Gaming machine environment having controlled audio and visual media presentation

• US 20060009285A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pryzby, Eric M., Schwartz, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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 plurality of multimedia output devices, including audio, visual, and/or tactile devices strategically mounted around a casino. The multimedia devices may be used to present celebratory sights, sounds, and/or other sensations throughout the casino when a player achieves a winning outcome. The celebratory sights, sounds, and/or other sensations increase the overall level of stimuli in the casino, thereby helping to create a celebratory atmosphere. In some embodiments, the celebratory multimedia stimuli are communicated to certain gaming machines in the casino based on a triggering event that occurred at a remote gaming machine. The gaming machines may be the same type and/or brand, or they may be different types and/or brands such that the same celebratory stimuli are used to promote multiple types and/or brands of gaming machines. The celebratory stimuli may also be customized specifically for a gaming machine, a player(s), or a casino.

Claims

1. A method of creating a celebratory atmosphere in a casino, comprising:

receiving a wager input at a gaming machine in said casino;

initiating a wagering game on said gaming machine, said wagering game having an outcome randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a special events outcome; and

in response to said special events outcome being selected as said outcome, presenting celebratory multimedia stimuli through one or more media devices located in other areas of said casino, said other areas being remote from said gaming machine such that patrons in said other areas are otherwise unable to discern that said special events outcome has been selected as said outcome.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a content of said celebratory multimedia stimuli and said gaming machine were developed by different gaming machine manufacturers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a content of said celebratory multimedia stimuli is downloaded from a content server, further comprising updating said content on a regular or irregular basis.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising intercepting a signal from said gaming machine and detecting said special events outcome being selected as said outcome in said gaming machine.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising customizing a content of said celebratory multimedia stimuli for use in said casino, said customized content used for all brands of gaming machines in said casino.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising customizing a content of said celebratory multimedia stimuli for use with eligible players in said casino, said customized content used only when one of said eligible players achieves said special events outcome.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising customizing a content of said celebratory multimedia stimuli for use with a particular type of special events outcome, said customized content used only when said particular type of special events outcome is selected as said outcome.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said particular type of special events outcome results in one or more of a progressive jackpot, a basic game jackpot, and a bonus prize.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising customizing a content of said celebratory multimedia stimuli for use with a particular type of gaming machine, said customized content used only when said particular type of gaming machine achieves said special events outcome.

10. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing a computer to perform the method according to claim 1.

11. A gaming system in a casino, comprising;

a network;

a plurality of gaming machines coupled to said network, each gaming machine capable of conducting a wagering game having an outcome randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a special events outcome; and

a controller coupled to said gaming machines via said network and, in response to said special events outcome being selected as said outcome at one of said gaming machines, operative to cause celebratory multimedia content to be presented through one or more media devices located in other areas of said casino, said other areas being remote from said one of said gaming machines such that patrons at said other areas are otherwise unable to discern that said special events outcome has been selected as said outcome at said one of said gaming machines.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said controller is further operative to deliver said celebratory multimedia content to a personal mobile device.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said controller is further operative to deliver said celebratory multimedia content to media devices that are mounted over different brands of gaming machines.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said controller is further operative to deliver said celebratory multimedia content to media devices that are mounted in an area of said casino without any gaming machines.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising taps connected to one or more gaming machines and to said controller, said taps intercepting signals from said one or more gaming machines and sending said signals to said controller.

16. A method of creating a celebratory atmosphere in a casino, comprising:

detecting an occurrence of a triggering event in a gaming machine of said casino; and

presenting celebratory multimedia stimuli to players in said casino through one or more media devices in areas of said casino, at least one of said areas being remote from said gaming machine such that patrons at said other areas are otherwise unable to discern said occurrence of said triggering event, said celebratory multimedia stimuli having a content that includes at least a celebratory audio content and a celebratory video content.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said triggering event includes expiration of a predetermined inactivity period and said celebratory content is indicative of said inactivity period expiring.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said triggering event includes exceeding a predetermined coin-in amount without achieving a winning outcome and said celebratory content is indicative of said coin-in amount being exceeded.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said occurrence of said triggering event is customized for individual players or groups of players such that said celebratory content is presented for some players in said casino but not others depending on a threshold selected by said individual players or groups of players.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein said triggering event includes a winning outcome, further comprising requiring a player to play out said winning outcome on a centrally located gaming machine, said content indicative of said player playing out said winning outcome on said centrally located gaming machine.