Gaming machine environment having controlled audio and visual media presentation

• US 7,867,085 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Richard T., Pryzby, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/222,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 35
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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

A gaming machine system comprises a plurality of multimedia output devices, including audio, visual, and/or tactile devices strategically mounted around a casino. The multimedia devices may be used to present celebratory sights, sounds, and/or other sensations throughout the casino when a player achieves a winning outcome. The celebratory sights, sounds, and/or other sensations increase the overall level of stimuli in the casino, thereby helping to create a celebratory atmosphere. In some embodiments, the celebratory multimedia stimuli are communicated to certain gaming machines in the casino based on a triggering event that occurred at a remote gaming machine. The gaming machines may be the same type and/or brand, or they may be different types and/or brands such that the same celebratory stimuli are used to promote multiple types and/or brands of gaming machines. The celebratory stimuli may also be customized specifically for a gaming machine, a player(s), or a casino.

Claims

1. A method of creating a celebratory atmosphere in a casino, the casino having a first area and a second area distinct from the first area, the method comprising:

receiving a wager input at a gaming machine in the casino;

conducting a wagering game via the gaming machine, the wagering game having an outcome randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including a special events outcome; and

in response to the special events outcome being selected as the outcome, using a controller to select a first celebratory multimedia presentation from a multimedia content database and cause the first celebratory multimedia presentation to be delivered to one or more first media devices in the first area of the casino, and using the controller to select a second celebratory multimedia presentation from the multimedia content database and cause the second celebratory multimedia presentation to be delivered to one or more second media devices in the second area of the casino;

wherein the first celebratory multimedia presentation is at least partially different in format from the second multimedia presentation; and

wherein the first and second areas of the casino are remote from the gaming machine such that, in the absence of the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations, patrons in the first and second areas are unable to discern that the special events outcome has been selected as the outcome.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second media devices are selected from a group consisting of speakers, graphical displays, lights, and personal mobile devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations are in respective formats including different combinations of audio, video, and lighting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second media devices are not included in any gaming machines within the casino.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first celebratory multimedia presentation is synchronized and coordinated over the one or more first media devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content database resides within the controller.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content database resides external to the controller.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller selects the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations based on a look-up table stored in the multimedia content database.

9. A system for creating a celebratory atmosphere in a casino, the casino having a first area and a second area distinct from the first area, the casino including a gaming machine for receiving a wager input and presenting a wagering game, the wagering game having an outcome randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes including a special events outcome, the system comprising:

a multimedia content database for storing first and second celebratory multimedia presentations, the first celebratory multimedia presentation being at least partially different in format from the second multimedia presentation; and

a controller, in response to the special events outcome being selected as the outcome, configured to select the first celebratory multimedia presentation from the multimedia content database and cause the first celebratory multimedia presentation to be delivered to one or more first media devices in the first area of the casino, and select the second celebratory multimedia presentation from the multimedia content database and cause the second celebratory multimedia presentation to be delivered to one or more second media devices in the second area of the casino;

wherein the first and second areas of the casino are remote from the gaming machine such that, in the absence of the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations, patrons in the first and second areas are unable to discern that the special events outcome has been selected as the outcome.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second media devices are selected from a group consisting of speakers, graphical displays, lights, and personal mobile devices.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations are in respective formats including different combinations of audio, video, and lighting.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second media devices are not included in any gaming machines within the casino.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first celebratory multimedia presentation is synchronized and coordinated over the one or more first media devices.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the multimedia content database resides within the controller.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the multimedia content database resides external to the controller.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller selects the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations based on a look-up table stored in the multimedia content database.

17. A method of creating a celebratory atmosphere in a casino, the casino having a first area and a second area distinct from the first area, the method comprising:

receiving a wager input to play a wagering game via a gaming machine in the casino; and

in response to a triggering event during play of the wagering game via the gaming machine, using a controller to select a first celebratory multimedia presentation from a multimedia content database and cause the first celebratory multimedia presentation to be delivered to one or more first media devices in the first area of the casino, and using the controller to select a second celebratory multimedia presentation from the multimedia content database and cause the second celebratory multimedia presentation to be delivered to one or more second media devices in the second area of the casino;

wherein the first celebratory multimedia presentation is at least partially different in format from the second multimedia presentation; and

wherein the first and second areas of the casino are remote from the gaming machine such that, in the absence of the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations, patrons in the first and second areas are unable to discern the occurrence of the triggering event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second media devices are selected from a group consisting of speakers, graphical displays, lights, and personal mobile devices.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations are in respective formats including different combinations of audio, video, and lighting.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second media devices are not included in any of the plurality of gaming machines within the casino.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first celebratory multimedia presentation is synchronized and coordinated over the one or more first media devices.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the multimedia content database resides within the controller.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the multimedia content database resides external to the controller.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the controller selects the first and second celebratory multimedia presentations based on a look-up table stored in the multimedia content database.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the triggering event is selected from a group consisting of achieving a certain game outcome at any of a plurality of gaming machines within the casino, exceeding a certain threshold of total coin-in at any of the plurality of gaming machines, and exceeding a certain inactivity period of time at any of the plurality of gaming machines.