346 results about "Player game" patented technology

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for targeting a recommendation to a first user of an online multi-player gaming environment based on tracked data of a second user with which the first user has a relationship on the online multi-player gaming environment. In addition to the general system, methods and computer readable medium for such recommendations, the recommendations can be further refined by incorporating information about the first user, including how the user accesses the online multi-player gaming environment.

A multiplayer gaming device allows two players to collaboratively play, for example, a Monopoly®-style game against the “house.” Each player may have his own game controls, coin dispenser / acceptor, and display screen. A larger display screen may display the game board and player game characters, shared by the two players and operated by the machine. The players may wager a flat fee per game, and are given an amount of game money to use for the duration of the game. Throughout the game, players take turns spinning dice represented on the display of the gaming device, and move around a Monopoly®-style board. As the players move around the board, game money is deducted as they land on properties owned by house players. A player's turn may result in his game piece landing on a game board spot owned by a house player, and cost the player $100 in game money. The game lasts until both players go bankrupt. The total number of game board spaces each player has moved without going bankrupt determines each player's payout.

A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface.

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication mans for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

A gaming environment includes portable transaction / tracking devices for rendering services and tracking game play. In one embodiment, the gaming environment includes at least one table game and a portable transaction interface capable of receiving and sending information over a wireless communication link to / from a player tracking server adapted to store player identification and player game play data. One embodiment of a method comprises the tracking of player game play in such a gaming environment using the portable transaction device or interface. Player identification information and player game play data is input to the portable transaction device and transmitted to the player tracking server for association with a player's rating file. Graphical information may be generated and displayed to the user of the portable transaction device regarding the gaming environment. This information may be used by the user to identify players or their location.

The present invention concerns a method for displaying a game map of a browser-based online multi-player game, wherein each browser client displays only a selectable portion of the game map and wherein the game map is modified by actions of a plurality of players of the game, the method comprising the following steps:a. performing at least one game action by a first browser client of a first player that leads to a modification on the game map; andb. upon changing a selection of the game map to be displayed by a second browser client of a second player, updating at least the selected portion of the game map to reflect the modification for display at the second browser client.

A system, computer program and method for enabling multi-player gaming on a wireless device is provided. At least one wireless device being is linked to a client application and to a memory, and associated with a first player. At least one remote network-connected device, consisting of a remote wireless device, an artificial intelligence player, or a client computer, the at least one remote network-connected device is associated with at least one second player. The wireless device an remote network-connected device are each connected to a communication network. The remote network-connected device is also linked to a client application generally corresponding to the client application. An intermediary server is operable to connect to each of the at least one wireless device and the at least one remote network-connected device. The client application enables the first player or at least one second player to send and receive a plurality of communications defining one or more steps involved in playing a game to and from the intermediary server, the intermediary server acting as a intermediary for gaming communications as between the at least one wireless device and the at least one remote network-connected device. The intermediary server is linked to a server application which in cooperation with the client application provides a multi-player gaming platform. The invention also includes a method of development of multi-player games to this multi-player gaming platform.

Video game systems for multiple-player games may exchange synchronizing data through the Internet or other data transmission link. These status data records keep the video game systems synchronized with each other whenever different players are trying to use the same virtual tunnel, cave, or other confined room with insufficient space for more than one player character at a time.

Some implementations of the invention provide methods and devices for various types of adventure sequences that preferably involve, at least in part, wagering games. Such sequences may involve wagering and / or other games at a plurality of gaming devices, tables and / or gaming establishments. Some implementations provide a virtual gaming experience wherein one or more other environments (e.g., environments that include gaming establishments) are simulated at a single location. Accordingly, adventure sequences described herein may comprise stages in one or more virtual environments, stages in one or more real environments or a combination of the two. Virtual players, also referred to herein as player game agents (“PGAs”), may act on behalf of real players. A PGA may be able to play games autonomously, e.g., when the associated player is at a different location and / or is not aware of the PGA's current activities. PGAs may be enabled to negotiate on behalf of real players, e.g., for comps, better pay table percentages, etc.

A method is provided for compensating for high-latency computer clients in a multi-player electronic game played on a plurality of terminals connected by a network. A latency value is determined for computer clients operating the terminals. Then a latency compensation factor is determined from the latency value for each client computer. The playing modality of a client computer can then be adjusted based on the latency compensation factor.

Some implementations of the invention provide methods and devices for various types of adventure sequences that preferably involve, at least in part, wagering games. Such sequences may involve wagering and / or other games at a plurality of gaming devices, tables and / or gaming establishments. Some implementations provide a virtual gaming experience wherein one or more other environments (e.g., environments that include gaming establishments) are simulated at a single location. Accordingly, adventure sequences described herein may comprise stages in one or more virtual environments, stages in one or more real environments or a combination of the two. Virtual players, also referred to herein as player game agents (“PGAs”), may act on behalf of real players. A PGA may be able to play games autonomously, e.g., when the associated player is at a different location and / or is not aware of the PGA's current activities. PGAs may be enabled to negotiate on behalf of real players, e.g., for comps, better pay table percentages, etc.

A multi-player game includes both individual and bonus game aspects. Players play individual games for a score. In one embodiment, game scores comprise an aggregate of scores from individual rounds of play in which indicia are displayed, held and replaced in an attempt to obtain the maximum number of matching indicia. If a player achieves a sufficiently high score, the player is permitted to play the game in a bonus round for a bonus score. A pool of players is determined from the bonus scores of players who play during a predetermined interval of time. A jackpot is awarded to one or more of the players of the pool based upon their bonus scores, such as the players with the highest bonus scores. In one embodiment, players use portable devices such as cellular phones to play the game and the jackpot is funded from charges associated with air time.

A gaming environment includes portable transaction / tracking devices for rendering services and tracking game play. In one embodiment, the gaming environment includes at least one table game and a portable transaction interface capable of receiving and sending information over a wireless communication link to / from a player tracking server adapted to store player identification and player game play data. One embodiment of a method comprises the tracking of player game play in such a gaming environment using the portable transaction device or interface. Player identification information and player game play data is input to the portable transaction device and transmitted to the player tracking server for association with a player's rating file. Graphical information may be generated and displayed to the user of the portable transaction device regarding the gaming environment. This information may be used by the user to identify players or their location.

A gaming server, game playing apparatus and a method for facilitating play of a multiplayer game by multiple players each playing an instance of single-player wager game at a workstation having a display. Multiple single-player wager game instances are aggregated into a multiplayer game environment. In the single-player wager game, one of the possible rewards for a turn of play is an award of a multiplier credit useable in a bonus game. The bonus game is played by those players having accumulated at least one multiplier credit at the time the bonus game is triggered. A result in the bonus game is generated randomly by a bonus machine from a finite set of possible results. The winnings in the bonus game is the product of the player's multiplier credit multiplied by the result. Winnings are obtained from the game proprietor, are independent of results for other players, and are not shared with such other players. The bonus machine can take several forms, including a wheel, a reel, or a machine randomly selecting a numbered ball.

A method of managing multi-player game input as single-player game input includes building a command queue, the command queue being a series of time-slices; extracting a most recent time-slice from the command queue, the most recent time-slice including at least one command from difference inputs of the multi-player input; building alternate command queues with information extracted from the most recent time-slice; analyzing the command queue and the alternate command queues to determine an optimum command queue, the optimum command queue including commands from at least one input of the multi-player input; and outputting the optimum command queue as the single-player game input.

The invention and disclosure is directed to improvements for a pressure gun utilized to propel paint containing balls which will, when they strike, break and apply paint to a target or, as utilized in the sport of Paint or Splat Ball, an opposing player, to identify such person as having been hit and therefore out of the game. The improvements include both a retro-fit and a custom adapted monitor with visual readout for counting the number of balls which have been shot by sensing pressure drop, or through Hall effect sensing, or mechanical switch actuation; the latter two sensing propelling bolt movement. The monitor also includes a visual readout for reverse timing to show the player game time remaining and a tank pressure supply readout which will show the player remaining tank pressure. Through microprocessing of the information of shot count and time remaining or elapsed, a shooting rate is determinable. Both the retro-fit unit and the custom unit supply the same basic information to the microprocessor which then will calculate shot rate.

A program for rewarding players for gaming at a casino establishment provides a player with real-time incentives while the player is playing at a gaming machine in the casino. Information about the player and / or the player's gaming activity is collected while the player is at a gaming machine in a casino. This information is used by a marketing system to select an incentive to provide to the player. The incentive is then delivered to the player, for example manually by a casino employee or automatically using a printer or other mechanism at the gaming machine. Various types of incentives can be provided to a player, including incentives designed to provide the player with an experience that is favorable to the casino and incentives designed to keep the player gaming in a casino for a longer amount of time.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for serving a computer game, comprising (a) receiving, at a server, a request from a client for prior game play data relating to another user's prior live game play; (b) retrieving the prior game play data and transmitting the prior game play data to the client; (c) causing the client to store the prior game play data such that the client can retrieve the prior game play data at a later time; and (d) presenting a multi-player game environment where a live gaming participant using the client can play against and have two-way interactions with an apparently live opponent, the apparently live opponent's interaction being based on the prior game play data.

