Abstract: A method and system for facilitating chance-based payment for items in a game. In implementations, the disclosure relates to such systems which can be used in the payment for items in an affiliation based game. A user may be part of an affiliation and wish to contribute to their affiliation and show their loyalty in a non-direct manner. The contribution may be achieved by the user entering into a chance-based selection process such as a draw, where the user selected in the draw is the person that pays for a group virtual item used in the game. The item used in the game may benefit all members of the affiliation, simultaneously or in alternating fashion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game including a plurality of concentric objects, such as wheels, having segments that can switch from an activated state to a deactivated state. In various embodiments, the plurality of concentric objects includes a plurality of wheels. Generally, for a play of the concentric wheel game in various embodiments, the gaming system spins the wheels a plurality of times and, for each spin, selects a selectable activated segment of one of the wheels, provides an award associated with the selected segment, and deactivates the selected segment such that the selected segment is not selectable for the remainder of the play of the concentric game. Deactivating a segment can, in certain instances, make another previously un-selectable activated segment selectable and/or increase the probability of selecting another activated segment.

Abstract: A variable-color region (106) of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112) and normally appears along it as a principal color. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the variable-color region responds to an object (104) impacting the zone at an object-contact area (116) by temporarily appearing along a print area (118) of the zone as generic changed color materially different from the principal color. The print area closely matches the object-contact area in size, shape, and location. Sound-generating apparatus (602 or 702) selectively generates a specified audible sound in response to the object impacting the object-contact area so as to meet the threshold impact criteria. The specified sound is separate from any audible sound originating at the object-contact area due physically to the impact.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, a masked area, a light source, and a diffused lighting area. The display device is within a cabinet enclosure and has an active area with an image surface, which is defined by a plurality of active edges and is configured to display images of a casino wagering game. The masked area is adjacent to the active area and lacks any display of the images of the casino wagering game. The light source is concealed from view relative to a player position and emits an initial light. The diffused lighting area is adjacent to the masked area, extends to overlap the adjacent peripheral edge of the cabinet enclosure, and includes a single diffuser that receives the initial light and transmits it towards the player.

Abstract: A device for online gaming includes a memory that stores instructions. A processor coupled to the memory, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations including receiving a selection of a gaming accessory, receiving a selection of a game, and receiving inputs corresponding to selections of parameters for generating a vibration effect at the gaming accessory. The parameters include a control component of the gaming accessory, a game event associated with the control component, a vibration frequency of the vibration effect associated with the game event, a vibration intensity and duration, and a delay time associated with the event. The processor stores the selected parameters and presents the vibration effect during the game in accordance with occurrence of the game event and in accordance with the selected parameters; the vibration effect is presented after the occurrence of the game event in accordance with the delay time.

Abstract: Techniques for forking and merging of electronically presented content items, such as MMO and other video games, are described herein. In particular, a first content item session may be forked to generate a second (forked) content item session. The first and forked content item sessions may then continue to execute and evolve in separate directions from one another. In some examples, a user of the forked content item session may serve as an administrator of the forked content item session and may receive compensation in exchange for serving as an administrator. Additionally, one or more forked or other separate content item sessions may be merged together to form a merged content item session. In some examples, conflicts between merged content item sessions may be identified and resolved based, at least in part, on input from administrators.

Abstract: A program capable of giving an element of surprise to a game to increase the fun and interest, and achieving effects of raising player's interest in the game and motivation to continue the game, is disclosed herein. The program sets a “personality” such as a preference and a characteristic parameter of a character card (first game content), and sets a “level” of the preference to an item A1 or the like (second game content). Then, the program synthesizes the item A1 or the like selected by the player with a character card C1, performs a calculation for changing the characteristic parameter of the character card based on the “level,” and exhibits a predetermined effect on the character card C1 based on the calculation result of the characteristic parameter of the character card (e.g., when it is greater than or equal to Smax).

Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments directed to a system for controlling the operation of the character that can recognize and process touch inputs at any location on the touchscreen. The system can track the movement of a touch input and generate a game command, such as movement of a character, based on the received touch input. The game command can be stored in a movement buffer. If the position of the touch input changes, the system can update the game command based on the movement of the touch input. If the movement of the touch input exceeds a directional threshold, the system can clear the movement buffer and initiate a new game command based on the touch input. This allows for new game commands to correspond to quick changes in direction provided by the user.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor coupled to a memory storing instructions and to a near field sensor. Execution of the instructions can cause the processor to perform operations including defining a zone corresponding to a portion of an accessory comprising the sensor, detecting a gesture of an object in the zone by sensing the object with the sensor, determining that the gesture is a new gesture not previously associated with the zone and not previously associated with a gaming action controlling presentations produced by a gaming application, associating the gesture with the zone and with the gaming action, subsequently detecting the gesture in the zone, obtaining the gaming action associated with the gesture, and transmitting the gaming action to the gaming application. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A variable-color region (106) of a sports-playing structure of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112), normally appears along it as a principal color, and includes impact-sensitive and color-change components (182 and 184). A boundary line (1306/1308 or 1386/1388) extends along an in-bounds area (1302 or 1382) of the surface. A segment (192) of the impact-sensitive component responds to an object (104) impacting the zone at an object-contact area (116) by providing an impact effect if the impact meets threshold impact criteria. A segment (194) of the color-change component responds to the impact effect by causing an impact-dependent portion (138) of the region to temporarily appear along a print area (118) of the zone as changed color materially different from the principal color. The zone typically adjoins the boundary line or an internal line (1334 or 1396).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes detecting, by the first emotive lighting controller, the wagering game event for which to present the coordinated media show. The method can include executing, by the first emotive lighting controller, an instruction script identifying a first group of media effects for the coordinated media show, and in response to executing the instruction script, causing presentation of the first group of media effects by at least one media device connected, via a network, to the first emotive lighting controller. The method can include detecting a synchronization trigger associated with the coordinated media show, and in response to the synchronization trigger, transmitting a synchronization marker to at least a second emotive lighting controller in the network, wherein the synchronization marker causes the second emotive lighting controller to transition to a second group of media effects for the coordinated media show.

Abstract: A network distributed hybrid game system has a real world server, a game world server, a controller and a global betting manager; the real world server provides a real world credit meter and wagering results, the controller provides an entertainment game, the game world server distributes wager triggers from the controller to the real world server, and interfaces with the global betting manager to provide side bets based on game data from the controller and distributes results of side bets to the real world server that adjusts the real world credit meter.

Abstract: A gaming system that is arranged to facilitate selection of one or more win lines by a player is described. The gaming system comprises a weight allocator for allocating a weight to a wager, the allocated weight being dependent on a number of win lines selected by the player. The gaming system further comprises a prize allocator, and a trigger determiner arranged to determine a trigger condition, the trigger condition being dependent at least in part on the allocated weight. The gaming system is arranged to allocate a prize to a player in response to determination of the trigger condition.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and a front diffuser. The display device is positioned within the cabinet and includes an active area for displaying images of a casino wagering game and an inactive area lacking image display capability. The inactive area is immediately adjacent to the active area. The front diffuser receives light from a light source and diffuses at least a portion of the received light as indirect light viewable from a player position in front of the gaming machine. The diffuser overlaps the inactive area, is adjacent to the active area, and faces the player position.

Abstract: A gaming system comprising a display, an object selector arranged to select at least one object to be placed in each container of a set of a plurality of containers displayed on the display and an outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on at least one characteristic of the object or objects placed in at least part of each container of the set of containers.

Abstract: A variable-color region (106) of a football-playing or baseball/softball-playing structure of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112) and normally appears along it as a principal color. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the variable-color region responds to an object (104) impacting the zone at an object-contact area (116) by temporarily appearing along a closely matching print area (118) of the zone as changed color materially different from the principal color. For football, the zone typically adjoins an end or side line (1446 or 1448) to help determine whether the object, typically a person's shoe, impacted the surface “in” or “out”. For baseball/softball, the zone typically adjoins a foul line (1506) to help determine whether the object, a baseball/softball, impacted the surface “fair” or “foul”.

Abstract: A variable-color region (106) of a tennis-playing structure of an information-presentation structure extends to an exposed surface (102) at a surface zone (112), normally appears along it as a principal color, and includes impact-sensitive and color-change components (182 and 184). A segment (192) of the impact-sensitive component responds to an object (104), typically a tennis ball, impacting the zone at an object-contact area (116) by providing an impact effect if the impact meets threshold impact criteria. A segment (194) of the color-change component responds to the impact effect by causing an impact-dependent portion (138) of the variable-color region to temporarily appear along a closely matching print area (118) of the zone as changed color materially different from the principal color. The zone adjoins a serviceline (34), the centerline (36), a sideline (30), or a baseline (28) to help determine whether a tennis ball impacted the surface “in” or “out”.

Abstract: There is provided a hand-held controller for a virtual-reality system. The hand-held controller includes a user-input surface and a grip coupled to the user-input surface. The user-input surface includes a first user-input key situated on the user-input surface. The first user-input key includes a first capacitive touch sensor to detect a finger of a user hovering above the first user-input key and contacting the first user-input key.

Abstract: Analysis of sporting equipment characteristics may be analyzed using dynamic sampling rates. For example, analyzing a golf swing may include the use of one or more sensors providing data at various sampling rates. According to some aspects, the sampling rate may be dynamically modified upon determination of one or more golf equipment characteristics, environmental conditions, player characteristics and the like. In one example, a sampling rate processor may dynamically select a sampling rate at which data is sampled from one or more sensors. In some examples, by dynamically selecting the sampling rate, an analysis may be tailored to various types, and portions of a golf swing, in addition to producing power consumption by the analysis instruments in the golf club system. According to other aspects, triggering conditions for modifying a sampling rate may be determined from a population of one or more previous golf swings performed by a user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a virtual golf simulation device and method for providing stereophonic sound for weather conditions configured such that it is possible for a user to visually and aurally recognize a weather condition, such as wind, when the user plays a round of virtual golf on a virtual golf course using the virtual golf simulation device, and, in particular, the direction or intensity of the wind is expressed via multi-channel stereophonic sound, whereby it is possible to provide a high level of realism even without actually blowing air.