Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for increasing potential payout opportunities using multiple card indicia representing multiple cards. One embodiment involves determining whether any one or more of a plurality of cards of a poker game having multiple poker hands are to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia representing multiple cards, presenting the plurality of cards of the poker hands, including the one or more of the plurality of cards determined to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia, and identifying a plurality of resulting hands for each of the multiple poker hands that include a multiple card indicia, where each of the plurality of resulting hands includes a different subset of a total of the indicia of the other cards in the respective poker hand and any cards provided with multiple card indicia.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for completing wagers and purchases from a gaming device when a player presses or selects the cash out feature on the device. The present invention provides for a more convenient method for players to make additional gaming wagers and purchases directly from a gaming device. The player can select the option to make a wager on a sporting event, lottery game, Keno game or any game of chance offered by the gaming establishment. The present invention also enables the player to select the option to make purchases for among other things show tickets, sporting events, movies, retail items or even credit the proceeds from the gaming device to the players hotel room account.

Abstract: A game apparatus comprises operation accepting means that accepts a bet by a player on a betting target among a plurality of betting targets for each of which odds indicating a winning allotment in a first game are set; drawing means that conducts a drawing for the first game; allotment means that pays out a game medium in accordance with a drawing result of the drawing means; storage means that holds a set payout ratio targeted by the game apparatus; stake calculation means that calculates a stake for a second game whose payout ratio is 1, taking into account, along with a number of bet game media, a difference between a position payout ratio, which serves as a winning allotment expectation value per unit of game media, for the betting target bet on by the player, and a set payout ratio held by the storage means; stake accumulation means that accumulates a stake calculated by the stake calculation means; and second game execution means that, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, executes the second game

Abstract: A roulette game device is configured to make prediction of a game result difficult by making timing at which a bet operation ends variable.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to an electronic gaming device including a memory, a processor, and a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels may include one or more areas. The memory may include one or more independent features structures. The processor may generate one or more symbols to be located in the one or more areas. The processor may initiate at least a first independent feature structure based on an independent feature triggering event.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game providing an award if a shape of a symbol displayed at a symbol display area corresponds to a shape of that symbol display area. Other embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game having a player-adjustable volatility. In certain embodiments, the game is the above-described game, while in other embodiments, the game is a different game. Generally, in certain such embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to tailor the overall volatility of a play of the game to the player's preference by selecting a desired combination of symbol display areas to employ for a play of the game.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game providing an award if a shape of a symbol displayed at a symbol display area corresponds to a shape of that symbol display area. Other embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game having a player-adjustable volatility. In certain embodiments, the game is the above-described game, while in other embodiments, the game is a different game. Generally, in certain such embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to tailor the overall volatility of a play of the game to the player's preference by selecting a desired combination of symbol display areas to employ for a play of the game.

Abstract: Probability of prize occurrence is easily controlled without provision of a blank between symbols on a reel. A gaming machine 300 includes a lower image display panel 141 configured to variable-display symbol arrays 170 each including a plurality of normal symbols 501 and a plurality of crest symbols 502 arranged among the normal symbols 501, and then rearrange the normal symbols 501 and the blank symbols 502 in a symbol display region 150 having a matrix of cells. The gaming machine 300 generates a line win or a scatter win when the normal symbols 501 are rearranged on the lower image display panel 141 in a predetermined manner, and generates a crest win which is lower than the line win and the scatter win when a predetermined number or more of the crest symbols 502 are rearranged.

Abstract: A system for generating a peer-to-peer (p2p) slot machine is provided. The system including a p2p engine, wherein the p2p engine is configured to create a slot machine for play between a first user acting as a banking player and a second user acting as a betting player. The system also includes an interface coupled to the p2p engine and configured to receive data from the banking player and the betting player. The system also includes a management engine coupled to the p2p engine, wherein the management engine is configured to audit the slot machine.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine has an electronic game controller and a display where game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined game positions. The appearance of a first special symbol causes a group of predetermined game positions to be selected where each game symbol occupying a predetermined game position in said group is changed into a second special symbol either during a play of a game or at the completion of said play, said change into said second special symbol being visible to said player. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system, device, and method providing wild reel wager options for a spinning reel type wagering game. The wagering game includes: a plurality of reels; a plurality of symbols; and one or more wild reel wager options, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of wild reel wager amounts. If a player wagers one of the wild reel wager amounts on a play of the wagering game, the gaming system determines, based on the wild reel wager option associated with that wild reel wager amount, a set of one or more of the reels to be wild reels, and causes each of the determined set of the reels to be wild reels for that play. The gaming system causes each of the reels to spin and display one or more of the symbols, and provides any awards based on the displayed symbols.

Abstract: A method of drafting and trading cards includes providing a box of hidden cards, a computer system operating a draft, and a plurality of openings in the draft available for acquisition by users. The users acquire the openings in the draft and are arranged in spots within a draft order by the computer system. A spot attribute value is assigned to each spot. The spot attribute value assigned to the spot matches a card attribute value highest in a preference list of card attribute values created by the user occupying the spot and not already assigned to another spot. The users then trade spots to occupy spots assigned with more desirable spot attribute values. After trading, the cards are revealed. Cards having card attribute values matching spot attribute values are issued to users occupying spots assigned with the matching spot attribute values.

Abstract: A system and method for queuing players of casino games for rebates is provided. The rebate queuing system of the present invention caches game play data received from electronic game tables, electronic gaming machines, and online casinos in a game server and generates invoices, each of which associates with a gaming transaction of an identified player. The invoices are sent to a rebate queue management server to be processed and queued for rebate credits. Enqueuing credits are determined based on the information extracted from the invoices, and are divided into a plurality of values according to the decimal number system. Based on the divided values, a new queue number is added to each of the corresponding rebate queues. When a queue number becomes the current rebate number of a rebate queue, the player associated with the queue number receives a corresponding amount of rebate credits.

Abstract: Methods, game entries, and systems are provided for allowing players to establish a social network for game play by transmitting play codes to additional players in order to increase the number of players participating in the game and link results between game entries to one another as well as to a future event.

Abstract: Provided is a system that is capable of adding a multi-currency function to an existing ticket/cashless server. The system according to the present application communicates information to issue a barcode ticket for taking out a credit from a gaming machine via a path connected with a game controller and, in the case of receipt of a bill, sends information on the bill to the ticket/cashless server via a path different from the path.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are described to provide virtual currency in a virtual game. The method may record a purchase value of a value icon in a virtual game. The value icon may then be deployed in the virtual environment of the virtual game. For each of a plurality of reference time periods, interaction of a player of the virtual game with the value icon may be monitored, and a virtual currency amount may be awarded to the player in the event of the player interacting with the value icon a set number of instances during each of the reference time periods. Further virtual currency may be denied upon subsequent interaction with the value icon during the same reference time period.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with determining whether a first condition associated with a first player of a gaming device is satisfied, determining whether a second condition associated with a second player of the gaming device is satisfied, and awarding, in the case that both the first and second conditions are determined to be satisfied, a benefit to the first player.

Abstract: Example apparatus and methods concern establishing, maintaining, managing, or terminating communications between an access point and a client in a wireless network used by a shared, wireless gaming system. An example apparatus may include a first logic configured to control timing for the protocol and a second logic configured to control message exchange for the protocol. Controlling timing and message exchange facilitates reducing contention in the wireless gaming environment. Contention may lead to latency. A user gaming experience may depend on reducing latency. Therefore, reducing latency may produce an improved gaming experience. Controlling timing and message exchange also facilitates reducing power consumption by clients (e.g., accessories, controllers), which in turn facilitates improving battery life for clients.

Abstract: How do 2 people near each other and who have cellphones play a multiplayer Internet game? The first person visits it on her phone. She gets a barcode of an URL with an id of her Internet address. The second person images it with his phone and connects to the server. The server sends pages to both phones, to let them play the game. A barcode can add more people to the game. A player hands her character to a nearby person with a mobile device. Or to add watchers to follow the Point Of View of a player. A barcode can transfer assets between players, in a game that encourages physical proximity and enhanced social interaction. Another method of linking the players is where the phone emits a sound that maps to an URL. The other phone records and decodes the URL. It queries the server with the URL, to log the second person into the game.

Abstract: A method for biometric identification for use with a computing device is provided herein. The method includes capturing a temporal sequence of images of the face of a user at different locations within a three-dimensional interaction space. The method further includes extracting one or more face descriptors from the images and generating a biometric template compiling the face descriptors.

