Patent Publication Number: US-11393278-B2

Title: Gaming machine display having one or more curved edges

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to, and is a continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/224,661, entitled “GAMING MACHINE DISPLAY HAVING ONE OR MORE CURVED EDGES” and filed on Dec. 18, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference and for all purposes. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/673,951, entitled “DISPLAY WITH CURVED EDGES FOR AN ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE” and filed on Dec. 18, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference and for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) or gaming devices provide a variety of wagering games such as slot games, video poker games, video blackjack games, roulette games, video bingo games, keno games and other types of games that are frequently offered at casinos and other locations. Play on EGMs typically involves a player establishing a credit balance by inputting money, or another form of monetary credit, and placing a monetary wager (from the credit balance) on one or more outcomes of an instance (or single play) of a primary or base game. In many games, a player may qualify for secondary games or bonus rounds by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in the base game. Secondary games provide an opportunity to win additional game instances, credits, awards, jackpots, progressives, etc. Awards from any winning outcomes are typically added back to the credit balance and can be provided to the player upon completion of a gaming session or when the player wants to “cash out.” 
     “Slot” type games are often displayed to the player in the form of various symbols arrayed in a row-by-column grid or matrix. Specific matching combinations of symbols along predetermined paths (or paylines) through the matrix indicate the outcome of the game. The display typically highlights winning combinations/outcomes for ready identification by the player. Matching combinations and their corresponding awards are usually shown in a “pay-table” which is available to the player for reference. Often, the player may vary his/her wager to include differing numbers of paylines and/or the amount bet on each line. By varying the wager, the player may sometimes alter the frequency or number of winning combinations, frequency or number of secondary games, and/or the amount awarded. 
     Typical games use a random number generator (RNG) to randomly determine the outcome of each game. The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player (RTP=return to player) over the course of many plays or instances of the game. The RTP and randomness of the RNG are critical to ensuring the fairness of the games and are therefore highly regulated. Upon initiation of play, the RNG randomly determines a game outcome and symbols are then selected which correspond to that outcome. Notably, some games may include an element of skill on the part of the player and are therefore not entirely random. 
     SUMMARY 
     A display system for an EGM may have a display that includes a main display portion and one or more curved display side portions. In some examples, the display may include a sensor system residing at least in part on the one or more curved display side portions. A control system may be configured to cause the main display portion to display one or more images corresponding to a touch, gesture or force detected by the sensor system. One or more of the curved display side portions may be used to display images corresponding to virtual control devices. In some instances, one or more of the curved display side portions may be used to display images corresponding to an attract sequence, player identification information, advertising or other content. According to some implementations, one or more of the curved display side portions may be used to display images corresponding to an attract sequence, player identification information, advertising or other content while the main display portion is being used to present an instance of the wagering game. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing examples of several EGMs networked with various gaming related servers. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing examples of various functional elements of an EGM. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram that shows blocks of a display device for a gaming machine according to one example. 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  shows example perspective views of a display having a main display portion and at least one curved display portion. 
         FIG. 5  shows an example of an EGM that includes one example of a display device such as those disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram that shows blocks of a method according to one implementation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates several different models of EGMs which may be networked to various gaming related servers. The present invention can be configured to work as a system  100  in a gaming environment including one or more server computers  102  (e.g., slot servers of a casino) that are in communication, via a communications network, with one or more gaming devices  104 A- 104 X (EGMs, slots, video poker, bingo machines, etc.). The gaming devices  104 A- 104 X may alternatively be portable and/or remote gaming devices. 
     Communication between the gaming devices  104 A- 104 X and the server computers  102 , and among the gaming devices  104 A- 104 X, may be direct or indirect, such as over the Internet through a website maintained by a computer on a remote server or over an online data network including commercial online service providers, Internet service providers, private networks, and the like. In other embodiments, the gaming devices  104 A- 104 X may communicate with one another and/or the server computers  102  over RF, cable TV, satellite links and the like. 
     In some embodiments, server computers  102  may not be necessary and/or preferred. For example, the present invention may, in one or more embodiments, be practiced on a stand-alone gaming device such as gaming device  104 A, gaming device  104 B or any of the other gaming devices  104 C- 104 X. However, it is typical to find multiple EGMs connected to networks implemented with one or more of the different server computers  102  described herein. 
