Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and a method of enabling betting during a race and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method. The method includes the steps of (a) before the start of a race, allowing bets to be made based on indicated odds; and (b) after the start of the race, varying the odds depending on racing results for one or more predetermined sections and then allowing bets to be made based on the varied odds.

Abstract: A multidimensional crossword game or puzzle has three or four functional dimensions, two physical and one or two representational, laid out on a planar board. Rules of play are applied on a two dimensional array of boards to achieve this multidimensional effect. Completion of a legal word can occur in any one of the three or four dimensions. Rules of the game may require that after the first word is played, subsequent words must contain at least one letter from a previously played word. Crossword puzzle rules and conventions can be similar to existing puzzles. Vertical stacking of pieces on one or more cells can be used to create the effect of an additional dimension on these boards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player's credit account.

Abstract: A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming and/or entertainment device, in particular in the form of a roulette game device, having a game field comprising a plurality of wager fields which can be covered individually and/or group-wise by a wager of a player and/or of a plurality of players, as well as having a playing field, in particular in the form of a roulette wheel, comprising a plurality of winning fields of which one or, optionally, more can be selected by means of a winnings determination means.

Abstract: Where a drawing machine for jackpot game is utilized in a game system in which a plurality of game apparatuses are divided into a plurality of groups for management, a payout ratio is easily managed for each group. The drawing machine for jackpot game performs a group drawing for selecting one winning group among a plurality of groups and performs a winner determining process for determining a winner among players who play game apparatuses belonging to the winning group, thereby performing a jackpot drawing.

Abstract: A gaming machine with a bonus feature; said bonus feature comprising a subsidiary game played in combination with a main game played on said machine; said subsidiary game displayed as at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appearing in a primary display of said machine; characterized in that said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appears during said play of said main game, and wherein scatter symbols appearing in a result of a said main game may be combined with at least one scatter symbol appearing on a said additional simulated bonus game reel; a combination of said scatter symbols determining a prize winning outcome.

Abstract: A slot machine 10 of the present invention is provided with a lower image display panel 141 and a motherboard 70. The slot machine 10 carries out (a1) a process of running a game in which a predetermined number of game media are paid out according to the number of game media having been bet, (a2) a process of counting the number of games run in (a1), (a3) a process of displaying, by a gauge table divided into plural stages, the number of games counted in (a2), and (a4) a process of awarding a predetermined benefit when the number of games counted in (a2) reaches a predetermined game count.

Abstract: According to a gaming system 300, when BET information has been received from a gaming machine 1, it is determined either no offer of a special payout to the gaming machine 1 of a transmission source of the BET information, or a size of the special payout to be offered to the gaming machine of the transmission source of the BET information is determined, in the external control device 200. When the size of the special payout has been determined, a numeric symbol is displayed to each of display regions from a first display region 500a to a fifth display region 500e in a lower image display panel 141. A sum of numeric values corresponding to a predetermined number of these numeric symbols is a total point value corresponding to the size of the determined special payout.

Abstract: Elements of game play are incorporated into a productivity application to assist in motivating users to learn features of the productivity application. For example, the elements of game play that are incorporated into learning features of the productivity application may include items such as usage statistics, scores, levels, challenges, achievements, competition, and the like. A recommendation system assists users in determining what features to learn next. For instance, the recommendations may be based on what features the user has already learned and/or based on what features the user's peers are using. Help content that is associated with the productivity application is also tied to the features that are currently being used by the user.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a system and method for providing shared wins in a gaming system. Certain embodiments include establishing a shared win award, wherein the shared win award has an amount or value. One or more eligible players may be identified to participate in a shared win, wherein eligibility of a player is independent of player choice. A shared win event may be determined and at least a portion of the shared win award may be awarded to each of the one or more eligible players. At least one group of players may be defined as eligible to participate in a shared win. A sharing percentage of the shared win award may be assigned to each of the eligible players as a function of relative play among the eligible players. The sharing percentage assigned to a player may be adjusted based on play relative to other eligible players, for example.

Abstract: A gaming system (10) includes gaming machine groups (GR 1-GR 16) arranged to receive input data and to generate output progressive jackpot data relating to two or more progressive jackpots. A central database (26) stores the input data relating to the progressive jackpots. A monitoring computer (40) includes a local database (46). The computer (40) obtains and temporarily stores the progressive jackpot output data.

Abstract: A procedure receives a game result from a game console. A rating is determined for the game result. If the rating for the game result meets a predetermined criteria, the recorded game associated with the game result is received from the game console. The recorded game is attached to the rating of the game result such that other players can access the recorded game through an online gaming service.

Abstract: In some embodiments a wagering game system comprises a personal area network device configured to render media content including results of a wagering game. The system can include a wagering game machine configured to determine and provide the wagering game results to the personal area network device. The wagering game machine can include a personal area network device transceiver configured to exchange data with the personal area network device, the data including the wagering game results, and a personal area network controller configured to detect the personal area network device, to procure an identification code for the personal area network device without player input, and to authenticate the personal area network device by use of the identification code. The system can also include a repository configured to store the identification code in association with a player identifier and to provide the identification code to the wagering game machine upon request.

Abstract: To provide an information processing device for enabling a user to relatively readily select their desired number of images from among a plurality of images, even in a case such as when the plurality of images are displayed close to one another on a display screen. A trajectory obtaining unit (72) obtains a trajectory of a position on the display screen, the position being designated by the user. A selection candidate image determination unit (74) determines images, among the plurality of images, that are surrounded by the trajectory obtained by the trajectory obtaining unit (72). A number of times the images determined by the selection candidate image determination unit (74) as being surrounded by the trajectory obtained by the trajectory obtaining unit (72) are surrounded by the trajectory is obtained.

Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle, such as a wheelchair system, includes a user interface that includes a user input and a display for displaying information to the user and a control unit that includes a data processor and a memory. The data processor is responsive to the user entering information into the personal mobility vehicle, where the information indicates a user selection of a game function integrated into the personal mobility vehicle, to enable the user play a game via the user interface. The operation of playing the game includes a preliminary step of switching at least a portion of the user interface from a normal mode of controlling some function, such as mobility, of the personal mobility vehicle to a game playing function.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and an operating method of the mobile terminal are provided. The operating method includes connecting the mobile terminal to a sharing device so as to be able to communicate with the sharing device, the sharing device displaying a shared screen; downloading multiplayer game programs from the sharing device; and displaying a personal screen on a display module of the mobile terminal and running a multiplayer game together with another mobile terminal by using the personal screen and the shared screen while exchanging data with the sharing device. Therefore, it is possible for the mobile terminal to effectively run the multiplayer game together with the other mobile terminal by using the personal screen and the shared screen.

Abstract: An intelligent game system and apparatus comprises one or more sensors, a controller, a projector, one or more game pieces and one or more foldable three-dimensional terrain pieces. The game board and terrain pieces comprise one or more sensors each having an identifier for sensing when a game piece or terrain piece is located on the game board and/or terrain piece. The sensors obtain object information from the game pieces and/or terrain pieces and transfer the object information to a controller. The sensors of the terrain pieces transfer the object information to the sensor of the terrain piece below them until the bottom terrain piece transfer the object information to a game board sensor. The controller is thereby able to track properties of the game and/or terrain pieces, such as position, and adjust the gameplay accordingly.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for providing users of software/video games with a wrap-around gaming experience. A first game is played by a user in an initial form to gather experience. A second game is then played by the user to gather further experience. If the user gathers enough experience while playing the second game, the user can return to the first game and unlock features and experience that did not appear in its initial form, basically transforming the first game into a third game. A character and its attributes can also be exported from a first game into a second game with or without modifying the second video game.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming system that can allow a game to be appropriately advanced even by an inexperienced dealer by way of navigating the dealer in game advancement, thereby allowing fraud to be avoided and cost to be reduced. An image input device, which captures images for displaying to players playing the game at a plurality of stations, captures an image of a side of a game portion on which the dealer is positioned to include card placement areas. Then, a controller performs image recognition processing of comparing image data of the card placement areas captured by the image input device with comparative image data stored in memory. Thereafter, in a case in which image recognition processing results in an image showing a card being included, the score of the card game is calculated based on recognition results of the images showing cards.

Abstract: A system for managing scouting images, including a scouting camera configured to record and store images of subjects at a particular location and an image management device which has a processor that creates a predictive statement based on image content of the images stored on the scouting camera or copies thereof and a display conveying the predictive statement to a user, wherein the predictive statement indicates a portion of a future time period that subjects are most likely to be at the particular location as compared to remaining portions of the future time period.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a display of a computer system for use with a video game includes a coordinate control unit for providing information related to a vertical and horizontal tilt of the control device, a mouse control unit for inputting conventional mouse input information, a game control unit for inputting game control information and a controller for processing the information provided by the coordinate control unit, mouse control unit and game control unit. The vertical and horizontal point of view of the user in the video game and/or the vertical and horizontal position of a cursor on the display is determined based on the information related to the vertical and horizontal tilt of the control device. The control device is preferably shaped like a firearm to enhance the realism of the video game, but may be shaped like a conventional game pad.

Abstract: This is a method and system for collaborative story generation and scoring based on real time player story line submissions and voting.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for generating and managing a customized interactive multiplayer location-based mobile game.

