Patents by Inventor Mark C. Nicely

Mark C. Nicely 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).

  • Publication number: 20130079099
    Abstract: The gaming system receives a wager from a player for a play of a game including a plurality of multi-component symbols. Each of the multi-component symbols includes a plurality of symbol component locations. A plurality of the multi-component symbols include at least one of the symbol components in at least one of the symbol component locations. The gaming system randomly generates and displays a plurality of the multi-component symbols. The gaming system determines, for a first one of a designated number of the displayed multi-component symbols, a quantity of symbol component locations of the first one of the displayed multi-component symbols that display one of the symbol components and that correspond to a symbol component location of each of the other displayed multi-component symbols of the designated number of the displayed multi-component symbols that each display one of the symbol components. Any awards are determined based on the determined quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130079098
    Abstract: The gaming system receives a wager from a player for a play of a game including a plurality of multi-component symbols. Each of the multi-component symbols includes a plurality of symbol component locations. A plurality of the multi-component symbols include at least one of the symbol components in at least one of the symbol component locations. The gaming system randomly generates and displays a plurality of the multi-component symbols. The gaming system determines, for a first one of a designated number of the displayed multi-component symbols, a quantity of symbol component locations of the first one of the displayed multi-component symbols that display one of the symbol components and that correspond to a symbol component location of each of the other displayed multi-component symbols of the designated number of the displayed multi-component symbols that each display one of the symbol components. Any awards are determined based on the determined quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130079088
    Abstract: A gaming system including a multiple player persistent game, such as an ongoing community game. This ongoing community game includes a community game matrix which is continuously displayed to at least each of the players. The community game matrix includes a plurality of displayed positions which may be associated with an award or an award opportunity. In operation, at least each of the players playing the gaming devices of the gaming system are associated with a displayed participant that moves (either randomly or based on the player's control) to different of the displayed positions of the community game matrix. If a player moves their associated participant to a displayed position that is associated with an award or an award opportunity, the gaming system provides the player any associated award or enables the player to participate in any associated award opportunity to potentially win an award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20130079108
    Abstract: A gaming system including a multiple player persistent game, such as an ongoing community game. This ongoing community game includes a community game matrix which is continuously displayed to at least each of the players. The community game matrix includes a plurality of displayed positions which may be associated with an award or an award opportunity. In operation, at least each of the players playing the gaming devices of the gaming system are associated with a displayed participant that moves (either randomly or based on the player's control) to different of the displayed positions of the community game matrix. If a player moves their associated participant to a displayed position that is associated with an award or an award opportunity, the gaming system provides the player any associated award or enables the player to participate in any associated award opportunity to potentially win an award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20130079089
    Abstract: A gaming system including a multiple player persistent game, such as an ongoing community game. This ongoing community game includes a community game matrix which is continuously displayed to at least each of the players. The community game matrix includes a plurality of displayed positions which may be associated with an award or an award opportunity. In operation, at least each of the players playing the gaming devices of the gaming system are associated with a displayed participant that moves (either randomly or based on the player's control) to different of the displayed positions of the community game matrix. If a player moves their associated participant to a displayed position that is associated with an award or an award opportunity, the gaming system provides the player any associated award or enables the player to participate in any associated award opportunity to potentially win an award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20130079101
    Abstract: A user playing a user device wagers a wager amount on a play of a game. A server determines a first reel set for the current play, an outcome for the current play, and a second reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount. The server communicates first reel set data, second reel set data, and outcome data to the user device. The user device spins and stops the first reel set in accordance with the determined outcome. When the user wagers that same wager amount on another play of that game, the user device displays that play of that game using the second reel set, and the server determines a third reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount and communicates third reel set data to the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20130079113
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for exchanging one or more triggered individual bonus games for one or more current plays of a community game or one or more future plays of a community game. If an individual bonus game is triggered in association with an individual gaming device, the gaming system enables the player to: (i) play the triggered individual bonus game, (ii) skip the individual bonus game and play or participate in a community or group game, or (iii) skip the individual bonus game and save an entry to play or participate in a future community or group game. In these embodiments, the gaming system determines one or more features or attributes of the available community game (which the player may play or defer play of) based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of different individual bonus games are triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Carmen Tan, Allen R. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20130079114
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for exchanging one or more triggered individual bonus games for one or more current plays of a community game or one or more future plays of a community game. If an individual bonus game is triggered in association with an individual gaming device, the gaming system enables the player to: (i) play the triggered individual bonus game, (ii) skip the individual bonus game and play or participate in a community or group game, or (iii) skip the individual bonus game and save an entry to play or participate in a future community or group game. In these embodiments, the gaming system determines one or more features or attributes of the available community game (which the player may play or defer play of) based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of different individual bonus games are triggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Carmen Tan, Alan R. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20130072282
    Abstract: A gaming system, gaming device, and method providing a game providing modifiers for symbol display areas. Symbols are generated at symbol display areas. If a symbol display area displaying a symbol included in a displayed designated winning symbol combination is associated with an existing modifier, the gaming system modifies any award associated with that displayed designated winning symbol combination using the existing modifier and associates another different modifier with that symbol display area for a subsequent play of the game. In one embodiment the different modifier is a more favorable modifier. If none of the symbol display areas displaying the symbols included in a displayed designated winning symbol combination are associated with an existing modifier, the gaming system associates a modifier with a symbol display area for a subsequent play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8393968
