Granted Patent B2

US 8,882,575 · App. 13/934,744 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A wagering game machine, comprising:

a display device;

a haptic device configured to provide a plurality of different haptic outputs to a wagering game machine input device; and

a controller, operatively coupled to the display device and the haptic device, configured to, upon execution of associated instructions in association with a wagering game:

register a player input via the wagering game machine input device,

display on the display device a wagering game feature selected from a plurality of different wagering game features;

trigger a first haptic output from the haptic device to the wagering game machine input device responsive to a first random event, in a first wagering game feature of the wagering game; and

trigger a second haptic output from the haptic device to the wagering game machine input device responsive to a second random event in a second wagering game feature of the wagering game, the second haptic output being different from the first haptic output.

2. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the wagering game feature is a randomly-determined wagering game outcome.

3. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the wagering game feature comprises a wagering game element forming a part of a randomly-determined wagering game outcome.

4. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 3 , wherein the wagering game element comprises a predetermined wagering game symbol.

5. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the wagering game feature relates to a satisfaction of an eligibility requirement.

6. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 5 ,

wherein the wagering game feature comprises a randomly-determined wagering game outcome,

wherein the display device is configured to output a first representation of the randomly-determined wagering game outcome, and

wherein the haptic device is configured to output a second representation of the randomly-determined wagering game outcome.

7. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic device comprises a rheological fluid.

8. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the wagering game feature comprises a player-selectable element, and

wherein the controller synchronously outputs from the haptic device, to the wagering game machine input device, a haptic output corresponding to the selected player-selectable element.

9. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the haptic output of the haptic device is configured to simulate, via the wagering game machine input device, a variable resistance or variable potential relative to a visual presentation of an object on the display device.

10. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the haptic output of the haptic device corresponding to a predetermined wagering game feature is assigned by a player from a plurality of available haptic outputs, and

wherein the haptic output assigned to correspond to the predetermined wagering game feature by the player is stored in a physical memory device.

11. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a second haptic device connected to the wagering gaming machine input device.

12. The wagering gaming machine according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first haptic output is triggered responsive to the first random event, but not the second random event, and

wherein the second haptic output is triggered responsive to the second random event, but not the first random event.

13. A method of conducting a wagering game on a wagering game machine having a haptic player-input device, comprising the acts of:

storing, in a physical memory device operatively associated with the wagering game machine, an assignment of a different haptic output for each of a plurality of different wagering game features, the plurality of wagering game features including one or more of a randomly-determined wagering game outcome, a subpart of a randomly-determined wagering game outcome, a player-selectable element, or an eligibility requirement;

displaying, on a display device of the wagering game machine, a wagering game feature in association with a wagering game; and

responsive to one of a player input to the haptic player-input device or a display of the wagering game feature on the display device, retrieving from the physical memory device and synchronously outputting a haptic output to the haptic player-input device, the haptic output corresponding directly to the assigned and displayed wagering game feature.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the haptic player-input device comprises a rheological fluid.

15. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the wagering game feature comprises a randomly-determined wagering game outcome,

wherein the display device is configured to output a first representation of the randomly-determined wagering game outcome, and

wherein the haptic player-input device is configured to output a second representation of the randomly-determined wagering game outcome.

16. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the wagering game feature comprises a player-selectable element, and

wherein the controller synchronously outputs from the haptic device, to the wagering game machine input device, a haptic output corresponding to the selected player-selectable element.

17. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the haptic output of the haptic player-input device is configured to simulate a variable resistance or variable potential relative to a visual presentation of an object on the display device.

18. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the act of storing an assignment of a different haptic output for each of a plurality of different wagering game features in a physical memory device comprises receiving player assignments of a unique haptic output with a corresponding displayed wagering game feature.

19. The method according to claim 18 ,

wherein the first haptic output is output to a first haptic player-input device, and

wherein the second haptic output is output to a second haptic player-input device.

20. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the wagering game machine comprises a plurality of haptic devices connected to one or more wagering gaming machine input devices configured to receive a player input, and

wherein the act of retrieving from the physical memory device and synchronously outputting a haptic output to the haptic player-input device comprises outputting a first haptic output from a first haptic device and a second haptic output from a second haptic device.

21. A physical computer-readable medium bearing executable instructions configured, upon execution by one or more processors, to cause a connected wagering game system comprising a wagering game machine, to perform acts comprising:

storing, in a physical memory device operatively associated with the wagering game machine, an assignment of a unique haptic output for each of a plurality of different wagering game features;

displaying, on a display device of the wagering game machine, a wagering game feature in association with a wagering game, the wagering game feature comprising a wagering game outcome including an array of randomly-determined symbols, a wagering game element forming a part of a wagering game outcome, a player-selectable element, or an eligibility requirement; and

responsive to one of a display of the wagering game feature on the display device or a player interaction with the wagering game feature using a haptic player-input device, retrieving from the physical memory device and synchronously outputting a haptic output to the haptic player-input device corresponding to the assigned haptic output for the displayed wagering game feature.

Assignments (10)