Reel spinning slot machine with superimposed video image

• US 7,458,890 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Loose, Timothy C., Rothschild, Wayne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendiratta; Vishu K.
• Application Number:
  US11/807,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 273/274, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A spinning reel slot machine comprises a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels and a video display. In response to a wager, the reels are rotated and stopped to randomly place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. The video display provides a video image superimposed upon the reels. The video image may be interactive with the reels and include such graphics as payout values, a pay table, pay lines, bonus game features, special effects, thematic scenery, and instructional information.

Claims

1. A spinning reel slot machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels that, in response to a wager, are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area, the displayed symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and

a video display providing a video images overlaying the reels such that the video images are disposed in front of the reels between the reels and a player of the slot machine, a first set of the video images interacting with the symbols on the reels and a second set of the video images presenting a special event of the wagering game, the special event including one or more game indicia selectable by the player.

2. The slot machine of claim 1, wherein the special event is animated and provides awards based on an outcome of the special event.

3. The slot machine of claim 1, further including a secondary video display, the special event being presented by the second set of the video images in conjunction with another video image on the secondary video display.

4. The slot machine of claim 1, wherein the video display presents the special event in response to the randomly selected outcome being an event-triggering outcome.

5. The slot machine of claim 1, further including a controller operative to provide bonuses based on the selection of the game indicia.

6. The slot machine of claim 1, wherein the video images are a virtual images.

7. The slot machine of claim 6, further including a partially reflective mirror overlaying one or more of the reels, the video display and the partially reflective mirror being relatively positioned to project the virtual images in front of the reels between the reels and the player.

8. The slot machine of claim 1, wherein the video images are adjustable in terms of opacity, translucency, and transparency.

9. The spinning reel slot machine of claim 1, wherein the wagering game includes a first game segment played in a first game format using the plurality of reels and a second game segment played in a second game format different from the first game format, the second game format using the second set of the video images and being initiated by a trigger condition during the first game segment.

10. The spinning reel slot machine of claim 9, wherein the first game format includes the first set of the video images interacting with the symbols on the reels and wherein the second game format includes the second set of the video images presenting the special event of the wagering game and one or more game indicia selectable by the player.

11. The spinning reel slot machine of claim 10, wherein the special event is free of reels and reel symbols.

12. A method of conducting a wagering game on a spinning reel slot machine, comprising:

receiving a wager;

rotating and stopping a plurality of mechanical rotatable reels to place symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area, the displayed symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game;

displaying a first set of video images overlaying the reels such that the first set of the video images are disposed in front of the reels between the reels and a player of the slot machine, the first set of video images interacting with the symbols on the reels; and

presenting a special event of the wagering game on a second set of the video images, the special event including one or more indicia within the second set of video images selectable by the player.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the special event is animated, and the method further including providing an award based on an outcome of the special event.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the presenting includes presenting the special event on the second set of the video images in conjunction with another video image on a secondary video display.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the presenting is in response to the randomly selected outcome being an event-triggering outcome.

16. The method of claim 12, further including receiving a selection by the player of at least one of the one or more indicia, and providing an award based on the selection.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the sets of video images are a virtual images.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sets of video images are provided by a video display, and wherein the displaying includes projecting the virtual images in front of the reels between the reels and the player by relative positioning of the video display and a partially reflective mirror overlaying one or more of the reels.