	US 12,450,982 B2
	Gaming machine and methods for operating gaming machines to provide skill-based wagering games to players
Scott Delekta, Las Vegas, NV (US); Michael Kuhlmann, Las Vegas, NV (US); and Satoshi Suda, Las Vegas, NV (US)
Assigned to Konami Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV (US)
Filed by Konami Gaming, Inc., Las Vegas, NV (US)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/120,171.
Application 18/120,171 is a continuation of application No. 16/940,005, filed on Jul. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,640,749.
Application 16/940,005 is a continuation of application No. 15/694,000, filed on Sep. 1, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/383,314, filed on Sep. 2, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0290222 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G07F 17/32 (2006.01)

CPC G07F 17/3267 (2013.01) [G07F 17/3209 (2013.01); G07F 17/3211 (2013.01); G07F 17/3258 (2013.01); G07F 17/3262 (2013.01); G07F 17/3295 (2013.01)]

15 Claims

1. A gaming machine for displaying a computer-animated game to a player, comprising:

a gaming cabinet;

a display device mounted on the gaming cabinet and including a primary graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-generated images thereon;

a user input device mounted to the gaming cabinet and including a touch button unit configured to display a touchscreen GUI displaying computer-generated images thereon for receiving player selections; and

a controller coupled to the display device and the user input device, the controller including:

a random number generator generating random numbers;

a memory device storing computer-executable instructions including game map data, return to player (RTP) value data, and primary award data, the game map data including information associated with various game maps and map selection probabilities associated with each game map, the RTP value data including a plurality of RTP values with each RTP value indicating an average award amount provided to players over time and an award skill level, the primary award data including a plurality of primary award sets with each primary award set including a plurality of primary awards associated with a corresponding RTP value; and

at least one processor programmed to execute an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the primary GUI of the display device and the touchscreen GUI including the steps of:

accessing the game map data from the memory device and randomly selecting a game map from the game map data based on the map selection probabilities using the random number generator;

rendering a game screen on the primary GUI of the display device including the randomly selected game map including a grid including a plurality of cells arranged in five columns and five rows, a least one row including five character positions with each character position associated with a corresponding column, and a game character movable within the five character positions;

rendering a plurality of character position touch buttons associated with the five character positions on the touchscreen GUI of the touch button display;

animating a skill-based game on the primary GUI of the display device by:

initiating a countdown of a predefined period of time and rendering a time counter image including a graphic bar on the game screen which decreases in height corresponding to the countdown of the predefined period of time;

receiving player skill operations from the player via the touchscreen GUI of the touch button unit including player selections of the character position touch buttons and responsively animating the game character to move to corresponding character positions associated with the player selected character position touch buttons;

animating the randomly selected game map to move downward through the grid in response to each selection of a character position touch button;

awarding a skill point during the animated skill-based game for each occurrence of the game character being moved to corresponding character positions associated with the player selected character position touch buttons, and animating an image of a point scale including a graphic point bar on the game screen that increases in height as the awarded skill points are accumulated;

determining a total number of skill points associated with the player skill operations accumulated during the countdown of the predefined period of time and determining a player skill level value associated with the determined total number of skill points;

accessing the RTP value data and determining an RTP value based on the determined player skill level value;

accessing the primary award data and selecting a primary award set associated with the determined RTP value; and

rendering a primary award selection screen on the primary GUI of the display device including a plurality of player selectable primary award icons, each icon associated with one of a plurality of primary awards included in the primary award set.