Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.

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 disclosed gaming machine is designed to execute a modular gaming software architecture. A plurality of gaming software modules may be loaded into RAM on the gaming machine and executed to play a game of chance. Many of the gaming software modules are designed to communicate via application program interfaces so that the logic in many of the gaming software modules may be designed independently of each other. In particular, the modular gaming software architecture allows presentation state logic to be decoupled from implementations of presentation components, such as graphical, audio and gaming device components, used in a presentation of the game of chance on a gaming machine.

Abstract: A resource manager can vary content for various display aspect ratios used to display information in a computing environment. This allows providing content that is more suitable and/or especially designed for display on a particular aspect ratio. It will be appreciated that resource manager can facilitate execution of the same computer program code for various aspect ratio as content displayed can be effectively adjusted by the resource manager. In order to support multiple aspect ratios, the resource manager can use an Aspect Ratio Adaptable Data Set (ARADS) that effectively supports displaying graphical content for various aspect ratios. The (ARADS) can include “base data” and “aspect-ratio-specific data” that can complement and/or replace the base data. The base data can be used as an initial basis for displaying graphics on any one of a plurality of different aspect ratios while the aspect-ratio-specific data can be specifically designed for and/or accommodate a particular aspect ratio.

Abstract: A resource manager can vary content for various display aspect ratios used to display information in a computing environment. This allows providing content that is more suitable and/or especially designed for display on a particular aspect ratio. It will be appreciated that resource manager can facilitate execution of the same computer program code for various aspect ratio as content displayed can be effectively adjusted by the resource manager. In order to support multiple aspect ratios, the resource manager can use an Aspect Ratio Adaptable Data Set (ARADS) that effectively supports displaying graphical content for various aspect ratios. The (ARADS) can include “base data” and “aspect-ratio-specific data” that can complement and/or replace the base data. The base data can be used as an initial basis for displaying graphics on any one of a plurality of different aspect ratios while the aspect-ratio-specific data can be specifically designed for and/or accommodate a particular aspect ratio.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

Abstract: In a gaming method, a wager may be received from a player via a value input device of a gaming apparatus, and an image representative of a game may be generated for display on a display unit of the gaming apparatus. Compiled code associated with play of the game may be executed using a processor of the apparatus, and the compiled code may include code to read data from a file stored in a memory of the gaming apparatus, wherein the file is separate from the compiled code. First uncompiled instruction data may be read from the file using the compiled code, the first uncompiled instruction data indicative of a request to create a first software object associated with play of the game. The first software object may be created using the compiled code in response to the uncompiled first instruction data. Second uncompiled instruction data may be from the file using the compiled code, the second uncompiled instruction data indicative of a request to create a second software object associated with play of the game.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

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: 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: A resorce manager can vary content for various display aspect ratios used to display information in a computing environment. This allows providing content that is more suitable and/or especially designed for display on a particular aspect ratio. It will be appreciated that resouce manager can faciltiate execution of the same computer program code for various aspect ratio as content dispalyed can be effectively adjusted by the resource manager. In order to support mutilple aspect ratios, the resource manager can use an Aspect Ratio Adaptable Data Set (ARADS) that effectively supports displaying graphical content for various aspect ratios. The (ARADS) can include “base data” and “aspect-ratio-specfic data” that can complement and/or replace the base data. The base data can be used as an intial basis for displaying graphics on any one of a plurality of different aspect ratios while the aspect-ratio-specfic data can be specifically designed for and/or accomdate a particular aspect ratio.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring and controlling gaming-environments are disclosed. Techniques can, for example, facilitate installation of one or more games on a plurality of gaming-machines. A gaming monitor/controller can determine whether gaming-machines in a gaming-environment are suitable for or capable of executing a particular game(s). In addition, data can be generated to determine whether a gaming-machine is suitable or capable of executing a game. This data can be displayed, for example, to assist a human operator in determining which new games or updates are more appropriate for a particular gaming-machine or group of gaming-machines. Diagnostic information can also be provided to, for example, assist the human operator in determining whether corrective actions can be taken in order to play a game on a particular machine or combination of machines (e.g., two gaming-machines can be combined together to run a game, or a component can be taken from another gaming-machine in order to run the game).

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: A gaming apparatus is provided comprising a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device The controller comprises a processor, a random access memory and a read only memory operatively coupled to the processor. The controller is programmed to detect, in a computer software instruction, a name of a computer program to be executed, and to access memory to retrieve a memory address corresponding to the name of the computer program to be executed. The controller is also programmed to cause the computer program to be retrieved from the memory utilizing the memory address, and to execute the computer program retrieved from the memory.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides a plurality of virtual gaming peripherals that are each used to generate one or more gaming services. To provide a particular gaming service, each virtual gaming peripheral may comprise virtual gaming peripheral software that controls one or more gaming devices. A logic device, such as a master gaming controller on the gaming machine, may simultaneously activate a plurality of virtual gaming peripherals. Therefore, a gaming device may be shared by a plurality of active virtual gaming peripherals and additional logic may be provided to resolve conflicts that arise when two or more virtual gaming peripherals desire to control the same gaming device at the same time.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is designed to execute a modular gaming software architecture. A plurality of gaming software modules may be loaded into RAM on the gaming machine and executed to play a game of chance. Many of the gaming software modules are designed to communicate via application program interfaces so that the logic in many of the gaming software modules may be designed independently of each other. In particular, the modular gaming software architecture allows presentation state logic to be decoupled from implementations of presentation components, such as graphical, audio and gaming device components, used in a presentation of the game of chance on a gaming machine.

Abstract: A modular tilt handling system for controlling how tilts are declared, displayed and cleared in a gaming machine. The modular tilt handling system includes a plurality of gaming software elements that allow the gaming system to detect events and to generate one or more tilts in response to the one or more events in accordance with the regulations of a gaming jurisdiction. The modular tilt handling system treats events separately from tilts so that tilts can be dynamically configured for different gaming jurisdictions.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. 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. Apparatus and methods are described for generating and displaying a sequence of symbols from a virtual reel strip in the 3-D gaming environment. In particular, the sequence of symbols may be mapped to one or more to flat reels, rounded reels or sequences of moving objects in the 3-D gaming environment.