METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AND ANIMATING GAME ELEMENTS IN A GAMING MACHINE

• US 20120149460A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred, Gomez, Benjamin, McInerny, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,147,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting game elements in a gaming machine are described herein. In an embodiment, the method includes displaying a plurality of player-selectable elements. Responsive to player input via at least one input device, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements is selected. The selected first element is animated with a first animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected first element. After the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements is selected. The selected second element is animated with a second animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected second element. The method then reveals the outcome associated with the selected first element and the outcome associated with the selected second element.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising:

displaying, on at least one video display device, a plurality of player-selectable elements;

selecting, responsive to player input via at least one input device, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animating, on the at least one video display device, the selected first element with a first animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected first element;

after the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, selecting, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animating, on the at least one video display device, the selected second element with a second animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected second element;

revealing the outcome associated with the selected first element; and

revealing the outcome associated with the selected second element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the animating the selected second element occurs while the selected first element is still animating.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second animations are the same, and wherein the second animation trails the first animation in time such that the second animation commences after the first animation commences and concludes after the first animation concludes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input device is a touch screen overlaying the video display device, and wherein the selecting the first and second elements is responsive to a player touching the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting the first and second elements is responsive to the player maintaining contact with the touch screen while swiping the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

after the second element has been selected and while the selected second element is still animating, selecting, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a third element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animating, on the at least one video display device, the selected third element with a third animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected third element; and

revealing the outcome associated with the selected third element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selecting the third element occurs while the selected first and second elements are still animating.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the animating the third element occurs while the selected second element is still animating.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the animating the third element occurs while the selected first and second elements are still animating.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one input device is a touch screen overlaying the video display device, and wherein the selecting the first, second, and third elements is responsive to a player touching the touch screen over the first, second, and third elements, respectively.

11. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

a display unit to present a plurality of player-selectable elements;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to;

select, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animate, on the display unit, the selected first element with a first animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected first element;

after the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, select, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animate, the display unit, the selected second element with a second animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected second element;

reveal the outcome associated with the selected first element on the display unit; and

reveal the outcome associated with the selected second element on the display unit.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the animating the selected second element occurs while the selected first element is still animating.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first and second animations are the same, and wherein the second animation trails the first animation in time such that the second animation commences after the first animation commences and concludes after the first animation concludes.

14. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the at least one input device is a touch screen overlaying the video display device, and wherein the selecting the first and second elements is responsive to a player touching the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the selecting the first and second elements is responsive to the player maintaining contact with the touch screen while swiping the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively.

16. A tangible machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

display, on at least one video display device, a plurality of player-selectable elements;

select, responsive to player input via at least one input device, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animate, on the at least one video display device, the selected first element with a first animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected first element;

after the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, select, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animate, on the at least one video display device, the selected second element with a second animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected second element;

reveal the outcome associated with the selected first element; and

reveal the outcome associated with the selected second element.

17. The tangible machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions to animate the selected second element include instructions animate the selected second element while the selected first element is still animating.

18. The tangible machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first and second animations are the same, and wherein the second animation trails the first animation in time such that the second animation commences after the first animation commences and concludes after the first animation concludes.

19. The tangible machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the at least one input device is a touch screen overlaying the video display device, and wherein the instructions to select the first and second elements are executed in response to a player touching the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively.

20. The tangible machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions to select the first and second elements are executed in response to the player maintaining contact with the touch screen while swiping the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively.