Abstract: A system and method for playing a wagering game uses a wireless gaming device including an identification code, entry apparatus for entering wagering information by a player, and a transmitter. A receiver receives the identification code and the wagering information transmitted by the transmitter of the wireless gaming device. The receiver polls the wireless gaming device to determine whether the player has entered wagering information to be transmitted to the receiver.

Abstract: A computer program displays a virtual environment and a character in the virtual environment. The character includes a body and a replaceable head. Player control signals from an input device control replacement of the character's replaceable head and other character actions in the virtual environment. The computer program may attribute play characteristics to the character based on the head in place on the character at a given time. These characteristics may be thematically consistent with the displayed appearance of the head in place. The program may allow a player to select a set of character heads for use with the character. The program may allow the player to collect heads from the virtual environment and store the collected heads for use. The program may offer communication with other connected computer systems facilitating a multi-player or on-line interact hosted game.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a network server connected to a plurality of gaming devices that are adapted to provide a video payout on each play based on a set of payout parameters. Memory at each gaming device stores payout parameters that correspond to each possible gaming result or outcome. When a play is initiated by a player, a gaming result is generated at a gaming device. The gaming device responds by accessing a corresponding payout parameter from the memory which may be a monetary amount, a video presentation segment or a combination thereof. If the payout is video, the network server receives the payout parameter and transmits video presentation segment to the gaming device accordingly. The gaming device then provides a video payout, in the form of displayed video presentation, to the player. The player thus receives at least one form of payment on each play.

Abstract: A game apparatus and a method of replaying a game display a moving entity which moves in a given area on a display screen. The game apparatus has a memory for storing, for a predetermined period of time, absolute coordinates in the predetermined area of a moving entity which moves in the predetermined area in response to a control signal entered by an operator while a game is in progress, and a display data generating unit or reading the absolute coordinates from the memory in response to a replay request from the operator and processing the absolute coordinates into display data depending on processing information supplied from an input unit by the operator.

Abstract: A high-score display system for a video game includes a memory and a display coupled to a game controller of a video game. The game controller causes the display to show active game play sequences responsive to player inputs and simulated game play during an attract mode. Information associated with prior plays of the video game, including high score player identifiers, are stored in the memory. The controller causes selected ones of the high score player identifiers to be displayed in a plurality of available display areas of the video game including static display areas, movable display areas and conditional display areas.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus and method allows participants to compete in an interactive game, such as a contest or sporting event, occurring in real time or as a taped broadcast of a real time event. The event with which the participant may interact is broadcast live or previously taped but not aired. At home, participants can play along with the broadcast on a real time basis as a previously taped segment of the television show is aired. Interactive play may be accomplished by access to an on-line version of the game while the corresponding game show airs live or is rebroadcast to the participant for the first time on television.

Abstract: A network server provides control functions for gambling devices of the type which provide intermittent monetary payments to players at a point-of-play. The point-of-play includes an interactive display device for displaying messages to the player and for receiving player responses which are then transmitted to a network server. Memory at the network server stores product and product purchase information and customer profile data. The network server causes transmission of product and product purchase information to the interactive display device and monitors each of the gambling devices to detect an occurrence of a player win that requires a monetary payout. The network server is responsive to the detection of the player win and to an entry from the player which indicates the purchase of a product (as offered by a locally displayed advertisement), to credit the purchase price of the product against the anticipated monetary payout.

Abstract: The progress of each player in playing an auxiliary incentive game simultaneously with a primary card game is controlled and displayed at a gaming table. A prize display (34) is attached to the table and the prize display indicates at least one prize available to the player who accumulates a predetermined number of bonus points playing the auxiliary game. A player interface unit (30) is positioned on the table adjacent to each player. The player interface unit displays the number of bonus points received by the associated player. A dealer interface unit (32) is positioned on the table adjacent the dealer. The dealer interface unit includes control elements to allow the dealer to display the bonus points awarded to each player on the associated player interface unit and to activate a prize award control element on the player interface unit. The winning player selects a randomly indexed prize indicated on the prize display by manipulating the prize award control element on their player interface unit.

Abstract: A toy includes a housing with pressure sensitive sensors on each face of the housing. The toy instructs players as to which parts of their body they should use in pressing one or more of the sensors on the toy. A number of games can be played with the toy. Players can pass the toy from one player to another using the body parts the toy calls out and try to set records for the number of passes possible without mistake, or can try to set records for the number of passes that can be made within a two minute time period. A third game involves three or four players trying to cover five or six of the sensors in accordance with the toy's instructions. The players maneuver their bodies to maintain pressure on the sensors being held while pressing holding a new sensor called out by the toy. The voice used in the toy also tries to challenge the players to improve on their previous scores.

Abstract: A computer implemented electronic game includes a wheel of fortune game with odds of a jackpot greatly in excess of the number of indicia on a simulated wheel. In one embodiment, a virtual mapping allows a bonus indicium of the wheel to be given a 1:M chance of being landed on, even though the bonus position is one of N positions on the simulated wheel. A random number L is chosen between 1 and M and this number is mapped to a number between 1 and N. The display of the wheel if controlled to simulate stopping of the wheel at the Ith indicium where L is mapped to I. In one embodiment, by using successive wheel spins, the odds of moving to the next round are multiplied to achieve an overall odds of winning a jackpot.

