Apparatus for and method of playing games

Abstract

An apparatus for and a method of playing games is provided. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, multiple games (e.g., poker and slots) may be played simultaneously to enhance user enjoyment. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, predetermined associations of individual events occurring in the various games can be made. Upon detection of one or more predetermined associations during playing of the multiple games a user can be further rewarded in addition (or in lieu) of any reward given based on the results of the games individually. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, users can be permitted to make parametric requests that effectively specify the parameters that limit the possible occurrences events that would otherwise result from playing one or more games. Commercial embodiments of the invention may include, for example, indicia of slot reel images on the face of (or above) individual cards of a video poker machine or even on the modified face of cards in a manual deck of cards.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The constant development of games and game systems is required in order to maintain player/user interest in playing games. Casino and arcade operators, for example, have a keen interest in the development in order to maintain or enhance visits and participation in their respective establishments. Operators originally relying heavily on dealer tables offering traditional card games such as poker and blackjack, or mechanical slot machines, now rely heavily on processor-based video games offering the same games to cater to the tastes of the players/users. Continued variation and enhancement of games and game systems is required to maintain or increase the level of enthusiasm of today's players/users.

SUMMARY

[0002] An apparatus for and a method of playing games is provided. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, multiple games (e.g., poker and slots) may be played simultaneously to enhance user enjoyment. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, predetermined associations of individual events occurring in the various games can be made. Upon detection of one or more predetermined associations during playing of the multiple games a user can be further rewarded in addition (or in lieu) of any reward given based on the results of the games individually. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, users can be permitted to make parametric requests that effectively specify the parameters that limit the possible occurrences events that would otherwise result from playing one or more games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates a game playing system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0004] FIG. 2 illustrates process flow for multiple game playing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0005] FIG. 3-6 illustrate simultaneous playing of slots and a card game in accordance with a preferred embodiments of the invention;

[0006] FIG. 7 illustrates process flow for detecting association in multiple games in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0007] FIG. 8 illustrates process flow for parametric requests in game playing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0008] FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate exemplary implementations of the invention embodied in up-right structures; and

[0009] FIGS. 10a, 10b, and 10c depict exemplary payout schedules that may be used in accordance with a preferred embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] preferred embodiments and applications of the invention will now be described. Other embodiments may be realized and structural or logical changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Although the preferred embodiments disclosed herein have been particularly described as applied to the playing of casino-type games through manual or electronic devices, it should be readily apparent that the invention may be embodied to implement any game and/or game implementation technology having the same or similar problems.

[0011] The system illustrated in FIG. 1 is composed of a game server 10 and user interface 15 for implementing the game operations described below in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention. (It should be apparent, however, that many, if not all, of the game operations may be implemented by hand using physical devices (e.g., deck of cards), and human intervention (e.g., house dealer) in accordance with the teachings herein.) In accordance with a preferred embodiment, game server 10 may include one or more central processing units (CPUs) symbolically represented by CPU 100 used to provide processing of input/output data between game server 10, user interface 15, and/or network 17, and among the different modules (all connected together via system bus 109) within game server 10. CPU 100 typically executes one or more computer programs stored in the one or more memory devices symbolically represented as memory module 102. A award determination unit/payout controller 104 is provided to determine whether an award or payout should be issued to a player/user based on results of one or more games played. Individual game controllers (e.g., game 1 controller (106a), game 2 controller (106b), . . . game n controller (106n)) are provided to control processing of the individual games played by the user in accordance with the preferred embodiments described in (or apparent from) the instant disclosure. User interface 15 provides one or more display devices 150 (e.g., CRT, LCD, or other known displays) and one or more input/output devices (e.g., touch screen interface, keyboard, mouse, stylus, push button, lever, or other known input mechanisms) for facilitating the play of one or more games by a user through user interface 15. Network 17 may take any wired/wireless form of known connective technology (e.g., internal LAN, enterprise WAN, intranet, Internet, Virtual Private Network (VPN), etc.) to allow game server 10 to provide local/remote information and control data to/from other locations. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the game server may be implemented in stand-alone or network devices, as well as serving one or more users over a collection of remote and disparate networks (e.g., Internet, intranet, VPN, etc.).

[0012] The game system described above and illustrated in FIG. 1 may be used to effectuate any one or more aspects of the game operations described in (and apparent from) the specific embodiments, implementations, and illustrations provided herein.

