Gaming machine and a method of supplying a flexible architecture gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming machine ( 10 ) is provided having a plurality of modules. The gaming machine ( 10 ) may be used to provide a flexible architecture gaming machine. The plurality of modules include a play module ( 12 ) containing a display device ( 14 ) and a computational device ( 100 ) for controlling the operation of the gaming machine ( 10 ), and a base module ( 24 ) shaped and dimensioned to either directly or indirectly support the play module ( 12 ). The play module ( 12 ) includes a communication interface device ( 104 ) operable to communicate with a transaction handler that may be a transaction handling module ( 16 ). Also described and claimed is a method of supplying and a method of manufacturing a flexible architecture gaming machine.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system comprising:
 a first gaming machine having a first gaming machine form factor, the first gaming machine including a plurality of modules having corresponding form factors allowing the plurality of modules to be electrically and mechanically separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the form factors of the plurality of modules of the first gaming machine integrate with one another to define the first gaming machine form factor;   a second gaming machine having a second gaming machine form factor that is different from the first gaming machine form factor, the second gaming machine including a plurality of modules having corresponding form factors allowing the plurality of modules to be electrically and mechanically separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the form factors of the plurality of modules of the second gaming machine integrate with one another to define the second gaming machine form factor; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of modules of the first gaming machine is interchangeable with a corresponding one of the plurality of modules of the second gaming machine without changing the first gaming machine form factor.   
     
     
         33 . The gaming system of  claim 32 , wherein the first gaming machine comprises:
 a play module having a play module housing containing a display and a computational device for controlling operation of the gaming machine, wherein the computational device is configured to control the display to display images for game play;   a transaction module having a transaction module housing, wherein the transaction module and first play module are configured for mechanical and electrical connection with one another; and   a base that is shaped and dimensioned to support the play module and the transaction module.   
     
     
         34 . The gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the base has an upper portion removably connected to a lower portion of the transaction module, and the transaction module has an upper portion thereof removably connected to the play module to thereby define an upright gaming machine as the first form factor. 
     
     
         35 . The gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the base is configured to support the transaction module at an upper portion thereof and the transaction module is configured to support the play module at a lower portion thereof, and wherein the first gaming machine form factor is a slant top gaming machine form factor. 
     
     
         36 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the base includes an opening dimensioned to removably receive the play module. 
     
     
         37 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , further comprising a player interface module having a player interface housing including a player interface, wherein the player interface module and play module are configured for horizontal engagement and for electrical connection with one another. 
     
     
         38 . The gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the second gaming machine comprises a further play module having a play module housing containing a display and a computational device for controlling operation of the second gaming machine, wherein the computational device is configured to control the display to display images for game play. 
     
     
         39 . The gaming system of  claim 38 , wherein the play module of the first gaming machine is interchangeable with the play module of the second gaming machine. 
     
     
         40 . A gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system comprising:
 a first gaming machine having a first gaming machine form factor, the first gaming machine including:
 a play module having a play module housing containing a display and a computational device for controlling operation of the gaming machine, wherein the computational device is configured to control the display to display images for game play; 
 a transaction module having a transaction module housing, wherein the transaction module and play module are configured for mechanical and electrical connection with one another; 
 a base that is shaped and dimensioned to support the play module and the transaction module; 
 wherein the play module housing, the transaction module housing, and the base are separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the play module housing, the transaction module, and the base are shaped and dimensioned to define the first gaming machine form factor; and 
   a second gaming machine having a second gaming machine form factor that differs from the first gaming machine form factor, the second gaming machine including a plurality of gaming machine modules, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming machine modules of the second gaming machine is interchangeable with at least one of the play module, the transaction module, or the base of the first gaming machine.   
     
     
         41 . The gaming system of  claim 40 , wherein the second gaming machine comprises:
 a further play module having a further play module housing containing a further display and a further computational device for controlling operation of the second gaming machine, wherein the further computational device is configured to control the further display to display images for game play;   a further transaction module having a further transaction module housing, wherein the further transaction module and further play module are configured for mechanical and electrical connection with one another;   a further base that is shaped and dimensioned to support the further play module and the further transaction module; and   wherein the further play module housing, the further transaction module housing, and the further base are separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the further play module housing, the further transaction module housing, and the further base are shaped and dimensioned to define the second gaming machine form factor.   
     
     
         42 . The gaming system of  claim 41 , wherein the further base is configured to support the further play module at an upper portion thereof and the further transaction module at a lower portion thereof, and wherein the second gaming machine form factor is a slant top gaming machine form factor. 
     
     
         43 . The gaming system of  claim 40 , wherein the first gaming machine form factor is an upright gaming machine form factor. 
     
     
         44 . The gaming system of  claim 40 , wherein the base has an upper portion removably connected to a lower portion of the transaction module, and the transaction module has an upper portion thereof removably connected to the play module to thereby define the first gaming machine form factor as an upright gaming machine form factor. 
     
     
         45 . The gaming system of  claim 42 , wherein the base includes an opening dimensioned to removably receive the play module. 
     
     
         46 . The gaming system of  claim 40 , wherein the first gaming machine further comprises a player interface module having a player interface housing including a player interface, wherein the player interface module and play module are configured for horizontal engagement and for electrical connection with one another as separable physical units. 
     
     
         47 . The gaming system of  claim 41 , wherein the play module and further play module are interchangeable with one another. 
     
     
         48 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a play module having a play module housing containing a display and a computational device, wherein the computational device is configured to control operation of the gaming machine including controlling the display to display images for game play;   a transaction module having a transaction module housing, wherein the transaction module and play module are configured for vertical mechanical and electrical connection with one another;   a base that is shaped and dimensioned to support the play module at an upper portion thereof, and the transaction module at a lower portion thereof;   wherein the play module housing, the transaction module housing, and the base are separable from one another as distinct physical units, and wherein the play module housing, the transaction module housing, and the base are shaped to define a slant top gaming machine form factor; and   wherein at least one of the play module, the transaction module, and base are interchangeable with a further gaming machine to define an upright gaming machine form factor.   
     
     
         49 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein the display of the play module includes at least one touch panel that is used to provide player input for game play of it least one game. 
     
     
         50 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein the base is configured to support the play module at an upper portion thereof and the transaction module at a lower portion thereof to provide the slant top gaming machine form factor. 
     
     
         51 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , further comprising a player interface module having a player interface housing including a player interface, wherein the player interface module and play module are configured for horizontal engagement and for electrical connection with one another as separable physical units. 
     
     
         52 . The gaming machine of  claim 48 , wherein the base has an upper portion removably connected to a lower portion of the transaction module, and the transaction module has an upper portion removably connected to the play module to thereby define the upright gaming machine form factor.