Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VARYING POTENTIAL
RESULTS BETWEEN PLAYS IN A BINGO GAMING SYSTEM
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is
subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the
facsimile
reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in
the public
record, but otherwise reserves all rights of copyright.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bingo gaming systems and to gaming machines used to
present bingo game results. More particularly, the invention relates to
methods for
presenting bingo game results to a player through a bingo player station so
that the
potential result for a given play may be varied to accommodate various types
of result
presentations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A large number of different gaming machines have been developed to provide
various formats and graphic presentations for conducting games and presenting
game
results. For example, numerous mechanical reel-type gaming machines, also
known as slot
machines, have been developed with different reel configurations, reel
symbols, and
paylines. The arrangement of symbols that may be displayed through an
arrangement of
mechanical reels in these mechanical reel-type gaming machines represents a
game graphic
that may be used to display results to the player. More recently, gaming
machines have
been developed with video monitors that are used to produce simulations of
mechanical
spinning reels. These video-based gaming machines may use one or more video
monitors
to provide a wide variety of graphic effects in addition to simulated spinning
reels, and may
also provide secondary/bonus games using different reel arrangements or
entirely different
graphics. Video-based gaming machines may also be used to show card games or
various
types of competitions such as simulated races in which wagers may be placed.
The
symbols in a reel-type game simulation and/or other graphics produced by the
video
displays of video-based gaming machines also represent game graphics that may
be used to
display results to the player. Game manufacturers are continuously pressed to
develop new
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game formats and game graphics in an attempt to provide high entertainment
value for
players and thereby attract and keep players.
Both mechanical reel gaming machines and video-based gaming machines may be
used to present a bingo game result to a player who has initiated a play in a
bingo game.
When used in the conduct of bingo games, these gaming machines may be referred
to as
"bingo player stations." A bingo player at one of these bingo player stations
may initiate a
play in a bingo game by initiating a game play request using a player input
arrangement
associated with the particular bingo player station. The play in the bingo
game which is
initiated by the game play request includes matching a bingo card or a data
representation
of a bingo card with bingo designations drawn or otherwise generated for the
bingo game
to produce a pattern of matched bingo card locations. This pattern of matched
bingo card
locations correlates to a result for the game play and game play request which
initiated the
play, and this result is displayed at the bingo player station through some
game graphic
generated by the result display arrangement associated with the bingo player
station. For
example, where the bingo player station is a mechanical reel device, the
mechanical reel(s)
provide the result display arrangement and the various results in the bingo
game may be
correlated to various sets of reel symbols. Continuing with this example, a
straight line
pattern may be defined as a winning result in the underlying bingo game, and
this winning
result may be displayed through the mechanical reel display as a game graphic
made up of
some number of a particular symbol aligned along a payline defined through the
various
reel symbol locations visible when two or more reels are caused to stop
spinning.
Alternatively, the stop position of a single mechanical reel may be used to
represent a result
in the underlying bingo game. A video-based reel-type game may present a bingo
game
result in a similar fashion. A video-based gaming machine may also serve as a
bingo
player station by showing a bingo result as a result in a card game. For
example, a straight
line bingo pattern achieved in the underlying bingo game may be displayed to
the player as
a game graphic comprising a representation of a poker hand of three of a kind
or some
other hand value.
U.S. patent application publication No. 2004-0048647-Al discloses an
arrangement
for mapping various result levels to various sets of bingo patterns to produce
a desired
prize distribution for a bingo game. This arrangement allows bingo
probabilities, that is,
the probabilities associated with achieving various bingo patterns in a bingo
game, to be
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used to produce a prize distribution that is, for example, characteristic of a
standard
mechanical or video-based reel-type game. Thus, applying bingo pattern mapping
as
disclosed in U.S. patent application publication No. 2004-0048647-Al, allows
the play of
bingo at a bingo player station to imitate the play of a traditional gaming
machine in which
the results are determined in some random fashion to produce a target prize
distribution.
It is known in traditional gaming machines to modify the prize distribution
for a
given game in order to make the game more exciting for the player. In
particular, U.S.
patent No. 5,833,538 to Weiss discloses a traditional reel-type gaming machine
which can
be modified in the course of play to change the likelihood of hitting a
winning combination
of reel symbols on a given play. However, the Weiss patent relates to
traditional reel-type
gaming machines and does not disclose any arrangement for presenting results
from bingo
games or modifying the likelihood of any given result that may be presented at
a bingo
player station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a highly entertaining method of presenting
bingo
game results. The entertainment value is achieved by using two or more
different game
states, with each game state associated with its own unique characteristics of
play in terms
of the various prizes available for a given play in the game and/or in terms
of the
probabilities of obtaining the various results available for the given play.
In addition to a
method of presenting results in bingo games, the present invention also
encompasses both
gaming apparatus and program products for implementing methods according to
the
invention.
A method embodying principles of the invention may be implemented in a bingo
player station using one or more display devices such as CRTs, LCDs, plasma
displays, or
other types of display devices. The display device or devices are used to show
graphic
elements according to the invention. Alternatively, the present invention may
be
implemented with a bingo player station that includes an arrangement of one or
more
mechanical reels to show the various graphic elements. As used in this
disclosure and the
accompanying claims, a bingo player station through which the present
invention may be
implemented will be referred to generally as a bingo player station regardless
of the nature
of the display arrangement used in the device to show results to the bingo
player. Also, the
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graphic elements (text, numbers, and artwork) used to present a result to a
player at a
player station, including tangential graphic elements related to the result
presenting
graphics, will be referred to in this disclosure collectively as a"game
graphic" regardless of
whether individual graphic elements in the total presentation are presented by
mechanical
devices such as mechanical reels, video devices, static displays, or
combinations of these
devices.
A method embodying one form of the present invention includes receiving a
first
game play request at a bingo player station when the bingo player station is
in a first game
state and assigning a result for the first game play request according to a
first pattern table.
The first game state corresponds to a first result indicator state displayed
by the bingo
player station, and the first pattern table includes a number of first result
levels with each
first result level corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo
patterns and to one
or more first result symbols. The method further includes placing the bingo
player station
in a second game state responsive to an aspect of the result assigned for the
first game play
request. As with the first game state, the second game state corresponds to a
particular
result indicator state displayed by the bingo player station. This particular
result indicator
state corresponding to the second game state may be referred to as a second
result indicator
state and is graphically different from the first result indicator state. With
the bingo player
station in the second game state, the method further includes receiving a
second game play
request at the bingo player station and assigning a result for the second game
play request
according to a second pattern table. Similarly to the first pattern table, the
second pattern
table includes a number of result levels (second result levels) with each such
result level
corresponding to a respective set of one or more bingo patterns and to one or
more second
result symbols. However, the second pattern table may be distinct from the
first pattern
table in terms of the content of the pattern table. Ultimately, the bingo
player station may
be returned from the second game state to the first game state in response to
some reset
event.
This method in which results for plays in an underlying bingo game are
assigned
according to different pattern tables which are each associated with a
respective game state
displayed by the bingo player station enables various types of game features
and bonus
games to be presented to the player at the bingo player station. The various
game features
and bonus games may be displayed concurrently with a base game or otherwise.
These
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advantages facilitated by the invention will be described in the context of
specific examples
below.
Various definitions will be helpful in understanding the present invention. As
used
in this disclosure and the accompanying claims, a particular "result indicator
state" is some
5 graphic element or arrangement of graphic elements (which may or may not
include text or
numbers) that indicates a result or an aspect of a result that is potentially
available for a
given play in a game while the bingo player station is in the corresponding
game state. For
example, a result indicator state may include a graphic display element
indicating that any
win in the next play is subject to a multiplier or that a bonus amount will be
added to the
result in the next play at the bingo player station. As another example, a
result indicator
state may include a graphic display element or set of elements indicating that
a particular
event in the next play of the game may entitle the player to a win multiplier
or bonus value.
Such a graphic display element may appear as a bonus game that is played
concurrently
with a base game.
The designation "pattern table" as used in this disclosure and accompanying
claims
refers to any data table, set of data tables, or any other arrangement of data
that provides
the correlations between the various result levels available for a given play
in the bingo
game, the various patterns that may be achieved in the bingo game, the various
result
symbols (e.g. reel stop symbols in a reel-type game, or playing card face
representations in
a playing card-type game) that may be used to display an assigned result to
the player, and
the various prizes that may be available for the given play in the bingo game.
The
designation "an aspect of a result" will be used in this disclosure and
accompanying claims
to refer to a characteristic of a result (or the graphic used to display the
result to the player)
that may be detected by the bingo gaming apparatus. The result level
associated with the
result, one or more symbols used to display the result (such as reel symbols
in a reel-type
game or playing card faces in a playing card-type game), or a relative order
of symbols
used to display the result, each represent an "aspect of a result" as used in
this disclosure
and accompanying claims, as does some combination of two or more of these
characteristics.
Although methods according to the invention may include only two different
game
states, there is no limit to the number of game states that may be employed in
a given
implementation of the invention. For example, a given implementation of the
invention
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may move the player through several different game states over a series of
game play
requests at a bingo player station until the player becomes eligible for some
increased prize.
This technique of moving through multiple game states builds excitement as the
player
continues play and approaches a desirable game state in which higher or more
prizes may
be available.
In addition to methods, the present invention also includes both gaming
apparatus
and program products. One bingo gaming apparatus according to the invention
includes a
display device, a player input device, and a presentation controller. The
display device and
player input device are both associated with a bingo player station through
which a player
may initiate game play requests in a bingo gaming system. The display device
may include
a single video monitor, multiple video monitors, one or more sets of
mechanical reels, or a
combination of mechanical reels and one or more video monitors. The
presentation
controller may be implemented through a processing device at the bingo player
station or
remote from the bingo player station, or through multiple processing devices
at a single
location or distributed over a network. The presentation controller functions
to apply the
first pattern table described above to assign a result for a respective bingo
game play
request initiated through the player input device when the bingo player
station is in the first
game state, and to apply the second pattern table described above to assign a
result for a
respective bingo game play request initiated through the player input device
when the
bingo player station is in the second game state. The presentation controller
also switches
the bingo player station between game states in the method described above and
directs the
display device to produce a respective result representation for each
respective bingo game
play request initiated through the player input device. The result
representation graphically
shows the player the result that has been assigned for the respective game
play request.