Abstract: A method for allowing a number of split-screens to share a display on a client device beyond an application's native capacity for split-screening, includes determining configuration parameters for the client device, establishing a plurality of application instances to be initialized based on the number of split-screens and the application's native capacity for split-screening, initializing one or more virtual machine servers to service the plurality of application instances, optimizing display output parameters for each application instance based at least in part on the configuration parameters for the client device, and outputting display from each application instance to the client device, such that the display output from each application instance shares the display on the client device.

Abstract: An example information processing system includes a display controller configured to display a screen that includes a plurality of subjects and at least one content generated by a user, the at least one content satisfying a predetermined timing condition for each subject in a display, at least one content for a subject being included in a plurality of contents posted with regard to the subject.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring and operating a fantasy sports interleaver service are described herein. In some examples, a content feed is associated with each of a plurality of games (e.g., a plurality of football games). A plurality of clips may be created from each content feed. Fantasy point information may be associated with at least some of the clips. For example, if a football quarterback throws a touchdown pass within a clip, fantasy points may be awarded to the quarterback and/or assigned to the clip. The clip may be transmitted to a client device of a user of the fantasy sports interleaver service based at least in part upon a fantasy sports account of the user (e.g., based upon an athlete on the user's fantasy roster that is depicted in the clip).

Abstract: A software emulator for emulating a handheld video game platform such as GAME BOY®, GAME BOY COLOR® and/or GAME BOY ADVANCE® on a low-capability target platform (e.g., a seat-back display for airline or train use, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone) uses a number of features and optimizations to provide high quality graphics and sound that nearly duplicates the game playing experience on the native platform. Some exemplary features include use of bit BLITing, graphics character reformatting, modeling of a native platform liquid crystal display controller using a sequential state machine, and selective skipping of frame display updates if the game play falls behind what would occur on the native platform.

Abstract: An integrated digital play system made according to the present invention provides a multi media, digitally integrated play environment that incorporates mobile device content and web based content which interacts with physically installed tags. The system includes means for identifying a fixed physical structure within a first play system; means for detecting a physical movement of a user relative to the fixed physical structure; a first computer means for combining the physical structure identification data and the user physical movement data to generate one or more motion points; and a second computer means for providing a virtual embodiment of the one or more motion points within a second play system. Because the first and second play systems are different play systems, the second play system does not require certain corresponding user motions in the first play system in order to perform in or progress through the second play system.

Abstract: When an acquisition unit acquires image data of a game being played on another information processing apparatus, a display processing unit displays, using the acquired image data, an image of game play. A participation processing unit allows a user to join the game being played on the other information processing apparatus, and an execution unit activates game software after it is determined that the user joins the game. While the execution unit is activating the game software, the display processing unit continues to display the image of the game play.

Abstract: If a management server receives an access request, the management server performs a first ranking processing. A CPU extracts records satisfying a predetermined condition by referring to a relation table, and specifies one or plural user identification information included in the extracted records. The CPU accumulates the number of the specified user identification information for each of games, and specifies descending order of popularity of the games using the accumulated number. The CPU arranges information including explanations of the games in descending order of the number of users playing the games, and generates a first ranking page. The CPU sends an access response including the first ranking page back to a terminal device.

Abstract: When a mobile terminal obtains a container upon movement of a display range, a processor increases points in a storage unit. When the mobile terminal opens a container obtained by movement of the display range or as a present from another mobile terminal, the processor opens the container at predetermined success percentages, and writes an item obtained from the opened container in the storage unit. When the mobile terminal presents a container without opening it, the processor transmits screen data indicating a present to the other mobile terminal. The processor converts an item in the storage unit into points to increase the points in the storage unit based on an operation of the user of the mobile terminal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gaming device configured to record gaming activity, a method of processing the recorded gaming activity to analyze player behavior, and a system including the gaming device. The gaming device may include a gaming display to display gaming events played on the gaming device by a player during a gaming session, a player interface panel including a plurality of gaming buttons and a game initiating button configured to initiate the gaming events, and a game processor configured to record each activity between the player and the gaming device, wherein each recorded activity is associated with a time stamp.

Abstract: A game system has at least two modes of operation, that is, a monitor game mode and a terminal device game mode. In the monitor game mode, a main game image is displayed on a monitor and a sub game image is displayed on an LCD of a terminal device. In the terminal device game mode, the main game image is displayed on the LCD of the terminal device. The mode of operation can be switched in accordance with a mode switching instruction from a user.

