Exhibit 1001
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Kelly et al.
`
`US005816918A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,816,918
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`[54] PRIZE REDEMPTION SYSTEM FOR GAMES
`
`[75] Inventors: Matthew F. Kelly, San Ramon; Bryan
`M_ Kelly, Almo; Norman B_
`Petermeier, P1easant0mJohn G.
`Kroeckel San Leandro_ John E Link,
`’
`,
`’
`'
`Tracy, all Of Cahf-
`
`_
`_
`_
`[73] ASSlgneei RL_T Acqulstlon, Inc-9 Pleasanton,
`Callf-
`
`8/1989 Jolliff et al. ...................... .. 273/138 A
`4,854,590
`8/1990 Helm et al. ..
`..... .. 273/85 G
`4,948,133
`4,964,638 10/1990 IShida ~~~~~~~~ ~-
`- 273/138 A
`5,007,649
`4/1991 Richardson ........................... .. 273/237
`5,016,880
`5/1991 Berge ................................ .. 273/138A
`5,034,807
`7/1991 Von Kohorn
`..... .. 358/84
`5,042,809
`8/1991 Richardson
`. 273/138A
`5,042,810
`8/1991 Williams . . . . .
`. . . .. 273/142
`
`. 273/138 A
`5,048,833
`9/1991 Lamle .... ..
`..... .. 358/84
`5,057,915 10/1991 Von Kohorn
`5,083,271
`1/1992 Thacher et al. ....................... .. 364/411
`
`[21] APPL NO; 746,755
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 14, 1996
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`1087361 10/1967 United Kingdom .
`
`[63] Continuation—in—part of Ser. No. 628,490, Apr. 5, 1996.
`
`Int. Cl.6 ...................................................... .. A63F 9/24
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl. .............................................................. .. 463/16
`of Search .................................. ..
`16, 23,
`463/36, 37, 30; 273/1381, 139, 440
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U~S~ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`941 194 11/1909 Hamilton _
`1’543j318
`6/1925 Cardoza _
`1,652,071 12/1927 Tsujing _
`2,043,166
`6/1936 Hart et al. ............................. .. 273/138
`
`P rimary Examiner—George Manuel
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hickman Beyer & Weaver,LLP
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention provides a prize redemption System
`for use With one or more game apparatuses. A game is
`provided on a game apparatus for a player to play in
`exchange for monetary input, and prize credits are credited
`to the player based on the game outcome. Aprize selection
`menu is then displayed by the game apparatus, the menu
`including one or more prizes, Where the player may select a
`prize that has a prize cost Within the player’s prize credit
`amount. The player is dispensed a speci?c prize ticket that
`is redeemable for the selected prize. The game apparatus can
`
`
`
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 276607434 11/1953 Durant ~-_ 273/121
`
`
`
`for a tournament prize contributed to by multiple players. An
`
`,
`
`,
`
`0 ns . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . ..
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`_
`
`operator can adjust prizes and payout percentages of the
`"""
`JZCIIFOWSkl
`273/138 A SyStem K.) achleve .31 desmd Pro?tabth for game appa.“
`3/1974 Fraley et al
`3,796,433
`273/141 A tuses'. Prize input is 'entered into a prize'table describing
`3975 022 8/1976 Figuero ~~~~~~~~~~ u
`_____ __ 273/139
`multiple available prizes and also describing payout infor
`4’191’376
`3/1980 Goldman et a1
`273/138 A mation that indicates a desired amount of payout that the
`4:240j635 12/1980 Brown _____________ __
`270/18
`operator Wishes to provide back to players of the game
`4,398,708
`8/1983 Goldman et al
`364/412
`apparatus in terms of the value of the prizes. Prize
`4,494,197
`1/1985 Troy et al
`- - - -- 463/16
`information, such as prize costs and speci?c prize Win ratios,
`4582324 4/1986 KOZa et a1 - - - - - - -
`273/1 R
`is automatically determined by the system for each of the
`475867707
`5/1986 McNelght et a1~
`364/412
`prizes in View of the desired pro?tability of the game
`4,636,951
`1/1987 Harlick ............ ..
`364/412
`a aratus
`4,652,998
`3/1987 Koza et al.