A program product according to the invention may include first game state
program
code, second game state program code, and game state control program code. The
first
game state program code is executable to cause a bingo player station to
operate in the first
game state as described above in connection with the exemplary method, while
the second
game state program code is executable to cause the bingo player station to
operate in the
second game state as described above. The game state control program code is
executable
to cause the bingo player station to switch between game states, and
particularly from the
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first game state to the second game state responsive to an aspect of a
respective result
assigned while the bingo player station is operating in the first game state.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from
the
following description of preferred embodiments, considered along with the
accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bingo player station that may be used to
present
bingo gaming results to a bingo player according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a bingo player station and bingo
gaming system that may be used to implement methods according to the present
invention.
Figure 3 is a flow chart showing a method embodying the principles of the
present
invention.
Figure 4 is a representation of a first pattern table that may be employed in
the
present invention.
Figure 5 is a representation of a second pattern table that may be employed in
the
present invention.
Figure 6 is a representation of a highly simplified game graphic in an example
first
game state.
Figure 7 is a representation similar to Figure 6 but showing the game graphic
in an
example second game state.
Figure 8 is a representation similar to Figure 7 but showing a result for a
game play
request entered while the bingo player station was in the second game state.
Figure 9 is a representation similar to Figure 8 but showing an alternate
result for a
game play request entered while the bingo player station was in the second
game state.
Figure 10 is a representation of a portion of a game graphic that may be
generated at
a bingo player station to show several different game states in a first
embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 11 is a representation of a game graphic that may be generated at a
bingo
player station to show several different game states in a second embodiment of
the present
invention.
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Figure 12 is a representation of a game graphic that may be generated at a
bingo
player station to show several different game states in a third embodiment of
the present
invention.
Figure 13 is a representation of a portion of a game graphic that may be
generated at
a bingo player station to show several different game states in a fourth
embodiment of the
present invention.
Figure 14 is a representation of a game graphic that may be displayed at a
bingo
player station to show several different game states in a fifth embodiment of
the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The claims at the end of this document set out novel features which the
Applicants
believe are characteristic of the invention. The various advantages and
features of the
invention together with preferred modes of use of the invention will best be
understood by
reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments read in
conjunction with
the drawings introduced above.
Figure 1 shows a bingo player station 100 that may be used to present bingo
game
results according to the present invention. The block diagram of Figure 2
shows further
details of bingo player station 100 connected in a gaming system in which the
present
invention may be used to present gaming results to players.
Referring to Figure 1, a bingo player station 100 includes a cabinet 101
having a
front side generally shown at reference numeral 102. A video display device
104 is
mounted in a central portion of the front surface 102, with a ledge 106
positioned below
the video display device and projecting forwardly from the plane of the video
display
device. In addition to the video display device 104, the illustrated bingo
player station
includes a top glass display 107 positioned above the video display device.
Video display
device 104 may be used to produce the graphic components and display a result
for a given
game play request initiated through bingo player station 100. For example,
video display
104 may be used to show a reel-type graphic display such as that shown in
Figure 6, in
which the result assigned for each game play request is shown at least
partially as a
particular combination of reel symbols aligned along a payline. Video display
104 may
also be used to show various result indicator states according to the present
invention as
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will be described below in connection with various embodiments of the
invention,
particularly the simplified example shown in Figures 6-9. Top glass display
107 may be a
static display used to show static graphics related to the result displaying
portion of the
game graphic. For example, top glass display 107 may show a paytable which
relates
various combinations of reel symbols to prizes in the game as is known in the
art.
Bingo player station 100 illustrated in Figure 1, includes mechanical player
control
buttons or other input devices 109 mounted on ledge 106. Other forms of the
invention
may include switches, joysticks, or other player input devices mounted on
ledge 106.
Bingo player station 100 also includes additional player interface devices
110.
These additional player interface devices 110 may comprise for example, a
player card
reader, a voucher or ticket reader/issuer, a currency acceptor/validator,
and/or a coin or
token acceptor/dispenser.
It should be noted that the present invention is by no means limited to
implementation with a bingo player station having a single video display such
as bingo
player station 100 shown in Figure 1. A bingo player station that may be used
to
implement embodiments of the present invention may be any player station that
includes a
player interface for enabling a player to make direct inputs, and one or more
video display
devices, physical reels, or other mechanical arrangements through which the
result
displaying symbols and result indicator states may be displayed. Bingo player
station 100
is merely shown as an example of a bingo player station through which the
invention may
be implemented. Other bingo player stations implementing the present invention
may
include other types of result displaying devices that may show bingo game play
results.
For example, rather than employing video generated representations of
spinnable reels, a
bingo player station may include one or more mechanical spinnable reels to
show results.
Yet other bingo player stations implementing embodiments of the present
invention may
include a mechanical spinnable wheel similar to a roulette wheel for example.
Other bingo
player stations for implementing embodiments of the present invention may
include a
combination of video displays and spinnable mechanical devices. For example, a
bingo
player station may include a set of mechanical reels in place of video display
104 in
example player station 100, and a video monitor in the position of top glass
display 107. It
should also be noted that the video display device 104 used in bingo player
station 100, or
some other bingo player station implementing the invention, may comprise any
suitable
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video display device including a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display,
plasma display,
LED display or any other type of video display currently known or that may be
developed
in the future.
Figure 2 provides a block diagram showing various components of bingo player
5 station 100 together with gaming system components extemal to the bingo
player station.
In particular, Figure 2 shows bingo player station 100 connected for
communication with a
local area server 200 and a central server 201. Local area server 200 and
central server 201
may be used together with bingo player station 100 and other bingo player
stations to
implement a bingo gaming system, such as the bingo gaming system described in
U.S.
10 patent application publication No. 2004-0152499-Al. Local area server 200
and central
server 201, or both servers, may cooperate to identify results that are
provided to bingo
player station 100 for a bingo game play that occurs in response to a bingo
game play
request entered at the bingo player station. That is, local area server 200
and/or central
server 201, or more particularly, one or more processing devices associated
with server 200
and/or server 201 may serve as a result controller for identifying bingo
patterns achieved
for a particular play in a bingo game (that is, a particular bingo game play).
Local area
server 200 and/or central server 201 may also be used to provide player
tracking and
accounting services for the bingo player stations included in the gaming
system.
The bingo player station 100 shown in Figure 2 includes a central processing
unit
(CPU) 205 along with random access memory 206, and nonvolatile memory or
storage
device 207. All of these devices are connected on a system bus 208 with an
audio interface
device 209, communications interface 210, and a serial interface 211. A
graphics processor
215 is also connected on bus 208 and is connected to drive the video display
device 104
(mounted on cabinet 101 as shown in Figure 1). As shown in Figure 2, bingo
player station
100 also includes a touch screen controller 217 connected to system bus 208.
Touch screen
controller 217 is also connected to receive signals from a touch screen
element associated
with video display device 104. It will be appreciated that the touch screen
element itself
comprises a thin film that is secured over the display surface of video
display device 104.
The touch screen element itself is not illustrated or referenced separately in
the figures
although the connection between the touch screen element and touch screen
controller 217
is shown generally by line 218.
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Those familiar with data processing devices and systems will appreciate that
other
basic components will be included in bingo player station 100 such as a power
supply,
cooling systems for the various system components, audio amplifiers and
speakers, and
other devices that are common in gaming machines. These additional devices are
omitted
from the drawings so as not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary
detail.
All of the elements 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 shown in Figure 2
are
elements commonly associated with a personal computer. These elements may be
mounted
on a standard personal computer chassis and housed in a standard personal
computer
housing which is itself mounted in cabinet 101 shown in Figure 1.
Alternatively, the
various electronic components may be mounted on one or more circuit boards
housed
within cabinet 101 without a separate enclosure such as those found in
personal computers.
Those familiar with data processing systems and the various data processing
elements
shown in Figure 2 will appreciate that many variations on this illustrated
structure may be
used within the scope of the present invention. For example, since serial
communications
are commonly employed between a main processing device for a computer system
and a
touch screen controller, a system according to the invention may include a
touch screen
controller that communicates with the system through serial interface 211. The
serial
interface 211 may be any suitable peripheral interface such as a USB
controller or a IEEE
1394 controller. It will also be apparent to those familiar with personal
computers that the
various components shown in Figure 2 may not be connected directly to system
bus 208 as
indicated in the figure. Rather, any of the devices shown in Figure 2 may be
connected
directly to an intennediate bus which is connected to the system bus 208
through a suitable
controller. For example, non-volatile memory/storage device 207 may be
connected via a
serial ATA controller, and audio interface 209 may be connected through a
suitable
expansion bus and expansion bus controller such as a PCI bus and PCI bus
controller.
Numerous other variations in the bingo player station internal structure and
system may be
used in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
It will also be appreciated that although separate graphics processor 215 is
shown
for controlling video display device 104, CPU 205 may control the video
display device
directly without any intermediate graphics processor. The invention is not
limited to any
particular arrangement of graphics processors for controlling the video
display device or
devices that may be included in the bingo player station.
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In the illustrated bingo player station 100, CPU 205 executes software to
ultimately
control the entire bingo player station including the receipt of player inputs
through input
devices 109 shown in Figure 1. Software executed at CPU 205 causes the CPU to
control
the presentation of graphics displayed through video display device 104,
albeit indirectly
through graphics processor 215. Thus, CPU 205, either alone or in cooperation
with one or
more other processing devices serves as the presentation controller according
to the
invention. Where the bingo player station itself identifies bingo patterns for
plays initiated
at the bingo player station, CPU 205 also serves as a result controller,
although pattern
identification will commonly be performed at a more centralized processing
device such as
local area server 200 or central server 201 in a bingo gaming system. CPU 205
may also
execute software to perform accounting functions associated with game play.
Communications interface 210 provides an interface to other components of a
gaming
system that may be involved in game play, such as local area server 200 and/or
central
server 201. Random access memory 206 provides memory for use by CPU 205 in
executing its various software programs while the nonvolatile memory or
storage device
207 provides storage for programs not in use or for other data generated or
used in the
course of operating bingo player station 100.
It should be noted that the invention is not limited to bingo player stations
employing the personal computer-type arrangement of processing devices and
interfaces
shown in example bingo player station 100. Other bingo player stations may
include one
or more special purpose processing devices to perform the various processing
steps for
implementing the present invention. Unlike general purpose processing devices
such as
CPU 205, these special purpose processing devices may not employ operational
program
code to direct the various processing steps.
Figure 3 comprises a process flow chart showing the operation of a bingo
player
station according to one form of the present invention. The bingo player
station may be of
the type shown as bingo player station 100 in Figures 1 and 2 for example. The
process
shown in Figure 3 includes an initialization step at process block 301, which
includes
displaying a first result indicator state at the player station. As will be
discussed further
below, this first result indicator state corresponds to the first game state
at the bingo player
station. After initialization, the process shown in Figure 3 continues with
the bingo player
station operating in a first game state to present a bingo result to the
player. This bingo
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player station operation in the first game state includes the two steps shown
in dashed box
302. In particular, a game play request is received at the bingo player
station in the first
game state as indicated at process block 303, and a result is assigned for the
game play
request and ultimately displayed to the player as indicated at process block
304. If a game
state change is not indicated by some aspect of the result assigned at process
block 304,
then the process returns to a point above process block 303 and the bingo
player station
continues to operate in the first game state for the next game play request
that may be
entered. However, if a game state change is indicated as shown by a positive
result at
decision block 306, the game state at the bingo player station switches from
the first game
state to the second game state as shown at process block 308. This switch from
the first
game state to the second game state includes changing the graphics displayed
by the bingo
player station to display a second result indicator state corresponding to the
second game
state. The bingo player station then begins operating in the second game state
by
performing steps including those shown in dashed box 309. In particular, a
game play
request is received at the bingo player station in the second game state as
indicated at
process block 310, and a result is assigned for the game play request and
displayed to the
player as indicated at process block 311. The process proceeds to identify
whether a game
state reset event has occurred as shown at decision block 312. If a game state
reset event
has not occurred, then the bingo player station continues to operate in the
second game
state, or, if a game state reset event has occurred, the game state switches
back to the first
game state and the first result indicator state is displayed at the bingo
player station as
indicated at process block 314.
The initialization step shown at process block 301 includes actions necessary
to
place the bingo player station in condition to operate in the first game
state. The specific
actions taken here will depend upon a number of factors unrelated to the
present invention.
For example, the accounting arrangement used by the bingo player station may
require a
player login prior to accepting a game play request. Where a login procedure
is not
required, the bingo player station typically will require a player to deposit
currency or
currency equivalent in order to provide a balance from which wagers can be
made.
Regardless of any other actions taken in this initialization shown at process
block 301 in
Figure 3, the initialization will include displaying some graphic arrangement
which
represents the first result indicator state corresponding to the first game
state. This first
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result indicator state may take a number of graphic forms within the scope of
the present
invention as will be apparent from the specific examples described below. To
generalize
from the specific examples described below, the first result indicator state
comprises some
graphical state displayed at the bingo player station which relates to the
potential prizes that
could be assigned for a game play request entered at the bingo player station
when the
player station is in the first game state. Thus the first result indicator
state corresponds to
the first game state and to the first pattern table from which results are
assigned for the
game play request while the player station is in the first game state. An
example of a first
result indicator state may be a deactivated multiplier symbol displayed by the
bingo player
station to indicate that the multiplier does not apply to any result that
might be obtained for
a game play request entered at the bingo player station. While it is possible
within the
scope of the present invention that a first result indicator state will
indicate that some
multiplier or bonus value might apply to a game play request entered at the
bingo player
station at that time, the lowest game state according to the present invention
will typically
not show that a multiplier or bonus value may be available for a play. Further
aspects of
the first result indicator state employed in the present invention will be
apparent from the
specific game examples described below.
The series of steps shown in dashed box 302 representing the operation of the
bingo
player station represent generally a single game cycle to present a bingo game
result to the
player. Such a single game cycle may be thought of as a play at the bingo
player station in
the sense that from the player's perspective, the player makes some input at
the bingo
player station and then sees a result displayed at the bingo player station.
This "play at the
bingo player station" is to be distinguished from the "play" in the underlying
bingo game,
which involves the actual matching of bingo game indicia and bingo card
indicia to
produce some pattern of matched card locations. The play in the underlying
bingo game
may in fact take place at some location remote from the bingo player station
as will be
described further below.
The game play request received at process block 303 will typically result from
some
player input made at the bingo player station. This player input may be made
in any
suitable fashion at the bingo player station and may include one or more
separate inputs.
For example, a particular bingo player station could require that a player
make some input
to select a bingo card to place in play, select a wager level, and actually
place the selected
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bingo card in play. Additional daub inputs or result claiming inputs may also
be required
according to the rules of the particular bingo gaming system, although these
daub and result
claiming inputs may not represent a game play request, but only a requirement
for having a
result assigned for a given game play request. In any event, all of these
inputs are made
5 through a suitable input device or multiple devices at the bingo player
station, such as one
or more input devices 109 shown in Figure 1 and/or a touch screen associated
with a game
display such as video display device 104 as discussed above in connection with
Figure 2.
Other implementations of the invention employ a much more streamlined input
procedure
for entering a game play request. For example, a given bingo game play request
may result
10 from simply activating a "play" button included in player input devices
such as input
devices 109 in Figure 1 and/or included in a touchscreen display.
Regardless of the manner in which a bingo game play request is received in a
game
cycle as indicated at process block 303 in Figure 3, the game play request is
ultimately
associated with at least one bingo card or a data representation of such a
card. The bingo
15 card/card representation for a bingo game play request is then used for a
bingo game play
in which the designations included in the bingo card/card representation are
matched to a
series of bingo designations generated for the bingo game, and this matching
may result in
a pattern of matches for the bingo card/card representation. The pattern of
matches
achieved for a given bingo card/card representation and/or the manner in which
the
matches are made is used to identify a bingo result for the card and
associated bingo game
play request. In particular, various patterns of matched bingo card locations
are correlated
to various results in the bingo game through a pattern table such as one of
the example
pattern tables illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
For purposes of example only, pattern table 400 shown in Figure 4 corresponds
to a
first pattern table as described above, and is used to assign results while
the bingo player
station is operating in the first game state as indicated at process block 304
in Figure 3.
Pattern table 500 shown in Figure 5 continues with this example and
corresponds to a
second pattern table as described above. Thus pattern table 500 is used to
assign results
while the bingo player station is operating in the second game state as
indicated at process
block 311 in Figure 3. It should be noted at the outset of this description of
pattern tables
400 and 500 that these tables are entirely fictitious in that they do not
correspond to an
actual game. These pattern tables are in fact highly simplified in order to
simplify the
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discussion and more clearly disclose the invention. In particular, the number
of result
levels shown in pattern table 400 and in pattern table 500 are greatly reduced
as compared
to a typical pattern table applicable to an actual game.
Pattern table 400 shown in Figure 4 includes eight result levels, levels 0
through 7
in first column 401 labeled "Result Level." Each result level is correlated to
one or more
matched bingo card patterns indicated in the second column 402, one or more
result
symbol sets shown in colunm 403, and a result value shown in column 404. In
example
pattern table 400, patterns are represented by the labels P 1 through P 11,
result symbol sets
are represented by the labels S 1 through S 10, and result values are
represented by the labels
VO through V7. Each pattern P1 through P11 comprises a definition of a pattern
of
matched bingo card locations that may be achieved in the bingo game. For
example, the
bingo card may comprise a 5X5 grid of card locations and pattern P10 may be
defined as
the first column of five locations in the 5X5 grid, while pattern P11 may be
defined as the
last column of five locations in the 5X5 grid. It should also be noted that a
pattern may be
defined not only in terms of matched bingo card locations but also in terms of
the manner
in which matches are made. For example, a pattern may be defined as three
matched bingo
card locations where the location with the highest valued bingo designation is
matched first
relative to the other two matched card locations. The present invention is not
limited by
the way in which a bingo pattern may be defined.
Each of result levels 5, 6, and 7 of pattern table 400 is correlated to
multiple result
symbol sets. In particular, result level 5 correlates to both the result
symbol set labeled S6
and the result symbol set labeled S7. Thus, more than one result symbol set
may be used to
communicate to the player a result at result level 5. The same can be said for
result level 6,
which is correlated to the result symbol sets labeled S8, S9, and S10. The
invention is not
limited to any particular number of result symbol sets at a given result
level. Each result
level may be correlated to a single result symbol set, or some or all result
levels may be
correlated to multiple alternative result symbol sets for indicating a result
at that result
level for a given play in the bingo game. In any case, each symbol set
preferably correlates
to a specific combination of graphic symbols or other elements that indicate a
result to a
player according to the rules applicable to the given game graphic. For
example, the
symbol set S3 in pattern table 400 may, for a given reel-type game graphic
employing a
given pay table, correspond to a series of some reel symbol lined up along a
payline
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defined in the reel-type game graphic. At result level 7 in Figure 4, the
pattern set labeled
"Others" refers to all other patterns not included in one of the other
patterns sets, and the
result symbol set field labeled "Others" refers to result symbol sets other
than those
correlated to another result level. Typically, the result level in a pattern
table
corresponding to result level 7 shown in Figure 4 correlates to a result value
of zero, that is,
a loss for the bingo game play.
In one preferred form of operation according to the invention, a result
controller
either located at the bingo player station (such as bingo player station 100
shown in Figures
I and 2) or located at a local area server or central server (such as servers
200 and 201,
respectively, in Figure 2), identifies the matched pattem associated with a
bingo card for a
given bingo game play. The result controller communicates the identified
pattern to a
presentation controller in some suitable form. For example, the identified
pattern may be
communicated in the form of a code representing the identified pattern. The
presentation
controller applies the first pattern table (such as pattern table 400) to
assign a result for the
identified pattern and this result represents the result for the bingo game
play initiated
through the bingo player station while the player station is operating in the
first game state.
Although the pattern table may be applied in a number of fashions to assign
the
result, one preferred presentation controller queries the pattern table to
identify the result
level correlated to the identified pattern, and then reads the result value
associated with that
result level. The presentation controller also identifies a result symbol set
associated with
that result level so that the display device associated with the bingo player
station may be
controlled to show a proper graphic to display the result to the player. This
display of the
result to the player will be described further below in connection with the
example game
graphic shown in Figures 6-9. One preferred process for identifying a result
symbol set
associated with a given result level includes reading a code or other
identifier for a result
symbol set correlated to the given result level in some suitable fashion. The
result symbol
set labels shown in example pattern table 400 may represent suitable
identifiers for
example. Regardless of the form of the identifier or how it is associated with
the result
level, the identifier may point to stored data which defmes a given result
symbol set
graphic. The stored data may be processed or otherwise used to cause a display
device to
generate the desired result symbol set graphic. For example, and with
reference to the
apparatus shown in Figure 2, video display device 104 may be directed by CPU
205 and
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graphics processor 215 to generate the desired result symbol set graphic. As
an alternative
example, a mechanical reel display device may be controlled by a suitable reel
position
controller (which may also include a processor similar to CPU 205) to cause
the reels to
stop in the appropriate orientation to show the desired symbol or symbols
representing the
particular result symbol set.
Referring again to the flow chart shown in Figure 3, any suitable aspect of a
result
assigned at process block 304 may be employed to require a change in the game
state of the
bingo player station. The detection of a game state changing aspect of a
result as indicated
at decision block 306 may be performed in any suitable fashion. However, the
specific
actions required to perform the detection step indicated at decision block 306
will generally
depend upon the nature of the result aspect which is taken as a game state
changing aspect.
For example, one preferred form of the invention may defme a particular result
level
assigned for a game play request as a result aspect that dictates a change in
game state. In
this case, detecting whether a game state change should occur may include
locating the
result level in a game state file as will be described below and reading a
game state value
associated with that result level. Another form of the present invention may
define the
appearance of a special symbol anywhere on a reel-type display as a result
aspect that
dictates a change in game state. In this case, the detection step required for
decision block
306 must be capable of detecting the presence of the special symbol. One
arrangement for
detecting the presence of the special symbol evaluates the symbols at the
various stop
positions of the reel-type display. Altematively, each result symbol set for a
given result
may define the symbols required at each reel stop position, and thus the
presence of the
special symbol will be apparent from the result symbol set. Different game
state changing
result aspects will be discussed further below in connection with specific
implementations
of the invention.
Regardless of the result aspect used to make the decision indicated at
decision
block 306 in Figure 3, placing the bingo player station in a different game
state at process
block 308 may be performed in response to a game state change signal generated
as
appropriate for the particular event. For example, where a special symbol
appearing on the
array of a reel-type game represents the result aspect dictating a game state
change, the
bingo player station processor such as processor 205 in Figure 2, or some
other processing
device such as local area server 200 or central server 201 includes a process
that detects the
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presence of the special symbol and generates a game state change signal when
the symbol
is detected. This game state change signal, which may be a code or any other
signal as
appropriate to the processing device that generates the signal, is
communicated as
necessary to the component that serves as the presentation controller so that
the
presentation controller can place the particular bingo player station in the
second game
state. This change in states is accomplished by switching from the first
pattern table to a
second pattern table for use in assigning results for the bingo game play
requests entered at
the respective bingo player station.
The second result indicator state displayed at the bingo player station as
indicated at
process block 308 in Figure 3 may comprise any suitable result indicator state
according to
the present invention. As discussed above in the summary section of this
disclosure,
preferred forms of the invention include a second result indicator state that
appears to
affect the result that may be awarded for a game play request received at the
bingo player
station when the player station is in the second game state. An example of
this preferred
form of the invention may include a second result indicator state that appears
to provide a
multiplier for another play in the game, or a number of free plays, or both.
Various second
result indicator states will be described further below in connection with
specific game
graphic examples.
The process of operating the bingo player station (such as bingo player
station 100
in Figures 1 and 2) in the second game state as indicated by the steps in
dashed box 309 in
Figure 3 may be substantially the same as the operation described above in
connection with
dashed box 302. However, rather than employing the first pattern table (such
as example
table 400) to assign results for the respective bingo game play, the
presentation controller
employs the second pattern table (such as example table 500) to assign results
when the
player station is operating in the second game state.
The example second pattern table 500 shown in Figure 5 is similar to first
pattern
table 400 shown in Figure 4, but includes an additional result level, level 3A
in the "Result
Level" column 501. The reason for this additional result level will be
described below in
connection with the example game graphic shown in Figures 6-9. Each result
level in
second pattern table 500 is correlated to one or more matched bingo card
patterns indicated
in the second column 502, one or more result symbol sets shown in column 503,
and a
result value shown in column 504. It will be noted that for the result levels
that second
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pattern table 500 shares with first pattern table 400, the result symbol sets
in column 503 of
Figure 5 and the result values shown in column 504 correspond exactly to the
corresponding result symbol sets and result values shown in columns 403 and
404 of
Figure 4. This correspondence of common result levels between different
pattern tables is
5 not necessary for the present invention, but may be required for certain
embodiments of the
present invention as will be apparent from the example game described below
employing
pattern tables 400 and 500 and the game graphic shown in Figures 6-9.
It will be noted that second pattern table 500 shown in Figure 5 also employs
some
pattems in the "Pattern Set" column 502 which are also used in first pattern
table 400
10 shown in Figure 4. However, some of the result levels in second pattern
table 500 include
additional patterns. For example, the result level 4 in second pattern table
500 includes
patterns P5, P6, and P11 whereas result level 4 in first pattern table 400
includes just
patterns P5 and P6. The effect of including an additional pattern in result
level 4 in second
pattern table 500 is that the probability of a player achieving that result
level is increased
15 with respect to the probability under first pattem table 400 shown in
Figure 4. That is, if a
player in the underlying bingo game achieves either pattern P5, P6, or P l l
in the bingo
game, the player will be awarded the prize associated with result level 4 when
results are
assigned according to second pattern table 500. Thus, the probability of
obtaining result
value V4 for a bingo game play initiated when the second game state is in
effect is greater
20 than the probability of obtaining result value V4 when the bingo player
station is operated
in the first game state. The probability of achieving any of the result levels
may be
increased or decreased by changing the patterns at each result level with
respect to those
patterns specified in the first pattern table 400. It will be noted that
result level 5 is
correlated to patterns P7, P8, and P15 in second pattern table 500, and is
correlated to
patterns P7, P8, and P9 in first pattern table 400 shown in Figure 4. The
substitution of
patterns in this fashion may increase or decrease the probability of achieving
that result
level. It should also be noted that the change of patterns for one result
level may affect the
probability of achieving one or more patterns at another result level, and
thus affect the
overall probability of obtaining a result at another result level.
All of the variations described above in connection with events that require a
game
state change are also applicable to events that may produce a positive result
at decision
block 312 in Figure 3 require the game state to be reset from the second game
state to the
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first game state. In particular, some preferred forms of the present invention
may define
the assignment of a given prize level for a game play request as an event
dictating that the
bingo player station be reset to the first game state. Regardless of the
specific event or
series of events that may be chosen to serve as a game state reset event, an
appropriate
component at the bingo player station or elsewhere preferably generates a
suitable reset
game state signal and communicates that signal as necessary to the system
component
serving as the presentation controller. The presentation controller then
responds to the
reset game state signal by placing the bingo player station back in the first
game state as
indicated at process block 314 in Figure 3. Placing the bingo player station
back in the first
game state includes causing the presentation controller to assign results
again according to
the first pattern table for further game play requests. Because the first game
state is
correlated to the first result indicator state, the player station is also
directed to change
graphics as necessary to cause the bingo player station to display the first
result indicator
state. As indicated by the process flow from process block 314 in Figure 3
back to dashed
box 302, the bingo player station may then be operated again in the first game
state until
another game state change is indicated.
The relationship between the respective pattern tables employed for different
game
states at a bingo player station and the respective result indicator state
displayed at the
bingo player station according to the invention may be described with the
simplified
examples of pattern tables 400 and 500 shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively,
and with
reference to the example game graphic 600 shown in Figures 6-9. It should be
noted that
game graphic 600 is highly simplified in order to eliminate display elements
that are
unnecessary for an understanding of the relationship between the pattern
tables and result
indicator states. Thus, game graphic 600 includes simply a reel-type graphic
component
601 defining a single payline and a simple bonus indicator 602 generated on a
suitable
display device of a bingo player station 603. Reel-type graphic component 601
includes
three video-generated reel representations 604, 605, and 606, each providing a
respective
reel symbol location 608, 609, and 610. These three reel symbol locations
define a single
payline such that a result for a given play in an underlying bingo game may be
displayed to
a player at the bingo player station 603 generating graphic display 600 by
causing the reels
to appear to stop to show a respective set of reel symbols correlated to a
prize or other
result through a pay table as is known in the art of reel-type gaming
machines. Bonus
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indicator 602 in this simple example takes the form of a wheel 612 which is
divided into
alternating sections including sections 613 labeled "0" and sections 614
labeled "1. ' A
pointer 616 is included to point to a given section 613 or 614 once the wheel
comes to rest
after a spin about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
In order for the two example pattern tables 400 and 500 to apply to a game
display
employing game graphic 600, certain rules must be defined dictating how a
result for a
given bingo game play may be displayed with the game graphic. These rules are
defined
here only for purposes of providing a simple example of an application of the
present
invention. Implementations of the invention are by no means limited to these
rules or the
simple example of Figure 6. The first rule to be assumed for this example is
that in a first
game state, bonus indicator 602 is inactive and a result for a given game play
request
received at the bingo player station 603 showing game graphic 600 is
communicated to the
player exclusively by the set of symbols that line up along the payline
defined by locations
608, 609, and 610. The second rule for purposes of this example is that the
display of one
of the result symbol sets corresponding to result level 6 shown in pattem
table 400 when
the bingo player station is in the first game state is defined as the event
that causes the
bingo player station 603 to be placed in the second game state. The third rule
for this
example is that bonus indicator 602 is active when the bingo player station is
in the second
game state, and will start spinning along with the simulated reels 604, 605,
and 606 when a
game play request is received at bingo player station 603. Further according
to the third
rule, if the simulated reels 604, 605, and 606 stop showing the result symbol
set defined as
result symbol set S4 in pattern table 400 while bonus indicator 602 is active
then the result
for the play will either correspond to result value V3 from tables 400 and 500
if wheel 612
stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 613 on the wheel, or correspond
to result
value V3A if wheel 612 stops with pointer 616 aligned with a section 614 on
the wheel.
