Abstract: A flash sale mechanic of a virtual game may perform a flash sale transaction based on transaction details for the flash sale transaction. These transaction details may indicate an item for sale, invitation requirements applicable to a player of the virtual game, and transaction requirements applicable to participants of the flash sale transaction. The flash sale mechanic may selectively provide an invitation request to a first player of the virtual game based on the invitation requirements of the flash sale transaction, and may receive acceptance responses from players that choose to participate in the flash sale transaction. The flash sale mechanic may complete the flash sale transaction if it determines that it has received an acceptance response from at least a minimum number of players that are needed to complete the flash sale transaction, and that these players have satisfied the transaction requirements.

Abstract: Spotlight information that contains at least coordinate information indicating a coordinate at which an object is positioned is generated in accordance with a selection operation for selecting the object. A spotlight screen, including a spotlight illuminating region for receiving an operation input and a darkened region for receiving a request to cancel the selection operation, is displayed in accordance with the generated spotlight information. The received selection operation is determined in a case where a selection of the spotlight illuminating region is received. A predetermined region having its center at a coordinate at which the object is positioned is determined as the spotlight illuminating region. A predetermined region including a coordinate on which an object, for which the selection operation is not received, exists is determined as the darkened region in a case where there is the object within the spotlight illuminating region.

Abstract: A batting practice assembly includes a controller-power system, and preferably two ball chutes on a slide bar assembly of a ball release apparatus, which is mounted on a height adjustable frame assembly. Four modes of operation are initiated by a foot-activated mechanism of the practice assembly: I-Ball drops from one ball chute; II-Ball drops randomly from either chute; III-Ball drops randomly from either or neither chute; and IV-Random ball drop from either or neither chute, or ball drops with a slight delay from either chute. Difficulty can be increased by adjusting the height of the ball chutes, increasing the distance between the chutes, or changing the angle of the chutes in relation to the hitter. Along with hitting mechanics, the decision-making aspects of hitting and in swing adjustments are developed using the practice assembly. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Respective orientations (a pitch angle, a roll angle, and a yaw angle) of the input device are detected based on angular velocity data outputted from a gyro sensor unit of an input device. Then, it is determined whether the pitch angle is within a first range or within a second range. When it has been determined that the pitch angle is within the first range, a posture of an object is updated based on the roll angle. When it has been determined that the pitch angle is within the second range, the posture of the object is updated based on the yaw angle. Accordingly, operability can be improved in a game executed in accordance with an orientation of the input device.

Abstract: Golf club telemetry equipment sends signals to a receiver in a golf round data system. The signals uniquely identify the particular club a player has selected for a stroke and the fact that a stroke has been taken. The club identification can occur either before or during a stroke. Automatic detection of clubs and strokes simplifies round data collection for the player. Club identification before a stroke permits a forecast of the result of the stroke to be presented to then player prior to the stroke. The signals can be either acoustic or electromagnetic.

Abstract: An apparatus and method providing at least one input device which enables a player to deposit an amount of money into a gaming device and a memory device configured to store the deposited amount of money. The gaming device displays the deposited amount of money on a credit display. The gaming device includes a wagering game and at least one input device configured to enable the player to initiate a play of the game by inputting a wager using the deposited amount of money. The game includes a plurality of award opportunities. The gaming device determines which of the award opportunities to employ based on the deposited amount of money. In one embodiment, the gaming device provides an enhanced award opportunity if the deposited amount of money is at least a designated amount.

Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a game program for generating a two-dimensional game image representing a state of a three-dimensional game space acquired by a virtual camera so as to display the two-dimensional game image by a display device, and the program is executed so as to calculate the number of pixels included in a linear distance to a target pixel representing a predetermined pixel on the two-dimensional game image, from a sight point pixel corresponding to a sight point of the virtual camera in the three-dimensional game space. Next, a movement rate of the virtual camera is set in accordance with the number of pixels having been calculated. The virtual camera is moved to a predetermined position in the three-dimensional game space in accordance with the movement rate having been set.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an electronic handheld device is provided for receiving information related to a broadcasted sporting contest, and calculating a score based upon the received information. The information is entered into the electronic handheld device via a controller having plurality of buttons, each button having an associated score. The controller includes a display for displaying team information, which may include the team name and the score for each team. The controller further includes circuit board having circuitry operatively connected to the controller for processing the entered information and outputting the processed information to the controller display.

Abstract: Certain examples provide gaming systems and methods. An example gaming system includes a display and a game controller arranged to: cause the display to display a plurality of game displays in which a plurality of games will be carried out; receive a player selection of a game of the plurality of games; carry out the plurality of games in their respective game displays; and make an award upon a comparison of an outcome of the player selected game with an outcome of a non-selected game or games satisfying an award criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods are used to manage the contents of NVRAM in a wagering game machine. NVRAM may be pre-allocated for various purposes prior to loading a first wagering game on a the wagering game machine. A second wagering may be loaded on the wagering game machine. The second wagering game reuses the pre-allocated NVRAM portions for the same purposes as the first wagering game.

