System and Method for 3D Gaming Effects
Embodiments of the invention described herein include, in a reel-based gaming machine, a system and method of displaying a gaming outcome. The system and method include displaying a reel image on a display, wherein displaying includes displaying one or more symbols as three-dimensional symbols. The method also includes animating a three-dimensional object on the display, wherein animating includes rendering at least a portion of the animation at around the time the image is displayed.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/715,643, filed Sep. 9, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
COPYRIGHTA portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever. Copyright 2005, 2006, WMS Gaming, Inc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This patent application pertains generally to gaming systems, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system and method for displaying three-dimensional gaming effects in a gaming machine.
2. Background Information
Video gaming machines are popular within the gaming industry. They typically are operable to play traditional games such as slots, poker, bingo, keno and blackjack. Such machines have been enhanced in recent years by adding effects that make them more attractive, exciting and entertaining.
Pick games and reel-based games are popular. In a pick game, the player chooses from a number of selections. The selection then triggers particular gaming outcomes.
In reel-based games, mechanical or simulated slot reels are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with one or more pay lines. If the selected outcome is one of the winning outcomes defined by a pay table, the processor awards the player with a number of credits associated with the winning outcome.
Pick games are either used alone, or in combination with reel-based games to provide bonus events. Bonus events occur outside the reel spin, injecting either a random event or fostering some player interaction to trigger a random event. No matter the type of game, there is a continuing need to develop new and exciting effects for video gaming machines.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Gaming machine 10 includes one or more credit receiving mechanisms 14 for receiving credits to be used for placing wagers in the game. The credit receiving mechanisms 14 may, for example, include a coin acceptor, a bill acceptor, a ticket reader, and a card reader. The bill acceptor and the ticket reader may be combined into a single unit. The card reader may, for example, accept magnetic cards and smart (chip) cards coded with money or designating an account containing money. In some embodiments, credit receiving mechanism 14 receives credits through a network interface.
In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 includes a user interface comprising a plurality of push-buttons 16, the above-noted touch screen, and other possible devices. The plurality of push-buttons 16 may, for example, include one or more “bet” buttons for wagering, a “play” button for commencing play, a “collect” button for cashing out, a help” button for viewing a help screen, a “pay table” button for viewing the pay table(s), and a “call attendant” button for calling an attendant. Additional game specific buttons may be provided to facilitate play of the specific game executed on the machine. The touch screen may define touch keys for implementing many of the same functions as the push-buttons. Other possible user interface devices include a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball.
A processor controls operation of the gaming machine 10. In response to receiving a wager and a command to initiate play, the processor randomly selects a game outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes and causes the display 12 to depict indicia representative of the selected game outcome. In the case of slots for example mechanical or simulated slot reels are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with one or more pay lines. If the selected outcome is one of the winning outcomes defined by a pay table, the processor awards the player with a number of credits associated with the winning outcome.
Alternatively, the random event may be generated by a remote computer using an RNG or pooling schema and then transmitted to the gaming machine. The processor 20 operates the display 12 to represent the random event(s) and outcome(s) in a visual form that can be understood by the player. In addition to the processor 20, the control system may include one or more additional slave control units for operating the display 12 and any secondary displays.
System memory 24 stores control software, operational instructions and data associated with the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the system memory 24 comprises a separate read-only memory (ROM) and battery-backed random-access memory (RAM). However, it will be appreciated that the system memory 24 may be implemented on any of several alternative types of memory structures or may be implemented on a single memory structure.
A payoff mechanism 26 is operable in response to instructions from the processor 20 to award a payoff to the player. The payoff may, for example, be in the form of a number of credits. The number of credits is determined by one or more math tables stored in, for example, system memory 24.
In one embodiment, gaming machine 10 includes a reel-based game with three-dimensional game effects.
In one embodiment, three-dimensional games are implemented using a game design package such as RenderWare Studio 2.0 running, for example, on a processor designed by Intel or AMD.
One three-dimensional reel-based game effect involves displaying a reel image on a display, wherein displaying includes displaying one or more symbols as three-dimensional symbols. One such embodiment is shown in
In one example embodiment, one or more of the three-dimensional symbols 40 is animated such that it appears to move forward in the display (closer to the viewer).
In another example embodiment, one or more of the three-dimensional symbols 40 is animated such that a logo appears to fly off the symbol.
In yet another example embodiment, one or more of the three-dimensional symbols 40 is animated such that the symbol appears to fall off the pay line. In one such embodiment, if the symbol is a ball, it appears to fall from pay line 42 and bounce around the display.
In yet another example embodiment, one or more of the three-dimensional symbols 40 includes a two-dimensional image and, when a gaming outcome indicates a winning combination, the two-dimensional image is morphed into a three-dimensional image. In one such embodiment, a two-dimensional image of a ball morphs into a three-dimensional representation of a ball. The ball then appears to fall from pay line 42 and bounce around the display. Such an animation may be used, for example, as part of a bonus round. For instance, the ball may bounce until it falls through a hole, with the hole setting the value of a payout.
In another such embodiment, a two-dimensional image of an airplane morphs into a three-dimensional representation of an airplane. The airplane then appears to fly around or within pay line 42.
In another embodiment, animation is used to make the symbol 40 seem to move forward and then morph into a three-dimensional landscape. The landscape can be used, for instance, in a follow-up game.
In one reel-based gaming machine, such as is shown in
In the example shown in
In one embodiment, system 10 maps a texture on one or more symbols 40 or objects 48 during the game.
In one reel-based gaming machine, such as is shown in
In the above discussion, the term “processor” is defined to include any digital or analog data processing unit. Examples include any microprocessor or microcontroller capable of embodying the inventions described herein.
Examples of articles comprising machine readable media are floppy disks, hard drives, CD-ROM or DVD media or any other read-write or read-only memory device.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. In a reel-based gaming machine, a method of displaying a gaming outcome, comprising:
- displaying a reel image on a display, wherein displaying includes displaying one or more symbols as three-dimensional symbols;
- modifying the reel image to reflect a gaming outcome; and
- animating a three-dimensional object on the display, wherein animating includes rendering at least a portion of the animation at around the time the image is displayed.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein animating a three-dimensional object includes making the object seem to move forward in the display.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein making the object seem to move forward includes morphing the symbol into a three-dimensional landscape.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the three-dimensional landscape is used in a follow-up game.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein animating a three-dimensional object includes making a logo appear to fly off the symbol.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the animated three-dimensional object includes a two-dimensional image and wherein animating the three-dimensional object includes morphing the two-dimensional image into a second three-dimensional object.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the animated three-dimensional object includes a two-dimensional image and wherein animating the three-dimensional symbol includes morphing the two-dimensional image into a second three-dimensional object and moving the second three-dimensional object around the display.
8. An article comprising a machine readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of claim 1.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein animating the three-dimensional object includes moving the animated three-dimensional object such that it lands on one of the three-dimensional symbols displayed in the reel image, wherein the animated three-dimensional object becomes part of a winning combination.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein moving includes rendering at least a portion of the image at around the time the image is displayed.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein moving includes projecting a texture on the reel image.
12. An article comprising a machine readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of claim 9.
13. In a reel-based gaming machine having a display, a method of displaying a gaming outcome, comprising:
- displaying a reel image and a background on the display, wherein the reel image includes symbols displayed on one or more lines and wherein at least a portion of the background appears to be a three dimensional landscape;
- modifying the reel image to reflect a gaming outcome; and
- moving the modified reel image so that the three-dimensional landscape can be used for a bonus play.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving includes rendering at least a portion of the reel image.
15. An article comprising a machine readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of claim 13.
16. A reel-type based gaming system, comprising:
- a display;
- a processor connected to the display; and
- a user interface connected to the processor;
- wherein the processor displays a reel image having one or more three-dimensional symbols on the display, modifies the reel image to reflect a gaming outcome and animates a three-dimensional object on the display, wherein animating includes rendering at least a portion of the animation at around the time the image is displayed.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor executes program code for simulating movement of the three-dimensional object.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 22, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 11, 2008
Inventor: Larry Pacey (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 12/065,694
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);