Skill game playable on a casino type display with game ending features including spinning reel up/down capability and a bonus game

Abstract

A skill game is provided that can be played on a casino gaming display that employs methods to hold a player's interest after normal completion of the initial game. In a first embodiment, an up / down selection is provided to the player for one or more reels of the spinning reel game that have stopped spinning. The one up / down feature allows the player to move the reel one position up or down to increase the reward level. To assure skill is involved, the available up or down motion for the reel is displayed for a short time prior to when the wheel stops and the player must remember the available state correctly. If the player remembers correctly, the award for the game can be increased. In a second embodiment, a bonus game is provided with the frequency of offer of the bonus game randomly set to assure operator profit while maintaining player interest and enjoyment.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: (1) Provisional Application No. 60 / 994,110, entitled “Spinning Reel Skill Game,” by Richard M. Mathis, filed Sep. 17, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety; and (2) Provisional Application No. 60 / 994,406, entitled “Skill Game As A Bonus Game in a Game of Chance,” filed Sep. 19, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 247,092 entitled “Method and Apparatus For Skill Game Play and Awards” filed Oct. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.[0003]This application is further related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 127,660, entitled “Skill Game That Can Be Played Upon a Casino Type Display Combining Determinative, Fixed and Rando...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for implementing a skill game that employs methods to hold a player's interest after normal completion of the game. In some embodiments the procedures are provided after normal completion of a non-skill game allowing for player skill to complete the game, effectively creating a skill game. In other embodiments, the procedures are offered after a skill game to enhance player interest. In still other embodiments, the feature offered may enhance player interest in a game that is a complete non-skill game.

[0012]In a first embodiment, an up / down selection is provided to the player for one or more reels of the spinning reel game that have stopped spinning. The one up / down feature allows the player to move the reel one position up or down to increase the reward level. To provide a skill feature, in one embodiment the available up or down motion for the reel is displayed for a short time prior to when the wheel stops and the player must remember the available state correctly. If the player remembers correctly the award for the game can be increased, while if the player incorrectly remembers the available up / down state the award can be decreased.

[0014]In a second embodiment, a bonus game is provided with the frequency of offer of the bonus game randomly set to assure operator profit. Reducing frequency of the bonus game award can further increase player excitement because the total value offered for the bonus game can build significantly over time. In some embodiments, the bonus game can be offered randomly as well as based on the player's skill measured by the number of games a player wins when the initial non-bonus game is a skill game. Because different player skills can require different frequencies of bonus offerings, in some embodiments the random frequency of offer of the bonus game can be controlled by monitoring the player's skill. The bonus game of the second embodiment can be a skill game or non-skill game. The bonus game can be awarded following either a non-skill game or a skill game.

Problems solved by technology

The classification is a regulatory matter, but can have very significant economic ramifications.

A significant risk to an operator exists if game outcome depends entirely upon player skill as a very skillful player can win every game with disastrous economic results for the operator.

If game outcome can be influenced by normal human capabilities the operator of said game is in danger of losing money.

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