Configurable user interface for a gaming apparatus

Abstract

A gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a controller that controls play of a game and selectively operates in a first mode and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation a user interface includes a combination of a touch screen on the display and physical buttons on the gaming apparatus. In the second mode of operation the user interface includes only physical buttons. The user interface is configurable to display buttons on the touch screen in different configurations.

1 . A gaming machine including a user interface and a game controller that provides a game on the gaming machine, the game controller selectively operating in a first mode and a second mode of operation, wherein
 when the game controller operates in the first mode of operation, the user interface includes a first set of buttons each implemented on a touch screen on a display and a second set of buttons each implemented as physical buttons, and   when the game controller operates in the second mode of operation, the user interface is implemented only as physical buttons.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein in the first mode of operation the display is configurable into a plurality of different configurations in which the buttons in the first set buttons are located in different configurations on the display. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein in one said configuration, the first set of buttons are located near the left side of the display and in another said configuration the first set of buttons are located near the right side of the display. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein there are at least two buttons in the first set of buttons and in one said configuration, two of the buttons in the first set of buttons are located near different sides of the display and in another configuration those two buttons are located near the same side of the display. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein in one said configuration, the first set of buttons is located near a bottom edge of the display. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein in the first mode of operation, the touch screen implements game bet selectors and the physical buttons implement a game play activator. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein the game bet selectors include a first group of selectors that are operable to select the number of outcomes on which to place a wager and a second group of selectors that are operable to select the magnitude of the wager on the selected number of outcomes. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the first group of selectors and the second group of selectors remain displayed together in each said configuration, and wherein the first and second groups of selectors are displayed in different locations with respect to each other in different said configurations. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the gaming machine displays on the display an icon that when pressed by a player causes the display to change configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the gaming machine displays on the display a menu from which the player can cause the display to change configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the touch screen is operable by a player to drag the first set of buttons into said different configurations. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein a player is able to locate the first set of buttons at substantially any desired location within a constrained area on the display, the constrained area consisting of less than the entire area of the display. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein the constrained area is an area outside of a game screen that displays symbols representing the outcome of the game. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein the constrained area is an area outside of indicia that represents a credit balance on the gaming machine, a win amount resulting from a play of the game and/or a bet amount that indicates the bet made in a play of the game. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein the constrained area is outside of indicia that represents a denomination of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the game controller moves indicia that defines to one or more of a value of a credit meter of the gaming machine, a value of a win meter of the gaming machine, a value of an amount bet on the game and the denomination of the gaming machine in response to configuration of the buttons in the first set of buttons in a way that would otherwise obscure that indicia or cause that indicia to obscure one or more buttons in the first set of buttons. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the touch screen does not implement a game play activator. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine including a user interface and a game controller adapted to provide a game, wherein the user interface includes a combination of a first set of buttons comprising at least one button implemented on a touch screen on a display of the gaming console and a second set of buttons comprising at least one button implemented as a physical button on the gaming console, wherein the user interface is configurable into a plurality of different configurations in which the buttons in the first set of buttons are located in different configurations on the display. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the first set of buttons is displayed on the displays translucently or transparently. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the display displays a game screen in which the outcomes of the game are displayed and the first set of buttons is displayed around the game screen and wherein the game screen is displayed in the same location regardless of in which of the plurality of different configurations the display is in. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the first set of buttons includes a plurality of buttons and includes all necessary buttons to enable a player to select a bet to place in the game. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine of  claim 21 , wherein the first set of buttons does not include a game play activator. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein a player is able to locate the first set of buttons at substantially any desired location within a constrained area on the display, the constrained area consisting of less than the entire area of the display. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming machine of an  claim 18 , wherein the game controller moves indicia that defines to one or more of a value of a credit meter of the gaming machine, a value of a win meter of the gaming machine, a value of an amount bet on the game and the denomination of the gaming machine in response to configuration of the buttons in the first set of buttons in a way that would otherwise obscure that indicia or cause that indicia to obscure one or more buttons in the first set of buttons.