GAME SELECTION IN A WAGERING GAME MACHINE

Abstract

A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a game selection module operable to allow a game player to select a game to be played from among a plurality of wagering games available via the wagering game system. Games are grouped using factors such as theme, brand, popularity, type of game, and user rating, and are recommended based on factors such as past games a user has played, games viewed, game player demographics, popularity of games, number of licenses available, and length of play of games.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/743,303 filed Feb. 16, 2006 and entitled “GAME SELECTION IN A WAGERING GAME MACHINE”, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/746,798 filed May 9, 2006 and entitled “GAME SELECTION IN A WAGERING GAME MACHINE”, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to computerized wagering game systems, and more specifically to selection of a wagering game in a wagering game machine.

LIMITED COPYRIGHT WAIVER

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever. Copyright 2006, 2007, WMS Gaming, Inc.

BACKGROUND

Computerized wagering games have largely replaced traditional mechanical wagering game machines such as slot machines, and are rapidly being adopted to implement computerized versions of games that are traditionally played live such as poker and blackjack. These computerized games provide many benefits to the game owner and to the gambler, including greater reliability than can be achieved with a mechanical game or human dealer, more variety, sound, and animation in presentation of a game, and a lower overall cost of production and management.

The elements of computerized wagering game systems are in many ways the same as the elements in the mechanical and table game counterparts in that they must be fair, they must provide sufficient feedback to the game player to make the game fun to play, and they must meet a variety of gaming regulations to ensure that both the machine owner and gamer are honest and fairly treated in implementing the game. Further, they must provide a gaming experience that is at least as attractive as the older mechanical gaming machine experience to the gamer, to ensure success in a competitive gaming market.

Many computerized wagering games do not rely on a dealer or other personnel to facilitate game play and to provide an entertaining game playing environment, but rely upon the presentation of the game and environment generated by the wagering game machine itself. Incorporation of audio and video features into wagering games to present the wagering game, to provide help, and to enhance the environment presented are therefore important elements in the attractiveness and commercial success of a computerized wagering game system. Music and environmental effects are also played through speakers in some wagering game systems to enhance or complement a theme of the wagering game. These sounds typically accompany video presentation of the wagering game on a screen, which itself often includes animation, video, and three-dimensional graphics as part of presentation of the wagering game.

The variety of audio, video, and other elements presented to create an entertaining theme surrounding a traditional wagering game are for many a significant factor in enjoying the gaming experience. While some players prefer to play wagering games with a variety of different themes, other players have one or two favorite games, and may base their choice of gaming facilities or destinations on availability of certain games.

SUMMARY

One example embodiment of the invention comprises a computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a game selection module operable to allow a game player to select a game to be played from among a plurality of wagering games available via the wagering game system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a computerized wagering game machine, as may be used to practice some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computerized wagering game machine as may be used to practice some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a player game selection touchscreen interface, consistent with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of practicing an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a wagering game network architecture as may be used to practice some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to specific example embodiments of the invention by way of drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and serve to illustrate how the invention may be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments of the invention exist and are within the scope of the invention, and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the subject or scope of the present invention. Features or limitations of various embodiments of the invention described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit other embodiments of the invention or the invention as a whole, and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application do not limit the invention as a whole but serve only to define these example embodiments. The following detailed description does not, therefore, limit the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims.

One example embodiment of the invention comprises a computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a game selection module operable to allow a game player to select a game to be played from among a plurality of wagering games available via the wagering game system.

In various further embodiments, games are grouped using factors such as theme, brand, popularity, type of game, and user rating, and are recommended based on factors such as past games a user has played, games viewed, game player demographics, popularity of games, number of licenses available, and length of play of games. These and other features enable various wagering game machine embodiments to provide a user with the ability to select a game via a user interface, and to recommend specific games based on a variety of factors. Such a system enhances the availability of preferred games, and presents a game player with new games that are deliberately selected to appeal to the game player.

FIG. 1 illustrates a computerized wagering game machine, as may be used to practice some embodiments of the present invention. The computerized gaming system shown generally at 100 is a video wagering game system, which displays information for at least one wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered on video display 101. Video display 101 is in various embodiments a CRT display, a plasma display, an LCD display, a surface conducting electron emitter display, or any other type of display suitable for displaying electronically provided display information. In some further embodiments, additional displays such as a bonus game display or top box display 102 are further operable to display electronically provided information to a wagering game player. Alternate embodiments of the invention will have other game indicators, such as mechanical reels instead of the video graphics reels shown at 103 that comprise a part of a video slot machine wagering game.

A wagering game is implemented or presented using software within the wagering game system, such as through instructions stored on a machine-readable medium such as a hard disk drive or nonvolatile memory. In some further example embodiments, some or all of the software stored in the wagering game machine is encrypted or is verified using a hash algorithm or encryption algorithm to ensure its authenticity and to verify that it has not been altered. For example, in one embodiment the wagering game software is loaded from nonvolatile memory in a compact flash card, and a hash value is calculated or a digital signature is derived to confirm that the data stored on the compact flash card has not been altered. The game of chance implemented via the loaded software takes various forms in different wagering game machines, including such well-known wagering games as reel slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, or hold 'em games. In some further embodiments, a secondary game or bonus game is displayed on the secondary display 102, or other information such as progressive slot information or other community game information is displayed.

The wagering game is played and controlled with inputs such as various buttons 104 or via a touchscreen overlay to video screen 101. The touchscreen is used in some embodiments to display virtual buttons, which can have unique functions in some embodiments, or can duplicate the functions provided by the mechanical buttons 104 in other embodiments. In some alternate examples, other devices such as pull arm 105 used to initiate reel spin in this reel slot machine example are employed to provide other input interfaces to the game player. The player interface components are in this example contained within or mechanically coupled to the wagering game system, but in other embodiments will be located outside the wagering game system cabinet such as by a wired or wireless electronic connection to the wagering game system.

Monetary value is typically wagered on the outcome of the games, such as with tokens, coins, bills, or cards that hold monetary value. The wagered value is conveyed to the machine such as through a changer 106 or a secure user identification module interface 107, and winnings are returned such as via a returned value ticket, a stored value card, a player account, or through the coin tray 108. Sound is also provided through speakers 109, typically including audio indicators of game play, such as reel spins, credit bang-ups, and environmental or other sound effects or music to provide entertainment consistent with a theme of the computerized wagering game. In some further embodiments, the wagering game machine is coupled to a network, and is operable to use its network connection to receive wagering game data, track players and monetary value associated with a player, and to perform other such functions.

In other embodiments, the computerized wagering game system takes one or more other forms, such as a mobile or portable wagering game device, a server-based wagering game device, or a networked wagering game system. These other computerized wagering game system embodiments need not contain all features of the wagering game system of FIG. 1, which does not limit the scope of a computerized wagering game but is provided as an example only.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of a wagering game system. The wagering game system includes a processor 201, which is sometimes called a microprocessor, controller, or central processing unit (CPU). In some embodiments, more than one processor is present, or different types of processors are present in the wagering game system, such as using multiple processors to run gaming code, or using dedicated processors for audio, graphics, security, or other functions. The processor is coupled via a bus 202 to various other components, including memory 203 and nonvolatile storage 204. The nonvolatile storage is able to retain the data stored therein when power is removed, and in various embodiments takes the form of a hard disk drive, nonvolatile random access memory such as a compact flash card, or network-coupled storage. Further embodiments include additional data storage technologies, such as compact disc, DVD, or HD-DVD storage in the wagering game system.

The bus 202 also couples the processor and components to various other components, such as a value acceptor 205, which is in some embodiments a token acceptor, a card reader, or a biometric or wireless player identification reader. A touchscreen display 206 and speakers 207 serve to provide an interface between the wagering game system and a wagering game player, as do various other components such as buttons 208, pullarms, and joysticks. These components are located in a wagering game machine cabinet such as that of FIG. 1 in some embodiments, but can be located in multiple enclosures comprising a wagering game system or outside a wagering game machine cabinet in other embodiments, or in alternate forms such as a wireless or mobile device.

In operation, the wagering game system loads program code from nonvolatile storage 204 into memory 203, and the processor 201 executes the program code to cause the wagering game system to perform desired functions such as to present a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered. This and other functions are provided by various modules in the computerized system such as an audio module, a game presentation module, or a touchscreen display module, where such modules comprise in some embodiments hardware, software, mechanical elements, manual intervention, and various combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, software executing on the wagering game machine presents a user interface that enables the game player to select from among a variety of wagering games. For example, the user is in one embodiment presented with a number of differently themed five reel slot machine games, four reel slot machines, three reel slot machines, video poker games, and other such games. The game player selects a game via the user interface, and the selected game is presented for playing.

The game is in some embodiments stored in a wagering game system's nonvolatile memory, such as hard disk 204, while in other embodiments is retrieved via a network connection. In some such embodiments, a wagering game establishment will have a certain number or licenses for a particular game, and the availability of a game will be regulated via the network. Demand for games is also monitored via the network in such embodiments, enabling the gaming establishment to track license usage and purchase additional licenses as needed.

The available games are presented to the wagering game player in some embodiments via a user interface such as the touchscreen controls shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, games are presented to the game player using a wide variety of selection or organization methods. For example, a game player knowing the name of a specific game can enter the game's name into a search box at 301 and search for games having certain names, containing certain words, or that have some relation to an entered search term. In other embodiments, the game player can perform various searches such as a keyword search from other screens, or from any screen, to find a new wagering game.

In some embodiments, the wagering game system will recognize the game player through a player tracking card, biometric identification, or through some other method, and is able to present user-specific information. For example, a recommendation engine is used at 302 to recommend games similar to those preferred by a particular wagering game player. The recommendation engine uses different algorithms and methods in different embodiments, including recommending games preferred by those who have similar game preferences as the game player. In a further embodiment, the recommended games list contains only games meeting this criteria that the wagering game player has not yet played.

If the wagering game player is not recognized, the recommended games feature can still be used to make recommendations based on games the game player has shown an interest in playing, such as by selecting a game for more information or to view screen shots while browsing available games. If no such information is available, the recommendation is based on other factors such as current popularity, newness of a game, the number of licenses remaining, and other such factors.

Some game players prefer to play the same wagering games repeatedly, or simply like to revisit old favorites from time to time, and will make use of a favorites feature as shown at 303. In this particular example, three favorite game icons are shown at 304, but the games will be represented by name, screen image, or other methods in other embodiments.

The most popular games in a particular wagering game establishment will likely have broad appeal to a wide range of game players, and so are also shown in this game selection interface example at 305. The popularity in some embodiments is weighted over a certain period of time, such as the last week or the last month, and in some further embodiments is weighted to favor games played more recently. Popularity can be estimated using metrics such as amount wagered, number of reel spins or other wagering game events, time played, or other such metrics in various embodiments.

Other icons, such as those shown at 306, represent games promoted for other reasons, such as games that are a part of a branded channel or group of games, or that are consistent with a particular theme such as a nearby holiday. Games can be grouped by theme or thematic element, such as fishing, wild west, adventure, television-related, or by other thematic element, where the theme is either searchable or is presented as a button 306 or part of a navigation menu. Other groupings include brands, such as a Warner Brothers branded game, a WMS New Release, a WMS Classic, Monopoly or Parker Brothers, and other such brands. Similar labels can be assigned to other grouping criteria, such as sorting groupings by user rating into platinum, gold, silver, and bronze games, or sorting the games into five, four, three, and two-star games.

Games selected for promotion or recommendation for any of the categories can be influenced by a variety of factors, including game characteristics, demographics, and other such elements. For example, if a particular player is known to be a senior citizen, the games that are recommended as favorites, most popular, and that are recommended as a result of analyzing other players with similar profiles will return primarily games that have been determined to appeal to older garners and will include fewer games that appeal more strongly to young players. Other game player characteristics including gender, credit limit or wagering rate, expressed interests, and other such interests are used in some embodiments to similarly filter or weight the games selected or ordered for presentation via the game selection tool.

Games can also be categorized by a variety of criteria to provide for game recommendations or searchability based on analysis of these game characteristics. For example, wagering games can be ranked by speed, complexity, high-tech v. traditional, and other such factors so that games recommended to a player who has shown a preference for slow-moving traditional games of low complexity will be similar in character, while games recommended for a player who prefers fast-moving high-tech games that are complex will also be appropriate for that player. Similarly, games that are more volatile, or that have higher payouts but pay out less often, can be distinguished from games that are less volatile and have more regular but smaller payouts to suit player preferences in either search categorization or recommendations. In one embodiment, these game characteristics are predetermined, and are stored as meta-tags or other data structures that can be searched to categorize or recommend various games.

Recommendation of a game itself can take many forms, including finding a recommendation based on a trusted group of garners, such as a group that shares demographic characteristics or other interests, or that is known to a particular wagering game player. Players in some embodiments are asked to rate a game after play, so that the demographic information along with the player rating can be used to build a knowledge base of game appeal to different groups of people. In another example, game players believing that certain awards or events become “overdue” after non-occurrence for a period of time can search for games or see recommendations based on number of plays or time since a certain prize was awarded.

