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).

  • Patent number: 8216039
    Abstract: A gaming system having a game with game elements is provided. The game includes a number of game elements provided to the player and the dealer, where the game elements are subsequently divided into two or more groups or hands. The gaming system sets the dealer game elements to form a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand, according to a set of “House-Way” game element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to either manually set the player game elements to form the first player hand and the second player hand, or elect to have the gaming system automatically set the player hands according to one of several different “House-Way” and/or “Expert-Way” methods. If the player elects to manually set the player hands, the gaming system indicates to the player whether the player's game element setting selections are in accordance with any of the “House-Way” or “Expert-Way” rules. For the player and dealer hands, the first hand must have a rank greater than or equal to the rank of the second hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Timothy B. Richards
  • Patent number: 8210532
    Abstract: A gaming system having a five card draw poker game is provided. An initial five card hand is dealt and a first draw card is revealed. The player may keep or discard the first draw card. After the player decides whether to keep or discard the first draw card, the player may replace cards in the initial hand. If the player selects to discard the first draw card, this card is not used as a replacement card to form a final hand. In certain implementations, the player first selects cards in the initial hand to replace. If the player elects to keep the first draw card, the gaming system displays a second draw card and the player may keep or discard the second draw card. This process continues until all discarded cards in the initial hand have been replaced or the player elects to discard one of the draw cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony M. Evans, Mark C. Nicely, John F. Daley, Bryan D. Wolf, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8210935
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of tokens which are assignable to a plurality of token collectors. Each of the token collectors has a designated capacity which may be the same or different for the token collectors. In one embodiment, the designated capacity of one or more token collectors is a number of tokens. In various other embodiments, the designated capacity of one or more token collectors is a total award value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Gregory F. Frank, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 8210533
    Abstract: A gaming system having a five card draw poker game is provided. An initial five card hand is dealt and a first draw card is revealed. The player may keep or discard the first draw card. After the player decides whether to keep or discard the first draw card, the player may replace cards in the initial hand. If the player selects to discard the first draw card, this card is not used as a replacement card to form a final hand. In certain implementations, the player first selects cards in the initial hand to replace. If the player elects to keep the first draw card, the gaming system displays a second draw card and the player may keep or discard the second draw card. This process continues until all discarded cards in the initial hand have been replaced or the player elects to discard one of the draw cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony M. Evans, Mark C. Nicely, John F. Daley, Bryan D. Wolf, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20120149451
    Abstract: A gaming device provides a single player poker game including one or more opportunities for forming player hands. In one embodiment, for a play of the poker game, a player places a wager on each of a plurality of player hands. The gaming device provides the player with one or more opportunities to fold one or more of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the folded hand. A number of community cards are dealt. The gaming device determines and provides any awards associated with a ranking of each of the remaining player hands according to a paytable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul Baker Stroube, Steven Joseph Bazyl
  • Patent number: 8197319
    Abstract: A gaming system having a multiple hand Blackjack game is provided. The Blackjack game includes four cards initial dealt to the player and four cards initially dealt to the dealer. First, the gaming system sets the four dealer cards to form a first two-card dealer hand and a second two-card dealer hand, according to a set of predetermined rules. Similarly, the player sets the four player cards to form a first two-card player hand and a second two-Card player hand. The gaming system reveals an upward in the first dealer hand and then enables the player to modify the first player according to predetermined Blackjack rules. The gaming device modified the first dealer hand according to predetermined Blackjack rules. If the first player hand beats the first dealer hand, the player wins an award. The gaming device resolved the second player and dealer hands in a similar fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8177616
    Abstract: A gaming system having a multiple hand Three-card Poker game is provided. The Three-card Poker game includes seven cards dealt to the player and the dealer. First the gaming system sets the seven dealer cards to form a high three-card dealer hand, a low three-card dealer hand, and a tie breaker card, according to a set of predetermined rules. Similarly, the player sets the seven player cards to form a high three-card player hand, a low three-card player hand, and a tie breaker card. For the player and dealer hands, the high three-card hand must have a rank greater than or equal to the rank of the low three-card hand, and the rank of the low three-card hand must be greater than or equal to the tie breaker card. If the high and low three-card player hands both beat the corresponding dealer hands, the player wins an award. If only one of the three-card player hands beats the corresponding dealer hand, the outcome of the game is determined by the tie breaker card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8177234
    Abstract: A gaming device including a game operable upon one or more wagers. The game is operable for a first play and a second play. Each one of the plays involves a spin of a rotor. The rotor has a plurality of symbols and a plurality of ball landings adjacent to the symbols. A first quantity of the ball landings is available for the first play, and a lower, second quantity of the ball landings is available for the second play. The gaming device also includes an indicator that is operable to indicate information relating to the availability of the second quantity of ball landings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20120108319
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provides a community game having a trail or path. The community game enables a plurality of players to each simultaneously pick one or more directions of movement along the trail or path (i.e., pick or designate a destination position which that player wants to move to). If the picked directions of movement for more than one player result in more than one player each designating the same destination position, the gaming system determines which player is moved to the designated destination position (and is provided a displayed award or outcome associated with that position) and which player is moved to an alternative position (and is provided a displayed award or outcome associated with that alternative position).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8162746
    Abstract: A gaming system and method that enables the odds of obtaining a winning outcome or a designated outcome for a play of a game to change without modifying the paytable of the game. The gaming system makes a first determination using a first processor based on a paytable of a game. The gaming system makes a second determination using a second processor, where the second determination may be based, at least in part, on the wager amount. The gaming system displays a single game outcome to the player and either provides the player with the highest award resulting from the determinations or any awards resulting from the determinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120094749
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes at least one and preferably a plurality of progressive awards which are each associated with a supplemental fund or pool. If the gaming system determines that the progressive award is not growing at a designated incremental rate (due to a lack of wagers placed on gaming devices associated with the progressive award), the gaming system utilizes part or all of the amount in the supplemental fund to make up for this lack of wager based growth. Such a configuration provides that even if players are not actively playing gaming devices associated with the progressive award, the progressive award will still increment at a designated rate to at least a desirable value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul D. Miltenberger
  • Patent number: 8152171
    Abstract: A gaming device including at least one wagering station and a rotor. The rotor supports a series of symbols arranged about a center. The rotor also supports a series of landings arranged adjacent to the series of symbols. In operation, at least one ball travels along the rotor and eventually reaches a landing. One or more of the elements of the gaming device has a designated shape, construction or function to enable designated operations of a primary game, a secondary outcome determiner or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paul D. Miltenberger, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20120071232
    Abstract: The disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of selectable positions and a plurality of awards interdependently distributed or associated with the selectable positions. For one, a plurality, or all the selectable positions, the award associated with such selectable position is interdependent in that such award has a relationship to one or more of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. In various embodiments, the value of the award associated with such selectable position has a relationship to one or more of the values of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. Based on these interdependencies, when each of the selectable positions is selected, the award, or value of the award, associated with the position provides certain information which can be subsequently used to make better informed position selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Binh T. Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paul D. Miltenberger, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8137174
    Abstract: A gaming device includes a single player poker game that includes one or more opportunities for selecting or forming player hands. In one embodiment, wagers are placed on several player hands, and the gaming device matches these wagers for each of several dealer hands. A play of the game includes one or more opportunities for a player to fold or cancel one of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the withdrawn hand. The gaming device may also cause one or more of the dealer hands to be folded. In another embodiment, the game includes dealing several initial player hands and enabling a player to select one of the player hands to compete against one or more dealer hands. In another embodiment, a play of the game includes dealing a plurality of player cards and enabling a player to form multiple player hands from the dealt player cards. The game also includes dealing a plurality of dealer cards and forming multiple dealer hands from the dealt dealer cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul Baker Stroube, Steven Joseph Bazyl
  • Publication number: 20120061913
    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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, William R. Wells
  • Patent number: 8118666
    Abstract: A gaming system and methods provide a plurality of gaming devices configured to operate a multiple-player bonus or secondary game. Each gaming device of the gaming system generates targets upon occurrences of target-generation events. Each gaming device also generates collectors upon occurrences of collector-generating events. The collectors may be used in conjunction with the aforementioned targets to obtain awards in a bonus sequence as described. Upon the occurrence of a redemption event at one of the plurality of gaming devices, the gaming device provides all players playing at one of the gaming devices in the gaming system the opportunity to redeem all accumulated collectors and targets in a bonus sequence. In the bonus sequence, the gaming system determines any awards associated with the redemption of accumulated collectors and targets and provides them to the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 8096874
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes at least one and preferably a plurality of progressive awards which are each associated with a supplemental fund or pool. If the gaming system determines that the progressive award is not growing at a designated incremental rate (due to a lack of wagers placed on gaming devices associated with the progressive award), the gaming system utilizes part or all of the amount in the supplemental fund to make up for this lack of wager based growth. Such a configuration provides that even if players are not actively playing gaming devices associated with the progressive award, the progressive award will still increment at a designated rate to at least a desirable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul D. Miltenberger
  • Patent number: 8079593
    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: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, William R. Wells
  • Patent number: 8079903
    Abstract: The disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of selectable positions and a plurality of awards interdependently distributed or associated with the selectable positions. For one, a plurality, or all the selectable positions, the award associated with such selectable position is interdependent in that such award has a relationship to one or more of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. In various embodiments, the value of the award associated with such selectable position has a relationship to one or more of the values of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. Based on these interdependencies, when each of the selectable positions is selected, the award, or value of the award, associated with the position provides certain information which can be subsequently used to make better informed position selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Binh T. Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paul D. Miltenberger, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8070587
    Abstract: A gaming system where, as players play the primary games of the gaming devices, the gaming devices or the players playing at those gaming devices are occasionally provided with game elements associated with a multiplayer bonus game. In one embodiment, when a designated number of the game elements associated with the multiplayer bonus game have been awarded during game play, the multiplayer bonus game is triggered. During the multiplayer bonus game, the gaming system randomly selects a plurality of the game elements and compares the randomly selected game elements with the game elements awarded to the players. The players receive bonus awards based at least in part on the relationship between the awarded game elements and the game elements which are randomly selected during the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Paul D. Miltenberger, Mark C. Nicely