Patents by Inventor Michael T. Tessmer
Michael T. Tessmer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9761089Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams
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Patent number: 9262891Abstract: A gaming method for adding a bonus feature to a main game comprising: providing a display screen comprised of cells arranged in rows and columns; providing a plurality of paylines, each payline comprising one cell from a plurality of columns; automatically and randomly selecting a multiplier value from among a plurality of multiplier values; automatically and randomly applying the selected multiplier value to a limited number of paylines to create one or more selected multiplier paylines; and displaying the multiplier value and the selected multiplier payline(s) to the user on the display screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: MTD Gaming, Inc.Inventor: Michael T. Tessmer
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Publication number: 20150161844Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams
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Patent number: 8968071Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams
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Publication number: 20140323200Abstract: A gaming method for adding a bonus feature to a main game comprising: providing a display screen comprised of cells arranged in rows and columns; providing a plurality of paylines, each payline comprising one cell from a plurality of columns; automatically and randomly selecting a multiplier value from among a plurality of multiplier values; automatically and randomly applying the selected multiplier value to a limited number of paylines to create one or more selected multiplier paylines; and displaying the multiplier value and the selected multiplier payline(s) to the user on the display screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: MTD Gaming, Inc.Inventor: Michael T. Tessmer
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Publication number: 20140309019Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 8777715Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Publication number: 20140066183Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 8585482Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 8317589Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Publication number: 20110111841Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 7914372Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 7785186Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Publication number: 20100081494Abstract: A gaming apparatus and method of playing a game with a secondary wild symbol matrix in which the symbols in the secondary matrix determine whether symbols in a primary matrix will be treated as wild symbols. In one embodiment, the secondary and primary matrix symbols must be identical and vertically aligned in order for the primary matrix symbol(s) to be treated as wild. In another embodiment, a particular combination of vertically aligned secondary and primary matrix symbols (not necessarily identical) will result in the primary matrix symbol(s) being treated as wild. In yet another embodiment, a certain number of symbols appearing in the secondary matrix will result in one or more primary matrix symbols being treated as wild.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: MTD GAMING, INC.Inventor: Michael T. Tessmer
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Publication number: 20080300050Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Publication number: 20080234034Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 7357714Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 7169041Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams
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Patent number: 7052392Abstract: A video game allows a player to improve odds of success in a bonus game by winning an advantage outcome in association with play of a primary or base game. An exemplary bonus game is the game of Pong where the player can use advantage credits won in play of the primary or base game to provide himself with an advantage such as lengthening his paddle, shortening his opponent's paddle, or slowing the shrinkage rate of his paddle during the course of the bonus game. Alternatively, he may also purchase one or more advantages for use in the bonus game through monetary payment.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: IGTInventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon
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Patent number: 6964416Abstract: The method includes a bonus game associated with a base game that allows players to use skill and memory to determine the outcome of the bonus game. Players are prompted at the beginning of the bonus game to select at least a first and then a second game space from an array of game spaces, revealing previously hidden indicia. The player continues the selections for a predetermined period of time or until some event occurs, terminating the selections. Bonus payouts are awarded in the event the revealed indicia match. Alternative embodiments include allowing players to qualify for a “sneak peek”, wherein all or some hidden indicia on the game space array are revealed for a short period of time, and random shuffling of the indicia to different game spaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: IGTInventors: Monica A. McClintic, Michael T. Tessmer, Julie A. Mottes, William E. Vorias