U.S. patent application number 11/342360 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for gaming machine providing redeemable music awards.
This patent application is currently assigned to WMS GAMING INC.. Invention is credited to Gene Rigsby.
Application Number | 20070173309 11/342360 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38286220 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070173309 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rigsby; Gene |
July 26, 2007 |
Gaming machine providing redeemable music awards
Abstract
A gaming machine and method for conducting a wagering game
includes awarding a player a music award redeemable for a
downloadable music track or number of music tracks, a movie, a
video or other entertainment award based on the outcome of game
play or other gaming criteria. The downloadable music track or
other entertainment award may be downloaded to a separate portable
media recording device associated with the player and can be
downloaded at the gaming machine, at a kiosk designed for award
redemption, at a computer terminal in the casino or at a remote
location. Alternatively, the player may be provided with a code
that can be used to download a music track at a gaming machine or
elsewhere, such as at a personal computer.
Inventors: |
Rigsby; Gene; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON PEABODY LLP
161 N CLARK ST.
48TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60601-3213
US
|
Assignee: |
WMS GAMING INC.
|
Family ID: |
38286220 |
Appl. No.: |
11/342360 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/16 20130101;
G07F 17/305 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3253 20130101;
G07F 17/3227 20130101; G07F 17/3218 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/016 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising: a value input device for receiving
a wager from a player to play a wagering game; and a display for
displaying an outcome randomly selected from a plurality of
possible outcomes, at least one of said outcomes being associated
with an award, said award being redeemable by said player for a
music track.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said music track is
recordable to a portable media recording device.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said music track is in
the form of an electronic file that is stored in a database coupled
to said gaming machine, said music track being downloaded to a
portable media recording device coupled to said gaming machine.
4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein said portable media
recording device includes a compact disk, Ipod.RTM., MP3 player,
Jumpdrive.RTM., CompactFlash.RTM. or SD Secure Digital.TM.
card.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said display displays a
music-track list and said music track is selected by said player
from a set of individual songs or a compilation of songs.
6. The gaming machine of claim 2, further including a port that is
coupled to said portable media recording device, said port for
directly downloading said music track to said portable media
recording device.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said award can be
combined with other of said awards to achieve a larger number of
said music tracks.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said award is redeemable
at said gaming machine, a kiosk designed for award redemption, a
computer terminal or at a remote location.
9. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the
method comprising: receiving a wager input from a player at said
gaming machine; displaying an outcome randomly selected from a
plurality of possible outcomes; awarding said player of said
wagering game with a music award; and redeeming said music award
for at least one music track.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said awarding includes providing
said player with a code to be used for downloading said at least
one music track to a portable media recording device.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said code is provided to said
player at said gaming machine.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said code is provided to said
player via an electronic message on a device that is separate from
said gaming machine.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein said awarding occurs in response
to a signal that is generated in response to a signal input at a
remote location.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said awarding occurs as a
result of game play at another gaming machine.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein said awarding occurs randomly
while game play occurs at said gaming machine.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein said awarding occurs in response
to said gaming machine being played at a predetermined rate of
play, in response to said wager input equaling a certain minimum
wager, in response to a predetermined number of credits being
accumulated by said player at said gaming machine, or in response
to a predetermined number of credits being played.
17. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one music track is
a single music track or a compilation of music tracks that is
selected by said player.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein in addition to said at least
one music track, said player may select a music video, a movie, or
any combination thereof.
19. The method of claim 9, wherein said awarding occurs in response
to said randomly selected outcome being an award-music outcome.
20. The method of claim 9, wherein said redeeming is performed at
said gaming machine or remote from said gaming machine.
21. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions
for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 9.
22. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the
method comprising: receiving a wager input from a player at said
gaming machine; displaying an outcome randomly selected from a
plurality of possible outcomes; awarding said player an
entertainment award; and redeeming said entertainment award at said
gaming machine or remote from said gaming machine for entertainment
selected from a group consisting of a music track, a compilation of
music tracks, a music video and a movie.
Description
COPYRIGHT
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection: The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to gaming machines,
and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to a
gaming machine that provides awards that are associated with music
tracks or other kinds of entertainment and that are redeemable at
the gaming machine or at locations remote from the gaming
machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines
and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for
several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with
players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of
winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value
of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where
the available gaming options include a number of competing machines
and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same
(or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to
the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators
consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting
machines, features, and enhancements available because such
machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to
the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming
machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and
improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play
through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
[0004] One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance
the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a "secondary"
or "bonus" game that may be played in conjunction with a "basic"
game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar
to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered
upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic
game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of
winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more
attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may
additionally award players with "progressive jackpot" awards that
are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the
gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines.
Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in
player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and
because such games are attractive to both players and operators,
there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new
types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and
operators.
[0005] Other gaming enhancements that provide entertainment value
to the player include offering new and different awards and
features, particularly awards and features that utilize new
technologies and current entertainment trends. Such new awards and
features may attract players who are interested in receiving awards
other than traditional cash or credit awards and may further
enhance player loyalty.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming
machine comprises a value input device for receiving a wager from a
player to play a wagering game and a display for displaying an
outcome randomly selected from a plurality of possible outcomes. At
least one of the outcomes is associated with an award that is
redeemable by the player for a music track.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, a method of
conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine comprises receiving
a wager input from a player at the gaming machine and displaying an
outcome randomly selected from a plurality of possible outcomes.
The method further comprises awarding the player of the wagering
game with a music award and redeeming the music award for at least
one music track.
[0008] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer
readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing
a gaming device to perform the above method.
[0009] According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine
comprises receiving a wager input from a player at the gaming
machine and displaying an outcome randomly selected from a
plurality of possible outcomes. The method further comprises
awarding the player an entertainment award and redeeming the
entertainment award at the gaming machine or remote from the gaming
machine for entertainment selected from a group consisting of a
music track, a compilation of music tracks, a music video and a
movie.
[0010] Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed
description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to
the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for
operating the gaming machine;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a primary display that includes a basic
game according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates the gaming machine of FIG. 1 including
different embodiments for downloading to a portable media recording
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gaming
establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present
invention, the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine
and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For
example, the gaming machine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming
machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an
electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game,
such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette,
etc.
[0017] The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes
input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input
device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary
display 14 for displaying information about the basic wagering
game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a
bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming
machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying
game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these
typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described
below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may
exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create
various forms of a gaming machine 10.
[0018] The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms,
individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the
front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives
currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value
input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin
currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, or in addition, the value
input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22 for receiving paper
currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 may include a
ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored
on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit
storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access
to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming
machine 10.
[0019] The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push
buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10.
In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may
comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like
over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch
screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the
underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming
machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an
alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function
either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key
30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button
panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same
functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26
may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while
the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of
the game.
[0020] The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be
connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen
in FIG. 1, or may be located outboard of the housing 12 and
connected to the housing 12 via a variety of different wired or
wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises
these components whether housed in the housing 12, or outboard of
the housing 12 and connected remotely.
[0021] The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the
player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also
display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The
primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a
high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of
display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the
primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the
entire display (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make
game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of
the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to
display the outcome in visual association with at least one payline
32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an
"upright" version in which the primary display 14 is oriented
vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming
machine 10 may be a "slant-top" version in which the primary
display 14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the
player of the gaming machine 10.
[0022] A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a
wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A
player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the
buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of
a plurality of symbols arranged in an array, and includes at least
one payline 32 that indicates one or more outcomes of the basic
game. Such outcomes are randomly selected in response to the
wagering input by the player. At least one of the plurality of
randomly-selected outcomes may be a start-bonus outcome, which can
include any variations of symbols or symbol combinations triggering
a bonus game.
[0023] In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include
a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a
player by reading a card with information indicating his or her
true identity. The player information reader 52 may also allow for
identification of a player's preferences as to certain types of
gaming awards. The player information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1
as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket
reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable
storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally
used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary
services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled
in the gaming establishment's loyalty club and may be awarded
certain complimentary services as that player collects points in
his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her
card into the player information reader 52, which allows the
casino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming
machine 10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16
or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player
with information about his or her account or other player-specific
information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52
may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and
saved during a previous game session.
[0024] Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming
machine 10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34,
also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a
microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions,
the controller 34 executes one or more game programs stored in a
computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory 36. The
controller 34 performs the random selection (using a random number
generator (RNG)) of an outcome from the plurality of possible
outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may
be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use
either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a
game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller 34 may
include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a
master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel
processor.
[0025] The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36
and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a
volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a
non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may
include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The
money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or
credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably,
these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming
machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be
located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder
of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of
different wired or wireless connection methods.
[0026] As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to,
and controls, the primary display 14, the player input device 24,
and a payoff mechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in
response to instructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff
to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might
occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be
provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards,
etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoff mechanism 40 includes both
a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44. However, any of a variety
of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the art may be implemented,
including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff
amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40 are determined by
one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 36.
[0027] Communications between the controller 34 and both the
peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems
50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More
specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from
the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the
input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates
with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a
communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.).
The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming
machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of
other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits
46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated
that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of
different types of I/O circuits.
[0028] Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of
hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or
resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may
communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the
gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device
and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise
one or more controllers or processors. In FIG. 2, the controller 34
in the gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the
controller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with
other components, such as the I/O circuits 46, 48 and the system
memory 36.
[0029] The primary display 14 of one embodiment of the present
invention is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. In this embodiment,
the basic wagering game is a slot machine game, with symbols on the
five reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68. The reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 may be
either traditional mechanical reels or they may be
computer-generated images of reels, with each reel including a
plurality of symbols. Upon receiving a wager input, the payline
indicator(s) 70 indicates which paylines have been selected (i.e.,
activated) by the player. A randomly selected outcome from a
plurality of outcomes is then indicated along the payline(s) in the
form of a combination of symbols on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68.
An outcome indicator 71 may indicate whether the outcome has
resulted in a winning outcome or a non-winning outcome. While the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes five reels, gaming machines
having more or less than five reels are also contemplated by the
present invention. It is also contemplated that the present
invention could be used with gaming machines having other wagering
games such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette,
or other video casino games.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the basic wagering game
includes different symbols and/or objects in a plurality of symbol
locations on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68. The symbols are in
visual association with at least one active payline. In this
particular embodiment, entitled "NAME THAT TUNE.RTM.," the symbols
include objects such as lucky sevens, bells, bonus symbols and
music symbols. These symbols may vary from one embodiment to
another. Other embodiments may include "HIT PARADE," "AMERICAN BAND
STAND.RTM.," "SOUL TRAIN.RTM.," "AMERICAN TOP 40.RTM.,"
"CD:USA.TM.," "MTV.RTM." or other music-themed embodiments. Some
embodiments, for example, an MTV.RTM.-themed wagering game, could
include decade-specific themed games where the music for each game
would match the decade it represents. This may attract players who
are particularly fond of a certain type of musical era.
Additionally, the theme could be configurable (via download) such
that a player may select a preferred genre or style of music to be
included in the wagering game. The player may also be allowed to
change the theme by selecting other genres or styles of music as
the player continues playing the wagering game. However, the
embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the
particular themes described above or to the particular symbols
shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, other embodiments of the present
invention may include gaming machines 10 that do not feature
music-themed wagering games.
[0031] Once a player places a wager, the randomly selected outcome
is displayed via the primary display 14 on the reels 60, 62, 64,
66, 68. The symbols displayed on the reels 60, 62, 64, 66, 68
indicate the randomly selected outcome to the player. If a player
achieves a winning outcome, the player may be awarded a monetary
award, such as a credit award, or a non-monetary award, such as a
number of free spins or the opportunity to play a bonus game.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the player
may also be awarded a non-monetary award in the form of an
entertainment award that may include, for example, a music award
such as a music track or a compilation of music tracks, a music
video, a movie, etc.
[0032] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the player
achieves a winning outcome in row 72. In some embodiments, a
winning outcome may be indicated by a certain number of the same
symbols along an active payline, a bonus symbol in combination with
a certain number of same symbols, or other symbol combinations. In
the primary display 14 depicted in FIG. 3, the player achieves a
winning outcome in row 72 by achieving a bonus symbol 74 on reel 60
followed by four music symbols 76 on reels 62, 64, 66, 68. The four
music symbols 76 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 indicate that
the player has achieved an award-music outcome and that the player
may be awarded a music award.
[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
music award may include an award from a plurality of music awards.
For example, the player may be allowed to select a music award from
a music-track list displayed on the primary display 14 or secondary
display 16. The selected music track may be downloaded to a
portable media recording device 80 (see FIG. 4), such as, but not
limited to, for example, a MP3 player, an iPod.RTM., a
Jumpdrive.RTM. (i.e., a USB flash drive, also known as a pen drive,
thumb drive, flash drive or USB key), a CompactFlash.RTM. (a small,
removable storage device for use in pagers, handheld cameras,
cellphones, digital cameras and audio players) and a SD Secure
Digital.TM. card (a small memory card used to make storage portable
among various devices, such as car navigation systems, cellular
phones, eBooks, PDAs, smartphones, digital cameras, music players,
camcorders, and personal computers). A player may also choose to
create a compact disc having at least one music track that is
selected by the player. The player may also be able to create a
custom label on the compact disc which may include, for example,
the name of the music track, the name of the player, casino logos,
gaming machine logos (such as "WMS GAMING INC.") or any combination
thereof. In addition to achieving a winning combination that allows
a player to download a single music track to the portable media
recording device 80, the player may also be allowed to download
more than one music track. The music track(s) may be selected by
the player from a catalog of individual songs or an entire album of
songs may be downloaded.
