Gaming Apparatus with Common Display Device

Abstract

A gaming system and method is disclosed that utilizes a common display device for providing a display of gaming information for a plurality of gaming devices. The common display includes a plurality of segments, each of which has a gaming symbol and an indication device. In response to a display event from one of the gaming devices, a segment is indicated using an indication device. Where two segments are simultaneously indicated by separate gaming devices, indicia such as colors, are used to associate the selected segments with their respective gaming devices.

1 . A gaming system, comprising:
 (A) a first gaming device, the first gaming device being configured to allow a first player to place a wager and play a game, the first gaming device having a first indicia associated with it;   (B) a second gaming device, the second gaming device being configured to allow a second player to place a wager and play a game, the second gaming device having a second indicia associated with it; and   (C) a common display device viewable by the first and second players playing at the first and second gaming devices, the display device comprising:
 (a) a first plurality of segments, each of the first plurality of segments comprising:
 (i) the first indicia; 
 (ii) a first game symbol, the game symbol capable of communicating game information; and 
 (iii) an indication device, the indication device being configured to selectively indicate the respective segment; 
 
 (b) a second plurality of segments, each of the second plurality of segments comprising:
 (i) the second indicia; 
 (ii) a second game symbol, the game symbol capable of communicating game information; and 
 (iii) an indication device, the indication device being configured to selectively indicate the respective segment; and 
 
 (c) at least one controller in communication with the first and second gaming devices and each of the first and second plurality of segments, the controller being configured to:
 (i) upon occurrence of a first display event associated with the first gaming device, select one of the first plurality of segments and cause the indication device of the selected one of the first plurality of segments to indicate the selected one of the first plurality of segments; 
 (ii) upon occurrence of a second display event associated with the second gaming device, select one of the second plurality of segments and cause the indication device of the selected one of the second plurality of segments to indicate the selected one of the second plurality of segments; and 
 (iii) wherein if the selected one of the first plurality of segments and the selected one of the second plurality of segments are indicated simultaneously, the first and second indicia communicate which segment is associated to which gaming device. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause each of the first plurality of segments to be activated for a brief period of time and then deactivated before causing the indication device of the selected one of the first plurality of segments to indicate the segment for a longer period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the common display device further comprises one or more display screens for displaying an outcome of a display event. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , further comprising a display screen associated with each gaming device. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of segments are arranged around a periphery of the one or more display screens. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first indicia comprises a first color and wherein the second indicia comprises a second color. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 6 , wherein the first gaming device includes a decoration of the first color and wherein the second gaming device includes a decoration of the second color. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the indication device comprises at least one of backlighting, peripheral lighting, mechanical pointing devices, an image or text. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of segments are in a first designated area of the common display device and wherein the second plurality of segments are in a second designated area of the common display device. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming system, comprising:
 (A) a first gaming device, the first gaming device being configured to allow a first player to place a first wager and play a first game, the first gaming device having a first indicia associated with it;   (B) a second gaming device, the second gaming device being configured to allow a second player to place a second wager and play a second game, the second gaming device having a second indicia associated with it; and   (C) a common display device viewable by the first and second players playing at the first and second gaming devices, the display device comprising:
 (a) a plurality of segments, each of the segments comprising:
 (i) a game symbol, the game symbol capable of communicating game information; and 
 (ii) an indication device, the indication device being configured to selectively indicate the respective segment wherein the first or second indicia are displayed when the indication device indicates the respective segment; and 
 
 (b) at least one controller in communication with the first and second gaming devices and each of the first and second plurality of segments, the controller being configured to:
 (i) upon occurrence of a first display event associated with the first gaming device, select one of the plurality of segments and cause the indication device of the selected segment to indicate the segment using the first indicia; and 
 (ii) upon occurrence of a second display event associated with the second gaming device, select one of the plurality of segments and cause the indication device of the selected one of the second plurality of segments to indicate the segment using the second indicia. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the common display device further comprises one or more display screens for displaying an outcome of at least one display event. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the display screens display a combined outcome of a plurality of display events. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the first indicia comprises a first color and wherein the second indicia comprises a second color. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the indication device comprises at least one of backlighting, peripheral lighting, mechanical pointing devices, an image or text. 
     
     
         15 . A method of playing a game, comprising:
 (A) upon occurrence of a first display event associated with a first player, selecting a first segment from among a plurality of segments, the first segment having a first indicia and a first symbol;   (B) indicating the first segment wherein the first indicia indicates that the first symbol is associated with the first player;   (C) upon occurrence of a second display event associated with a second player, selecting a second segment from among the plurality of segments, the second segment having a second indicia and a second symbol; and   (D) indicating the second segment wherein the second indicia indicates that the second symbol is associated with the second player.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 (A) generating a plurality of display events associated with a first player within a game cycle;   (B) combining an outcome of the plurality of display events; and   (C) displaying the outcome on a display screen associated with the plurality of segments.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of segments each communicate a game symbol, wherein the outcome is dependent on the game symbol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein indicating a segment comprises providing at least one lighting effect to the indicating segment. 
     
     
         19 . A display device, comprising:
 (A) a plurality of segments;   (B) means for selectively indicating the segments;   (C) means for associating a first selectively indicated segment with a first gaming device; and   (D) means for associating a second selectively indicated segment with a second gaming device.   
     
     
         20 . The display device of claim  0 , wherein the means for selectively indicating the segments includes means for receiving a selection signal from at least one of the first and second gaming devices. 
     
     
         21 . The display device of claim  0 , wherein the plurality of segments are arranged to give the display an appearance of a board game playing surface.