Gaming device having a system for dynamically aligning background music with play session events

• US 7,105,736 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Laakso, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qin, Jianchun
• Application Number:
  US10/658,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20050051021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 846/15, 273/269, 273143 R-143 E, 463/35, 463/20, 463/42
• US Class Current: 84/615
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/026 for games, e.g. videogames

Abstract

A gaming device which, in one embodiment, has a sound generating device operable to produce a background sound. The gaming device tracks play session events and determines when the tracked events meet a designated characteristic or parameter. The gaming device selects one of a plurality of designated sound recordings associated with such designated parameter. The gaming device causes the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound during the game, in between games, after cash-out and other times.

Claims

1. A gaming device controlled by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game which a player can play on multiple occasions to make multiple bets at a desired betting pace;

information which relates designated betting paces to different musical pieces;

at least one speaker operable to simultaneously produce background music and a plurality of event driven primary sounds during the multiple plays of the game; and

at least one command which the processor executes to;

(a) track the player'"'"'s betting pace;

(b) determine when the player'"'"'s betting pace matches one of the designated betting paces;

(c) use the information to select one of the musical pieces associated with said designated betting pace; and

(d) cause the speaker to produce the selected musical piece as part of the background music.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of the musical pieces has at least one different musical characteristic.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one command which directs the processor to cause the speaker to produce the event driven primary sounds when designated game events occur.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the event driven primary sounds include an audible event indicator which is selected from the group consisting of a sound effect, a sound associated with an image and a voice.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one command which the processor executes to cause the speaker to produce the selected musical piece as part of the background music during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one of the plays of the game and the time period during all of the plays of the game.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one command which the processor executes to cause the speaker to produce the selected musical piece as part of the background music during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of the plays of the game, the time period after the plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the background music is continuously played.

9. A gaming device controlled by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager which a player can play on multiple occasions during a play session;

an input device which enables the player to make a desired quantity of inputs per unit time during the play session;

information which associates a group of different designated quantities of inputs per unit time with a group of different sound recordings;

at least one sound generating device operable to simultaneously produce a background sound and primary sound during the play session; and

at least one instruction which directs the processor to;

(a) track the player'"'"'s quantity of inputs per unit time;

(b) determine when the player'"'"'s quantity of inputs per unit time matches one of the designated quantity of inputs per unit time;

(c) use the information to select one of the sound recordings associated with said designated quantity of inputs per unit time; and

(d) cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein each of the sound recordings has at least one different musical characteristic.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the primary sound when a designated game event occurs during the play session.

13. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the primary sound includes an audible event indicator which is selected from the group consisting of a sound effect, a sound associated with an image and a voice.

14. The gaming device of claim 9, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one of the plays of the game and the time period during all of the plays of the game.

15. The gaming device of claim 9, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of the plays of the game, the time period after the plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

16. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the background sound is continuously played.

17. A gaming device controlled by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game which a player can play on multiple occasions to make multiple bets during a play session;

a set of game rules which direct the processor to provide the player with multiple wins at a win pace in response to the player'"'"'s multiple bets;

information which associates a group of designated win paces with a group of different musical pieces;

at least one speaker operable to simultaneously produce background music and event driven primary sound during the play session; and

at least one command which instructs the processor to;

(a) track the win pace during the play session;

(b) determine when the win pace matches one of the designated win paces;

(c) use the information to select one of the musical pieces associated with said designated win pace; and

(d) cause the speaker to produce the selected musical piece as part of the background music.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein each of the musical pieces has at least one different musical characteristic.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

20. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes at least one command which directs the processor to cause the speaker to produce the event driven primary sound when a designated game event occurs.

21. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the event driven primary sound includes an audible event indicator which is selected from the group consisting of a sound effect, a sound associated with an image and a voice.

22. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes at least one command which the processor executes to cause the speaker to produce the selected musical piece as part of the background music during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one of the plays of the game and the time period during all of the plays of the game.

23. The gaming device of claim 17, which includes at least one command which the processor executes to cause the speaker to produce the selected musical piece as part of the background music during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of the plays of the game, the time period after the plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

24. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the background music is continuously played.

25. A gaming device controlled by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager which a player can play on multiple occasions during a play session;

an input device which enables the player to make different inputs during the play session;

a set of game rules which direct the processor to provide the player with different outcomes after the player makes the different inputs during the play session;

information which associates a group of different designated quantities of outcomes per unit time with a group of different sound recordings;

at least one sound generating device operable to simultaneously produce a background sound and a primary sound during the play session; and

at least one instruction which directs the processor to;

(a) track the quantity of the outcomes per unit time;

(b) determine when the quantity of the outcomes per unit time matches one of the designated quantity of outcomes per unit time;

(c) use the information to select one of the sound recordings associated with said designated quantity of outcomes per unit time; and

(d) cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein each of the sound recordings has at least one different musical characteristic.

27. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

28. The gaming device of claim 25, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause sound generating device to produce the primary sound when designated event occurs during the play session.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the primary sound includes an audible event indicator which is selected from the group consisting of a sound effect, a sound associated with an image and a voice.

30. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the different outcomes include an outcome selected from the group consisting of a win, a loss, a ratio of sequential wins to sequential losses, a ratio of sequential losses to sequential wins, an award, a lack of award, a value, a primary game value, a bonus game value, a gain in an opportunity to gain an award and a loss in an opportunity to gain an award.

31. The gaming device of claim 25, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one of the plays of the game and the time period during all of the plays of the game.

32. The gaming device of claim 25, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of the plays of the game, the time period after the plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

33. The gaming device of claim 25, wherein the background sound is continuously played.

34. A gaming device controlled by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager which a player can play on multiple occasions during a play session, the game having a theme;

an input device which enables the player to make a desired quantity of inputs per unit time during the play session;

information which includes an association of different designated quantities of inputs per unit time with different musical pieces, each of the musical pieces associated with a different musical characteristic;

at least one sound generating device operable to simultaneously output;

(a) a plurality of audible event indicators operable to indicate different game events to the player which occur during the play session;

(b) background music which has a theme consistent with the theme of the game, wherein the background music includes the different musical pieces played in an order and the order at which the musical pieces are played in the background music varies with the player'"'"'s quantity of inputs per unit time during the play session; and

at least one instruction which directs the processor to;

(a) track the player'"'"'s quantity of inputs per unit time during the play session;

(b) determine when the player'"'"'s quantity of inputs per unit time matches one of the designated quantity of inputs per unit time;

(c) use the information to select one of the musical pieces associated with said designated quantity of inputs per unit time;

(d) cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background music; and

(e) repeat steps (a) through (d) on at least one occasion during the play session;

a plurality of awards associated with the game; and

a display device operable to display a plurality of images associated with the game.

35. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein each of the different musical characteristics has a characteristic selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

36. The gaming device of claim 35, wherein each of the different musical characteristics is associated with a different mood type.

37. The gaming device of claim 36, wherein the mood types include a mood type selected from the group consisting of low excitement, medium excitement, high excitement, climax, mystery, contemplation, anticipation, hopefulness, happiness, success, optimism, inspiration, motivation, perseverance, adventure, fear, danger, disappointment and failure.

38. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein the images includes at least one image associated with each of the mood types.

39. The gaming device of claim 38, which includes an instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device and the display device to simultaneously output one of the sound recordings and one of the images which are associated with an identical mood type.

40. The gaming device of claim 34, which includes at least one instruction which causes the sound generating device to sequentially produce different ones of the musical pieces.

41. The gaming device of claim 34, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background music during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one of the plays of the game and the time period during all of the plays of the game.

42. The gaming device of claim 34, which includes at least one instruction which directs the processor to cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background music during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of the plays of the game, the time period after the plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

43. The gaming device of claim 34, wherein the background music is continuously played.

44. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to initiate a game on multiple occasions during a play session;

(b) playing one sound recording within a group of sound recordings wherein a plurality of the sound recordings in the group are playable in a variable order as a part of a background sound for the play session;

(c) receiving a quantity of inputs per unit time from the player during the play session;

(d) tracking the quantity of inputs per unit time;

(e) determining when the quantity of inputs per unit time matches one of a plurality of designated quantities of inputs per unit time;

(f) determining the sound recording which is associated with said designated quantity of inputs per unit time; and

(g) playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of playing one sound recording within a group of sound recordings includes the step of providing a plurality of sound recordings which have at least one different musical characteristic.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of playing the determined sound recording as a part the background sound includes the step of playing the determined sound recording during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one play of the game and the time period during all of a plurality of plays of the game.

