Patents by Inventor Natalie Bryant

Natalie Bryant 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).

  • Patent number: 8734228
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which is arranged to play a game having 2 modes wherein the base game, when in the first mode, has a standard set of features and when in the second mode has an enhanced set of features which improve its attractiveness to players. The first game mode is available to all players and the second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have established membership in a group by inserting a members card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Publication number: 20140135097
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a controller for controlling operation of the machine, a primary display is provided on which a game to be played is displayed. A secondary display is also provided on which a scorecard, indicating prizes to be paid upon a winning game being achieved, is displayed. The game and the scorecard are controlled by the controller and the scorecard is a dynamic scorecard with the relationship between combinations of symbols constituting a winning game and the prizes awarded by the scorecard for that particular game changing from game to game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Phillipa Graham, Natalie Bryant
  • Publication number: 20140094282
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a display, a game controller, and a selector. A player operates the selector to enable the player to place one of a plurality of possible wagers on a play of the game comprising at least a first wager consisting of a base wager, and second and third wagers each consisting of a base wager portion and an additional wager portion. There is no guarantee that the at least one added feature will eventuate in a specific play of the game as a result of the player having staked the additional wager portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Nicholas Luke Bennett, Peter Leslie Walker
  • Patent number: 8641517
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Olive Scott
  • Patent number: 8641504
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a controller for controlling operation of the machine, a primary display is provided on which a game to be played is displayed. A secondary display is also provided on which a scorecard, indicating prizes to be paid upon a winning game being achieved, is displayed. The game and the scorecard are controlled by the controller and the scorecard is a dynamic scorecard with the relationship between combinations of symbols constituting a winning game and the prizes awarded by the scorecard for that particular game changing from game to game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Austrailia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Philippa Graham, Natalie Bryant
  • Publication number: 20140031111
    Abstract: A method of gaming comprising conducting a play of a game for a player, wherein the game comprises a plurality of different game portions and conducting the play of the game comprises conducting at least one of the game portions, determining independently of play of the game whether to trigger a community game, determining upon triggering of the community game, whether the player has an active eligibility in respect of a conducted game portion; and determining, upon the player having an active eligibility, an award to apply in respect of at least one winning outcome of the community game based on at least the identity of the game portion in relation to which the player has an active eligibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, David Villa, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 8636584
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 8632393
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 8591316
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 8562408
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a display, a game controller, and a selector. A player operates the selector to enable the player to place one of a plurality of possible wagers on a play of the game comprising at least a first wager consisting of a base wager, and second and third wagers each consisting of a base wager portion and an additional wager portion. There is no guarantee that the at least one added feature will eventuate in a specific play of the game as a result of the player having staked the additional wager portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Nicholas Luke Bennett, Peter Leslie Walker
  • Publication number: 20130244751
    Abstract: A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Stephen Byng
  • Publication number: 20130190069
    Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The display 14 displays a plurality of spinning reels 18, each reel 18 carrying symbols from a set of symbols. One of the symbols of the set is a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprises more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol. The scatter symbols on the at least one reel are arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition. When more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one time, all the displayed scatter symbols contribute to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: Natalie Bryant
  • Publication number: 20130190070
    Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game (16) wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display (14). If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine (10) awards a prize. When a special symbol is carried by a symbol-carrying element into a display position on the display (14), the special symbol does at least one of altering the prize awarded for a winning result and altering a defined set of winning combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Publication number: 20130184058
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 8475256
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a display. The display includes a plurality of display positions for displaying combinations of symbols. A controller controls operation of the machine. The controller includes a processor for processing data and displaying selected data on the display. A selector is operable by the player of the machine for enabling the player to select at least one feature which can be added to a base game played on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Nicholas Luke Bennett
  • Patent number: 8465357
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a display. The display includes a plurality of display positions for displaying combinations of symbols. A controller controls operation of the machine. The controller includes a processor for processing data and displaying selected data on the display. A selector is operable by the player of the machine for enabling the player to select at least one feature which can be added to a base game played on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Austrialia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Nicholas Luke Bennett
  • Publication number: 20130137502
    Abstract: A gaming system and a method of operating a bonus prize awarding system, the system comprising a plurality of electronic gaming console having a console cabinet 10 including a prize display 12, a coin entry slot 13, a pay out tray 14 and internally mounted game control processor circuits. A video game is provided for play on the console in which images of objects (balls) are dropped through a series of obstacles (pins) and eventually fill a number of containers. Prizes are paid according to either the number of balls which are in each container at the end of the ball drop and/or the manner in which the pins are hit, and bonus prizes are increased progressively upon the occurrence of predetermined game events within the game or external to the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: John Boesen, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 8449382
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Patent number: RE44449
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predetermined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. During the playing of a first game, symbols related to the at first game are displayed on the display. When a trigger condition occurs, a feature game is commenced in which an arrangement of at least some of the symbols of the first game are incorporated as part of a larger image which comprises an image of the feature game, the at least some symbols of the first game contributing to an outcome of the feature game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Linley Muir, Colin Fong, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: RE44833
    Abstract: A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predetermined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. During the playing of a first game, symbols related to the at first game are displayed on the display. When a trigger condition occurs, a feature game is commenced in which an arrangement of at least some of the symbols of the first game are incorporated as part of a larger image which comprises an image of the feature game, the at least some symbols of the first game contributing to an outcome of the feature game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Linley Muir, Colin Fong, Natalie Bryant