Abstract: Methods and apparatus on a gaming machine for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine are described. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a 3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of a game outcome presentation. The 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environment may include 3-D texts objects that are used to display text to the display screen of the gaming machine as part of the game outcome presentation. Apparatus and methods are described for generating and displaying information in a textual format that is compatible with a 3-D graphical rendering system. In particular, font generation and typesetting methods that are applicable in a 3-D gaming environment are described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming apparatus is provided. The gaming apparatus may comprise a display unit, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device. The controller may comprise a microprocessor and a memory operatively coupled to the microprocessor. The controller may be configured to allow a person to make a wager, and to generate a representation of a game display in a three dimensional (3D) graphics space. The controller may also be configured to generate a representation of at least one payline in the 3D graphics space, wherein the payline comprises a plurality of segments, wherein at least one of the plurality of segments approximates a curve in the payline. The controller may additionally be configured to convert a view of the 3D graphics space into display data for display on the display unit.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus may comprise a display unit, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device. The controller may comprise a microprocessor and a memory operatively coupled to the microprocessor. The controller may be configured to allow a person to make a wager, and to generate a graphical three dimensional (3D) representation of a game, the graphical 3D representation including at least one payline, the graphical 3D representation comprising graphics primitives in a 3D space. The controller may also be configured to convert a view of the graphical 3D representation into display data for display on the display unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming apparatus is provided. The gaming apparatus may comprise a display unit, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device. The controller may comprise a microprocessor and a memory operatively coupled to the microprocessor. The controller may be configured to generate a representation of a game display in a three dimensional (3D) graphics space, and to convert a view of the 3D graphics space into display data for display on the display unit, the view including the game display. The controller may also be configured to cause the display unit to display the display data, the display data including the view of the 3D graphics space, and to allow a person to make a wager. The controller may additionally be configured to cause the display unit to display a secondary display, the secondary display overlapping, at least in part, the game display, wherein the secondary display appears at least partially transparent.

Abstract: A video gaming machine simulates a real physical game, such as pachinko, by providing a mathematical model of the game including rules governing movement of an object placed in motion in accordance with a set of initial conditions. A pay table for the game is developed by creating a list of outcomes, assigning a probability of occurrence to each outcome, assigning a win amount to each outcome, and determining a pay table percentage by multiplying each outcome's probability of occurrence by its win amount and summing the products for all of the outcomes in the list. Creation of the list of outcomes and assignment of probabilities of occurrence may be effected by a Monte Carlo test. The game is played by randomly selecting a set of initial conditions and running them through the model.