`273/143 R
`pp
`'
`4,743,024
`5/1988 Helm 6161.
`..... .. 364/412
`4,837,728
`6/1989 Barrier et al.
`4,842,278
`6/1989 Markowicz ....................... .. 273/138 A
`
`77 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
`
`10
`\ MONETARY INPUT
`DEVICE
`\14
`
`16
`
`INPUT
`DEVICES
`
`121
`
`GAME
`PROCESSOR
`
`'
`
`SPECIFIC PRIZE
`TICKET
`' DISPENSER
`
`~22
`
`SCREEN
`
`(56
`
`GAME
`OUTPUT
`DEVICE
`
`’8
`
`TICKET
`DISPENSER
`
`I
`COMMUN
`ICATION
`DEVICE ~24
`
`

`
`5,816,918
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,32%; 333%
`
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- 27341331331;
`
`"
`’
`’
`. 273/118A
`8/1992 Schillin et a1. .
`5,137,278
`_ 273/138 A
`2/1993 Korenelf ~~~~~~~ u
`571847821
`463/25
`3/1993 Tillery et aL "
`571977094
`358/84
`7/1993 Von Kohom
`572277874
`_ 273/138A
`572497800 10/1993 Hilgendorf et al~
`.. 273/139
`5,265,877 11/1993 Boylan 6161.
`. 273/138A
`5,280,909
`1/1994 Tracy ....... ..
`_ 273/138A
`572867023
`2/1994 Wood
`283/95
`5,286,061
`2/1994 Behm ____ __
`_ 273/138 R
`5,292,127
`3/1994 Kelly er a1, _
`. 273/122 R
`5,318,298
`6/1994 Kelly et a1.
`. 273/138A
`5,324,035
`6/1994 Morris 6161. ..
`5,326,104
`7/1994 Pease et a1. ....................... .. 273/138A
`
`5,342,049
`5,344,144
`
`8/1994 Wichinsky et a1. ............... .. 273/119 A
`9/1994 Canon ............................... .. 273/138A
`
`2,325,278 18/133: grirelrtr "I; .............................. .. 223/2139)
`
`a alans as .
`
`..
`
`’
`’
`5,365,575 11/1994 KatZ ........................................ .. 379/92
`5,417,424
`5/1995 Snowden et a1. ................. .. 273/138A
`5,429,361
`7/1995 Raven et a1. ...................... .. 273/138A
`5,462,275 10/1995 Lowe et a1. ............................. .. 273/94
`574717039 11/1995 1W1“; Jr- et al~ -
`~~ 235/441
`5,472,196 12/1995 Rusnak
`-- 273/138R
`5,475,205 12/1995 Behm et a1.
`235/375
`5,476,259 12/1995 Weingardt ......................... .. 273/85 CP
`5,494,294
`2/1996 Cappetta ............................... .. 273/269
`5,511,794
`4/1996 Katamoto
`.. 273/440
`5,551,692
`9/1996 Pettit CI 8.1.
`. 273/143 R
`5,593,349
`1/1997 Migue et a1. ............................. .. 463/1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`10
`\ MONETARY INPUT
`DEVICE
`"\14
`
`D'EIIIIS
`
`DISPLAY
`SCREEN
`
`GAME —> DISPENSER
`PROCESSOR
`
`___., UNIVERSAL
`TICKET
`DISPENSER
`
`22
`
`20
`
`GAME
`OUTPUT
`DEVICE
`
`’8
`
`COIVIIVIUN
`ICATION
`DEVICE
`
`24
`
`{Figurel
`
`CLOCK
`
`28
`1
`
`30
`\l
`
`32
`I
`
`U
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`34
`1
`
`V0
`
`<—
`
`r
`
`.
