Wms Gaming, Inc.

Bally Gaming, Inc.

Samuel D Ralston

Vladimir I Arezina

Matthew R Fitzsimons

Alfred Thomas

Mark B Gagner

James M Rasmussen

Stephen A Canterbury

Victor Mercado

Timothy John Durham

Jorge Luis Shimabukuro

Larry J Pacey

Craig Joe Sylla

Damon E Gura

Mark C Pace

Srinivyasa Murthy Adiraju

Jun Wang

Steven J Lee

Vikram Swamy

Jesse L Garvey

Travis L Bowers

Jerome Carpenter

Ryan S Mak

Matthew H Phan

Christopher T Fester

A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region. A first image display device for simulating mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region includes a curved surface that approximates the radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The curved surface displays first video images that include a plurality of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. A second image display device displays second video images spatially separated from and overlaying the first video images within the display region. The second video images include indicia related to the wagering game.

Wagering game with simulated mechanical reels

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for operating wagering game machines are disclosed. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first display device that is configured to display aspects of the wagering game. The first display device includes a touchscreen configured to receive user inputs. The gaming machine also includes a second display device that is configured to display a plurality of user-selectable elements. The second display device is further configured to display a selection mechanism in response to a first user input received from a user via the touchscreen of the first display device. The second display device is also configured, in response to a second user input received from the user via the touchscreen of the first display device, to display the selection mechanism selecting at least one of the displayed user-selectable elements.

Systems, methods, and devices for operating wagering game machines with enhanced user interfaces

Wagering game with simulated mechanical reels having an overlying image display

Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive a signal that enables execution of instructions forming a memory clear process, wherein the instructions are included in an operating system of a wagering game machine. Additional activities may include executing the instructions by at least one processor to clear at least a portion of nonvolatile memory in the wagering game machine and initializing the operating system to enable receiving a wager from a player in association with a wagering game to be played on the wagering game machine. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Memory clear operations in wagering game machines

Methods and apparatus for monitoring wagering game machines in a network are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for monitoring wagering game machines in a network includes receiving, in a wagering game machine, a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include receiving status information associated with a peripheral device or other component of the wagering game machine and transmitting diagnostic information indicating whether the peripheral device or other component needs service, wherein the diagnostic information is based at least in part on the status information.

Monitoring wagering game machines in a network

Potential player proximity to a gaming machine is sensed, and used to customize the gaming machine. The potential player position may be sensed in different manners including via an ID card carried by the potential player with triangulation sensors, a cell phone, or via biometrics. The identity of the player is also associated with the ID card, and is used to access a database containing information about the potential player or type of player. Based on that stored information, the proximate gaming machine may be customized with a game or various attract modes that are more likely to attract the potential player. In further embodiments, information known to be desired by the potential player, such as sporting results may also be displayed to attract the potential player. In still further embodiments, various profiling techniques may be utilized to identify desired customizations of proximately located gaming machines.

Proximity based game customization

A method and system of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels includes receiving a wager to play the wagering game. A first set of video images are displayed on a curved surface approximately a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The first set of video images simulates movement of a first set of reel symbols. In response to a triggering event, a second set of video images are displayed on the curved surface. The second set of video images simulate a transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to a second set of reel symbols.

A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a curved transparent layer located in the display region, and a video display. The video display is located behind the transparent layer for projecting moving images onto the transparent layer. The images including a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The curved transparent layer can be moving as well. Environmental mapping may be used to sense the location of the player and/or the ambient lighting surrounding the gaming machine and alter the images based on the sensing. The altering may include spectral highlights, shading, and the parallax effect. The video images may further include imperfections normally found in mechanical reel strips. The gaming machine provides video images that more closely simulate the look of traditional mechanical reels.

A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a housing having a display region, a controller for conducting the wagering game, and a video projector coupled to the controller. The display region includes a plurality of projection surfaces secured to floating screen assemblies. The video projector simulates mechanical reels of a slot machine in the display region. The video projector displays images of a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game. The images are projected onto the projection surfaces within the display region.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Samuel D Ralston