Casino display methods and devices

• US 8,545,326 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Underdahl, Brian, Nguyen, Binh, Hungate, Yuliya, LeMay, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/517,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,581 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Novel methods, devices and systems are described for forming displays and creating environments in a casino. Some implementations of the invention provide configurable gaming machine skins, which may be formed from electronic paper or the like. Casino environments may be created in accordance with a game theme and/or to indicate a group of players. The environment may include configurable surfaces of gaming machines and/or nearby surfaces, such as walls, floors and ceilings. Projected light and/or an audio system may be used to enhance the immersive and dynamic environment. Preferably, some or all of these features may be changed automatically when a game theme changes.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

at least a first gaming machine and a processor in a plurality of gaming machines is configured to cooperate with at least a second gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines to provide a wagering game as a group wagering game,

the gaming machine comprising;

a gaming machine cabinet having an exterior surface,

an input device configured to receive an indication of a wager for play of one or more wagering games,

an output device configured to output an item of value based on play of the one or more wagering games,

a main display configured to display game play data of one or more wagering games,

a first player interface configured to receive an indication to change a game theme;

a second player interface configured to receive a request to provide a wagering game as the group wagering game; and

a configurable surface display mounted to the gaming machine cabinet and being separate from the main display, the configurable surface display covering or integral with at least a portion of the exterior surface of the gaming machine cabinet,

wherein;

the processor, coupled with the player interface, is configured, responsive to the indication, to stop executing a first game theme and start executing a second game theme by causing the configurable surface display to;

a) display a first graphical pattern of game theme information associated with the first game theme,

b) change, responsive to the indication, from the first game theme to the second game theme different from the first game theme, and

c) display a second graphical pattern of game theme information associated with the second game theme.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, at least one configurable surface display comprising electronic paper.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, the processor coupled with at least one other device to display a respective graphical pattern of game theme information associated with one or both of the first game theme and the second game theme displays on one or more surfaces remote from the gaming machine.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, the player interface comprising a network interface.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, the first graphical pattern of game theme information comprising a static graphical pattern.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, the first graphical pattern of game theme information comprising a dynamic graphical pattern.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, at least one configurable surface display configured to show an image when the processor is not powered.

8. The gaming system of claim 3, the one or more surfaces comprising one or more surfaces of a second plurality of gaming machines.

9. The gaming system of claim 3, the one or more surfaces comprising one or more surfaces of an environment near the gaming machine.

10. The gaming system of claim 3, the one or more surfaces comprising one or more configurable surfaces.

11. The gaming system of claim 3, the one or more surfaces comprising a wall surface, a floor surface, a ceiling surface or a sign surface.

12. A gaming environment control system, comprising:

a processor, coupled with a player interface of a gaming machine, configured, responsive to an indication received at the player interface, to determine that a first plurality of gaming machines will stop executing a first game theme and start executing a second game theme, the second game theme associated with a wagering game played as a group wagering game; and

a first display that, responsive to instructions from the processor, is configured to;

(i) display a first graphical pattern of game theme information associated with the first game theme,

(ii) receive instructions from the processor to change from the first game theme to the second game theme different from the first game theme, and

(iii) display a second graphical pattern of game theme information associated with the second game theme;

wherein

the first display comprises an integrated display including a plurality of surfaces, the first display being separate from the first plurality of gaming machines and near the first plurality of gaming machines.

13. The gaming environment control system of claim 12, further comprising:

an audio output device near the first plurality of gamine machines configured to;

(i) output first game theme sounds of game theme information associated with the first game theme,

(ii) receive instructions from the processor to change from the first game theme to the second game theme different from the first game theme, and

(iii) output second game theme sounds of game theme information associated with the second game theme.

14. The gaming environment control system of claim 12, the first display comprising a light projection system.

15. The gaming environment control system of claim 12, the first display comprising electronic paper.

16. The gaming environment control system of claim 14, the light projection system configured to project the first graphical pattern of game theme information and the second graphical pattern of game theme information on the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being a first wall surface.

17. The gaming environment control system of claim 14, the light projection system configured to project the first graphical pattern of game theme information and the second graphical pattern of game theme information on the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being a first ceiling surface.

18. The gaming environment control system of claim 14, the light projection system configured to project the first graphical pattern of game theme information and the second graphical pattern of game theme information the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being a first floor surface.

19. The gaming environment control system of claim 12 the first display configured to display a single image on the plurality of surfaces of the integrated display.

20. The gaming environment control system of claim 12 the first display configured to display images moving across the plurality of surfaces of the integrated display.

21. The gaming environment control system of claim 12 the plurality of surfaces comprising at least one wall surface.

22. The gaming environment control system of claim 12 the plurality of surfaces comprising at least one floor surface.

23. The gaming environment control system of claim 12 the plurality of surfaces comprising at least one ceiling surface.

24. The gaming environment control system of claim 12, further comprising:

special effects devices near the first plurality of gaming machines configured to;

(i) produce first game theme special effects of game theme information associated with the first game theme,

(ii) receive instructions from the processor to change from the first game theme to the second game theme different from the first game theme, and

(iii) produce second game theme special effects of game theme information associated with the second game theme.

25. The gaming environment control system of claim 24, the special effects devices comprising devices configured to produce holographic images, devices configured to produce smoke, and devices configured to produce mist.

26. The gaming environment control system of claim 15, the electronic paper coupled with the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being a first wall surface.

27. The gaming environment control system of claim 15, the electronic paper coupled with the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being a first ceiling surface.

28. The gaming environment control system of claim 15, the electronic paper coupled with the plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being a first floor surface.