Gaming machine and control method for operating gaming machines to display computer-animated reel games
A gaming system including one or more gaming machines provides a game to one or more players. The game includes a primary game and a bonus game with first and second features. In the first feature a plurality of objects are presented to a player. The player is allowed to select one of the objects and an associated award may be awarded. Any unselected objects are added to an escrow meter. In the second feature, the player is allowed to select one or more of the escrow objects.
1 . A gaming system for displaying computer-animations on electronic gaming machines (EGMs), comprising:
a bank of EGMs including:
a plurality of EGMs, each EGM including a gaming cabinet, an upper display mounted to the gaming cabinet, a lower display mounted to the gaming cabinet and including a touchscreen with each of the upper and lower displays including a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-animations of computer-generated images, and an EGM controller including a processor programed to execute computer-executable instructions for rendering an escrow meter on the upper display GUI for displaying a plurality of escrow objects and rendering a game screen on the lower display GUI displaying a plurality of animated reels displayed in a grid; and
a bonus display unit positioned above each of the EGMs for displaying computer-animations of computer-generated images of the escrow meter; and
a bonus award controller coupled to the bonus display unit and to each EGM controller, the bonus award controller including a random number generator, a memory device storing image data for producing computer-animated images, and one or more processors programed to access the stored image data and execute an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the upper and lower displays of each EGM and the bonus display unit including the steps of:
rendering computer-animated images of the plurality of escrow objects included in the escrow meter on the bonus display unit and transmitting computer-executable instructions associated with the escrow meter to each EGM controller to cause each EGM controller to display the plurality of escrow objects included in the escrow meter on the upper display GUI of each of the EGMs including computer generated images of a plurality of escrow objects;
randomly selecting a first EGM from the plurality of EGMs using the random number generator and rendering a computer-animated bonus select event on the first EGM by:
randomly selecting two escrow objects using the random number generator;
transmitting computer-executable instructions for displaying the computer-animated bonus select event to the first EGM controller to cause the first EGM controller to:
display a first transition animation to replace the plurality of animated reels displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display GUI with an object selection screen;
animate the randomly selected two escrow objects to appear on the object selection screen as piñata images;
receive a player selection of one of the two escrow objects by a player via the touchscreen of the first EGM and animate a computer-animated bat image to appear on the object selection screen and contact the player selected escrow object;
modify an image of the player selected escrow object to display a corresponding computer-animated award image associated with the player selected escrow object; and
display a second transition animation to replace the object selection screen displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display GUI with the plurality of animated reels; and
modifying the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit to add an image of an unselected escrow object to the plurality of escrow objects and transmitting computer-executable instructions for adding the image of the unselected escrow object to the plurality of escrow objects to each EGM controller to cause each escrow meter displayed on each EGM to display a same number of escrow objects as the escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit; and
conducting an animated bonus award event by:
randomly selecting a second EGM using the random number generator;
modifying the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit to remove the plurality of escrow objects and transmitting computer-executable instructions for removing the plurality of escrow objects from the escrow meter to each non-selected EGM; and
rendering a computer-animated bonus award event at the second EGM by:
transmitting computer-executable instructions for animating the plurality of escrow objects to a second EGM controller of the second EGM to cause the second EGM controller to:
replace the plurality of animated reels displayed on the lower display GUI of the second EGM with a second object selection screen;
animate each of the plurality of escrow objects to move from the computer-animated escrow meter being displayed on the upper display of the second EGM to the second object selection screen displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display of the second EGM;
animate a computer-animated prompting image on the object selection screen of the second EGM to prompt a player selection of each of the plurality of escrow objects displayed on the object selection screen; and
display each computer-animated escrow award image associated with each of the plurality of escrow objects as each escrow object is selected via the touchscreen of the second EGM.
2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
rendering the bonus select event by:
transmitting computer-executable instructions for displaying the computer-animated bonus select event to the first EGM controller to cause the first EGM controller to animate the unselected escrow object to move to the escrow meter from the object selection screen after the selected escrow object has been modified to display the corresponding award.
3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
populating the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit and on each EGM with a predefined number of new escrow objects upon completing the bonus award event.
4 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is programmed to execute the algorithm including the steps of:
rending the escrow meter on the bonus display unit to display ten escrow objects; and
displaying a number icon indicating a number of escrow objects in the escrow meter when the number of escrow objects is greater than ten escrow objects.
5 . A method of operating a gaming system including a bank of EGMs including a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs), a bonus display unit positioned above each of the EGMs for displaying computer-animations of computer-generated images of an escrow meter for displaying a plurality of escrow objects, and a bonus award controller, each EGM including a gaming cabinet, an upper display mounted to the gaming cabinet, a lower display mounted to the gaming cabinet and including a touchscreen with each of the upper and lower displays including a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-generated images, and an EGM controller including a processor programed to execute computer-executable instructions for rendering the escrow meter on the upper display GUI and rendering a game screen on the lower display GUI displaying a plurality of animated reels displayed in a grid, the bonus award controller including a random number generator, a memory device storing image data for producing computer-animated images, and one or more processors coupled to each EGM controller and the bonus display unit, the method including the one or more processors performing an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the upper and lower displays of each EGM and the bonus display unit including the steps of:
accessing the stored image data and rendering a computer-animated images of the plurality of escrow objects included in the escrow meter on the bonus display unit and transmitting computer-executable instructions associated with the escrow meter to each EGM controller to cause each EGM controller to display the plurality of escrow objects included in the escrow meter on the upper display GUI of each of the EGMs including computer generated images of a plurality of escrow objects;
randomly selecting a first EGM from the plurality of EGMs using the random number generator and rendering a computer-animated bonus select event on the first EGM by:
randomly selecting two escrow objects using the random number generator;
transmitting computer-executable instructions for displaying the computer-animated bonus select event to the first EGM controller to cause the first EGM controller to:
display a first transition animation to replace the plurality of animated reels displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display GUI with an object selection screen;
animate the randomly selected two escrow objects to appear on the object selection screen as piñata images;
receive a player selection of one of the two escrow objects by a player via the touchscreen of the first EGM and animate a computer-animated bat image to appear on the object selection screen and contact the player selected escrow object;
modify an image of the player selected escrow object to display a corresponding computer-animated award image associated with the player selected escrow object; and
display a second transition animation to replace the object selection screen displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display GUI with the plurality of animated reels; and
modifying the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit to add an image of an unselected escrow object to the plurality of escrow objects and transmitting computer-executable instructions for adding the image of the unselected escrow object to the plurality of escrow objects to each EGM controller to cause each escrow meter displayed on each EGM to display a same number of escrow objects as the escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit; and
conducting an animated bonus award event by:
randomly selecting a second EGM using the random number generator;
modifying the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit to remove the plurality of escrow objects and transmitting computer-executable instructions for removing the plurality of escrow objects from the escrow meter to each non-selected EGM; and
rendering a computer-animated bonus award event at the second EGM by:
transmitting computer-executable instructions for animating the plurality of escrow objects to a second EGM controller of the second EGM to cause the second EGM controller to:
replace the plurality of animated reels displayed on the lower display GUI of the second EGM with a second object selection screen;
animate each of the plurality of escrow objects to move from the computer-animated escrow meter being displayed on the upper display of the second EGM to the second object selection screen displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display of the second EGM;
animate a computer-animated prompting image on the object selection screen of the second EGM to prompt a player selection of each of the plurality of escrow objects displayed on the object selection screen; and
display each computer-animated escrow award image associated with each of the plurality of escrow objects as each escrow object is selected via the touchscreen of the second EGM.
6 . The method of claim 5 , including the one or more processors performing the algorithm including the steps of:
rendering the bonus select event by:
transmitting computer-executable instructions for displaying the computer-animated bonus select event to the first EGM controller to cause the first EGM controller to animate the unselected escrow object to move to the escrow meter from the object selection screen after the selected escrow object has been modified to display the corresponding award.
7 . The method of claim 5 , including the one or more processors performing the algorithm including the steps of:
populating the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit and on each EGM with a predefined number of new escrow objects upon completing the bonus award event.
8 . The method of claim 5 , including the one or more processors performing the algorithm including the steps of:
rending the escrow meter on the bonus display unit to display ten escrow objects; and
displaying a number icon indicating a number of escrow objects in the escrow meter when the number of escrow objects is greater than ten escrow objects.