Abstract: First, a position and/or a direction of at least one predetermined first node among a plurality of nodes is determined, and then a position and/or a direction of at least one predetermined second node among the plurality of nodes is determined based on the position and/or the direction of the first node and reference posture information representing a reference posture of an object. Based on the position and/or the direction of the first node and the position and/or the direction of the second node thus determined, the object is displayed on a display device.

Abstract: A CPU causes an object to make a predetermined motion, and calculates an attracting force or a repulsive force generated, in accordance with the predetermined motion, between a node of attention among a plurality of the nodes and at least one connected node connected to the node of attention. Further, the CPU calculates a maximum value and a minimum value, of each reference axis direction in a virtual space, of an attracting force or a repulsive force generated between the node of attention and the at least one connected node, calculates a modification vector using the calculated maximum value and minimum value of each reference axis direction, and controls the node of attention based on the calculated modification vector.

Abstract: A game controller case enables game play that utilizes an action operation input (e.g., hitting or pushing) using a game controller attached to a game device instead of a dedicated game controller. The game controller case includes a receiving section that receives a game controller that includes an acceleration detection section and a transmission section that transmits a detection signal output from the acceleration detection section to a game device, and a buffer air chamber section that inflates due to pressure of air introduced into the buffer air chamber section, and forms a buffer area around the receiving section.

Abstract: Provided is a bearing device for a wheel capable of suppressing a backlash in a circumferential direction, excellent in coupling workability of a hub wheel and an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, and excellent in strength owing to stable fitting between the hub wheel and the outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. An axle module using such bearing device for a wheel is also provided. Projecting portions extending in an axial direction are provided on one of an outer surface of a shaft section of the outer joint member and an inner surface of a hole portion of the hub wheel. The projecting portions are press-fitted into the other along the axial direction, and recessed portions are formed in the other through press-fitting of the projecting portions.

Abstract: A removable hole cover for golf greens includes a generally disk-shaped spacer received within the interior of the hole assembly. The spacer provides a support surface upon which a plug of artificial turf is supported. The spacer is sized and shaped to position and support the plug of artificial turf in general alignment with the turf surrounding the golf hole assembly. In an alternate embodiment, a molded plastic cover includes a cylindrical body receivable within the upper portion of the golf hole assembly and a generally disk-shaped cover joined thereto.

Abstract: A golf ball aligning device (GBAD) (10) that is disclosed as a golf visor (12) and as a golf cap (80). Both the visor (12) and the cap (80) feature a bill (40) that has a front square edge (44), an upper surface (50) and a lower surface (52). To the lower surface (52) and adjacent to the front square edge (44) of the bill (40) is applied a dark non-glare finish (60). Alternatively, to the square front edge (44) of the bill (40) can be attached by means of a living hinge (58) a square movable tab (48) also having a dark non-glare finish (60). The dark non-glare finish (60) when viewed by a golfer, aids in aligning a straight ball trajectory along a golf course. The GBAD (10) can also be designed to include a bill adjusting assembly (114) that interfaces with the right and left head bands (26),(32) and the respective right and left hand bands (26, 32).

Abstract: A metal wood type golf club with improved performance characteristics is disclosed herein where the metal wood type golf club head will combined the performance characteristics of both a driver type golf club head and a fairway type golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a volume of between about 150 cc to about 360 cc, a CG location between about 10 mm to about 20 mm above the ground, a face depth of between about 30 millimeters (mm) to about 65 millimeters (mm), a loft of about between 10 degrees to about 16 degrees, and a COR of about 0.790 to about 0.830, wherein the entire golf club has a length of between about 41 inches to about 45 inches.

Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.

Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.

Abstract: A golf putter having an improved club head construction comprising a tapered toe and heel, and cut-out portions to distribute weight towards the toe and heal of the club to preventing twisting and to prevent club head interaction with the ground during stroke. In an aspect, the club head further includes alignment indicator lines on an upward facing mounting surface and a alignment indicator line along a shaft connection portion that extends forwardly of the striking face of the club head.

Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.

Abstract: A golf club head according to this invention includes a hollow head body, cylindrical body, weight member, and fixing member. The hollow head body has a projection formed along the periphery of the sole, a recess formed inside the projection, and an opening formed in the projection so as to extend from the toe side to the back side. The cylindrical body is provided in the recess of the head body, and includes its one end which engages with the inner wall of the projection on the heel side, and its other end which extends to the vicinity of the opening and can move along the opening. The weight member is retractably, detachably inserted in the cylindrical body. The fixing member is a detachable member which fixes the other end of the cylindrical body onto the projection.

