Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: determining which of a plurality of gaming devices, each operable for independent play of one or more games, are eligible for an additional game; initiating an additional game; and determining in response to initiation of the additional game, which eligible gaming devices will participate in the initiated additional game, the determination including a random determination in respect of at least one of the eligible gaming devices to determine whether the respective eligible gaming device will participate in the additional game.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein provide a game that includes at least two users that each have a preconfigured set of playable virtual entities. The users draw playable virtual entities from each of their respective sets of playable virtual entities, and can play the playable virtual entities in one or more battles to facilitate moving a virtual positional marker towards a goal or shooting a goal, wherein the battle procedures are based on a turn priority. Certain attributes are associated with the playable virtual entities so that playable virtual entity effects, OVR values, and salary values can affect which playable virtual entities are in a deck and how the playable virtual entities are affected by the location of the virtual positional marker and/or other playable virtual entities.

Abstract: A method for displaying a video game to spectators includes receiving votes from spectators to remove a player from a video game. The method also includes determining whether the number of votes received to remove the player from the video game meets a threshold level required to trigger removal of the player from the video game. If the number of votes received to remove the player from the video game meets the threshold level required to trigger removal of the player from the video game, the method includes generating a command configured to cause the player to be removed from the video game. The method also can include animating the removal of the player and providing visual cues to other players or spectators as to why the player was removed from the video game.

Abstract: A method of runtime animation substitution may include detecting, by a processing device of a video game console, an interaction scenario in an instance of an interactive video game, wherein the interaction scenario comprises a target animation associated with a game character. The method may further include identifying, by the processing device, a valid transitional animation. The method may further include causing, by the processing device, the valid transitional animation to be performed by the game character in the instance of the interactive video game.

Abstract: A method for user matching is provided. A matching request is received from a client. The matching request includes an application identifier and a user identifier. When the application identifier indicates that a matching mode for the matching request is an asynchronous mode, a matching queue identifier is obtained based on the matching request, the user identifier is added to a matching queue corresponding to the matching queue identifier, a predetermined number of user identifiers is selected from the matching queue, a matching result is generated that includes an identifier of a matching group of the selected predetermined number of user identifiers, and the matching result is sent to the client. The predetermined number of user identifiers includes the user identifier in the matching request.

Abstract: A computer server system for use in placing wagers on live sporting events is described herein. The server system includes a database and a server computer. The database includes a list of user account records and a list of wagering event records. Each wagering event record including a receiving book ID and information associated with a wagering event including one or more betting lines. The receiving book ID associated with a receiving booking entity associated with the wagering event. Each user account record including a unique user ID and a home book ID. The home book ID associated with a home booking entity. The server computer is programmed to generate a unique booking record including a unique session ID, a home book ID, a receiving book ID, and a wagering event record associated with a wager.

Abstract: A hand held controller for a games console comprising an outer case and at least one control located on the controller. The controller is shaped to be held in at least one hand of a user such that the at least one control is operable by the user. The at least one control extends through an aperture provided in the outer case, and wherein the controller comprises a removable buffer mounted within the aperture.

Abstract: A game controller includes a joystick that accepts end user inputs and has illumination provided at the game controller surface encircling the joystick to provide indications to an end user, such as a locally-determined game controller status or a game application end user energy state. The illumination is provided from light emitting diodes disposed within the game controller interior on a flexible printed circuit board and coupled to a base of an annular light guide by a gasket to direct illumination into the annular light guide. Non-translucent treatment at the light guide on the game controller surface defines a translucent region at which illumination is presented.

Abstract: A method of operating a gaming device, comprising: displaying an arrangement of a predetermined number of symbol windows; receiving a selection of a number of the windows equal to the unique selection number and causing the display to present a graphical indication of the selected windows; undertaking play of a game, wherein as a result of the base game, each window is associated with a symbol, and wherein each symbol is displayed on the touchscreen display within its associated window, and wherein each symbol is randomly selected from a set comprising one or more first symbols and one or more second symbols; determining that one or more of the selected windows comprises a first symbol as a result of play of the base game; and awarding an award in accordance with the number of selected windows comprising first symbols and an award rule associated with the selected number of windows.

