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: 20170024972
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices and a plurality of different directions of symbol movement. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions. At least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions linked to or otherwise associated with one or more symbol display positions of at least another of the symbol display position matrices. If the gaming system determines that one or more symbols will be repositioned from one or more symbol display positions of one symbol display position matrix to one or more linked symbol display positions of another symbol display position matrix, the gaming system determines a direction of movement of such symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Mark C. Nicely, Benjamin J. Zoltewicz
  • Publication number: 20170024971
    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: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20170024952
    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: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20170004683
    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: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Jason D. Kremer, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20170004674
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders, Colin M. Ferris, Leandro Basallo
  • Patent number: 9530284
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for providing a card game that employs multiple-sided playing cards. In various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to play one or more games which utilize one or more sets or decks of multiple-sided playing cards or multiple-sided tiles. In such embodiments, a first side of each multiple-sided playing card is associated with one of a plurality of playing cards from a first set or deck of playing cards for a first game and a second side of each multiple-sided playing card is associated with one of a plurality of playing cards from a second, different set or deck of playing cards for a second, different game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ana Rollins, Colin Ferris, John Grime, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 9530273
    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 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Leandro Basallo, Timothy L. Isaacson, Jon M. Leupp, Brian F. Saunders, Mark C. Nicely, Nguyen T. Louie
  • Patent number: 9530282
    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: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GAMECO, INC.
    Inventors: Blaine Joshua Graboyes Goldman, Mark Sinosich, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20160371933
    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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9524614
    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: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9524609
    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: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael Shorrock, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20160364954
    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: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20160364945
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Zoltewicz, Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 9514601
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein provides streaming symbols game which utilizes a single continuous series or chain of symbols and a plurality of symbol display positions which form a path. Specifically, in various embodiments, the gaming system displays the chain of symbols continuously moving through the path of symbol display positions wherein which symbols are evaluated for any awards corresponds to when the chain of symbols stops moving along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Leandro Basallo, Rachael A. Bristol, Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9514605
    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: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Carmen Tan, Alan R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 9514602
    Abstract: For facilitating re-experience of an event of a gaming device with a player, at least one of an available plurality of data sampled by the gaming device by a gaming system having supervisory hierarchical control over the gaming device, is monitored. The data is compared against a predetermined threshold to determine whether the predetermined threshold is exceeded. If the threshold is exceeded, at least a portion of the sampled data is provided to a data processing device to be processed in re-creating the event at a subsequent time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20160343211
    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: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Blaine Joshua GRABOYES GOLDMAN, Mark SINOSICH, Mark C. NICELY
  • Publication number: 20160343209
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for providing a multi-stake, multi-level progressive jackpot ladder with overlapping eligibility bands. In such a jackpot ladder, multiple wager sizes may be eligible to participate, with each wager size associated with a grouping of jackpot levels in the jackpot ladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9495826
    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 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 9489806
    Abstract: A card game includes a plurality of rounds playable upon at least one base wager and at least one supplemental wager. Each one of the rounds results in an outcome, where a base award is associated with at least one of the outcomes. A pattern condition is fulfillable when a pattern of the outcomes corresponds to one of a plurality of designated patterns. Different supplemental awards are provided based on the fulfillment of the pattern condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely