Abstract: A word puzzle device, method and apparatus, is disclosed which is based on the popular “find a word,” and “form a word” games. The puzzle employs logical structures to scramble an initial board display of characters, and requires a player to reconstruct the scrambled board before finding predefined words hidden in the display. The logical structures include a shift process, and a cause/effect process to change the position of characters in the display, or to replace characters with other characters based on predefined rules. When playing “form a word” game, a player is permitted to shift rows and/or columns, and/or activate control points to replace characters, to form as many new words as possibly can within a predetermined period of time. The puzzle device includes means to store a plurality of games, and input control mechanisms to enable a player to interact with the device. The device keeps a score that measures the player's skills in solving the word puzzle.

Abstract: A gaming bonus device and method of use in a gaming system. A game player is allowed to play a game for a prize on a primary game. The primary game generates a bonus-qualifying event. The bonus game, in response to the bonus-qualifying event, generates and displays three either/or binary outcomes entitling a player to a predefined payout. The game player can be allowed to select the winning outcome. The payout depends upon the number of similar binary outcomes displayed as compared to the selected winning outcome.

Abstract: A gaming machine, with which a plurality of players who join a game from the beginning can enjoy the game by the end of the game, is provided. The gaming machine is equipped with a rank determination means and a win/loss determination means to provide the gaming machine with an arrangement by which players provided with benefits are determined so as to be a combination of the player of the highest rank as determined by the above-mentioned rank determination means and players of ranks that are not in the order of results starting from the highest rank.

Abstract: A video implemented casino card game deals multiple hands. In a preferred embodiment the game includes a means for simulating a plurality of players on a game display. Each simulated player is dealt a hand of cards pursuant to a predetermined card game selected by a game player. Subsequent to the initial deal, the game player selects which hand to play. Once the hand has been selected, each hand is fully played. Only the game player's hand is fully revealed during play. Based on the game player's final cards, the player is paid according to a pay table. Thereafter, all hands are revealed and the game player is paid a bonus amount if the player's selected hand is the highest hand of the dealt hands. In a card game requiring a draw, or decision, unselected card hands are played according to a preprogrammed methodology within a gaming machine's internal microprocessor.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An electronic game apparatus for guessing the English acronyms comprise a game console and a system processor. The game console includes an alphanumeric keyboard, a display, and an ON/OFF switch. The system processor includes a central processing unit, a read only memory for storing the system software for performing the acronym guess, a random access memory and an input/output interface. The system software for performing the acronym guess includes a start loop module for setting the playing chances and the players'turn for each player, and a main loop module for displaying the subject category to be guessed, the acronym puzzle and the game wheel, and for guessing the meaning of the acronym based on the word spellings relative to each letter in the acronym puzzle and the related prompt information which are set and displayed at each segment on the game wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method facilitate single user and tournament play of wagering games on a computer-controlled machine. A player provides control input in order to control the game. The machine simulates the rolling of dice to obtain scoring combinations, and the player makes strategic gaming decisions concerning the holding, releasing and re-rolling of the dice, and the assignment of the resulting dice combinations to scoring categories. A game progresses as a player attempts to fill a plurality of scoring categories in order to achieve a high total score. A player wagers on each simulated roll of the dice, and is paid for winning assignments of combinations to categories. The computer-controlled slot machines are generally linked to a wide area network, facilitating tournament play among multiple players and progressive jackpots. Computer-controlled slot machines include machine-readable media reading and writing devices, allowing players to save and restore games in progress.

Abstract: A game for money has a display to show play progress. A processor runs the game play as base and/or the bonus games. The processor connects to the display. Memory in the processor operates a program; runs the game with at least one hidden attribute for each of a finite number of icons and at least two hidden attributes for at least one of the icons. An initial number of player's picks adds picks with the one hidden attribute or attributes to prolong the game. Play controls couple to the processor and the display to pick one of the icons and reveal the hidden attribute or attributes on the icon picked and awarded. A processor return path resumes operation of the game after the initial number of picks and any others revealed are used. Method steps of game play has steps of ascribing at least one hidden attribute to each of the finite number of icons and ascribing at least two hidden attributes to at least one of the icons. Giving the player an initial number of picks then shown to the player is a step.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to ensure that a threshold game result is possible. According to one embodiment, a game condition associated with a game of skill is established. The game of skill may be, for example, a puzzle game (e.g., a word puzzle game or a graphical puzzle game) or an arcade-style game. It is determined that at least one set of possible player inputs during game play will produce at least a threshold game result given the established game condition. The threshold game result may be associated with, for example, prizes provided to players based on game results.

Abstract: A system and method which provides an interactive electronic puzzle game and rearranges that same puzzle after a certain amount of time has elapsed and the player has not performed a specific action required by the game. The interactive puzzle game comprises a player interface module, a player monitoring module connected to the player interface module and operable to detect actions of the player, a puzzle generation module that generates an electronic word-search puzzle, a clock module that sets a specific amount of time and a display module connected to the player interface module and operable to display the electronic puzzle to the player. If the player does not perform a specific action required by the game within an allotted amount of time, the puzzle generation module rearranges the electronic puzzle and the display module displays the rearranged electronic puzzle to the player for continued play.

Abstract: A game of chance is conducted on a video gaming machine controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game includes a plurality of symbols randomly selected for placement in a displayed symbol array. A shuffle feature is triggered in response to the displayed symbols including a sequence of value-based symbols. The sequence defines a first award. The sequence of value-based symbols are then re-ordered such that the re-ordered sequence defines a second award. The second award is awarded to the player.

Abstract: A method and gaming assembly to play a variation of the game baccarat, the gaming assembly including a computer processor assembly, a display assembly and at least one user actuatable selector assembly. The computer processor assembly is structured to generate a player's hand and a banker's hand in accordance with rules of baccarat, one of those hands being designated the user's hand. Further, the computer processor assembly is structured to determine a winning hand in accordance with the rules of baccarat, designating the user as a winner if the user's hand is also the wining hand. Additionally, the computer processor assembly is structured to monitor consecutive ones of the user's hands and to indicate a bonus payout to the user in the event that consecutive ones of the user's hands have a final number count equal to a natural nine.

Abstract: The invention is a seven-card-stud poker game, played with at least one but preferably one standard poker deck of 52 cards plus at least one but preferably one Joker. Two or more but preferably seven players may participate in the game. One of the players is the Banker whom other players play against. A Player who is not a Banker may play Poker Bet playing against the Banker's hand and/or one to seven side bets betting on the contents of the Player's own hand. After at least one wager is placed, each Player and the Banker are each dealt seven cards. The Players and the Banker each then selects and keeps his best 5-card poker hand and discards two other cards from his own seven cards. To win a Poker Bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must rank higher than the Banker's best 5-card poker hand. To win a side-bet wager, a Player's best 5-card poker hand must be one of the predetermined winning hands of the type of the side bet he bets on.

Abstract: In addition to an optional game service in accordance with a designation made by a player, a compulsory game service not directly related to the designation by the player can be provided.

Abstract: In a game in which a plurality of players manage playing pieces in accordance with a set of rules, the rules provide for movement of movable playing pieces over spaces on a game board and for acquisition of property-type playing pieces from another player incident to a confrontation that occurs upon movement of one player's movable playing piece onto a space occupied by another player's movable playing piece. The outcome of the confrontation is determined by chance by using a random-output device, such as dice, or a random-output routine executed by a computer. The outcome of a turn involves an element of chance, as determined by a random-output device, and indicates either a number of spaces for movement of a movable playing piece, or that the player taking the turn has a choice of changing a variable rule that currently is not most favorable to such player so that such variable rule becomes more favorable to such player.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a dice game utilizes advantageous aspects of the conventional Craps game while simplifying betting options. The game incorporates high-payoff wagers as well as a wager including no house advantage. The amount of the no house advantage wager is typically dependent upon the first wager and upon a role of the player. The game includes establishing a key player, receiving a primary wager that one of a plurality of events will occur, receiving an optional secondary wager that another of the plurality of events will occur, rolling the pair of dice, and resolving the primary wager and secondary wager based on the roll of the dice. The secondary wager is dependent upon the primary wager, which dependency is determined based on whether the player making the secondary wager is the key player.

Abstract: The present invention is an educational word game and method of playing same that may be provided in single or bi-lingual versions and that challenges players to form as many new words from a set of at least two base words as possible within a limited amount of time. The word game provides players greater and more varied entertainment and educational challenges over previous word games by requiring that the players define a set of rules for each game prior to play and by the random selection of round prize amounts and the letter length of the at least two base words, and thus the number and type of letters players may use to form new words. A pointer centrally attached to a game board is spun to determine the base word letter length and prize amounts for each of at least one round of play that comprise a game, by where the pointer lands on the board. Players fill in a game rules sheet by selecting from among optional rule definitions for each of a plurality of rules to define the set of rules for each game.

Abstract: A computerized wagering gaming system and method is disclosed. The system includes a universal computerized game system operable to control a computerized wagering game, including a controller interface and a universal controller for processing an operating system instructions. The system includes game system devices and a game translator system for translating game events between the game system devices and the universal game control system. The controller interface operates as an interface between the universal controller and the game translator system.

Abstract: A method and system for gaming is provided in which a plurality of players each connect to a host which enables players to participate jointly in the same games of chance. According to one embodiment, a computerized method of gaming is provided that includes connecting a plurality of players to a host remotely located from the plurality of players. Each player jointly participates in a turn-based game of chance.

Abstract: A computer game includes a procedure of aligning objects in a field. The procedure includes a series of sub-procedures each including creating and positioning a new object within the field and moving the new object within the field. Moving the objects occurs regardless if the object is moved above one or more other objects. It is detected if the object is situated above one or more other objects and if a complete column and/or row within the field is filled with one or more parts of the objects. If no object is positioned above any other object and a complete row and/or column is filled with the objects or parts of the objects, the objects or the parts of the objects which are positioned within that column and/or within that row are removed from the field. The computer game is applicable for storing objects in a storage-device, as an adult-check, identity-check or as an intelligence trainer.

Abstract: A game has a plurality of game elements, in which at least one of the game elements is configured to reflect a current event. The configured game element is electronically transferred from a game provider to a game receiver and printed by the game receiver.

Abstract: A card game that is played on a gaming machine and provides multiple opportunities for players to win. The game consists of several sub-games that are played simultaneously and are linked together by repeatedly playing a solitaire sub-game. The scores from the solitaire sub-game are used to play a keno sub-game, a blackjack sub-game, an odd number sub-game, an even number sub-game, a poker sub-game, a 100 space grid sub-game, and a same number sub-game.

Abstract: A gaming device and method for a hybrid game including a coordination/dexterity portion and/or traditional game portion is provided. Preferably, both a coordination/dexterity game and a traditional game are part of a single hybrid game, both of which portions are played using a single display device. In one embodiment, a player first plays a coordination/dexterity game and is given an opportunity to play a traditional game upon the occurrence of certain predetermined or predefined events during play of the coordination/dexterity game. Preferably, game outcome for both portions is controlled by an already-approved controller, such as a traditional game controller.

Abstract: A method for ordering all of the possible hands into a particular sequence is presented. Due to the particular manner in which the hands are ordered and sequenced, any one of the hands can be accessed fairly quickly by the methods provided herein which simplifies complex calculations to table look-up operations. Given a particular hand (the first five cards given to the player in a five-card draw poker), all of the possible hands arising from the particular hand (as a result of the number of cards kept by the player) is iterated and the types of all possible resulting hands tabulated. The combination of hands resulting from the number of cards kept is considered in the iteration. After the iteration is completed, the results obtained is a tabulation of each combination of hands obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a game of skill and chance. The game includes a step of providing a display with a plurality of positions and directing a player to place a bet to play on an identified game of chance. A marker is provided for each player. The player is next provided with a chance device to advance the marker from one position to another. A bank and jackpot are provided for a receipt of a wager from each position on the board. A banker is provided for permitting the player to settle the wager at each position.