Abstract: A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and, in particular, to back-betting within a gaming system. As an example, a back-betting system is disclosed to include a first communication interface that facilitates machine-to-machine communications with an Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) of a gaming system, where the first communication interface is used to exchange state-of-play information with the EGM. The system is also disclosed to include a second communication interface that facilitates machine-to-machine communications with a mobile device, where the second communication interface is used to exchange back-bet wager information and deliver an indication of an outcome of a back-bet placed during a back-betting session established with the mobile device.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system includes a progressive system server configured to establish a tiered plurality of progressive jackpots that includes a first jackpot increasable a first cap value, a second jackpot increasable to a second cap value greater than the first cap value, and at least one intermediate jackpot increasable to at least one intermediate cap value greater than the first cap value and less than the second cap value. The progressive system server is further configured to allocate portions of player wagers to one of i) the first jackpot, ii) the at least one intermediate jackpot, and iii) the second jackpot, whereby the first jackpot is initially incrementally increased to the first cap value, the at least one intermediate jackpot is next incrementally increased to the at least one intermediate cap value, and the second jackpot is next incrementally increased to the second cap value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a program for a game in which characters operated by an electronic device and other electronic devices are placed in a common game field to play the game, the program causing the electronic device to execute receiving positions of the individual characters in the game field from a server; displaying a radar screen and icons; determining whether or not one of the icons has been touched; obtaining a touch termination position indicating a touched position that is detected just before a touch termination in a case where an icon has been touched and the touch has been terminated; determining whether the touch termination position falls within a predetermined range; and sending a sending request to the server in a case where the touch termination position falls within the predetermined range so that the server will send icon information to at least one of the other electronic devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering a virtual reality (VR) experience of a real world space to a remote user via a head mounted display (HMD). A method provides for sending a request for the VR experience of the real world space and identifying a viewing location made by the user. The method includes operations for mapping the viewing location to a real world capture system for capturing video and audio at a location that corresponds to the viewing location and receiving real world coordinates for the real world capture system. Further, the method accesses a user profile of the user and receives a video stream of the real world space captured by the real world capture system. The method is able to identify and reskin a real world object with a graphical content element by overlaying the graphical content item in place of the image data associated with the real world object.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a control section to generate a control signal that controls an operation of a tactile feedback apparatus including a tactile feedback section. The control section changes control on the tactile feedback apparatus on the basis of a type of the tactile feedback section which is recognized by the control section.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and article of manufacture for computing an aggregate tax liability at a gaming device comprises receiving an indication from the gaming device of a start and end of a gaming period. A plurality of games are played by a player during the gaming period. The amount of the player's winnings and losses for each game played is monitored. A total winnings and a total losses incurred by the player during the gaming period is computed, and an aggregate amount that comprises a summation of the total winning and the total losses during the gaming period is also computed. Based on the location of the gaming device, determine a jurisdiction that governs the aggregate tax liability. Compute the aggregate tax liability based on the aggregate amount and the jurisdiction.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game, from which a spin and hold feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display and the player is provided more spins during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. At the end of the feature game, the player is awarded a prize based on the values carried by the configurable symbols. During play of the feature game, the configurable symbols include repeater symbols whose value is determined by summing the values of the configurable symbols that triggered the feature game.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each column of symbol positions includes a plurality of symbols selected from an associated reel strip of a plurality of reel strips. The processor is also configured to select the symbols for each column, and control the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip prior to controlling the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol. The processor is also configured to determine whether a first column includes the prize sub-category symbol as well as whether a second column includes the prize category symbol.

Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus includes a head mountable display (HMD) to display video content; an orientation detector to detect a current orientation of the HMD; and a display generator to generate video content for display by the HMD, the video content representing a portion of a virtual environment, the display generator selecting the portion for display by the HMD in dependence upon: a current orientation of the HMD; and a location within the virtual environment of a feature of interest.

Abstract: This is disclosed an electronic method of gaming. The method comprises selecting a symbol for display at each display position of a plurality of sets of display positions (710), modifying the displayed symbols by interchanging a first set of symbols displayed at a first set of display positions with a second set of symbols displayed at a second set of display positions (740), and determining whether to make an award based on the symbols displayed at the plurality of sets of display positions as modified 750. There is also disclosed a gaming system, a game controller and a gaming machine corresponding to the electronic method.