Patents by Inventor Kazuo Okada

Kazuo Okada has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7846019
    Abstract: In a base game, a first payout is provided when a winning combination of “BELL”, “CHERRY”, or “PLUM” has come to a stop on a payline L. On the other hand, a second payout is provided when the “BELL” symbols in a predetermined number have come to a stop on a display area. The payout process of the first payout and the second payout is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20100304823
    Abstract: The gaming machine: counts the number of base games having been run; causes shifting to a second state which is more advantageous for a player than the base game, when a first predetermined number of base games is counted without shifting to the first state which is more advantageous for the player than the base game; runs a skill-requiring game after the second state, which game outputs a result according to an operation from outside, and increases or decreases a second predetermined number according to a result of the skill-requiring game; runs the base game after the skill-requiring game; and causes shifting to a third state which is more advantageous for the player than the base game, when the increased or decreased second predetermined number of base games having run are counted after the skill-requiring game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20100304821
    Abstract: The gaming machine performs the following functions: running a base game at gaming terminals in response to a start operation input through an input device; running a crap game simultaneously at all the gaming terminals in response to a game start command from the center controller; determining which gaming terminal is designated to be a shooter of a crap game; allowing the gaming terminal designated to be the shooter to receive a roll operation input through an input device, and output a roll operation command to the center controller; determining a win or loss which causes the crap game to end; and (i) when no win or loss is resulted, running a crap game again; and when a win is resulted, awarding a payout according to the win.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20100304834
    Abstract: A gaming machine runs a base game in which symbols 501 are rearranged and a base payout is awarded according to the rearranged symbols 501, when a game value is bet, runs a bonus game in which the symbols 501 are rearranged with a higher payout rate than that of the game and a bonus payout is awarded according to the rearranged symbols 501, if the symbols 501 are rearranged in a predetermined condition in the base game, makes an insurance bet by using at least a part of the bonus payout awarded in the bonus game, determines whether a rescue start condition is established, if the insurance bet has been made, and performs a rescue process if the rescue start condition has been established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20100304835
    Abstract: A gaming machine according to the present invention comprises a display on which plural types of symbols are to be arranged; a memory for storing an accumulative value, which is accumulated by unit game to activate a plurality of insurance pays and has a first threshold value and a second threshold value, and a plurality of payout value of the insurance pays, which is stored in associated with the first threshold value and the second threshold value of the accumulative value; and a controller. Where the accumulative value accumulated by unit game in which the plural types of symbols are rearranged on the display has reached the first threshold value, a first insurance pay is activated in accordance with a payout value associated with the first threshold value. The accumulative value is further counted in such each unit game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Kenta Sugano
  • Publication number: 20100304820
    Abstract: A gaming machine enables a common game with a common game bet amount when a common game start condition has been met based on an accumulated value of bet amount information transmitted from each gaming terminal for each unit base game. The gaming machine also enables a common game with a bet amount to which a special bet amount is added, at a specific gaming terminal selected to be a shooter. A gaming terminal having won the common game is awarded a payout corresponding to a common game bet amount, and the specific gaming terminal having been selected to be the shooter is awarded a payout of an amount corresponding to a bet amount where the special bet amount is added to the common game bet amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20100304822
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a selection device for accepting a selection operation of one of playing states for a basic game, and a controller. The controller is operable to (a) set a playing state for the basic game according to the selection operation accepted by the selection device, (b) start the basic game with the playing state, (c) display payout rates for the basic game in areas on a display [the areas are allocated to the playing states one by one], respectively, and (d) set, during the basic game, a background color in one of the areas corresponding to the playing state set in (a) to a different color from another color of backgrounds in others of the areas. According to the gaming machine, a player can be informed of the payout rate along with the playing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION, Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Patent number: 7841937
    Abstract: When a start condition of a payout variable game is fulfilled during a base game, depending on number of award-not-accompanied occurrence times of a specific symbol combination selected by a player at the beginning payout variable game to be executed a predetermined number of times at maximum, a number of credits to be paid out to an award-accompanied occurrence of the specific symbol combination during the payout variable game is varied depending on number of award-not-accompanied occurrence times of the specific symbol combination. Alternatively, a number of credits to be paid out at a termination of the payout variable game is varied depending on number of award-accompanied occurrence times of the specific symbol combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20100291988
    Abstract: In the gaming machine according to the present invention, an attribute of a card to be compared with an attribute of a player additional card is determined. In a case where a side bet is placed, a result of the side game is determined by determining whether or not the attribute of the player additional card is same as the determined attribute. The additional payout is offered based on the determined result of the side game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20100285867
    Abstract: A game controller 100 for providing a predetermined amount of credits for each award to a player when a game is started after the player inputs a bet and a game result which provides an award to the player occurs, and a display device for displaying the game result to the player are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: ARUZE GAMING AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7828644
    Abstract: A scatter object symbol is randomly selected among plural symbols. The symbols are rearranged. A payout determined by a combination of the symbols rearranged on a payline is awarded. When a predetermined number or more of the scatter object symbols are rearranged, the scatter object symbol is set as a scatter symbol. It is notified contents of a payout determined on the basis of the scatter symbol and the corresponding payout is awarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7815504
