Reel spinning slot machine with superimposed video image

• US 20070228651A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Wayne, Loose, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/143.R
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A spinning reel slot machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels that, in response to a wager, are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area, the displayed symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and

a video display providing a video image overlaying the reels such that the video image is disposed in front of the reels between the reels and a player of the slot machine, the video image presenting a special event of the wagering game, the special event including one or more game elements selectable by the player.

30. The slot machine of claim 29, wherein the special event is animated and provides awards based on an outcome of the special event.

31. The slot machine of claim 29, further including a secondary video display, the special event being presented by the video image in conjunction with another video image on the secondary video display.

32. The slot machine of claim 29, wherein the video display presents the special event in response to the randomly selected outcome being an event-triggering outcome.

33. The slot machine of claim 29, further including a controller operative to provide bonuses based on the selection of the game elements.

34. The slot machine of claim 29, wherein the video image is a virtual image.

35. The slot machine of claim 34, further including a partially reflective mirror overlaying one or more of the reels, the video display and the partially reflective mirror being relatively positioned to project the virtual image in front of the reels between the reels and the player.

36. The slot machine of claim 29, wherein the video image is adjustable in terms of opacity, translucency, and transparency.

37. A method of conducting a wagering game on a spinning reel slot machine, comprising:

receiving a wager;

rotating and stopping a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area, the displayed symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game;

displaying a video image overlaying the reels such that the video image is disposed in front of the reels between the reels and a player of the slot machine; and

presenting a special event of the wagering game on the video image, the special event including one or more elements selectable by the player.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the special event is animated, and the method further including providing an award based on an outcome of the special event.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the presenting includes presenting the special event on the video image in conjunction with another video image on a secondary video display.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the presenting is in response to the randomly selected outcome being an event-triggering outcome.

41. The method of claim 37, further including receiving a selection by the player of at least one of the one or more elements, and providing an award based on the selection.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the video image is a virtual image.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the video image is provided by a video display, and wherein the displaying includes projecting the virtual image in front of the reels between the reels and the player by relative positioning of the video display and a partially reflective mirror overlaying one or more of the reels.

44. A method of conducting a wagering game on a spinning reel slot machine, comprising:

receiving a wager;

rotating and stopping a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area, the displayed symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game;

displaying a video image overlaying the reels such that the video image is disposed in front of the reels between the reels and a player of the slot machine;

presenting an animated special event of the wagering game on the video image, the animated special event being free of reels and reel symbols; and

providing an award based on an outcome of the animated special event.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the presenting includes presenting the animated special event on the video image in conjunction with another video image on a secondary video display.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the presenting is in response to the randomly selected outcome being an event-triggering outcome.

47. The method of claim 44, further including receiving a selection by the player of at least one of a plurality of player-selectable elements during the animated special event, and wherein the providing is based on the selection.

48. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:

receiving a wager to play the wagering game;

displaying, via a first display, the wagering game in a first game format; and

displaying, via a second display, the wagering game in a second game format different from the first game format, the second display providing a video image overlaying the first display such that the video image is disposed in front of the first display between the first display and a player of the gaming machine.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the displaying, via a first display, the wagering game in a first game format includes rotating and stopping a plurality of mechanical reels to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area, the displayed symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the displaying, via a second display, the wagering game in a second game format includes presenting an animated special event free of reels and reel symbols;

and the method further comprising,

providing an award based on an outcome of the animated special event.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the presenting is in response to the randomly selected outcome being an event-triggering outcome.

52. The method of claim 50, further including receiving a selection by the player of at least one of a plurality of player-selectable elements during the animated special event, and wherein the providing is based on the selection.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the displaying, via a second display, the wagering game in a second game format includes presenting a special event on the video image, the special event including one or more elements selectable by the player.