Gaming device having modified reel spin sounds to highlight and enhance positive player outcomes

• US 7,666,098 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hecht, William L., Landrum, Kristopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams; Ross A.
• Application Number:
  US10/238,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,723 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 463/30, 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 463/22, 463/18
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

An apparatus and method by which sound files may be modified within a gaming device to coincide with one or more game events. In one embodiment, a sound file is played in a first manner when the previous spin of slot machine reels does not produce a win for the player. The sound file is played in a second manner, however, if the previous reel spin does produce a win. In another embodiment, a sound file is played in a first manner when the current reel spin does not produce a win. The sound file is modified in mid-play, however, if the current reel spin does produce a win. In a further embodiment, the sound file is modified differently in mid-play if the current reel spin does not produce a win.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a memory device; and

a processor programmed to operate with the memory device and the display device, for a play of a game, to;

(a) initiate the play of the game, the game being operable upon a wager by a player, the game being configured to result in one of a plurality of different outcomes, each one of the outcomes being associated with at least one symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) visually represent a random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(c) during the visual representation of the random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(1) cause a sound file to be played;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the play of the game; and

(3) cause a modified version of the sound file to be played in response to the determination that a designated one of the outcomes will be the result;

(d) end the visual representation of the random generation;

(e) indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result; and

(f) provide an award in response to the result being associated with a win.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the outcomes include at least one positive outcome and at least one negative outcome.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the modified sound file includes a modification selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a musical style change, a tempo change and any combination thereof.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein at least two of the change of key, the volume change, the playing time change and the tempo change are made sequentially.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the modified version is a first modified version of the sound file associated with a positive one of the outcomes, the gaming device including a second modified version of the sound file associated with a negative one of the outcomes.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the first modified version is selected from the group consisting of:

a raise in key, a volume increase, a playing time increase, a tempo increase and any combination thereof, and wherein the second modified version is selected from the group consisting of;

a lowering in key, a volume decrease, a playing time decrease, a tempo decrease and any combination thereof.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the modified version is a first modified version of the sound file associated with a first positive one of the outcomes, the first modified version playable during a first play of the game, the gaming device including a second modified version of the sound file associated with a second positive one of the outcomes, the second modified version playable during a second play of the game.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes another designated outcome associated with an unmodified form of the sound file, wherein the sound file, in said unmodified form, is playable in association with the play of the game in response to the determination that the another designated outcome will be the result.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operatively coupled to a server, the server operable to perform the determination.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the play of the game includes a reel spin.

11. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a memory device; and

a processor programmed to operate with the memory device and the display device, for a play of a game, to;

(a) initiate the play of the game, the game being configured to result in one of a plurality of different outcomes including at least one award winning outcome, each one of the outcomes being associated with at least one symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) visually represent a random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(c) during the visual representation of the random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(1) cause a sound file to be played;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the play of the game; and

(3) cause a modified version of the sound file to be played in response to the determination that the award winning outcome will be the result;

(d) end the visual representation of the random generation;

(e) indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result; and

(f) provide an award in response to the award winning outcome being the result.

12. The gaming of device of claim 11, which includes a plurality of different modified versions of the sound file associated with a plurality of different designated outcomes, the modified versions being playable during a plurality of plays of the game after it is determined that the plurality of plays of the game will result in the designated outcomes.

13. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a memory device; and

a processor programmed to operate with the memory device and the display device, for a play of a game, to;

(a) initiate the play of the game, the game being operable upon a wager by a player, the game being configured to result in one of a plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one non-winning outcome, each one of the outcomes being associated with at least one symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) visually represent a random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(c) during the visual representation of the random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(1) cause a sound recording to be played;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the play of the game;

(3) cause a first modified version of the sound recording to be played if it is determined that the winning outcome will be the result; and

(4) cause a second modified version of the sound file to be played if it is determined that the non-winning outcome will be the result;

(d) end the visual representation of the random generation;

(e) indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result; and

(f) provide an award in response to the result being the winning outcome.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the modified versions includes a modification selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a tempo change, a musical style change and any combination thereof.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein at least two of the change of key, the volume change, the playing time change, the musical style change and the tempo change are made sequentially.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, which includes an additional outcome associated with the game, wherein the sound recording, in an unmodified form, is playable during the visual representation of the random generation if it is determined that the additional outcome will be the result.

17. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is operatively coupled a server, the server operable to determine whether the play of the game will result in the winning outcome or the non-winning outcome.

18. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the first modified version is selected from the group consisting of:

a raise in key, a volume increase, a playing time increase, a tempo increase and any combination thereof, and wherein the second modified version is selected from the group consisting of;

a lowering in key, a volume decrease, a playing time decrease, a tempo decrease and any combination thereof.

19. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the play of the game includes a reel spin.

20. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a memory device; and

a processor programmed to operate with the memory device and the display device, for a play of a game, to;

(a) initiate a first play of the game, the game being operable upon a wager by a player, the game being configured to result in one of a plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome, each one of the outcomes being associated with at least one symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) visually represent a random generation of at least one of the symbols for the first play of the game;

(c) during the visual representation of the random generation of at least one of the symbols for the first play of the game;

(1) cause a sound file to be played_in association with at least part of the first play of the game;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the first play of the game; and

(3) cause a modified version of the sound file to be played in response to the determination that the winning outcome will be the result;

(d) end the visual representation of the random generation for the first play of the game;

(e) indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result of the first play of the game;

(f) provide an award in response to the result being the winning outcome; and

(g) cause the modified version to be at least partially played during at least part of a second one of the plays of the game.

21. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a memory device; and

a processor programmed to operate with the memory device and the display device, for a play of a game, to;

(a) initiate the play of the game, the game being operable upon a wager by a player, the game being configured to result in one of a plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one non-winning outcome, each one of the outcomes being associated with a symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) visually represent a random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(c) during the visual representation of the random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(1) cause a sound file to be played;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the play of the game;

(3) cause a modified version of the sound file to be played, the modified version being associated with the result, the modified version being played in response to the result being one of;

(i) the at least one winning outcome; and

(ii) the at least one non-winning outcome;

(d) end the visual representation of the random generation;

(e) indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result; and

(f) provide an award in response to the result being the winning outcome.

22. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, for a play of a slot game, said method comprising:

(a) starting the play of the slot game, the slot game being configured to result in one of a plurality of outcomes including a designated outcome, each one of the outcomes being associated with at least one symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to spin at least one slot reel, the at least one reel displaying a plurality of the symbols;

(c) during the spinning of the at least one slot reel, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(1) play a sound file;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the play; and

(3) modify play of the sound file in response to the determination that the designated outcome will be the result;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to end the spinning of the at least one reel;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result; and

(f) providing an award in response to the result being associated with a win.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a musical style change, a tempo change and any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least two of the change of key, the volume change, the playing time change the musical style change, and the tempo change are made sequentially.

25. The method of claim 22, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to play the modified sound file upon a next spinning of the slot reel.

26. The method of claim 22, which includes:

(a) causing a server to perform the determining; and

(b) operatively coupling the server to the gaming device.

27. The method of claim 22, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the sound file differently if it is determined that the reel will not result in a win for the player.

28. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to play the differently modified sound file upon a next spinning of the slot reel.

29. The method of claim 22, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to play the modified sound file during a credit roll-up.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein steps (a) to (f) are provided via a data network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is an internet.

32. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, for at least one play of a game, said method comprising:

(a) providing the game operable upon a wager by a player, the game configured to result in one of a plurality of different outcomes, each one of the outcomes being associated with at least one symbol from a plurality of different symbols;

(b) initiating the at least one play of the game;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to visually represent a random generation of at least one of the symbols;

(d) during the visual representation of the random generation of at least one of the symbols, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(1) play a sound file;

(2) determine which one of the outcomes will result from the at least one play of the game; and

(3) modify play of the sound file in response to the determination that a designated one of the outcomes will be the result;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to end the visual representation of the random generation;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to indicate the at least one symbol associated with the result; and

(g) providing an award in response to the result being associated with a win.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

a change of key, a volume change, a playing time change, a musical style change, a tempo change and any combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein at least two of the change of key, the volume change, the playing time change the musical style change, and the tempo change are made sequentially.

35. The method of claim 32, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the modified play of the sound file with a musical characteristic associated with the designated outcome.

36. The method of claim 32, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions from the sound file to the modified play of the sound file during a spinning of a reel which is included in the at least one play of the game.

37. The method of claim 32, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the sound file differently if the designated outcome includes a winning event rather than a non-winning event.

38. The method of claim 37, which includes causing a server to determine one of the outcomes.

39. The method of claim 32, which includes causing at least one display device to display the designated outcome during at least part of the modified play of the sound file.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein step (d)(2) is provided via a data network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the data network is an internet.