The touchscreen interface control of FIG. 3 shows a screen that enables selection of a game before game play begins, but other embodiments of the invention will use similar methods to recommend or promote games at other times. For example, if a game player plays a particular game, the wagering game system in one such embodiment will recommend similar games when the game is complete, such as during cash-out. In another embodiment, similar games are recommended in a window or overlay on the touchscreen display, between game events, or on a top-box or other display while the game player is playing a game.

Game selection can also take other forms, including random selection of a game, such as a random selection from a weighted group of popular new games or playing games in a playlist-style ordered progression through a list of selected games. In one such example, a list of games is created ahead of time much like a playlist for a digital music player, and each game is played for a certain number of game events or for a certain period of time. These features can be combined with other game selection criteria, such as those shown in FIG. 3, to recommend or queue games for play.

Game selection in some embodiments is not limited to selecting a single wagering game, but includes manual or automated selection of secondary or bonus games, and includes downloading of similar games anticipating player interest. In one example, a player searching for “Fishing” finds “Reel 'em In”, “Goldfish”, and “Marlin Voyage” fishing-themed games. The player selects one game as the main game, but elements of the other games are included as secondary games or bonus games of interest to the game player. In another embodiment, the player selects one of the games for game play, but the other two games are also downloaded and stored in the local wagering game system in anticipation of player interest in the game.

More sophisticated examples of game selection and recommendation implementation include consideration of license limits, load management, and other infrastructure or business considerations when recommending games. For example, games that are often so heavily used that licenses risk being all used at a given time may be significantly less heavily promoted than other similar games, or may face other restrictions on play. One such restriction includes limiting a game under high demand to higher denominations, such as dollar and higher games, while restricting players from starting new games at lower denominations such as quarter games until more licenses become available. In a further embodiment, the wagering game establishment is notified of such restrictions so that additional licenses can be purchased, ensuring that each game player can play their desired game without restriction.

In another example, the availability of certain games is restricted for other reasons, such as for premium games available only to members of a wagering game establishment's player's club, premium games, previews or exclusive access to new games, or other such categories of games. The game restrictions may be in the form of denomination restrictions, such that premium games or new games are only available in dollar denominations or greater, or such that only members of a nickel slot player's club may play a hot new game for a nickel denomination.

Similarly, players having shown a preference for a certain type of game, or for a certain event such as a tournament, are notified of the game or tournament and given an opportunity to play. In one such example, a player favoring fast-paced games having a nature theme will be notified that a fast-paced variation on a fishing game is available but that he has not yet played the game. In another example, a player who regularly signs up for monthly slots tournaments will be notified of the tournament and prompted to register, such as when signing on or when cashing out after finishing game play.

When downloading the selected wagering game, the wagering game system in some embodiments shows other wagering games which have similar characteristics to the selected game, or which may otherwise be of interest to the game player. For example, the hottest new games in the wagering game establishment may be promoted, games of the same type as the selected game may be shown, games of similar content or theme as the selected game may be shown, and results of player searches or browsing through available games can be displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method of implementing user-selectable games in the context of the wagering game network of FIG. 5. At 401, a wagering game player initiates play at a wagering game machine such as 504 of FIG. 5. The player in this example identifies himself by inserting a player tracking card into the wagering game machine, at which point the wagering game machine queries a wagering game establishment server 501 for player preference and recommendation information, as well as for license availability information and other information as may be used to recommend wagering games. The wagering game establishment server in this example also makes note of the game selection, as well as any review, length of play, number of game events played, and other such information to determine player satisfaction, profitability, and other characteristics of the selected game.

If the selected game is not resident in the wagering game machine 504, it is downloaded from the server 501 or is presented on the wagering game machine 504 via the network connection. The wagering game machine in some embodiments does not run the game code itself, but simply presents a wagering game conducted elsewhere, such as in wagering game establishment server 501. In a further embodiment, game code can further be downloaded from a wagering game manufacturer server 503, or additional licenses for a game already resident in the wagering game establishment server 501 or wagering game machines 504 can be obtained through a connection to the wagering game manufacturer's server 503.