Finally, the fourth rule is that after result level 3A in pattern table 500 is
assigned for a
game play request (and thus result value V3A is awarded for the game play
request entered
while bonus indicator 602 is active), the bingo player station is caused to
return to the first
game state in which bonus indicator 602 is not active and does not appear to
affect any
result displayed through simulated reels 604, 605, and 606.
With these game rules in mind, Figure 6 shows game graphic 600 when the bingo
player station 603 is in the first game state with bonus indicator 602
inactive. Figure 7
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shows game graphic 600 after result symbol set S10 (assumed to be three single
bar
symbols) is displayed at bingo player station 603 which has caused the bingo
player station
to be placed in the second game state with bonus indicator 602 active. The
active state of
bonus indicator 602 is indicated graphically at bingo player station 603 by
the symbol
"BINARY BONUS" flashing or otherwise displayed adjacent to wheel 612. Figure 8
shows the alternative for a game play request entered while bingo player
station 603 is in
the second game state, in which the simulated reels stop to show the result
symbol set
defined by set S4 (assumed to be three 7 symbols), and wheel 612 stops with
pointer 616
aligned with a section 613. Figure 9 shows the alternative for a game play
request entered
while bingo player station 603 is in the second game state and the simulated
reels stop to
show result symbol set S4 similarly to Figure 8, but wheel 612 stops with
pointer 616
aligned with a section 614.
It should be noted here that each of the versions of game graphic 600 shown in
Figures 6-9 is dictated by a result identified from a bingo game, particularly
a respective
pattern achieved for a respective play in the bingo game. The symbols shown at
locations
608, 609, and 610 in Figure 6 correspond to some result symbol set shown in
column 403
of first pattem table 400. The position of wheel 612 is dictated by where the
wheel came to
rest the last time it was active, which was in turn dictated by a bingo
pattern achieved in
some previous play. The three "BAR" symbols shown in the example of Figure 7
resulted
from the player achieving for a play in the bingo game either pattern P10 or
P11 in pattern
table 400, which in tum resulted in one of result symbol set S8, S9, or S10
having been
selected according to first pattem table 400. Thus for purposes of our
example, the three
"BAR" symbols shown in Figure 7 correspond to result symbol set S8, S9, or
S10. The
three "7" symbols shown in the example of Figure 8 and the stop position of
wheel 612
pointing to "0" section 613, was dictated by the player achieving pattern P4
from second
pattern table 500. This arrangement of three "7" symbols and the wheel stop
position on a
section 613 corresponds to result symbol set S 11 in second pattern table 500.
Finally, the
three "7" symbols shown in the example of Figure 9 and the stop position of
wheel 612
pointing to "1" section 614, was dictated by the player achieving pattern P12
from second
pattern table 500. This arrangement of three "7" symbols and the wheel stop
position on a
section 614 corresponds to result symbol set S12 in second pattern table 500.
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It will be noted now that the additional result level 3A is required for
second pattern
table 500 (used when the bingo player station is in the second game state)
because the
game rules for this simple example game add one additional potential result
that may be
assigned for a game play request entered while the bingo player station is in
the second
game state. That result corresponds to result value V3A in pattern table 500
and is
assigned for a game play request if the result controller for the bingo gaming
system
identifies the pattern P12 for the bingo game play resulting from the game
play request
entered while bingo player station 603 is in the second game state. This
simple example
described with reference to Figures 4-9 demonstrates that applying
differentpattern tables
for different game states according to the present invention allows game rules
to
temporarily add various prizes for the bingo game results while retaining the
basic result
identifying procedure based on patterns achieved for a given player in a bingo
game.
Numerous different entertaining game states may be defined and applied
according to the
present invention to enhance player enjoyment and hold the player's interest.
The simple example game described in connection with tables 400 and 500 the
game graphics in Figures 6 through 9 also provides insight into the nature of
result
indicator states and their correspondence to game states according to the
invention. In
particular, it will be noted that the first game state illustrated in Figure 6
corresponds to a
first result indicator state in which bonus indicator 602 is inactive. The
second game state
illustrated in Figure 7 corresponds to a second result indicator state in
which bonus
indicator 602 is active as shown at least by the "BINARY BONUS" symbol. In
each case,
the respective result indicator state represents some state that is apparent
to the player at
bingo player station 603 and which indicates to the player some status in the
play of the
game according to the applicable game rules. In the example, the respective
result
indicator state affects the result values available for a game play request
entered during the
corresponding game state. However, this affect on the available result values
is not a
requirement of the present invention.
The example described in connection with Figures 6-9 also provides insight
into the
nature of result aspects that may be used according to the invention to prompt
a change in
game state. In the example, it is the assignment of result level 6 in Figure
4, corresponding
to either of result symbol sets S8, S9, or S10 along the payline defined by
reel symbol
locations 608, 609, and 610 which prompts the change in game state. However,
numerous
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other aspects of a game result may be used to prompt a change in game state.
For example,
a single set of reel symbols aligned along a payline or a single reel symbol
appearing on a
game display may prompt a change in game state. Also, the result aspect that
prompts a
game state change may not be associated with the display of the result itself
through a reel-
5 type display or otherwise. In the embodiment described below in connection
with Figure
11 for example, a random event produced in connection with a display of
results assigned
for a game play request is used as a game state changing aspect of a result.
The example described above in connection with Figures 6-9 is also
illustrative of
the nature of result syrnbol sets that may be defined according to the
invention. It will be
10 noted that all of the result symbol sets shown for pattern table 400 in
Figure 4 define
symbols that align along the payline made up of symbol locations 608, 609, and
610 in
Figures 6-9. The same can be said for all of the result symbol sets shown for
pattern table
500 in Figure 5 except for result symbol sets S 11 and S 12. Result symbol set
S 11 defines
not only the set of reel symbols that must align along locations 608, 609, and
610, but also
15 defines the stop configuration for bonus indicator 602. Similarly, result
symbol set S12 in
pattern table 500 defines the set of reel symbols that align along locations
608, 609, and
610, and also defines the stop configuration for bonus indicator 602. The
result symbol
sets defined for a pattern table within the scope of the invention may not
only define
combinations of reel stop symbols and graphics external to the reels, but may
also define
20 any suitable graphical arrangement that may be used to convey a result to
the player
through the respective bingo player station.
The process illustrated in Figure 3 and the example game graphics described in
connection with Figures 6-9 refer to only a first and second game state.
However, two
game states are referenced in the above discussion only as a matter of
convenience in
25 describing the basic nature and characteristics of the invention. The
invention is by no
means limited to only a first and second game state, but encompasses
implementations that
employ many different game states. The game graphics described below in
connection
with Figures 10-14 may each require more than two game states, each game state
associated with a particular pattern table and also corresponding to a
particular result
indicator state displayed at the bingo player station. It should be noted that
for game
graphics and associated game rules that require three or more game states, the
invention
encompasses any possible progression through the various game states. That is,
the
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26
invention is not limited to progressing from a first game state, to a second
game state, to a
third and highest game state, and then back to the first game state. Also,
games that allow
different bet levels for a given game play request may use a different pattern
table for each
bet level and may thus define each bet level as a respective game state. In
the case of the
game state being dependent upon bet level, the result indicator state
displayed at the bingo
player station includes an indicator of the bet level.
Regardless of the number of game states that may be required according to the
present invention to implement a particular game graphic and a set of rules
regarding how
the game graphic displays results, it will be apparent that the present
invention requires
some mechanism for ensuring that the correct game state is selected for each
transition in
order to properly carry out the game rules. Any suitable system may be used
according to
the invention in order to ensure that the bingo player station is placed in
the proper game
state, that is, to ensure that the proper pattern table is used to assign a
result for a given
game play request at the bingo player station consistent with the result
indicator state
displayed at the bingo player station.
One preferred form of the present invention employs a data file to maintain
information on the current game state in effect at the given bingo player
station and to
maintain information on the next game state to which the bingo player station
will be
transitioned given the possible game state changing events. This data file may
be referred
to as a "game state file" and in one preferred form includes an identifier for
each game state
together with an identifier for the pattern table which is to be used for game
play requests
received while the bingo player station is in that particular game state. The
pattem table
identifier may be referred to as a "game index." In addition to associating
each game state
with a respective game index pointing to the pattern table to be applied for
that game state,
this preferred game state file associates each game state with an indicator
for each event
that triggers a change in game state together with an indicator of the state
to which the
bingo player station should be changed in response to that event. For example,
each game
state may be associated in the game state file with a number of bet level
entries with each
bet level entry pointing to a game state that is applicable if that bet level
is selected by the
player at the bingo player station. Also, each game state in the game state
file may be
associated with a number of result aspect indices where each result aspect
index
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27
corresponds to an aspect of a result which may be relied upon to prompt a
state change at
the respective bingo player station.
In some implementations of the present invention, each game state is
associated
with a pattern table that is distinct from any other pattern table used in the
implementation.
The distinctiveness between pattem tables may be in terms of result levels,
prize
distribution, or both. However, distinctiveness between pattern tables is
required only if it
is desirable or necessary to change the characteristics associated with a game
play request
in terms of available results, prize distribution, or otherwise. There may
also be
implementations of the invention in which it is not necessary or desirable to
change the
characteristics associated with a game play request from one game state to
another, and
thus it may be desirable to define a game state that uses the same pattern
table as another
game state. Accordingly, two game states identified in the game state file may
refer to the
same pattern table via the game index for that pattern table. It is also
possible that a game
graphic and accompanying game rules may require that the bingo player station
in a first
game state transitions to a second game state associated with the same pattern
table as that
associated with the first game state.
Although the game state file represents one preferred arrangement employed by
the
presentation controller for enabling the presentation controller to navigate
through the
various game states available for a given game graphic and set of game rules,
the invention
is not limited to this state tracking arrangement. Other state tracking
arrangements may use
counters, registers, or other tracking arrangements as may be appropriate for
the respective
game graphic and game rules.
Figures 10 through 14 may be used to describe certain specific applications of
the
present invention employing multiple game states each corresponding to a
respective result
indicator state displayed by the bingo player station. It should be noted that
the various
game graphics described below and elsewhere in this disclosure are in each
case ultimately
driven by a result in an underlying bingo game which is assigned for a game
play request
initiated at the respective bingo player station. That is, although a result
may be shown by
a reel-type display either alone or together with some additional game graphic
portion, the
result is in fact identified using a pattern achieved in a bingo game for a
given game play
request and this pattern is used together with a respective pattern table to
select the result
symbol or symbols to indicate the result to the player.
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It should also be noted that the various game graphics described below and
others
implemented according to the present invention may not employ a one-to-one
correspondence between a particular result assigned according to a pattern
table and an
an,angement of graphic symbols such as reel-type game symbols along a payline
of a reel-
type display. For example, some implementations of the present invention may
show a
result awarded for a bingo game play request as a number of "free" spins at
the particular
bingo player station. The various prizes that may be indicated by these
individual free
spins may in fact be dictated by a result assigned for a single bingo game
play and
corresponding bingo game play request. For example, a game graphic may
indicate that the
player has won ten free spins for a respective game play request initiated by
the player at
the bingo player station. However, what the player has actually won is some
value that will
be displayed to the player through a set of ten individual free spins (what
appear to the
player to be individual plays) at the bingo player station. Continuing with
this example, the
value that the player has actually won may be 100 credits, and the individual
results
displayed for the ten free spins will be controlled in a suitable fashion by
the presentation
controller to display the total win of 100 credits. Some forms of the
invention may include
one or more result symbol sets (such as set S 1 in pattern table 400 of Figure
4 for example)
that define a number of different instances of the game graphic to display the
assigned
result value to the player. The different instances of the game graphic
correspond to the
"free spins" and the game graphic that indicates the award of the "free
spins." In the case
of a predefined group of instances of the game graphic used to show an
assigned result
value, the predefined group of instances of the game graphic represents a
script that the
presentation controller causes the display device or devices of the bingo
player station to
follow in order to display the assigned result value. In yet other forms of
the invention, a
result symbol set may be variable in the sense that the actual instances of
the game graphic
to be used to display the awarded result value are not set but are selected
according to some
random or other process after the result symbol set is invoked from the
respective pattern
table.
Referring now to Figure 10 a game graphic portion 1000 may be used in
connection
with another display arrangement not shown in the figure. In particular, the
other display
arrangement for the respective bingo player station may include a reel-type
display
comprising a set of three mechanical reels or a video generated set of three
reels. Although
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game graphic portion 1000 may be located either above, below, or to the side
of the reel-
type graphic, one preferred game graphic may place game graphic portion 1000
above the
reel-type graphic, displayed by a video monitor in the position of top display
107 shown in
bingo player station 100 in Figure 1.
Game graphic portion 1000 includes representations of three different objects
1001,
1002, and 1003, each associated with a respective path 1004, 1005, and 1006
toward a
target 1007. In this particular example, each object comprises a
representation of a rocket
and the target comprises a representation of a planet. Also, each path 1004,
1005, and
1006 includes a number of stop positions between an initial position of the
respective
object shown in Figure 10 and the target 1007. In particular, the path 1004
for rocket 1001
includes five stop positions 1010 whereas path 1005 for object 1002 includes
three stop
positions 1011, and path 1006 for object 1003 includes seven stop positions
1012.
According to one preferred game using game graphic portion 1000, each
respective
rocket 1001, 1002, and 1003 is associated with a respective reel of the
associated reel-type
display (not shown). Any time a designated symbol appears on a payline for a
particular
reel of the reel-type display, the rocket corresponding to that reel advances
one stop
position along the respective path toward target 1007. When the appearance of
a special
symbol on a respective reel causes a particular rocket to reach target 1007,
some enhanced
award is available to the player. The enhanced award may be a number of free
spins at a
multiplier value for example, where the multiplier value is represented by the
multiplier
value shown on the respective rocket reaching target 1007. It will be noted
that under this
rocket advancing rule, the result aspect for a given game state which prompts
the bingo
player station to go to another game state includes the presence of the
designated symbol
on a given reel and payline.
To account for the possibility of enhanced awards based on the multiplier
value
appearing to be applicable based on the condition of game graphic portion
1000, and to
provide a desired distribution for the enhanced awards, different pattern
tables may be used
for different positions of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along their
respective path
1004, 1005, and 1006. At least eight different pattern tables may be used
according to the
invention to accommodate the enhanced awards available for game graphic
portion 1000.
Each pattern table corresponds to a respective condition of the final stop
position of each
path 1004, 1005, and 1006 to target 1007 as either having the respective
object at the stop
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position or not. In this particular embodiment, each of the eight pattern
tables correspond
to a respective game state and each game state corresponds to a respective
result indicator
state defined by the location of the rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 in relation
to target 1007.
In particular, a first game state may correspond to a result indicator state
defined by the
5 each rocket 1001, 1002, and 1003 residing in the start position shown in
Figure 10. A
second game state may correspond to a result indicator state in which rocket
1001 is at the
respective final stop position 1010 before target 1007 and rockets 1002 and
1003 are each
not at their respective last stop position before target 1007. Another game
state may
correspond to a result indicator state in which rocket 1002 resides at the
final stop position
10 1011 before target 1007 and rockets 1001 and 1003 each do not reside at
their respective
final stop position before target 1007. The remaining game states each
correspond to a
result indicator state defined by whether the respective object is at the
final stop position
before target 1007.
It should be noted here that this example embodiment for a game graphic
portion
15 1000 including a total of eight game states is merely one example of an
arrangement
according to the invention. Other embodiments of the invention may include
more than
eight game states. For example, one embodiment of the invention may define a
different
game state for each potential arrangement of positions of the rockets 1001,
1002, and 1003
along their respective path. This embodiment defining a different game state
for each
20 arrangement of rocket positions in game graphic portion 1000 is useful in
storing game
state information for state tracking according to one embodiment of the
invention. In this
arrangement in which each possible state of rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 along
their
respective path is defined as a separate game state, all of the game states
corresponding to a
rocket position state in which no enhanced award may be available on the next
game play
25 request may correspond to the same pattern table for assigning results.
In an overall game graphic including game graphic portion 1000 shown in Figure
10 and the corresponding three-reel, reel-type display as described above but
not shown in
the figure, the reel-type display portion of the overall game graphic may be
referred to as a
base game or base game graphic. This base game graphic shows results to the
player for
30 plays in which one of the enhanced awards is not available. Game graphic
portion 1000
may be thought of as a bonus game graphic. It will be noted in this example
that the bonus
game graphic may be shown on an entirely different graphic display device than
the display
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device showing the base game graphic. In particular, the base game graphic in
this
example may be shown by a mechanical reel arrangement or a video reel
arrangement
whereas the bonus game graphic may be shown on a separate video display
device. It will
also be noted that in this particular embodiment of the invention the bonus
game graphic is
displayed concurrently with the base game graphic. Finally, in forms the
invention
employing game graphic portion 1000 to represent a bonus game which provides
enhanced
awards for certain bonus plays, the completion of the one or more bonus plays
may be
defined as the reset event that causes the bingo player station to revert back
to the first
game state. For example, a game using game graphic portion 1000 may be
implemented so
that the player receives ten "free spins" at the applicable multiplier level
when the
respective rocket (or combination of rockets) 1001, 1002, or 1003 reaches
target 1007.
After these ten free spins are completed, the bingo player station may
automatically revert
back to the first game state in which rockets 1001, 1002, and 1003 are in
their initial
position shown in Figure 10.
Figure 11 shows a game graphic 1100 that may be driven by results in
underlying
bingo games using various game states according to the present invention. Game
graphic
1100 includes a reel-type game display 1101 which includes three reels 1102,
1103, and
1104. In addition to reel-type game display 1101, game graphic 1100 also
includes a game
graphic portion 1106 made up of a representation of a baseball field. Each
base on the
baseball diamond includes a runner indicator 1108 that produces a distinctive
appearance
to indicate the presence of a runner at the base. Game graphic portion 1106
also includes
an out indicator field 1109, a run scored indicator field 1110 and a bonus
field 1111.
Game graphic 1100 can be produced on a single video display device such as the
video display device 104 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Alternatively, the reel-
type game
display 1101 may be made up of a mechanical reel arrangement and a separate
video
monitor or other suitable display device to the side of the mechanical reel
arrangement or
elsewhere that may be used to produce game graphic portion 1106.
