Gaming display with moveable indicator and methods of use

Abstract

The present invention comprises a gaming apparatus that includes a display device comprising a display surface. The display surface comprises a plurality of indicia. A display device actuator is in communication with the display surface and is configured to move the display surface on a first predetermined path. A moveable indicator is included that is configured to indicate at least one indicia appearing on the display surface. A moveable indicator actuator is in communication with the moveable indicator and is configured to move the moveable indicator along a second predetermined path. A controller is in communication with at least one of the display device actuator and the moveable indicator actuator. The controller is configured to position at least one of the display device and the movable indicator so that the movable indicator indicates an indicia appearing on the display surface that conveys a game outcome.

1 . A gaming method comprising, but not all necessarily in order shown:
 (A) allowing a player to place a wager on a gaming device;   (B) moving a moveable display surface along a first path;   (C) moving a moveable indicator along a second path;   (D) determining a game outcome, the game outcome corresponding to, and being conveyable by, at least one indicium of a plurality of indicia appearing on the moveable display surface;   (E) stopping the moveable indicator; and   (F) stopping the moveable display surface, wherein when the moveable display surface and the moveable indicator are stopped, indicating the at least one indicium of the plurality of indicia on the moveable display surface corresponding to the game outcome with the moveable indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (A) allowing the player to provide input via a player input device; and   (B) allowing the player to at least partially control movement of the moveable indicator using the player input device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein allowing the player to provide input does not affect the game outcome. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising automatically stopping movement of the movable indicator if the player has not activated the player input device before a predetermined time period has elapsed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (A) allowing the player to provide input via a player input device; and   (B) allowing the player to at least partially control movement of the moveable display surface using the player input device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein allowing the player to provide input does not affect the game outcome. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising automatically stopping movement of the moveable display surface if the player has not activated the player input device before a predetermined time period has elapsed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising awarding a prize to the player and representing the prize by indicating the at least one indicium with the moveable indicator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first path comprises a first axis and the second path comprises a second axis, further comprising positioning the first axis orthogonally to the second axis. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming method comprising, but not all necessarily in order shown:
 (A) step for placement of a wager on a gaming device;   (B) step for movement of a moveable display surface along a first path;   (C) step for movement of a moveable indicator along a second path;   (D) step for determination of a game outcome wherein the game outcome corresponds to, and is conveyed by, at least one indicium of a plurality of indicia appearing on the moveable display surface;   (E) step for stoppage of movement of the moveable indicator; and   (F) step for indication of the at least one indicium of the plurality of indicia on the moveable display surface corresponding to the game outcome.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 (A) step for input to the game by the player; and   (B) step for movement of the moveable indicator in accordance with input to the game by the player.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step for indication of the at least one indicium further comprises stoppage of movement of the moveable display surface.