Abstract: A metal wood or utility type golf club head is disclosed in which the golf club head may have dynamic mass properties that are capable of being adjusted without utilizing a threaded mechanism. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head that has an internal receptacle or cavity well that is strategically placed inside the metal wood or utility type golf club head to enable dynamic mass adjustments utilizing weight cards. Even more specifically, the weight cards may generally be flat and rectangular in shape to minimize weight at undesirable areas and may even contain a weighted portion having an increased density for further center of gravity adjustment.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a hollow head main body provided with a recess portion in a sole portion thereof; a gravity center characteristic adjusting portion with a plate shape disposed in the recess portion between a center part of the recess portion and a part of a surrounding wall of the recess portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the gravity center characteristic adjusting portion onto the hollow head main body at an arbitrary rotational position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a putter head and a putter having the putter head comprising a putter head body having a putter shaft connector and least one horizontal bore extending therethrough and a locatable adjacent to the putter head body. The impact adjustment body has at least one bore alignable with the bore in the putter head body. The putter head further comprises a putter face plate locatable adjacent to the impact adjustment body such that the impact adjustment body is disposed between the putter face plate and the putter head body and at least one weighted fastener sized to extend through the bores in the putter head body and the impact adjustment body so as to secure the putter face plate to the putter head body. Also disclosed is a kit for constructing an adjustable putter head including a plurality of interchangeable impact adjustment bodies and weighted fasteners.

Abstract: A putter having a shaft and a lightweight club head, with a low center of gravity. The club head has the shape of a U seen from above having two side portions forming the legs and a central portion connecting the side portions defining a ball striking surface. The club head has a weight of 140 to 230 grams, such as 160 to 220 grams, for example about 200 grams. The center of gravity is positioned a distance above the lowest point of the club head, 2 to 12 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm, for example about 4 mm. The shaft is attached to the club head with an angle (?) in a direction forward along the target line as seen from the club head and upwards. Angle (?) is 2° to 10°, preferably 3° to 8°, for example 4° or 5°.

Abstract: A metal wood type golf club with improved performance characteristics is disclosed herein where the metal wood type golf club head will combined the performance characteristics of both a driver type golf club head and a fairway type golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a volume of between about 150 cc to about 360 cc, a CG location between about 10 mm to about 20 mm above the ground, a face depth of between about 30 millimeters (mm) to about 65 millimeters (mm), a loft of about between 10 degrees to about 16 degrees, and a COR of about 0.790 to about 0.830, wherein the entire golf club has a length of between about 41 inches to about 45 inches.

Abstract: A wedge type golf club head with improved performance characteristic is disclosed herein where at least a striking surface of the wedge type golf club head is coated with a polymer coating to decrease the coefficient of friction as well as create a hydrophobic surface to remove dirt and debris. More specifically, the present invention discloses a wedge type golf club head with a hydrophobic polymer coating that creates a contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees as well as decreases the coefficient of friction to be less than about 0.1.

Abstract: A golf club head with a hardened striking face portion that improves durability and performance is disclosed. More specifically, the golf club head disclosed may have a martensitic striking face portion that may be at least about 1.3 times harder than the rear portion of the golf club head due to the martensitic crystalline structure of the striking face portion formed by heating and quenching the striking face portion of the golf club head.

Abstract: Multi-layer golf balls having a hard, high compression center, a relatively soft intermediate layer, and a stiff outer cover layer, are provided. The outer surface hardness of the intermediate layer is less than that of both the center and the outer cover layer.

Abstract: Multi-layer golf balls having a hard, high compression center, a relatively soft intermediate layer, and a stiff outer cover layer, are provided. The outer surface hardness of the intermediate layer is less than that of both the center and the outer cover layer.

Abstract: Multi-layer golf balls having a hard, high compression center, a relatively soft intermediate layer, and a stiff outer cover layer, are provided. The outer surface hardness of the intermediate layer is less than that of both the center and the outer cover layer.

Abstract: Multi-layer golf balls having a soft, low compression center; a soft, flexible outer cover layer; and a relatively hard, high compression intermediate layer disposed between the center and the outer cover layer are provided. The outer surface hardness of the intermediate layer is greater than that of both the center and the outer cover layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball that has excellent abrasion resistance and spin performance without sacrificing the processability of the cover, in a golf ball having a cover for which a crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane is used as a resin component. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core; and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane that has, as a constituting component, a chain extender having an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond.

Abstract: A golf ball which has excellent abrasion-resistance and spin performance is provided. The golf ball of the present invention includes a core and a cover covering the core and containing polyurethane as a resin component, wherein the polyurethane has, as a constituting component, a polyisocyanate component, a high-molecular weight polyol component, and a mixture of cis-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol and trans-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol as a chain extender.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the abrasion resistance and controllability in a golf ball having a polyurethane cover containing a layered silicate or the exfoliated layer thereof. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover comprises a polyurethane resin having a secondary or tertiary amine structure in a molecular chain thereof, the secondary or tertiary amine structure being cationized, and a layered silicate and/or an exfoliated product thereof, having an average aspect ratio of unit layers thereof ranging from 10 to 50.