Gaming machine with interactive pop-up windows

• US 20040219968A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Jaffe, Joel R., Hornik, Jeremy M., Casey, Michael P., Fiden, Daniel P.
• Application Number:
  US10/428,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20040219968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A gaming machine includes interactive pop-up windows that provide a player with an opportunity to configure or view different aspects of a wagering game. For example, the windows may allow the player to make side bets on a selected symbol, modify the appearance or function of a selected symbol, view a pay history for a selected symbol, and/or adjust a wager on an individual pay line in the case of a reel slot game.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a video wagering game, comprising:

displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols;

selecting one of the symbols;

displaying a pop-up window for the selected symbol, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including options for configuring the selected symbol; and

selecting one of the options.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video wagering game is a reel slot game, the video image including a plurality of simulated reels that place the symbols in a symbol array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes displaying the pop-up window around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.

5. The method of claim 1, further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the step of selecting one of the symbols is performed by a player by touching the one of the symbols.

6. The method of claim 1, further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the step of selecting one of the options is performed by a player by touching the one of the options.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pop-up window includes touch buttons associated with the respective options.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the options include a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the options include a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the wagering game.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the special function indicates that the selected symbol will be evaluated as a scatter, wild, left-to-right line pay, right-to-left line pay, a bonus trigger, or in an additional winning symbol combination during the wagering game.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting one of the options includes purchasing the special function.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the options include artwork for the selected symbol.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the options include a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the wagering game.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is selected from a group consisting of reel slots, poker, keno, bingo, blackjack, and roulette.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the options include a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the wagering game.

16. A method of configuring a video reel slot game, comprising:

displaying a video image on a touch screen video display, the video image including a plurality of symbol-bearing reels that place symbols in an array;

selecting one of the symbols;

displaying a pop-up window for the selected symbol, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including options for configuring the selected symbol; and

selecting one of the options.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the displaying step includes displaying the pop-up window around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the steps of selecting one of the symbols and selecting one of the options are performed by a player by touching the one of the symbols and touching the one of the options, respectively.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the options include a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the options include a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the reel slot game.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the options include artwork for the selected symbol.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the options include a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the reel slot game.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the options include a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the reel slot game.

24. A method of operating a video wagering game, comprising:

displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols;

selecting one of the symbols; and

displaying a pop-up window for the selected symbol, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including a pay history for the selected symbol.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the video wagering game is a reel slot game, the video image including a plurality of simulated reels that place the symbols in a symbol array.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the displaying step includes displaying the pop-up window around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.

28. The method of claim 24, further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the step of selecting one of the symbols is performed by a player by touching the one of the symbols.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the pay history includes information about when different winning combinations including the selected symbol last occurred.

30. A method of configuring a video reel slot game, comprising:

displaying a video image of an array of symbols in visual association with a plurality of pay lines;

selecting one of the pay lines;

displaying a pop-up window for the selected pay line, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including an interface for changing a wager on the selected pay line; and

operating the interface to change the wager on the selected pay line.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.

32. The method of claim 30, further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the steps of selecting one of the pay lines and operating the interface are performed by a player by touching the one of the pay lines and touching the interface, respectively.

33. A gaming machine for conducting a video wagering game, comprising:

a video display for displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols; and

a processor for causing the video display to display a pop-up window for one of the symbols selected by a player, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including player-selectable options for configuring the selected symbol.

34. The machine of claim 33, wherein the video wagering game is a reel slot game, the video image including a plurality of simulated reels that place the symbols in a symbol array.

35. The machine of claim 33, wherein the pop-up window is displayed around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.

36. The machine of claim 33, wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.

37. The machine of claim 33, wherein the video display is outfitted with a touch screen for allowing the player to make selections.

38. The machine of claim 33, wherein the pop-up window includes touch buttons associated with the respective options.

39. The machine of claim 33, wherein the options include a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol.

40. The machine of claim 33, wherein the options include a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the wagering game.

41. The machine of claim 40, wherein the special function indicates that the selected symbol will be evaluated as a scatter, wild, left-to-right line pay, right-to-left line pay, a bonus trigger, or in an additional winning symbol combination during the wagering game.

42. The machine of claim 40, wherein the special function is purchased by the player.

43. The machine of claim 33, wherein the options include artwork for the selected symbol.

44. The machine of claim 33, wherein the options include a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the wagering game.

45. The machine of claim 33, wherein the wagering game is selected from a group consisting of reel slots, poker, keno, bingo, blackjack, and roulette.

46. The machine of claim 33, wherein the options include a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the wagering game.

47. A method of configuring a video wagering game, comprising:

displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols; and

displaying a pop-up window for one of the symbols selected by a player, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including player- selectable options for configuring the selected symbol.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the player-selectable options are selected from a group consisting of a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the wagering game;

a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol;

a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the wagering game;

artwork for the selected symbol; and

a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the wagering game.