Casino display methods and devices

• US 20070004510A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Underdahl, Brian, Nguyen, Binh, LeMay, Steven, Hungate, Yuliya
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Novel methods, devices and systems are described for forming displays and creating environments in a casino. Some implementations of the invention provide configurable gaming machine skins, which may be formed from electronic paper or the like. Casino environments may be created in accordance with a game theme and/or to indicate a group of players. The environment may include configurable surfaces of gaming machines and/or nearby surfaces, such as walls, floors and ceilings. Projected light and/or an audio system may be used to enhance the immersive and dynamic environment. Preferably, some or all of these features may be changed automatically when a game theme changes.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

means for providing wagering games;

means for receiving an indication to change a game theme and a game display; and

means for controlling one or more configurable surfaces of the gaming machine to stop presenting a first game theme display and to start presenting a second game theme display, wherein the providing means then stops providing the first game theme and starts providing a second game theme.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one configurable surface comprises electronic paper.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controlling means comprises a logic device for controlling displays on at least one configurable surface of the gaming machine.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the controlling means is configured to cooperate with at least one other device to present game theme displays on one or more surfaces outside of the gaming machine.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises a user interface.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is configured to cooperate with at least one other gaming machine to provide the second wagering games as group wagering games.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises a network interface.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game theme displays comprise static displays.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game theme displays comprise dynamic displays.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one configurable surface continues to show an image when the controlling means is not powered.

11. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein one or more surfaces outside of the gaming machine comprise one or more surfaces of another gaming machine.

12. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein one or more surfaces outside of the gaming machine comprise one or more surfaces of an environment near the gaming machine.

13. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein one or more surfaces outside of the gaming machine comprise one or more configurable surfaces.

14. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein one or more surfaces outside of the gaming machine comprise a wall surface, a floor surface, a ceiling surface or a sign surface.

15. The gaming machine of claim 6, further comprising a user interface configured to receive a request to provide the second wagering games as group wagering games.

16. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the gaming machine is configured to receive software for providing the second wagering games via the network interface.

17. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the gaming machine is configured to receive instructions for providing wagering games and instructions for presenting game displays from a game server via the network interface.

18. A gaming method, comprising:

receiving a first indication for a first plurality of gaming machines to stop executing a first game theme and stop displaying a first game theme skin;

controlling the first plurality of gaming machines to stop executing the first game theme and stop displaying the first game theme skin;

receiving a second indication for the first plurality of gaming machines to start executing a second game theme and start displaying a second game theme skin; and

controlling the first plurality of gaming machines start executing the second game theme and start displaying the second game theme skin.

19. The gaming method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a third indication to change a first environment of the first plurality of gaming machines from a first game theme environment to a second game theme environment; and

changing the first environment from a first game theme environment to a second game theme environment.

20. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the controlling steps comprise controlling surfaces of the first plurality of gaming machines to alter their appearances.

21. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the controlling steps comprise rearranging patterns of electrical charges on surfaces of the first plurality of gaming machines.

22. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the controlling steps comprise controlling electronic paper disposed on surfaces of the first plurality of gaming machines.

23. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the receiving steps comprise receiving instructions from a gaming establishment operator.

24. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the receiving steps comprise receiving instructions from a server.

25. The gaming method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a third indication for a second plurality of gaming machines to stop executing a third game theme and stop displaying a third game theme skin;

controlling the second plurality of gaming machines to stop executing the third game theme and stop displaying the third game theme skin;

receiving a fourth indication for the second plurality of gaming machines to start executing a fourth game theme and start displaying a fourth game theme skin; and

controlling the second plurality of gaming machines to start executing the fourth game theme and start displaying the fourth game theme skin.

26. The gaming method of claim 19, wherein the step of changing the display comprises changing a projected light display.

27. The gaming method of claim 19, wherein the step of changing the display comprises changing an electronic paper display.

28. The gaming method of claim 19, further comprising changing an audio environment from first game theme sounds to second game theme sounds.

29. The gaming method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a fifth indication to change a second environment of the second plurality of gaming machines from a third game theme environment to a fourth game theme environment; and

changing the second environment from the third game theme environment to the fourth game theme environment.

30. The gaming method of claim 25, wherein the first environment is proximate the second environment.

31. A gaming environment controller, comprising:

means for determining that a first plurality of gaming machines will stop executing a first game theme and start executing a second game theme; and

display means for changing a first display near the first plurality of gaming machines from a first game theme display to a second game theme display.

32. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, further comprising means for changing an audio environment from a first game theme environment to a second game theme environment.

33. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, wherein the display means comprises a light projection system.

34. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, wherein the display means comprises electronic paper.

35. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, wherein the display means comprises a wall display.

36. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, wherein the display means comprises a ceiling display.

37. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, wherein the display means comprises a floor display.

38. The gaming environment controller of claim 31, wherein the display means comprises an integrated display spanning multiple surfaces.

39. The gaming environment controller of claim 38, wherein the display means can cause a single image to span multiple surfaces of the integrated display.

40. The gaming environment controller of claim 38, wherein the display means can cause images to move across multiple surfaces of the integrated display.

41. The gaming environment controller of claim 38, wherein the multiple surfaces comprise at least one wall surface.

42. The gaming environment controller of claim 38, wherein the multiple surfaces comprise at least one floor surface.

43. The gaming environment controller of claim 38, wherein the multiple surfaces comprise at least one ceiling surface.

44. A table for providing table games, comprising:

a support structure;

at least one logic device;

means for receiving an indication regarding a table game theme and providing the indication to at least one logic device; and

a configurable display surface on the support structure for displaying information necessary for playing a table game according to instructions from the logic device.

45. The table of claim 44, wherein the receiving means comprises a network interface.

46. The table of claim 44, wherein the receiving means comprises a user interface.

47. The table of claim 44, wherein the configurable display surface comprises electronic paper.