Video gaming machine with player-selectable banner

Abstract

A video gaming machine having a player-selectable banner is disclosed wherein the banner is displayable simultaneously with display of a wagering game. The video gaming machine includes a touch screen having a soft button which activates a change in information displayed in the banner. A method for displaying information to a player of a wagering game wherein the player may select the information displayed is disclosed.

1 . A gaming terminal, comprising: 
 at least one display for displaying a wagering game, including symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, a portion of said display having a banner, said banner adapted to display a player-selectable informational phrase;    a player-input device; and    a controller coupled to said display and said player-input device, said controller operative to cause said player-selectable informational phrase in said banner to change to a different, player-selected informational phrase in response to operation of said player-input device.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the primary functionality of the player-input device is to directly cause said change in said player-selectable informational phrase.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said different, player-selected informational phrase is horizontally scrolled onto the display from either the left or right side of the display.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said change in said player-selectable informational phrase is displayed by a video transition.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said change in said player-selectable informational phrase comprises displaying a menu of informational phrases or informational phrase categories.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said banner is located horizontally across a top portion of said display.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said banner is located horizontally across a bottom portion of said display.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said banner is located vertically on a right side portion of said display.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said banner is located vertically on a left side portion of said display.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming terminal of  claim 1 , wherein said different, player-selected informational phrase is selected from the group of the wagering game name, symbol functions, bonus triggering events, and payout related communications.  
   
   
       11 . A gaming terminal, comprising: 
 at least one display for displaying a wagering game, including symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, a portion of said display having a banner, said banner adapted to display a player-selectable informational phrase;    a touch screen over at least a portion of said display;    a soft button on said touch screen, said soft button activated by a player touching said soft button; and    a controller coupled to said display and said touch screen, said controller operative to cause said player-selectable informational phrase in said banner to change to a different, player-selected informational phrase in response to said player touching said soft button.    
   
   
       12 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein the primary functionality of the player-input device is to directly cause said change in said player-selectable informational phrase.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said different, player-selected informational phrase is horizontally scrolled onto the display from either the left or right side of the display.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said change in said player-selectable informational phrase is displayed by a video transition.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said change in said player-selectable informational phrase comprises displaying a menu of informational phrases or informational phrase categories.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said banner is located horizontally across a top portion of said display.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said banner is located horizontally across a bottom portion of said display.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said banner is located vertically on a right side portion of said display.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said banner is located vertically on a left side portion of said display.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said different, player-selected informational phrase is selected from the group of the wagering game name, symbol functions, bonus triggering events, and payout related communications.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming terminal of  claim 11 , wherein said soft button is located over said banner.  
   
   
       22 . A method of playing a video wagering game, comprising: 
 providing at least one display for displaying a main game, a portion of said display having a banner, said banner adapted to display an informational phrase;    providing a touch screen over said display;    providing a soft button on said touch screen, said soft button activated by a player touching said soft button;    providing a player-input devise; and    providing a controller coupled to said display and said touch screen, said controller operative to cause said informational phrase in said banner to change upon said player touching said soft button;    
   
   
       23 . A method of displaying information to a player of a wagering game, comprising: 
 displaying first information on a banner on a display to said player while said wagering game is being conducted;    receiving an input from said player selecting other information that said player desires to be displayed; and    displaying said other information on said banner on said display.    
   
   
       24 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said other information is selected from the group of the wagering game name, symbol functions, bonus triggering events, and payout related communications.  
   
   
       25 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said displaying said other information on said banner of said display occurs by horizontally scrolling said other information onto said banner of said display.  
   
   
       26 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said displaying said other information on said banner of said display occurs by video transitioning said other information onto said banner of said display.  
   
   
       27 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said banner is located horizontally across a top portion of said display.  
   
   
       28 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said banner is located horizontally across a bottom portion of said display.  
   
   
       29 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said banner is located vertically on a right side portion of said display.  
   
   
       30 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said banner is located on left side portion of said display.  
   
   
       31 . The method of displaying information of  claim 23 , wherein said receiving an input from said player comprises the player pressing a soft button located on a touch screen over said display.  
   
   
       32 . The method of displaying information of  claim 31  wherein said soft button is located over said banner.