[0013] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a process (FIG. 2) is implemented (e.g., through use of the system illustrated in FIG. 1, or by human intervention) for allowing the simultaneous playing of two or more games (e.g., poker, blackjack, slots, craps, keno, etc.) by the same user. Initially, if applicable, initial bets, wagers, or offering of at-risk credits or value points is made by a user and received (e.g., by payout controller 104, or a house dealer) (at step 20). Two or more games (e.g., game 1, game 2, . . . game n) are simultaneously initiated and displayed (e.g., on display device 150, on dealer card table, etc.) (at steps 21a, 21b, . . . 21n). The initial results of the simultaneous running of the games is determined (e.g., by game controllers 106a, 106b, . . . 106n, by house dealer, etc.) and displayed (at step 22).

[0014] A determination is then made (e.g., by pertinent game controller (106a, 10b, . . . 106n) and/or payout controller 104, by dealer, etc.) as to whether any payouts (or other awards) are to be given based on the initial results (at step 23). If a payout or award is to be made, the amount to be paid out (or otherwise awarded) is determined, and the payout (or other award credit) issued (e.g., by pertinent game controller (106a, 10b, . . . 106n) and/or payout controller 104, by dealer, etc.) (at step 24). The games are then operated in conjunction with any directions (e.g., request for cards, designation of discarding, etc.) as made by the user (e.g., through input device 152, by the player hand signaling to the dealer, etc.) in accordance with the conventions of the particular games played (e.g., draw poker, blackjack, slots, etc.) until the games are completed (at step 25). The end results of the games are then displayed (at step 26), and a determination and issuance of payout (or other award credits) made (at steps 27 and 28), in a manner similar to that described above (in connection with steps 23 and 24).

[0015] As one illustration of the described embodiment, FIG. 3 depicts a display of the simultaneous operation of two independently operated games: poker and slots. It should be apparent that the “display” illustrated in FIG. 3 (as well as those in FIGS. 4-6) is provided as representative of the various display mechanisms that may be employed in implementation of the embodiments illustrated herein. (The “display,” for example, represents an electronic embodiment of the invention presented on a video display (e.g., CRT, LCD, or other video screen), as well as a manual embodiment using a physical deck of cards (modified in accordance with the teachings herein) displayed on a card table or the like.) The cards 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 may represent an initial poker hand dealt to a user. The slot machine reel images 32 depicted on the face of the cards 30 may represent an initial spin of a slot machine reel. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, once the poker and slot games are initiated and the initial results displayed (as shown in FIG. 3), a determination can be made as to whether (and to what extent) a payout is to be made based on these results. preferably, the determination is made for each of the games played individually (i.e., independently of the results of the other games played).

[0016] In the illustrated example, a payout schedule or table (e.g., like that shown in FIG. 10a) may be consulted to determine and issue a payout for the row of three “bars” resulting from the initial spin of the slot reels. The draw poker hand can then be modified by selecting one or more of the individual cards for discarding and replacement by one or more additional cards in a manner well known in the art. A determination can then be made as to what payout (if any) is to be made for the final draw poker hand (e.g., using a payout table like that shown in FIG. 10b). In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the slot machine reel images can be provided in connection with the initially dealt hand, an interim or currently dealt hand, a finally dealt hand, or any combination of hands.

[0017] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous display of multiple games (e.g., poker and slots) may be implemented in any number of different arrangements. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the slot machine reel images 32 can be displayed on all five of the individual cards 30 in a dealt hand, rather than on just three of the cards as shown in FIG. 3. The slot machine reel images 34 may also be displayed in positions other than on the cards themselves (e.g., above the individual cards, as shown in FIG. 5).

[0018] The different game procedures may dictate the use of further alternative display arrangements. A slot machine game having multiple reel images 36 displayed simultaneously for each reel to correspond to different levels of payout can be displayed on the cards 30 themselves, or in other positions away from the cards (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6).

[0019] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the simultaneous playing of multiple games can be further enhanced by providing for predetermined associations of individual events that may result from the simultaneous play of two or more games. For example, an exemplary embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 7 illustrates the playing of two games such as slots and poker simultaneously in accordance with a preferred embodiment (as described above). The two games each have a variety of individual events that may result. The slots game may produce any number of slot reel images or combinations of images (e.g., bars, cherries,7's, diamonds, etc.), and a poker hand can have a variety of different card face values (e.g.,1, 2, 3, . . . 10, J, Q, IL, A), suits (e.g., clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades), or combinations of values and suits. By associating the occurrence of individual events of both games, users can be issued payout amounts (or other award credits) for the simultaneous occurrences of the events.

