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).

  • Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing one or more alternative wager propositions if a credit balance is less than a designated wager amount
    Patent number: 9466174
    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: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing a multiple player persistent game
    Patent number: 9466183
    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: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with shifting symbols in different directions between multiple symbol display position matrices
    Patent number: 9460587
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Mark C. Nicely, Benjamin J. Zoltewicz
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CASCADING SYMBOL GAME WITH SHIFTING SYMBOLS BETWEEN MULTIPLE SYMBOL DISPLAY POSITION MATRICES
    Publication number: 20160275750
    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: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections
    Patent number: 9449467
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a selection game associated with a plurality of different sets of pickable selections. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a first set of selections and a second set of selections, and initiates a selection round. If a designated selection of the first set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the first set. If a designated selection of the second set remains unpicked, the gaming system enables the player to pick a selection of the second set. If the designated ones of the first and second sets of selections have both been picked, the gaming system determines an award based on a total quantity of initiated selection rounds. If not, the gaming system ends the selection round, initiates a subsequent selection round, and repeats the above process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jon M. Leupp, Mark C. Nicely, Timothy L. Isaacson
  • Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing a game having an obstacle board with falling symbols
    Patent number: 9449464
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Jason D. Kremer, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with upgrade events
    Patent number: 9449465
    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 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders, Colin M. Ferris, Leandro Basallo
  • Customization of gaming event re-creation
    Patent number: 9443381
    Abstract: For facilitating re-experience of an event of a gaming device with a player, data is gathered in a data processing device, in communication with, yet external to, the gaming device, the data processing device having been provided a sampling of data from the gaming device by a gaming system having supervisory hierarchical control over the gaming device. At least a portion of the sampled data is processed to generate a facsimile animation re-creation of the event to be provided to the player. The facsimile animation re-creation is editable through the data processing device by use of at least one predefined rule, an operator of the data processing device, and a player granted subsequent access to the data processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Kari L. O'Driscoll
  • Rotor-based gaming device having a secondary award system
    Patent number: 9437079
    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: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system, gaming device and method including a community trail game
    Patent number: 9430915
    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: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system and method for providing a symbol matrix with a moveable symbol display window
    Patent number: 9430900
    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: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Zoltewicz, Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY GROUPING GAMING DEVICES TO PROVIDE PROGRESSIVE AWARDS
    Publication number: 20160247358
    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: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with interacting symbols
    Patent number: 9418518
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of interacting symbols. In certain embodiments, the cascading symbol game utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices or grids. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions. In operation, the gaming system generates and displays a symbol at each symbol display position of each employed symbol display position matrix, wherein the gaming system utilizes a separate set or pool of available symbols for each employed symbol display position matrix. Upon an occurrence of an interacting symbol triggering event, such as the shifting of one or more symbols between symbol display position matrices, the gaming system causes one or more symbols to interact to provide one or more benefits to a player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Benjamin J. Zoltewicz, Leandro Basallo
  • Gaming system, method and device including player/dealer role reversal for modified blackjack game
    Patent number: 9401075
    Abstract: A modified version of a Blackjack game includes a plurality of Blackjack rules including at least one player rule and at least one dealer rule. The modified Blackjack game includes at least one deck of cards, a plurality of participant hands formable from the deck, and a plurality of game administrator hands formable from the deck. A game outcome can be produced by applying the player rule to at least one of the game administrator hands, and by applying the dealer rule to at least one of the participant hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul D. Miltenberger, Scott A. Caputo
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CASCADING SYMBOL GAME WITH MULTIPLE SYMBOL DISPLAY POSITION ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20160171841
    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: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with shifting symbols between multiple symbol display position matrices
    Patent number: 9355528
    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: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system and method for providing a cascading symbol game with upgrade events
    Patent number: 9349251
    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 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders
  • GAMING METHOD AND DEVICE INVOLVING PROGRESSIVE WAGERS
    Publication number: 20160140796
    Abstract: A method of gaming is disclosed wherein progressive award values may be increased in response to certain pre-established game outcomes, wager amounts or random events. The increased progressive award values may be based on a primary game or secondary game outcome. Another innovation is the resetting of progressive awards upon completion of a bonus event whether or not award actually won in said bonus event. Player tracking systems permit progressive award values to be linked to a particular player such that the progressive award values remain personal to the player. Re-setting increased progressive award values is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Ernie M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • Gaming system and method for dynamically grouping gaming devices to provide progressive awards
    Patent number: 9336654
    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: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN INTERACTIVE GAMBLING GAME
    Publication number: 20160110943
    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: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely