Abstract: A method of and system for handling latency issues encountered in producing real-time entertainment such as games of skill synchronized with live or taped televised events is described herein. There are multiple situations that are dealt with regarding latencies in receiving a television signal with respect to real-time entertainment based on the unfolding games played along with the telecasts. Systemic delays, arbitrarily imposed delays of a broadcast signal and variances in the precise broadcast times of taped television programs have to be equalized so as to provide fair entertainment.

Abstract: A gaming system includes logic circuitry and a gaming machine for conducting a casino wagering game. The logic circuitry receives, via an acoustic input component of the gaming machine, an acoustic capture signal representative of a player account identifier corresponding to a player account from a mobile device, determines the player account identifier represented by the capture signal, and associates a gaming session on the gaming machine with the corresponding player account. In addition, the logic circuitry, in response to receiving in a prescribed manner, via the acoustic input component, an acoustic maintain-session signal from the mobile device, maintains the association between the gaming session on the gaming machine and the corresponding player account for a period of time, In response to failing to receive the maintain-session signal in the prescribed manner, the logic circuitry terminates the association between the gaming session and the corresponding player account.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a frame, a gaming machine coupled to the frame, and an interactive device extending about at least a portion of a periphery of the frame. The gaming machine includes a presentation device configured to present a message associated with an interaction of a player with the gaming system. The interactive device is configured to detect the interaction of the player with the interactive device, and present feedback to the player based on the detection of the interaction of the player with the interactive device.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, at least one mechanical reel including at least one reel lighting controller, an edge lighting supported by and extending at least partially around a perimeter of the cabinet, the edge lighting including an edge lighting controller, and a processor configured to: identify an edge lighting delay offset value associated with the edge lighting and a mechanical reel delay offset value associated with the at least one mechanical reel; control the at least one mechanical reel to display an animation via the reel lighting controller; and control at least a portion of the edge lighting to initiate a first pattern at a timing via the edge lighting controller based on a difference between the edge lighting delay offset value and the mechanical reel delay offset value, thereby synchronizing presentation of the first pattern with the animation.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to adjusting sensitivity of a control stick. In one example, a method comprises: receiving a dead zone inflection point defining a boundary of a dead zone region and a playspace region within a normalized two-dimensional movement space, receiving a sensitivity inflection point within the playspace region of the normalized two-dimensional movement space, transforming the sensitivity inflection point to a transformed sensitivity inflection point using a sensitivity scaling function that comprises the dead zone inflection point, receiving position data representing a current position of the control stick, and transforming the current position to a transformed position using a mapping function comprising the dead zone inflection point and the transformed sensitivity inflection point.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (900) for developing an athlete (82) through the exchange of data (400) between a user (80) and the system (100). The system (100) can iteratively prompt users (80) to provide the inputs (410) that the system (100) uses to create the outputs (460) used to develop an athlete (82). The system (100) can utilize a wide range of data (400) relating to different skill areas (550) within different development categories (500).

Abstract: A method is disclosed including setting, at a server, a server VSYNC signal to a server VSYNC frequency. The server VSYNC signal corresponding to generation of video frames during frame periods for the server VSYNC frequency. The method including setting, at a client, a client VSYNC signal to a client VSYNC frequency. The method including sending compressed video frames from the server to the client over a network using the server VSYNC signal, wherein the compressed video frames are based on the generated video frames. The method including decoding and displaying, at the client, the compressed video frames. The method including analyzing the timing of one or more client operations to adjust the relative timing between the server VSYNC signal and the client VSYNC signal, as the client receives the compressed video frames.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable recording medium stores game program code instructions for a game in which users do battle, and the game program code instructions cause a computer to perform a data storage function of storing a first panel data that includes a plurality of panels associated with the first user to a storage unit; a control function of receiving information regarding a selection by the first user, the selection being for one or more panels indicating characters to be disposed in one or more divisions of a game display screen including a display region formed by the divisions; the data storage function further stores the panel associated with information of motion to the storage unit, and the control function transmits information for displaying the panel as a moving character according to the information of motion associated with the panel when the panel is disposed in a target division.

Abstract: A social game and the like that can increase the fun and amusement of a team battle and enhance players' motivation to participate in or continue a game by suppressing an occurrence of any non-participation team not participating in the battle are provided. A guild status determination unit determines, for each guild, whether the guild is in an inactive state or an active state, based on a result of detecting a login state of each player. A guild integrated control unit forcibly disbands a guild (i.e. an inactive guild) determined to be in the inactive state, based on guild activity information notified from the status determination unit. A disbandment notification unit notifies each player belonging to the inactive guild, of the disbandment of the guild.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing a feature in gaming devices with multiple chances of using an awarded modifier. Accordingly, a gaming device can include a display, and a processor configured to execute operations that include facilitating participation in a first gaming event and determining if a bonus feature is triggered during the first gaming event. When the feature is triggered, the operations further include determining an awarded modifier, and determining if the modifier is to be used in the first gaming event based on whether a predefined condition is satisfied. If the awarded modifier is not used in the first gaming event, the modifier is then applied in a second, subsequent gaming event.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise providing an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a casino, the EGM comprising at least one processor, a display and an input interface. The EGM may be configured to generate a virtual game play environment enabling wager-based game play by a player using the input interface. A computing device may be disposed within the enclosure of the EGM, the computing device being separate from and unconnected to the at least one processor and the input interface of the EGM. The computing device may be further configured to periodically couple to a wireless network and request content that is unrelated to the virtual game play environment or the wager-based game play. The processor(s) of the EGM may be configured to control a first portion of the display of the EGM the computing device may be configured to control a second portion of the display of the EGM.

