# US 10,504,331 B2 · Wagering game system and method with skill-based prize selection based on player identity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,504,331 B2 - Document ID: US10504331B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/120,381 - Filed: 2018-09-03 - Published: 2018-12-27 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-12 - Assignees: Gaming Arts, LLC - Applicants: Gaming Arts, LLC - Inventors: David Colvin; Eric D. Colvin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10504331B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F 17/3209: {Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen} - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/3295: {Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking} - G07F 17/3297: {Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A wagering game system and method include a skill-based bonus game for a game of chance that enables a player to win a bonus prize or select one of a plurality of bonus prizes, the bonus game having a bonus prize input device configured to be manipulated by the player to perform a task having an outcome that determines whether the player wins a bonus prize or selects one of the bonus prizes. A processor adjusts difficulty of performing the task based upon identity of the player. Player identity may be determined by a reward card, mobile phone, tablet, or similar device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a gaming device comprising: a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance; and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation; a processor programmed to: add the monetary value to a credit balance for the player; deduct the selected wager from the credit balance; and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; and a bonus game associated with the game of chance and a prize selector that selects one of a plurality of bonus prizes, the bonus game having a bonus prize input device configured to be manipulated by the player to perform a task having an outcome that determines which of the bonus prizes is awarded, wherein the processor adjusts difficulty of performing the task based upon identity of the player. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task by adjusting the task to affect at least one of speed, dexterity, or agility required to perform the task. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task by adjusting the task to affect at least one of a targeting angle or position, a starting angle or position, and a stopping angle or position associated with performing the task. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task to a high difficulty if the identity of the player is not determined prior to playing the bonus game. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the identity of the player is determined based on a player reward card. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the gaming device further comprises a card reader configured to determine the identity of the player by reading a player reward card. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the gaming device comprises a touch screen configured to accept player information to determine the identity of the player. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to determine the identity of the player based on recognizing a mobile device of the player. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task based on a randomness adjustment combined with an adjustment based upon the identity of the player. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts a skill level of the player based on prizes won by the player during a current gaming session, and wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task based on the skill level associated with the identity of the player. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor adjusts the skill level of the player based on accumulated wagering of the player over a predetermined period of time, and wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task based on the skill level associated with the identity of the player. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the player is awarded a selected one of the plurality of bonus prizes, and wherein the processor is further programmed to adjust the difficulty of performing the task based on a previously awarded bonus prize associated with the identity of the player. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the difficulty of the task to maintain a predetermined percentage or percentage range of money or credits returned to the player over time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the difficulty of the task by adjusting a time period allowed to perform the task based on the identity of the player. ### Claim 15 A method of selecting a prize for a game of chance, the method comprising: receiving a physical item associated with a monetary value using a monetary input device of a gaming device; enabling a player to select a wager for a game of chance using a user interface of the gaming device; enabling the player to initiate a cash out operation using the user interface; adding the monetary value to a credit balance for the player; deducting the selected wager from the credit balance; decreasing the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; providing a bonus game that enables the player to select one of a plurality of bonus prizes using a bonus prize input device configured to be manipulated by the player to perform a task having an outcome that determines which of the bonus prizes is selected; adjusting, by the gaming device, difficulty of performing the task based on identity of the player; and awarding the selected bonus prize based on the outcome of the task. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task such that the outcome varies based on at least one of speed, dexterity, or agility required to perform the task. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the processor adjusts the difficulty of performing the task based on at least one of a starting angle or position, a stopping angle or position, or a targeting angle or position associated with the task. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the processor sets the difficulty of performing the task to a default level of difficulty if the identity of the player is not determined prior to playing the bonus game. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising determining the identity of the player by reading a player reward card. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the processor limits available bonus prizes from the plurality of bonus prizes if the identity of the player has not been determined prior to starting the bonus game. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the processor is programmed to determine the identity of the player based on recognizing a mobile device associated with the player. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising adjusting the difficulty of performing the task based on a random adjustment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising adjusting the difficulty of performing the task to maintain a predetermined percentage or range of percentages of money or credits returned to the player over time. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the player is awarded a selected one of the plurality of bonus prizes, the method further comprising adjusting the difficulty based on a value of the bonus prize awarded to the player. ### Claim 25 A gaming device, comprising: a monetary input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance; enable the player to initiate a cash out operation; and enable the player to play a skill-based bonus game to win a bonus prize; a processor programmed to: add the monetary value to a credit balance for the player; deduct the selected wager from the credit balance; decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; provide the skill-based bonus game to the player via the user interface, wherein the skill-based bonus game enables the player to win a bonus prize using a bonus prize input device configured to be manipulated by the player to perform a task having an outcome that determines whether the bonus prize is awarded; determine an identity of the player; and adjust difficulty of the task based on the identity of the player. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The gaming device of claim 25 wherein the processor is further programmed to adjust the difficulty of the task by adjusting the task to affect at least one of speed, dexterity, or agility to achieve a selected outcome of the task. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The gaming device of claim 25 wherein the processor is further programmed to adjust the difficulty of the task to affect at least one of a targeting angle or position, a starting angle or position, and a stopping angle or position associated with performing the task. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The gaming device of claim 25 wherein the processor is programmed to adjust the difficulty of performing the task based on a percentage or percentage range of money or credits returned to the player over a predetermined time. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The gaming device of claim 25 further comprising a card reader, wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the identity of the player based on a player card read by the card reader. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The gaming device of claim 25 further comprising a touch screen, wherein the identity of the player is determined based on information entered via the touch screen.