Gaming machine environment having controlled audio and visual media presentation

• US 20040142739A1
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Loose, Timothy C., Rothschild, Wayne H., Pryzby, Eric M., Pacey, Larry J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

A gaming machine system comprises a game cabinet, a processor, and an audio/visual effects system. The game cabinet receives inputs and displays outputs. The processor is located within the cabinet and randomly selects a game outcome in response to a wager. The processor generates a first signal in response to a certain event occurring. The audio/visual effects system includes speakers and projecting lights, which are located remotely from the cabinet. In response to the processor generating the first signal, the audio/visual effects system broadcasts a certain audio output from the speakers toward the game cabinet and directs a certain light pattern from the projecting lights toward the game cabinet. The invention also provides for a gaming machine network with a plurality of gaming machines and an audio/visual controller. The audio/visual controller controls the audio outputs and the light patterns experienced by players of the gaming machines.

Claims

1. A gaming machine system, comprising:

a game cabinet for receiving inputs and displaying outputs to a player;

a processor located within said cabinet for randomly selecting one of a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input, said processor generating a first signal in response to a certain event; and

an audio and visual effects system located remotely from said game cabinet and including speakers and projecting lights, said audio and visual effects system, in response to said processor generating said first signal, broadcasting a certain audio output from said speakers toward said game cabinet and directing a certain light pattern from said projecting lights toward said game cabinet.

2. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said projecting lights include motors for controlling the location of said light pattern relative to said game cabinet.

3. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said audio and visual effects system includes a controller external to said game cabinet, said processor transmits said first signal to said external controller, said external controller controlling said speakers and said projecting lights in response to receiving said first signal.

4. The gaming machine system of claim 3, wherein said external controller is coupled to a plurality of gaming machines.

5. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said audio and visual effects system includes a controller that is internal to said game cabinet, said processor transmits said first signal to said internal controller, said internal controller controlling said speakers and said projecting lights in response to receiving said first signal.

6. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said gaming machine has a theme, said certain audio output from said speakers corresponding to said theme.

7. The gaming machine system of claim 6, wherein said theme is a game show and said audio output simulates a studio audience environment.

8. The gaming machine system of claim 7, wherein said speakers provide said audio output in a surround-sound format.

9. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said speakers provide said audio output in a surround-sound format.

10. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said processor generates a second signal in response to a second event, said audio and visual effects system, in response to said processor generating said second signal, broadcasting a second audio output from said speakers toward said game cabinet and directing a second light pattern from said projecting lights toward said game cabinet.

11. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said gaming cabinet includes internal speakers that operate in conjunction with said remotely located speakers to produce said audio output.

12. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said certain event is a period of inactivity, causing said audio and visual effects system to operate in an attract mode.

13. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said light pattern produces a recognizable image.

14. The gaming machine system of claim 13, wherein said recognizable image is an image commonly associated with money.

15. The gaming machine system of claim 13, wherein said recognizable image is directly adjacent to said gaming machine.

16. The gaming machine system of claim 1, wherein said certain event is a desired outcome of said plurality of outcomes.

17. The gaming machine system of claim 16, wherein said desired outcome is the playing of a bonus game.

18. A gaming machine network, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each of said plurality of gaming machines including a processor for randomly selecting one of a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input;

a plurality of speakers remotely positioned from said gaming machines and for producing audio outputs;

a plurality of projecting lights remotely positioned from said gaming machines and for producing light patterns; and

an audio and visual controller electronically coupled to said plurality of gaming machines, said plurality of speakers, and said plurality of projecting lights, said audio and visual controller for selectively controlling said audio outputs and said light patterns experienced by players of said gaming machines.

19. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said plurality of speakers is arranged to produce said audio output in a surround-sound format.

20. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said audio and visual controller selectively controls said audio outputs and said light patterns so that only one of said audio outputs and said light patterns is actuated at one time.

21. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said audio and visual controller controls said audio outputs and said light patterns in an attract mode in response to a period of inactivity in one or more of said plurality of gaming machines.

22. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein one of said plurality of gaming machines sends a signal to said audio and visual controller in response to the occurrence of a desired outcome of said plurality of outcomes, said audio and visual controller actuating at least one of either said speakers or said projecting lights to produce a certain effect in response to receiving said signal.

23. The gaming machine network of claim 22, wherein said desired outcome is the playing of a bonus game on said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

24. The gaming machine network of claim 22, wherein said audio and visual controller simultaneously actuates said speakers and said projecting lights, said certain effect being an audio and visual effect.

25. The gaming machine network of claim 24, wherein said audio and visual effect is focused toward said one of said plurality of gaming machines to provide an enhanced experience to the player of said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

26. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said plurality of gaming machines are positioned at known locations in a gaming room, said plurality of speakers and said plurality of projecting lights are located at selected positions within said gaming room so as to be able to provide substantially similar audio outputs and light patterns to players at each of said plurality of gaming machines.

27. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said audio output includes informational or instructional content related to said gaming machines.

28. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machine has a similar theme, said audio output being indicative of said similar theme.

29. The gaming machine network of claim 28, wherein said audio and visual controller has two control processors, one of said two control processors for controlling said light pattern and the other of said two control processors for controlling said audio output.

30. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said plurality of gaming machines includes gaming machines with different themes, said audio and visual controller capable of delivering different audio output corresponding to said different themes.

31. The gaming machine network of claim 18, wherein said audio and visual controller includes a digital-to-analog converter and a power amplifier for processing audio data to broadcast said audio output from said plurality of speakers.

32. The gaming machine network of claim 31, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes a memory device for storing audio data for producing said audio output, said audio and visual controller capable of receiving said audio data from each of said plurality of gaming machines.

33. A gaming network, comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals for receiving wagers inputs and displaying randomly selected game outcomes in response to said wager inputs;

a plurality of speakers remotely positioned from said gaming terminals, said plurality of speakers for producing audio outputs and being coupled to said plurality of gaming terminals; and

a plurality of projecting lights remotely positioned from said gaming terminals, said plurality of projecting lights for producing light patterns and being coupled to said plurality of gaming terminals; and

wherein said plurality of speakers and said plurality of projecting lights are actuated in response to one of said plurality of gaming terminals achieving a certain game outcome.

34. The gaming network of claim 33, wherein said plurality of projecting lights focus light on said one of said plurality of gaming terminals achieving said certain game outcome.

35. The gaming network of claim 33, wherein said audio output is in a surround-sound format.

36. The gaming network of claim 33, wherein said gaming terminals include a processor for randomly selecting said game outcomes in response to said wager inputs.

37. The gaming network of claim 33, wherein said audio output is selected to be different based on different ones of said certain game outcomes.

38. The gaming network of claim 33, further including a controller interconnected to said plurality of gaming terminals, said controller for controlling the actuation of said plurality of lights and said plurality of speakers.

39. The gaming network of claim 38, wherein said controller stores audio data for producing said audio output.

40. The gaming network of claim 39, wherein said plurality of gaming terminals includes games with different themes, said stored audio data corresponding to said different themes.

41. A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines, each of which is linked to a central controller, said method comprising:

determining that a certain triggering event has occurred by one of said plurality of gaming machines; and

in response to said certain triggering event, selectively controlling, via said central controller, an audio output from a plurality of speakers located remotely from said plurality of gaming machines.

42. The method of claim 41, further including in response to said certain triggering event, selectively controlling a light pattern from at least one projecting light located remotely from said plurality of gaming machines.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said controlling includes transmitting location data of said one of said plurality of gaming machines to said at least one projecting light.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said at least one projecting light includes flashing lights projected toward said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein said at least one projecting light produces diverging beams with the angle of divergence changing over a short period of time and generally focusing on said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein said light pattern produces a recognizable image.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said recognizable image is an image commonly associated with money.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said recognizable image is a dollar sign.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein said recognizable image is directly adjacent to said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein said light pattern is controlled via said central controller.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said at least one projecting light includes a local controller coupled to internal components in said at least one projecting light for controlling characteristics of said light pattern, said central controller transmitting high level instructions to said local controller, said local controller developing low lever instructions for controlling said internal components.

52. The method of claim 42, wherein said controlling includes moving said light pattern under the power of a motor coupled to said projecting light.

53. The method of claim 41, wherein said selectively controlling includes actuation of only certain ones of said plurality of speakers to direct said audio output to less than all of said plurality of gaming machines.

54. The method of claim 41, wherein said certain triggering event is a certain outcome, said audio output contains a message for a player of said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said message relates to said certain outcome achieved by said game.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said message includes music having lyrics that relate to said certain outcome.

57. The method of claim 41, wherein said plurality of speakers are positioned at locations around said plurality of gaming machines.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein said audio output is in a surround-sound format.

60. The method of claim 41, wherein central controller is located remotely from said plurality of gaming machines

61. A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines residing in a gaming room, comprising:

storing a plurality of triggering events in at least one memory device;

determining whether one of said triggering events has occurred in said gaming machines; and

in response to said triggering event, creating a certain audio and visual ambience in said gaming room by actuating speakers and projecting lights that are remotely located from said plurality of gaming machines.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said triggering event is a certain outcome occurring at one of said plurality of gaming machines.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said certain outcome is a playing of a bonus game.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein said audio and visual ambience is focused toward said one of said plurality of gaming machines to provide an enhanced experience to the player of said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said player of said one of said plurality of gaming machines can provide an input that avoids said enhanced experience being focused on said one of said plurality of gaming machines.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein said plurality of gaming machines have a similar theme, said audio and visual ambience being indicative of said theme.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes said memory device, said step of determining occurring at said gaming machines.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein said certain audio and visual ambience includes a surround-sound audio format.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein said triggering event is a period of inactivity in one or more of said plurality of gaming machines.

70. The method of claim 61, wherein said certain audio and visual ambience includes recognizable images.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein one of said recognizable images is an image commonly associated with money.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein certain audio and visual ambience is experienced by less than all of said plurality of gaming machines.

73. A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines residing in a gaming room, comprising:

storing a plurality of triggering events in at least one memory device;

determining whether one of said triggering events has occurred in said gaming machines; and

in response to said triggering event, creating a certain visual ambience in said gaming room by actuating projecting lights that are remotely located from said plurality of gaming machines.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein said projecting lights focus light on one of said plurality of gaming machines.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein said creating includes moving said light patterns under the power of motor coupled to said projecting lights.