9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon to operate a gaming system including a bank of EGMs including a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs), a bonus display unit positioned above each of the EGMs for displaying computer-animations of computer-generated images of an escrow meter for displaying a plurality of escrow objects, and a bonus award controller, each EGM including a gaming cabinet, an upper display mounted to the gaming cabinet, a lower display mounted to the gaming cabinet and including a touchscreen with each of the upper and lower displays including a graphical user interface (GUI) display screen displaying computer-generated images, and an EGM controller including a processor programed to execute computer-executable instructions for rendering the escrow meter on the upper display GUI and rendering a game screen on the lower display GUI displaying a plurality of animated reels displayed in a grid, the bonus award controller including a random number generator, a memory device storing image data for producing computer-animated images, and one or more processors coupled to each EGM controller and the bonus display unit, when executed by the one or more processors the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to perform an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the upper and lower displays of each EGM and the bonus display unit including the steps of:
accessing the stored image data and rendering a computer-animated images of the plurality of escrow objects included in the escrow meter on the bonus display unit and transmitting computer-executable instructions associated with the escrow meter to each EGM controller to cause each EGM controller to display the plurality of escrow objects included in the escrow meter on the upper display GUI of each of the EGMs including computer generated images of a plurality of escrow objects;
randomly selecting a first EGM from the plurality of EGMs using the random number generator and rendering a computer-animated bonus select event on the first EGM by:
randomly selecting two escrow objects using the random number generator;
transmitting computer-executable instructions for displaying the computer-animated bonus select event to the first EGM controller to cause the first EGM controller to:
display a first transition animation to replace the plurality of animated reels displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display GUI with an object selection screen;
animate the randomly selected two escrow objects to appear on the object selection screen as piñata images;
receive a player selection of one of the two escrow objects by a player via the touchscreen of the first EGM and animate a computer-animated bat image to appear on the object selection screen and contact the player selected escrow object;
modify an image of the player selected escrow object to display a corresponding computer-animated award image associated with the player selected escrow object; and
display a second transition animation to replace the object selection screen displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display GUI with the plurality of animated reels; and
modifying the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit to add an image of an unselected escrow object to the plurality of escrow objects and transmitting computer-executable instructions for adding the image of the unselected escrow object to the plurality of escrow objects to each EGM controller to cause each escrow meter displayed on each EGM to display a same number of escrow objects as the escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit; and
conducting an animated bonus award event by:
randomly selecting a second EGM using the random number generator;
modifying the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit to remove the plurality of escrow objects and transmitting computer-executable instructions for removing the plurality of escrow objects from the escrow meter to each non-selected EGM; and
rendering a computer-animated bonus award event at the second EGM by:
transmitting computer-executable instructions for animating the plurality of escrow objects to a second EGM controller of the second EGM to cause the second EGM controller to:
replace the plurality of animated reels displayed on the lower display GUI of the second EGM with a second object selection screen;
animate each of the plurality of escrow objects to move from the computer-animated escrow meter being displayed on the upper display of the second EGM to the second object selection screen displayed on the touchscreen of the lower display of the second EGM;
animate a computer-animated prompting image on the object selection screen of the second EGM to prompt a player selection of each of the plurality of escrow objects displayed on the object selection screen; and
display each computer-animated escrow award image associated with each of the plurality of escrow objects as each escrow object is selected via the touchscreen of the second EGM.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to perform the algorithm including the steps of:
rendering the bonus select event by:
transmitting computer-executable instructions for displaying the computer-animated bonus select event to the first EGM controller to cause the first EGM controller to animate the unselected escrow object to move to the escrow meter from the object selection screen after the selected escrow object has been modified to display the corresponding award.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to perform the algorithm including the steps of:
populating the computer-animated escrow meter displayed on the bonus display unit and on each EGM with a predefined number of new escrow objects upon completing the bonus award event.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 9 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to perform the algorithm including the steps of:
rending the escrow meter on the bonus display unit to display ten escrow objects; and
displaying a number icon indicating a number of escrow objects in the escrow meter when the number of escrow objects is greater than ten escrow objects.