Arcade Casino Game

Abstract

A casino arcade game and arcade gambling machine that combine online poker game with a networked role-playing game (a.k.a., MMORPG). The game allows players to develop their virtual character when playing at home in the MMORPG. And when players play in the networked arcade gambling machine in the casinos, the game integrates online poker with the MMORPG, where betting strategies are enhanced by allowing player to supplement betting moves with attack spells in a virtual battleground in the MMORPG against other avatars who represent other poker players of the same poker table. The MMORPG and the poker game are shown on the same screen of the arcade gambling machine.

1 . A method of providing player interaction between players of an electronic casino game, the method comprising:
 providing a networked electronic casino game on an internal network accessible by a plurality of networked arcade gambling machine each having an interface for players to play the networked electronic casino game;   providing at least one monitor in each arcade gambling machine to show a progress of the casino game and to show a first virtual character to represent a first player;   providing a first virtual space where the first virtual character is free to move about while the casino game is concurrently played and shown on the monitor; and   wherein the first virtual character and a scene of the first virtual space is also shown at the arcade gambling machine.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 generating a player expression when said first player makes a play in the electronic casino game;   wherein the player expression is represented by at least one of the following:   an image of intimidation shown on at least one monitor;   an image to elicit player emotion and is shown on at least one monitor;   a first virtual fighting creature making an attack in the virtual space and is shown on at least one monitor;   an attack move by the first virtual character in the virtual space and is shown on at least one monitor;   an audio-visual presentation provided by at least one arcade gambling machine; and   a motion presentation provided by at least one arcade gambling machine.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the steps of:
 allowing a second player to initiate a player expression in response to said first player's player expression;   wherein said second player's player expression is transmitted to at least one arcade gambling machine; and   allowing the first player to pre-program an action queue to perform auto play such that a series of pre-programmed player expression can be shown consecutively.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the electronic casino game is a card game selected from the group consisting of Asian Stud, Baccarat, Blackjack, Casino war, Caribbean Stud Poker, Poker, Chinese Poker, Faro, Five Card Draw, Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Mambo Stud, Omaha High, Omaha Low, Pai Gow Poker, Razz, Red Dog, Seven Card Stud, Spanish 21, Texas Hold'em Poker, Three Card Poker, and Two-Up. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the electronic casino game is a non-card game selected from the group consisting of Craps, Pai Gow, Sic Bo, Chuck-a-Luck, Big Six Wheel, Roulette, Slots, Bingo, Keno. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the play is a game move initiated by said first player, said play includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of bet, bluff, call, check, fold, and raise. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said player expression initiated by said second player corresponds to the second player's game move in the electronic casino game; wherein said first and second player can go to a different physical location to play their virtual characters in a second virtual space accessible on an external network such as the Internet; wherein the second virtual space is a MMORPG; wherein the first and second virtual characters each have a character statistics, and such character statistics is continuously maintained when said first and second players switch between playing on the external network and on the internal network. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic casino game is not accessible when said first and second player are playing the MMORPG on the external network; and wherein the first virtual space is a simulated battle arena. 
   
   
       9 . A computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium, said program comprising a process that comprises the method of  claim 8 , the program further comprising:
 computer readable program code for displaying the progress of the electronic casino game and a scene of the virtual space on the same monitor screen;   wherein the MMORPG allows said first player to develop the character statistics for said first virtual character;   wherein the character statistics is comprised of measurable values in at least one of the following areas: agility, constitution, dexterity, discipline, influence, intuition, logic, strength, wisdom, and alignment; and   wherein the program collects information regarding the first player and matches the first player with at least one casino.   
   
   
       10 . The arcade gambling machine of  claim 9 , comprising:
 a chair coupled to the monitor;   a payment acceptance device coupled to the monitor to accept payment from at least one of the following: credit card, debit card, casino membership card, and cash;   audio-visual system for providing the audio-visual presentation;   an input device that enables said first player to control said first virtual character; and   a processor coupled to the input device.   
   
   
       11 . A computer program product for playing an online role-playing game, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising:
 a program code that causes a computer to display a scene of a virtual world as a virtual character representing a player roams through the virtual world and interacts with a virtual environment;   a program code that allows the player to continue using the virtual character in the virtual world, as the player physically moves to a first physical location to play the online role-playing game; and   wherein when the role-playing game is played in the first physical location, the program code allows the player to play a casino game integrated into the role-playing game such that an action in the casino game causes an action in the virtual world.   
   
   
       12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the first physical location is a casino; and wherein the casino game is one member selected from the group consisting of Asian Stud, Baccarat, Blackjack, Casino war, Caribbean Stud Poker, Poker, Chinese Poker, Faro, Five Card Draw, Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Mambo Stud, Omaha High, Omaha Low, Pai Gow Poker, Razz, Red Dog, Seven Card Stud, Spanish 21, Texas Hold'em Poker, Three Card Poker, Two-Up, Craps, Pai Gow, Sic Bo, Chuck-a-Luck, Big Six Wheel, Roulette, Slots, Bingo, and Keno. 
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the action in the casino game is a card move such as bet, fold, call, raise, check, bluff; and wherein the action in virtual world is an attack move in the role-playing game. 
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer code allows the player to pre-program a series of attack moves to be automatically performed; and wherein the computer code allows the player who is terminated in the casino game to continue his play in the role-playing game. 
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the casino game is a table game, and the computer code shows a progress of the casino game on a monitor; and wherein the player can see other players represented by other virtual characters in the role-playing game. 
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the attack move is targeted towards said other virtual characters; and wherein a health level of the virtual character does not affect a likelihood of success in the casino game. 
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the computer code can be updated to include additional layers of gaming design, such as scenery, passages, treasures, weapons, and background theme. 
   
   
       18 . A business method of operating a casino, said method comprising:
 providing in the casino a plurality of networked game stations each having at least one monitor, one seat, and a data input device;   wherein the game station allows a player to play a role-playing game;   wherein the game station also allows a player to play a casino game concurrently; and   wherein the role-playing game uses virtual characters that were trained and development by the player when the player played the role-playing game outside of the casino.   
   
   
       19 . The business method of  claim 18 , wherein the casino game is a poker game, wherein the role-playing game and the poker game is shown on the monitor concurrently, and wherein a poker move causes intense fighting action between a plurality of avatars in the role-playing game; wherein the plurality of avatars represent a plurality of poker players in the same poker game. 
   
   
       20 . The business method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 allowing product placement as a marketing tool in the role-playing game;   make the role-playing game accessible by anyone with Internet access;   host periodic tournaments of the casino game played concurrently with the role-playing game;   broadcast said tournament in a media outlet such as wireless phones, television, cable television, satellite television, and the Internet.