REALISTIC VIDEO REELS

• US 20080113746A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hedrick, Joseph R., Williams, David C., Larsen, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 8,357,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Described herein is a gaming machine configured to output video data that simulates mechanical reels in a traditional mechanical slot machine. Embodiments detailed herein contribute to the emulation and perception of a mechanical machine by providing video data adaptations that each simulate a realistic visual attribute of a mechanical reel gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior region of the gaming machine, the cabinet adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components within or about the interior region;

a first video display device, disposed within or about the interior region, configured to output a visual image in response to a control signal and including one or more controllably transparent portions;

a second video display device, arranged relative to the first video display device such that a common line of sight passes through a portion of the first video display device to a portion of the second video display device; and

at least one processor configured to execute instructions, from memory, that

a) display video data for multiple video reels on the second video display device, wherein the video data for each of the multiple video reels depicts a reel strip with multiple reel game symbols,

b) permit game play of a reel game of chance that uses the multiple video reels displayed by the second video display device, and

c) display video data, on the second video display device, that includes a video data adaptation to the video data for the multiple video reels, wherein the video data adaptation simulates a realistic visual attribute of a real mechanical reel in a gaming machine.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the video data adaptation includes video data that simulates one or more mechanical components found between two real mechanical reel strips in a gaming machine.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the video data adaptation includes video data that simulates a portion of a real mechanical reel outside a reel strip.

4. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the video data adaptation includes video data that simulates a portion of a stopping mechanism for the real mechanical reel.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the video data adaptation includes perspective video data that bows both lateral sides of a video reel strip or a video reel.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5 wherein a lateral width for the video reel strip at a top portion of the video reel strip is no greater than 5 percent less than a lateral width of the video reel at a central portion of the video reel.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the video data adaptation simulates back-lighting of a video reel.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7 wherein the back-lighting increases luminance for a central portion of the video reel.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein a visual image on the first video display device includes a set of non-transparent video bars that separate transparent video windows, where each transparent video window is configured on the each first video display device such that a line of sight passes through the video window and intersects at least one of the multiple video reels on the second video display device.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the video data for the first display includes video data configured to mimic silkscreening on a glass layer.

11. A method of providing a game of chance on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

displaying the game of chance using a first video display device and/or a second video display device included in the gaming machine,

wherein the second video display device is arranged relative to the first video display device such that a common line of sight passes through a video window portion of the first video display device to a video reel portion of the second video display device,

and wherein the game of chance includes multiple video reels displayed on the second video display device and each video reel includes multiple video symbols on a video reel strip;

during the game, simulating the movement of symbols on each video reel in the multiple video reels on the second video display device; and

for one or more of the video reels in the set of video reels, displaying a video data adaptation to video data for one or more of the multiple video reels, wherein the video data adaptation simulates a realistic visual attribute of a real mechanical reel in a gaming machine.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the video data adaptation includes video data that simulates one or more mechanical components found between two real mechanical reel strips in a gaming machine.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the video data adaptation includes video data that simulates a portion of a real mechanical reel outside a reel strip.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the video data adaptation includes perspective video data that bows both lateral sides of a video reel strip or a video reel.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein a lateral width for the video reel strip at a top portion of the video reel strip is no greater than 5 percent less than a lateral width of the video reel at a central portion of the video reel.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the video data adaptation simulates back-lighting of a video reel.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the back-lighting increases luminance for a central portion of the video reel.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the video data adaptation simulates fore-lighting of a video reel.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the back-lighting decreases luminance for a central portion of the video reel.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein a visual image on the first video display device includes a set of non-transparent video bars that separate transparent video windows, where each transparent video window is configured on the each first video display device such that a line of sight passes through the video window and intersects at least one of the multiple video reels on the second video display device.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein the visual image on the first display includes video data configured to mimic silkscreening on a glass layer.

22. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and, when executed, operable to provide a game of chance on a gaming machine, the logic including:

instructions for displaying the game of chance using a first video display device and/or a second video display device included in the gaming machine,

wherein the second video display device is arranged relative to the first video display device such that a common line of sight passes through a video window portion of the first video display device to a video reel portion of the second video display device,

and wherein the game of chance includes multiple video reels displayed on the second video display device and each video reel includes multiple video symbols on a video reel strip;

instructions for simulating the movement of symbols on each video reel in the multiple video reels on the second video display device; and

instructions for displaying a video data adaptation to video data for one or more of the multiple video reels, wherein the video data adaptation simulates a realistic visual attribute of a real mechanical reel in a gaming machine.

23. A gaming machine comprising:

means for displaying the game of chance using a first video display device and/or a second video display device included in the gaming machine,

wherein the second video display device is arranged relative to the first video display device such that a common line of sight passes through a video window portion of the first video display device to a video reel portion of the second video display device,

and wherein the game of chance includes multiple video reels displayed on the second video display device and each video reel includes multiple video symbols on a video reel strip;

means for simulating the movement of symbols on each video reel in the multiple video reels on the second video display device; and

means for displaying a video data adaptation to video data for one or more of the multiple video reels, wherein the video data adaptation simulates a realistic visual attribute of a real mechanical reel in a gaming machine.