     The server computers  102  may include a central determination gaming system server  106 , a ticket-in-ticket-out (TITO) system server  108 , a player tracking system server  110 , a progressive system server  112 , and/or a casino management system server  114 . Gaming devices  104 A- 104 X may include features to enable operation of any or all servers for use by the player and/or operator (e.g., the casino, resort, gaming establishment, tavern, pub, etc.). For example, game outcomes may be generated on a central determination gaming system server  106  and then transmitted over the network to any of a group of remote terminals or remote gaming devices  104 A- 104 X that utilize the game outcomes and display the results to the players. 
     Gaming device  104 A is often of a cabinet construction which may be aligned in rows or banks of similar devices for placement and operation on a casino floor. The gaming device  104 A often includes a main door  117  which provides access to the interior of the cabinet. Gaming device  104 A typically includes a button area or button deck  120  accessible by a player that is configured with input switches or buttons  122 , an access channel for a bill validator  124 , and/or an access channel for a ticket printer  126 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , gaming device  104 A is shown as a Relm XL™ model gaming device manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. As shown, gaming device  104 A is a reel machine having a gaming display area  118  comprising a number (typically 3 or 5) of mechanical reels  130  with various symbols displayed on them. The reels  130  are independently spun and stopped to show a set of symbols within the gaming display area  118  which may be used to determine an outcome to the game. 
     In many configurations, the gaming machine  104 A may have a main display  128  (e.g., video display monitor) mounted to, or above, the gaming display area  118 . The main display  128  can be a high-resolution LCD, plasma, LED, or OLED panel which may be flat or curved as shown, a cathode ray tube, or other conventional electronically controlled video monitor. 
     In some embodiments, the bill validator  124  may also function as a “ticket-in” reader that allows the player to use a casino issued credit ticket to load credits onto the gaming device  104 A (e.g., in a cashless ticket (“TITO”) system). In such cashless embodiments, the gaming device  104 A may also include a “ticket-out” printer  126  for outputting a credit ticket when a “cash out” button is pressed. Cashless TITO systems are well known in the art and are used to generate and track unique bar-codes or other indicators printed on tickets to allow players to avoid the use of bills and coins by loading credits using a ticket reader and cashing out credits using a ticket-out printer  126  on the gaming device  104 A. 
     In some embodiments, a player tracking card reader  144 , a transceiver for wireless communication with a player&#39;s smartphone, a keypad  146 , and/or an illuminated display  148  for reading, receiving, entering, and/or displaying player tracking information is provided in EGM  104 A. In such embodiments, a game controller within the gaming device  104 A can communicate with the player tracking system server  110  to send and receive player tracking information. 
     Gaming device  104 A may also include a bonus topper wheel  134 . When bonus play is triggered (e.g., by a player achieving a particular outcome or set of outcomes in the primary game), bonus topper wheel  134  is operative to spin and stop with indicator arrow  136  indicating the outcome of the bonus game. Bonus topper wheel  134  is typically used to play a bonus game, but it could also be incorporated into play of the base or primary game. 
     A candle  138  may be mounted on the top of gaming device  104 A and may be activated by a player (e.g., using a switch or one of buttons  122 ) to indicate to operations staff that gaming device  104 A has experienced a malfunction or the player requires service. The candle  138  is also often used to indicate a jackpot has been won and to alert staff that a hand payout of an award may be needed. 
     There may also be one or more information panels  152  which may be a back-lit, silkscreened glass panel with lettering to indicate general game information including, for example, a game denomination (e.g., $0.25 or $1), pay lines, pay tables, and/or various game related graphics. In some embodiments, the information panel(s)  152  may be implemented as an additional video display. 
     Gaming devices  104 A have traditionally also included a handle  132  typically mounted to the side of main cabinet  116  which may be used to initiate game play. 
     Many or all the above described components can be controlled by circuitry (e.g., a gaming controller) housed inside the main cabinet  116  of the gaming device  104 A, the details of which are shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Note that not all gaming devices suitable for implementing embodiments of the present invention necessarily include top wheels, top boxes, information panels, cashless ticket systems, and/or player tracking systems. Further, some suitable gaming devices have only a single game display that includes only a mechanical set of reels and/or a video display, while others are designed for bar counters or table tops and have displays that face upwards. 