Abstract: A method for sharing gameplay is provided, including: executing a video game; while executing the video game, buffering a first portion of gameplay of the video game, wherein buffering the first portion of gameplay captures a predefined amount of gameplay prior to a currently executing gameplay; receiving a first input generated from a controller device; responsive to receiving the first input, then capturing a second portion of the gameplay of the video game that is continuous with the first portion of gameplay; receiving a second input generated from the controller device; responsive to receiving the second input, then enabling sharing of the first and second portions of gameplay to a website.

Abstract: A method and device utilize a data processor and a player interface, display, and data storage device in communication with the data processor, A wager is received; optionally the wager includes a poker wager and a matrix wager. An initial hand is dealt and a poker hand is formed. Optionally, a poker hand consists of cards held from an initial hand plus replacements for cards discarded from an initial hand. The payout, if any, associated with the poker hand may be issued. A matrix is constructed by randomly placing value/suit combinations in matrix locations. Matrix locations containing value/suit combinations matching cards in the poker hand are marked. The payout, if any, associated with patterns formed in the matrix by marked matrix locations may be issued.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention set forth systems, apparatuses and methods for providing gaming devices having a poker mystery feature. Accordingly, a gaming device can be configured to have sub-symbol overlays that specify a replication feature that may replicate a card associated with the sub-symbol overlay and either replace a specified card that is adjacent to the card associated with the sub-symbol overlay, or create a multi-indicia card using the replication. Replication may mean a direct copy of the card associated with the sub-symbol overlay or may mean providing a card that is related to the card associated with the sub-symbol overlay according to predefined rules.

Abstract: A system in which players participate as characters in a virtual game world via game clients executing on client devices. An observer mode is provided that enables users to navigate in the game world without requiring a game client so that a user can navigate the game world while not actively playing the game. When a user accesses the game in observer mode, a view of the game world is rendered from the viewpoint of an observer's character; the observer's character may not correspond to a character in the game and the observer's character may not be visible to the players in the game. The rendered view of the game world is streamed to a viewing application on a personal device. Navigation inputs allow the observer's character to move freely within the game world.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adaptively modifying audio during online multiplayer games. In an audio system that outputs audio to a use, one or more audio control settings, for adjusting audio generated or handled in the system, may be determined based on a reference audio, with at least one of the one or more audio control settings being configured to adjust a voice associated with a user of the system. Audio handled in the system during the operation of the system by the user may then be processed, with the processing including applying the one or more audio control settings, and modifying, based on applying the one or more audio control settings, at least audio corresponding to a voice associated with the user. The reference audio may be processed, and the at least one audio control setting may be determined based on the processing of the reference audio.

Abstract: A peripheral device is configured to obtain configuration information from user equipment. The configuration information is for the peripheral device, wherein during receipt of the configuration information the peripheral device is not in communication with the user equipment. The configuration information is based on selections obtained via the user equipment and associated with operational parameters for the peripheral device. The configuration information is stored in a memory that is remote from the user equipment. Provisioning information is provided to the user equipment, wherein the provisioning information is associated with the configuration information and wherein the provisioning information enables configuration of the peripheral device with the operational parameters.

Abstract: A gaming headset receives a chat audio channel that conveys chat audio. The gaming headset includes an voiceband modem that modulates data for communication over the chat audio channel, and transmits the modulated data on the chat audio channel that conveys the chat audio. The modulated data may be communicated, via the chat audio channel, to one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game. The modulated data includes one or more dual tone multi-frequency tones. The gaming headset may also receive data, via the chat audio channel, from one or more devices associated with one or more other gamers that are engaged in the play of the particular game.

Abstract: A slot machine device providing a unique operation, payout scheme, and structure. This slot machine provides optional, unique game play features. These features may include a Notice feature which informs a player if the next cycle will be a win or a loss; a Flush feature allowing a player to discard a losing cycle; a Do-Over feature, allowing a player to replay a cycle if they do not like the results of the prior cycle; a skill-based feature that requires the player to display an element of skill; and a social feature that requires the player to perform a social task. These features may be turned on and off, and the slot machine may be configured to automatically adjust a payout option depending on what features are activated.

Abstract: A casino wagering game based on the card game of Poker. In this novel casino wagering game, the player has an advantage over the dealer as the player is dealt four cards to make their best three card hand, while the dealer is dealt only three cards. The goal is to get as high of a hand as possible and beat the hand of the dealer. The player benefits can include the ability to receive bonus payouts on high ranking hands that beat dealer's as well as bonuses for high ranking hands that tie or lose to the dealer.