Wagering game with simulated mechanical reels

• US 8,403,743 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Pacey, Larry J., Rasmussen, James M., Durham, Timothy J., Gagner, Mark B., Thomas, Alfred, Arezina, Vladimir I., Canterbury, Stephen A., Mercado, Victor, Ralston, Samuel D., Fitzsimons, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOSHI, ANKIT B
• Application Number:
  US12/270,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,594 Days
• Field of Search: 463 20- 21
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• 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 method and system of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels includes receiving a wager to play the wagering game. A first set of video images are displayed on a curved surface approximately a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The first set of video images simulates movement of a first set of reel symbols. In response to a triggering event, a second set of video images are displayed on the curved surface. The second set of video images simulate a transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to a second set of reel symbols.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels, comprising:

receiving via an input device a wager to play the wagering game;

displaying on a curved surface a first set of video images of simulated first reel symbols on one or more simulated reels for a first wagering game, the curved surface approximating a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel; and

in response to a triggering event, displaying a transition set of video images on the curved surface, the transition set of video images including at least a portion of the simulated first reel symbols on the one or more simulated reels for the first wagering game and at least a portion of simulated second reel symbols on one or more simulated reels for a second wagering game, the second reel symbols being different from the first reel symbols, the transition set of video images simulating a transitioning from the first reel symbols on the one or more simulated reels for the first wagering game to the second reel symbols on the one or more simulated reels for the second wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second set of video images are projected onto a display surface that is spatially separated from the curved surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the curved surface includes a projection surface secured to a floating screen assembly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of symbols is associated with a first wagering game having a first theme and the second set of symbols is associated with a second wagering game having a second theme.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of symbols is associated with a basic game of the wagering game and the second set of symbols is associated with a bonus game of the wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of symbols is associated with a special event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning from the first set of symbols to the second set symbols includes at least one of the first set of symbols morphing into at least one of the second set of symbols.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning from the first set of symbols to the second set symbols includes simulating movement of the first set of symbols before displaying the second set of symbols.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is initiated by input received over a server-based network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is initiated by input received from a player of the wagering game.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of video images simulates one or more first reel imperfections, and the second set of video images simulates one or more second reel imperfections.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first reel imperfections is substantially the same as at least one of the second reel imperfections.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein simulating the transition includes the first set of reel symbols disappearing from the curved surface as the second set of reel symbols appear on the curved surface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein simulating the transition further includes the simulated mechanical reel appearing to rotate by at least a half turn during the first set of reel symbols disappearing from the curved surface and the second set of reel symbols appearing on the curved surface.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated mechanical reel appears to rotate upward during the simulating of the transition.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein simulating the transition includes simulating motion blur on the curved surface such that the transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to the second set of reel symbols occurs during the simulated motion blur.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the curved surface a second set of video images simulating movement of the second reel symbols on the one or more simulated reels for the second wagering game.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition set of video images simulating the transitioning from the first reel symbols to the second reel symbols includes simulating one reel at a time the transitioning of the first and second reel symbols on the one or more simulated reels.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition set of video images simulating the transitioning from the first reel symbols to the second reel symbols includes simultaneously simulating the transitioning of the first reels symbols to the second reel symbols on a plurality of the one or more simulated reels.

20. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a housing having a display region;

a controller configured to receive first video images of first reel symbols on a first simulated symbol-bearing reel associated with a first game and transition video images including at least a portion of the first reel symbols associated with the first game and at least a portion of second reel symbols associated with a second game, the first reel symbols being different from the second reel symbols;

a curved display surface in the display region and approximating a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel; and

an image display device spatially separated from the curved display surface, the image display device configured to project the first video images onto the curved display surface such that the curved display surface presents the first video images to a player and further configured to project, in response to a triggering event, the transition video images onto the curved display surface, the transition video images simulating a transition from the first simulated symbol-bearing reel for the first game to a second simulated symbol-bearing reel for the second game.

21. A gaming terminal of claim 20, further comprising a second image display device for displaying at least a portion of the transition video images spatially separated from and superimposed on the curved display surface.

22. The gaming terminal of claim 20, wherein the curved display surface includes a projection surface secured to a floating screen assembly.

23. The gaming terminal of claim 20, wherein the first simulated symbol-bearing reel is associated with a first wagering game having a first theme and the second simulated symbol-bearing reel is associated with a second wagering game having a second theme.

24. The gaming terminal of claim 20, wherein the first simulated symbol-bearing reel is associated with a basic game of the wagering game and the second simulated symbol-bearing reel is associated with a bonus game of the wagering game.

25. The gaming terminal of claim 20, wherein the second simulated symbol-bearing reel is associated with a special event.

26. The gaming terminal of claim 20, wherein the transition from the first simulated symbol-bearing reel to the second simulated symbol-bearing reel includes a first symbol on the first simulated symbol-bearing reel morphing into a second symbol on the second simulated symbol-bearing reel.

27. A method of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels, comprising:

displaying first video images of first reel symbols of a first simulated symbol-bearing reel associated with a first game on a curved surface approximating a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel; and

in response to a triggering event, displaying transition video images including at least a portion of the first reel symbols associated with the first game and at least a portion of second reel symbols associated with a second game on the curved surface, the first reel symbols being different from the second reel symbols, the transition video images simulating a transition from the first simulated symbol-bearing reel for the first game to a second simulated symbol-bearing reel for the second game.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first symbol-bearing reel is associated with a first wagering game having a first theme and the second symbol-bearing reel is associated with a second wagering game having a second theme.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the transition includes a first symbol on the first symbol-bearing reel morphing into, or being replaced with, a second symbol on the second symbol-bearing reel.

30. The method of claim 29, further including displaying an additional video image spatially separated from, but superimposed onto, the curved surface, the additional video image helping to portray removal of the first symbol and addition of the second symbol.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the transition includes simulating movement of the first symbol-bearing reel to a position out of view of a player as the second symbol-bearing reel comes into view of the player.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the first symbol-bearing reel includes one or more first imperfections and the second symbol-bearing reel includes one or more second imperfections.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first imperfections is substantially the same as at least one of the second imperfections.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the displaying the first video images includes projecting the first video images from an image display device onto the curved surface, the image display device being spatially separated from the curved surface.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying on the curved surface a second set of video images simulating movement of the second reel symbols on the second symbol-bearing reel for the second wagering game.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the transition video images further simulate one reel at a time a transition of multiple simulated symbol-bearing reels.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the transition video images further simulate a simultaneous transition of multiple simulated symbol-bearing reels.