Gaming machine having multi-ended pointer for quasi-deterministic play (“pick-a-prize”)
US6793577B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/3267
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
When a special symbol appears during play of the gaming machine game, the secondary game is initiated. At initiation, a bonus prize is determined by the secondary game microcontroller by consulting a bonus game paytable stored therein where each bonus prize corresponds to a bonus spot on the secondary game. A multi-ended pointer of the secondary game spins around the field of bonus spots and the player is prompted to select which end of the pointer is active. Upon selection of the end—e.g. blue or green—a microcontroller operating the spinner calculates the point at which the spinner will cease to spin so that the selected pointed end is pointing toward the selected bonus prize. The player is given the illusion that he or she controls which bonus prize is won since the green side of the pointer will point to a different bonus prize than the blue side.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.