Dynamically configurable gaming system

Abstract

A gaming system according to one form of the present invention includes a number of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a single player game presentation arrangement that may be reconfigured to provide any one of a number of game presentations. In addition to the gaming machines the gaming system includes a system configuration arrangement and a game modification controller. The system configuration arrangement produces system configuration commands based either on manual inputs, system usage information, or various information related to one or more players in a gaming facility. The game modification controller included in preferred forms of the gaming system receives the system configuration commands, and, in response to the commands, communicates presentation switching instructions to one or more gaming machines included in the system.

1 . A gaming system including:
 (a) a gaming machine including a game presentation arrangement capable of producing a respective game presentation for any one of a number of different games;   (b) a player detecting arrangement separate from the gaming machine and configured to detect a player in a gaming facility in which the gaming machine is located, the detection occurring at a point in time at which the player (i) has not reached the location of the gaming machine, and (ii) is thus at a distance from the gaming machine;   (c) a system configuration arrangement configured to produce a system configuration command specifying a target game presentation to be produced at the gaming machine;   (d) a game modification controller in communication with the system configuration arrangement and with the gaming machine, the game modification controller configured to receive the system configuration command from the system configuration arrangement prior to the time at which the player reaches the gaming machine, and, responsive to the receipt of the system configuration command, configured to communicate presentation switching instructions to the gaming machine prior to the time at which the player reaches the gaming machine; and   (e) wherein in response to the presentation switching instructions, the gaming machine switches from a first game presentation to the target game presentation prior to an arrival of the player at the gaming machine, such that the switch to the target game presentation occurs at a location distant from the location at which the player is detected and at a time prior to the time at which the player reaches the gaming machine.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further including:
 (a) a player data collection arrangement configured to store player preference information for the detected player; and 
 (b) the target game presentation is a game presentation likely to be favored by the player based on the player preference information for the detected player. 
 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the player detecting arrangement includes a player location determining arrangement configured to determine the location of the player in the gaming facility in which the gaming machine is located. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3  wherein the player carries an identifying device and wherein the player location determining arrangement includes a reading device configured to remotely read identifying information from the identifying device. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 3  wherein the player carries an identifying device and wherein the player location determining arrangement includes a receiver device configured to remotely receive identifying information transmitted from the identifying device. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 3  wherein the player carries a transponder transmitting a player identifying signal, and wherein the player location determining arrangement includes a receiving arrangement configured to determine the location of the player based upon the player identifying signal. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the player detecting arrangement detects the player by reading information associated with a player card which is usable by the player in the gaming facility in which the gaming machine is located. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the target game presentation includes an attract display tailored for the detected player. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the gaming machine is located in a hotel room and wherein the player detecting arrangement detects the player through a check-in procedure for the hotel room. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a gaming machine, the gaming machine having the capability of producing a respective game presentation for any one of a number of different games, the method including:
 (a) detecting a player in a gaming facility at a point in time at which the player (i) has not reached the location of the gaming machine within the gaming facility, and (ii) is thus at a distance from the gaming machine;   (b) in response to detecting the player at the distance from the gaming machine, producing a system configuration command specifying a target game presentation different from a current game presentation produced at the gaming machine;   (c) communicating presentation switching instructions to the gaming machine in response to the system configuration command, the presentation switching instructions including an instruction for the gaming machine to switch from the current game presentation produced at the gaming machine to the target game presentation;   (d) in response to the presentation switching instructions, changing from the current game presentation at the gaming machine to the target game presentation prior to a point in time at which the player reaches the gaming machine such that the switch to the target game presentation occurs at a location distant from the location at which the player is detected.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further including retrieving stored player preference information for the detected player, and wherein the target game presentation is selected based on the retrieved player preference information. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the target game presentation includes an attract display tailored for the detected player. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein detecting the player includes receiving a transponder signal transmitted from a transponder carried by the player. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein detecting the player includes remotely reading an identification device carried by the player. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the gaming machine is located in a hotel room and wherein detecting the player includes receiving room check-in information. 
     
     
         16 . A program product for configuring a gaming machine, the gaming machine having the ability to produce a respective game presentation for a number of different games, the program product being stored in one or more computer readable devices and including:
 (a) system configuration program code executable to produce a system configuration command specifying a target game presentation to be produced at the gaming machine, the system configuration command being produced in response to the detection of a player within a gaming facility in which the gaming machine is located; and   (b) presentation switching program code executable to respond to the system configuration command by communicating presentation switching instructions to the gaming machine, the presentation switching instructions being effective for causing the gaming machine to switch from a first game presentation at the gaming machine to the target game presentation prior to an arrival of the detected player at the gaming machine such that the switch to the target game presentation occurs at a location distant from a location of the detected player.   
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the system configuration program code is also executable to retrieve game preference information on the detected player, and to specify the target game presentation based on the retrieved game preference information. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the target game presentation includes an attract display tailored for the detected player. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the system configuration program code is also executable to receive location information on the detected player from a player detection system and to produce the system configuration command in response to the received location information.