Beat synchronization in a game

• US 9,192,857 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Decker, Duane R.
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US13/948,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20150031454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

Systems and methods for synchronizing beats in a game include predicting when beats of the music currently playing in the game will occur. The playing of sound effects, music transitions, or the like that are triggered by in-game events may be synchronized with the predicted beats of the currently playing music.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor, identifying, by a validator, the received physical item and establishing, by a processing circuit, a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(b) if a wager button is actuated, placing, by the processing circuit, a wager on a play of a game;

(c) initiating, by the processing circuit, playing of a first audio file associated with the game and starting, by the processing circuit, a timer upon said initiation;

(d) playing, by at least one output device, the first audio file;

(e) comparing, by the processing circuit, beat data associated with the playing first audio file to the timer to predict when beats of the playing first audio file will occur;

(f) upon an occurrence of an in-game event during said play of the game after initiation of the playing of the first audio file, identifying, by the processing circuit, a second audio file associated with the in-game event;

initiating, by the processing circuit, playing of the second audio file at a point in time based at least in part on the predicted beats of the playing first audio file; and

playing, by the at least one output device, the second audio file; and

(g) if a cashout button is actuated, initiating, by the processing circuit, a payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the beat data comprises a beat frequency value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the processing circuit, the occurrence of beats in the playing first audio file; and

predicting, by the processing circuit, when the beats of the playing first audio file will occur based on the identified beats.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delaying, by the processing circuit, initiating the playing of the second audio file associated with the in-game event until a time when a beat of the playing first audio file is predicted to occur.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stopping, by the processing circuit, the playing first audio file when the second audio file associated with the in-game event is played.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

(a) following receipt, by an acceptor, of a physical item associated with a monetary value and identification, by a validator, of the received physical item, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(b) if a wager button is actuated, place a wager on a play of a game;

(c) initiate playing of a first audio file associated with the game and start a timer upon said initiation;

(d) cause at least one output device to play the first audio file;

(e) compare beat data associated with the playing first audio file to the timer to predict when beats of the playing first audio file will occur;

(f) upon an occurrence of an in-game event during said play of the game after initiation of the playing of the first audio file, identify a second audio file associated with the in-game event;

initiate playing of the second audio file based at least in part on the predicted beats of the playing first audio file; and

cause the at least one output device to play the second audio file; and

(g) if a cashout button is actuated, cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the beat data comprises a beat frequency value.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

identify the occurrence of beats in the playing first audio file; and

predict when the beats of the playing first audio file will occur based on the identified beats.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

delay initiating the playing of the second audio file associated with the in-game event until a time when a beat of the playing audio file is predicted to occur.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to stop the playing first audio file when the second audio file associated with the in-game event is played.

11. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a housing;

one or more electronic displays supported by the housing;

one or more speakers supported by the housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including a validator and an acceptor; and

a processing circuit configured to operate with the one or more electronic displays, the one or more speakers, and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by the acceptor, identify, by the validator, the received physical item and establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(b) if a wager button is actuated, place a wager on a play of a game;

(c) initiate playing of a first audio file associated with the game and start a timer upon said initiation;

(d) play the first audio file via the one or more speakers;

(e) compare beat data associated with the playing first audio file to the timer to predict when beats of the playing first audio file will occur;

(f) upon an occurrence of an in-game event during said play of the game after initiation of the playing of the first audio file, identify a second audio file associated with the in-game event, initiate playing of the second audio file based at least in part on the predicted beats of the playing first audio file, and play the second audio file; and

(g) if a cashout button is actuated, initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the beat data comprises a beat frequency value.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

identify the occurrence of beats in the playing first audio file; and

predict when the beats of the playing first audio file will occur based on the identified beats.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

delay the playing of the second audio file associated with the in-game event until a time when a beat of the playing first audio file is predicted to occur.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is configured to:

stop the playing first audio file when the second audio file associated with the in-game event is played.