Patents Assigned to Konami Gaming, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10580253
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides a game feature. The gaming machine includes an operation unit, a display unit, a memory device and a game control unit. The operation unit receives an operation input of the player. The display unit is configured to display a game screen including computer generated graphics. The memory device stores a game execution program including computer instructions for generating the game feature. The game control unit executes the game execution program to provide the game feature and is coupled to the operation unit, the display unit and the memory device. The game control unit includes a processor programmed to display a game feature structure on the game screen on the display unit. The game feature structure includes a wheel having a plurality of wedges. Each wedge has an associated indicia. The indicia are from a set of indicia which includes a plurality of prize symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Majgan Beria, John Pariseau
  • Patent number: 10559168
    Abstract: A casino management networked computer system is described. The networked computer system includes a database server computer and an application server computer coupled to the database server computer and to a plurality of gaming devices. The database server processor is programmed to generate and store a program file including a patron logic matrix that includes data records of patron ranking information included in the spreadsheet. Each data record includes a market definition value, a patron ranking value, a theoretical loss value, and a comp reinvestment data. The application processor is programmed to calculate patron comp point values based on the comp reinvestment data and patron wager data included in a patron data record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey George, Michael Crittenden
  • Patent number: 10553066
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays a display area with a plurality of cells in a grid. A respective symbol, from a set of symbols, is displayed in each cell. The symbols in the set of symbols having a ranking from lowest to highest and include first and second sub-groups. The symbols in the second sub-group of symbols have a higher ranking than the symbols in the first sub-group. The control unit randomly selects one of the symbols from the second sub-group of symbols. The selected symbols from the second sub-group of symbols and the first sub-group of symbols forming an instant sub-group of symbols. The control unit being further configured to randomly select a plurality of symbols associated with the display area from the instant sub-group of symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Ono
  • Patent number: 10546451
    Abstract: A game machine includes a display device that displays a game screen in which virtual reels formed by symbols are arranged so as to correspond one-to-one to cells as symbol stop positions. And, a game machine determines the symbol to stop in each cell through drawing, and controls a movement to change the symbol and a stop of the movement for each virtual reel based on a drawing result. Furthermore, a game machine determines a number of specific symbols that stop in the cells, and controls a movement of each virtual reel, which causes the specific symbols to appear in the cells, as one virtual reel group and a stop of the movement in units of virtual reel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Hidetomo Yamashita, Hayato Mizue, Hiromitsu Negishi
  • Patent number: 10546448
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a symbol display area. The symbol display area including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid having a plurality of rows and a left plurality of columns and a right plurality of columns. Each column in the left plurality of columns being associated with a mirror column in the right plurality of columns. The control unit is operably coupled to the operation unit, the display unit is configured to initiate a game in response to player operation, and to establish an outcome of the game. Upon detection of a trigger condition, the symbols displayed in the cells of one of the columns are copied to the cells in a mirror column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Hayato Mizue
  • Patent number: 10546454
    Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The control unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and, for each instance of the game, randomly establishes a symbol to be displayed within each of the plurality of cells. The control unit is further configured to provide a first instance of the game and to display the symbols established for the first instance of the game in the respective cells, and to automatically add a new row of cells to the display unit prior to each subsequent instance of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10546466
    Abstract: A method of allowing a player to play a gaming machine is described herein. The method includes displaying, on a display device, a game including at least one reel. The at least one reel includes a plurality of symbol positions that have a plurality of normal symbols positions and a plurality of special symbol positions. The outcome of a game is randomly generated and displayed on the display device. The method also includes randomly determining a number of special symbol positions being displayed with the at least one reel and spinning and stopping the at least one reel to display the generated game outcome, wherein the at least one reel includes the plurality of symbol positions having the determined number of special symbol positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Lee
  • Patent number: 10529173
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprising a processor to execute a game displaying a matrix of symbol containing elements having a plurality of rows and a plurality columns; at least one column comprising a portion of a simulated rotatable reel of a plurality of said symbol containing elements; said simulated rotatable reel comprising sections of symbol containing elements displaying a plurality of symbols; said simulated rotatable reel including at least one section in which a consecutive run of two or more of said elements is populated by a first identical symbol so that, said first identical symbol being used for a first play of said game, a second identical symbol being randomly selected, the first identical symbol being replaced by the second identical symbol in said consecutive run of two or more of said elements, said second identical symbol being used for a second play of said game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Osamu Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 10510205
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit displays a display area with a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The control unit allows a player to establish a wager, to establish one of a plurality of predefined subsets of the cells as a feature area as a function of the wager and to provide a game in response to player operation. The control unit randomly selects a plurality of symbols associated with the display area. Each symbol in the plurality of symbols is associated with one of the plurality of cells in the grid. The plurality of symbols forming an outcome of the game; detect an occurrence of a predetermined symbol in the feature area; and provide a game feature as a function of the occurrence of the predetermined symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Merkel, John Pariseau
  • Patent number: 10467865
    Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described herein. The gaming device displays a primary game including a plurality of reels and a plurality of symbols displayed with reels, generates an outcome of the primary game, and provides a primary award as a function of the outcome. The gaming device detects a triggering condition occurring with the primary game and responsively displays a secondary game including a game board having a plurality of paths and a plurality of position locations defined along each of the plurality of paths. The gaming device determines a current player position within the game board and responsively displays a player symbol at the current player position. The current player position is associated with one of the plurality of position locations and is indicative of a previous position location of the player symbol at a completion of a previous secondary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Konami Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Gilmore
