Abstract: The present invention provides a bonus round of gaming device in which the player either wins that which the player does not select or the player selectively replaces one award with another award with the hopes of maximizing an ultimate award. In the embodiment wherein the player wins that which the player does not select, one or more selections are made from the plurality of symbols, and the game provides awards assigned to the unselected choices or symbols. In the replacement embodiment, the game replaces the award of a selected symbol with an alternative type of award. In one example, the awards assigned to the unselected symbols are gaming device credits, while the converted or replaced awards assigned to selected symbols are multipliers. After replacement, the game sums the credits, sums the multipliers and multiplies the credits by the multipliers to produce an ultimate award.

Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device with a bonus scheme which includes a plurality of parent regions and sub-regions. The gaming device moves at least one symbol with respect to the sub-regions and enables the player to use his/her skill to stop the symbol and indicate a sub-region within a parent region. Which sub-region the symbol will indicate within such parent region is determined by the gaming device, preferably unbeknownst to the player. The gaming device preferably awards the player with value associated with the sub-region which is indicated by the stopped symbol. This type of game provides players with skill-based activities thereby adding excitement to gaming devices and increasing player entertainment.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of paying winning bets against the house in a casino game such as Roulette. According to this method the casino provides a player's VDU display to display those bets of a player which are normally combined mentally by a croupier to provide a payout but which instead are entered through a keyboard or the like of data-input means by a croupier to provide an automatic calculation of the player's winnings. The player's VDU display also displays the total payout which is computed as being the amount payable to the player. In addition the data-input means has a display which the croupier can read without taking their attention from the table. This display enables the croupier to check the accuracy of the amounts entered and the total payout while maintaining surveillance of the table to ensure that bets are not shifted after close of play. At the same time the players can readily check the player's VDU display to ensure their wins are paid correctly.

Abstract: The present invention includes a golf scoring system for at least one golf competition, wherein at least one participant plays at a first geographic location with a set of results and at least one participant plays at a second geographic location with another set of results. This system includes determining at least one normalizing factor for each of the geographic locations relative to each other; compiling results from each of the participants; applying the normalizing factor to each of the results; and determining a final score for each of the participants. The normalizing factor can be stored in a data source; wherein the results are compiled also stored in the data source. The final score for each of the participants may also be stored in the data source and users can access the data source to view the final score for each of the participants. Moreover, participants can communicate with each other using email or chat rooms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device feature which involves one or more symbols which travel from one location to a randomly determined location on one or more reels. The travel can occur at any time during a primary game or bonus round, however it preferably occurs to accompany an outcome such as a value award. This travel feature provides players with engaging entertainment and increases player enjoyment.

Abstract: A paper fastener includes a base having two end legs for engaging through sheet materials to be clamped and having two side panels bent relative to the base and two outer flanges folded relative to the side panels and shielded by the side panels. A bar includes two end orifices for receiving the legs of the base, and includes two side flaps bent relative to the bar and two outer flanges folded relative to the side flaps and shielded by the side flaps of the bar. Two retainers are slidably engaged on the bar for securing the paper sheets between the base and the bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device feature which involves one or more symbols which travel from location to location on one or more reels. The travel can occur at any time during a primary game or bonus round, however it preferably occurs to accompany an outcome such as a value award. This travel feature provides players with engaging entertainment and increases player enjoyment.

Abstract: Combat is resolved and war game play is expanded without the use of dice or the like. Players substantially simultaneously memorialize actions appointed to be taken, and present the actions in a recorded format wherein tactical decisions, not random number s generation, become the driving force. Apparatus used to implement tactical decisions aids in the recording of actions taken, facilitating their subsequent storage and retrieval. The internal logic of hobby war and role playing games is expanded by giving the players of those games the ability to add previously unspecified tactics and actions. The nature of a hobby war game is modified in that the most important element affecting game outcome is a set of decisions made by a player at every engagement.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a process comprising the steps of previously recording movie data 212b and 212c in a CD-ROM in correspondence to streams of changes in depiction of a displayed image, detecting what stream a change in depiction is in response to a manual input made by the player, reading out movie data corresponding to the detected stream of changes in depiction from the CD-ROM, and causing a change in the image in display on the basis of the thus read-out movie data.

Abstract: The present invention is a gaming device that provides a gaming device that displays a plurality of related symbols, wherein each symbol has a different exhibition associated with it. The gaming device includes a display adapted to display the symbols and the exhibitions, whereby when a symbol is selected, the display provides the associated exhibition. In one preferred embodiment, the gaming device includes an exhibition library that stores a plurality of exhibitions. Each time a symbol is selected, the gaming device selects an exhibition from the exhibition library, associates it with that symbol, and displays it.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the next router that a data packet is transmitted to on its way to a destination host by traversing a routing table using a hardware search engine and a unique search tree. The step of traversing each node in the search tree takes only one memory cycle, decreasing in half the time it takes to search a routing table and thus forward data packets on a system of computer networks. This is accomplished by storing the decision bit for each node in its parent node rather than in the node itself The apparatus may use a hardware search engine to search the routing table.

Abstract: A simulator for snowboarding, skateboarding, water skiing and the like includes a substantially flat board having a support which permits three degrees of freedom of motion. The support can include a convex body which, in combination with a thrust receiving surface, forms a thrust bearing permitting the three degrees of freedom. The support can also include a rotary or turntable type of bearing permitting rotary motion. The simulator is instrumented to measure rotational motion and to provide an output signal compatible with a personal computer (PC) game port or a video game console input/output (I/O) port representative of rotational position of the board.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for testing and training health care professionals. Competency tests are stored on machine readable media and transmitted via network connections to remote provider systems, such as workstations or diagnostic systems. A health care professional can take a competency test on a particular topic and input his/her responses at the remote provider system. The health care professional's responses are evaluated, and an assessment of his/her skills displayed at the provider system. The assessment particularly points out those areas, if any, where the health care professional's knowledge is deficient. If the health care professional has any areas which need improvement, a list of relevant courses is also displayed at the provider system. The health care professional may then select a desired course from the user interface. The machine readable media maintains a record of the health care professional's assessment as well as a list of completed courses.

Abstract: A portable information terminal has, as its functions, a path display unit for successively displaying a path depending on operation of direction keys, a character display unit for displaying at least one imaginary character on a display unit, a comparing unit for comparing the input timing of a control signal and the output timing based on a predetermined sequence with each other, an influence determining unit for determining the magnitude of an influence on the imaginary character based on the result of comparison from the comparing unit, and a table registering unit for registering information of the imaginary character in an information table.

Abstract: A video game system including a video game machine and a controller connected thereto, wherein the game machine is further connected with a display device. A video-game memory medium, detachably attached to the game machine, generates image data for displaying a player object, a plurality of courses, and objects other than the player object. A player chooses a course of play by operating the controller. A score-giving condition is detected according to a relation of the player object to another object. Depending on the detection, a first score is counted for the course. When the player object comes under a condition satisfying a course clear, the first score is memorized in a score-register area of a RAM. If the user chooses to play a same course, an initial value is written to the score-register area.

Abstract: A putter training device for judging a speed of impact of a golf club head upon a golf ball and including an elongated structure with a first guide wall and a second spaced apart and substantially parallel extending guide wall. A golf ball placement position is located at a first interconnecting end of the spaced apart guide walls. An adjustable and cross wise extending passageway with pivoting flaps is located proximate a second interconnecting end and determines a selected width for allowing passage therethrough of a golf ball which is struck at said placement portion and travels along the elongated structure between the first and second guide walls. A sensor circuit includes first and second pairs of spaced apart sensors mounted in opposing fashion and at spaced apart locations to the first and second guide walls.

Abstract: A video game apparatus in which a specified event is executed in a game space displayed on a monitor, and a plurality of background sounds having different attributes are outputted at a specified output ratio from a plurality of sound output units spaced apart from each other, comprising: a recording unit for storing the plurality of background sounds as background sound data, and a background sound control unit for setting the output ratio of the background sounds having different attributes to be output from the sound output units according to a viewing point and a viewing direction in the game space while reading the background sound data from the recording unit and outputting them from the plurality of sound output units.

Abstract: A game system includes: a display device for displaying images; an input device for receiving manipulation by a user and for outputting a signal corresponding to the manipulation; and a control device for controlling progress of a horse breeding game with monitoring the signal outputted from the input device and displaying images corresponding to the progress of the game on a screen of the display device. The control device includes: an evaluation value storage unit for storing evaluation values for a plurality of sires; a control unit for controlling the progress of the game based on the evaluation values; and an evaluation value updating unit for updating the evaluation values for the sires in every predetermined period during the progress of the game.

Abstract: A business form incorporates an improved multi-layer integral card utilizing microperforations to form ties which retain the card during machine handling and printing. The method employs a flexible steel die or engraved die cylinder with microperforations. The die penetrates all layers but the bottom laminate and the microperforations form ties to secure the card until removed for use. The combination and method of forming allows convenient removal of the card by an end user with edges on the removed card being smooth to sight and touch.

Abstract: A game lobby allows users to open a game with their name at a central place so that others may see and join that game. The user can set the criteria for starting this game, such as the number of players or start time, whichever comes first. This paradigm enables a platform-independent object model without the burden of multi-user communication management by the game developer. The object model enables the development of game lobby services by multiple vendors and allows games to freely operate with any of these lobby implementations.