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: 20180330579
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10102711
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure generally relates to gaming systems and methods which utilize a symbol matrix or symbol field in conjunction with a movable symbol display window to randomly select different subsets of symbols from the symbol matrix and provide different awards to players based on such selected symbol subsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Zoltewicz, Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 10096201
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game employing a set of randomly selected reels. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a slot game associated with a plurality of adjacently arranged reels including a plurality of symbols. Each of a plurality of the reels is associated with one of a plurality of different features and an indicator representing that feature. The gaming system begins sequentially displaying the reels and any corresponding indicators. The gaming system selects a set of two or more of the reels and stops sequentially displaying the reels such that the selected reels are displayed. The gaming system generates and displays a plurality of the symbols on the selected reels, determines whether any winning symbol combinations are displayed, determines any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations, and displays any determined awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Leandro Basallo, Timothy L. Isaacson, Jon M. Leupp, Brian F. Saunders, Mark C. Nicely, Nguyen T. Louie
  • Patent number: 10096208
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method for permanently increasing the average expected payback percentage of a game for a player. The gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with one or more designated point thresholds, each of which is associated with a quantity of points. The gaming system maintains a point balance for the player for the game. Upon an occurrence of a point accumulation event, the gaming system adds a quantity of points to the player's point balance for the game. When the player's point balance for the game reaches one of the designated point thresholds, the gaming system permanently modifies a feature of the game and/or adds a new feature to the game. In various embodiments, the modification to the feature and/or the new feature permanently increases the average expected payback percentage for the game for that player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10096199
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods providing a community selection game providing bonus game selection. In one embodiment, for each gaming device in the gaming system, when a triggering event occurs, the gaming system provides a player of that gaming device with a player identifier that uniquely identifies that player. The community selection game includes a plurality of bonus game identifiers each identifying a bonus game. The bonus game identifiers each include a limited quantity of bonus game player identifier display areas. The gaming system enables the players to place earned or received player identifiers at the bonus game player identifier display areas. When each bonus game player identifier display area of one of the displayed bonus game identifiers displays a player identifier, the players associated with those player identifiers are provided with one or more plays of the bonus game identified by that bonus game identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Kelsy J. Grace, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 10068430
    Abstract: A gaming system enables players of a group of gaming devices to wager on progressive or other awards for that group and tracks an amount of player activity at the group. If player activity of the group exceeds an upper reconfiguration threshold, the gaming system disassociates one or more gaming devices from the group to reduce the amount of player activity. If the player activity of the group falls below a lower reconfiguration threshold, the gaming system associates one or more additional gaming devices with that group to increase player activity. Reallocation of gaming devices can occur following a player winning the award for the group. The system can incrementally increase an award reset amount, while reducing the odds of winning the award, to maintain a desired range of gaming experiences. The system can also enable a player to select an initial groups based on a characteristic of that player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 10055944
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20180182210
    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: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20180182204
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices or grids. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions, wherein at least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions associated with a plurality of different symbol display positions of a plurality of the symbol display position matrices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20180151029
    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: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    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: 20180144577
    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: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20180075697
    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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Shorrock, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9911281
    Abstract: A game system including a plurality of symbols, a rotor and an award amount. The plurality of symbols include at least one secondary award group of the symbols. A wager is placeable on the secondary award group. The rotor displays the symbols and a plurality of ball landings adjacent to the symbols. A plurality of the symbols are indicatable after multiple spins of the rotor. The game system is operable to provide a secondary award based on the indication of one or more symbols within the secondary award group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9905080
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9905073
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices or grids. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions, wherein at least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions associated with a plurality of different symbol display positions of a plurality of the symbol display position matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9905083
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20180033239
    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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Gregory H. Parrott
  • Patent number: 9881450
    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: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9881460
    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: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    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
  • Patent number: 9865138
    Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and media for adapting single player games of skill to a gaming environment. This game gaming comprises: accepting, through the gaming machine, initiation of play by a player; providing one or more games of video game skill, wherein a Playfield is chosen from a Playfield Selection Pool wherein the Playfield is set to have a Maximum Available Payout and games are chosen from that Playfield; evaluating and recording the results of the play of the said game session in the said Playfield; presenting a Paytable to the player, wherein the Paytable comprises one or more lines of payouts based on a player's play results; evaluating and distributing any payout earned according to the best play results and the Paytable; and managing the variance of Return To Player (RTP) of the Paytable, by adjusting selection weights of different Playfields presented to a player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GAMECO, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Joshua Graboyes Goldman, Mark Sinosich, Mark C. Nicely