Wagering game with 3D rendering of a mechanical device

Abstract

A stand-alone or server-linked gaming terminal that displays on a plasma display in the top-box area a 3D-rendered mechanical device that is pre-rendered or rendered in real time using a 3D-graphics processor or the like. The 3D-rendered mechanical device depicts the game outcome or a bonus game displayed in the top box display. The images or animation representing the 3D-rendered mechanical device may be stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) within the gaming terminal or downloaded remotely from a storage device coupled to the gaming terminal. The DVR outputs the mechanical device images as analog video, and is capable of receiving analog video input, converting the analog video to a digital format such as MPEG, and storing the converted video on a storage media. Additional structural elements such as a frame may be arranged about the top-box display to add depth or dimensionality to the 3D-rendered images displayed thereon.

1 . A gaming apparatus adapted to display at least one randomly selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving wager inputs from a player, comprising a display in a top box area of said gaming apparatus, said display adapted to display at least one 3D-rendered image of a mechanical device.  
   
   
       2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a primary display, the at least one randomly selected outcome being displayed on said primary display.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one randomly selected outcome is displayed on said display in said top box area.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a communications interface coupled to the display, the communications interface being adapted to receive data indicative of the at least one randomly selected outcome.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the communications interface is wireless.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the communications interface is coupled to a gaming network.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one 3D-rendered image is stored on a remote apparatus communicatively coupled to the gaming apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a storage device, the at least one 3D-rendered image being stored on said storage device.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one randomly selected outcome is determined by a remote apparatus communicatively coupled to the gaming apparatus.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one 3D-rendered image is pre-rendered.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a digital video recorder adapted to store the pre-rendered at least one 3D-rendered image.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one 3D-rendered image is rendered in real time.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical device is a mechanical bonus indicator.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said display is a plasma display.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is an animation employing a motion blur effect.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is an animation employing a frame-blending effect.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is an animation employing a fading effect.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is an animation that appears to morph said mechanical device.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is an animation that causes said mechanical device to disappear and reappear.  
   
   
       20 . A method of displaying at least one 3D-rendered image on a gaming apparatus comprising: 
 selecting at least one randomly selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving wager inputs from a player;    rendering a 3D representation of a mechanical device to form at least one 3D-rendered image of said mechanical device; and    displaying said at least one 3D-rendered image on a display in a top box area of said gaming apparatus.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising storing said at least one 3D-rendered image.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the rendering is carried out substantially in real time.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising associating said at least one 3D-rendered image with said outcome.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the rendering is carried out remote from the gaming apparatus.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising downloading said at least one 3D-rendered image to said gaming apparatus.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 presenting the player with at least two bonus game selections;    responsive to said presenting, receiving a signal indicative of the player's selection; and    selecting said at least one 3D-rendered image based on the player's selection.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising outputting to said display an analog video signal representative of said at least one 3D-rendered image.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising animating said at least one 3D-rendered image to form an animation.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising storing said animation as video data and converting said video data to an analog video signal.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said animation employs a special effect.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising storing said at least one 3D-rendered image on a digital video recorder.  
   
   
       32 . A gaming apparatus having a top box area, comprising: 
 a primary display adapted to display at least one randomly selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving wager inputs from a player of said gaming apparatus;    a secondary display in the top box area of said gaming apparatus, said secondary display being adapted to display at least one 3D-rendered image of a mechanical device; and    a communications interface adapted to receive data indicative of the at least one randomly selected outcome.    
   
   
       33 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said secondary display is a plasma display  
   
   
       34 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said secondary display is a lenticular display.  
   
   
       35 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said mechanical device is selected from the group consisting of a stator, a wheel, a flipping tile, a mechanical die, and a mechanical reel.  
   
   
       36 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a non-flat structural frame disposed about at least a portion of the periphery of said secondary display.  
   
   
       37 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a coder adapted to convert said at least one 3D-rendered image into an analog video representation thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said analog video is formatted according to the NTSC standard.  
   
   
       39 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is at least two 3D-rendered image sequences, each of said 3D-rendered image sequences being selectable by the player of said gaming apparatus.  
   
   
       40 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one 3D-rendered image is rendered in real time by a 3D-graphics processor.