Gaming machine performing real-time 3D rendering of gaming events

• US 8,454,428 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pacey, Larry J., Gilmore, Jason C., Casey, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/657,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,557 Days
• Field of Search: 345/422, 345473-475, 345949-960, 345652-654, 345663-665, 345678-680, 463/1, 463 11- 34, 463 2- 8, 463 40- 43, 273/292, 273/317.1, 273/317.3, 273/317.5, 273/317.6, 273/108, 273/108.1, 273/108.3, 273/4, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/142.R, 273/142.A, 273/142.F, 273/142.G, 273/142.H, 273/142.HA, 273/146, 273/460, 273/108.4, 434/247, 434/249, 434/251, 708250-256, 703/1, 703/6, 703/7
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A gaming machine uses mathematical modeling and graphical displays to provide players with realistic depictions of gaming activities for wagering. Three-dimensional mathematical models are used to simulate real-world interactions of physical objects, with a display showing the player a visual representation of the game interactions. By providing the player with a realistic depiction of real-world gaming activities, a gaming machine according to the present invention involves the player in the wagered-upon activity to a greater extent than traditional gaming machines.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:

storing simulation rule data and physical object data, the physical object data defining physical objects including a ball and a wheel having a plurality of pockets, the simulation rule data defining rules of a simulated world that affect the physical objects including how the ball interacts with the wheel, the simulation rule data and the physical object data being selected to yield a pre-selected desired outcome probability distribution of a plurality of possible simulated outcomes;

accepting a wager to play a wagering game;

based on the interaction of the physical object data and the simulation rule data, simulating actions of the physical ball and wheel objects within the simulated world to randomly select a simulated outcome of the ball landing in a pocket after the wheel is rotated from the plurality of possible simulated outcomes of the plurality of pockets according to the desired outcome probability distribution;

graphically rendering the actions and the simulated outcome such that the desired outcome probability distribution is readily apparent and discernible to a player of the wagering game; and

providing an award if the selected simulated outcome represents a winning condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulating and the rendering occur simultaneously such that the actions and the simulated outcome are rendered in real time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulating occurs prior to the rendering such that the simulated outcome is selected prior to being rendered.

4. The method of claim 1, further including randomly modifying the simulation rule data such that pre-defined organizations of the physical objects provide different ones of the simulated outcomes.

5. The method of claim 1, further including modifying the simulation rule data by bounds to control the possible simulated outcomes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulating and the rendering are performed by a 3D processor that receives the simulation rule data and the physical object data from a central processor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the simulation rule data includes common rule data applicable to different types of wagering games such that the 3D processor need not be updated with the common rule data for the different types of wagering games.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulating and the rendering occur, in part, simultaneously but the simulated outcome is selected prior to being rendered.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulating commences from a randomly chosen initial condition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulating includes influencing the actions with a random variable.

21. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A gaming system comprising:

a memory for storing simulation rule data and physical object data, the physical object data defining physical objects including a ball and a wheel having a plurality of pockets, the simulation rule data defining rules of a simulated world that affect the physical objects including how the ball interacts with the wheel, the simulation rule data and the physical object data being selected to yield a pre-selected desired outcome probability distribution of a plurality of possible simulated outcomes;

a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game;

a display; and

a controller operative to

based on the interaction of the physical object data and the simulation rule data, simulate actions of the physical ball and wheel objects within the simulated world to randomly select a simulated outcome of the ball landing in a pocket after the wheel is rotated from a plurality of possible simulated outcomes of the plurality of pockets according to the desired outcome probability distribution;

graphically render the actions and the simulated outcome on the display such that the desired outcome probability distribution is readily apparent and discernible to a player of the wagering game; and

provide an award if the selected simulated outcome represents a winning condition.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to simulate and render simultaneously such that the actions and the simulated outcome are rendered on the display in real time.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to simulate prior to rendering such that the simulated outcome is selected prior to being rendered on the display.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to randomly modify the simulation rule data such that pre-defined organizations of the physical objects provide different ones of the simulated outcomes.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to modify the simulation rule data by bounds to control the possible simulated outcomes.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller includes a central processor and a 3D processor, the 3D processor being operative to receive the simulation rule data and the physical object data from the central processor and then simulate and render the actions and simulated outcome on the display.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the simulation rule data includes common rule data applicable to different types of wagering games such that the 3D processor need not be updated with the common rule data for the different types.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to simulate and render, in part, simultaneously but select the simulated outcome prior to being rendered.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to simulate the actions commencing from a randomly chosen initial condition.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to influence the actions with a random variable.

22. A method of operating a gaming system simulating a horse race comprising:

storing simulation rule data and physical object data, the physical object data defining physical objects including a plurality of racers and a track, the simulation rule data defining rules of a simulated world that affect the physical objects including the skill of the racers and the conditions of the track, the simulation rule data and the physical object data being selected to yield a pre-selected desired outcome probability distribution of a plurality of possible simulated outcomes of the winner of a race between the plurality of racers on the track;

accepting a wager to play a wagering game;

based on the interaction of the physical object data and the simulation rule data, simulating actions of the physical racer objects within the simulated track world to randomly select a simulated outcome from the plurality of possible simulated outcomes according to the desired outcome probability distribution;

graphically rendering the actions and the simulated outcome such that the desired outcome probability distribution is readily apparent and discernible to a player of the wagering game based on the racing of the plurality of racers; and

providing an award if the selected simulated outcome represents a winning condition.