Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a game requiring strategy or problem solving by a...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-04
2004-02-24
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3714)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a game requiring strategy or problem solving by a...
C463S009000, C463S010000, C463S011000, C463S012000, C463S020000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06695695
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an electronic card game. More particularly, an electronic card game that affords a player the opportunity to receive a first payout and a bonus payout. Said first payout based on a standard pay table associated with the overall card hand achieved and said bonus payout based on a player achieving a best hand in comparison to a plurality of hands.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
While any competitive card game can be played according to the present invention, poker is used by way of example throughout this specification. Poker is the most popular card game in the world and has been for centuries. Casinos have long benefitted from both live poker games and electronic video poker machines. “Video poker”, as it is commonly known, first consists of a player inserting a wager into a video poker machine. Thereafter, the player is dealt five face-up cards from a standard 52 card deck. The player then decides which of the five dealt cards to hold and which to discard. The discards are replaced by new dealt cards from the remaining cards in the deck. The player, according to predefined winnings hands and a pre-established pay table, is paid for the resultant poker hand (e.g. 4000 coins for a royal flush, 250 coins for 4 of a kind, etc.).
Many variations of video poker are disclosed in the patent literature. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,732,950, 5,816,916 and 5,823,873 all to Moody disclose video poker games which allow simultaneous play of multiple poker hands based on identically held cards. In other words, the player can hold the best cards in a first hand and the identical cards will be transposed to multiple hands whereby the player can draw into the selected best cards in multiple hands. The Moody patents provide players with more opportunities to win prizes and thus have been very successful in practice.
However, the common theme present in all video poker games is that the player is awarded a prize based on the player's hand(s) alone. Playing video poker over time can become repetitive since only the player's poker hand is considered. Therefore, the continued need exists for increasing the excitement and realism associated with video poker games.
The present invention overcomes the referenced deficiencies existing in the prior art, namely the lack of inherent excitement with traditional video poker games. By allowing increased player interaction and multiple payouts, the present invention provides an exciting new element to video poker games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a more exciting and realistic video poker experience.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated live poker game on an electronic apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide multiple independent payouts based on a single poker hand whereby a bonus payout is based on a game player's resultant hand being the highest hand displayed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a player a choice of multiple variations of poker games (i.e. hold'em and stud) not typically offered by a traditional video poker machine.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for a video poker machine to play poker hands pursuant to a preprogrammed method of play.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a more realistic experience by dealing cards in their traditional manner to multiple simulated players rather than dealing a single hand off the “top of the deck.”
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fold option such that players may recover a portion of their initial wager when a portion of a dealt hand appears unlikely to result in a payout.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide one or more bonuses not possible with traditional video poker games.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Unlike traditional video poker machines, which typically deal only five card draw poker, the present invention allows players to select from multiple variations of additional poker games. For example, hold'em, seven card stud, five card stud, five card draw, etc., and variations thereof can be played under the present invention.
The present invention adds excitement to traditional video poker by implementing additional player decisions and implementing a bonus payout based on a player's poker hand in comparison to other displayed poker hands. As a result, a gaming machine of the present invention initially deals multiple poker hands from which a player must decide which hand to play. The player then plays the selected hand while the remaining unselected hands are effectively played by the gaming machine. Once the selected game is completed (i.e. all cards have been dealt and all draws, if necessary, have been made), the player is paid an amount from a standard pay table based on the player's resultant hand and is further paid a bonus amount if the player's selected hand is the highest hand of the multiple hands dealt. The bonus amount can be any predetermined amount dependent on a desired payout percentage of the particular video poker machine operating the present invention. As with all gaming payouts, the payouts must be such that casinos have an overall advantage while players win with enough frequency to justify continued play.
As each poker game offered will have its own rules and strategy, a preprogrammed method of play, if necessary, is designed for certain poker games offered to players. In the examples set forth herein, only the game of five card draw will require a true preprogrammed method of play. Games including seven card stud and hold'em do not require a player draw and can therefore simply be dealt out by the gaming machine. By implementing a basic card strategy for draw games and the like, the preprogrammed method of play will seek to create a competitive and realistic atmosphere associated with a live poker game. Players of the present invention will not only root for the strength of their own hand, but will also root against the unselected hands.
In a preferred embodiment, the multiple poker hands are figuratively played by electronically simulated poker players. The simulated poker players may appear as cowboys, movie stars, athletes or any desired group of characters. The simulated players may be fictitious or may be genuine famous people. In this manner, the player is participating against other simulated players and hands rather than simply considering his own single hand. It is further preferred that players have the option to choose, from a pool of simulated players, which simulated players will participate in the selected game. For instance, the pool may include ten simulated cowboys from which a player may select five participants.
First Example of the Game and Method of Play
By way of a first example hold'em is considered. As known in the art, a player first places a wager by inserting coins, bills or credit cards into a gaming machine. The player is also given the choice of how many “coins” to play per game. Playing a maximum number of coins provides the player with certain advantages, including increased payouts, eligibility for progressive jackpots, and with the present invention, a fold option. After the wager is placed, the player selects, by means of a button, touchscreen or mouse, which poker game he or she desires to play (i.e. hold'em in this example)
Thereafter, the player is provided with a display of multiple (e.g. 10) simulated players from which to select. The player then uses the selection means described above to select a predetermined number (e.g. 5) of the ten players to participate in the game. While each of the examples described herein include simulated players, the multiple hands may be dealt on a gaming screen without corresponding simulated players. The simulated players are included to add realism and excitement to the preferred implementation of the present invention.
The game begins with each selected simulated player being dealt,
Gaming Concepts and Design, LLC
Mendoza Robert
Phillips Rob L.
Quirk & Tratos
Walberg Teresa
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