`1
`?gure a
`
`INPUT v
`OUTPUT
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`50\
`
`52
`
`10, 50]
`
`I
`
`60
`
`GAME
`APPARATUS
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.6,1998
`
`Sheet 3 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`/108
`SERVER ‘—__I f’08
`
`11
`7
`
`=
`
`SERVER
`
`,
`
`PRIZE
`E
`' SELECTION
`UNIT
`
`w110
`
`N110
`V
`
`105“ GAME
`
`GAME f10b
`
`106v~:
`
`V
`
`AWARD
`
`:
`
`104~ MONETARY
`/
`INPUT
`100
`
`:
`
`V
`
`AWARD
`
`106
`
`:\
`
`MONETARY ~104
`INPUT
`
`?gure 3
`
`108
`\ SERVER l
`
`= GAME ~10
`
`GAME
`10a—/
`
`100/4
`
`10b~/‘ GAME
`
`[108
`senven
`
`10d I
`
`GAME
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`250 \
`
`ONE
`TARY INPUT
`DETEC
`TED?
`
`254
`
`GAME AND
`256\ INFORMATION
`SELECTION
`
`NO
`
`260
`
`REDEMP
`TION TYPE
`SELECTION?
`
`TICKETS/PRIZE
`
`TOURNAMENT
`
`IMPLEMENT
`TICKET GAME
`
`264
`
`IMPLEMENT
`TOURNAMENT
`GAME
`
`\
`266
`
`ffzéqure 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 18
`
`5,816,918
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`5,816,918
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 8 of 18
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`5,816,918
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 9 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`264
`
`300
`
`?gure 6
`
`IMPLEMENT
`GAME PROCESS 322
`
`NO
`
`PLAYER
`HAS WON SPECIFIC
`PRIZE?
`
`YES DETERMINE AND
`DISPLAY
`SPECIFIC PRIZE
`
`I
`
`PRINT SPECIFIC
`PRIZE TICKET
`(IF APPLICABLE)
`OR PROVIDE PRIZE
`INFORMATION
`
`CREDIT TICKETS
`TO PLAYER
`
`330
`
`LAYER
`WISHES TO
`CHOOSE
`PRIZE?
`
`DISPENSE
`TICKETS
`PROPOR- /332
`TIONAL TO
`GAME SCORE
`
`340
`
`334
`\
`DISPLAY PRIZE
`SELECTION @ 342
`MENU
`
`RECEIVE PRIZE
`SELECTION
`FROM PLAYER
`
`336
`
`PRINT SPECIFIC
`PRIZE TICKET
`IF APPLICABLE
`I
`I
`OR PROVIDE PRIZE
`INFORMATION
`
`’337
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.6,1998
`
`Sheet 12 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
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`K
`
`/354
`./
`7
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`
`Aption
`Figure
`200 Tickets
`
`10,000 Tickets
`
`/
`
`?gure 6c
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 13 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`26“ @
`
`ADD AT LEAST A
`PORTION OF
`384 \ MONETARY INPUT
`TO TOURNAMENT
`SCORE
`
`IMPLEMENTGAME
`PROCESS FOR
`PLAYER
`
`386
`
`388
`
`
`
`ADD SCORE TO TOURNAMENTLST
`
`CONCLUDE
`TOURNAMENT
`
`?gure 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 14 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`394 \\
`
`@
`
`ASSIGN
`TOURNAMENT
`PRIZE(S) TO TOP
`PLAYER(S) IN
`TOURNAMENT
`LIST
`
`/4 02
`
`l
`
`COMMUMCATE
`TOURNAMENT
`RESULTS TO GAME
`UNITS AND/OR
`PLAYERS
`
`l
`
`RESET
`TOURNAMENT
`PRIZE
`
`/406
`
`@
`
`figure 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 15 of 18
`
`5,816,918
`
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 16 0f 18
`
`5,816,918
`
`@ 45"
`
`{?gure 9
`
`DISPLAY
`PRIZE TABLE
`
`452
`
`/ 440
`
`—>
`
`OPERATOR
`‘DJUST PRIZE NAM
`FIELDS OR COST
`FIELDS?
`
`454
`
`YES
`
`/456
`ADJUST GLOBAL
`PAYOUTS AND
`OTHER FIELDS AS
`APPROPRIATE
`
`NO
`
`/ 460
`
`ACCESS TOURNAMENT
`SETUP TABLE?
`
`458
`
`NO
`
`PERATO
`ADJUST PRIZE
`CREDIT GLOBAL
`PAYOUT?
`
`462
`
`NO
`
`PERATO
`ADJUST SPEC|F|C
`PRIZE GLOBAL
`PAYOUT?
`
`466
`
`NO
`
`AJPUESTAIIQIZE
`COST FIELD OF
`PRIZES?
`
`NO
`
`470
`
`TABLE AND MODIFY —>
`TOURNAMENT
`
`/464
`ADJUST PRIZE
`COSTS TO
`ACHIEVE GLOBAL —>
`PAYOUT
`
`/468
`ADJUST INDIVIDUAL
`SPECIFIC PRIZE WIN
`RATIOS To
`ACHIEVE GLOBAL
`PAYOUT
`
`——>
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`/472
`ADJUST GLOBAL
`PAYOUT OF PRIZE _>
`CREDITS
`
`476
`/
`ADJUST GLOBAL
`PAYOUT 0|:
`SPECIFIC PRIZES
`
`_-_>
`
`OPERATOR
`ADJUST SPECIFIC
`PRIZE RATIOS?
`
`YES
`
`474
`
`NO 4
`
`NO
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`478
`
`EXIT
`YES
`PRIZE @ 480
`TABLE?
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`00
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 6, 1998
`
`Sheet 18 of 18
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`5,816,918
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`5,816,918
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`1
`PRIZE REDEMPTION SYSTEM FOR GAMES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
`parent patent application Ser. No. 08/628,490, filed Apr.
`5.1996, on behalf of Bryan M. Kelly et al., entitled,
`“REDEMPTION GAME FOR AWARDING SPECIFIC
`
`PRIZES”, assigned to the assignee of this present
`application, and which is hereby incorporated by reference
`herein in its entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates to games normally played in an
`arcades and other environments, and more particularly to
`redemption games allowing a player to receive one or more
`prizes in connection with playing the game.
`2. Background of the Related Art
`Games of many types are played in bars, arcades, homes,
`and other public and private establishments. In bars, taverns,
`and like places, games can be provided on bar tops, side
`tables, and other areas. These games typically include a
`video screen and buttons or other controls for the player to
`influence objects and events portrayed on the video screen.
`Common “bar-top” games include card games (poker,
`blackjack, solitaire, etc.), quiz games, sports games, and the
`like. Bar-top games typically provide a score based on the
`player’s performance during the game, and may also provide
`a high score list which provides incentives for players to
`perform well.
`In game arcades, convenience stores, and the like, more
`involved games are often offered, such as stand-up arcade
`video games, pinball games, and mechanical or carnival
`games. Some of these types of games are offered as redemp-
`tion games which dispense redemption tickets to players
`based on player performance during the game and/or a game
`score that
`the player achieves. A player can exchange
`dispensed redemption tickets for prizes available at a prize
`display area, such as a prize booth or prize vending machine,
`where such prizes as stuffed animals, models, other toys,
`small music devices, T-shirts, food, etc. are available. Each
`prize has an associated cost or “price” in terms of redemp-
`tion tickets which the player can pay to redeem the prize. A
`player may collect tickets over time to save up for larger
`prizes that may have higher ticket prices.
`One problem with the redemption games of the prior art
`is that maintaining a redemption system can be very involv-
`ing for the operator of the arcade, to the point of being
`burdensome. For example, operators must maintain a prize
`booth or vending machine which displays all the prizes the
`operator wishes to make available. Requiring even greater
`maintenance is the setting and adjustment of ticket costs or
`prices of the prizes. The operator must determine how many
`tickets are paid, on average, by each game in the arcade and
`then determine the price of each prize in terms of tickets and
`in view of a desired profitability level. The operator knows
`the cost of the prizes that he or she paid, can come up with
`a crude estimate of average ticket payouts to players, and
`can thus estimate ticket costs with a rough profitability in
`mind, but the task can become overwhelming when a large
`variety of prizes are offered and many different types of
`games can be played, each game having a different ticket
`payout and difficulty level. Many arcade operators end up
`simply providing very gross estimates of what prizes should
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`be worth in tickets, with no exact or global level of profit-
`ability in mind. This may lead to extra or unknown costs
`which can be magnified over time when large numbers of
`prizes are redeemed by players.
`In addition, the prior art redemption games and redemp-
`tion systems are not suitable for bars, taverns, and other,
`non-arcade public places, such as stores, hotels,
`food
`establishments, etc. There is a very large potential pool of
`redemption game players in such places. This is because the
`games typically offered in bars and like places often have
`low appeal to players due to the absence of any sort of
`tangible award or prize that is received by playing the game.
`For example, the bar-top and other games typically found in
`bars may quickly get uninteresting if the only reward a
`player receives is to put his or her name on a high-score list.
`However, non-traditional gaming environments such as
`bars are not very suitable for supporting redemption systems
`like those found in gaming arcades. The proprietor or
`bartender of the non-arcade environment often does not
`
`want to provide a booth or area to display available prizes
`for players due to the additional maintenance and staff
`needed for such a display area. More importantly,
`the
`proprietor typically does not have the knowledge to properly
`adjust payouts of redemption games and offer prizes with
`proper and profitable ticket costs. Even if the proprietor has
`such knowledge, the small numbers of games and/or the
`secondary role of games in non-traditional gaming environ-
`ments does not warrant providing a prize display area and
`does not warrant the abovementioned overhead of providing
`and counting the many tickets that players may accumulate
`and providing/maintaining ticket costs for various prizes in
`view of a desired profitability of the games.
`Other gaming environments for players include homes or
`other private places. Players have been able to play board
`games, computer games, video games, etc. at home or other
`private environments for a long time. However, with the
`widespread use of standardized large-scale networks such as
`the Internet and World Wide Web in recent years, players of
`video and computer games at home are offered an environ-
`ment to compete with each other which was not widely
`available to game players before. A player can connect a
`home computer, video game console, set top box, or other
`device to the Internet using telephone lines, cable TV lines,
`or other connections to the home. The player can thus play
`games offered to the player from a remote server or other
`source. The player can also compete or otherwise interact in
`a game with hundreds or even thousands of other players
`who are also connected to the Internet.
`
`However, although a wide array of options are available
`for home game players, players typically cannot play games
`from home to receive prizes. Players may often desire to
`receive a prize after playing a game or participating in a
`tournament, but no standardized prize redemption system is
`provided to home players. Any administrator of such a prize
`redemption system faces the same problems and overhead as
`described above when attempting to organize ticket win-
`nings and offer prizes at ticket costs adjusted for a desired
`profitability.
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a prize redemption system
`and method for use with one or more game apparatuses.
`Players may win “prize credits” by playing the game
`apparatus, and may then select a prize from a prize menu
`offered on the game apparatus. The selected prizes and
`specific prizes may be redeemed using specific prize tickets
`
`

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`5,816,918
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`3
`or coupons. The operator can provide cost and prize data and
`a desired level of profitability, and prize credit costs for
`prizes are automatically determined. These improvements
`greatly reduce the time and costs of maintaining a redemp-
`tion system for games, and thus allow redemption games to
`be offered in wholly new, non-traditional redemption and
`gaming environments.
`the prize redemption system and
`More specifically,
`method of the present invention provides a game on a game
`apparatus for a player to play, preferably in exchange for
`monetary input. The game apparatus, for example, can take
`the form of a bar-top-style game console including a game
`processor, display screen and player controls. A number of
`prize credits are provided to the player based on an outcome
`of the game and optionally accumulated from previous
`games. In some embodiments, the outcome of the game is
`influenced by skill of the player. A prize selection menu is
`then displayed for the player, the menu including one or
`more selectable prizes. The prize selection menu may
`include a prize cost in terms of prize credits for each of the
`displayed prizes and which can be determined by the
`redemption system. Finally, the player inputs an indication
`of a selection of a prize using an input device. The player
`may select a prize that has a prize cost equal to or less than
`the number of prize credits the player has won. The selected
`prize is provided to the player after this selection. In one
`described embodiment, the player receives a specific prize
`ticket or coupon from a dispenser, where the specific prize
`ticket is redeemable for the selected prize.
`In the preferred embodiment, at least one specific prize
`goal may also be achieved during a game, using skill or by
`chance. If a specific prize goal
`is achieved,
`the player
`receives a specific prize which can be determined from a
`prize table listing specific prizes that can be won by a player.
`The game apparatus can provide many types of games and
`options for games. For example, an option can be provided
`to the player for playing a tournament game for a tournament
`prize contributed to by multiple players of the game appa-
`ratus and other linked game apparatuses. Examples of games
`offered by the game apparatus include action video games
`which provide a player with opportunities to utilize dexterity
`and play duration in increasing game score, card games in
`which the outcome of the game is,
`in part,
`randomly
`influenced, quiz games providing questions to which said
`player responds, slot machine games, electromechanical
`redemption games, etc.
`The game apparatus can also be linked to multiple other
`game apparatuses to provide simultaneous multi-player
`games and tournaments including players from several dif-
`ferent game apparatuses. A server linked to the multiple
`game apparatuses can store or control prize information
`and/or tournament information. Players of the linked game
`apparatuses may choose prizes from a central prize database
`communicated to the game apparatuses.
`In another aspect of the present invention, the redemption
`system provides an operator the ability to adjust prizes and
`determine desired prize costs and win ratios. Aprize table is
`displayed on a game apparatus or other computer system.
`Prize input is received from the operator or other source
`(e.g., remote server) and displayed in the prize table. The
`prize input describes multiple prizes that are to be available
`in the redemption system to players of the game apparatus
`in exchange for prize credits won by the player and as
`specific prizes. The prize input also may include an actual
`monetary cost of each of the prizes. The operator also enters
`payout input that indicates a desired amount of payout that
`said operator wishes to provide back to players of the game
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`apparatus in terms of the value of the prizes. Finally, prize
`information is automatically determined for each of the
`prizes, the prize information being determined in view of a
`desired profitability of the game apparatus.
`For prizes won by prize credits and selected by a player,
`the prize information is a prize cost for each of the prizes in
`terms of prize credits. The prize cost
`is determined in
`accordance with the operator’s desired amount of payout.
`The payout input for credit prizes may include a global
`payout percentage value that is the operator’s desired per-
`centage of the monetary income earned by the game appa-
`ratus that the operator wishes to provide back to players in
`the form of the prizes won using prize credits. Operators can
`also manually adjust prize costs if desired.
`the
`For specific prizes won on the game apparatus,
`determined prize information includes a win ratio for each of
`the prizes in terms of how frequently that the particular prize
`is awarded when a specific prize goal is met. The win ratio
`is determined in accordance with the operator’s desired
`amount of payout. The payout
`input for specific prizes
`includes a global payout percentage that is the operator’s
`desired percentage of the monetary income earned by the
`game apparatus that the operator wishes to provide back to
`players in the form of specific prizes. The operator can also
`manually adjust win ratios if desired. Tournament charac-
`teristics and payouts can be similarly adjusted by the opera-
`tor using a tournament setup table.
`The redemption system and game apparatus according to
`the present invention offer a comprehensive prize system
`that provides a player with immediate and easy to select
`prize choices. The player can quickly determine what prizes
`are available on the same game apparatus which the game
`was played and select a desired prize. The players can also
`win a specific prize. The players may immediately get a
`specific prize ticket that is redeemable for their selected
`prize or specific prize, thus avoiding the time and money of
`accumulating large numbers of dispensed tickets to purchase
`prizes. Player involvement with the redemption games is
`thus increased.
`
`Furthermore, the redemption system of the present inven-
`tion vastly decreases operator
`involvement
`in a prize
`redemption system and the overhead of maintaining a prize
`structure for redemption games. An operator need only input
`desired prizes and a desired percentage of income that is to
`be paid back to players, and the system can automatically
`determine prize credit costs and win ratios for the entered
`prizes which achieve the desired profitability of the game
`apparatus. These entered prizes and prize costs are then
`automatically provided to players on the game apparatus.
`This reduces the operator’s need to update prizes and prize
`costs and provides a far more exact system for maintaining
`prizes and achieving a desired profitability of offered games,
`thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs of
`redemption games and allowing redemption games to be
`provided in non-traditional gaming environments.
`These and other advantages of the present invention will
`become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the
`following descriptions and studying the various figures of
`the drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a game apparatus
`suitable for use with the present invention;
`FIG. 1a is a block diagram of a game processor used in
`the game apparatus of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
`the game apparatus of FIG. 1;
`
`

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`5,816,918
`
`5
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the
`present invention for implementing networked game appa-
`ratuses;
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of game units networked using
`wide area network such as the Internet;
`FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a process of the
`present invention for implementing a redemption system of
`the present invention on one or more individual game units;
`FIG. 5a is a diagram illustrating a display shell on a
`display screen of the game apparatus for use with the
`redemption system;
`FIG. 5b is a diagram illustrating a selection screen of the
`game apparatus;
`FIG. 5c is a diagram illustrating a promotion on the
`display screen of the game apparatus;
`FIG. 5d is a diagram illustrating an advertisement on the
`display screen of the game apparatus;
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of imple-
`menting a non-tournament prize game in the process of FIG.
`5;
`
`FIG. 6a is a diagram illustrating an example of game
`score and prize credits won by a player as displayed on the
`display screen of the game apparatus;
`FIG. 6b is a diagram illustrating a prize selection menu on
`the display screen of the game apparatus;
`FIG. 6c is a diagram illustrating a graphical prize selec-
`tion menu alternative to the menu shown in FIG. 6b;
`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of imple-
`menting a tournament game of the process of FIG. 5;
`FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of con-
`cluding a tournament game of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 8a is a diagram illustrating FIG. 8a is a tournament
`standings display screen which is preferably displayed by
`the individual game unit after a selection of the tourney
`leaders button 282 or after a tournament is complete.
`FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a process of the
`present invention for adjusting prize characteristics of the
`redemption system;
`FIG. 9a is a diagram of a prize table suitable for use with
`the process of FIG. 9; and
`FIG. 9b is a diagram of a tournament table suitable for use
`with the process of FIG. 9.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a generic game apparatus or
`“game unit” 10 suitable for use with the prize redemption
`system of the present invention. It should be noted that a
`variety of game architectures can be used to provide game
`play functions as well as access other game units and servers
`through networks, as described below. The particular archi-
`tecture shown is a generic architecture using components
`typical to game apparatuses suitable for use with the present
`invention. Game unit 10 can take a variety of forms,
`including a video game apparatus having one or more
`display screens, a mechanical game having playing pieces
`and/or other moving mechanical parts, a personal computer
`system, a “network computer”, a television including or
`connected to a microprocessor (e.g. a “set top box”) for
`Internet or other information access, or other apparatus.
`As described herein, the game unit 10 is used by a player
`in a “gaming environment.” This term is intended to refer
`any location, public or private, in which games can be used.
`For example, public gaming environments include such
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`places as arcades, stores, restaurants, bars, casinos, bowling
`alleys, stations, hotels, airports, airplanes, cruise ships,
`gymnasium, health club, or other public place that can offer
`the game unit for use by players and which can provide
`prizes to players of the game apparatus. A “gaming envi-
`ronment” need not ordinarily provide games to the public. In
`other embodiments, a “gaming environment” can be a
`private place such as a player’s home or personal residence,
`office or other place of employment, private club, etc.
`Game unit 10 in accordance with the present invention
`may include a game processor 12, monetary input device 14,
`player input device(s) 16, game output device(s) 18, a
`universal ticket dispenser 20, a specific prize ticket dis-
`penser 22, and a communication device 24.
`Game processor 12 implements (e.g., controls, influences,
`coordinates, monitors, calculates, etc.) the functions of the
`game unit 10 during a game process and includes several
`input and output functions. The game processor controls the
`game apparatus by receiving inputs from a player, from
`other game apparatuses, from a server (described below),
`from a progressive bonus apparatus, and from other sources.
`The game processor also controls output signals to update
`the game process when appropriate. In addition, the game
`processor controls the redemption system of the present
`invention by calculating when prizes are awarded, calculat-
`ing and updating prize lists and prize costs, and other
`functions as described below. Game processor 12 preferably
`includes a digital microprocessor or similar controller
`device, and other electronic components which are
`described in further detail with respect to FIG. 1a. The
`operation of game processor 12 is described in greater detail
`below. The game processor is preferably provided within a
`housing of game unit 10.
`Monetary input device 14 is used to receive monetary
`input that is inserted by a player into the game apparatus in
`the gaming environment. For example, coins can be rec