[0020] Accordingly, in the process flow depicted in FIG. 7, initial bets or wagers are received (at step 71), and the multiple games (e.g., slots as a first game and poker as a second game) are simultaneously initiated (at steps 72 and 73). The initial results of the games can be displayed (e.g., in the manner described above) (at step 74), and a detection of predetermined association between events of the first and second games can be determined (e.g., by payout controller 104, other game processors (106), dealer, etc.) (at step 75). As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, one the predetermined associations between events could be the occurrence of one or more reel image(s) of a “7” on one or more of the slot machine reel images 32, 34 simultaneously with a poker hand being dealt with one or more cards with the value “7 ”. If one of the predetermined associations has been detected, a determination and issuance of a payout (or other award credit) is provided (at step 76) in accordance with the pertinent payout schedule (e.g., like that shown in FIG. 10c). Whether or not a predetermined association is detected, the games are subsequently completed and end results displayed (at step 77), and any final determination and issuance of a payout is provided in accordance with one or more of the pertinent payout schedules (e.g., like those depicted in FIGS. 10a-10c). (As should be readily apparent, the predetermined associations are not limited to matching of numerical values in the different game events. Any predetermined association between individual events of two or more games can be used to trigger payouts in accordance with the invention.)

[0021] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a further enhancement of the simultaneous playing of multiple games, as well as the playing of individual games (e.g., poker, blackjack, slots, etc.) played alone is provided through permitting the user to make a parametric request (i.e., specify parameters) limiting the possible events that may occur during the playing of a game. Where a card game, for example, allows players to request the dealing of one or more cards, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user can specify that at least one of the dealt cards be within a limited range (e.g., limited to face cards such as J, Q, K, or limited to red suits such as hearts or diamonds) of all possible card face values and/or suits.

[0022] As an exemplary implementation of this preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 depicts the process flow of a card game (e.g., draw poker, blackjack, etc.) that permits the player/user to specify parameters for receiving one or more dealt cards. In this particular example, the cards are initially dealt in a conventional manner without any parameters specified in accordance with the traditional rules of the game (e.g., draw poker, blackjack, etc.) (at step 82). A request for one or more additional cards is effected (at step 84). In this illustrated embodiment, the request for additional card(s) may be made with a “hi/lo” request (at step 85) that specifies parameters in terms of card face values on the additional cards that are to be dealt to the player/user.

[0023] Where a “hi-request” (or other request for high valued cards) is made (at step 85) by the user, one or more of the cards to be dealt to the player/user must have a value higher than a first designated value (at step 86). Where a “lo-request” (or other request for low valued cards) is made (at step 85), one or more of the cards to be dealt to the player/user must have a value lower than a second designated value (at step 87). (Although the first and second designated values can be assigned any arbitrary values, in this illustrated embodiment, the two values are derived from one or more of the cards in the currently dealt hand. In the case of draw poker, for example, the first and second designated values are the same as one of the cards designated for discarding from the initially dealt hand.) Where no “hi/lo” request is made, a random card (i.e., with no specified parametric limitations) is dealt (at step 88). Where applicable, further requests for additional cards can be entertained (at step 89) to allow for repeat of the process (i.e., steps 84-88).

[0024] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the payouts (or other award credits) assigned to winning events utilizing the parametric requests can be decidedly different than the same winning events achieved without the use of parametric requests. In the card game exemplary embodiment discussed above, for example, a payout schedule like that depicted in FIG. 10c can be utilized to reduce the amounts paid out (or otherwise awarded) to a player/user electing to enhance the game of poker using parametric requests (e.g., “hi/lo” requests) relative to the same hand achieved without the use of a parametric request.

[0025] The embodiments described in (or apparent from) the instant disclosure may be employed in stand-alone (or network linked) gaming systems such as the up-right structures 90, 92 illustrated in FIGS. 9a, 9b, respectively, as well as in table-top or other structures found in casinos, arcades, and other establishments containing game playing devices. The embodiments may similarly be implemented in other known game systems and platforms (e.g., personal computer, Internet-based, Nintendo Gameboy, Sony Playstation, Sega Genesis, PDAs, portable or hand-held electronic devices, etc.), as well as other gaming formats such as lottery terminals, scratch-card formats, etc.

[0026] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it should be apparent that many modifications to the embodiments and implementations of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, while a draw poker game has been specifically illustrated herein in conjunction with a game of slots, the invention may easily be deployed in any form of poker or other card games (e.g., blackjack) in conjunction with one or more of a variety of the same or different card/non-card games (e.g., poker, blackjack, gin rummy, slots, craps, keno, roulette, etc.). While the illustrated embodiments have not specified the type of communication medium (or protocol) used to connect the various modules (e.g., shown in FIG. 1), it should be apparent that any known wired/wireless technology may be used to implement the invention (e.g., Internet, intranets, private bulletin boards, individual local or wide area networks, proprietary chat rooms, ICQ, IRC channels, instant messaging systems, WAP, bluetooth, etc.) using real-time or non-real-time systems alone or in combination.