Abstract: A gaming device, such as a slot machine, determines a balance and a “dispensed amount” that is less than the balance. The dispensed amount may be determined by, for example, receiving signals from one or more key presses that specify the dispensed amount. Alternatively, the dispensed amount may be determined in accordance with one or more “balance management rules”. The gaming device in turn dispenses the dispensed amount, for example, by dispensing an amount of currency, transferring the dispensed amount to an account or adjusting a balance of a remote gaming device. The balance is adjusted by the dispensed amount, and this adjusted balance is available for initiating a subsequent play of the gaming device.

Abstract: Videogame systems and methods are provided to enhance the capability of the videogame system controller and data storage to provide graphic character element storage and processing. A display list technology utilizes an intentionally generated, location-specific vertical interrupt to implement a routine to modify or to alter existing graphical character elements. A second technique involves the definition of a small portion of the graphics map which is displayed differently than the balance of the graphics map because the stored priority bit is expressed in the defined area, but suppressed and replaced in all other areas. The third technique employs a virtual character element library to map the character elements appearing on the display, and recognizes available space within the video random access memory character element storage to provide a dynamic memory space.

Abstract: An auxiliary game provides an auxiliary opportunity for players at a casino to win a prize by participating with a relatively small contribution each time they play a round in the principal casino game. To increase the element of random chance or luck in winning a prize in the game, a method and apparatus is provided for randomly choosing a winning card or combination of cards, or randomly selecting a person or group of persons eligible to win upon possession of the card or combination of cards. The amount of the prize can also be randomly selected either as a fixed amount or percentage of a maximum amount or a progressive jackpot.

Abstract: Slot machines for enabling team play by a plurality of slot machine players are disclosed. The game results of each team player are combined in a predefined manner to obtain a team game result. The game results of each player may be combined on a "per-spin" basis, or collected for each team player over an entire play session, with the net result of each team player combined on a "per-session" basis. In a "per-spin" embodiment, each team player initiates play, and the individual game results of each team player are combined in a predefined manner to obtain the best team game result, with the highest resulting payout, for each spin. In a "per-session" embodiment each team player continues play for an entire play session, and the net result of each team player is analyzed in a predefined manner on a "per-session" basis to obtain the team session result.

Abstract: An auxiliary game provides an auxiliary opportunity for players at a casino to win a prize by participating with a relatively small contribution each time they play a round in the principal casino game. To increase the element of random chance or luck in winning a prize in the game, a method and apparatus is provided for randomly choosing a winning card or combination of cards, or randomly selecting a person or group of persons eligible to win upon possession of the card or combination of cards. The amount of the prize can also be randomly selected either as a fixed amount or percentage of a maximum amount or a progressive jackpot.

Abstract: A gaming device of the type wherein a play generates one of multiple possible outcomes having reverse payout information. The gaming device comprises a memory device containing a first set of data correlating possible outcomes to a first set of payouts and a second set of data correlating possible outcomes to a second set of payouts second set of data correlates a majority of outcomes to positive payouts and the first set of data correlates a majority of outcomes to other than positive payouts. The gaming device also includes a payout selector indicating which of the first set of data and the second set of data the gaming device is to access. In an alternate embodiment, the gaming device includes a memory having only the second set of data.

Abstract: A modified poker card game allows a player to sequentially build a card hand after each round of play. The rules of play for the card game including dealing a first pair of cards to the player. The player then selects one of the pair of cards for the card hand, and discards the other card. The player repeats this process until the player has selected a predetermined number of cards that form the card hand. The resulting card hand is then compared to a predetermined winning schedule and/or to other players playing the modified poker game.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for the calculation and maintenance of a golfer's handicap index. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for the maintenance of a golf handicap index by providing a card having golfer information relating to a particular golfer. The golfer information includes scores posted by the golfer which are used in the calculation of a handicap index. A local processing unit is also provided to compute the handicap index based on guidelines established by the United States Golf Association. Information is exchanged between the card and the local processing unit at the time the golfer posts a score. Handicap indexes are updated based at least in part on the entered scores and on a schedule consistent with USGA guidelines.

Abstract: A monitoring device, which indicates the position a golfer must be on the golf course in order to complete the course in a specified period of time. The progress monitor operates on the basis of its electronic memory being loaded with parameters governing the amount of time to be allocated, or apportioned, to any number of different facets of play, or to any number of different holes or to the course as a whole. Such parameters may be fixed amounts of time or percentages of some other factor, such as the total time for the round. Based on these parameters, the progress monitor uses either a continuously moving display or a series of displayed notices on a panel such as an LCD screen, or as a graphic display, or a spoken message to show a golfer where he or she should be on the course at any point in time if the golfer is to complete the round within the designated target time. The progress monitor provides for the golfer to nominate any hole as the starting point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the instant invention are directed to a method, apparatus and system for lottery gaming, wherein a simple, objective, verifiable and reliable method of selecting the winning lottery numbers is provided. In preferred embodiments, a user accesses the game via a wide area network or by some other remote means and inputs required information, including payment information and the user's selections for the game. Prior to any user participating in the game, the game provider selects elements that comprise a winning combination. Preferably, the elements that comprise the winning combination are objective and verifiable elements, such as, for example, a portion of the closing stock market price on a given day for a specified set of markets. As such, the elements comprising the winning combinations are objective and can be verified by all of the users.