CREATING CASINO EXPERIENCES

• US 20110223993A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Bone, Robert, Jaffe, Joel R., Thomas, Alfred, Pryzby, Eric M., Pacey, Larry J., Allen, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,183,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

Techniques for controlling wagering game environments are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for controlling a casino wagering game environment includes determining a plurality of zones in the casino wagering game environment, wherein the zones include one or more wagering game machines. The can also include presenting wagering games on the wagering game machines in the wagering game environment, and detecting an event in the wagering game environment, the event triggering a bonus game for which a plurality of players have a possibility of winning an award. The method can also include determining one or more of the zones in which to present media associated with the bonus game, and presenting, in the one or more zones, the media associated with the bonus game. The method can also include determining a winner of the bonus game, and providing the award to the winner.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a casino wagering game environment, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of zones in the casino wagering game environment, wherein the zones include one or more wagering game machines;

presenting wagering games on the wagering game machines in the casino wagering game environment;

detecting an event in the casino wagering game environment, the event triggering a bonus game for which a plurality of players have a possibility of winning an award;

determining one or more of the zones in which to present media associated with the bonus game;

presenting, in the one or more zones, the media associated with the bonus game;

determining a winner of the bonus game; and

providing the award to the winner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the zones is defined by a contiguous floor area in the casino wagering game environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the zones is defined by noncontiguous floor areas in the casino wagering game environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino wagering game environment includes lighting devices, audio devices, and video projection devices to project light, sound, and video comprising the media associated with the bonus game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino wagering game environment includes cameras for recording player behavior, and wherein the bonus game trigger event arises from analysis of the recorded player behavior.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the casino wagering game environment includes input devices for recording player activities, and wherein the winner is determined using the input devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein content of the wagering games is modified by the presenting the media associated with the bonus game.

8. A system to present media and bonus games in a wagering game environment, the system comprising:

a plurality of wagering game machines configured to present wagering games;

an account server configured to manage player accounts that provide monetary value for use in the wagering;

a plurality of cameras and microphones configured to capture input associated with player activity in the wagering game environment, the plurality of cameras and microphones located about the wagering game environment;

an environment server configured to receive the input;

select, based on the input, media for presentation in the casino environment; and

media presentation devices configured to present the media, wherein the media presentation devices are located about the wagering game environment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the environment server is further configured to analyze the input to determine a mood of players in the wagering game environment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the environment server is further configured to select, based on the input, a bonus game, and wherein the media includes game elements of the bonus game.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the environmental server is further configured to determine zones in the wagering game environment, and select one or more of the zones in which the media will be presented.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the environmental server is further configured to determine, based on the input, a mood of players in the wagering game environment, wherein the selection of media is based on the mood.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the media presentation devices include one or more of pivoting lights, video projectors, adjustable wagering game machine stands, audio speakers, and video monitors.

14. A method for presenting media in a casino, the method comprising:

capturing ambient sound in the casino;

capturing video in the casino;

determining, based on analyzing the ambient sound and video, player activities in the casino;

receiving information about wager transactions associated with wagering games presented on wagering game machines residing in the casino;

determining, based on the player activities and information about wager transactions, a mood in the casino;

selecting media consistent with the mood in the casino; and

presenting the media in the casino.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the presenting includes adjusting pivoting lights to illuminate certain parts of the casino, and selecting intensity of light emanating from the pivoting lights.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining a plurality of the zones in the casino, wherein the ambient sound and video are captured from one of the zones, and wherein the mood is associated with the one of the zones, and wherein the media is presented in the one of the zones.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining a plurality of the zones in the casino, wherein the ambient sound and video are associated with the zones;

determining, based on the ambient sound and video, other moods in the casino, wherein each of the other moods is associated with one of the zones; and

presenting other media in the zones, wherein the media in each of the zones is consistent with the mood associated with the zone.

18. A machine-readable medium which when executed by a machine causes the machine to execute instructions comprising:

instructions to create zones associated with geographic areas in a casino;

instructions to capture sound and video images in at least one of the zones, wherein the sound and images represent player activities in the at least one of the zones;

instructions to analyze the sound and video images to determine a mood for the at least one of the zones;

instructions to select media consistent with the mood;

instructions to present the media in the at least one of the zones, wherein the instructions to present the media include instructions to project video images onto reflective material positioned so the images are not perceptible outside the at least one of the zones, and instructions to present audio over speakers configured so the audio is not perceptible outside the at least one of the zones.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 further comprising:

instructions to request greater hospitality services for the at least one of the zones.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the reflective material includes triangular shapes, and wherein the reflective material is suspended from a ceiling of the casino.

21. A apparatus comprising:

means for selecting media for presentation in a wagering game environment, wherein the media is coordinated to set a mood in the wagering game environment;

means for projecting the media in one or more zones of a wagering game environment, wherein the media is not significantly perceptible outside the one or more zones; and

means for determining that players in the wagering game environment are exhibiting behavior indicative of the mood.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the determining that players in the wagering game environment are exhibiting behavior indicative of the mood are further configured is based on perception of player movements and player noises in the wagering game environment.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the media constitutes a bonus game, and wherein selecting media for presentation is based on detection that one or more players in the wagering game environment are eligible to participate in the bonus game.