     An alternative example gaming device  104 B illustrated in  FIG. 1  is the Arc™ model gaming device manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. Note that where possible, reference numerals identifying similar features of the gaming device  104 A embodiment are also identified in the gaming device  104 B embodiment using the same reference numbers. Gaming device  104 B does not include physical reels and instead shows game play functions on main display  128 . An optional topper screen  140  may be used as a secondary game display for bonus play, to show game features or attraction activities while a game is not in play, or any other information or media desired by the game designer or operator. In some embodiments, topper screen  140  may also or alternatively be used to display progressive jackpot prizes available to a player during play of gaming device  104 B. 
     Example gaming device  104 B includes a main cabinet  116  including a main door  117  which opens to provide access to the interior of the gaming device  104 B. The main or service door  117  is typically used by service personnel to refill the ticket-out printer  126  and collect bills and tickets inserted into the bill validator  124 . The door  117  may also be accessed to reset the machine, verify and/or upgrade the software, and for general maintenance operations. 
     Another example gaming device  104 C shown is the Helix™ model gaming device manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. Gaming device  104 C includes a main display  128 A that is in a landscape orientation. Although not illustrated by the front view provided, the landscape display  128 A may have a curvature radius from top to bottom, or alternatively from side to side. In some embodiments, display  128 A is a flat panel display. Main display  128 A is typically used for primary game play while secondary display  128 B is typically used for bonus game play, to show game features or attraction activities while the game is not in play or any other information or media desired by the game designer or operator. 
     Many different types of games, including mechanical slot games, video slot games, video poker, video black jack, video pachinko, keno, bingo, and lottery, may be provided with or implemented within the depicted gaming devices  104 A- 104 C and other similar gaming devices. Each gaming device may also be operable to provide many different games. Games may be differentiated according to themes, sounds, graphics, type of game (e.g., slot game vs. card game vs. game with aspects of skill), denomination, number of paylines, maximum jackpot, progressive or non-progressive, bonus games, and may be deployed for operation in Class 2 or Class 3, etc. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting examples of internal electronic components of a gaming device  200  connected to various external systems. All or parts of the example gaming device  200  shown could be used to implement any one of the example gaming devices  104 A-X depicted in  FIG. 1 . The games available for play on the gaming device  200  are controlled by a game controller  202  that includes one or more processors  204  and a game that may be stored as game software or a program  206  in a memory  208  coupled to the processor  204 . The memory  208  may include one or more mass storage devices or media that are housed within gaming device  200 . Within the mass storage devices and/or memory  208 , one or more databases  210  may be provided for use by the program  206 . A random number generator (RNG)  212  that can be implemented in hardware and/or software is typically used to generate random numbers that are used in the operation of game play to ensure that game play outcomes are random and meet regulations for a game of chance. 
     Alternatively, a game instance (i.e. a play or round of the game) may be generated on a remote gaming device such as a central determination gaming system server  106  (not shown in  FIG. 2  but see  FIG. 1 ). The game instance is communicated to gaming device  200  via the network  214  and then displayed on gaming device  200 . Gaming device  200  may execute game software, such as but not limited to video streaming software that allows the game to be displayed on gaming device  200 . When a game is stored on gaming device  200 , it may be loaded from a memory  208  (e.g., from a read only memory (ROM)) or from the central determination gaming system server  106  to memory  208 . The memory  208  may include RAM, ROM or another form of storage media that stores instructions for execution by the processor  204 . 
     The gaming device  200  may include a topper display  216  or another form of a top box (e.g., a topper wheel, a topper screen, etc.) which sits above main cabinet  218 . The gaming cabinet  218  or topper display  216  may also house a number of other components which may be used to add features to a game being played on gaming device  200 , including speakers  220 , a ticket printer  222  which prints bar-coded tickets or other media or mechanisms for storing or indicating a player&#39;s credit value, a ticket reader  224  which reads bar-coded tickets or other media or mechanisms for storing or indicating a player&#39;s credit value, and a player tracking interface  232 . The player tracking interface  232  may include a keypad  226  for entering information, a player tracking display  228  for displaying information (e.g., an illuminated or video display), and a card reader  230  for receiving data and/or communicating information to and from media or a device such as a smart phone enabling player tracking. Ticket printer  222  may be used to print tickets for a TITO system server  108 . The gaming device  200  may further include a bill validator  234 , buttons  236  for player input, cabinet security sensors  238  to detect unauthorized opening of the cabinet  218 , a primary game display  240 , and a secondary game display  242 , each coupled to and operable under the control of game controller  202 . 
