Patents by Inventor Scott Caputo

Scott Caputo 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 for providing a game in which a player collects emblems by positioning accumulators in a field
    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
  • Gaming system and method for providing a game which populates symbols along a path
    Patent number: 8992301
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to a game including a path of different symbol display positions. The gaming system generates one or more symbols (and/or one or more awards) at one or more of the symbol display positions of a matrix or grid. The gaming system then randomly forms a path including a plurality of the symbol display positions and determines an award for the player based on which symbol display positions are included in the formed path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Leandro Basallo, Rachael A. Bristol, Thomas Uster, Jodi Manela, Dacotah Petermann-Turner, Amity Wang, Benjamin J. Zoltewicz, Prashant Arora, David Hernandez-Diaz, Stephen J. Edwards, Matthew Falzone, Sean Mountain, Alexander Present, Todd Wong
  • Gaming device and method for providing player selection of modifiers to game components
    Patent number: 8986103
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the gaming device and method disclosed herein provides a player one or more modifiers to apply to different components or characteristics of a game. In one such embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to selectively apply or associate a plurality of modifiers to a single game component or apply the plurality of modifiers across the plurality of game components. For each game component with at least one applied modifier, the gaming device disclosed herein modifies said game component based on each applied modifier. The gaming device generates any awards based on any modified game components and any unmodified game components and provides any generated awards to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Carl V. Kniesteadt, Alan Weiss
  • Gaming device and method for providing player selection of modifiers to game components
    Patent number: 8986100
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the gaming device and method disclosed herein provides a player one or more modifiers to apply to different components or characteristics of a game. In one such embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to selectively apply or associate a plurality of modifiers to a single game component or apply the plurality of modifiers across the plurality of game components. For each game component with at least one applied modifier, the gaming device disclosed herein modifies said game component based on each applied modifier. The gaming device generates any awards based on any modified game components and any unmodified game components and provides any generated awards to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Carl V. Kniesteadt, Alan Weiss
  • Gaming system and method modifying one or more options provided to a player based on the player's previously-chosen options
    Patent number: 8986093
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system and method modifying of one or more options provided to a player based on the player's previously chosen options. When a triggering event occurs, the gaming system displays an indication of each of a first plurality of options and enables the player to choose one of the first plurality of options. The gaming system stores player choice data representing the player's chosen one of the first plurality of options. Upon an occurrence of one or more modification events, the gaming system modifies the first plurality of options based at least in part on which of the first plurality of options were previously chosen by the player. Following a subsequent occurrence of the triggering event, the gaming system displays an indication of each of the modified first plurality of options and enables the player to choose one of the modified first plurality of options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Kevin N. Taylor
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING A SLOT GAME AND ENABLING ACCUMULATION OF GRAPHICAL IMAGE SYMBOLS
    Publication number: 20150080096
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a slot game and enabling accumulation of graphical image symbols. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to accumulate graphical image symbols during play of the slot game and, when a complete set of the graphical image symbols is accumulated such that a graphical image associated with that complete set is displayed, provides a feature to the player. The gaming system of the present disclosure thus encourages players to continue play of the slot game to attempt to accumulate a complete set of the graphical image symbols such that the gaming system provides the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo, Michael D. Shorrock, Timothy L. Isaacson
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CASCADING SYMBOL GAME WITH UPGRADE EVENTS
    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
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CASCADING SYMBOL GAME WITH UPGRADE EVENTS
    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
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING GAME WITH MULTIPLE AWARD DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20150080087
    Abstract: A gaming system and method which provides multiple individually and independently activated un-weighted award displays, wherein a plurality of designated awards have the same probability of being won regardless of how many of the award displays are activated. In various embodiments, the designated awards are different, and in various embodiments, the designated awards are progressive awards. In various embodiments, the un-weighted award displays include a plurality of award wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Jon Leupp, Timothy L. Isaacson, Leandro Basallo, Scott A. Caputo
  • GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING A COMMUNITY TRAIL GAME
    Publication number: 20150045108
    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: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • GAMING SYSTEMS, GAMING DEVICES AND METHODS WITH VOLATILITY CONTROL GAMES
    Publication number: 20150011308
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Gaming system and method for providing a matching symbols game
    Patent number: 8905833
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to select one or more playing cards from a plurality of playing cards, wherein different playing cards include or are otherwise associated with one or more different symbols. The gaming system then determines if any matches occur amongst the plurality of symbols of a plurality of playing cards (including at least the player's selected playing card(s)). Following such a determination, the gaming system determines and provides zero, one or more awards based on one or more of: (i) which, if any, matching symbols occurred amongst the plurality of symbols of the plurality of playing cards, and (ii) a quantity of symbol matches which occurred amongst the plurality of symbols of the plurality of playing cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Leandro Basallo, Scott A. Caputo
  • GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE, AND METHOD PROVIDING ONE OR MORE WILD REEL WAGER OPTIONS
    Publication number: 20140349738
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system, device, and method providing wild reel wager options for a spinning reel type wagering game. The wagering game includes: a plurality of reels; a plurality of symbols; and one or more wild reel wager options, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of wild reel wager amounts. If a player wagers one of the wild reel wager amounts on a play of the wagering game, the gaming system determines, based on the wild reel wager option associated with that wild reel wager amount, a set of one or more of the reels to be wild reels, and causes each of the determined set of the reels to be wild reels for that play. The gaming system causes each of the reels to spin and display one or more of the symbols, and provides any awards based on the displayed symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Scott A. Caputo
  • Gaming system, gaming device and method including a community trail game
    Patent number: 8888580
    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 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Mark C. Nicely
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING A PLAYER-SELECTED FEATURE FOR A PLAY OF A GAME OR USING THE PLAYER-SELECTED FEATURE TO MODIFY ANOTHER FEATURE FOR A SUBSEQUENT PLAY OF THE GAME
    Publication number: 20140329591
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game employing a player-selected one of a plurality of different features. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a set of a plurality of different features, and enables a player to select one of the features for a play of the game. In certain instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game in accordance with the selected feature. In other instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game without the selected feature, and uses the selected feature to modify one of the other, non-selected features that has a designated relationship with the selected feature. The gaming system subsequently enables the player to select the modified feature for a subsequent play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Brian F. Saunders
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING A PLAYER-SELECTED FEATURE FOR A PLAY OF A GAME OR USING THE PLAYER-SELECTED FEATURE TO MODIFY ANOTHER FEATURE FOR A SUBSEQUENT PLAY OF THE GAME
    Publication number: 20140329590
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game employing a player-selected one of a plurality of different features. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a set of a plurality of different features, and enables a player to select one of the features for a play of the game. In certain instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game in accordance with the selected feature. In other instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game without the selected feature, and uses the selected feature to modify one of the other, non-selected features that has a designated relationship with the selected feature. The gaming system subsequently enables the player to select the modified feature for a subsequent play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Brian F. Saunders
  • GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD PROVIDING A GROUP OF TIMED GAMES
    Publication number: 20140323191
    Abstract: The gaming system, gaming device and gaming method provides a plurality of sequential player events in which the player must take an action in a designated period of time and where the player has less time to take the action in each subsequent event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Dwayne A. Davis, Scott T. Hilbert, Michael M. Oberberger, Alexandria E. Sutich
  • Gaming system and method providing a multiplay slot game including a cascading symbols feature in which symbols are removed from corresponding symbol display areas of different sets of symbol display areas
    Patent number: 8870642
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game including a cascading symbols feature in which symbols are removed from corresponding symbol display areas of different sets of symbol display areas. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a first set and a second set of symbol display areas. For each symbol display area, the gaming system displays one of a plurality of different symbols at that symbol display area. If a designated symbol combination is formed by the symbols displayed at the symbol display areas of the first set, the gaming system removes the symbols displayed at the symbol display areas of the second set that correspond to the symbol display area of the first set displaying the symbols forming the designated symbol combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jon M. Leupp, Mark C. Nicely, Leandro Basallo, Timothy L. Isaacson, Scott A. Caputo
  • Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods with volatility control games
    Patent number: 8858318
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing cascading symbols with wild features
    Patent number: 8851974
    Abstract: A cascading symbol game includes designated symbols such as wild symbols. In the cascading symbol game, a gaming device generates and displays a symbol from a plurality of symbols for each of a plurality of symbol positions. The gaming device removes at least one symbol from at least one of the plurality of symbol positions. The gaming device repositions at least one displayed symbol to another one of the symbol positions to create at least one empty symbol position. If a designated event occurred, the gaming device generates and displays at least one designated symbol, such as a wild symbol, in the at least one empty symbol position, wherein the at least one designated wild symbol is generated independent of the plurality of symbols. The gaming device displays any award associated with any winning symbol combination formed from the displayed symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Brian F. Saunders