Abstract: A stamping die includes an upper die member, a lower die member, and at least one guidance member operably disposed to guide relative movement between the upper and lower die members. The members are movable relative to one another in reciprocating motion along an axis to generate work-pieces. The guidance member has a guiding surface for guiding relative movement between the die members. The guidance member also has at least one wear indicator cavity recessed from the guiding surface. A depth of the wear indicator cavity corresponds to the extent of acceptable wear of the guiding surface. The cavity allows for visual inspection of the extent of wear of the at least one guidance member and thus obviates the requirement that the guidance member be removed from the stamping die for inspection.

Abstract: A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.

Abstract: Techniques for simulating destruction in a simulated space, for example, terrain, are disclosed herein. In some cases, one or more textures may be associated with an area of a simulated space, which may include a three dimensional space. A destructibility value, which may indicate the area's resilience to destruction or strength, may be associated with the area of simulated space. One or more textures of the simulated space may be changed or updated based on the occurrence of a destruction causing event. The change in one or more textures of the simulated space may be determined based at least in part on an intensity associated with the destruction causing event and the destructibility value of the affected simulated area.

Abstract: Various aspects described or referenced herein are directed to different methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing automated money laundering detection, notification, and reporting techniques implemented at casino gaming networks.

Abstract: A gambling smart card with betting limits is used in a gambling system. A gambler uses a smart card to place bets in a casino. The bet is reduced by a factor previously chosen by the gambler and agreed to by the casino. The smart card is programmed to reduce the bet by the agreed upon factor or percentage. The player appears to be betting more than the player actually bets because the winnings or losses will be reduced by the agreed upon factor.

Abstract: A method of allowing a player to play a gaming machine is described herein. The method includes displaying a game including a plurality of reels displayed in a display area. Each reel of includes a reel strip including a plurality of normal symbols positions and a plurality of special symbol positions. The method includes randomly generating an outcome of the game and displays the game outcome on the display device, wherein the game outcome including at least one special symbol position being displayed on at least one reel of the plurality of reels in the display area. The method also includes determining a symbol selection factor as a function of the generated game outcome, randomly selecting at least one special symbol as a function of the symbol selection factor, and displaying the game outcome including the selected special symbol displayed in the special symbol position.

Abstract: Based on posture/motion information obtained from predetermined detection means for detecting a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, a virtual plane is calculated at a predetermined timing and set as reference plane. Then, based on motion information, the posture of the input device is calculated as necessary. In accordance with the posture of the input device with respect to the reference plane, predetermined game processing such as moving an object in a virtual space or the like is executed.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus has both a base wagering game apparatus with a processor, symbol display component and player input controls, and a secondary game element visible from the base wagering game. The secondary game element has a see-through container that is liquid proof, a fluid source and a pump to move fluid into and out of the see-through container. Winning outcomes in the base wagering game cause the pump in the secondary game element to change a visible volume of liquid within the container so that a changed level of liquid within the container can be seen. When a predetermined level of liquid is attained within the container, a bonus payment or bonus game is initiated as a resolution of wagers placed through the player input controls.

Abstract: One embodiment of an adjustable aiming aid device for first-person video games, video simulators, and similar video-based human-computer interactions in which the protagonist launches projectiles on targets. The device comprises an attachment unit and a sighting unit. The attachment unit is utilized to attach the device to a monitor, the monitor having a screen on which the software-generated visual environment is displayed. The sighting unit is utilized to position a sight at a predetermined location between the user and the screen, in a plane approximately parallel to the screen. The sight assists the user in aligning one's line of vision with the location on the screen towards which the software-simulated projectiles are launched. The sight is positioned in a different plane of focus than the screen, thus creating a new user experience. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A video game processing apparatus for controlling progress of a video game while displaying a three-dimensional avatar, arranged within a virtual space, on a display screen of a the display device is provided. A three-dimensional partial model is generated on the basis of two-dimensional image data inputted by a user of the video game processing apparatus. The three-dimensional partial model constitutes at least apart of a body of a three-dimensional avatar, including a face portion of the three-dimensional avatar. A plurality of three-dimensional partial models thus generated is stored in a three-dimensional partial model memory. At least one three-dimensional partial model for each scene in the video game is specified from the plurality of three-dimensional partial models. The display device is caused to display the three-dimensional avatar, which includes the specified three-dimensional partial model, in a corresponding scene on the display screen.

Abstract: A golf aid for assisting a user in reading a green includes a user tracking system to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and maintains a representation of a topology for each of a plurality of golf greens, receives an indication of the location of the user from the user tracking system, identifies one of the plurality of golf greens that is the closest to the user, and displays a representation of the topology within the field of view of the user via the heads up display.

Abstract: This application discloses a game that engages a user in correctly reproducing the duration of notes (short, long) to reproduce a melody from a sequence of notes. The melody becomes recognizable when the durations are approximately correct. As a game, the processing system may score the selected durations and provide feedback to the gamer. This technology can be implemented as a method, device, system or article of manufacture. In addition, for some jurisdictions, it can be described as software that produces a technical effect.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are described for managing audio chat for an online video game or application. For example, a system according to one embodiment comprises: an online video game or application execution engine to execute an online video game or application in response to input from one or more users of the video game or application and to responsively generate audio and video of the video game or application; and a chat subsystem to establish audio chat sessions with the one or more users and one or more spectators to the video game or application, the chat subsystem establishing a plurality of audio chat channels including a spectator channel over which the spectators participate in audio chat and a user channel over which the users participate in audio chat.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to multi-user online gaming systems, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable customizable teams for online active games. In an embodiment, the system includes an online game session server system communicatively coupled to a network for access by a plurality of users to establish a plurality of real-time interactive games sessions, wherein each game session includes at least one team and wherein the at least one team may be established in accordance with a preferred composition defined by a user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method that includes displaying a group of numbers to a first and second player. The system and method further includes receiving a group of N numbers and a sequence of numbers for first and second players. The system and method includes receiving a wager, fold indication or raise indication from the first or second player and receiving an event result that includes N winning numbers corresponding to winning participants and a winning sequence of N winning numbers. The system and method includes receiving a wager, fold indication or raise indication from a first or second player and comparing the N winning numbers and winning sequence to the numbers and sequences for the first and second players. The system and method includes identifying a winning player matching winning criteria of a higher ranking winning category and distributing a winning pool of wagers to the one winning player.

Abstract: A method includes the following operations: (1) executing an application that that generates a series of video frames using a graphics processing unit (GPU); (2) determining that a first video frame in the series has been completely written to a back buffer; (3) determining whether a current scan line of a second video frame is outside of a specified region, where the second video frame is stored in a front buffer and is being read out line by line following receipt of a monitored synchronizing signal; (4) presenting the first video frame to the front buffer without frame transitions, if the current scan line is outside of the specified region and is in a vertical blanking interval (VBI); and (5) presenting the first video to the front buffer with frame transitions, if the current scan line is outside of the specified region and is not in the VBI.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system for providing a virtualized application hosting environment comprising: a plurality of application/game servers each having a memory for storing application program code and data and a processor for executing the application program code and processing the data on behalf of a client; a virtualization service executed on each of the application/game servers, the virtualization service comprising a file redirection module for redirecting file system operations generated by the application program code to one or more virtualized file locations; and a registry redirection module for intercepting registry operations generated by the application program code and executing the registry operations on behalf of the application program code at one or more virtualized registry locations.

Abstract: A computer game interface is disclosed, having controller inputs configured to receive an input signal from a user interface controller and to enable the user to control a user controllable element of a game on a computer. The computer game interface also has a controller output that sends an output signal to the computer, the output signal having information to control the user controllable element of the game. Another element of the computer game interface is a switching module in communication with the controller inputs and the controller output. The switching module selects an input signal from the input signals received by the controller inputs and communicates the input signal to the controller output. An additional element of the computer game interface is a timer controlling the switching module to switch the input signal communicated to the controller output based on a time period.

Abstract: A drive control system has: a plurality of drive control devices; and an upper-level control device to which each of the drive control devices is connected in parallel with each other via a common signal line. The upper-level control device transmits a common information acquirement request signal to each of the drive control devices. Upon receiving the information acquirement request signal, each of the drive control devices determines transmission start timing for a response signal based on transmission sequence information indicating its transmission sequence and a length of the response signal such that the response signal does not temporally overlap with a response signal being transmitted from another drive control device to the upper-level control device. Each of the drive control devices transmits the response signal to the upper-level control device via the signal line at its transmission starting timing.

Abstract: A system and method are described for managing the state of an online video game. A method includes initiating a new online video game in response to user input from a client device, the online video game being in a first state on a first server when initiated; executing the online video game on the server, thereby causing the online video game to enter a second state; pausing or terminating the online video game; determining differences between the first state and the second state and generating difference data containing the differences; transmitting the difference data over a network to a second server; and recreating the second state from the difference data and the first state in response to user input indicating that the user wishes to resume the online video game and in response to the second server being selected as the server on which to execute the video game.