Virtual cameras and 3-D gaming environments in a gaming machine

• US 7,934,994 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Schlottmann, Greg A., LeMay, Steven G., Benbrahim, Jamal, Beaulieu, Nicole M., Rowe, Richard E., Breckner, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/264,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20090062001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 463/32
• US Class Current: 463/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

Claims

1. In a gaming machine comprising a master gaming controller, a display device, and a memory device, a method of displaying a plurality of game windows on the display device wherein at least one of the game windows is used to present a game of chance, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of 3-D game windows arranged in a 3-D game interface model wherein the 3-D game interface model comprises a 3-D geometric surface description for each of the plurality of game windows;

mapping game window content to each of the 3-D game windows;

rendering first game window content in a first 3-D game window;

rendering second game window content in a second 3-D game window;

rendering the first game window content in the second 3-D game window;

rendering the second game window content in the first 3-D game window

rendering a two-dimensional image derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D game interface model stored in the memory device on the gaming machine; and

displaying the rendered two-dimensional image to the display device on the gaming machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating at least one of the plurality of 3-D game windows.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rotating the 3-D game interface model.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a game of chance in at least one of the plurality of 3-D game windows.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the game window content in one or more of the game windows while presenting the game of chance in at least one of the game windows.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the game window content is selected from the group consisting of a game of chance, a bonus game, an advertisement, news, stock quotes, electronic mail, a web page, an instant message service, a locator service or a hotel/casino service, a movie, a live-video feed, a musical selection, a casino promotion, a broadcast event, a maintenance operation, a player tracking service, a drink menu and a snack menu.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is selected from the group consisting of a slot game, a keno game, a poker game, a pachinko game, a video black jack game, a bingo game, a baccarat game, a roulette game, a dice game and a card game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one game window on the gaming machine is used to play a game against another game player and wherein said another game player plays the game on a second gaming machine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one game window is used to share a bonus game with a group of game players each game player playing a different gaming machine.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving an input signal to initiate a game of chance in at least one of the active activated 3-D game windows.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the gaming machine and the second gaming machine are connected via at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the different gaming machines for each game player in the group of game players is connected via at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet or combinations thereof.

13. In a gaming machine comprising a master gaming controller, a display device and a memory device, a method of displaying a plurality game windows on the display device wherein at least one of the game windows is used to present a game of chance, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of 3-D game windows arranged in a 3-D game interface model wherein the 3-D game interface model comprises a 3-D geometric surface description for each of the plurality of game windows;

mapping game window content to each of the 3-D game windows;

rendering game window content to each of the 3-D game windows;

rendering a two-dimensional image derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D game interface model stored in the memory device on the gaming machine;

displaying the rendered two-dimensional image to the display device on the gaming machine; and

rendering a two-dimensional image derived from a 3-D object in a three-dimensional gaming environment stored in the memory device on the gaming machine to a 3-D game window in the 3-D game interface model.

14. In a gaming machine comprising a master gaming controller, a display device and a memory device, a method of displaying game information in a game window, the method comprising:

generating a game window with a first size;

rendering a first two-dimensional image derived from a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional gaming environment stored in the memory device on the gaming machine to fit within the first size of the game window;

displaying on the display device the rendered first two-dimensional image within the game window;

changing the game window to a second size;

rendering a second two-dimensional image derived from the 3-D object in the three-dimensional gaming environment stored in the memory device on the gaming machine to fit within the second size of the game window; and

displaying on the display device the rendered second two-dimensional image within the game window

wherein the game information is used to play a game of chance on the gaming machine.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

wherein the second size of the game window is smaller than the first size of the game window;

generating one or more new game windows in a game window area around the game wherein the game window area is a difference in area between an area of the first size of the game window and an area of the second size of the game window; and

displaying game information in the one or more new game windows.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

rendering a sequence of second two-dimensional images derived from the 3-D object in the three-dimensional gaming environment stored in the memory device on the gaming machine wherein each two-dimensional image in the sequence is sized to fit within a sequence of game windows between the first size and the second size.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the rendered two-dimensional images is used to provide a game history.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

removing the new one or more new game windows; and

returning the game window to the first size.

19. In a gaming machine comprising a master gaming controller, a display device and a memory device, a method of activating an input button modeled in a 3-D gaming environment and displayed on the display device, the method comprising:

generating one or more 3-D object models of input buttons in a 3-D gaming environment used to play a game of chance on the gaming machine;

rendering a two-dimensional image derived from a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional gaming environment stored in the memory device on the gaming machine wherein the three-dimensional object comprises at least a portion of one or more the input buttons modeled in the 3-D gaming environment;

displaying the rendered two-dimensional projection surface to the display device on the gaming machine;

receiving an input signal including at least an input location corresponding to a location on the display device displaying the rendered two-dimensional image;

generating an input line in the 3-D gaming environment using the input location; and

detecting a collision between the input line and at least one of an input button modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

comparing 3-D coordinates of the input line in the gaming environment to 3-D coordinates of input buttons modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

performing an action specified by an input button corresponding to the received input location.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

activating one or more input buttons modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the input signal is generated from a touch screen.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the input location on the display device corresponds to a cursor location on the display device.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

ignoring a detected collision between the input line and an input button, when the input button is not activated.