A software application, which presents aggregated content including broadcast, Internet, and local media on a single HDTV display screen. For the most part, this information is pulled from existing databases and supplied by means of an entertainment portal, and then synchronized, resized, and displayed on a single HDTV display screen. This allows mixed entertainment content from creators, broadcasters, advertisers, manufactures, websites, and home consumers to be viewed on a single HDTV display screen, thereby creating a single-screen home entertainment experience. In operation, the screen is divided into multiple areas 200, 202 where web content, which can be continuously updated, is displayed at the same time live video is being aired. This can include any and all types of content; such as news, stock quotes, weather forecast, sports scores, on-line shopping, on-line multi-player games, local community information, etc.

A mobile networked gaming system wherein a downloadable game client application connects a player to at least one game server (or wireless network), wherein the at least one game table is hosted on said game server. The game server (or wireless network) provides game operations and displays for transmission to the game client application and a display including at least one screen display including at least one lobby screen display from which a player can manually request to be seated at one or more of a plurality of virtual game positions in one or more of a plurality of multi-player or single-player games. Furthermore, a selectable automated seating option is available for automatically seating a player at one or more of a plurality of virtual game positions, wherein a player is directly seated when the player logs-in to the mobile networked gaming system. Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed as a mobile poker client application and a mobile casino client application incorporating the above features.

A system and method for enabling a new generation of captivating multiplayer casino slot machine games with naught or little changes to the applicable regulatory game standards. In one embodiment thereof, the present invention is a 2-player / 1-game casino slot machine wherein (a) a two-seater slot machine allows two players to share in primary game play by providing two seats, two sets of betting controls, and two sets of onscreen meters to track each player's performance, wins and losses, and wherein (b) back end control logic within each two-seater slot machine consolidates all game performance meters in such a way that the slot machine mimics a traditional single seat slot machine (i.e. 1-player / 1-game) from accounting and regulatory points of view, thus requiring no changes to the accounting procedures and to the central casino management system. This 2-player / 1-game paradigm may be extended to N-player / 1-game wherein (a) N single seat slot machines each having individual player performance meters are joined together via secure peer-to-peer network and wherein (b) appropriate peer-to-peer software balances back-end account meters such as each slot machine appears as independent 1-player / 1-game from an accounting, central game management and regulatory point of view.

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player game on the large screen and a plurality of game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication means for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers. The plurality of game controllers are located in proximity to the large display screen such that it is visible to game players manipulating the game controllers while playing the multi-player game.

An on-line multi-player virtual reality game is provided. The multi-player game system is capable of handling many simultaneous players connected to a computer system using personal computers or other gaming consoles via the Internet or other telecommunications network. A unique retransmission transport protocol is used for transmitting and retransmitting data of the multi-player game. A visual display is also provided having a network transmission status display bar.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for serving a computer game, comprising: (a) providing two separate storage facilities accessible from a server, the first storage facility comprising fast response searchable memory for storage of recently produced game play data, and the second storage facility comprising a structured database for longer term storage of game play data, the first memory having a data search and data retrieval speed that is substantially faster than the second memory; (b) receiving, at the server, a game play request from a live gaming participant with a desired opponent attribute; (c) in response to the game play request, searching the first memory, based on the attribute, to identify prior game play data corresponding to an appropriate opponent; and (d) presenting a multi-player game environment where the live gaming participant can play against and have two-way interactions with an apparently live opponent.

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a gaming method, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, from a live participant, a request for game play, the request including desired opponent information; (b) in response to the request, evaluating prior game play data associated with the live participant to assess the live participant's recent success in gaming, forming a satisfaction score; (c) in further response to the request, causing another user's prior game play data to be selected and retrieved based on the following (i) a substantial match with the desired opponent information; and (ii) a substantial match with the satisfaction score; and presenting a multi-player game environment where the live gaming participant can play against and have two-way interactions with an apparently live opponent, the apparently live opponent's interaction being based on the other user's prior game play data.

An automatic multiple player gaming machine includes a central game processor and multiple player terminals, wherein each player terminal includes a player input and a player display. The gaming machine also includes a common game display and a game program residing in the processor, wherein the game program executes an interactive multiple player game. The processor further displays individual hands of cards on each player display, wherein each hand of cards is randomly selected from its own set of cards. The operation of such a machine may be effected in a computer-based method as well.