48. The gaming device of claim 44, wherein the step of playing the determined sound recording as a part the background sound includes the step of playing the determined sound recording during a time selected form the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of plays of the game, the time period after all of a plurality of plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

49. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to initiate a game on multiple occasions during a play session;

(b) playing one sound recording within a group of sound recordings wherein a plurality of the sound recordings in the group are playable in a variable order as a part of a background sound for the play session;

(c) providing the player with a quantity of outcomes per unit time during the play session;

(d) tracking the quantity of outcomes per unit time;

(e) determining when the quantity of outcomes per unit time matches one of a plurality of designated quantities of outcomes per unit time;

(f) determining the sound recording which is associated with said designated quantity of outcomes per unit time; and

(g) playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of playing one sound recording within a group of sound recordings includes the step of providing a plurality of sound recordings which have at least one different musical characteristic.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of providing the player with a quantity of outcomes per unit time during the play session includes the step of providing an outcome selected from the group consisting of a win, a loss, a ratio of sequential wins to sequential losses, a ratio of sequential losses to sequential wins, an award, a lack of award, a value, a primary game value, a bonus game value, a gain in an opportunity to gain an award and a loss in an opportunity to gain an award.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the step of playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound includes the step of playing the determined sound recording during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one play of the game and the time period during all of a plurality of plays of the game.

54. The gaming device of claim 49, wherein the step of playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound includes the step of playing the determined sound recording during a time selected form the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of plays of the game, the time period after all of a plurality of plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

55. A method for operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to initiate multiple plays of a game on multiple occasions during a play session, wherein the player selects a wager amount for each of the plays;

(b) playing one sound recording within a group of sound recordings wherein a plurality of the sound recordings in the group are playable in a variable order as a part of a background sound for the play session;

(c) tracking the wager amounts per unit time;

(d) determining when the wager amounts per unit time matches one of a plurality of designated wager parameters;

(e) determining the sound recording which is associated with said designated wager parameter; and

(f) playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the step of playing one sound recording within a group of sound recordings includes the step of providing a plurality of sound recordings which have at least one different musical characteristic.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the step of playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound includes the step of playing the determined sound recording during a time period selected from the group consisting of the time period during at least one of the plays of the game and the time period during all of the plays of the game.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein the step of playing the determined sound recording as a part of the background sound includes the step of playing the determined sound recording during a time selected form the group consisting of the time period in between a plurality of the plays of the game, the time period after all of the plays of the game, the time period during which the gaming device is funded and the time period after the player cashes out.

60. A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager so as to have a plurality of different success levels reachable by a player during at least one play of the game, the gaming device operable by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

at least one sound generating device operable to simultaneously produce a background sound during the play of the game;

information which associates a group of different designated success levels with different sound recordings;

a sound generating device operable to produce a background sound and a primary sound during the play of the game;

at least one instruction which directs the processor to;

(a) track the success level reached by the player during the play of the game;

(b) determine when the success level matches one of the designated success levels;

(c) use the information to select one of the sound recordings associated with said designated success level; and

(d) cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound.

61. The gaming device of claim 60, wherein each of the sound recordings has at least one different musical characteristic.

62. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

63. The gaming device of claim 60, wherein the success level includes a success level selected from the group consisting of no award, an award of zero, a balance of value accumulated by the player and an award of any magnitude.

64. The gaming device of claim 60, wherein the game is operable upon a wager so as to have a plurality of different success levels reachable by a player during a plurality of plays of the game.

65. A gaming device having a game operable upon a wager so as to have a plurality of different game events during at least one play of the game, the gaming device operable by a processor, the gaming device comprising:

at least one sound generating device operable to simultaneously produce a background sound and a primary sound during the play of the game;

information which associates different designated characteristics of a plurality of game events with different sound recordings;

at least one instruction which directs the processor to;

(a) track at least one characteristic of at least one of the game events during the play of the game;

(b) determine when the tracked characteristic matches one of the designated characteristics;

(c) use the information to select one of the sound recordings associated with said designated characteristic; and

(d) cause the sound generating device to produce the selected sound recording as part of the background sound.

66. The gaming device of claim 65, wherein each of the sound recordings has at least one different musical characteristic.

67. The gaming device of claim 66, wherein the musical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of tempo, melody, key, style, beat, syncopation, note, mode, scale, volume, chord, pitch, voice type and instrument type.

68. The gaming device of claim 65, wherein the game events include an event selected from the group consisting of the player'"'"'s pace of making game inputs, the player'"'"'s tempo of making game inputs, a quantity of game inputs made by the player per unit time, a pace of game outcomes provided to the player, a tempo of game outcomes provided to the player, a quantity of game outcomes provided to the player per unit time, a quantity of wins provided to the player per unit time, a quantity of losses provided to the player per unit time, a success level reached by the player, a balance of value accumulated by the player and an award level reached by the player.