    Abstract: When a start condition of a special game is established during a base game, payout amount of credits for occurrence of an award accompanied by payout of credits due to a specific symbol during a predetermined number of times of a special game is varied in accordance with the number of rearranged specific player-selected symbols at the start of the special game. Alternatively, payout amount of credits when the predetermined number of times of the special game terminate is varied in accordance with the number of times of occurrence of the award accompanied by payout of credits due to the specific symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7806765
    Abstract: A game system of the present invention comprises: a second game machine for executing a second game which is different from a basic game played in a slot machine; a plurality of second game terminals, having a bet input device with which a bet on a second game player is to be inputted, and a bet controller for issuing a bet signal in accordance with the second game bet when the second game bet is inputted; a slot machine, having a game controller programmed so as to execute the basic game and also programmed so as to enable play of the second game executed on the second game machine when a prescribed second game start condition is established in the basic game, and a command input device to which a command is to be inputted concerning acceptance or refusal of the second game bet on the second game player from a player other than the second game player, the game controller issuing a command signal in accordance with the command when the command is inputted; and a central controller for determining a payout val
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7798897
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises: a slot machine having a signal transmitted for switching the game to a roulette game; a second gaming apparatus which has a function of executing the roulette game; second gaming terminals each of which is used as a dedicated terminal for the roulette game; and a central controller. The central controller has a function of communicating with the slot machine, the second gaming apparatus, and the second gaming terminals. In the case of receipt of the switching signal from the slot machine, the central controller transmits a start signal for starting the roulette game, which instructs the second gaming apparatus to start the roulette game. In the case that a particular condition has been satisfied in the roulette game, the central controller provides the payout to the slot machine and the second gaming terminals according to a predetermined ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7789752
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises: one or more slot machines each of which includes a controller for controlling a basic game, and each of which has a function whereby, in the case that a “BONUS” symbol combination has come to a stop along an active pay line in the basic game, a second game start signal is transmitted; a second gaming device which is a separate device from the slot machines, and which has a function of executing a roulette game; and an image capturing device having a function of capturing an image of the second gaming device upon receipt of a predetermined image capturing signal, and a function of transmitting the image data. Furthermore, the gaming system includes a central controller which is communicably connected to the slot machines, the second gaming device, and the image capturing device. The central controller transmits an image capturing signal to the image capturing device upon receipt of the second game start signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7780515
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes: a display; an operation unit that allows a player to input operations; a controller that performs game process for providing a game to the player by displaying a progress of the game on the display in accordance with the operations input through the operation unit; and a storage that stores information indicating a first magnification and a second magnification that is larger than the first magnification. The controller performs the game process including: accepting an input of a bet of a game value on the game through the operation unit; selecting one of the first magnification and the second magnification based on an amount of the game value bet on the game; and paying out an award that is determined by multiplying the game value bet on the game by the selected one of the first magnification and the second magnification. The controller performs selecting the second magnification when the amount of the game value bet on the game is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 7780168
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a game machine in which sensations are stimulated individually for each player and the enjoyment of each player is enhanced. The game machine has a game controller for receiving input from a player; a monitor for receiving externally or generating internally and showing a game screen, generated according to a multi-player fighting game program; a seat for seating the player; and a sensation generating part for generating sensations according to input from said game controller and input from an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Publication number: 20100210337
    Abstract: A game system for playing a basic game, includes: slot machines which, when a combination of “BONUS” symbols stop in a winning line, transmit a signal for switching to a roulette game; a second game device, separate from the slot machines, which executes a second game; and a display for displaying an image corresponding to game status of the second game device. In cases in which the switching signal has been transmitted from any one of the slot machines, other slot machines enter a mode that allows the players at the other slot machines to participate in the second game. Furthermore, the game system includes a central controller which can communicate with the slot machines, the second game device, and the display, and which, upon reception of the switching signal from the slot machine, transmits a roulette game start signal to start the roulette game in the second game device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Publication number: 20100190547
    Abstract: According to a gaming machine 1, a predetermined profit is offered and an advertisement image of a sponsor is displayed to a lower image display panel 141 when a predetermined condition is satisfied. A hard disk drive 205 provided in an external control device 200 stores data based on the satisfaction of the predetermined condition as cost-collecting data for collecting money in an amount corresponding to the predetermined profit from the sponsor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo OKADA
  • Patent number: 7762884
    Abstract: In a case where a plurality of symbols are rearranged on a display, a control for controlling a plurality of rearranged symbols to be capable of being selected, holding selected symbols according to a selection, and arranging selected symbols by carrying them over to a next game is carried out, and a control for making particular symbols among a plurality of rearranged symbols to be capable of being selected only in a case where a payout for the rearranged symbol exceeds a prescribed payout amount and a condition for having a special symbol displayed on the display is satisfied is carried out. In addition, a control for determining a number of symbols that can be selected among a plurality of rearranged symbols and a number of times of the unit game by which these selected symbols can be held is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada