Benjamin J Gomez

US Patent:

7056206, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

May 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/436002

Inventors:

Dion K. Aoki - Henderson NV, US
Benjamin T. Gomez - Chicago IL, US
Cullen P. O'Day - Las Vegas NV, US
Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 13

Abstract:

A method of conducting a video poker game is disclosed. After a player makes a wager, a plurality of face-up cards are dealt from a deck into a card hand. If any of the face-up cards is a predefined special card, the game proceeds with a special feature that allows the player to draw a replacement card to replace the special card. The replacement card may be drawn from a plurality of possible face-up or face-down cards. The game may include a standard draw option that allows a player to select and replace none or more of the face-up cards. The special card may trigger the special feature at any time, whether it appears before or after the draw. The game determines a poker hand ranking of the final card hand and provides an award based on that ranking.

US Patent:

8142284, Mar 27, 2012

Filed:

Jun 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/154269

Inventors:

Paul A. McInerny - Los Angeles CA, US
Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Benjamin Gomez - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL

International Classification:

A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00
G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

463 31, 463 20, 463 16, 715738

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for selecting game elements in a gaming machine are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes presenting a bonus event setting that includes a plurality of game elements and receiving a plurality of game element selections. In the method, each game element selection indicates that one of the game elements has been selected. Additionally, the method also includes presenting an animation sequence for each of the game element selections, wherein portions of the animation sequences are presented simultaneously.

US Patent:

8444482, May 21, 2013

Filed:

Jul 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/180250

Inventors:

Dion K. Aoki - Henderson NV, US
Benjamin T. Gomez - Chicago IL, US
Joel R. Jaffe - Glenview IL, US
Daniel Louie - Chicago IL, US
Jamie W. Vann - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL

International Classification:

A63F 13/00
A63F 13/10

US Classification:

463 25, 463 16, 463 20, 463 21, 463 42, 2731381, 273139

Abstract:

Multi-player games that foster cooperation or competition between players. A multi-player wagering game system includes a first display to display a first wagering game; a first input device corresponding to the first display to accept input from a first player; a second display to display a second wagering game, the second display being adjacent to the first display; a second input device corresponding to the second display to accept input from a second player; and a bonus display to display a bonus game. The bonus game receiving input from both the first and the second input devices. Computer software causes the first wagering game and the second wagering game to be executed. A multi-person seating device is configured to permit the first player and the second player to sit side-by-side in front of the first display and the second display, respectively.

US Patent:

8480480, Jul 9, 2013

Filed:

Jan 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/014568

Inventors:

Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Benjamin T. Gomez - Chicago IL, US
Roger A. Delott - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL

International Classification:

A63F 13/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

463 20, 463 16, 463 17, 463 18, 463 19, 463 25, 463 26, 463 29, 2731381, 2731382, 273139

Abstract:

A bonus game for a slot machine operable in a basic mode and a bonus mode. The bonus game is entered upon the occurrence of a special start-bonus game outcome in the basic mode. In the bonus game, a player selects, one at a time, from an array of windows each associated with a bonus game outcome. Credits are awarded based upon which ones of the windows are selected. The bonus game ends upon selection of a window associated with an end-bonus outcome but otherwise continues, allowing the player to make further selections and accumulate further credits until encountering an end-bonus outcome. In one embodiment, a bonus game resource obtained in the basic game may be exercised in the bonus game to affect the bonus game outcome. In one embodiment, for example, where the occurrence of an end-bonus outcome would otherwise end the bonus game, a player having a bonus game resource may exercise the bonus game resource upon encountering an end-bonus outcome to continue playing the bonus game.

US Patent:

8568221, Oct 29, 2013

Filed:

Oct 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/678640

Inventors:

Dion K. Aoki - Henderson NV, US
Benjamin T. Gomez - Chicago IL, US
Joel R. Jaffe - Glenview IL, US
Daniel Louie - Chicago IL, US
Jamie W. Vann - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

WMS Gaming Inc. - Waukegan IL

International Classification:

A63F 9/24
A63F 13/00
G06F 17/00
G06F 19/00
A63B 71/00
A63F 1/00
A63F 1/18

US Classification:

463 25, 463 16, 463 20, 463 22, 463 42, 2731381, 273139

Abstract:

Multi-player games that foster cooperation or competition between players. A multi-player wagering game system includes a first display to display a first wagering game; a first input device corresponding to the first display to accept input from a first player; a second display to display a second wagering game, the second display being adjacent to the first display; a second input device corresponding to the second display to accept input from a second player; and a bonus display to display a bonus game. The bonus game receiving input from both the first and the second input devices. Computer software causes the first wagering game and the second wagering game to be executed. A multi-person seating device is configured to permit the first player and the second player to sit side-by-side in front of the first display and the second display, respectively.

US Patent:

20050020348, Jan 27, 2005

Filed:

Jul 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/624157

Inventors:

Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Joel Jaffe - Evanston IL, US
Benjamin Gomez - Chicago IL, US

International Classification:

A63F013/00

US Classification:

463020000

Abstract:

A gaming machine with an improved game display is disclosed. A mobile flat panel display (FPD) is located in the game display to provide an additional attraction and entertainment to players. The FPD is connected to a drive mechanism that translates the FPD to various positions within the game display or moves the FPD out of the player's viewing area in the game display. The central processing unit controls the movement of the FPD and the video image displayed. If desired, the video image displayed may correlate with the position of the FPD in the game display as well as with the progression of the game.

US Patent:

20090069063, Mar 12, 2009

Filed:

Sep 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/991519

Inventors:

Alfred Thomas - Las Vegas NV, US
Benjamin T. Gomez - Chicago IL, US

International Classification:

A63F 9/24

US Classification:

463 16

Abstract:

In one aspect, there is provided a method of conducting a wagering game which includes the steps of conducting a plurality of basic wagering games and enabling a bonus game in response to a bonus triggering outcome achieved in any of the basic wagering games. The method also includes deferring the enabled bonus game to permit play after completion of play of the plurality of basic wagering games.

US Patent:

20090131145, May 21, 2009

Filed:

Nov 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/271460

Inventors:

Dion K. Aoki - Henderson NV, US
John D. Flint - Sharon MA, US
Philip B. Gelber - Glen Ellyn IL, US
Benjamin T. Gomez - Chicago IL, US
Jeremy M. Hornik - Chicago IL, US
Joel R. Jaffe - Glenview IL, US
Shridhar P. Joshi - Naperville IL, US
Larry J. Pacey - Chicago IL, US
Jamie W. Vann - Chicago IL, US

International Classification:

A63F 13/00

US Classification:

463 20

Abstract:

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.