Methods and systems for interacting with a player using a gaming machine

1. A gaming system comprising:

a frame;

a presentation device;

an interactive device extending about at least a portion of a periphery of the frame; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:

present, via the presentation device, a first message prompting tactile interaction of the player with the gaming system;

increase illumination of a portion of the interactive device when an increasing amount of tactile interaction of the player is detected;

decrease illumination of a portion of the interactive device when a decreasing amount of tactile interaction of the player is detected; and

presenting, at the presentation device, a second message to the player encouraging the player to continue touching the interactive device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

switch the interactive device from a first configuration to a second configuration that is distinct from the first configuration when the amount of tactile interaction satisfies a predetermined threshold.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

compare a portion of the interactive device that is in the second configuration to a predefined maximum portion for the interactive device; and

maintain the second configuration for the interactive device for a predetermined amount of time based on a determination that the portion of the interactive device exceeds the predefined maximum portion.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to adjust a rate at which the portion of the interactive device is illuminated about the periphery of the frame in response to the increasing amount of tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device, the rate further based upon an interaction parameter, the interaction parameter including at least one of a duration of the tactile interaction, a pressure of the tactile interaction, a speed of the tactile interaction, or a volume of the tactile interaction.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

detect an absence of the tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device; and

control at least one of the presentation device and the interactive device to present feedback to the player based on the detection of the absence of the tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device, the feedback including at least one of reducing the portion of the interactive device that is illuminated about the periphery of the frame, or presenting, at the presentation device, a third message encouraging the player to interact more with the interactive device.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to generate a gaming event, and control at least one of the presentation device and the interactive device to present feedback to the player based on the generation of the gaming event.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the interactive device is further configured to detect audible interaction by the player.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to increase illumination of a portion of the interactive device when an increasing amount of audible interaction of the player is detected.

9. A method for interacting with a player of a wagering game using a gaming system including a presentation device, the method comprising:

presenting, at the presentation device, a first message prompting tactile interaction of the player with the gaming system, the gaming system including a frame and an interactive device extending about at least a portion of a periphery of the frame;

detecting tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device;

increasing illumination of a portion of the interactive device when an increasing amount of tactile interaction of the player is detected;

decreasing illumination of a portion of the interactive device when a decreasing amount of tactile interaction of the player is detected; and

presenting, at the presentation device, a second message to the player encouraging the player to continue touching the interactive device.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

switching the interactive device from a first configuration to a second configuration that is distinct from the first configuration when the amount of tactile interaction satisfies a predetermined threshold;

comparing a portion of the interactive device that is in the second configuration to a predefined maximum portion for the interactive device; and

maintaining the second configuration for the interactive device for a predetermined amount of time based on a determination that the portion of the interactive device exceeds the predefined maximum portion.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a rate at which the portion of the interactive device is illuminated about the periphery of the frame in response to the increasing amount of tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device, the rate further based upon an interaction parameter, the interaction parameter including at least one of a duration of the interaction, a pressure of the interaction, a speed of the interaction, or a volume of the interaction.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

detecting, at the interactive device, an absence of the tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device; and

presenting, by at least one of the presentation device or the interactive device, feedback to the player based on the detection of the absence of the tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device, the feedback including at least one of reducing the portion of the interactive device that is illuminated about the periphery of the frame, and presenting, at the presentation device, a third message encouraging the player to interact more with the interactive device.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the interactive device is further configured to detect audible interaction by the player.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating, at the gaming system, a gaming event; and

presenting, by at least one of the presentation device and the interactive device, feedback to the player based on the generation of the gaming event.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein, when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to at least:

control a presentation device of a gaming system to present a first message configured to prompt tactile interaction of a player with an interactive device extending about at least a portion of a periphery of a frame of the gaming system;

detect tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device;

increase illumination of a portion of the interactive device when an increasing amount of tactile interaction of the player is detected;

decrease illumination of a portion of the interactive device when a decreasing amount of tactile interaction of the player is detected; and

present, at the presentation device, a second message to the player encouraging the player to continue tactile interaction with the interactive device.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

switch the interactive device from a first configuration to a second configuration that is distinct from the first configuration when the amount of tactile interaction satisfies a predetermined threshold;

compare a portion of the interactive device that is in the second configuration to a predefined maximum portion for the interactive device; and

maintain the second configuration for the interactive device for a predetermined amount of time based on a determination that the portion of the interactive device exceeds the predefined maximum portion.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to adjust a rate at which the portion of the interactive device is illuminated about the periphery of the frame in response to the increasing amount of tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device, the rate further based upon an interaction parameter, the interaction parameter including at least one of a duration of the tactile interaction, a pressure of the tactile interaction, a speed of the tactile interaction, or a volume of the tactile interaction.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

detect an absence of the tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device; and

present, on at least one of the presentation device and the interactive device, feedback to the player based on the detection of the absence of the tactile interaction of the player with the interactive device, the feedback including at least one of reducing the portion of the interactive device that is illuminated about the periphery of the frame, and presenting, at the presentation device, a third message encouraging the player to interact more with the interactive device.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the interactive device is further configured to detect audible interaction by the player.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:

generate a gaming event; and

present, on at least one of the presentation device and the interactive device, feedback to the player based on the generation of the gaming event.