System and Method for 3D Gaming Effects

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention described herein include, in a reel-based gaming machine, a system and method of displaying a gaming outcome. The system and method include displaying a reel image on a display, wherein displaying includes displaying one or more symbols as three-dimensional symbols. The method also includes animating a three-dimensional object on the display, wherein animating includes rendering at least a portion of the animation at around the time the image is displayed.

1 . In a reel-based gaming machine, a method of displaying a gaming outcome, comprising:
 displaying a reel image on a display, wherein displaying includes displaying one or more symbols as three-dimensional symbols;   modifying the reel image to reflect a gaming outcome; and   animating a three-dimensional object on the display, wherein animating includes rendering at least a portion of the animation at around the time the image is displayed.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein animating a three-dimensional object includes making the object seem to move forward in the display. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein making the object seem to move forward includes morphing the symbol into a three-dimensional landscape. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the three-dimensional landscape is used in a follow-up game. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein animating a three-dimensional object includes making a logo appear to fly off the symbol. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animated three-dimensional object includes a two-dimensional image and wherein animating the three-dimensional object includes morphing the two-dimensional image into a second three-dimensional object. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animated three-dimensional object includes a two-dimensional image and wherein animating the three-dimensional symbol includes morphing the two-dimensional image into a second three-dimensional object and moving the second three-dimensional object around the display. 
   
   
       8 . An article comprising a machine readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein animating the three-dimensional object includes moving the animated three-dimensional object such that it lands on one of the three-dimensional symbols displayed in the reel image, wherein the animated three-dimensional object becomes part of a winning combination. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein moving includes rendering at least a portion of the image at around the time the image is displayed. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein moving includes projecting a texture on the reel image. 
   
   
       12 . An article comprising a machine readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of  claim 9 . 
   
   
       13 . In a reel-based gaming machine having a display, a method of displaying a gaming outcome, comprising:
 displaying a reel image and a background on the display, wherein the reel image includes symbols displayed on one or more lines and wherein at least a portion of the background appears to be a three dimensional landscape;   modifying the reel image to reflect a gaming outcome; and   moving the modified reel image so that the three-dimensional landscape can be used for a bonus play.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein moving includes rendering at least a portion of the reel image. 
   
   
       15 . An article comprising a machine readable medium having instructions thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed in a computer, create a system for executing the method of  claim 13 . 
   
   
       16 . A reel-type based gaming system, comprising:
 a display;   a processor connected to the display; and   a user interface connected to the processor;   wherein the processor displays a reel image having one or more three-dimensional symbols on the display, modifies the reel image to reflect a gaming outcome and animates a three-dimensional object on the display, wherein animating includes rendering at least a portion of the animation at around the time the image is displayed.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor executes program code for simulating movement of the three-dimensional object.