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Sudoku-type wagering game and methodSudoku-type wagering game and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070173311, Sudoku-type wagering game and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001]This application claims priority from provisional application 60/761,579 filed on Jan. 23, 2006, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention [0003]The present invention is directed to gaming games and methods and, more particularly, to games and methods that have a Sudoko-like game element. [0004]In the prior art, various types of gaming machines have been developed with different features to captivate and maintain player interest. In general, a gaming machine allows a player to play a game in exchange for a wager. Depending on the outcome of the game, the player may be entitled to an award which is paid to the player by the gaming machine, normally in the form of currency or game credits. Gaming machines may include flashing displays, lighted displays, or sound effects to capture a player's interest in a gaming device. [0005]Another important feature of maintaining player interest in a gaming machine includes providing the player with many opportunities to win awards, such as cash or prizes. For example, in some slot machines, the display windows show more than one adjacent symbol on each reel, thereby allowing for multiple-line betting. Some gaming machines offer a player the opportunity to win millions of dollars by providing progressive jackpots. Additionally, feature games of various types have been employed to reward players above the amounts normally awarded on a standard game pay schedule. Generally, such feature games are triggered by predetermined events such as one or more appearances of certain combinations of indicia in a primary game. In order to stimulate interest, feature games are typically set to occur at a gaming machine on a statistical cycle based upon the number of primary game plays. [0006]A currently popular puzzle game in many countries of the world is Sudoku. Originally named Suuji Wa Dokushin Ni Kagiru, ("the numbers must be single") in Japan, the name was later abbreviated as Sudoku (Su=number, Doku=single). This type of puzzle has also been called a variety of similar names such as, for example and not by way of limitation, "Number Place" or "Nanpure." The rules of Suduko are described in many publications, one example of which is Master Sudoku by Carol Vorderman, copyright 2005 by Three Rivers Press. Referring to FIG. 1A, in standard Sudoku, the player is presented with a 9.times.9 "grid," divided into smaller 3.times.3 "boxes" consisting of three rows of three cells each. Some cells in the grid are pre-populated with numbers from 1 to 9. The player must fill the remaining empty cells so that each row, column and "box" contains only one instance of every number from one to nine, as shown in FIG. 1B. Printed versions of Sudoku puzzles are available in puzzle books and newspapers. Electronic versions may be played on personal computers, on the internet, on cell phones, on standalone Sudoku handheld units and the like, however, no adaptations of the puzzle for use in gaming machines is known. [0007]Gaming establishments are continually looking for new ways to increase the popularity of their gaming machines. As players become used to the machines in a particular establishment, it is common for the patrons to become bored with the older game themes and to crave something new. Given the growing popularity of Sudoku around the world, a gaming machine with a Sudoku-like element is desirable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008]In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a game includes an interface activatable by a player and a primary game having a set of outcomes, at least one of the set of outcomes determined after activation of the interface by the player. The primary game includes a plurality of displayed indicia. In a feature game playable after determination of the primary game outcome, placement of one or more representations of the displayed primary game indicia on a grid such that no two indicia are the same in at least one of a row, a column or a diagonal of the grid results in payment of an award associated with such placement. [0009]In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a game includes the steps of accepting a wager to play the game from the player and determining at least one of a set of outcomes for a primary game, the primary game including a plurality of displayed indicia. The method further includes the steps of, upon the occurrence of a predefined primary game outcome, playing a feature game that includes placement of one or more representations of the displayed primary game indicia on a grid and paying a feature game award, the award at least partially based on the placement of the representations of the displayed primary game indicia such that no two indicia are the same in at least one of a row, a column or a diagonal of the grid. [0010]Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the features of the various embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011]FIGS. 1A and 1B are prior art examples of Sudoku puzzles. [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming machine in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. [0013]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the physical and logical components of the gaming machine of FIG. 2. [0014]FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate game screens associated with a game of one embodiment of the invention. [0015]FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting the steps associated with carrying out a method in accordance of one aspect of the invention. [0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a high-level view of the major hardware elements of a networked gaming system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017]Various embodiments are directed to a game and method for playing a game having a Sudoku-like element. Embodiments of the game and method are illustrated and described herein, by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 2-6, there are shown illustrative examples of a game and a method for playing a game in accordance with various aspects of the invention. [0018]In accordance with one embodiment, FIG. 2 illustrates a gaming machine 200 including cabinet housing 220, primary game display 240, player-activated buttons 260, player tracking panel 236, and bill/voucher acceptor 230. Cabinet housing 220 is a self-standing unit that is generally rectangular in shape and may be manufactured with reinforced steel or other rigid materials which are resistant to tampering and vandalism. Cabinet housing 220 houses a processor, circuitry, and software (not shown) for receiving signals from the player-activated buttons 260, operating the games, and transmitting signals to the respective displays. Any shaped cabinet may be implemented with any embodiment of gaming machine 200 so long as it provides access to a player for playing a game. For example, cabinet 220 may comprise a slant-top, bar-top, or table-top style cabinet. The operation of gaming machine 200 is described more fully below. Continue reading about Sudoku-type wagering game and method... Full patent description for Sudoku-type wagering game and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sudoku-type wagering game and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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