Abstract: A method of playing a board game for one or more players includes the steps of allocating a set of playing pieces for each player, each set being visually distinctive, and providing a playing surface. The playing surface contains defined spaces arrayed in two dimensions. Each space may have an identifying icon. The method includes variations for forming winning lines of playing pieces, and varying steps to play the game, depending on the level of difficulty and style of game required. The most frequently used method of determining a winning outcome is by the placement by one player of playing pieces to form a line from one side of the playing surface to another side without diagonal connecting links between pieces. Random number generators may be used. If icons are used, a random icon generator includes the same icons as those used to identify spaces on the playing surface for determining where a player may place a piece.

Abstract: This is invention provides an information processing system for a disk-like storage medium such as flexible magnetic disks or a DVD-RAMs. The disk-like storage medium stores a first data including at least image data, and a second data for deciding legitimacy of the image data, while a case containing the disk-like storage medium comprises a non-volatile storage device for storing a third data having a predetermined relationship with the second data and storing a fourth data for identifying a location in the disk-like storage medium at which the second data is stored. Whne a predetermined relationship between the second and third data is confirmed, the disk-like storage medium is allowed to be used.

Abstract: Entertaining political games in either parlor game or PC computer game format are playable by one to six players from a basic set of game accessories. Typically each play is initiated by a roll of three differently colored dice, and ten plays for each player constitute a game. A set of game cards provide a variety of political issues involving different sectors of public interest upon which the players vote yes, no or abstain. Corresponding answers provide scores and feedback. Some issues may be politically controversial in nature, and in some instances include constitutional or ethical circumstances that may result in loss of the game either by impeachment for unethical behavior or conflict of interest votes or by voting contrary to provisions of the Constitution. The objective of the various games associated with a standard set of game pieces is to direct voter's attention to the perspective of issues from various points of view and public interest and to hone voting judgment and skill.

Abstract: A method and system for playing a lottery type game includes a gaming piece which includes a predetermined code having data indicating whether the player wins or loses the game, the data being unrecognizable to the player, such that the player does not know the outcome of the game prior to play of the game. The code is stored on the gaming piece in a memory device. The gaming piece is reusable with different codes. The code is read by a processor. The processor presents an amusement game on a display for play by the player, and the player controls game play by inputting game parameters to the processor. The processor controls the outcome of the amusement game played by the player based upon the code. A display provides an indication to the player of a game win or a game loss based upon the code.

Abstract: An arcade game apparatus of the present invention includes a display face having indicia provided thereon and multiple pointers rotatable in opposite directions about a single axis on the display face. Control mechanisms allow a player to start and stop the rotation of the pointers. A game score is calculated based on the indicia that the pointers are pointing to after they have stopped rotating. The game score is calculated in a described embodiment by summing numeral indicia pointed to by the pointers. An award dispenser dispenses an award based upon the game score. Multiple arcade game apparatus of the present invention can also be connected to a progressive bonus apparatus that accumulates a progressive score contributed to by each individual game apparatus. A player of an individual game apparatus may win an award based on the progressive score by achieving a progressive goal on the individual game apparatus.

Abstract: A player initially sets the degree of difficulty of a display type game, and if desired, more than one player may participate with each player selecting an associated level of difficulty. First and second objects having different shapes, e.g. capsules and viruses, and different characteristics, e.g. different colors or shadings, are displayed in a predefined display area. First objects are generated based on random number data stored in a ROM and displayed as "falling" in a vertical direction across the predefined display area. Coordinate positions of the first objects on the display are changed by a player operating a controller. Second objects are displayed at arbitrary positions in the display area based on random number data. If a prescribed number of at least a portion of first objects and/or second objects having the same type characteristics are detected as being continuously aligned in a vertical or lateral direction, those continuously aligned objects are erased.