[0034] According to other embodiments, a player may be able to
accumulate points or credits that can be "cashed in" for music
awards at a later time so that the player can earn enough music
awards to fill a compact disk or download a complete album. These
banked points or credits can be saved on a ticket, coupon, voucher
or card (shown as 78 in FIG. 4) that is issued by the gaming
machine 10 from the ticket printer 42. Alternatively or
additionally, the banked points or credits can also be saved on a
player's identification card that has been input by the player into
the player information reader 52. Furthermore, the banked points or
credits can be used or redeemed at the same gaming machine 10, at a
different gaming machine 10 or at a remote location designated by a
casino for cashing in music awards for music tracks, such as a
kiosk 84 or other computer terminal 86 (see FIG. 4). For the music
award to be redeemed at the gaming machine 10, the gaming machine
10 must have music tracks either stored locally on the gaming
device or via downloading from a media server 90, as discussed in
more detail below and as shown in FIG. 4.
[0035] In addition to the above embodiments, the gaming machine 10
may also provide the player with a ticket, coupon, voucher or card
(shown as 78 in FIG. 4) that contains a code that is associated
with the music award(s) that have been earned by the player. Such a
code may also be sent to the player as an electronic message, i.e.,
e-mail, via a device that is separate from the gaming machine 10
and that can be retrieved by the player. For example, an email
containing a code associated with a music award(s) can be sent
externally via the external system 50 and can be retrieved by the
player via a Blackberry, personal computer, etc. The player could
then redeem the code for a music track(s) or other entertainment
award. A player may be able to redeem the code at the gaming
machine 10, the kiosk 84, or the computer terminal 86 which may be
located at the casino or at a remote location. In some embodiments,
the player may be able to redeem the code at a web site accessible
from a personal computer. For example, the code may be redeemable
from an online music service, such as Napster or MP3.com. If the
player is sent an electronic message, the gaming machine 10 may
prompt the player to enter an e-mail address to which the gaming
machine 10 would send the code. Alternatively, the information may
already be available to the gaming machine 10 via a player tracking
system. In this case, a player need not enter an email address if
such information is available in the player's player tracking
account.
[0036] A separate portable media recording device 80 for
interfacing with the gaming machine 10 to download one or more
music tracks is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the portable
media recording device 80 is connected to a USB port 82 located on
the gaming machine 10. The player may be allowed to download music
tracks to the portable media recording device 80, such as a MP3
player, an iPod.RTM., compact disk, Jumpdrive.RTM.,
CompactFlash.RTM., SD Secure Digital.TM. card or other suitable
media recording device, from the gaming machine 10. As described
above, the gaming machine 10 may allow a player to have an image
written directly to, for example, the surface of a compact disk to
create a label using the same laser that is used to burn the
digital music track. Further information concerning the ability to
burn labels directly to the surface of a compact disk is available
at http://www.lightscribe.com. The image may be configured by the
player from a group of selectable images or may be designed by the
player himself. Furthermore, the image may include the list of
music tracks that were downloaded by the player, the casino logo or
the logo or name of the gaming machine developer, i.e., WMS GAMING
INC. A jewel case or sleeve may also be provided to a player who
has downloaded one or more music tracks.
[0037] As described above and shown in FIG. 4, the gaming machine
10 may be connected to or in communication with a media server 90
having access to a database of music tracks in the form of
electronic files of songs that can be downloaded to the portable
media recording device 80. The media server 90 may obtain the music
tracks from stored memory containing electronic files of
downloadable music tracks. Additionally or alternatively, the media
server 90 may obtain the music tracks from a music sharing service
such as Napster or MP3.com.
[0038] Access to the media server 90 may be obtained via the gaming
machine 10 or via a kiosk 84 located in the casino or remotely. The
media server 90 may download music tracks to the gaming machine 10
to be stored locally on the gaming machine 10 as needed. The music
tracks may then be downloaded by a player to the portable media
recording device 80. In some embodiments, the downloading from the
gaming machine 10 to the portable recording device 80 may occur as
the player continues to play the wagering game.
[0039] Alternatively or additionally, as described above, the
player may be issued a ticket, coupon, voucher or card 78 from the
ticket printer 42 that can be redeemed at the kiosk 84 (shown by
the dotted line in FIG. 4) by inserting the ticket, coupon, voucher
or card 78 into the kiosk 84 and downloading the selected music
track(s) to the portable media recording device 80 via a USB port
82 located on the kiosk 84. The media server 90 may also be
accessed via a computer terminal 86, located either at the casino
or at a remote location. For example, the computer terminal 86 may
be available for a player to use to download music tracks while in
the casino or the computer terminal 86 may be a personal computer
that a player uses while in a hotel room, at home, etc. to download
music tracks based on earlier play at the casino. Thus, a player
may be able to receive a music award that can be downloaded via his
or her personal computer without having to be physically present in
the casino. Other methods for accessing the media server 90 are
also contemplated and can be used with the present invention.
[0040] In addition to being awarded a music award by achieving a
winning combination of symbols, a player may also be awarded a
music award based on other gaming criteria. Instead of winning a
music award based on a certain game outcome, a player may be
awarded a music award in response to a signal that is generated in
response to a signal input at a remote location. The signal input
may occur based on the result of game play at another gaming
machine 10. For example, if one gaming machine 10 provides a
substantial award, surrounding gaming machines may award a music
award as a consolation award.
[0041] Music awards may also be awarded randomly during game play
at the gaming machine 10 or in response to certain gaming criteria
that is met. For example, music awards may be awarded in response
to a player playing the gaming machine 10 at a predetermined rate
of play, i.e., four plays per minute. The rate of play may be the
threshold above which a player must play to qualify for the music
award, while the actual awarding of the music award may depend on
other criteria, such as a timer, a random number generator, etc.
Music awards may also be awarded after a certain number of credits
has been played, such as after every $20 of played credits, or in
response to a wager input equaling a certain minimum wager. Music
awards may also be awarded in response to an initial deposit of
cash or credit, such as an initial deposit of at least $20 into the
gaming machine 10. Furthermore, music awards may be awarded in
response to a credit balance reaching a predetermined value, i.e.,
$20 on the credit meter, either as the result of cash deposited by
the player or by receiving awards based on the player achieving
winning combinations of symbols, or a combination of the two.
[0042] In addition to winning music awards, a player may also be
awarded other entertainment awards, such as a music video or a
movie. In some embodiments, the music video or movie may also be
downloaded to the media recording device 80 via the gaming machine
10, the kiosk 84, or the computer terminal 86. Other awards may
include other downloadable items, such as cell phone ring tones,
that may also be downloaded at the gaming machine 10, the kiosk 84,
or the computer terminal 86, as well as at a gaming web site, such
as the WMS Gaming web site. In yet other embodiments, if the player
is awarded a music award or other entertainment award and does not
wish to redeem the award, he or she may exchange the award for cash
or additional credits.
[0043] In yet further embodiments, if the player can be identified
at the gaming machine 10 (for example, through a card inserted into
the player identification reader 52), the player's preferences as
to a particular genre of music, an artist, an album, etc. may be
identified so that it is known what type of music the player would
prefer to download before he or she begins playing the wagering
game. Additionally or alternatively, as the game begins and the
reels are spinning, the player can answer questions about his or
her music preferences, particularly in the case where the player is
not identified through a tracking card. This preselection of music
preferences allows a player to spend less time deciding which music
track to select (if the player achieves a winning outcome) and more
time playing the wagering game itself. This helps to increase the
coin-in to the gaming machine 10.
[0044] It is also contemplated in some embodiments that different
outcomes will provide different possible downloads. For example, if
the gaming machine 10 receives information that the player prefers
to download music tracks from a particular artist or musical group,
such as the Beatles, Tom Petty or Everclear, then one outcome may
allow a player the opportunity to download a Beatles album. By
contrast, a second outcome may allow a player to download a music
track from Tom Petty. Thus, a player's music preferences can be
made known at the gaming machine 10 and can be associated with
winning outcomes. In some embodiments, a player's music preferences
can be made known before the player even gets to the casino. For
example, a player may be able to fill out a questionnaire that
allows the player to indicate personal preferences as to particular
music genres, such as pop or classical music, a particular musical
era, such as big band music of the 1930's or disco music of the
1970's, or any other similar information. This information, when
made known to the gaming establishment, will allow a gaming machine
10 to narrow a player's choices of music tracks from an entire
selection of music tracks and will reduce the time needed for
players to make a selection.
[0045] In yet other embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may include
a microphone to be used in connection with a voice activation
feature. For example, the gaming machine 10 may prompt a player to
select a music track by asking the player for his or her selection
via the voice activation feature and then providing the desired
selection based on the player's voice response. This may also allow
a player to make faster selections and thereby increase coin-in to
the gaming machine 10.
[0046] Furthermore, as the present invention is described in terms
of the basic wagering game, it is also contemplated that the
present invention may be used in a bonus game setting. For example,
upon achieving a start-bonus-outcome in the basic wagering game, a
player may be given a chance to win music awards in a bonus
game.
[0047] Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is
contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed
invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *
References