Regardless of how the reel-type display 1101 and baseball field game graphic
portion 1106 are produced at a bingo player station, the following example
rules may
dictate the behavior of the bingo player station and game graphic 1100. In
this illustrative
set of rules, if a game play request for a particular play in a game produces
a winning result
display on the reel-type display 1101, a random baseball event such as a
single, double,
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32
triple, or home run is generated. If, on the other hand, a game play request
results in a non-
winning outcome as displayed by reel-type display 1101, an "out" is counted.
The random
baseball events produced for each winning result, cause base runners to appear
at different
bases on game graphic portion 1106. However once three outs are tallied, game
graphic
1106 is reset by clearing the bases and resetting the "outs" field 1109 to
zero. The player
wins bonus credits when runs score based on a baseball event occurring and the
state of
game graphic portion 1106. Preferably, the baseball bonus shown by graphic
1106 is only
available when the player places a maximum bet.
The following example is illustrative of how these rules of the game may be
applied. Assume that game graphic portion 1106 shows one out in field 1109 and
indicators 1108 show runners at second and third base. Assume also that at
this state of
game graphic portion 1106, the player initiates a game play request at the
gaming machine
producing the graphic and is assigned a result of that dictates a payline win
of 20 credits
shown by suitable reel stop symbols according to the paytable for the game.
Assume also
that the random baseball event generated for this payline win is a double. In
this case, the
runners at second and third score on the double and the overall value awarded
for the game
play request is equal to 60 credits. This total amount is made up of the 20
credit value of
the payline win plus the two runs scored (in view of the baseball event and
the prior state
of game graphic portion 1106) times the 20 credit value of the payline win.
Game graphic 1100 and the game rules described above may be driven by bingo
game results by applying different pattern tables depending upon the state of
game graphic
portion 1106. A first game state according to the invention may be defined as
the state of
game graphic portion 1106 with no runners on base. In this first game state,
the condition
of no runners on base represents the first result indicator state displayed by
the bingo player
station. A second game state may be defined as game graphic portion 1106
showing a
runner on first base. The condition of the first base runner indicator 1108
activated and
second and third base runner indicators 1108 inactive represents a second
result indicator
state displayed by a bingo player station. Other game states are defined by
different base
runner positions in game graphic portion 1106. Because the potential award
values for
game play requests made at the bingo player station showing game graphic 1100
vary from
one state of game graphic portion 1106 to another, each different game state
is associated
with a respective pattern table that includes suitable result levels including
sufficient result
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33
levels to encompass all of the potential results for the given game state
encompassing every
combination of base runner arrangement and baseball event on a payline win.
It should be noted that the random baseball event may be generated in any
suitable
fashion either at the bingo player station producing game graphic 1100 or some
other
component in communication with the bingo player station. In one preferred
arrangement,
the presentation controller is also responsible for producing the random
baseball event.
Regardless of which component produces the random baseball event, the event
may be
produced with a random number generator and a table relating various random
numbers or
ranges of numbers to some baseball event. In this example arrangement, the
random
baseball event is generated by first generating a random number and then
locating the table
entry associated with that random number and reading the baseball event for
that table
entry. However it should be noted that the invention is not limited to any
particular
arrangement for producing a random baseball event. Also, baseball events for
this example
game graphic may be produced in some nonrandom fashion within the scope of the
present
invention. It will also be noted that the aspect of the result which causes a
change in game
state in this form of the invention described in connection with Figure 11 is
a combination
of the result for the game play plus the random baseball event generated as
described
above.
Figure 12 shows yet another example game graphic 1200 that may be employed to
display bingo game results according to the present invention. Game graphic
1200
includes a reel-type display 1201 and an additional game graphic portion 1202.
In this
particular example, the reel-type display 1201 includes five video-simulated
reels 1203 and
additional game graphic portion 1202 is located to one lateral side of the
reel-type display.
Additional game graphic portion 1202 includes a graphic representation of a
jack-in-the-
box 1206. In the particular state of game graphic 1200 shown in Figure 12,
jack-in-the-
box 1206 is in a closed state and the label "1X" appears on the front side of
the jack-in-the-
box to indicate a multiplier value that is potentially available for a play in
the game. In
this example game graphic 1200, the reel-type display 1201 and additional game
graphic
portion 1202 may be displayed on a single video monitor. This game graphic
could also be
produced with a mechanical reel-type display and a separate video display
device for
displaying the additional game graphic portion. It is also possible that the
function of the
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34
jack-in-the-box graphic as described below could be implemented with an
electro-
mechanical device rather than a video monitor.
The method of the present invention may be employed to implement the following
game rules relating to game graphic 1200. Starting from an initial game state
in which the
multiplier value for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206 is 1X, each time
a designated
symbol is shown when the reels of reel-type display 1201 come to rest to show
a result for
a play in an underlying bingo game, the jack-in-the-box will be shown to
receive one crank
on a handle (not visible in this example illustration). If the jack pops out
for that crank, the
player is awarded a number of free spins and the illustrated multiplier
applies to each free
spin. However, if the jack does not pop out on that crank, the multiplier
value will be
shown to increase to a higher value, 2X for example. The next time the
designated symbol
is shown at a reel symbol location after the reels stop spinning for a play at
the bingo player
station producing the graphic, the jack-in-the-box representation 1206
receives another
crank. If the jack pops out on that crank, the player is awarded a number of
free spins and
the multiplier then displayed on jack-in-the-box representation 1206 is
applied to each free
spin. If the jack does not pop out on the crank, the multiplier value is shown
to increase
again. The process continues until a maximum multiplier value is reached so
that further
cranks do not increase the multiplier value. At any point at which the jack
pops out of the
box, the player is awarded free spins at the displayed multiplier value
applied to each free
spin. After the player plays their free spins, the game reverts back to the
initial 1X
multiplier condition for the next game play request entered at the bingo
player station
providing the game graphic.
The present invention employing multiple game states is applicable to this
game
graphic and game rule combination in that the potential value of the free spin
award may
vary according to the multiplier value displayed on the jack-in-the-box
representation 1206.
A first game state according to the invention employs a first pattern table
and corresponds
to a result indicator state defined by the lowest multiplier value displayed
for the jack-in-
the-box representation 1206. A second game state using a second pattern table
to assign
results corresponds to the result indicator state defined by the next higher
multiplier value
displayed for the jack-in-the-box representation 1206, and so forth for each
possible
multiplier value. Whether the jack pops out of the box on a given play may be
randomly
determined by the presentation controller or some other component.
Alternatively, whether
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the jack pops out on a given play may be based on some other aspect of the
result in the
underlying bingo game.
As in the example shown in Figure 11, the reel-type display 1201 in Figure 12
may
be considered the base game. The jack-in-the-box display 1206 in Figure 12 may
be
5 considered a bonus game. In the example game graphic 1200 then, the bonus
game is not
only concurrently displayed with the base game graphic, but may also be
displayed with the
same display device, for example, a video monitor such as device 104 shown in
Figures 1
and 2.
Figure 13 shows another game graphic portion 1300 that may be used with a reel-
10 type display (not shown in Figure 13) to implement multiple game states
according to the
present invention. Game graphic portion 1300 is preferably displayed on a
video display
monitor located at a particular bingo player station. For example, a bingo
player station
may include or produce a reel-type display in the position of video display
device 104 in
Figure 1, and include a video monitor in the position of top display 107
rather than a static
15 display. Game graphic portion 1300 would be generated at that top video
monitor.
Regardless of specifically how and where game graphic portion 1300 is
displayed at the
bingo player station, the graphic portion includes an array 1301 of symbol
locations 1302,
and this array corresponds to the array of reel symbol locations provided by
the associated
reel-type display. Example graphic portion 1300 includes a three-by-five array
of symbol
20 locations 1302 corresponding to the three-by-five array provided by a
traditional five reel
reel-type display such as reel-type display 1201 shown in Figure 12. Symbols
1304 in the
various symbol locations 1302 appear as gaming chips. These gaming chips may
be caused
to appear to flip over as described below to reveal various bonus values such
as bonus
amounts, multipliers, or numbers of free spins. The various symbols 1304
displayed at
25 symbol locations 1302 may thus define various game states according to the
present
invention.
The rules of a game graphic using a reel-type display and game graphic portion
1300 may specify that under certain conditions associated with the reel-type
display, certain
of the gaming chips 1304 flip over to reveal a credit amount, a free spin
number, or a
30 multiplier value. For example, the presence of a designated reel symbol
appearing at a
given location on the reel-type display after a spin may cause the gaming chip
1304 at the
corresponding location 1302 of array 1301 to flip over and stay in that
position until the
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36
array 1301 is reset to a base state shown in Figure 13. The rules may also
require that any
time the revealed information on two chips match, the player receives that
prize, and
immediately thereafter, graphic portion 1300 reverts to the base state shown
in Figure 13.
In order to implement these rules, the various states of array 1301 may be
defined
as different game states according to the present invention in order to
account for the
enhanced prizes that may be available according to the game graphic rules. For
example, if
a credit amount of 500 credits is available according to the matching rules
for game graphic
portion 1300, a pattern table may be used which includes a result level for
each result
possibility for the reel-type display alone and a result level for each
possible combination
of result displayed by the reel-type display and array 1301 showing the
additiona1500
credit award in addition to the award for the reel-type display. The result
display state
corresponding to this game state is the condition in which one flipped gaming
chip in array
1301 shows the 500 credit award.
It will be noted that in this example game graphic employing game graphic
portion
1300 and a reel-type display (not shown in Figure 13), the aspect of the
result used to
indicate a change in game state is the specified condition causing a state
affecting gaming
chip to be flipped in display. For example, the game state changing result
aspect may be
the appearance of the designated reel symbol at a reel symbol location in the
reel-type
display.
It should also be noted that not all of the bonus amounts that appear to be
available
through game graphic portion 1300 require a change in the game state of the
bingo player
station and a different pattern table to be invoked. For example, if a number
of free spins
are awarded, the value of such free spins may be controlled to coincide with a
prize value
available in the current pattern table. In this case, the result symbol set
selected to show
the result will cause the game graphic to be controlled for the free spins.
However, even in
the case of a prize awarded through free spins, it may be desirable to change
game states in
order to apply a pattern table that includes a different prize distribution.
