Method and apparatus for configuring a gaming device

• US 20070298862A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kidneigh, Roger Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/475,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298862A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method and apparatus for configuring a gaming device that provides a contiguous scene for a game outcome. The contiguous scene is divided into a plurality of image elements and these image elements are assigned to various locations on either a stepper motor reel assembly or a virtual reel. A winning game outcome may then result when the individual image elements are displayed along a common payline to form a complete contiguous scene. The contiguous scene may be further enhanced by the addition of embedded animation or video. Additionally, the contiguous scene may also be enhanced by association with player preferences stored within a player tracking system.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a housing configured to enclose a game display area, the game display area comprising an opening in the housing;

a payline designator associated with the game display area;

a two or more reels viewable through the game display area;

two or more image elements on two or more reels, wherein when the two or more image elements are combined a composite image is formed;

a game processor configured to generate game outcome;

two or more stepper motor configured to spin an associated reel to cause the reels to display the game outcome though the game display area, wherein at least one game outcome comprises a composite image formed from two or more image elements on the reels.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a top award is associated with all of the reels displaying a game outcome that comprises a composite image formed from an image element contributed from each reel.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the composite image is related to a theme associated with the gaming device.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game outcome comprises a composite image that contains less than all of the image elements.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising two or more different image elements located on two or more reels, which may be combined based on game outcomes to form a different composite image.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising two or more different image element located on two or more reels such that at least one game outcome comprises two composite images being shown through the game display area.

7. A method of presenting a game and indicating a top award to player comprising:

providing a gaming machine having two or more physical or two or more video simulated reels;

accepting a wager from a player;

generating a game outcome;

displaying the game outcome to the player on the having two or more physical reels or two or more video simulated reels;

providing an award to the player if the game outcome displayed to the player comprises a composite image formed from two or more adjacent image elements displayed on the two or more physical reels or two or more video simulated reels.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the composite image comprises or changes into an animate or video scene.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the composite image is associated with a player preference.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the composite image is formed from two or more image elements located on adjacent reels of the two or more physical reels or two or more video simulated reels.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein, a top award is awarded to the player if the composite image is formed from image element formed from image elements located on all reels of the two or more physical reels or two or more video simulated reels.

12. A retrofit kit for retrofitting a slot type gaming machine, to permit display of a composite scene as a game outcome, comprising:

top glass having a theme associated therewith;

belly glass having the theme associated therewith;

two or more reel graphics sheet associated with each reel of the gaming machine configured to replace or cover pre-existing reel graphics, wherein at least two of the reel graphics sheets comprise;

two or more symbols printed on each reel graphic sheets;

one or more image elements printed on at least two of the reel graphic sheets, wherein the image elements are associated with the theme;

wherein the two or more reel graphics sheets are configured to display a composite image formed from at least two of the image elements printed on the reel graphic sheets.

13. The kit of claim 12, further comprising audio data associated with the theme.

14. The kit of claim 12, further comprising two or more reels.

15. The kit of claim 12, wherein the top glass or the belly glass further includes a top award payout amount printed thereon that is associated with a game outcome that displays the composite image displayed across all reels.

16. A method for retrofitting a slot type gaming machine comprising:

replacing a top glass element of the gaming machine;

replacing a belly glass element of the gaming machine;

replacing or covering each existing reel graphics with reel graphic replacements wherein the reel graphics replacements include at least one image element on each reel graphics replacement;

arranging the reel graphic replacements and the reels in the gaming machine such that a winning game outcome results in at least one image element from each reel being displayed in a payline to thereby form a composite image.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the top glass, the belly glass and the image elements are related to a common theme.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising replacing an audio file with a new audio file.