Gaming device providing an animated message during game play

Abstract

The present invention provides a gaming device displaying an animated message adjacent to a game functional element such as a set of reels, set of cards, or a keno board. The game functional element can be shown, preferably, on a video monitor screen. In one embodiment, a game title is displayed above the game functional element. Once the game functional element is put into play, an animated message appears to cover the game title. The animated message appears to enter the screen from behind the game functional element. Once the game functional element is no longer in play, the animated message appears to leave the screen by descending behind the game functional element.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:  
     
         1 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a processor;    a display device;    at least one animated message; and    a functional game element displayed by the display device, wherein said processor causes said animated message to appear within the display device adjacent to the functional game element while the functional game element is in play.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the animated message is selected from the group consisting of: an advertisement, primary game information; bonus game information; and an entertaining message.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein a graphical image is displayed adjacent to the functional game element prior to the functional game element being put into play.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 3 , wherein the animated message appears to at least partially cover said graphical image.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the functional game element is a plurality of reels.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 5 , wherein the animated message appears above the reels, below the reels, or on a side of the reels.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the animated message appears to come from behind the functional game element.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the animated message appears to disappear behind the functional game element as the game ends.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of animated messages, one of said plurality of animated messages being randomly selected by the processor and displayed on the display device when the functional game element is put into play.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of animated messages, said plurality of messages having a predetermined display order.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the animated message displayed on the display device is determined by a game event prior to actuation of the functional game element.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the animated message covers at least a portion of the functional game element.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the functional game element is a set of cards.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming device of  claim 13 , wherein the animated message appears above, below or to the side of the cards.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the functional game element is a keno board.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , wherein the animated message appears above, below or to the side of the keno board.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the animated message includes a secondary message.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary message is a video.  
     
     
         19 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary message is an animated message.  
     
     
         20 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary message appears to fade in or out from the animated message.  
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary message appears before, during or after the animated message appears.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 17 , wherein the animated message includes a video.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 22 , wherein the video provides additional game play information for a player.  
     
     
         24 . The gaming device of  claim 23 , wherein the video provides entertainment for a player.  
     
     
         25 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a display device; and    a processor adapted to communicate with said display device, said processor and said display device adapted to: 
 (a) display a functional game element on said display device;  
 (b) actuate said functional game element;  
 (c) transfer at least one set of data from said controller to said display device, wherein said set of data includes animated messaging data; and  
 (d) display said set of data on the display device adjacent to the functional game element while the functional game element is actuated.  
   
     
     
         26 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said processor and said display are further adapted to provide a graphical image adjacent to the functional game element.  
     
     
         27 . The gaming device of  claim 26 , wherein said processor and said display are further adapted to cover a portion of the graphical image with the set of animated messaging data.  
     
     
         28 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said processor and said display device are further adapted to appear to withdraw the set of animated messaging data behind the functional game element.  
     
     
         29 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein the animated messaging data is selected from the group consisting of an advertisement, primary game information and bonus game information.  
     
     
         30 . The gaming device of  claim 25 , wherein said processor and said display device are further adapted to display a secondary message within the displayed set of animated messaging data.  
     
     
         31 . A gaming device comprising 
 a processor;    a display device;    at least one video message; and    a functional game element displayed by the display device, wherein said processor is adapted to cause said video message to appear within the display device adjacent to the functional game element while the functional game element is in play.