The present
invention encompasses the situation in which the game state is changed at a
bingo player
station simply to change the prize distribution to be applied for a game play
request entered
at the bingo player station.
Figure 14 shows a diagrammatic representation of another game graphic 1400
that
may be driven by bingo game play results using multiple game states according
to the
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present invention. Game graphic 1400 includes a reel-type display 1401,
additional display
symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404, and a separate video or alphanumeric display
device 1405.
Reel-type display 1401 includes three reels or reel representations 1408 which
define a
single payline through reel symbol locations 1409. This reel-type display 1401
may be a
video-generated reel-type display or a mechanical reel display. In the event
reel-type
display 1401 is generated on a video monitor, the same video monitor may be
used to
produce symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404. In the event reel-type display 1401 is a
mechanical reel display, symbols 1402, 1403, and 1404 may be display glass
which may be
selectively back-lit to indicate that the symbol is active as will be
described below.
Game graphic 1400 may be used in connection with game rules that may apply a
multiplier to some subsequent game play request entered at the bingo player
station
generating the game graphic. For example, the game rules may require that
every time a
designated symbol appears at a reel symbol location 1409, a respective
multiplier is made
active for a subsequent game play request. Different designated symbols may
correspond
to the different multiplier values or a single designated symbol may cause a
jump to the
next highest multiplier value up to a maximum value. The subsequent game play
request
may be the next game play request that produces a winning result (as indicated
by the text
on display device 1405) or the next game play request regardless of the
outcome. It is also
possible that the subsequent game play request to which the multiplier will
apply will be
some designated game play request in the future, the tenth game play request
for example.
It will be noted that the multiplier value to be applied may be shown by
activating one of
the symbols 1402, 1403, or 1404, or by display device 1405, or both one of the
symbols
and the display device.
A game following these game rules may be implemented according to the present
invention by defining a first game state as that state in which no multiplier
is invoked. In
this case, the first result indicator state is the state in which none of the
symbols 1402,
1403, or 1404 are active and display device 1405 indicates that no multiplier
value is
applicable. A game play request entered at the bingo player station in this
first game state
is assigned a result according to a first pattern table. However, when a
multiplier value
becomes active according to the game rules, the bingo player station is placed
in another
game state to use a pattern table that accounts for the larger prizes
available for the game
play request. In the event the multiplier only applies to a given game play
request in the
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38
future, the change in game state actually occurs just before the game play
request to which
the multiplier value applies. In any event, the activated multiplier symbol or
multiplier
value displayed at display device 1405 represents the second result indicator
state
corresponding to the second game state.
Where the game rules apply the multiplier value to the next play only
regardless of
whether or not there is a win on the play, the bingo player station switches
back to the first
game state after the game play request to which the multiplier applies and
before the next
game play request. Where the game rules require that the multiplier applies to
the next
win, the bingo player station will remain in the second game state until a
winning result is
assigned for a game play request and then the bingo player station is returned
to the first
game state immediately after the game play request for which a winning result
is assigned.
A variation on the multiplier arrangement described above may be implemented
with just a reel-type game presentation and no additional display to indicate
a multiplier
value applies. In this variation, the reel-type display starts out in a first
game state in which
no multiplier value applies. However, when a designated symbol appears on the
payline at
a respective reel symbol location such as a location 1409 in Figure 14, that
respective reel
is locked in place for the next game play request at the bingo player station
and the reel
lock and displayed symbol represents a second result indicator state
indicating that a
multiplier value applies to the next game play request. The second game state
that applies
to this second result indicator state may persist until a winning result is
assigned for a game
play request or until a second designated symbol appears on the payline, at
which point that
reel locks in place to correspond to a third game state at which an even
higher multiplier
value applies to a win. From this third game state, the game transitions back
to the first
game state upon the assignment of a winning result for a game play request at
the third
game state. This game is similar to that described in connection with Figure
14 except in
the different result indicator states. In the example of game graphic 1400
shown in Figure
14, the different result indicator states are represented by an activated
symbol and
information displayed at display device 1405. In the locking reel variation,
the second and
third game states correspond to the one and two locked reels respectively, and
there may be
no other display or symbol showing that a multiplier applies.
The example displays shown in Figures 6-14, are shown only as convenient
examples for describing the principles of the invention. Many variations on
these basic
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39
examples may be employed within the scope of the present invention. In
particular, the
invention is not limited to any particular manner for displaying the results
for the game
play. It will be appreciated that although the example game graphics all rely
at least
partially on a reel-type display, other implementations of the invention may
display results
using non-reel arrangements for showing game results, such as playing card
hands and
simulated races or other competitions, for example. Furthermore, other forms
of the
present invention may allow only a single bet level and may not provide
different prizes
based on different wager/bet levels. Where multiple bet levels are available
the invention
may still use a single pattern table for each respective play mode, although
multiple result
values will be associated with each result level, each result value
corresponding to a
respective bet level. Information on the bet level for a given bingo game play
may be used
in connection with the pattern table to select the correct result value
corresponding to the
bet level. Alternatively to a single pattern table with a respective result
value for each bet
level, each bet level may itself correlate to a respective game state
employing a respective
pattern table.
It should be noted that restrictions may be placed on bet levels available in
game
states that are more favorable to the player. In particular, a bingo player
station
implementing the present invention may be programmed or otherwise operated to
prevent a
player from increasing their bet level when the bingo player station is
switched to a game
state that is more favorable to the player. In one arrangement for preventing
an increase of
bet levels in a more player-favorable game state, the presentation controller
may take an
increased bet level in a player-favorable game state as a reset event to cause
the bingo
player station to switch back to the less favorable game state. The player may
be warned
through a display such as video display 104 in Figure 2, before switching back
to the less
favorable game state, and allowed an opportunity to withdraw the increased
bet.
Alternatively, the bingo player station may simply not accept an input that
attempts to
increase the bet level in the more player-favorable game state, and/or may
lock the bet level
in to the bet level in effect at the time of the switch to the more player-
favorable game state
for all bingo game play requests initiated in the more player-favorable game
state.
In forms of the invention implemented through general purpose processing
devices
such as the devices shown in the example bingo player station 100 of Figure 2,
the various
steps described above in connection with Figure 3 are performed under the
control of
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operational program code. This program code may be stored in any suitable
computer
readable physical medium such as one or more CDs, DVDs, hard drives, flash
drives,
magnetic media, or data transmission media for example. One preferred form of
the
invention executes first game state program code to cause a bingo player
station such as
5 player station 100 in Figures 1 and 2 to operate in the first game state in
which the result
for each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player
station is
assigned according to the first pattern table. Second game state program code
is executed
to cause the bingo player station to operate in the second game state in which
the result for
each respective bingo game play request initiated through the bingo player
station is
10 assigned according to the second pattern table, and in which the bingo
player station
displays the second result indicator state. In this preferred embodiment, game
state control
program code is executed to cause the bingo player station to switch from the
first game
state to the second game state, and result display program code is executed
for controlling
the game graphics to display results at the bingo player station and to
display the first and
15 second result indicator states at the bingo player station as appropriate
for the game state.
This result display program code may operate to control any type of game
graphic that may
be produced according to the invention, including game graphics that include a
mechanical
reel-type display and a separate game graphic portion to show various result
indicator
states. The state control program code is also executed to switch the bingo
player station
20 from the second game state to the first game state in response to the
applicable reset event.
All of this program code may be executed by processor 205 associated with the
bingo player station shown in Figure 2. In this case, processor 205 represents
the
presentation controller included in the invention. As indicated previously
however, the
invention is not limited to a presentation controller comprising a general
purpose
25 processing device, and is not limited to a presentation controller
implemented at the bingo
player station. Rather, the functions of the presentation controller described
above
particularly in connection with Figure 3, may be performed at a processing
device remote
from the bingo player station. For example, local area server 200 or central
server 201
shown in Figure 2 may represent the presentation controller according to some
preferred
30 forms of the invention. The presentation controller functions may also be
split between
multiple processing devices within the scope of the present invention.
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As discussed above, the present bingo gaming apparatus and method relies on a
result controller for identifying a pattern matched in a bingo game to select
a result for the
player in the bingo game. However, the present invention is not limited to any
particular
arrangement for the result controller. As discussed above in connection with
Figure 2, the
result controller for identifying a bingo pattern for a given bingo game play
may be
performed by a centralized processing device such as local area server 200 or
central server
201. Further details on one preferred system for conducting a bingo game in a
network
setting with centralized bingo pattern identification are set out in U.S.
Patent Application
Publication No. 2004-0152499-Al, the entire content of which is incorporated
herein by
this reference. Other forms of bingo gaming systems in which the present
invention may
be used may include a result controller implemented with a processing device
at the bingo
player station such as bingo player station 100 in Figures 1 and 2. For
example, processing
device 205 at the player station may be programmed or otherwise adapted to
match the
bingo designations called in the bingo game with the bingo card/card
representation for a
given bingo game play initiated through the bingo player station, and to
identify any
resulting pattern of matched locations at the end of the bingo game. Thus,
processing
device 205 may be employed as the result controller in some implementations of
the
invention. Regardless of specifically where in the bingo gaming system the
pattern
identification occurs, this pattern identification may be accomplished in any
suitable
fashion within the scope of the invention. Computerized or otherwise automated
bingo
pattern matching arrangements are well known in the field of bingo gaming
systems and
will not be disclosed here since the operation of such arrangements forms no
part of the
present invention.
As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the
terms
"comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving,"
and the like are
to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited
to. Only the
transitional phrases "consisting of' and "consisting essentially of,"
respectively, shall be
considered exclusionary transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to
claims, in the
United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth
Edition,
August 2001 as revised October 2005), Section 2111.03.
Any use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc., in the
claims to
modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or
order of one
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claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method
are performed.
Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used
merely as labels to
distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element
having a same
name (but for use of the ordinal term).
The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the
principles
of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other
embodiments
and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled
in the art
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
