Abstract: A method of increasing gaming activity and entertainment value of games with progressive jackpots including posting or publishing information items sufficient to determine a current expected progressive return of a progressive game, the information items being located on, or adjacent a location of, the game. The information items can include the current expected progressive return, or parameters such as the probability of hitting the progressive jackpot, the current amount of the progressive jackpot, the amount of the qualifying bet, and either the truncated return of the game, or the flat return of the game and the amount of the minimum reset value of the game. The method is suitable for progressive slot machines, Caribbean Stud poker, video poker and keno, and other games with progressive jackpots.

Abstract: A new recommendation technique, referred to as “personality diagnosis”, can be seen as a hybrid between memory-based and model-based collaborative filtering techniques. Using personality diagnosis, all data can be maintained throughout the processes, new data can be added incrementally, and predictions have meaningful probabilistic semantics. Each entity's reported attributes can be interpreted as a manifestation of their underlying personality type. Personality type can be encoded simply as a vector of the entity's “true” values for attributes in the database. Given an active entity's known attribute values, the probability that they have the same personality type as every other entity can be determined. Then, the probability that they will have a given value for a valueless attribute can then be determined based on the entity's personality type. The probabilistic determinations can be used to determine expected value of information.

Abstract: A method for providing bonus jackpot payoffs during a bonus mode time period in a system of linked gaming machines interconnected to a controller. Eligible gaming machines are determined at the time the bonus time period starts. Once the bonus mode time period starts, a portion of the eligible gaming machines are randomly selected for multiple jackpot bonus payoff opportunities. The random selection determines the rate the opportunities are issued and the average length of the bonus mode time period. Once gaming machines are selected they are allowed to complete the game they are currently involved in and should the play result in a winning combination, then the game payoff is multiplied by a bonus multiplier. The underlying gaming machine is responsible, in a conventional fashion, for paying the game payoff and the controller then authorizes a further jackpot bonus payoff of the bonus multiplier less one times the game payoff. The bonus pool value is then decremented by the amount paid by the controller.

Abstract: A method and system (10) for storing preselected Bingo numbers which allows a player to play the same sets of Bingo numbers (56) in multiple sessions of Bingo. The player preselects Bingo numbers to play in multiple Bingo sessions. The numbers are stored in the memory (16) of the computer (12). The player selects which preselected Bingo numbers to play for a specific session of Bingo. A ticket is provided having the selected sets of Bingo numbers with a control number (58) for each selected set of numbers and a validation number (60) for the ticket.

Abstract: A device and method are set forth playing a game of Bingo while at the same time playing Poker. A processor displays a player Bingo card representing a 5×5 matrix and selects a virtue card against which the player competes. Each matrix coordinate has a Bingo number/letter assigned thereto. Bingo numbers are selected and compared to those on the matrices. At each concordance, a playing card value is assigned. The selection is terminated when the virtual Bingo card or player Bingo card obtains a predetermined Bingo. For any predetermined patterns formed by card values on the player Bingo card, the player receives an award. Also the player can select a row, column or diagonal and use the selected cards to form a Poker hand. If the player obtains a predetermined Poker holding, the played receives and award.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method facilitate single user and tournament play of wagering games on a computer-controlled machine. A player provides control input in order to control the game. The machine simulates the rolling of dice to obtain scoring combinations, and the player makes strategic gaming decisions concerning the holding, releasing and re-rolling of the dice, and the assignment of the resulting dice combinations to scoring categories. A game progresses as a player attempts to fill a plurality of scoring categories in order to achieve a high total score. A player wagers on each simulated roll of the dice, and is paid for winning assignments of combinations to categories. The computer-controlled slot machines are generally linked to a wide area network, facilitating tournament play among multiple players and progressive jackpots. Computer-controlled slot machines include machine-readable media reading and writing devices, allowing players to save and restore games in progress.

Abstract: An electronic game apparatus constituting a body 101, comprising legs 103, and being capable of placement on an arbitrary surface. Further, a portion of the switches 102 of an operating portion are arranged in a location that differs from the surface on which a display panel 100 is provided, making operation easy.

Abstract: A system reads an identifier from a hand of cards to identify the cards. For example, the system can read an identifier from a pair of cards forming the initial hand in blackjack, where the one card is face up and the other card is face down. The system determines the value of a hand of cards form the read identifiers. For example, the system can determine a value of an initial hand of two cards in blackjack, while only one card is face up. The system can inform a dealer of the value, or status based on value, of the hand. The system can determine whether cards forming a hand of cards are authenticate by validating the cards based on the read identifier. The system can determine if the cards forming the hand of cards are in an expected sequence based on a knowledge of the initial sequence of cards in a deck.

Abstract: A connection-fighting type game machine that enables game character progression when game machines are physically connected together. The connection-fighting type liquid crystal game machine may be connected to another game machine of the same kind. Convex and concave sections of the housing of each machine assist in aligning the machines when they are connected together. A growth degree changing processing section improves the growth degree of the character that has gained a victory, performs a growth degree changing processing by leaving as it is or lowering the growth degree of the character that has suffered a defeat.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to ensure that a threshold game result is possible. According to one embodiment, a game condition associated with a game of skill is established. The game of skill may be, for example, a puzzle game (e.g., a word puzzle game or a graphical puzzle game) or an arcade-style game. It is determined that at least one set of possible player inputs during game play will produce at least a threshold game result given the established game condition. The threshold game result may be associated with, for example, prizes provided to players based on game results.

Abstract: In connection with a game of chance in which numbers are selected, a player may wager that the lowest of the selected numbers may be a “high” number or the highest of the selected numbers may be a “low” number. If the player has correctly wagered on the “high” number or the “low” number, the player receives a payout with the amount of payout varying depending on how low the “high” number is or on how high the “low” number is.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device having a plurality of player selectable selections, steps towards termination associated with each selection, a termination limit and an offer associated with each number of steps. The steps are associated with or determine the offers provided to the player. The game provides no further offers when the maximum number of offers have been awarded, the player accepts an offer, or the player's accumulated steps meet or exceed the termination limit. The game preferably provides a consolation award to the player when the player's steps meet or exceed the termination limit.

Abstract: A virtual matrix comprised of a plurality of grid elements is provided, on which a hidden pattern, comprised of a plurality of matrix entries, is randomly placed. A player views a gaming matrix having a plurality of visible positions, each visible position corresponding to one of the grid elements. The player chooses at least one of the plurality of visible positions on the gaming matrix, after which the game displays the corresponding grid element of the virtual matrix on the gaming matrix. Based on the correct number of guesses matching the pattern location, the player is awarded and a media presentation signals the player's success. If the player guesses incorrectly, a second media presentation signals the incorrect guess.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a game apparatus body and a manual controller for entering an operation command signal from a game player into the game apparatus body. The manual controller is provided therein with a vibrating motor. The game apparatus body calculates virtual damage of a player character caused by an attack from an enemy character, and determines a vibration interval based on the calculated damage. The game apparatus body drives the vibrating motor of the manual controller according to the determined vibration interval so that the manual controller is vibrated at the determined vibration interval.

Abstract: A simplified matchmaker matches users of a computer network, such as the Internet, based on the number of games the users have abandoned. A one-action input is received at a requesting client application executing on a computer connected to the computer network. Next, information that is stored within the computer is collected. The information is stored within the computer using a process that is unrelated to and separate from the one-action input received from the user. Then, at least one message is sent from the requesting client application to a host computer connected to the computer network containing information relating to a request for initiating a matchmaking process on the host computer that matches requesting user into an online interactive session along with other suitable users, such that each suitable user is connected to the computer network through a client application compatible with the requesting client application.

Abstract: A portable game apparatus includes a housing is provided with an LCD and an insertion hole. A cartridge incorporating a program ROM is inserted in the insertion hole. A CPU in the housing processes a game program to display game scenes on the LCD. The cartridge further incorporates an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor detects movement and tilt of the housing. When the housing is positioned at an angle easy to play, if an operation key is operated, neutral position data is stored to an internal RAM. During game play, an output of the acceleration sensor is corrected by the neutral position data so that the CPU controls game scene display according to a corrected output of the acceleration sensor.

Abstract: An electronic slot machine (10) and method of use which allows a player to completely replace up to all of the initial symbols displayed after the first draw in order to create, improve or even lose a winning combination. In its preferred form, the electronic slot machine of the present invention features a video monitor (10) with a plurality of separate symbol display boxes (32) arrayed in rows and columns. When the machine is activated, one or more random numbers are generated in the slot machine's microprocessor (15) to determine which symbols are to be displayed in each of the symbol display boxes. If a suitable winning combination is not formed with the initial symbols, the player is given opportunities to select up to all of the symbol display boxes for replacement.

Abstract: A lockable security cabinet for game controllers of the type used to operate electronic slot and card games in gambling casinos. The cabinet includes multiple key locking doors and key operated control switches to allow access to specific areas and controls of a main cabinet thereof housing the computers and other electronics only by authorized persons having the proper key for reach particular area or control switch. The cabinet is slidably mounted to a locking base which bolts into a recess in a gaming table allowing the main cabinet to also be recessed therein yet slide out in a cantilevered fashion to access the doors and controls. The base includes a side or rear cable locking enclosure allowing access to and disconnecting of ends of cables connected to the game controller only upon unlocking of the base and outward sliding of the main cabinet.

Abstract: A sound elimination game and apparatus includes an electronic game having a housing supporting a plurality of user depressible button thereon. Each button is supported within the housing by a light and button assembly and includes a latent image and means for illuminating the latent image. A control circuit is supported within the housing and is operative to selectively illuminate one or more of the light and button assemblies to reveal the latent image thereon. The control circuit is further operative to activate a sound circuit also within the housing to provide character sounds in association with the illuminated buttons on the housing. Game play is provided in which the entire group of character buttons is simultaneously illuminated and in which the character sounds associated with all of the character buttons is simultaneously sounded.

Abstract: A casino gaming apparatus is disclosed which includes a controller programmed to generate an audio signal. The controller is operatively linked to an ultrasonic audio processor. The ultrasonic audio processor is programmed to convert the audio signal received from the controller into an ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic audio processor is operatively linked to an ultrasonic emitter which emits the ultrasonic signal along a column of air in front of the gaming apparatus. The ultrasonic signal is demodulated into audible sounds along the column by interaction of the ultrasonic signal with air to produce audible sound substantially confined within the column. The column intersects the position where the player stands or sits. Accordingly, sounds are generated by the gaming apparatus are confined to an area occupied by the player and provide little or no distractions for players using adjacent gaming apparatuses.