[0027] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, one or more user interfaces (e.g., user interface 15 (FIG. 1)) are provided as part of (or in conjunction with) the illustrated systems to permit users to interact with the systems. Individual ones of a plurality of devices (e.g., network/stand-alone computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), WebTV (or other Internet-only) terminals, set-top boxes, cellular/PCS phones, screenphones, pagers, kiosks, or other known (wired or wireless) communication devices, etc.) may similarly be used to execute one or more computer programs (e.g., universal Internet browser programs, dedicated interface programs, etc.) to allow users to interface with the systems in the manner described.

[0028] The modules described herein, particularly those illustrated or inherent in the instant disclosure, may be one or more hardware, software, or hybrid components residing in (or distributed among) one or more local or remote computer systems. Although the modules may be shown or described herein as physically separated components (e.g., game controllers 106a, 106b, . . . 106n), it should be readily apparent that the modules may be combined or further separated into a variety of different components, sharing different resources (including processing units, memory, clock devices, software routines, etc.) as required for the particular implementation of the embodiments disclosed herein. Indeed, even a single general purpose computer (or other processor-controlled device) executing a program stored on an article of manufacture (e.g., recording medium) to produce the functionality referred to herein may be utilized to implement the illustrated embodiments. User interface devices may be any device used to input and/or output information. The user interface device may be implemented as a graphical user interface (GUI) containing a display or the like, or may be a link to other user input/output devices known in the art.

[0029] In addition, memory units described herein may be any one or more of the known storage devices (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), hard disk drive (HDD), floppy drive, zip drive, compact disk-ROM, DVD, bubble memory, redundant array of independent disks (RAID), etc.), and may also be one or more memory devices embedded within a CPU, or shared with one or more of the other components.

[0030] It should be readily apparent that when implementing various embodiments of the invention using manual devices (e.g., deck of cards and human house dealer), conventional devices may be required to be modified to permit the play of various games in the manner described above. For example, when implementing a simultaneous playing of a card game (e.g., poker, blackjack, etc.) and a game of slots, the conventional deck of cards could be modified to include indicia of slot reel images on the face of the individual cards, as shown in FIG. 5, using any known printing or graphics technology.

[0031] The illustrated embodiments have been described herein in connection with possible payouts (or other award credits) being made pursuant to events occurring as set forth in schedules such as those depicted in FIGS. 10a-10c.It should be readily apparent, however, that the term “payout” as used herein can easily be construed to refer to a withdrawal (or other debiting of credits) when used in conjunction with implementations of the invention to effect reduction of payouts (or awards) or even reduction or forfeiture of balances/accounts based on resulting specified individual events or occurrences (e.g., occurrence of slot machine reel images of three “devils”, etc.).

[0032] Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing description or drawings, and only by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A system for displaying a plurality of casino games for simultaneous playing by a user, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

a program memory, wherein said program memory stores a program executed by said at least one processor to implement the steps of:

(a) simultaneously initiating and displaying a plurality of casino games;

(b) receiving input directions from a user for playing the plurality of casino games independently of the end results of any of the other casino games;

(c) determining award credits based on input directions for at least one of the plurality of casino games; and

(d) completing and displaying end results of the plurality of casino games.

2. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 1, the system further comprising:

at least one display device, coupled to said at least one processor, for effectuating display of the casino games; and

an input device, coupled to said at least one display and said at least one processor, for inputting user directions and relaying the input directions to said at least one processor.

3. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 2, wherein said step (a) further comprises the step of displaying a first one of the plurality of casino games on the same display device as a second one of the plurality of casino games.

4. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 3, wherein the first casino game is a card game; and

wherein said step (a) further comprises the step of displaying individual cards of a dealt hand for the card game, and displaying an event of the second casino game on the individual cards of the first casino game.

5. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining award credits step (c) further comprises the step of detecting an association between an event of the first casino game with an event of the second casino game.

6. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 5, wherein the first casino game is a card game, and the second casino game is slots; and

wherein said determining award credits step (c) detects an association between events in the first and second casino games if an image reel in the second casino game matches the face of at least one card dealt in the first casino game.

7. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 3, wherein the first casino game is blackjack, and the second casino game is craps.

8. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 3, wherein the first casino game is draw poker, and the second casino game is slots.

