Displaying and using 3D graphics on multiple displays provided for gaming environments

• US 8,384,710 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Schlottmann, Greg A., Gipp, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROOME, SAID A
• Application Number:
  US11/759,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/577 for watching a game played by other players
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

3D images (or graphics) are effectively displayed across multiple displays provided in a gaming environment based on a 3D imaging (or graphics) model (or world). A game scene for a game played on a gaming machine is effectively displayed as a larger 3D scene across multiple displays configured for multiple gaming machines when a gaming criteria, event or condition is met (e.g., when a slot game generates a particular outcome on a gaming machine, a 3D scene is displayed on multiple gaming machines). 3D images (or objects) effectively displayed across multiple displays configured for multiple gaming machines can effect and/or complement the game being played on one or more of the gaming machines and/or used as an independent game. Animation (or movement) of one or more 3D objects can be used to trigger a gaming criteria, event or condition (e.g., start a bonus period for a game being played in a gaming machine). The gaming criteria, event or condition can be triggered solely based on the animation (or movement) of the 3D object(s) or in a combination with another condition.

Claims

1. A casino gaming system comprising:

a first gaming display, the first gaming display configured to display a base animated three-dimensional (3D) content model from a first perspective; and

a second gaming display, the second gaming display configured to display the same base animated 3D content model from a second perspective different from the first perspective, wherein the first perspective and the second perspective are selected based on the physical orientation of the first gaming display with respect to the second gaming display, and the base animated 3D content model indicates a gaming event or condition.

2. The casino gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are included in different gaming machines.

3. The casino gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are both included in a single gaming machine.

4. The casino gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a 3D content server, wherein the 3D content server is configured to provide base 3D data to the first gaming display and provide the base 3D data to the second gaming display, wherein the base 3D data defines the base animated 3D content model.

5. The casino gaming system of claim 4, wherein the 3D content server is further configured to determine the outcome of a game offered for play on the first gaming machine, the second gaming machine, or both the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine.

6. The casino gaming system of claim 1, wherein a different portion of the base animated 3D content model is displayed on the first gaming display than is displayed on the second gaming display.

7. The casino gaming system of claim 1,

wherein the first gaming display is further configured to augment the base animated 3D content model with first gaming display-specific 3D data, the first 3D gaming display-specific data including data which is combined with the base animated 3D content model to produce the first perspective on the first gaming display, and

wherein the second gaming display is further configured to augment the base animated 3D content model with second gaming display-specific 3D data, the second 3D gaming display-specific data including data which is combined with the base animated 3D content model to produce the second perspective on the second gaming display.

8. The casino gaming system of claim 7,

wherein the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data are different.

9. The casino gaming system of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data which modifies a parameter of the base animated 3D content model.

10. The casino gaming system of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data defining a perspective.

11. The casino gaming system of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data defining an animation of one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model.

12. The casino gaming system of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data modifying a property of one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model.

13. The casino gaming system of claim 12,

wherein the property is selected from the group consisting of shape, size, position, orientation, or color of the 3D object.

14. The casino gaming system of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data replacing one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model with one or more different 3D objects.

15. The casino gaming system of claim 1,

wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are substantially parallel to one another and wherein the second gaming display is oriented in an opposite direction from the first gaming display with respect to an observer of the first gaming display.

16. A casino gaming server comprising:

one or more processors; and

a communications interface, the communications interface configured to provide communications with one or more gaming machines over a network connection,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

provide base three-dimensional (3D) data to the one or more gaming machines via the network connection, the base 3D data defining a base animated 3D content model;

provide first gaming display-specific 3D data to the one or more gaming machines via the network connection, the first gaming display-specific 3D data including information used to generate a first perspective view of the base animated 3D content model on a first gaming display; and

provide second gaming display-specific 3D data to the one or more gaming machines via the network connection, the second gaming display-specific 3D data including information used to generate a second perspective view of the same base animated 3D content model on a second gaming display,

wherein the first perspective and the second perspective are different,

the first perspective and the second perspective are selected based on the physical orientation of the first gaming display with respect to the second gaming display, and the base animated 3D content model indicates a gaming event or condition.

17. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are both included in a single gaming machine of the one or more gaming machines.

18. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein the first gaming display is included in a first gaming machine of the one or more gaming machines and wherein the second gaming display is included in a second gaming machine of the one or more gaming machines.

19. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein the first perspective view is of a first portion of the base animated 3D content model, wherein the second perspective view is of a second portion of the base animated 3D content model, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are different.

20. The casino gaming server of claim 16, the one or more processors further configured to determine the outcome of a game offered for play on the one or more gaming machines.

21. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data which modifies a parameter of the base animated 3D content model.

22. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data defining a perspective.

23. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data defining an animation of one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model.

24. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data modifying a property of one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model.

25. The casino gaming server of claim 24, wherein the property is selected from the group consisting of shape, size, position, orientation, or color of the 3D object.

26. The casino gaming server of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data replacing one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model with one or more different 3D objects.

27. The casino gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are substantially parallel to one another and wherein the second gaming display is oriented in an opposite direction from the first gaming display with respect to an observer of the first gaming display.

28. A method comprising:

displaying a first perspective view of a base animated 3D content model on a first gaming display; and

displaying a second perspective view of the same base animated 3D content model on a second gaming display,

wherein the first perspective view and the second perspective view are different, the first perspective view and the second perspective view are selected, using a computer, based on the physical orientation of the first gaming display with respect to the second gaming display, and

the base animated 3D content model indicates a gaming event or condition.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are both included in a single gaming machine.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first gaming display is included in a first gaming machine and wherein the second gaming display is included in a second gaming machine.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the first perspective view is of a first portion of the base animated 3D content model, wherein the second perspective view is of a second portion of the base animated 3D content model, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are different.

32. The method of claim 28, the method further comprising:

augmenting base 3D data with first gaming display-specific 3D data, wherein the base 3D data defines the base animated 3D content model, and wherein the first gaming display-specific 3D data includes information used to generate the first perspective view of the base animated 3D content model on the first gaming display; and

augmenting the base 3D data with second gaming display-specific 3D data, wherein the second gaming display-specific 3D data includes information used to generate the second perspective view of the base animated 3D content model on the second gaming display.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data which modifies a parameter of the base animated 3D content model.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data defining a perspective.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data defining an animation of one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data modifying a property of one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the property is selected from the group consisting of shape, size, position, orientation, or color of the 3D object.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first gaming display-specific 3D data and the second gaming display-specific 3D data comprises data replacing one or more 3D objects in the base animated 3D content model with one or more different 3D objects.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the first gaming display and the second gaming display are substantially parallel to one another and wherein the second gaming display is oriented in an opposite direction from the first gaming display with respect to an observer of the first gaming display.