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: 20200258352
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20200211330
    Abstract: A gaming machine, system, and method for presenting a game may include accepting a wager, randomly selecting k relocatable indicia from a set of N possible indicia, where N>k, positioning the k indicia into j possible locations (j>=k), evaluating the k indicia relative to first paytable with payout rules based solely on the indicia values, evaluating the k indicia relative to a second paytable with payout rules based on at least the location of the indicia, and awarding any prizes earned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Donelan, Mark C. Nicely, Steve Cartwright
  • Patent number: 10657761
    Abstract: Systems and methods of conducting games involving, among other things, providing, hosting, conducting and/or facilitating modified wagering games which have outcomes dependent at least in part on twitch-skill and/or strategic use of time during the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Inventors: Raymond Ting, Jr., Robert Rittenhouse Meaders, Andrew Richard Nay, Mark C Nicely
  • Patent number: 10607448
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes a plurality of multiple sided symbols or multiple sided game elements. Each multiple sided symbol or multiple sided game element includes a separate or distinct symbol displayed on each of one or more of the sides or faces of that multiple sided symbol. As the gaming system displays such multiple sided symbols at different symbol display positions, the gaming system differs or modifies which sides of which multiple sided symbols are displayed to the player (and thus differs or modifies which separate or distinct symbols of which sides or faces of the multiple sided symbols are displayed to the player).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders
  • Patent number: 10600289
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Carmen Tan, Alan R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 10586426
    Abstract: A gaming machine, system, and method for presenting a game may include accepting a wager, randomly selecting k relocatable indicia from a set of N possible indicia, where N>k, positioning the k indicia into j possible locations (j>=k), evaluating the k indicia relative to first paytable with payout rules based solely on the indicia values, evaluating the k indicia relative to a second paytable with payout rules based on at least the location of the indicia, and awarding any prizes earned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Deck of Dice Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Donelan, Mark C. Nicely, Steve Cartwright
  • Patent number: 10559163
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventor: Mark C Nicely
  • Patent number: 10546449
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more upgrades in association with zero, one or more shifting symbols. Upon an occurrence of an upgrade event, the gaming system upgrades one or more aspects or attributes of one or more games played. In certain embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading the award evaluation of one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more attributes or features of one or more bonus or secondary games which are subsequently triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders, Colin M. Ferris, Leandro Basallo
  • Patent number: 10540851
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a gaming system having a plurality of gaming devices. Each of the gaming devices enables a player to make wagers on plays of a primary game. For each gaming device, for each occurrence of a designated accumulation outcome, the player of that gaming device accumulates one or more positions on a bonus game display matrix. When a bonus game trigger occurs, the triggering gaming device is identified. In the bonus game, a plurality of symbols are displayed in the plurality of positions of the bonus game display matrix. The player of the triggering gaming device is provided with any awards associated with any winning symbol combinations formed by the displayed symbols. Additionally, for each assigned position of the bonus game display matrix that displays a symbol which is part of a winning symbol combination, a participation award is provided to the player assigned to that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Scott A. Caputo, Bryan D. Wolf, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Publication number: 20190392670
    Abstract: Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10515513
    Abstract: A gaming system which facilitates the two-way communication between mobile devices, such as mobile phones, and different gaming system components to enhance a player's gaming experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Shorrock, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10482706
    Abstract: A gaming system displays a plurality of spaced-apart selections each associated with a masked award. One or more selectors are each associated with one or more players, and are visible to each player. The selectors are moveable amongst the spaced-apart selections based on a plurality of player inputs. For a play of the game, the players provide inputs to move the selectors amongst the spaced-apart selections. During such movement, the gaming system temporarily reveals the award associated with any spaced-apart selection in the vicinity of any selector to at least one player, such as the player whose selector is near the selection. After the play of the game has ended (e.g., based on an amount of elapsed time), the gaming system provides awards to the players based on the ending positions of the one or more selectors with respect to the plurality of spaced-apart selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 10417864
    Abstract: Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10373440
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a bonus opportunity when a designated relationship exists between a plurality of randomly determined elements. The gaming system randomly generates a plurality of elements in association with a play of a secondary game. The gaming system determines whether a designated relationship exists between the randomly determined elements. If the designated relationship exists between the randomly determined elements, the gaming system determines a bonus opportunity associated with the randomly determined elements and provides the bonus opportunity to a player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Leandro Basallo, Rachael A. Bristol, Colin M. Ferris, John Grime, Ana K. Rollins, Timothy L. Isaacson, Mark C. Nicely, Dacotah A. Petermann-Turner, Alex Present
  • Publication number: 20190228609
    Abstract: Intelligent gaming tables and methods of providing game play through the gaming tables are described herein. The gaming table includes a table having a table surface, a plurality of player stations, and a common display configured to display gaming content to a plurality of players. The gaming table further includes an interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user input devices. The gaming table includes a gaming controller. The gaming controller is configured to communicate with the plurality of user input devices through the interface, receive location information relating to touches or contacts detected on the table surface, analyze the information relating to the touches or contacts, identify a user performing each of the touches or contacts with the table surface, and implement player input instructions contained within the information relating to the touches or contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Binh T. Nguyen, Richard E. Rowe, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl
  • Patent number: 10360757
    Abstract: A gaming system and method including a plurality of gaming devices that may participate in a shared secondary or bonus game and a controller operable to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices. At least one of the plurality of gaming devices is programmed to generate and accumulate collectors upon an occurrence of a first triggering event. Upon an occurrence of a second triggering event at one of the gaming devices, the controller enables a player of said gaming device to redeem a quantity of accumulated collectors in a bonus event. The controller also enables the player to invite other gaming devices from the plurality of gaming devices to redeem accumulated collectors and participate in said bonus event. The odds of each player earning a higher-valued total award in the bonus event increases with the total number of accumulated collectors redeemed in the bonus event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Gregory H. Parrott
  • Publication number: 20190180556
    Abstract: Systems and methods of conducting games involving, among other things, providing, hosting, conducting and/or facilitating modified wagering games which have outcomes dependent at least in part on twitch-skill and/or strategic use of time during the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Raymond Ting, JR., Robert Rittenhouse Meaders, Andrew Richard Nay, Mark C Nicely
  • Patent number: 10311674
    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: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul D. Miltenberger
  • Patent number: 10249131
    Abstract: Intelligent gaming tables and methods of providing game play through the gaming tables are described herein. The gaming table includes a table having a table surface, a plurality of player stations, and a common display configured to display gaming content to a plurality of players. The gaming table further includes an interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user input devices. The gaming table includes a gaming controller. The gaming controller is configured to communicate with the plurality of user input devices through the interface, receive location information relating to touches or contacts detected on the table surface, analyze the information relating to the touches or contacts, identify a user performing each of the touches or contacts with the table surface, and implement player input instructions contained within the information relating to the touches or contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Binh T. Nguyen, Richard E. Rowe, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl
  • Patent number: 10147263
    Abstract: Systems and methods of conducting games involving, among other things, providing, hosting, conducting and/or facilitating modified wagering games which have outcomes dependent at least in part on twitch-skill and/or strategic use of time during the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GAMIKER INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Ting, Jr., Robert Rittenhouse Meaders, Andrew Richard Nay, Mark C Nicely