    Abstract: The disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a game including a plurality of awards, each of the awards associated with a plurality of award characteristics, including an award value and a level of difficulty. Based at least in part on the award characteristics associated with the awards, a player strategically chooses which award or awards to play for (i.e., which award or awards to attempt to collect) in the game. In certain multiplayer embodiments, two or more players can work together to obtain awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Binh T. Nguyen, Scott A. Captuo, Ernie M. Lafky
  • Publication number: 20130059647
    Abstract: A gaming table, gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method that provide a roulette game having a plurality of different roulette wheels. For each play of the roulette game, one of the different roulette wheels is selected and employed in or for that play of the roulette game. When the player or players place their wagers, they do not know which of the different roulette wheels will be employed for that play of the roulette game. After the player or players place their wagers for the play of the roulette game, the selected roulette wheel for that play of the roulette game is indicated to the player or players, and the play of the roulette game commences using that indicated roulette wheel. Wagers placed on the play of the roulette game are settled or resolved based on the outcome on that indicated roulette wheel for that play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20130059638
    Abstract: A gaming table, gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method that provide a roulette game having a plurality of different roulette wheels. For each play of the roulette game, one of the different roulette wheels is selected and employed in or for that play of the roulette game. When the player or players place their wagers, they do not know which of the different roulette wheels will be employed for that play of the roulette game. After the player or players place their wagers for the play of the roulette game, the selected roulette wheel for that play of the roulette game is indicated to the player or players, and the play of the roulette game commences using that indicated roulette wheel. Wagers placed on the play of the roulette game are settled or resolved based on the outcome on that indicated roulette wheel for that play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8388437
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes. In one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game. The method includes placing a bet by a player, playing of a game to produce a game outcome, evaluating a primary game outcome, paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it, advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it, and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Kathleen Bolich
  • Publication number: 20130053130
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to place one or more side bets on one or more outcomes associated with one or more bonus events, wherein the player participates in each of such bonus event(s) regardless of when that bonus event is triggered and regardless of which gaming device(s) in the gaming system is associated with the triggering of that bonus event. In another embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to place a side bet which is associated with an eligibility period, such as a designated period of time or a designated quantity of games played. If no bonus events are triggered during the associated eligibility period, the placed side bet is lost and the gaming system does not provide the player any bonus event awards in association with the placed side bet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: John H. Zielinski, Mark C. Nicely, Kevin N. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130053131
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to place one or more side bets on one or more outcomes associated with one or more bonus events, wherein the player participates in each of such bonus event(s) regardless of when that bonus event is triggered and regardless of which gaming device(s) in the gaming system is associated with the triggering of that bonus event. In another embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to place a side bet which is associated with an eligibility period, such as a designated period of time or a designated quantity of games played. If no bonus events are triggered during the associated eligibility period, the placed side bet is lost and the gaming system does not provide the player any bonus event awards in association with the placed side bet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: John H. Zielinski, Mark C. Nicely, Kevin N. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130053123
    Abstract: A gaming system providing a falling symbol obstacle board game. The gaming system displays a symbol starting position, a plurality of symbol ending positions, and a plurality of obstacles. The gaming system selects one of a plurality of symbols, displays the symbol moving from the symbol starting position into one of the symbol ending positions along one of a plurality of symbol paths through the obstacles, and displays the symbol at the symbol ending position at the end of the symbol path. The gaming system repeats selecting symbols, displaying the symbol moving from the symbol starting position to a symbol ending positions along a symbol path, and displaying the symbol at the symbol ending position at the end of the symbol path until a termination condition is satisfied, after which the gaming system determines whether any winning combinations of the symbols are displayed at the symbol ending positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Jason D. Kremer, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20130053144
    Abstract: A method of linking gaming machine audio content to a player and network-based gaming system are provided. The system may include a gaming machine, a database, and a server system configured to be coupled to the gaming machine and the database. The server system may be associated with a server-based network configured to associate a connection identification (ID) with a listening device, receive an identification of the listening device through the gaming machine, and transmit an audio content generated by the gaming machine to the identified listening device using the connection ID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8376362
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a self-contained dice shaker assembly. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of one or more dice and a sensor assembly in communication with the container interior. The sensor assembly may be configured to monitor, in accordance with one or more predetermined parameters, the shake quality of the dice in the container during a shaking event. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include an identification assembly operable to identify the outcome of a respective outcome face of each die associated with the outcome of a shaking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C Nicely, William R Wells
  • Patent number: 8366533
    Abstract: A gaming system, gaming device, and method providing an obstacle board slot game. A wagering game including object starting and ending areas spaced apart in relation to one another, a plurality of obstacles and a plurality of designated target areas between the object starting area and the object ending area, and a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols is displayed. The gaming system receives a wager, causes the reels to display a plurality of the symbols, and displays an object moving from the object starting area to one of the designated target areas and/or the object ending area along one of a plurality of object paths through the obstacles. If the object moves into one of the designated target areas, the gaming system determines whether to cause one of the reels to move and causes one of the reels to move if it so determines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8366532
    Abstract: A gaming system, gaming device, and method providing an obstacle board slot game. A wagering game including object starting and ending areas spaced apart in relation to one another, a plurality of obstacles and a plurality of designated target areas between the object starting area and the object ending area, and a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols is displayed. The gaming system receives a wager, causes the reels to display a plurality of the symbols, and displays an object moving from the object starting area to one of the designated target areas and/or the object ending area along one of a plurality of object paths through the obstacles. If the object moves into one of the designated target areas, the gaming system determines whether to cause one of the reels to move and causes one of the reels to move if it so determines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely