Patents Examined by Jeffrey C. Panos
  • Patent number: 7128647
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for three-dimensional gaming are disclosed. A three-dimensional casino game includes additional display layers, additional game options, and additional game evaluation methods over a traditional two-dimensional casino game. The three-dimensional casino game allows a player to select one or more three-dimensional game options such as how many layers to include in the game and which game positions are “staked.” For example, in a video slot machine, the player may select three layers of reels and place a transparent stake indicator over the center reel position. The player's selections may determine one or more game evaluation methods and display modes. After one or more random numbers are generated, the outcome of the game is displayed three-dimensionally to the player based on the selected game evaluation methods and display modes. Many different game evaluation methods and payouts are possible in a three-dimensional casino game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: David Hugh Muir
  • Patent number: 7125334
    Abstract: A game machine for providing a game, the regularity of which cannot be easily recognized by the player, by making use of a chaotic random number produced by a random number generating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Akiharu Miyanaga, Toshiji Hamatani, Norihiko Seo
  • Patent number: 7104886
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of a gaming device having an element and element group selection and elimination bonus scheme for randomly determining an award. The gaming device provides a selection and elimination sequence of an element from a group. The bonus scheme continually selects and eliminates a next element from a successive group at least containing the previously selected element. The bonus scheme awards a player when the game ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Bayard S. Webb
  • Patent number: 7104890
    Abstract: A program which can dynamically and realistically express an impact which a game character rendered by motion data receives is provided. In bullet ball-related processing (S114), determination is made about whether a bullet ball hits either one of node assigned balls. When the determination is affirmative, a torque at a hit point is calculated as an impact magnitude and the node assigned balls are disposed, through calculation of a rotation angle per frame, to nodes whose coordinate positions are corrected in metaball update processing (S120), density is calculated for each vertex of voxels from a reference position of each metaball towards the minimum direction and the maximum direction of a voxel index of the voxels according to a calculation equation expressing a solid shape in density distribution processing (S122), and vertex coordinates of polygons are calculated based upon density of each metaball at the vertex coordinates of the voxels and a predetermined threshold in marching cube processing (S124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Koei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jumpei Tsuda, JaeYoung Kim
  • Patent number: 7025677
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a game emulator program that allows a game to be played on a game machine using a display device having a resolution that is lower than the resolution for which the game is designed, while reproducing a game image that is close to that of the original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kawase