GAMING SYSTEM HAVING DYNAMIC PLAYER INPUTS

• US 20100173705A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Manning, Brian, Thomas, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming system comprises a wager input device, a display for displaying a primary wagering game, and a touch screen overlying at least a portion of the display. The system further includes a controller operative to (i) cause the display to display at least one soft key, the soft key overlying and concealing a first portion of the primary wagering game, (ii) cause the display to display a play of the primary wagering game, and (iii) during the play of the primary wagering game, cause the display to present an altered display of the soft key to reveal some or all of the first portion.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a wager input device;

a display for displaying a primary wagering game;

a touch screen overlying at least a portion of the display; and

a controller operative to;

(i) cause the display to display at least one soft key, the at least one soft key overlying and concealing a first portion of the primary wagering game in an active state;

(ii) cause the display to display a play of the primary wagering game; and

(iii) during the play of the primary wagering game, cause the display to present an altered display of the at least one soft key to reveal some or all of the first portion in a deactivated state, such deactivated state occurring during play of the primary wagering game and ending upon conclusion of the play of the primary wagering game.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operative to detect a first player input on the touch screen associated with the at least one soft key.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first player input initiates the play of the primary wagering game.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the altered display of the soft key comprises a change in the translucence of at least a portion of the soft key.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least a portion of the soft key is made transparent.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the altered display of the soft key comprises a reduction in size of the soft key.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the altered display of the soft key comprises a moving or relocation the soft key on the display.

8. A method of operating a wagering game comprising:

receiving a wager;

displaying a primary wagering game on a first display;

displaying a first soft key overlying and concealing a first portion of the primary wagering game;

detecting a player input to initiate a play of the primary wagering game; and

during the play of the primary wagering game, displaying an altered version of the first soft key to reveal at least part of the first portion, such that the altered version of the first soft key is deactivated until the play of the primary wagering game is concluded.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the altered version of the first soft key comprises a change in one or more of a size, translucence, and location of the first soft key.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first display is supported by a housing of a handheld gaming device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the handheld gaming device includes at least one hand grip, wherein the first soft key is displayed proximate the at least one hand grip.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a second soft key.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second soft key overlies and conceals a second portion of the primary wagering game.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, during play of the primary wagering game, displaying an altered version of the second soft key to reveal at least part of the second portion.

15. A method of operating a wagering game comprising:

receiving a wager;

displaying a primary wagering game on a first display;

displaying a soft key overlying and concealing a first portion of the primary wagering game;

detecting a player selection of the soft key via a touch screen overlying the first display;

in response to the player selection of the soft key, initiating a play of the primary wagering game; and

prior to a conclusion of the play of the primary wagering game, altering the display of the soft key to reveal at least part of the first portion, the altered display of the soft key being deactivated until the play of the primary wagering game is concluded.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein altering the display of the soft key comprises one or more of resizing the soft key, changing the translucence of the soft key, and moving the soft key.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the primary wagering game comprises a plurality of reels, the plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols thereon.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the primary wagering game comprises at least one of the plurality of symbols.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising, upon conclusion of the play of the wagering game, restoring the soft key to an initial state overlying and concealing the first portion.

20. One or more computer readable storage media encoded with instructions for performing the method of claim 15.