     Gaming device  200  may be connected over network  214  to player tracking system server  110 . Player tracking system server  110  may be, for example, an OASIS® system manufactured by Aristocrat® Technologies, Inc. Player tracking system server  110  is used to track play (e.g. amount wagered, games played, time of play and/or other quantitative or qualitative measures) for individual players so that an operator may reward players in a loyalty program. The player may use the player tracking interface  232  to access his/her account information, activate free play, and/or request various information. Player tracking or loyalty programs seek to reward players for their play and help build brand loyalty to the gaming establishment. The rewards typically correspond to the player&#39;s level of patronage (e.g., to the player&#39;s playing frequency and/or total amount of game plays at a given casino). Player tracking rewards may be complimentary and/or discounted meals, lodging, entertainment and/or additional play. Player tracking information may be combined with other information that is now readily obtainable by a casino management system. 
     Gaming devices, such as gaming devices  104 A- 104 X,  200 , are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in many cases, gaming devices  104 A- 104 X,  200  are operable to award monetary awards (e.g., typically dispensed in the form of a redeemable voucher). Therefore, to satisfy security and regulatory requirements in a gaming environment, hardware and software architectures are implemented in gaming devices  104 A- 104 X,  200  that differ significantly from those of general-purpose computers. Adapting general purpose computers to function as gaming devices  200  is not simple or straightforward because of: 1) the regulatory requirements for gaming devices  200 , 2) the harsh environment in which gaming devices  200  operate, 3) security requirements, 4) fault tolerance requirements, and 5) the requirement for additional special purpose componentry enabling functionality of an EGM. These differences require substantial engineering effort with respect to game design implementation, hardware components and software. 
     When a player wishes to play the gaming device  200 , he/she can insert cash or a ticket voucher through a coin acceptor (not shown) or bill validator  234  to establish a credit balance on the gamine machine. The credit balance is used by the player to place wagers on instances of the game and to receive credit awards based on the outcome of winning instances. The credit balance is decreased by the amount of each wager and increased upon a win. The player can add additional credits to the balance at any time. The player may also optionally insert a loyalty club card into the card reader  230 . During the game, the player views the game outcome on the game displays  240 ,  242 . Other game and prize information may also be displayed. 
     For each game instance, a player may make selections, which may affect play of the game. For example, the player may vary the total amount wagered by selecting the amount bet per line and the number of lines played. In many games, the player is asked to initiate or select options during course of game play (such as spinning a wheel to begin a bonus round or select various items during a feature game). The player may make these selections using the player-input buttons  236 , the primary game display  240  which may be a touch screen, or using some other device which enables a player to input information into the gaming device  200 . 
     During certain game events, the gaming device  200  may display visual and auditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects add to the excitement of a game, which makes a player more likely to enjoy the playing experience. Auditory effects include various sounds that are projected by the speakers  220 . Visual effects include flashing lights, strobing lights or other patterns displayed from lights on the gaming device  200  or from lights behind the information panel  152  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     When the player is done, he/she cashes out the credit balance (typically by pressing a cash out button to receive a ticket from the ticket printer  222 ). The ticket may be “cashed-in” for money or inserted into another machine to establish a credit balance for play. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram that shows blocks of a display device for a gaming machine according to one example. According to this example, the display device  300  includes an interface system  305 , a display device control system  310  and a display  315 . In some examples, the display device  300  may include an optional sensor system  320  and/or an optional haptic feedback system  325 . 
     The interface system  305  provides one or more interfaces for wired and/or wireless communications between the display device  300  and an EGM, e.g., by electrical connectivity. In this implementation, the interface system  305  is configured for communication between the display device  300  and at least a portion of a gaming machine control system. The gaming machine control system may be, or may include, an instance of the game controller  202  described above with reference to  FIG. 2 . In some disclosed implementations, the display device  300  may receive information from a player tracking system via the interface system  305 . As noted above, some disclosed EGMs may include a player tracking card reader, a transceiver for wireless communication with a player&#39;s smartphone, a keypad and/or an illuminated display for reading, receiving, entering, and/or displaying player tracking information. In some examples, the display device  300  may receive player tracking information, which may include but is not limited to player identification information, from the player tracking system via the interface system  305 . In some implementations, the player tracking information may be received via a gaming machine control system. In other implementations, the player tracking information may be received from the EGM&#39;s player tracking system and/or from a player tracking system server via the interface system  305 . 
     In this example, the display device control system  310  is configured for controlling elements of the display device  300 . In some instances, the display device control system  310  may be configured for controlling elements of the display device  300  at least in part according to signals received from an EGM via the interface system  305 . In some such examples, the display device control system  310  may be configured for controlling elements of the display device  300  at least in part according to signals received from a gaming machine control system via the interface system  305 . Alternatively, or additionally, the display device control system  310  may be configured for controlling elements of the display device  300  at least in part according to signals received from another component of the EGM, such as a player tracking module, or at least in part according to signals received from another device. 
     The display device control system  310  may include at least one of a general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, or discrete hardware components. Accordingly, the display device control system  310  may include one or more processors. In some implementations the display device control system  310  may include one or more non-transitory storage media operatively coupled to the one or more processors. 
     In some examples, the display device control system  310  may be configured for sending signals (via the interface system  305 ) corresponding to input received via the optional sensor system  320  to a gaming machine control system. In some such examples, the signals may be, or may correspond to, user input received via the optional sensor system  320 . Some examples are described below. 
     The display  315  may, in some implementations, be an instance of the main display  128  that is described elsewhere herein. The display  315  may be, or may include, a liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma, a light-emitting diode (LED) display, microLED or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel. According to some implementations, the display  315  may include a flexible OLED. 
     In this implementation, the display  315  includes a main display portion and one or more curved display side portions. According to some examples, one or more of the curved display side portions and/or the main display portion may be used to display images corresponding to virtual control devices. In some instances, one or more of the curved display side portions may be used to display images corresponding to an attract sequence, player identification information, advertising or other content. According to some implementations, one or more of the curved display side portions may be used to display images corresponding to an attract sequence, player identification information, advertising or other content while the main display portion is being used to present an instance of the wagering game. 
     Depending on the particular implementation, the sensor system  320  may be configured for touch, gesture and/or force detection. For example, the sensor system  320  may include a capacitive, optical and/or ultrasonic sensor that is configured for touch, gesture and/or force detection. In some examples, the sensor system may include a screen, such as a touch screen, that overlies at least a portion of the display  315 . For example, the sensor system  320  may reside, at least in part, on one or more curved display side portions of the display  315 . According to some examples, the sensor system may include one or more touch, force or gesture-sensitive buttons. 
     In some implementations, the display device control system  310  may be configured to cause the main display portion to display one or more images corresponding to a touch, gesture or force detected by the sensor system  320 . In some instances, the touch, gesture or force may correspond to at least one of a player hand or a player digit. 
     The display device  300  may, in some examples, include a haptic feedback system  325 . The haptic feedback system  325  may be configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to one or more touches or gestures detected via the sensor system  320 . Accordingly, haptic feedback system  325  may reside on, under or proximate at least a portion of the sensor system  320 . Some examples are described in more detail below. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  shows example perspective views of a display having a main display portion and at least one curved display portion. In these examples, the main display portion  410  corresponds to a front portion of the display  315 . The broken lines shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C  indicate that the entire display  315  is not shown. In the examples shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , only one curved display portion  405 , on a side visible to a person viewing the drawing, is shown. However some or all of these implementations may include a corresponding curved display portion  405 , e.g., on an opposing side of the main display portion  410  relative to the curved display portion  405  that is visible in  FIGS. 4A-4C . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 4A , a display device control system is causing the images  415   a  and  415   b  to be displayed in an area  412  of the main display portion  410  at the same time that the images  408  are being displayed on the curved display portion  405 . The images  415   a  and  415   b  may, for example, be displayed during a process of presenting an instance of a wagering game on the main display portion  410 . The images  408  may, for example, be displayed during an attract sequence, may be advertising images used for advertising a product or service, may correspond to player identification information, etc. Accordingly, the images  408 ,  415   a  and  415   b  may, for example, be displayed according to signals received from a gaming machine control system (e.g., via an interface system such as the interface system  305  shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , one potential advantage of a display having a main display portion  410  and at least one curved display portion  405  is that the main display portion  410  and the curved display portion  405  may be viewable from very different angles. In the example shown in  FIG. 4A , the arrow  401  represents a normal to the flat, or substantially flat, surface of the main display portion  410 . In this example, the arrow  403  represents a normal to a portion of the surface of the curved display portion  405 . In some examples, the angle Θ between the arrow  401  and the arrow  403  may be approximately 70 degrees, approximately 80 degrees, approximately 90 degrees, etc., depending on the particular implementation. This angle may depend, for example, on the curvature of the curved display portion  405  and on the particular location on the surface of the curved display portion  405  for which a normal is determined. 
     However, regardless of the particular angle, in many such implementations the images  408  that are presented on the curved display portion  405  may be readily viewable by people other than a person currently using an EGM to which the display  315  is attached. For example, if the EGM is located in an aisle of a casino, the images  408  that are presented on the curved display portion  405  may be readily viewable by people who are looking in the direction of the EGM, e.g., by people who are walking down the aisle in the direction of the EGM. However, the images  408  presented on the curved display portion  405  may or may not be readily viewable by a person who is currently using the EGM, depending on the particular implementation. 
     Therefore, one potential advantage of a display  315  such as that shown in  FIG. 4A  is that one or more of the curved display portions  405  may be used to display an attract sequence, advertising images, player identification information, game information, etc., that may be viewed from one or more sides of an EGM that includes the display  315 . In some examples, one or more of the curved display portions  405  may be used to display such images while the main display portion  410  is being used to present an instance of a wagering game. According to some examples, a color, color sequence, image and/or image sequence displayed on the one or more of the curved display portions  405  may be used to indicate an award, a bonus level, or another event related to an instance of a wagering game. In one such example, a color displayed on the one or more of the curved display portions  405  may correspond with a bonus level, e.g., with increasingly “hot” colors indicating relatively higher bonus levels. For example, a yellow color may correspond with a relatively low bonus level, an orange color may correspond with a moderate bonus level and a red color may correspond with a high bonus level. In this way, nearby casino patrons may be made aware of a player&#39;s successful outcomes. 
       FIG. 4B  shows an implementation in which the sensor system  320  resides, at least in part, one or more of the curved display side portions  405 . In this example, a display device control system is configured to cause the main display portion  410  to display one or more images corresponding to a touch, gesture or force detected by the sensor system  320 . In this example, prior to the instant depicted by  FIG. 4B , the main display portion  410  was displaying images as shown in  FIG. 4A . Here, the sensor system  320  has detected a touch or gesture corresponding to the movement of a player&#39;s hand or a player&#39;s digit in the direction of the arrow  416 . In alternative examples, the sensor system  320  may have detected a force corresponding in the direction of the arrow  416 . 
     According to this example, the display device control system is configured to cause, in response to the touch, gesture or force in the direction of the arrow  416 , the area  412  to move upwards (in the direction of the arrow  418 ) and to display images  420  in the area  422 . In this example, the images  420  correspond to a service, a product and/or a type of entertainment. Here, the images  420  correspond to a service, a product and/or a type of entertainment provided within the casino in which the EGM resides. According to some examples, the images  420  may, for example, be displayed according to signals received from a gaming machine control system (e.g., via an interface system such as the interface system  305  shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Touches, gestures and/or forces detected by the sensor system  320  may be used in various other ways, depending on the particular implementation. In some such implementations, touches, gestures and/or forces detected by the sensor system  320  may be used to provide functionality for a gaming technician to display diagnostic information on the display  315 , to display information regarding software updates and/or accounting information (such as meters, charts, graphs, spreadsheet information, etc.). According to some such implementations, the sensor system  320  may be capable of capturing one or more types of biometric information, such as fingerprint image data. In some such examples, the sensor system  320  may provide one or more types of captured biometric information to a control system (such as the display device control system  310  or a control system of an EGM) that is configured for authentication functionality. In such implementations, the sensor system  320  may be part of an authentication system for controlling access to EGM information, to ensure that only an authorized gaming technician has access to such information. In some alternative implementations, a display device control system may be configured to cause at least one of the curved display side portions  405  to display one or more virtual control devices. According to some examples, the display device control system may be configured to cause the main display portion  410  to display one or more virtual control devices. In some such examples, the same virtual control device, and/or corresponding virtual control device, may be displayed on the main display portion  410  and on at least one of the curved display side portions  405 . In response to a touch, gesture or force detected by the sensor system  320 , the display device control system may be configured to control the display  315  to indicate corresponding movement of one or more virtual control devices. According to some examples, one or more virtual control devices may be displayed based, at least in part, on signals received from a gaming machine control system. 
