Gaming machine environment having controlled audio media presentation

• US 20080176654A1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Loose, Timothy C., Rothschild, Wayne H., Pryzby, Eric M., Pacey, Larry J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,495,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/35
• 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 method directed to operating a plurality of gaming machines in a gaming establishment includes determining that a certain triggering event has occurred in one of the plurality of gaming machines. The triggering event includes a desired game outcome. The method further includes selectively controlling audio output from a plurality of remotely located speakers to operate in conjunction with internal cabinet speakers for creating a desired audio ambience only within a portion of the gaming establishment. The remotely located speakers are located remotely from the plurality of gaming machines. The internal cabinet speakers are located within gaming cabinets of the plurality of gaming machines. The audio output is focused to deliver enhanced audio effects only to the portion of the gaming establishment.

Claims

1. A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines in a gaming establishment, comprising:

determining that a certain triggering event has occurred in one of the plurality of gaming machines, the triggering event including a desired game outcome;

selectively controlling audio output from a plurality of remotely located speakers to operate in conjunction with internal cabinet speakers for creating a desired audio ambience only within a portion of the gaming establishment, the remotely located speakers being located remotely from the plurality of gaming machines, the internal cabinet speakers being located within gaming cabinets of the plurality of gaming machines; and

focusing the audio output to deliver enhanced audio effects only to the portion of the gaming establishment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating includes actuating only certain ones of the remotely located speakers to direct the audio output to less than all of the plurality of gaming machines.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio output includes a message for a player of the one of the plurality of gaming machines.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message relates to the desire game outcome.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the message is selected from a group consisting of a first message that includes music having lyrics relating to the desired game outcome, and a second message that includes music lacking lyrics having a beat for indicating the desired game outcome.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of remotely located speakers are positioned at locations around the plurality of gaming machines.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the audio output is in a surround-sound format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating is performed by a central controller located remotely from and coupled to the plurality of gaming machines.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising simulating sound effects related to a game theme of a respective gaming cabinet of the plurality of gaming machines.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired audio ambience includes a certain type of music.

11. A gaming machine network, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality of gaming machines having a gaming cabinet, each gaming cabinet having one or more internal cabinet speakers;

a plurality of remote speakers positioned remotely from the plurality of gaming machines; and

an audio controller electronically coupled to the plurality of remote speakers and being programmable to

selectively control audio output from the plurality of remote speakers,

create a desired audio ambience only within a specific portion of the gaming establishment by operating the plurality of remote speakers in conjunction with the internal cabinet speakers, and

focus the audio output to deliver enhanced audio effects only to the specific portion of the gaming establishment.

12. The gaming network of claim 11, wherein the audio controller is located remotely from any of plurality of gaming machines.

13. The gaming network of claim 11, further comprising a memory located remotely from any of the plurality of gaming machines, the memory including stored audio data related to the audio output.

14. The gaming network of claim 11, wherein the specific portion of the gaming establishment is only one gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines.

15. A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines residing in a gaming establishment, comprising:

storing a plurality of triggering events in at least one memory device;

determining whether at least one triggering event has occurred in one or more of the gaming machines;

in response to the at least one triggering event, actuating a plurality of remote speakers positioned in the gaming establishment remotely from the plurality of gaming machines;

operating the plurality of remote speakers in conjunction with cabinet speakers that are located in gaming cabinets of the plurality of gaming machines; and

creating a desired audio ambience by focusing audio output from the plurality of remote speakers and the cabinet speakers only to a specific portion of the gaming establishment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one triggering event is inactivity in one or more of the plurality of gaming machines over a certain period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inactivity creates an attract mode wherein the desired audio ambience is for stirring interest from players of the plurality of gaming machines.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one triggering event includes a randomly selected positive outcome being achieved at one or more of the plurality of gaming machines.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the creating is performed by a central controller located remotely from and coupled to the plurality of gaming machines.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising focusing the audio output on a single gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines.