Gaming device
Embodiments of the invention include a gaming device that has a video display. When the player initiates the game, an animation is shown. If the game had a losing outcome, the animation is very short and allows the player to quickly try for a win. If instead the game has a winning outcome the gaming device spins reels or otherwise shows the player how much he or she has one. The animation may also indicate progress toward a mystery jackpot or a group mystery jackpot.
1. A gaming device comprising:
a housing;
at least one display device supported by the housing, the display device displaying a plurality of symbols that correspond to an outcome of a game played on the gaming device;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including:
an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a validator configured to identify the first physical item;
a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with a credit balance; and
an actuator for initiating a game played on the gaming device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
determine whether the outcome is winning or non-winning;
generate a first presentation that does not include any symbols when the outcome is non-winning;
display the first presentation for a first duration;
generate a second presentation that includes symbols corresponding to the winning outcome when the outcome is winning; and
display the second presentation for a second duration that is substantially longer than the first duration.
2. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to spin game reels when the outcome is winning.
3. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display an indication that the outcome is winning prior to spinning game reels for at least some occurrences of a winning outcome.
4. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to withhold display of symbols on the display device for at least some occurrences of a non-winning outcome.
5. The gaming device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display an indication other than a plurality of game-outcome symbols that the game outcome is a non-winning outcome for at least some occurrences of a non-winning outcome.
6. A gaming device comprising:
a housing;
at least one display device supported by the housing, the display device displaying a plurality of symbols that correspond to an outcome of a game played on the gaming device;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including:
an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a validator configured to identify the first physical item;
a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with a credit balance; and
an actuator for initiating an action having a probability of a winning outcome;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
determine an outcome of the action;
generate a first presentation that does not include any symbols when the outcome is not a winning outcome, display the first presentation on the display device;
generate a second presentation that includes symbols when the outcome is a winning outcome; and
display the second presentation on the display device.
7. The gaming device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further to initiate a second action after the second presentation is displayed.
8. The gaming device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to award a benefit to a player of the gaming device when the second action is a winning action.
9. The gaming device of claim 6 in which the duration of the first presentation is less than approximately 0.7 seconds.
10. The gaming device of claim 6 in which the duration of the first presentation is less than approximately 0.5 seconds.
11. The gaming device of claim 6 in which the duration of the first presentation is less than approximately 0.2 seconds.
12. The gaming device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to display an indication that the outcome is a winning outcome prior to spinning game reels for at least some occurrences of a winning outcome.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to display symbols for at least some occurrences of a non-winning outcome.
14. A gaming device comprising:
a housing;
at least one display device supported by the housing, the display device displaying a plurality of symbols that correspond to an outcome of a game played on the gaming device;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including:
an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value;
a validator configured to identify the first physical item;
a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with a credit balance; and
an actuator for initiating a game played on the gaming device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
generate an outcome of a game having a probability of winning;
show a first presentation that includes symbols on the display device when the outcome of the game is a winning outcome; and
show a second presentation that does not include symbols on the display device when the outcome of the game is a non-winning outcome.
15. The gaming device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display an indication that the outcome is a winning outcome prior to spinning game reels for at least some occurrences of a winning outcome.
16. The gaming device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to withhold display of symbols for at least some occurrences of a non-winning outcome.