       FIG. 4C  shows examples of virtual control devices displayed on a display having a main display portion and at least one curved display portion. According to this example, the display device  300  includes a sensor system  320  that is disposed (at least in part) on the curved display side portion  405 . Here, a control system of the display device  300  is configured to control the display  315  to display images corresponding to user input such as movement, a touch, force or pressure changes, etc., detected by the sensor system  430 . 
     In the example, shown in  FIG. 4C , the user input corresponds to a user&#39;s interaction with the sensor system  320  to cause a simulated movement of virtual control devices, which include virtual button  425  and virtual paddle  430  in this example. According to this example, the virtual button  425  is displayed on both the curved display side portion  405  and the main display portion  410 , whereas the virtual paddle  430  is displayed only on the main display portion  410 . 
     Here, the display device control system is configured to control the display  315  to display images corresponding to movement of virtual paddle  430  in response to user input received by the sensor system  320  in the area in which the virtual button  425  is being displayed. In some such examples, the display device control system is configured to control the display  315  to display images corresponding to movement of virtual paddle  430  in response to input from a gaming machine control system. 
     For example, the display device and the EGM may be configured to provide a skill-based game. The skill-based game may, in some examples, be provided as a bonus game after a trigger event in a wagering game, such as a winning symbol or card combination. In this example, the skill-based game involves interacting with one or more instances of the virtual button  425  in order to control the virtual paddle  430  to shoot the ball  435  towards one or more targets. The targets may be displayed on the display  315  and/or on another portion of the gaming machine, depending on the particular implementation. In some such implementations, at least one target may be displayed by a display other than the display  315 , such as a display that is positioned above the display  315  (e.g., a topper display). Other implementations may provide other types of virtual control devices, such as a virtual joystick. Some such virtual control devices can provide relatively more user interactions and/or game functions. 
     In some such implementations, the display device control system may be configured to determine trajectory information, such as trajectory information corresponding with the trajectory represented by the arrow  440 . The trajectory information may, for example, include a speed and a direction corresponding with a user&#39;s interaction with the virtual paddle  430  and the virtual button  425  via input to the sensor system  320 . For example, the display device control system may determine the trajectory information according to instructions, such as software, stored on one or more non-transitory media. The display device control system may be configured to control the display  315  to display one or more images (such as images of the ball  435 ) moving along a trajectory corresponding to the trajectory information. In some such examples, the display device control system may be configured to send, via the interface system, at least some of the trajectory information to the gaming machine control system. 
     However, in some examples the gaming machine control system may be configured to determine the trajectory information. For example, the display device may be configured to send, via the interface system, signals to the gaming machine control system corresponding to the touch, gesture or force detected by the sensor system  320 . The gaming machine control system may be configured to determine the trajectory information based, at least in part, on the signals detected by the sensor system  320 . The gaming machine control system may be configured to provide the trajectory information to the display device control system. The display device control system may be configured to cause the display  315  (e.g., the main display portion  410 ) to display one or more images corresponding to a touch, gesture or force detected by the sensor system based, at least in part, on trajectory information signals from the gaming machine control system. 
     In this example, the display device includes a haptic feedback system  325  that resides, at least in part, in an area corresponding to the location of the curved display side portion  405  in which the virtual button  425  is being displayed. The haptic feedback system  325  may be configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to force, touches, gestures, etc., detected via the sensor system, including but not limited to touches or gestures corresponding to interaction with virtual control device images. For example, in some implementations the haptic feedback system  325  may be configured to provide haptic feedback corresponding to movement of the virtual button  425 , movement of the virtual paddle  430 , contact of a virtual paddle  430  with the ball  435 , etc. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of an EGM that includes one example of a display device such as those disclosed herein. In this example, the EGM  104 D is similar to the EGM  104 B shown in  FIG. 1 , the main difference being that the EGM  104 D includes a display  315  that includes a main display portion  410  and curved display side portions  405 . Only one of the curved display side portions  405  is visible in  FIG. 5 . 
     According to some such examples, the display device&#39;s interface system may be configured to receive player tracking information, including but not limited to player identification information from the gaming machine control system. The display device control system may be configured to cause at least one of the curved display side portions  405  to display one or more images, colors, etc., corresponding with the player identification information. According to some such implementations, the display device control system may be configured to cause one or more of the curved display side portions  405  to display a color that corresponds with a player&#39;s level in a casino player loyalty program, e.g., gold, silver, etc. The gaming machine may, for example, include a wireless interface system that is configured to receive player tracking information, including but not limited to the player identification information, from a player loyalty card or from a mobile device. The wireless interface system may, for example, be configured for Bluetooth communication, infrared communication and/or near-field wireless communication. 
     According to some implementations, the display device control system may be configured to cause, based at least in part on signals from the gaming machine control system, at least one of the curved display side portions  405  to display one or more images corresponding to a portion of an attract sequence for a game while the gaming machine control system causes at least one other gaming machine component (such as the topper screen  140 ) to display one or more images corresponding to another portion of the attract sequence. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram that shows blocks of a method according to one implementation. Method  600  may be implemented, at least in part, by a display device  300  as disclosed herein. In some examples, methods performed by the display device  300  may be implemented, at least in part, by a control system (such as a gaming machine control system and/or the display device control system  310  that is described above with reference to  FIG. 3 ) according to software stored upon one or more non-transitory storage media of, or accessible by, the control system. As with other methods described herein, the number and sequence of blocks shown in  FIG. 6  are merely examples. Similar disclosed methods may include more or fewer blocks. 
     According to this example, block  605  involves controlling a gaming machine to provide a wagering game. In this example, providing the wagering game involves controlling a first portion of a main display of the gaming machine to display primary images corresponding to presenting an instance of the wagering game. Here, the first portion of the main display includes a front portion, which may correspond to the main display portion  410  described above. 
     In this implementation, block  610  involves controlling, during at least a portion of the time that the gaming machine is providing the wagering game, a second portion of the main display to display secondary images that do not correspond to presenting the instance of the wagering game. In this example, the second portion includes at least one curved side portion of the main display, such as one of the curved display side portions  405  that are described above. According to this example, the secondary images correspond to an attract sequence, player identification information images, or advertising images. 
     According to some examples, the secondary images may be viewable from an angle that is perpendicular to a normal to the first portion of the main display. Referring to  FIG. 4A , for example, the secondary images may be viewable from an angle corresponding to the arrow  405 . The direction represented by the arrow  405  may, in some examples, be perpendicular to the direction represented by the arrow  401 , which is normal to the main display portion  410 . 
     Accordingly, the images  408  that are presented on the curved display portion  405  may be readily viewable by people other than a person currently using an EGM to which the display  315  is attached. If the EGM is located in an aisle of a casino, the images  408  that are presented on the curved display portion  405  may be readily viewable by people who are looking in the direction of the EGM. However, the images  408  presented on the curved display portion  405  may or may not be readily viewable by a person who is currently using the EGM, depending on the particular implementation. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , in some examples the method  600  may involve receiving first identification information regarding a first person for whom the instance of the wagering game is being presented and receiving second identification information regarding a second person who is not currently playing the wagering game. The second person may nonetheless be in the vicinity of the EGM. The second identification information may, for example, be received via a wireless interface system that is configured to receive identification information from a player loyalty card or from a mobile device. In some such examples, block  610  may involve controlling the second portion of the main display to display secondary images corresponding with the second identification information. According to some such implementations, the secondary images do not correspond with the first identification information. In other words, such implementations may involve displaying images on at least one curved side portion of the main display that correspond to identification information for a person who is not currently playing the EGM. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to the figures, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Any variation and derivation from the above description and figures are included in the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.