Wagering game with player activated special function which simulates predicting the game outcome
AssigneeMultimedia Games, Inc.
InventorsBrian A. Watkins, Michael Conway
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more special function zones which allow player interaction in a manner that simulates a good luck charm predicting the future game outcome. A preferred version provides a slot machine game with a special function zone beside the reels presented as a selectable “good luck charm,” which is seen in certain circumstances to predict the outcome of a reel spin. If the player touches the charm at any time, it animates with a first animation. There is a second, different animation that the charm can do while the reels are spinning This second animation foreshadows a reel stop which will hit a designated high-value outcome.
Claims18
A method for providing a wagering game including:
- (a) controlling a touch sensitive gaming display with one or more electronic processors, the gaming display including a first gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations which are updated to provide results of the game, the gaming display further comprising a second special function zone outside of the first gaming zone;
- (b) receiving a player touch input in the special function zone and, in response, displaying a first animation sequence in the special function zone;
- (c) receiving a player game activation and, in response, beginning an animated display in the first gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;
- (d) while conducting the animated display in the first gaming zone, displaying a second animation sequence in the special function zone if the following conditions are met:
- (i) if a measured time between the player touch input in the special function zone and the player game activation is within a predetermined limit;
- and
- (ii) if the outcome, which is already determined, of the game play being shown in the first gaming zone is going to be a designated high-value win outcome;
- (e) after displaying the second animation sequence, stopping the animated display in the first gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations;
- and
- (f) paying an award if the game result is a winning game outcome.
A program product embodied in one or more tangible computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:
- (a) controlling a touch sensitive gaming display with one or more electronic processors, the gaming display including a first gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations which are updated to provide results of the game, the gaming display further comprising a second special function zone outside of the first gaming zone;
- (b) receiving a player touch input in the special function zone and, in response, displaying a first animation sequence in the special function zone;
- (c) receiving a player game activation and, in response, beginning an animated display in the first gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;
- (d) while conducting the animated display in the first gaming zone, displaying a second animation sequence in the special function zone if the following conditions are met:
- (i) if a measured time between the player touch input in the special function zone and the player game activation is within a predetermined limit;
- and
- (ii) if the outcome, which is already determined, of the game play being shown in the first gaming zone is going to be a designated high-value win outcome;
- (e) after displaying the second animation sequence, stopping the animated display in the first gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations;
- and
- (f) paying an award if the game result is a winning game outcome.
A method for providing a wagering game including:
- (a) controlling a touch sensitive gaming display with one or more electronic processors, the gaming display including a first gaming zone comprising a matrix of symbol locations which are updated to provide results of the game, the gaming display further comprising a second special function zone outside of the first gaming zone;
- (b) making the special function zone available to receive a player touch input in the special function zone and, if such input is received, displaying a first animation sequence in the special function zone in response;
- (c) receiving a player game activation and, in response, beginning an animated display in the first gaming zone showing motion in the symbol locations indicating a game is in progress;
- (d) while conducting the animated display in the first gaming zone, displaying a second animation sequence in the special function zone if the outcome, which is already determined, of the game play being shown in the first gaming zone is going to be a designated high-value win outcome;
- (e) after displaying the second animation sequence, stopping the animated display in the first gaming zone to show a game result in the symbol locations;
- and
- (f) paying an award if the game result is a winning game outcome.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.