Abstract: A slot machine method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a side wager for a slot machine which allows a player on a first machine to win bonus awards when a player on other (participating) machines wins a jackpot. The side wager activates the ability to win a bonus for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of spins on the other machines, or some other limiting factor.

Abstract: A slot machine of the present invention comprises a plurality of rotation reels rotatably installed in a casing; an input device operable by a player; a memory for storing stop positions of the plurality of the rotation reels in a previous game; and a controller, the controller programmed to execute processing of (A) determining the stop positions of the plurality of the rotation reels conditionally on an input from the input device, (B) stopping each of the rotation reels in rotation at the stop position determined in the processing (A), according to the stop position of each of the plurality of the rotation reels in the previous game preliminary stored in the memory and the stop position of each of the rotation reels in a present game determined in the processing (A).

Abstract: A gaming environment is described. In a base game, one or more paylines to be activated and a bet number for the activated paylines are set. If a combination of displayed symbols on the activated payline is a winning combination, an outcome amount is calculated by multiplying a payout number corresponding to the realized winning combination by the bet number, and the calculated outcome amount will be provided to the player. Also, a payout number corresponding to the number of the activated paylines will be additionally provided to the player.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus and method for measuring or analyzing a golf swing. Measurement or analysis is made relative to energy generation and transfer through a player's body and club. The measurement or analysis data is principally obtained from the player's ground-reaction forces. Processed signals are analyzed with an artificial intelligence system. Ground-reaction forces relate to reaction forces which occur between a standing surface and the player's feet. The apparatus and method measures or analyses a golf swing in an automatic manner or in an automatic and interactive manner.

Abstract: This document describes inter alia a method for presenting an interface on a wagering game machine, where the interface includes a plurality of wagering game icons, and where each of the wagering game icons indicates a wagering game that is available on the wagering game machine. The method can include presenting wagering game icons in an interface, wherein the wagering game icons form a row, and wherein each wagering game icon occupies a position in the row, and detecting a sweeping screen touch on a touch screen. The method can also include shifting, based on the sweeping screen touch, the wagering game icons to different positions in the row, where the shifting causes a wagering game icon at an end position in the row to disappear from the interface, and where the shifting also causes a new wagering game icon to appear at another end position in the row.

Abstract: A wagering game is played on an electronic system with a processor, a video display screen and a player input system. The processor recognizing a wager, enabling player input at the specific player position. The processor executes code to display a grid of at least 50, preferably at least 80 frames for display of a unique symbol within each frame of the grid. The processor compares recognized at least three symbols at the specific player position with at least 10 symbols selected by the processor. The processor displays a first arrangement of unique symbols within each frame prior to recognizing selection at the specific player position, and B) the processor displays a second arrangement of the same unique symbols after recognizing selection at the specific player position, the first arrangement of symbols being different from the second arrangement of symbols with respect to distribution of symbols among the frames.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a game of chance in which profile data for social contacts in a social networking system is used to determine whether a player wins or loses the game of chance. Social contacts are randomly selected from a group of social contacts. The social contacts may be obtained from a single data source or from multiple data sources and aggregated. A game player wins if the randomly selected social contacts have one or more profile attributes that match each other. The game may be presented as a slots based game in which profile pictures for the social contacts are the symbols for the reels of the slots game.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for enhancing the experience of a user with an application by presenting past usage of the application. An application is executed in a hosted environment in one or more computing devices. Multiple input commands are obtained from a client, and the input commands are provided to the application. A video signal generated by the application is encoded into real-time content, which is sent to the client. Recorded content from a library of recorded content is sent to the client. Each recorded content presents a past usage of the application.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to improving player performance for trajectory-based sports are described. In particular, sporting devices are described that can be utilized to improve player performance in basketball. The sporting devices can include a camera-based system configured to capture and analyze the trajectory of a shot taken by a player. The camera-based system can be configured to provide feedback that allows a player to optimize the trajectory mechanics associated with shooting a basketball. In one embodiment, the camera-based system can be used in conjunction with a training aid that is attached to a basketball rim. The training aid can be configured to improve the trajectory mechanics of individuals utilizing the modified basketball rim to practice their shooting.

Abstract: In some implementations, a local gaming machine is in communication with a remote gaming machine over a data network. A player input requesting a game application is received at the local gaming machine. The requested game application may be located at the remote gamine machine. It is determined whether the requested game application is available for execution on the remote gaming machine. In some instances, determining availability of the requested game application includes determining compliance with interface specifications, licensing specifications and/or jurisdictional specifications. When the requested game application is available for execution, an instance of the requested game application is reserved on the remote gaming machine. When the instance is executed on the remote gaming machine, output data is sent to the local gaming machine over the data network. In some instances, one or more game parameters can be captured from the received output data.