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: 20150310704
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes. In one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game. The method includes placing a bet by a player, playing of a game to produce a game outcome, evaluating a primary game outcome, paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it, advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it, and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Kathleen Bolich
  • Publication number: 20150287270
    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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Kelsy J. Grace, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9147306
    Abstract: An award frequency analysis auditor is employed in wager based gaming systems and reduces the time necessary to detect award frequency and return to player that is out of a desired range. User configurable thresholds may be set with the auditor and user configurable actions may also be configured to be performed when the thresholds are reached. Increased accuracy and reduction of false positives are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9142088
    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: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9129486
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system of the present disclosure is configured to operate a card game. For a play of the card game, the gaming system receives a wager, determines a plurality of player cards from a plurality of cards, displays the player cards face up, determines a plurality of dealer cards from the plurality of cards, and displays at least one of the dealer cards face up. The gaming system determines an outcome of the play by comparing the player and the dealer cards. If the outcome is a designated outcome, the gaming system funds a supplemental pool with the received wager. If a supplemental pool payout condition is met, the gaming system provides the supplemental pool to a player. If a supplemental pool reset condition other than the player winning the supplemental pool is met, the gaming system resets the supplemental pool to an initial value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Leandro Basallo, Timothy L. Isaacson, Ricky J. Lew
  • Patent number: 9129473
    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: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Binh T. Nguyen, Richard E. Rowe, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl
  • Patent number: 9082257
    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: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Kelsy J. Grace, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 9082262
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an award based on a multiplicity of game outcomes. In one implementation the invention provides a method for providing a game. The method includes placing a bet by a player, playing of a game to produce a game outcome, evaluating a primary game outcome, paying a direct award if the primary outcome merits it, advancing a bonus accumulator if the primary outcome merits it, and if the bonus accumulator has advanced sufficiently, paying a bonus award to the player and clearing the bonus accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Kathleen Bolich
  • Patent number: 9053613
    Abstract: The gaming system receives a wager from a player for a play of a game including a plurality of multi-component symbols. Each of the multi-component symbols includes a plurality of symbol component locations. A plurality of the multi-component symbols include at least one of the symbol components in at least one of the symbol component locations. The gaming system randomly generates and displays a plurality of the multi-component symbols. The gaming system determines, for a first one of a designated number of the displayed multi-component symbols, a quantity of symbol component locations of the first one of the displayed multi-component symbols that display one of the symbol components and that correspond to a symbol component location of each of the other displayed multi-component symbols of the designated number of the displayed multi-component symbols that each display one of the symbol components. Any awards are determined based on the determined quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20150154830
    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: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Patent number: 9011229
    Abstract: A gaming system displays a plurality of emblems in a predefined field. For a play of an accumulator positioning game, the gaming system enables a player to position at least one accumulator in the field based on a set of accumulator positioning criteria. The accumulator positioning criteria define allowable accumulator positions and also define whether a positioned accumulator causes the gaming system to indicate any of the emblems as winning emblems. The gaming system may indicate such winning emblems based on a spatial relationship between that emblem and any accumulator, such as a relationship wherein an accumulator encircles an emblem. The gaming system indicates any such winning emblems and provides an award for the play of the game based on any indicated winning emblems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 9005004
    Abstract: A gaming table, gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method that provide a roulette game having a plurality of different roulette wheels. For each play of the roulette game, one of the different roulette wheels is selected and employed in or for that play of the roulette game. When the player or players place their wagers, they do not know which of the different roulette wheels will be employed for that play of the roulette game. After the player or players place their wagers for the play of the roulette game, the selected roulette wheel for that play of the roulette game is indicated to the player or players, and the play of the roulette game commences using that indicated roulette wheel. Wagers placed on the play of the roulette game are settled or resolved based on the outcome on that indicated roulette wheel for that play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8986104
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a gaming system providing a multiple streak game associated with a base or primary wagering game. The multiple streak game includes a multiple streak having a multiple streak continuation condition and a single streak having a single streak continuation condition. The multiple streak is initially the active streak. If an outcome a play of the base or primary wagering game satisfies the multiple streak continuation condition, the multiple streak remains the active streak and the player may win an award. If the outcome does not satisfy the multiple streak continuation condition but satisfies the single streak continuation condition, the multiple streak ends, the at least one single streak is set as the active streak, and the player may win an award. If the outcome does not satisfy either the multiple streak continuation condition or the at least one single streak continuation condition, the multiple streak game ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8986108
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to place one or more side bets on one or more outcomes associated with one or more bonus events, wherein the player participates in each of such bonus event(s) regardless of when that bonus event is triggered and regardless of which gaming device(s) in the gaming system is associated with the triggering of that bonus event. In another embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to place a side bet which is associated with an eligibility period, such as a designated period of time or a designated quantity of games played. If no bonus events are triggered during the associated eligibility period, the placed side bet is lost and the gaming system does not provide the player any bonus event awards in association with the placed side bet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: John H. Zielinski, Mark C. Nicely, Kevin N. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8986106
    Abstract: A gaming table, gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method that provide a roulette game having a plurality of different roulette wheels. For each play of the roulette game, one of the different roulette wheels is selected and employed in or for that play of the roulette game. When the player or players place their wagers, they do not know which of the different roulette wheels will be employed for that play of the roulette game. After the player or players place their wagers for the play of the roulette game, the selected roulette wheel for that play of the roulette game is indicated to the player or players, and the play of the roulette game commences using that indicated roulette wheel. Wagers placed on the play of the roulette game are settled or resolved based on the outcome on that indicated roulette wheel for that play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 8986107
    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: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Carmen Tan, Alan R. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20150080092
    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 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders, Colin M. Ferris, Leandro Basallo
  • Publication number: 20150080098
    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: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20150080093
    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 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders
  • Publication number: 20150080090
    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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders, Jon M. Leupp, Ernest M. Lafky, Leandro Basallo