Abstract: A game apparatus generates a game image for display on a display screen. A size and a shape of an attack input supplied to the game apparatus is determined and one or more characteristics of an attacked game character is changed based on one or both of the size and shape of the supplied attack input.

Abstract: An electronic gaming method and system with a game preview display. A field of game symbols is presented on the game display to the player as a preview for deciding whether or not to play the displayed game. If the player decides to play the game, the player selects a field element to turn the symbol displayed into a wild symbol. The player's selection of the field element for the wild symbol location is received by the game software which determines and displays each winning combination of symbols that is formed by such wild symbol location selection. A new game field can then be constructed and previewed on the game display.

Abstract: A method and system for playing a game are provided. In one embodiment, a party selects one or more songs. A set of songs is then randomly selected from those songs that were actually played, e.g., by a radio station, during a time period. These randomly-selected songs are the contesting-winning songs. If the song(s) that the party selected matches any of the songs in the randomly-selected set, the party is awarded a prize. Accordingly, the party wins a prize if (1) the radio station plays one of the songs the party selected and (2) that song is one of the randomly-selected songs. The award can be tiered such that the size of the prize increases as the number of songs the party guesses correctly increases.

Abstract: A method of operating a plurality of networked gaming machines in which each of the plurality of networked gaming machines is configured to enable a same or a different primary game to be played, may include steps of (randomly, for example) selecting a gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines; activating a secondary game on the selected gaming machine for a limited period of time and generating a player-perceptible indication that the secondary game is active on the selected gaming machine. When the limited period of time has elapsed, a step of de-activating the secondary game on the selected gaming machine may be carried out, whereupon the method may revert to the selecting step. The secondary game appears to the players on the casino floor as a roving and unpredictable opportunity to win additional prizes or bonus, or to be able to enter large outcome games, with animations, sounds and/or other enticing effects running from one gaming machine to another.

Abstract: A display includes a plurality of matrix areas. Each of the areas is operable to display one of plural indicias. A controller determines an occurrence of a win when predetermined indicias are stationarily arranged in the display so as to form a predetermined relative positional relationship at anywhere in the matrix areas.

Abstract: A gaming device that selects one or more offer components and forms an initial offer based on the selected offer components. The gaming device enables the player to accept or reject the initial offer. If the player rejects the initial offer (and the player has at least one offer remaining), then a component number modifier generator selects one of a plurality of component number modifiers. The selected component number modifier alters or changes the number of selected offer components by either adding or subtracting at least one offer component to or from the previously selected offer components. If the selected component number modifier is associated with a negative number or value, then the gaming device deselects at least one of the previously selected offer components. The remaining selected offer components form a subsequent offer which the gaming device enables the player to accept or reject.

Abstract: A prize game apparatus that has plural pairs of pickup arms and can adjust the distance between the pairs of pickup arms is provided. A prize game apparatus includes: a pickup unit capable of moving in specified directions; plural pairs of pickup arms attached to the pickup unit; an opening/closing unit for opening and closing the pairs of pickup arms; and a distance adjustment unit for adjusting the distance between the pairs of pickup arms by moving the pair(s) of pickup arms; wherein a prize is picked up or released by closing or opening the pairs of pickup arms.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes, for example, a CPU, and a ROM and/or a RAM for executing and storing game programs and game program backup data. The RAM has multiple pre-allocated backup game data storage areas for use by different game programs during their respective execution including a single-player game backup data area, a multi-player game backup data area and a shared backup data storage area. The shared backup data storage area is provided for storing information that is accessible in common by a plurality of games, and separate game backup data storage areas are provided for each of the single-player version of a game and the multi-player version of a game.

Abstract: A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a shared or a common secondary display associated with the gaming devices. In one embodiment, the shared display is adjacent to one or more of the gaming devices of the gaming system. The gaming system includes at least one primary game and at least one secondary or bonus game. The bonus game is associated with a plurality of average expected payouts or values. In one embodiment, the bonus game that is played on the secondary display is associated with a higher average expected payout or higher values than the average expected payouts or values of the bonus game played on the individual gaming devices. When the player places a designated wager, they qualify to play the game on the secondary display and thus qualify for a chance to win the higher awards.

Abstract: A gaming system having a plurality of primary game devices sharing a secondary bonus station is disclosed. The secondary game station comprises a secondary game which is configured to provide play pursuant to a triggering event originating from any one of the primary game devices in the gaming environment. The secondary game station is equipped with controls suitable for playing the secondary game. During play of the secondary game station, the triggering primary game device may also be “locked” so that the player may resume playing the primary game subsequent to playing the secondary game.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine may be customized for game play according to one or more preferences using preference information that is not correlated to an identity of a player. Therefore, the gaming machine may be configured to one or more player preferences without requiring the player to reveal their identity. The gaming machine may receive the preference information from at least one of a configuration instrument designed to store preference information, such as a cashless ticket voucher, ii) a display interface on the gaming machine, iii) a remote server, iv) a speech recognition interface on the gaming machine and v) combinations thereof. The preference information used to configure the gaming machine may be selected by the player, selected by a gaming establishment, generated by the gaming machine and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming device and method where there is a primary game and a bonus game. The player makes a wager and plays the primary game to obtain an outcome. Before, during or after the primary game a bonus game is played, apart from the primary game, which can trigger an separate, unrelated award. A bonus award display displays any award from the bonus game.

Abstract: Upon projecting the inside of a virtual space on a prescribed projection plane and generating a two-dimensional image, foremost, the relative position of the operational unit and the relative direction designated with such operational unit are acquired, and these are substituted with the position and direction in the virtual space. Next, the position of the operational unit in the virtual space is shifted a prescribed amount horizontally and/or vertically to set the starting point, and an ending point is set on a virtual line extending along the direction designated by the operational unit in the virtual space. Next, a virtual viewpoint which approximately matches the position and direction of the operational unit in the virtual space is set and subject to projective transformation, and a two-dimensional image containing the trajectory image corresponding to a part or the entirety of the zone connecting the starting point and ending point is generated thereby.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a gaming device includes a novel payout structure wherein, upon placing a wager, an initial value of a prize is established at the gaming device. During the duration of a game play (which may last, in one or more embodiments, for a predetermined number of rounds or a predetermined amount of time) the value of the prize is adjusted based on outcomes or symbols obtained by the player. For example, the value of the prize may be decreased from a substantially high initial value over the course of a game play. At the end of the game play, a player is provided with a prize based on the final value of the prize.

Abstract: A computer game which makes the player operate a falling object that falls in a predetermined display area, and clears the falling object and falling stop objects by combining the falling object and falling stop objects under a predetermined condition. If falling stop objects including blocks that stop falling include a group of blocks which meet a predetermined clear condition, the group of blocks are registered as blocks to be cleared, and the control waits for a clear waiting state. Even in this waiting state, the next falling object begins to fall. After that, when a sequence bar (701) which moves vertically or horizontally in synchronism with a music output along with the progress of the game has passed the blocks to be cleared, these blocks are cleared.

Abstract: The invention is a method of playing computerized card games against real or virtual players. The cards games are usually variations of poker, where the quality of the players' hands is due to skill and strategy rather than the luck of the draw. Players request desired cards from a computerized dealer without knowledge of which cards other players have requested. A null card, which has no value in determining the outcome of the game, is delivered to players who request the same card as another player has requested regardless of whether the card was requested previously or during the current round. In another embodiment, a null card is delivered only when two or more players request the same card during the current round or if a player requests a card that has already been distributed.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a fixed-type game machine and a hand-held type game machine. To the hand-held type game machine, an imaging cartridge is attached, and therefore, when an operator photographs a face image of a desired object, for example, face image data corresponding thereto is produced. In addition, by operating an operating switch of the hand-held type game machine, the operator can input feature data representing a feature of the object. The hand-held type game machine transmits the face image data and the feature data to the fixed-type game machine. The fixed-type game machine deforms provisional three-dimensional character data selected by the operator based on the feature data, and attaches the face image data to the deformed provisional three-dimensional feature data so as to compose an image. A composed image is displayed on an image display device by an animation based on the feature data.

Abstract: An improved golf club swing training system is provided for assisting golfers to improve their golf swing. The golf swing training system includes a golf club including a traditional shaft, head and head face. Moreover, the training system includes a light source for producing a plane of light. Preferably, the light source uses a laser for producing the plane of light which forms a light line when striking the ground or other flat surface. In addition, the swing training system includes a practice mat. The practice mat includes a plurality of substantially straight mat lines which are positioned and aligned to identify proper golf swing position at various points through a golfer's swing. The golf swing training system includes the golfer repetitively practicing his golf swing so that the light source produces a light line which aligns with the mat lines so as to reinforce proper golf swing position.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game having a basic game and a secondary game is disclosed. A wager is received from a player to play a basic game. A plurality of bonus objects are provided within the basic game. The bonus objects are capable of being collected in the basic game. A secondary game is initiated and at least one collected bonus object is provided as a player-selectable bonus object within the secondary game. The bonus object may be capable of providing an enhanced payout in the secondary game. A system is further provided for playing the above-described wagering game having a basic game and a secondary game.