Method and apparatus for selecting and animating game elements in a gaming machine

• US 9,147,320 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: McInerny, Paul A., Thomas, Alfred, Gomez, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US13/399,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting game elements in a gaming machine are described herein. In an embodiment, the method includes displaying a plurality of player-selectable elements. Responsive to player input via at least one input device, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements is selected. The selected first element is animated with a first animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected first element. After the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, responsive to player input via the at least one input device, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements is selected. The selected second element is animated with a second animation to commence revealing an outcome associated with the selected second element. The method then reveals the outcome associated with the selected first element and the outcome associated with the selected second element.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system including one or more controllers and a gaming machine, the gaming machine for playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and an electronic input device including a touch screen overlaying the electronic display device, the cabinet constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game, the electronic display device and the electronic input device being coupled to the gaming cabinet, the method comprising:

receiving, responsive to a physical input to the electronic input device of the gaming machine, a wager input to initiate the casino wagering game;

determining, by the one or more controllers, an initial outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on one or more randomly generated elements;

displaying the initial outcome, including a plurality of player-selectable elements, on the electronic display device;

selecting, responsive to player input via the touch screen, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements by touching the touch screen over the first element;

animating, on the electronic display device, the selected first element with a first animation to commence revealing a first outcome associated with the selected first element;

after the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, selecting, responsive to player input via the touch screen, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements by touching the touch screen over the second element and maintaining contact with the touch screen while swiping the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively;

animating, on the electronic display device, the selected second element with a second animation to commence revealing a second outcome associated with the selected second element;

revealing the first outcome associated with the selected first element;

revealing the second outcome associated with the selected second element; and

awarding, by the one or more controllers, an award in response to at least one of the first outcome or the second outcome meeting a predetermined award criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the animating of the selected second element occurs while the selected first element is still animating.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second animations are the same sequence, and wherein the second animation trails the first animation in time such that the second animation commences after the first animation commences and concludes after the first animation concludes.

4. The method of claim 1, further including:

after the second element has been selected and while the selected second element is still animating, selecting, responsive to player input via the touch screen, a third element of the plurality of player-selectable elements;

animating, on the electronic display device, the selected third element with a third animation to commence revealing a third outcome associated with the selected third element; and

revealing the third outcome associated with the selected third element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting of the third element occurs while the selected first and second elements are still animating.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the animating of the third element occurs while the selected second element is still animating.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the animating of the third element occurs while the selected first and second elements are still animating.

8. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine for playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine including a gaming an electronic display device, and an electronic input device including a touch screen overlaying the electronic display device, the cabinet constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game, the electronic display device and the electronic input device being coupled to the gaming cabinet, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal; and

one or more controllers configured to;

initiate the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device of the gaming machine;

determine an initial outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on one or more randomly generated elements;

select, responsive to player input via the touch screen, a first element of the plurality of player-selectable elements by touching the touch screen over the first element;

animate, on the electronic display device, the selected first element with a first animation to commence revealing a first outcome associated with the selected first element;

after the first element has been selected and while the selected first element is still animating, select, responsive to player input via the touch screen, a second element of the plurality of player-selectable elements by touching the touch screen over the second element and maintaining contact with the touch screen while swiping the touch screen over the first and second elements, respectively;

animate, on the electronic display device, the selected second element with a second animation to commence revealing a second outcome associated with the selected second element;

reveal the first outcome associated with the selected first element on the electronic display device;

reveal the second outcome associated with the selected second element on the electronic display device; and

award an award in response to at least one of the first outcome or the second outcome meeting a predetermined award criterion.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the animating of the selected second element occurs while the selected first element is still animating.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the first and second animations are the same sequence, and wherein the second animation trails the first animation in time such that the second animation commences after the first animation commences and concludes after the first animation concludes.