Controllable array of networked gaming machine displays

Abstract

Disclosed are gaming machines, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a game of chance. Peripheral devices, such as a bill acceptor and ticket printer, are consolidated in a central region of the gaming machine, behind a moveable door of the machine. Doors of the machine, including a door having a display, are moveable in directions along a longitudinal axis of the machine between open and closed positions. An adjustable button panel is moveable to a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis, independent of the moveable doors. An array of networked displays on one or more gaming machines are controlled to simultaneously output lighting patterns, including synchronized patterns, associated with various events. Designated lighting patterns can also be output on light borders disposed around groups of buttons and other input devices on the button panel. A player interface is coupled to receive player input for setting parameters defining the audio and video presentation of game data on the machine. Contributing to the audio presentation, one or more speakers situated in an upper region of the cabinet are oriented at a downward angle.

1 . A gaming machine for playing a game of chance comprising:
 a cabinet having a longitudinal axis;   a processor situated in the cabinet, the processor coupled to output game data related to play of a game of chance;   a first display mounted to the cabinet, the first display coupled to display the game data;   a second display situated in an upper region of the cabinet, the second display configured to simultaneously output a plurality of lighting patterns, each lighting pattern associated with a respective one of a plurality of events; and   an input device coupled to receive an indication of a wager for play of the game of chance.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes a first region coupled to display a first one of the lighting patterns. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the second display includes a second region coupled to display a second one of the lighting patterns. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the first lighting pattern is provided by the processor, and the second lighting pattern is provided by a server. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes a front display portion. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes a back display portion. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes a side display portion. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes display portions disposed about the second display. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein the display portions are disposed in an arrangement such that the second display is viewable in 360 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display is a candle. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes a plurality of LEDs. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the LEDs include multi-color LEDs. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display includes a flat panel video display. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the flat panel video display is an LCD. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the flat panel video display is one selected from the group consisting of a plasma screen, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display, a rear projection digital light processing (DLP) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, and a flexible OLED display. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display is integral with the cabinet. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second display is mounted to the cabinet. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of events include an event related to game play. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of events include an event unrelated to game play. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the lighting patterns include one selected from the group consisting of a color change, a color sequence, a lighting intensity change, a lighting intensity variation, a lighting sequence, a flashing light, a strobing light, and a motion. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary display is coupled to display a visual pattern selected from the group consisting of moving text and moving images. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein one of the lighting patterns provides game play information. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein one of the lighting patterns provides location information. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein one of the lighting patterns provides service information. 
   
   
       25 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein one of the lighting patterns provides security information. 
   
   
       26 . A gaming machine for playing a game of chance comprising:
 a cabinet having a longitudinal axis;   a processor situated in the cabinet, the processor coupled to output game data related to play of a game of chance;   a first display mounted to the cabinet, the first display coupled to display the game data;   a second display mounted to the cabinet, the second display coupled to display information;   a third display situated in an upper region of the cabinet, the third display configured to simultaneously output a plurality of lighting patterns, each lighting pattern associated with a respective one of a plurality of events; and   an input device coupled to receive an indication of a wager for play of the game of chance.   
   
   
       27 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the third display is separate from the first display and the second display along the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       28 . A gaming system for playing games of chance, the system comprising:
 a gaming machine in communication with a network, the gaming machine including:
 a cabinet having a longitudinal axis, 
 a processor situated in the cabinet, the processor coupled to output game data related to play of a game of chance, 
 a display mounted to the cabinet, the display coupled to display the game data, 
 a second display situated in an upper region of the cabinet, the second display coupled to output a first lighting pattern, and 
 an input device coupled to receive an indication of a wager for play of the game of chance; 
   a display device in communication with the network, the display device coupled to output a second lighting pattern synchronized with the first lighting pattern, the first lighting pattern and the second lighting pattern related to an event; and   a server coupled to the network, the server coupled to provide the first the first lighting pattern to the gaming machine and the second lighting pattern to the display device responsive to the event.   
   
   
       29 . The gaming system of  claim 28 , wherein the display device is locally coupled to the server. 
   
   
       30 . The gaming system of  claim 28 , wherein the server is a further gaming machine. 
   
   
       31 . The gaming system of  claim 28 , wherein the server is a portable device. 
   
   
       32 . The gaming system of  claim 31 , wherein the portable device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and a wireless game player. 
   
   
       33 . A method for coordinating the display of a lighting pattern on one or more networked gaming machines, the method comprising:
 receiving an event notification signal;   identifying a first event associated with the event notification signal;   selecting a first lighting pattern associated with the identified event; and   providing the selected first lighting pattern to a display of one of the gaming machines for output, the display configured to simultaneously output a second lighting pattern associated with a second event.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the display has display portions independently controllable to display the lighting patterns. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first event is selected from the group consisting of a game play event, a bonus event, and a tournament event. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first event includes identification of a location in a gaming environment. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first lighting pattern provides gaming machine status information. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first lighting pattern provides player status information. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first lighting pattern provides game status information. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first lighting pattern provides casino floor status information. 
   
   
       41 . A method for coordinating the display of a lighting pattern on one or more networked gaming machines, the method comprising:
 receiving an event notification signal;   identifying a first event associated with the event notification signal;   selecting a plurality of lighting patterns associated with the identified event; and   providing the selected plurality of lighting patterns to a plurality of displays on the gaming machines for output, the selected plurality of lighting patterns synchronized with one another to define a synchronized lighting pattern.