# US 8,784,179 B2 · Gaming system and method having controllably rotatable directing devices for use with a marker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,179 B2 - Document ID: US8784179B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/414,337 - Filed: 2012-03-07 - Published: 2012-07-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-11 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Applicants: Hyong Joo Kim - Inventors: Hyong Joo Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784179B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/38: Ball games; Shooting apparatus - 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 gaming system is disclosed which comprises a first game region comprising a plurality of game portions, and a second game region contiguous with each of the game portions. The second game region comprises a plurality of directing devices, with each directing device being selectively individually controllable so that a marker disposed in the second game region is directable into any game portion of the first region by one or more of the directing devices. A winning outcome is indicated based on the game portion into which a marker is directed during use. A corresponding method is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming system comprising: a plurality of game portions; a plurality of directing devices being rotatably controllable to direct a marker into a said game portion; and an outcome evaluator indicating a winning outcome based on the said game portion into which said marker is directed during use. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a selector arranged to select a game portion, wherein the marker is directed to the selected game portion by one or more of the directing devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A gaming system as claimed in claim 2, and wherein the selector is arranged to select a game portion randomly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A gaming system as claimed in claim 2, and wherein one or more of the selector and the outcome evaluator is constituted, at least in part, by a processor executing program code stored in a memory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the game portion into which a marker is directed is selected by randomly controlling the directing devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and wherein each game portion has an associated identifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A gaming system as claimed in claim 6, and wherein at least one identifier comprises a symbol, number, icon or picture, or is in the form of a particular colour. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A gaming system as claimed in claim 6, and wherein the identifier is indicative of a prize awardable if the marker is directed into the game portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A gaming system as claimed in claim 8, and wherein the identifier is a multiplier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a display controller arranged to cause a game portion which receives a marker to be emphasised relative to game portions which do not receive a marker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A gaming system as claimed in claim 10, and further comprising a plurality of light devices, each light device being associated with one of the game portions, and the light devices being controllable by the display controller so as to illuminate the game portion which receives a marker. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A gaming system as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the display controller is arranged so as to illuminate the game portion which receives a marker with an intensity greater than game portions which do not receive a marker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A gaming system as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the display controller is arranged so as to illuminate the game portion which receives a marker with a different colour than game portions which do not receive a marker. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A gaming system as claimed in claim 10, and wherein the display controller is arranged so as to cause the game portion which receives a marker to flash. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the game portions are segments of a circle, and the directing devices are annularly configured surrounding the game portions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the marker is a ball. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and wherein each directing device is of generally cross-like configuration and is rotatably mounted adjacent each of the game portions, the direction and speed of rotation of the directing devices being selectively individually controllable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, and wherein three directing devices are disposed adjacent each game portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming system comprises a game play mechanism operable to place a wager and the outcome evaluator evaluates the outcome based on the wager and based on the game portion which receives a marker. ### Claim 20 A method of gaming for use with a gaming system having a gaming controller, the method comprising: providing via the gaming controller a plurality of game portions; controllably rotating a plurality of directing devices disposed adjacent around the game portions; disposing a marker into the rotating directing devices; and indicating a winning outcome based on the game portion into which a marker is directed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and further comprising selecting a game portion, and subsequently directing said marker to the selected game portion by controlling the directing devices. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method as claimed in claim 21, and further comprising randomly selecting a game portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and further comprising providing each game portion with an associated identifier usable to identify game portions for bet placement purposes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method as claimed in claim 23, and wherein at least one identifier comprises a symbol, number, icon or picture, or is in the form of a particular colour. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and further comprising emphasizing a game portion which receives a marker relative to game portions which do not receive a marker. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method as claimed in claim 25, and further comprising illuminating the game portion which receives a marker. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method as claimed in claim 26, and further comprising illuminating the game portion which receives a marker with an intensity greater than game portions which do not receive a marker. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) A method as claimed in claim 26, and further comprising illuminating the game portion which receives a marker with a different colour than game portions which do not receive a marker. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) A method as claimed in claim 26, and further comprising causing the game portion which receives a marker to flash. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and further comprising directing said marker into a game portion by randomly controlling the directing devices. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and further comprising providing each game portion with an associated identifier in the form of a multiplier usable to provide an indication to a player as to a prize awardable if the marker is directed into the game portion. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and wherein the game portions are segments of a circle, and the method further comprising annularly surrounding the game portions with the directing devices. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and wherein the marker is a ball. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and wherein each directing device is of generally cross-like configuration and is rotatably mounted adjacent each of the game portions, and the method further comprising selectively individually controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the directing devices. ### Claim 35 (depends on 20) A method as claimed in claim 20, and further comprising disposing wherein three directing devices adjacent each game portion.