US 9,168,456 B2Granted

Gaming system and method for providing a casual wagering game

AssigneeIgt

InventorsScott A. Caputo, Gregory F. Frank, Ernest M. Lafky

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Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a casual wagering game including a matrix having a plurality of positions. A plurality of path endpoints are positioned along a perimeter of the matrix. Each path endpoint is associated with one of an award, a symbol indicating advancement to a subsequent level, and a terminator symbol. Each position, except a starting position, is configured to accommodate one of a plurality of tiles. Each tile includes one or more path segments. When the tiles are placed in certain configurations, path segments of bordering tiles form a complete path between the starting position and one or more of the path endpoints. The objective of the game is for a player to place tiles at positions in the matrix such that connecting path segments form a complete path between the start position and one or more path endpoints to win the path endpoint award(s).

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

after receiving, via an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value;
identifying, via the acceptor, the received physical item;
and causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to establish a credit balance, for a play of a game:
(A) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a first one of a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles including a plurality of distinct non-intersecting path segments;
(C) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of one of the positions not displaying any of the tiles and to operate with the at least one display device to display said first tile at said selected position;
(D) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints;
(i) when a complete path has not been formed and at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display another one of the tiles and repeat (C) to (D) for said other displayed tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions;
and
(ii) when a complete path has been formed, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:
(a) determine any awards associated with the one or more path endpoints;
(b) operate with the at least one display device to display and provide any determined awards to the player;
and
(c) when at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, operate with the at least one display device to display another one of the tiles and repeat (C) to (D) for said other displayed tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions;
and
(E) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, causing the processor to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

13 more elements

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

after receiving, via an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value;
identifying, via the acceptor, the received physical item;
and causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to establish a credit balance, for a play of a game:
(A) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a plurality of path endpoints in association with the positions of the matrix, wherein each of a plurality of the path endpoints is associated with one of a plurality of different award symbols;
(C) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a first one of a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles including a plurality of distinct non-intersecting path segments:
(D) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of one of the positions not displaying any of the tiles, and display said first tile at said selected position;
(E) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any tiles displayed at the plurality of positions between two of the path endpoints that are associated with a same one of the award symbols;
(i) when the complete path has not been formed and at least one of the plurality of positions does not display any of the tiles, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display another one of the tiles and repeat (D) to (E) for said other displayer tile in association with the same matrix and the same plurality of positions;
and
(ii) when the complete path has been formed, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:
(a) determine an award associated with said one of the award symbols associated with the two path endpoints;
and
(b) operate with the at least one display device to display and provide said determined award to the player;
and
(F) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, causing the processor to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

13 more elements

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

after receiving, via an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value;
identifying, via the acceptor, the received physical item;
and causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to establish a credit balance, for a play of a game:
(A) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
and
(B) for one of a plurality of tiles which each include a plurality of path segments, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:
(i) operate with the at least one display device to display the tile;
(ii) operate with at least one input device to receive a signal causing the at least one display device to display the tile at a selected position of the matrix;
(iii) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints, one of the path endpoints being associated with a terminator symbol, another one of the path endpoints being associated with an award;
(1) if the complete path has not been formed, operate with the at least one display device to display another one of the tiles and repeat (ii) to (iii) for said other displayed tile;
and
(2) if the complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from:
(1) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, and (2) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the terminator symbol, end said play of the game without providing the player the award;
and
(iv) if the complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award and the complete path has not been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the terminator, operate with the at least one display device to display and provide the award to the player;
and
(C) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, causing the processor to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

14 more elements

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

after receiving, via an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value;
identifying, via the acceptor, the received physical item;
and causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to establish a credit balance, for a play of a game:
(A) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a matrix including a plurality of positions;
and
(B) for one of a plurality of tiles which each include a plurality of path segments, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:
(i) operate with the at least one display device to display the tile;
(ii) operate with at least one input device to receive a signal causing the at least one display device to display the tile at a selected position of the matrix;
(iii) determine if a complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from a starting position to one or more of a plurality of path endpoints, one of the path endpoints being associated with advancement to a subsequent level, another one of the path endpoints being associated with an award;
(1) if the complete path has not been formed, operate with the at least one display device to display another one of the tiles and repeat (ii) to (iii) for said other displayed tile;
and
(2) if the complete path has been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from:
(1) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, and (2) the starting position to the path endpoint associated with advancement to the subsequent level, operate with the at least one display device to display and provide the award to the player without advancing the player to the subsequent level;
and
(iv) if the complete path has not been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with advancement to the subsequent level and the complete path has not been formed by one or more of the path segments of any displayed tiles from the starting position to the path endpoint associated with the award, advance the player to the subsequent level;
and
(C) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, causing the processor to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/306,912Filed 17 Jun 2014 · continuation
Priority: 14 Aug 2009
Published: US 2014/0295969 A12 Oct 2014
Granted: 27 Oct 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A63F 13/55
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions: controlling game characters or game objects based…
A63F 13/335
Using wide area network [WAN] connections: using Internet
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/3295
Type of games: games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Family

Application12/541,649Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Aug 2009
US 2014/0295969 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Oct 2014
US 8,784,181 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2011/0039614 A1Published application
US 9,168,456 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.