In one such embodiment, a wagering game license is obtained if needed at 405, ensuring that the game player has access to whatever wagering game is desired. In an alternate embodiment, the wagering game machine indicates that a desired game is unavailable, and optionally notifies the game player when the desired game becomes available. For example, the player may play another game, which is interrupted with a notice that the preferred game has become available. In another example, the wagering game system notifies the player via text message, cell phone call, or other means that the game has become available for play, and the game is reserved for a period of time for the waiting game player.

Once the game is downloaded, the player is able to play the wagering game. In an alternate embodiment of game downloading, actual game operation takes place on the server 501 and the game results and other game-related information are conveyed to the wagering game machine 504 and displayed on the wagering game machine display. Play of certain games, such as new, premium, or high-demand games is restricted in some examples to a certain period of time, such as a few hours, to ensure availability of a game for other players.

In another embodiment, the wagering game facility manager uses a wagering game selection tool such as that shown in FIG. 3 to select games for downloading and distribution within the wagering game facility. In one such example, the wagering game facility manager uses wagering game facility server 501 or 502 to run a game selection tool, including features that let the wagering game facility manager search for games having certain characteristics, and including features that recommend games based on characteristics such as performance of similar games in the particular wagering game establishment or performance of particular games in other wagering game establishments.

Once the facility manager has chosen one or more games, a license is purchased if necessary and the games are downloaded from the wagering game manufacturer's server 503 to the wagering game facility server. There, the games are made available for play, such as by a wagering game player's use of a game selection tool like that of FIG. 3, or through the wagering game facility manager selectively downloading games to various wagering game machines within the facility. The wagering game manufacturer in various embodiments the manufacturer of the physical game presentation equipment, the wagering game server, the content developer, or another producer of wagering game products.

The example embodiments of the invention described here illustrate a variety of ways in which a game player can be provided an opportunity to select from among a variety of available wagering games to play on a wagering game machine. Various embodiments include use of a server to provide downloadable or remotely hosted gaming, and include a variety of game recommendation and cataloging methods. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement that achieve the same purpose, structure, or function may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiments of the invention described herein. It is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims, and the full scope of equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:

a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

a game selection module operable to allow a user to select a game from a filtered list generated from a plurality of wagering games available via the wagering game system.

2. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the user comprises a wagering game player and the selected game is a game to be played.

3. The computerized wagering game system of claim 2, wherein the selected game is downloaded from a wagering game establishment server.

4. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the user comprises a wagering game system operator, the wagering game system comprises a wagering game server and one or more wagering game machines, and the selected game is made available for play on the one or more wagering game machines.

5. The computerized wagering game system of claim 3, wherein the wagering game system further comprises a wagering game manufacturer server and the selected game is downloaded from the wagering game manufacturer server.

6. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the wagering game filtered list is generated via at least one of a recommendation function and a search function.

7. The computerized wagering game system of claim 6, wherein the recommendation function is based on at least one of past games played, games viewed, game player demographics, popularity of games, and length of play of games.

8. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the filtered list comprises wagering games grouped by at least one of theme, brand, popularity, type of game, and user rating.

9. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the game selection module is further operable to select at least one second game related to the user-selected game.

10. A method of operating a wagering game system, comprising:

presenting a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

allowing a user to select a game from a filtered list generated from a plurality of wagering games available via the wagering game system.

11. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the user comprises a wagering game player and the selected game is a game to be played.

12. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 11, wherein the selected game is downloaded from a wagering game establishment server.

13. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the user comprises a wagering game system operator, the wagering game system comprises a wagering game server and one or more wagering game machines, and the selected game is made available for play on the one or more wagering game machines.

14. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 13, wherein the wagering game system further comprises a wagering game manufacturer server and the selected game is downloaded from the wagering game manufacturer server.

15. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the wagering game filtered list is generated via at least one of a recommendation function and a search function.

16. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 15, wherein the recommendation function is based on at least one of past games played, games viewed, game player demographics, popularity of games, and length of play of games.

17. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the filtered list comprises wagering games grouped by at least one of theme, brand, popularity, type of game, and user rating.

18. The method of operating a wagering game system of claim 10, further comprising selecting at least one second game related to the user-selected game

19. A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized wagering game system to:

present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

provide a game selection interface through which a user can select a game from a filtered list generated from a plurality of wagering games available via the wagering game system.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the user comprises a wagering game player and the selected game is a game to be played.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the user comprises a wagering game system operator, the wagering game system comprises a wagering game server and one or more wagering game machines, and the selected game is made available for play on the one or more wagering game machines.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the wagering game filtered list is generated via at least one of a recommendation function and a search function.