Gaming system having a plurality of adjacently arranged gaming machines and a mechanical moveable indicator operable to individually indicate the gaming machines

• US 20060073868A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nordman, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A gaming system comprised of a plurality of adjacently arranged gaming machines and a mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator operable to individually indicate the gaming machines. The gaming machine indicator is mounted or positioned near the adjacently arranged gaming machines. A controller actuates the mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator to rotate or move. The mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator may also include lighting effects. The controller is operable to select a gaming machine and actuate the mechanical moveable gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming system having a central controller, said gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine in communication with said central controller and including at least one game operable to be played upon a wager by a player;

at least one motion producing device controlled by the central controller; and

at least one mechanical gaming machine indicator connected to said motion producing device, wherein said central controller is operable to;

(a) select at least one of the gaming machines;

(b) cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine;

(c) determine if the selected gaming machine is actively played; and

(d) if the selected gaming machine is actively played, cause the selected gaming machine to provide the player of said gaming machine an award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is operable to select at least one of the gaming machines independent of any game play occurring in any of the games of any of the gaming machines.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is operable to cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator into a plurality of positions prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is operable to select a plurality of the gaming machines.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is operable to select one of any actively played gaming machines.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine indicator includes a plurality of articulable members and the motion producing device is operable to independently move each articulable member.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein each articulable member is operable to indicate a different one of the gaming machines.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine indicator includes at least one illuminator.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine indicator includes at least one member from the group consisting of:

a display device, a sound producing device, a sound recording device, a video recording device, and a photographic device.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines are adjacently arranged in a closed configuration.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the central controller is operable to cause the motion producing device to rotate the gaming machine indicator adjacent to the gaming machines and to stop rotating the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines are adjacently arranged in an open configuration.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the central controller is operable to cause the motion producing device to oscillate the gaming machine indicator adjacent to the gaming machines and to stop oscillating the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is operable to randomly select at least one of the gaming machines.

15. A gaming system operated under the control of a central controller, said gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine in communication with said central controller and having at least one game operable to be played upon a wager by a player;

at least one motion producing device controlled by the central controller; and

at least one mechanical gaming machine indicator connected to said motion producing device, wherein said central controller is operable to;

(a) select at least one of the gaming machines upon the occurrence of a triggering event in at least one of the games played on at least one of the gaming machines,

(b) cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine, and

(c) cause the selected gaming machine to provide any player of said gaming machine an award.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the central controller is operable to cause the motion producing device to move the gaming machine indicator into a plurality of positions prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the game of the selected gaming machine is the game in which the triggering event occurs.

18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the game of at least one of the gaming machines other than the selected gaming machine is the game in which triggering event occurs.

19. A method of operating a gaming system under the control of a central controller, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a plurality of independent gaming machines to communicate with the central controller, wherein each gaming machine includes at least one game operable to be played upon a wager by a player;

(b) selecting at least one of the played gaming machines;

(c) moving at least one gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine;

(d) determining if the selected gaming machine is actively played; and

(e) if the selected gaming machine is actively played, providing the player of said gaming machine an award.

20. The method of claim 19, which includes selecting at least one of the gaming machines independent of any game play occurring in any of the games of any of the gaming machines.

21. The method of claim 19, which includes moving the gaming machine indicator prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

22. The method of claim 19, which includes selecting a plurality of the gaming machines.

23. The method of claim 19, which includes selecting one of any actively played gaming machines.

24. The method of claim 19, which includes illuminating the selected gaming machine.

25. The method of claim 19, which includes selecting a plurality of gaming machines.

26. The method of claim 25, which includes moving a plurality of gaming machine indicators to simultaneously indicate each selected gaming machine.

27. The method of claim 25, which includes moving a plurality of gaming machine indicators to sequentially indicate each selected gaming machine.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein moving the gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine includes displaying images, displaying messages, or broadcasting sounds.

29. The method of claim 19, which includes randomly selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

30. The method of claim 19, which is provided through a data network.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is an internet.

32. A method of operating a gaming system under the control of a central controller, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a plurality of gaming machines to communicate with the central controller, wherein each gaming machine includes at least one game operable to be played upon a wager by a player;

(b) determining if a triggering event occurs in at least one of the games of at least one of the gaming machines;

(c) upon the occurrence of a triggering event in at least one of the games of at least one of the gaming machines, selecting at least one of the gaming machines;

(d) moving at least one gaming machine indicator to indicate the selected gaming machine; and

(e) providing any player of said gaming machine an award.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the game of the selected gaming machine is the game in which the triggering event occurs.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the game of at least one of the gaming machines other than the selected gaming machine is the game in which the triggering event occurs.

35. The method of claim 32, which includes moving the gaming machine indicator prior to selecting at least one of the gaming machines.

36. The method of claim 32, which is provided through a data network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data network is an internet.