GAMING MACHINE WITH SUPERIMPOSED DISPLAY IMAGE

• US 20090131148A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Loose, Timothy C., Rothschild, Wayne H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,640,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 gaming machine comprises a primary gaming display for presenting the outcome of a wagering or bonus game and a video display. In response to a wager, an outcome is generated and displayed in a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon primary game display. The video image may be interactive with the primary game display and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Claims

1-93. -93. (canceled)

94. 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 in a first spin 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;

by use of a transmissive display overlaying the plurality of mechanical reels, displaying a video image spaced away from and overlaying the plurality of mechanical reels during the first spin such that the video image is disposed in front of the plurality of mechanical reels between the reels and a player of the slot machine; and

subsequent to the first spin, (i) increasing the opacity of a portion of the transmissive display to obscure at least one of the plurality of mechanical reels from view by the player, and (ii) rotating and stopping at least the unobscured ones of the plurality of mechanical reels in a second spin to place symbols on the reels in visual association with the display area.

95. The method of claim 94, further including providing an award based on the randomly selected outcome of the first spin.

96. The method of claim 94, wherein the increasing the opacity of a portion of the transmissive display during the second spin is associated with a bonus game.

97. The method of claim 96, further including receiving selections from a touch screen that correspond to a player'"'"'s selection of player-selectable indicia displayed on the transmissive display during the bonus game.

98. The method of claim 94, wherein the increasing the opacity occurs through the selective display of certain colors and levels of brightness.

99. The method of claim 94, wherein the increasing the opacity obscures at least one, but not all, of the plurality of mechanical reels.

100. A gaming machine for playing one or more wagering games comprising:

a plurality of mechanical reels operable to display a plurality of symbols for indicating an outcome of a wagering game; and

a transmissive display operable to display images spaced away from and overlaying the plurality of mechanical reels, the transmissive display further operable to increase its opacity to cause at least one of the plurality of mechanical reels to be obscured from view by the player.

101. The gaming machine of claim 100, wherein the transmissive display further provides indicia superimposed over the plurality of symbols.

102. The gaming machine of claim 101, wherein the transmissive display is operable to move the indicia in synchronization with a movement of the symbols.

103. The gaming machine of claim 100, wherein the increase in opacity of the transmissive display occurs during a bonus game.

104. The gaming machine of claim 103, further including a touch screen that receives inputs corresponding to a player'"'"'s selection of player-selectable indicia displayed on the transmissive display during the bonus game.

105. The gaming machine of claim 100, further including a touch screen that receives inputs corresponding to a player'"'"'s selection of player-selectable indicia displayed on the transmissive display.

106. The gaming machine of claim 100, wherein the increasing the opacity obscures at least one, but not all, of the plurality of mechanical reels.

107. The gaming machine of claim 100, wherein the increasing the opacity occurs through the selective display of certain colors and levels of brightness.

108. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:

displaying, via a plurality of mechanical reels, a plurality of symbols for indicating an outcome of a wagering game;

increasing the opacity of at least a portion of a transmissive display located in front of the plurality of mechanical reels to cause at least one of the plurality of mechanical reels to be obscured from view by a player; and

awarding a payout associated with a symbol combination from the plurality of mechanical reels.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the increasing the opacity of a portion of the transmissive display occurs during a second wagering game.

110. The method of claim 109, further including receiving selections from a touch screen that correspond to a player'"'"'s selection of player-selectable indicia displayed on the transmissive display during the second wagering game.

111. The method of claim 108, wherein the increasing the opacity obscures at least one, but not all, of the plurality of mechanical reels.

112. The method of claim 108, wherein the increasing the opacity occurs through the selective display of certain colors and levels of brightness.

113. The method of claim 108, wherein the gaming machine includes a touch screen and further including receiving inputs from the touch screen corresponding to a player'"'"'s selection of player-selectable indicia displayed on the transmissive display.

114. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:

displaying, via a plurality of mechanical reels, a plurality of symbols for indicating an outcome of a wagering game, the symbols being displayed in a display region;

displaying a collection region on a transmissive display located in front of the plurality of mechanical reels, the collection region including indicia for indicating a number of occurrences of a collectable symbol on the plurality of mechanical reels; and

in response to the collectable symbol being located at a predetermined position within the display region after said plurality of mechanical reels have stopped, altering the indicia in the collection region so at to increase the number of the collectable symbols indicated by the collection region.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the transmissive display is operable to copy the collectable symbol from the plurality of mechanical reels to the collection region displayed on the transmissive display.

116. The method of claim 114, wherein the collectable symbols are used for a second wagering game.

117. The method of claim 116, further including receiving selections from a touch screen that correspond to a player'"'"'s selection of player-selectable indicia displayed on the transmissive display during the second wagering game.

118. The method of claim 116, wherein the collectable symbols are used for playing the second wagering game.

119. A gaming machine comprising:

a plurality of mechanical reels operable to display a plurality of symbols for indicating an outcome of a wagering game, the plurality of symbols including a collectable symbol; and

a transmissive display located in front of the plurality of mechanical reels and displaying a collection region, the collection region for indicating a number of occurrences of the collectable symbol on the plurality of mechanical reels.

120. The gaming machine of claim 119, wherein the transmissive display is operable to copy the collectable symbol from the plurality of mechanical reels to the collection region.

121. The gaming machine of claim 119, wherein the collectable symbols are used for a second wagering game.

122. The gaming machine of claim 121, further including a touch screen adjacent to the transmissive display, the touch screen enabling a player to select from player-selectable indicia in the second wagering game.

123. The gaming machine of claim 121, wherein the collectable symbols are used for playing the second wagering game.