Abstract: A game device provides users with a game in which a companion relationship between the users is established. A control device executes an event in which a user and a preliminary user set including at least one constituent member participates, the at least one constituent member including a user who has not established a companion relationship with the user. The control device causes a display device of a terminal device of a user to display a preliminary user set image suggesting, to the user, the at least one constituent member included in the preliminary user set; and receives, from the user, an instruction for a companion request to one of the at least one constituent members suggested in the preliminary user set image.

Abstract: A computer generating a three-dimensional space and the images to be shown on a display: sets a first angle of view of the virtual camera; displays the image in accordance with the first angle of view; detects a position on the displayed image pointed to by the input device; calculates a straight line passing through the detected position and the virtual camera in the three-dimensional space; identifies an object intersecting the straight line; automatically sets a second angle of view of the virtual camera to zoom in and display the identified object, and displays the identified object using the display device from the perspective of the second angle of view.

Abstract: A guide unit of a game device moves a guide image from a generation position to a return position and thereafter moves the game image from the return position toward the generation position in a game screen, based on reference timing data indicating a reference timing at which a player should perform a game operation, to thereby indicate the reference timing to the player. A game operation detection unit detects a game operation by a player. An evaluation unit evaluates a game operation by a player, based on an operation timing at which a player performs a game operation and a reference timing indicated by the reference timing data.

Abstract: Despite practical limitations imposed by mobile device platforms and applications, truly captivating musical instruments may be synthesized in ways that allow musically expressive performances to be captured and rendered in real-time. Visual cues presented on a multi-touch sensitive display provide the user with temporally sequenced string excitation cues. Note or chord soundings are indicated by user gestures (e.g., pluck-type gestures, strum-type gestures, chord selections, etc.) captured at the multi-touch sensitive display. Those captured gestures, rather than simply the score itself, are used as inputs to a digital synthesis of the musical instrument.

Abstract: The instant invention is related to methods and means for interacting with real and virtual environments and entities. Various embodiments of the methods and means of the invention may be performed by and/or implemented in hardware, in software, by one or more entities, and/or by some combination of hardware, software and/or one or more entities.

Abstract: A personal gaming system includes a home network router and a gaming host operable to request a bandwidth allocation from the home network router, the bandwidth allocation being associated with a multimedia stream between the gaming host and a client system, and provide the multimedia stream to the home network router for routing to the client system, where the multimedia stream is within the bandwidth allocation. The home network router is operable to receive the request for the bandwidth allocation from the gaming host, determine whether an available bandwidth for data traffic between the gaming host and the client system is greater than the bandwidth allocation, and if so to allocate the bandwidth allocation for data traffic between the gaming host and the client system, and provide an indication to the gaming host that the bandwidth allocation is allocated for data traffic between the gaming host and the client system.

Abstract: A system for generating a peer-to-peer (p2p) casino table is provided. The system includes a peer-to-peer (p2p) engine. The p2p engine is configured to create a casino table for play between a first user making an initial wager and a second user making a cover wager that covers at least a portion of the initial wager. The system also includes an interface coupled to the p2p engine and configured to receive data from the first user and the second user. The system also includes a management engine coupled to the p2p engine. The management engine is configured to audit the casino table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a game technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a game server, a game method, a terminal, and a recording medium which provide a function of transferring attribute information of one character to another character in the game.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for providing a mini-game and correcting a capability point of a simulation game character before a simulation game, and a game for artificial intelligence of a computer to display a playing result in place of a user. The technique includes: receiving an input for beginning a simulation game that is a game for artificial intelligence of a computer to display a playing result in place of a user from among game types existing in a multi-play mode that is a game mode in which users play a game by themselves from a simulation game providing user terminal; providing a mini-game that is a predetermined game for correcting a capability point of a character in the game when receiving the input of the simulation game; correcting the capability point of the character according to a result of the mini-game; and playing the simulation game based on the corrected capability point of the character.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting a challenge event. The challenge event is communicated to at least two participants in a form of an event specification. A proposal for a solution that meets the specification is received from each participant. Only one participant is chosen from the at least two participants, based on the proposal previously received from each participant. The solution is received in a form of a document or computer code from the chosen only one participant.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a challenge event. At least two participants are selected to participate in the challenge event based on determining that the participants are expected to perform well in the challenge event. Selection of the participants utilizes data elements provided for managing the challenge event. Assets of computer code are provided to the participants for assisting the participants to deliver respective submissions as outcomes of participation by the participants in the challenge event. The challenge event is conducted with the participants.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods to provide an asynchronous social event in a computer-implemented game. The social event may for example be a virtual party that is staged in a game instance of a host player and may comprise automated attendance of player characters associated with one or more guest players. An event invitation may be sent to the guest players, with the player characters of guest players who accept the invitation being displayed as automatically attending the social event. The social event may be played back to the guest players asynchronously upon request.

