45 results about "Game mechanics" patented technology

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the game display directly in the player's line of sight including game-play regions at which symbols appear and regions above, below, between, and to the sides the game-play regions. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the game display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. The transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with a bonus game played at the gaming machine.

The present invention contemplates an interactive event experience capable of coupling and strategically synchronizing multiple (and varying) venues, with live events happening at one or more venues. For example, the system equalizes between local participants and remote ones, and between local shared screens and remote ones—thus making experience of events synchronized. In one event, a host participant creates and initiates the event, which involves inviting participants from the host participant's social network, and programming the event either by selecting a predefined event or defining the specific aspects of an event. In one specific instance, and event may have: a first layer with live audio and video dimensions; a video chat layer with interactive, graphics and ensemble dimensions; a Group Rating layer with interactive, ensemble, and i / o commands dimensions; a panoramic layer with 360 pan and i / o commands dimensions; an ad / gaming layer with game mechanics, interaction, and i / o commands dimensions; and a chat layer with interactive and ensemble dimensions. In addition to aspects of the primary portion of the event experience, the event can have pre-event and post-event activities.

This invention enables targeting, personalized measurement, and management of cognitive skills development by users, clinicians, teachers, and parents. The invention features a game based virtual learning curriculum for targeting and developing the underlying cognitive skills of executive functions. The methods and systems of the invention provide an effective and rapid video game-based training curriculum to improve the cognitive skills such as focused attention, sustained attention, cognitive inhibition, behavioral inhibition, selective attention, alternating attention, divided attention, interference control, novelty inhibition, delay of gratification, inner voice, motivational inhibition, and self-regulation. This curriculum utilizes: (i) each of the cognitive processes that underlie attention control and impulse inhibition; (ii) the identification of measurable and trainable cognitive skills; and (iii) game design and game mechanics that effectively train and enable retention of those skills. The game-based system provides a medical professional, clinician, parent, teacher and user with the ability to measure and manage training of targeted cognitive skills to reach a desired performance goal.

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game allows players, casino operators, and / or gaming machine manufacturers to selectively combine base games and bonus games. This modular approach allows players, casino operators, and / or gaming machine manufacturers to mix and match base games and bonus games as needed. In some embodiments, players, casino operators, and / or gaming machine manufacturers may also select different game features to employ in the bonus and / or base games. Such an arrangement allows players, casino operators, and / or gaming machine manufacturers to configure each base game and / or bonus game according to their preferences.

The present invention includes a gaming machine that uses an audio output and with the video output to allow a player to anticipate and assess the probability of a specific game outcome. The audio output and video output together produce a bonus game presentation that determines a bonus award for the player. The audio output has had audio cue that signals a change in the game play mode two the player. This audio cue occurs before the display of the game outcome. The audio cue allows the player to note the position of the symbols immediately before the final game outcome is displayed and with this information, judge the probability of the winning game outcome. This game play mechanic heightens the anticipation and excitement of the game.

A multiple player game has objects corresponding to projects to which resources are allocated by the players of the game. The players include a plurality of groups. A resource bank mechanism determines a bank of resources to be made available to each group of players for allocation to the projects controlled by the players the group. A first game mechanism allows each player to make independent resource allocations to a project controlled by that player. A second game mechanism requires each group of players to make joint resource allocation decisions. A third game mechanism requires a plurality of the groups to make team level decisions affecting resource allocations to projects controlled by the groups of players. A scoring mechanism assigns a respective project score to each project of each group, a group score to each group of projects, and a team score to the plurality of projects.

System and method for running a software application, such as a video game for many users. In one embodiment a multi-user computer-controlled video gaming system comprising: at least one display device for displaying video game motion pictures to the plurality of users; a plurality of user input devices, at least one for each user, providing user input data to the computer-controlled video gaming system; a processing unit receiving and processing the user input data from the plurality of input devices to generate control input data for a conjointly control of at least one game mechanic of the performed game; at least one computing device executing a game software application for performing said game, the at least one computing device being controlled by said control input data for providing output to the display device to display the video game motion pictures dependent on said at least one conjointly controlled game mechanic.

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the game display directly in the player's line of sight including game-play regions at which symbols appear and regions above, below, between, and to the sides the game-play regions. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the game display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. The transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with a bonus game played at the gaming machine.

This invention enables targeting, personalized measurement, and management of cognitive skills development by users, clinicians, teachers, and parents. The invention features a game based virtual learning curriculum for targeting and developing the underlying cognitive skills of executive functions. The methods and systems of the invention provide an effective and rapid video game-based training curriculum to improve the cognitive skills such as focused attention, sustained attention, cognitive inhibition, behavioral inhibition, selective attention, alternating attention, divided attention, interference control, novelty inhibition, delay of gratification, inner voice, motivational inhibition, and self-regulation. This curriculum utilizes: (i) each of the cognitive processes that underlie attention control and impulse inhibition; (ii) the identification of measurable and trainable cognitive skills; and (iii) game design and game mechanics that effectively train and enable retention of those skills. The game-based system provides a medical professional, clinician, parent, teacher and user with the ability to measure and manage training of targeted cognitive skills to reach a desiredperformance goal.

A method for improving a call-participant behavior, the method includes receiving an intensity data signal and an intensity variation data signal related to an ongoing call, receiving a pitch data signal and a pitch variation data signal related to the ongoing call, receiving a tempo data signal and a tempo variation data signal related to the ongoing call, receiving a channel comparison data signal related to the ongoing call, generating a real-time call progress signal based on the intensity data signal, the intensity variation data signal, the pitch data signal, the pitch variation data signal, the tempo data signal, the tempo variation data signal, and the channel comparison data signal, and sending the real-time call progress signal to a user device.

An educational game (and learning management system and methods pertaining to the same) can be configured for the effective teaching of advanced educational curriculum, such as STEM subjects for high school and above. The educational game is configured to integrate social context, real scientific principles and strategic tradeoffs within game mechanisms. This covert teaching and testing environment promotes exploration, individualized discovery, repeat engagement, and systems thinking and planning skills. The educational game can be dynamically and procedurally generated.

Embodiments provide techniques for rewarding users within a computer game for performing fitness activity. One embodiment determines a physical world fitness gaming objectives for a first user. Physical activity of the first user is monitored using one or more fitness devices to collect user fitness data. The user fitness data is analyzed to determine whether the first user has completed the one or more physical world gaming objectives. Upon determining a first one of the one or more physical world gaming objectives has been completed, embodiments determine one or more game rewards corresponding to the completed first physical world gaming objective and grant the first user the one or more game rewards within the first computer game.

A preferred method of acquiring virtual or augmented reality (VAR) scenes can include at a plurality of locations of interest, providing one or more users with a predetermined pattern for image acquisition with an image capture device and for each of the one or more users, in response to a user input, acquiring at least one image at the location of interest. The method of the preferred embodiment can also include for each of the one or more users, in response to the acquisition of at least one image, providing the user with feedback to ensure a complete acquisition of the virtual or augmented reality scene; and receiving at a remote database, from each of the one or more users, one or more VAR scenes. One variation of the method of the preferred embodiment can include providing game mechanics to promote proper image acquisition and promote competition between users.

A method for improving a call-participant behavior, the method includes receiving an intensity data signal and an intensity variation data signal related to an ongoing call, receiving a pitch data signal and a pitch variation data signal related to the ongoing call, receiving a tempo data signal and a tempo variation data signal related to the ongoing call, receiving a channel comparison data signal related to the ongoing call, generating a real-time call progress signal based on the intensity data signal, the intensity variation data signal, the pitch data signal, the pitch variation data signal, the tempo data signal, the tempo variation data signal, and the channel comparison data signal, and sending the real-time call progress signal to a user device.

Embodiments provide techniques for altering a virtual world based on combinational input gestures. Embodiments retrieve a definition for a combinational gesture within a computer game, the definition specifying physical actions to perform according to a specified timing schedule in order to successfully perform the combinational gesture. User activity is monitored to detect when a first user input from a first input devices sufficiently matches a first predefined pattern of user input corresponding to a first physical action, and to detect when a second user input from a second input device sufficiently matches a second predefined pattern of user input corresponding to a second physical action. Embodiments determine that the first and second user inputs were performed according to the timing schedule specified in the definition. A status of at least one aspect of a virtual world for the computer game is altered, based on performance of the combinational gesture.

A system and method of providing wagering over a computerized system. The system includes a computerized multi-player game. The game includes an integral game mechanics module for providing a game-play session over a computerized network. The game mechanics module is in real-time communication with a wagering module and therethrough the wagering module automatically receiving real-time game event information. The game mechanics module provides a wagering option to a player in real-time that is selectable by a game-play action.

Video games can be improved upon by combining traditional gameplay mechanics (e.g., a player's use of a controller) and live-action combat elements that may be measured and scored. For example, a player may fire projectiles at a target when prompted by a game, may have to dodge projectiles fired at the player as part of the game, may have to traverse the room to touch or move an object, and / or may have to strike a dummy or other object as instructed by the game. Such live-action combat aspects may be incorporated into a video game having otherwise traditional gameplay mechanics.

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for an integrated loyalty program and game mechanic. When a customer makes a purchase of physical products from a merchant, membership in the merchant's loyalty program can be rewarded with a digital (virtual) asset for use in a computer game. The merchant can also advertise digital assets as loyalty program rewards in the game to persuade customers to purchase physical products from the merchant. In one aspect, the game is maintained by the merchant. In another aspect, the merchant enters into a partnership with an owner of a third party game.

Systems and methods for facilitating user interaction with a virtual environment are discussed herein. In various implementations, the virtual environment may comprise a virtual reality game and a visual depiction of an input device of a user. As the user moves an input device, the visual depiction of the input device may appear to move in the virtual environment to facilitate gameplay. For example, a series of images corresponding to different visual characteristics may appear to travel toward the user. A score for the user may be determined based on the number of the series of images the user is able to intercept by moving the input device such that the position of an image traveling toward the user corresponds to the end of the visual depiction of the input device having the same visual characteristic.

The cup holder game playing apparatus is intended for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein and includes a hollow cylindrical container and a lid. The hollow cylindrical container has a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom end being dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup holder. The lid is designed to be detachably removed from the open top end of the hollow cylindrical container and encompasses at least one game playing mechanism. The cup holder game playing apparatus is designed to allow playing of the game playing mechanism while the apparatus is maintained within the cup holder. The lid of each cup holder game playing apparatus may encompass a different game playing mechanism, including a randomizer, such as a spinner or a pop-o-matic dice mechanism, a revealer, or a scoring device, such as a trivia scoring device.

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for an integrated loyalty program and game mechanic. When a customer makes a purchase of physical products from a merchant, membership in the merchant's loyalty program can be rewarded with a digital (virtual) asset for use in a computer game. The merchant can also advertise digital assets as loyalty program rewards in the game to persuade customers to purchase physical products from the merchant. In one aspect, the game is maintained by the merchant. In another aspect, the merchant enters into a partnership with an owner of a third party game.

Game mechanics may be incorporated into a web site, mobile site, and / or app using an automated access, self-serve platform. A user interface may be generated based on input provided by or on behalf of a publisher of a site and / or app. The user interface may be configured to be incorporated with the site and / or app. An economy governing game mechanics associated with the user interface may be defined. The user interface may be provided for integration with the site and / or app. Integration of the user interface with the site and / or app may provide the game mechanics to the site and / or app. In some implementations, generating the user interface may include generating, at a gamification server, a widget configured to provide the user interface, the site and / or app being provided by a site server, the gamification server being separate and distinct from the site server.

A system and method is disclosed to enhance hearing employing a set of stimuli that collectively form a basis set for an auditory process comprising running a game engine on a processor of a server. Game mechanics are provided for a game, providing interaction between a player and the game. Game aesthetics and game progression are further provided. One or more learning modules stored in a database on the server are selected, the one or more learning modules comprising auditory training procedures, and are used within the game engine for auditory training of the player.

Techniques are described for providing a painting and thinning mechanic within a computer-generated environment (e.g., in a video game). The painting and thinning mechanic allows geometry within the computer-generated environment to be “painted” or “thinned.” Painting and thinning refers to a mechanic that involves making parts of the virtual environment visibly and collidably transparent (thinning) or visibly and collidably opaque (painting). The painting / thinning mechanic may be achieved using binary space partitioning (BSP) trees.