9. The system for displaying a plurality of casino games as recited in claim 8, wherein said receiving input directions step (b) further comprises the steps of:

receiving designation of at least one card in an initially dealt hand for discarding from the dealt hand;

receiving a hi/lo request corresponding to at least one card designated for discarding from the dealt hand, wherein, in response to a hi-request, said at least one processor will generate a draw card that has a value higher than the card designated for discarding, and, in response to a lo-request, will generate a draw card that has a value lower than the card designated for discarding.

10. A method of playing cards between at least one player and a dealer in which at least one card is dealt to the player for each hand played, said at least one player indicating to the dealer that at least one additional card is to be dealt to the player for a current hand played, said at least one player providing a request specifying the parameters for which the at least one additional card is to be dealt to the player, wherein a high-request specifies that a player is to receive at least one additional card that is of a value higher than a first designated value, and a low-request specifies that a player is to receive at least one additional card that is of a value lower than a second designated value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second designated values are based on at least one card in the current hand played.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second designated values are both equal to a card in the current hand played that is selected by the player for discarding from the current hand played.

13. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising the simulation of individual cards making up the current hand on a display device of a video poker machine.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising the simulation of slot machine reels on the display device, and the simultaneous dealing of an initial hand of poker and an initial spin of the slot machine reels.

15. A method of playing a card game comprising the steps of:

(a) dealing a plurality of playing cards constituting an initially dealt hand;

(b) determining whether additional cards are to be dealt;

(c) dealing additional cards based on the determination made in said determining step (b); and

(d) providing a first winning payout based on images displayed with a plurality of playing cards; and

(e) providing a second winning payout based on a currently dealt hand resulting from said dealing step (a) and said dealing step (c).

16. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein the first winning payout provided in step (d) is based on images displayed on a plurality of playing cards in the initially dealt hand.

17. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein the first winning payout provided in step (d) is based on images displayed on a plurality of playing cards in the currently dealt hand resulting from step (e).

18. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein the first winning payout provided in step (d) is based on images displayed on the face surface of a plurality of the playing cards dealt.

19. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 18, wherein the first winning slots payout provided in step (d) is based on images of slot machine reels displayed on the face surface of at least three of the playing cards dealt.

20. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein said determining step (b) comprises the step of receiving a designation of at least one card for discarding in the initially dealt hand; and wherein said dealing step (c) comprises the step of dealing an additional card for replacement of each card designated for discard in said determining step (b).

21. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 20, wherein the card game is poker, and said providing step (e) further comprises the step of comparing the currently dealt hand to a payout schedule based on a variety of possible poker hands.

22. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein said dealing step (c) comprises the step of dealing an additional card for addition to the cards in the initially dealt hand.

23. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 20, wherein the card game is blackjack, and said providing step (e) further comprises the step of comparing the currently dealt hand to a dealt hand of a house dealer, and providing a second winning payout if the currently dealt hand is closer to a total of 21 than the dealt hand of the house dealer.

24. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein said dealing step (a) is performed by hand by a dealer using playing cards.

25. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 15, wherein said steps (a) through (e) are performed by a computer processor and the results displayed on a video screen.

26. The method of playing a card game as recited in claim 25, wherein said dealing step (a) further comprises the step of displaying above the initially dealt hand a plurality of slot machine reel images.

27. An article of manufacture for use in conjunction with a video poker machine, the article of manufacture having stored thereon an executable program having the processing steps of:

(a) displaying a plurality of playing cards constituting an initially dealt hand on a display of the video poker machine;

(b) displaying slot machine reel images on the face of respective ones of a plurality of the cards in the dealt hand;

(c) determining whether the reel images on the plurality of cards is associated with a winning slots payout;

(d) providing a winning slots payout based on the reel images displayed on the plurality of cards;

(e) determining whether any of the initially dealt cards are designated for discarding;

(f) drawing an additional card to replace each dealt card designated for discarding;

(g) displaying a currently dealt hand consisting of the initially dealt cards not designated for discarding and the additional cards drawn in step (f);

(h) determining whether the currently dealt hand is associated with a winning poker payout; and

(i) providing a winning poker payout based on the dealt hand currently displayed.

28. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 27, wherein the plurality of playing cards displayed in step (a) is five, and the plurality of cards having slot machine reel images displayed in step (b) is three.

29. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 27, wherein said displaying step (g) further comprises the step of displaying additional slot machine reel images on a plurality of cards in the currently dealt hand; and said providing step (i) further comprises the step of providing a winning slots payout based on the additional reel images displayed on the currently dealt hand.

30. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 29, wherein said displaying step (g) further comprises the step of showing multiple reel images on each individual one of a plurality of cards in the dealt hand, the multiple reel images respectively corresponding to ones of multiple payout lines associated with different payout schedules.