  • Patent number: 10453305
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine displays a primary game including a plurality of reels, detects a triggering condition occurring with the primary game and responsively displays a secondary game. The secondary game includes a player character and an enemy character being displayed on an animated game field. The gaming machine randomly selects an enemy strength value associated with the enemy character, randomly selects a player strength value associated with the player character, and determines an outcome of the secondary game including whether the player character defeats the enemy character as a function of the player strength value and the enemy strength value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Gilmore, Jayme Neverton, Ali Minaian
  • Patent number: 10453310
    Abstract: A gaming system for providing a tournament skill-based game to players is described herein. The gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines including a host gaming machine and a plurality of node gaming machines. Each of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to provide a skill-based game to a player. The host gaming machine is configured to transmit a data file to each participating node gaming machine indicating the selected musical soundtrack, the associated number of skill events, and the associated sequential display pattern. The host gaming machine is configured to transmit an initiation signal to each participating node gaming machine causing each participating node gaming machine to initiate the tournament skill game in coordination with the host gaming machine. Each participating gaming machine simultaneously conducts a round of the tournament skill game including displaying the skill events in the sequential display pattern with the selected musical soundtrack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Hirai, Toru Omoto, Shoki Kogure
  • Patent number: 10431039
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to an aspect of the present invention includes a display device displaying a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of symbol regions populated with symbols, at least one of the plurality of reels having a symbol region group including the symbol regions in a row, and a controller connected to the display device to control display of the display device. The controller determines a stop position by one unit stop position for the symbol region group in at least one reel, when spinning and stopping each of the plurality of reels displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10424148
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a gaming system and method of providing a game. The system is configured to display a plurality of symbol positions displayed on a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns having an associated reel, reel strip, a plurality of symbol positions and game symbols displayed in each of the symbol positions in a predetermined order defining a reel layout. The method includes: initiating a game; establishing a first and second interval comprising at least two spins of the reels, the reel strip associated one of the reels has a first reel layout used during the spins of the first interval; and changing the pattern of the reel strip of one reel strip at the end of the first interval, before initiating the second interval, to a second reel layout, wherein the second reel layout is used for the spins of the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10403097
    Abstract: To provide a gaming machine that can provide a novel game in which the game progression is varied, a method, and a program for providing a game. In the gaming machine 1, the symbol blocks B1 and B2 displayed in the block display region 66 move in the directions D1 and D2, which intersect in the direction of reel rotation, when moving in the symbol display region 60. That is, the symbol blocks B1 and B2 are added to the movement in the direction of reel rotation, and also move in a direction orthogonal to the direction of reel rotation. Therefore, compared to a case in which a symbol block moves in the direction of reel rotation, prediction by a player of the positions where the symbol blocks B1 and B2 are finally disposed is difficult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10360753
    Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display first and second display areas. A number of free bonus may be awarded during a primary game. During the free spins, any occurrences of a predetermined symbol is copied to the second display area. After the free spins, a secondary bonus may be provided using the second display area and the copied symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10354493
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine displays a primary game on the display device including a plurality of reels being displayed in a grid that includes cells arranged in rows and columns. The gaming machine generates an outcome of the primary game and detects a triggering condition appearing in the outcome of the primary game including the appearance of a plurality of trigger symbols. The gaming controller initiates a bonus feature game in response to detecting the triggering condition including generating an outcome of bonus feature game including replacing the trigger symbols with a special symbol being displayed within a special symbol area that includes each cell associated with the trigger symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Hiraku Kudo
  • Patent number: 10332333
    Abstract: A game machine uses a lottery region containing the cells, provides a game opportunity that changes symbols on the cells by causing the symbols of a symbol group to appear on the portion of the cells, determines by lottery, at least a portion of the symbols which should constitute the symbol group, causes at least the portion of the symbols constituting the symbol group to appear in the lottery region based on a lottery result so as to change at least the portion of the symbols arranged on the cells by moving the symbol group including the symbol determined by the lottery result on a movement path containing two directions and stopping the symbol group so that at least the portion of the symbols of the symbol group is arranged on the cells, and determines a prize winning based on the symbols arranged on the cells by the symbol group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10332339
    Abstract: A gaming system provides a center control unit and a plurality of gaming stations. The center control unit is provides a main game to a plurality of players. The center control unit is configured to randomly establish an outcome of the main game from a plurality of potential outcomes. The gaming stations accept a wager on the main game from respective players, receives the outcome of the main game and pays an award to one of the players as a function of the outcome of the main game. The center control unit randomly establishes one of the players as eligible for a bonus game, selects one of the potential outcomes of the main game as a bonus game eligible outcome, and if the bonus game eligible outcome is the outcome of the main game, provides a bonus game to the bonus game eligible player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mukasa Shigehito, Osaki Yukihiro, Ueki Kyohei, Tada Ikki, Tezuka Yoshiaki, Mizoguchi Masao, Mizoguchi Toshiyuki
  • Patent number: 10290188
    Abstract: A game machine is provided. The machine comprises a display and a controller. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each column having an associated reel, each reel having an associated reel strip, each reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol cells in a predetermined order defining a reel layout, at least one of the reel strips having a second reel layout, the second reel layout having an identical symbol in a plurality of consecutive symbol positions. The controller is configured to replace the reel layout with the second reel layout in the at least one of the reel strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Delekta, Keith Rucker, Satoshi Suda