Abstract: An information processing device according to the present invention includes: a storage unit configured to store possessed character information that is information related to characters possessed by a player and a game parameter indicating an accumulation state of points possessed by the player in association with the player; a character selection unit configured to select a main character and a sub character from among the characters possessed by the player; a point accumulation unit configured to accumulate points by updating the possessed character information so that the sub character selected by the character selection unit is made into a character not possessed by the player and by adding the number of points corresponding to the sub character to the game parameter; and a parameter varying unit configured to vary a parameter set to the main character by causing the points accumulated by the point accumulation unit to be consumed.

Abstract: One embodiment of a constant velocity joint has an inner race with a first set of splines. A sleeve is provided and it is engaged with the inner race. A drive nut connects the sleeve with a pinion shaft. In another embodiment, the sleeve may be provided with a boot groove. A clamping device may be used to secure a boot within the boot groove.

Abstract: In one aspect, a rolling element intermediate shaft assembly is provided. The assembly includes a solid shaft having a first end and a second end and a tubular shaft configured to receive the shaft first end. The tubular shaft includes an inner wall with an axially extending groove formed therein, and the axially extending groove includes an inner surface. The assembly further includes a wear plate having a bottom surface and defining an axially extending channel, the wear plate being received in the tubular shaft axially extending groove, and at least one ball bearing disposed within the wear plate channel between the wear plate and the solid shaft.

Abstract: In one aspect, a solid shaft sub-assembly is provided. The solid shaft sub-assembly includes a solid shaft having a first portion and a second portion, and a yoke including an inner wall defining an aperture to receive the solid shaft. The aperture has a non-circular first cross-sectional profile, and the solid shaft first portion is positioned within the aperture and is deformed such that the first portion is formed with a second cross-sectional profile complementary to the first cross-sectional profile to axially and torsionally couple the solid shaft to the yoke.

Abstract: A golf practice device having a simulated putting green surface having artificial turf that is approximately the same height and an appearance similar to an actual grass putting surface. Surrounding the putting surface is a collar of artificial turf with grass blades that are longer than the putting surface portion. The turf surfaces may have the ability to float or a floatable substrate can be disposed below the turf for using the device as a floating target for golf shots.

Abstract: A golf club includes an elongated shaft with a grip that fits against the inner surface of the user's leading forearm. The shaft is also angled both obtusely forward away from a striking surface of a club head and acutely inward toward the user parallel to the golfer's leading forearm where the club is anchored. The rounded front surface of the grip rests against the inner surface of the leading forearm of the golfer anchoring the club. By applying the appropriate pressure to the grip, a relatively stable triangle is formed with the hands and shoulders as the vertices. This club design permits the golfer, using the core muscles to turn away from and then through the ball, striking it in the process and putting it toward the target, thus dramatically reducing and/or eliminating movement in the joints of the hands, elbows, shoulders, waist, hips, knees and ankles.

Abstract: A method relating to an improved swing characteristic capturing system that can be used for a golf club shaft fitting system is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention utilizes specific data gathered from the golfer's golf swing itself to determine the best performing golf club shaft for this particular golf swing. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to the utilization of cameras to record the location data of a plurality of markers located on a golf club shaft throughout a swing. The current inventive fitting methodology is preferred to the archaic fitting method of using data gathered from the result orientated ball flight data together with a tedious process of having to try numerous different shafts.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf club head having a port for providing a view into the interior cavity of the club head. The club head further includes at least one rib positioned along an internal surface of the club head and adjacent to the port. The at least one rib is configured to provide sound tuning characteristics, increasing the frequency of the port, thereby improving acoustic properties of the club head, particularly the sound produced by the golf club head during ball impact.