Gaming machine with unified image on multiple video displays

• US 6,254,481 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Jaffe, Joel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/393,497
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9-11, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/30, 463/31, 463/40, 463/42, 273/143.R, 273/292, 273/293, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/818 Fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 Virtual fishing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A gaming machine comprising a first video-type display, a second video-type display and a controller. The second display is positioned adjacent the first display. A controller generates a unified image of a game of chance on the first and second displays. The unified image includes a first portion on the first display and a second portion on the second display.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a first video-type display;

a second video-type display positioned adjacent said first display; and

a controller for generating a unified image of a game of chance on said first and second displays, said unified image including a first portion on said first display and a second portion on said second display wherein said first and second portions of said unified image showing respective first and second actions that appear to be linked to each other and wherein said first action is a first object on said first display causing a second object to move in said second action on said display.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 further including a third video-type display positioned adjacent said first and second displays, said controller generating a third portion of said unified image on said third display.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said second display is positioned below and parallel to said first display, said first portion being an upper portion of said unified image, said second portion being a lower portion of said unified image.

4. The game machine of claim 1 wherein said second display is positioned aside and parallel to said first display, said first portion being a left portion of said unified image, said second portion being a right portion of said unified image.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said unified image interacting with each other.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said game of chance includes a basic game and a bonus game, said basic game being controlled by said controller in response to a wager amount, said basic game having a start-bonus outcome, said bonus game being activated by said start-bonus outcome which causes said controller to shift operation from said basic game to said bonus game.

7. The gaming machine of claim 6 herein said controller generates unified image on said first and second displays during said operation of said bonus game.

8. The gaming machine of claim 6 wherein said basic game includes a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels on one of said displays.

9. A gaming machine comprising:

a basic game controlled by a controller in response to a wager amount, said basic game having a start-bonus outcomes;

a bonus game activated by said start-bonus outcome which causes said controller to shift operation from said basic game to said bonus game; and

at least two video-type displays for showing a linked image associated with at least one of said basic and bonus games, a first portion of said image being shown on one of said displays and a second portion of said image being shown on another of said displays wherein said linked image illustrates an action, a first portion of said action being shown on one of said displays and a second portion of said action being shown os another of said displays and wherein said action is an object moving from being displayed on the one of said displays to being displayed on the other display.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein said basic game includes a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10 wherein said start-bonus outcome includes a predetermined combination of start-bonus symbols on said reels.

12. The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein said displays are positioned parallel to each other.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein one of said displays is an upper display and another of said displays is a lower display.

14. The gaming machine of claim 9 wherein said first and second portions of said unified image interacting with each other.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14 wherein said first and second portions of said unified image showing respective first and second actions that appear to be linked to each other.

16. A method of operating a gaming machine under control of a controller comprising:

providing first and second video-type displays;

placing a wager amount on a game of chance having a plurality of outcomes;

playing said game of chance having a plurality of outcomes; and

providing a unified image associated with said game of chance, a first portion of said image being shown on said first display and a second portion of said image being shown on said second display further including the step of changing said unified image based on said outcomes wherein said step of changing said image includes moving an object in said image that was shown on said first display to said second display.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said game of chance includes a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels on one of said displays.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said game of chance includes a basic game having a start-bonus outcome and a bonus game activated in response to said start-bonus outcome, said bonus game capable of providing a plurality of bonus payouts.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said unified image is associated with said bonus game.

20. A method of operating a gaming machine under control of a controller comprising:

providing first and second video-type displays;

placing a wager amount on a game of chance having a basic game and a bonus game, said basic game having a start-bonus outcome;

playing said basic game;

providing said bonus game in response to said start-bonus outcome, said bonus game capable of providing a plurality of bonus payouts;

providing a unified image associated with said game of chance, a first portion of said image being shown on said first display and a second portion of said image being shown on said second display further including the step of changing said unified image wherein said step of changing said image includes moving an object in said image that was shown on said first display to said second display.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said basic game includes a plurality of symbols on each of a plurality of rotatable reels on one of said displays.