Gaming device having modified reel spin sounds to highlight and enhance positive player outcomes

• US 20030073491A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hecht, William L., Landrum, Kristopher E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

An apparatus and method by which sound files may be modified within a gaming device to coincide with one or more game events. In one embodiment, a sound file is played in a first manner when the previous spin of slot machine reels does not produce a win for the player. The sound file is played in a second manner, however, if the previous reel spin does produce a win. In another embodiment, a sound file is played in a first manner when the current reel spin does not produce a win. The sound file is modified in mid-play, however, if the current reel spin does produce a win. In a further embodiment, the sound file is modified differently in mid-play if the current reel spin does not produce a win.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a first random generation display;

a sound file played in association with the first random generation display;

a second random generation display; and

a modified version of the sound file played in association with the second random generation display if the first random generation display results in a positive outcome for a player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the unmodified sound file is played in association with the second random generation display if the first random generation display does not result in a positive outcome for the player.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the modified sound file includes a modification selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a musical style change, a tempo change and any combination thereof.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein at least two of the key change, the volume change, the playing time change and the tempo change are made sequentially.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the modified version is a first modified version and wherein sound file is played in a second modified version in association with the second random generation display if the first random generation display does not result in a positive outcome for a player.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the first modified version is selected from the group consisting of:

a raise in key, a volume increase, a playing time increase, a tempo increase and any combination thereof, and wherein the second modified version is selected from the group consisting of;

a lowering in key, a volume decrease, a playing time decrease, a tempo decrease and any combination thereof.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the modified version is a first modified version and wherein sound file is played in a second modified version in association with a third random generation display if the first and second random generation displays both result in a positive outcome for a player.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a third random generation display, and wherein the unmodified sound file is played in association with the third random generation display if neither of the first and second random generation displays results in a positive outcome for a player.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a third random generation display, and wherein the unmodified sound file is played in association with the third random generation display if the first but not the second random generation displays results in a positive outcome for a player.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first and second random generation displays include a reel spin.

11. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of random generation displays;

a sound file played in association with each random generation display that does not result in a positive outcome for the player; and

a modified version of the sound file played in association with at least one of the random generation displays that result in a positive outcome for the player.

12. The gaming of device of claim 11, which includes a plurality of modified versions of the sound file played in association with a plurality of random generation displays that result in a positive outcome for the player.

13. A gaming device comprising:

a random generation display;

a sound file played in association with at least part of the random generation display; and

a modified version of the sound file played in association with part of the random generation display if the random generation display results in a win for a player.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the modified sound file includes a modification selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a tempo change, a musical style change and any combination thereof.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein at least two of the key change, the volume change, the playing time change, a musical style change and the tempo change are made sequentially.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein only the unmodified sound file is played in association with the random generation display if the random generation display does not result in a win for the player.

17. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the modified sound file is a first modified sound file and wherein a second modified sound file is played in association with part of the random generation display if the random generation display does not result in a win for the player.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the first modified sound file is selected from the group consisting of:

a raise in key, a volume increase, a playing time increase, a tempo increase and any combination thereof, and wherein the second modified sound file is selected from the group consisting of;

a lowering in key, a volume decrease, a playing time decrease, a tempo decrease and any combination thereof.

19. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the random generation display includes a reel spin.

20. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of first random generation displays;

a sound file played in association with each of the first random generation displays;

a second random generation display; and

a modified version of the sound file played in association with the second random generation display if a plurality of the first random generation displays result in positive outcomes for a player.

21. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of random generation displays;

a sound file played in association with at least part of each of the random generation displays; and

a modified version of the sound file played in association with part of each of the random generation displays if a plurality of previous random generation display each result in a win for a player.

22. A method of operating a gaming device comprising the steps of:

(a) spinning at least one slot machine reel;

(b) playing a sound file during at last part of the reel spin; and

(c) modifying play of the sound file if the spinning of the slot machine reel results in a positive outcome for the player.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a musical style change, a tempo change and any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least two of the key change, the volume change, the playing time change, a musical style change, and the tempo change are made sequentially.

25. The method of claim 22, which includes the step of playing the modified sound file upon a next spinning of the slot machine reel.

26. The method of claim 22, which includes the step of changing from the sound file to the modified sound during the spinning of the slot machine reel.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of modifying the sound file includes modifying the sound file differently if the spinning of the slot machine reel does not result in a win for the player.

28. The method of claim 27, which includes the step of playing the differently modified sound file upon a next spinning of the slot machine reel.

29. The method of claim 27, which includes the step of changing from the sound file to the differently modified sound during the spinning of the slot machine reel.

30. The method of claim 22, which includes playing the modified sound file during a credit roll-up.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein steps (a) to (c) are provided via a data network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the data network is an internet.

33. A method of operating a gaming device comprising:

(a) displaying a randomly generated outcome;

(b) playing a sound file during the display of at least part of the randomly generated outcome; and

(c) modifying play of the sound file if the randomly generated outcome includes in a positive outcome for the player.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a musical style change, a tempo change and any combination thereof.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein at least two of the key change, the volume change, the playing time change, a musical style change, and the tempo change are made sequentially.

36. The method of claim 33, which includes the step of playing the modified sound file upon a next spinning of the slot machine reel which upon a display of a next randomly generated outcome.

37. The method of claim 33, which includes the step of changing from the sound file to the modified sound during the spinning of the slot machine reel which displays the randomly generated outcome.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of modifying the sound file includes modifying the sound file differently if the spinning of the slot machine reel does not result in a win for the player if the display of randomly generated outcome does not include a positive outcome for the player.

39. The method of claim 38, which includes the step of playing the differently modified sound file upon a next spinning of the slot machine reel upon a display of a next randomly generated outcome.

40. The method of claim 38, which includes the step of changing from the sound file to the differently modified sound during the spinning of the slot machine reel during the display of the randomly generated outcome.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein steps (a) to (c) are provided via a data network.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the data network is an internet.