plays the same starting hands. After the group of video poker hands has been completed, the... Agent: John Edward Roethel

20090170585 - Card-based game machine and method: A card-based game machine includes a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value, and a game host unit. The game host unit includes: a game card reader for reading the machine-readable virtual item data; and a processor coupled to the game card reader, and... Agent: Vedder Price P.C.

20090170584 - Interactive scenario exploration for tournament-style gaming: A tournament-style gaming scenario exploration system and method for interactively exploring current and future scenarios of a tournament and associated pick'em pool. The system and method include a prediction module (including a game constraint sub-module), and a key event detection module. Embodiments of the prediction module include a binary integer... Agent: Microsoft Corporation

20090170587 - Method of arranging lottery games, game server, data transmission system and computer program product: A lottery game server comprising: a processing unit for controlling the functions of the server; a data transmission unit coupled to the processing unit for communicating with a game terminal; and a memory unit coupled to the processing unit for storing a game board and winning conditions relating to the... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20090170586 - Springtime productions special charity fund raising process: Springtime Productions LLC has developed a unique charity fundraising methodology. The methodology consists of a qualified non-profit organization conducting a statewide raffle to raise funds with the holders of grand prize winning tickets being awarded a seat in a special poker tournament. The raffle would award a specified number of... Agent: James G. Kay

20090170589 - Easy poky: One or more coins inserted in machine coin slot starts game, coins values: 25 cents each and one or more dollars each. Pay offs assigned by management. An example of winning hands names and ranks is given separately in the brief description of “Easy Poky” forwarded here.... Agent: Gilberto Aquilera

20090170588 - Gaming device and method having purchasable enhanced paytables: An apparatus and method for a game having a paytable selection feature which may be implemented with a primary or base game, a secondary or bonus game, or both. In one embodiment, the gaming device employs an initial paytable and enables a player pay a fee to purchase a different... Agent: K&l Gates LLP

20090170592 - Gaming device with changing wild symbols: A bonus game that operates in combination with a slot machine base game is provided. The bonus game includes a series of free spins or free evaluations in which symbols of a set of symbols are set to be wild symbols. Free spins occur for each symbol acting as a... Agent: K&l Gates LLP

20090170591 - Gaming system and a method of gaming: A gaming system (10, 40, 100) is disclosed which comprises a display device (44) arranged to display symbols (306, 308) from a plurality of sets of symbols (15a, 15b) at a plurality of display positions (304), each of the display positions (304) including a symbol associated with each of the... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090170590 - Wagering game with enhanced cascading reel symbol feature: A gaming machine. The gaming machine includes an input device for receiving inputs from a player during the wagering game. The inputs include a wager amount. The gaming machine also includes a display for displaying a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090170597 - Audio management in a wireless wagering game: A wireless networked computerized wagering game system comprises a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, a wireless network module operable to connect the wagering game system to at least one other networked device via a wireless network connection, and an audio... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20090170595 - Re-characterization of bets at table games: A gaming table allows late bets and bet re-characterizations to increase the action available to the player during a single game instance. Such late bets and bet re-characterizations are tracked through the use of an additional token associated with the wager stack of the player.... Agent: Walker Digital Management, LLC

20090170596 - Switching operation modes in mobile wager gaming devices: This disclosure describes methods and wager gaming devices that can enter different operation modes based on different network connections. In one embodiment, a method includes connecting to a content provider via a first network connection, wherein connecting to the content provider via the first network connection enables a first mode... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner/wms Gaming

20090170594 - Systems, methods, and devices for providing purchases of instances of game play at a hybrid ticket/currency game machine: Systems, methods, and devices may be capable of allowing a player to purchase an instance of game play at a game system with a pre-paid ticket or with another item of value. The game system may determine a denomination of a unit of a currency and generate a session request... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20090170593 - Wagering games with unlockable bonus rounds: Method and system are disclosed for allowing players at wagering game terminals to select entire sets of bonus games instead of a single bonus game upon occurrence of a certain randomly selected basic game outcome. One or more of the bonus games or sets of bonus games may be temporarily... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20090170599 - Game control program and a game machine: A game control program includes a coordinates receiving step for receiving coordinates in a virtual apace, coordinates being input by a player, a course generating step for generating a course according to the coordinates input by the player, along which course a character moves in the virtual space, a course... Agent: Jordan And Hamburg LLP

20090170598 - Peripheral and game for handheld device: A handheld device and peripheral, and game using the handheld device and peripheral. The peripheral includes user inputs, with the peripheral interfacing with the handheld device by way of a handheld device memory port, for example a memory port generally configured for use with game cartridges.... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20090170600 - Game machine, game machine control method, and information storage medium: To provide a game machine for providing a sport game to be played between an operation target team and an opponent team, which allows a game player to relatively readily find out the position of a teammate player object. A position announcing sound data storage unit (72) stores position announcing... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090170601 - Method for recognizing the position of a gaming device: A method for recognizing the position of a wireless controller is applied to an interactive gaming device including a wireless controller, a main apparatus and a host. The main apparatus includes a first ultrasonic receiving module, a second ultrasonic receiving module and a third ultrasonic module which are arranged as... Agent: Wpat, PC Intellectual Property Attorneys

20090170602 - System and method for controlling the operation of an entertainment unit: A system and method for controlling game play at a pay-for-play entertainment system. The entertainment system may include an entertainment unit, a remote activation unit, and at least one game play light source. The remote activation unit may be configured to have the game play light source be in an... Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd

20090170603 - Sports community commentary: Live sports community commentary technology operable to provide viewers with live sports commentary, and provide commentators with a means to provide commentary to viewers is disclosed. The live sports community commentary technology presents commentary from commentators on a sports event to viewers of the sports event, and provides feedback, motivation,... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20090170604 - Mediation of disputes in a virtual environment: A mechanism for dispute mediation and resolution in a virtual environment is provided. The mechanism may involve the breach of a virtual contract and the determination of suitable penalties against the breaching parties. In some embodiments, the mechanism may include a judge or jury comprising members of the virtual community.... Agent: Gonzales Patent Services

20090170606 - On-line game based on words, making use of a search engine: A game session of the invention comprises, contained within a very short time lapse, the following successive stages: a) selecting a headword that is communicated to the player; b) for each of the N players, determining a first candidate word presenting semantic proximity with the headword, and transmitting said first... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20090170608 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090170607 - System for downloading real-time interaction data through mobile and broadcast converged networks and method thereof: A system for downloading real-time interaction data and a method thereof are provided. The system includes a real-time interaction data management server farm, a network equipment, a carousel server, and at least one terminal device. The real-time interaction data management server farm processes real-time interaction data and manages a plurality... Agent: Jianq Chyun Intellectual Property Office

20090170605 - Video game extremity control and object interaction: Extremity control in a video game such as a skateboarding video game is provided through use of a video game controller. In some embodiments multi-axis controls of the video game controller are used to control extremities of a skateboarder character and to move a skateboard used by the skateboarder character... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20090170609 - Game service method for providing online game using ucc and game server therefor: Provided are a game service method, where UCC can be used in an online music game that uses music as an element, and a game server therefor. The game service method includes receiving user created contents (UCC) data in which accompaniment music data and a song sung by a music... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20090170610 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090170611 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090170612 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090170613 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP

20090170614 - System and method for collecting and using player information: A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may... Agent: Lowrie, Lando & Anastasi, LLP