Patent Publication Number: US-2020302741-A1

Title: Gaming device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 16/216,482, filed Dec. 11, 2018, which is continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/896,493, filed Feb. 14, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,182,112 issued on Jan. 22, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/471,767 filed Mar. 28, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,928,682 issued on Mar. 27, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/090,824 filed Apr. 5, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,626,834, issued on Apr. 28, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/218,449 filed Mar. 18, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,330,535 issued on May 3, 2016, which is a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/619,499, filed Nov. 16, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,696,436, issued on Apr. 15, 2014, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This disclosure relates generally to gaming, and more particularly to showing outcomes to games in a time-efficient manner. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Gaming sessions typically include various winning gaming results and numerous losing gaming results. Each result is displayed on a gaming device. Since a portion of the winning gaming results are much larger in value than the wagers placed to reach those results, and because the overall payback percentage of the gaming device must be less than 100% to pay for the costs of operating the gaming device, including casino profit, those gaming sessions usually include many more losing gaming results than winning gaming results. 
     As a consequence of this reality, a great portion of time on the device is spent watching reels spin (or poker hands played) with a resulting loss. For most players the excitement and gratification of gambling is tied to achieving wins. While these players will endure certain periods of loss, players will often press the spin and/or bet buttons as quickly as possible to pass through the losses to get to another win. While the casino is interested to provide as much excitement and entertainment as possible to its players, the casino must also limit the number of wins to cover costs and return a profit, which effectively limits how many wins can be paid to a player. 
     In all of today&#39;s games, losses take as long or nearly as long as wins to display. While sometimes there is player anticipation tied to showing several reels with a particular symbol on a payline (or showing multiple cards needed for a large win in video poker) where the gaming result ultimately ends in a loss, most of the time it is quickly evident to the player that he or she has little or no chance of receiving a winning outcome. Once the player realizes that the current game will result in a loss, the player either has to wait for the remaining reels to come to rest or, in some games, can “slam” the rest of the reels to a stop by hitting the spin button again before waiting for the game to reset and being able to initiate another game. Thus, with conventional gaming devices, players often spend at least half of their gambling sessions waiting through losing gaming results. 
     Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations in the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a functional block diagram that illustrates a gaming device according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is an isometric view of the gaming device illustrated in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  are detail diagrams of exemplary types of gaming devices according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of networked gaming devices according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of a gaming device including a main animation display and reel display according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a block diagram of the animation display of  FIG. 4A  illustrating a winning animation. 
         FIG. 5A  is a block diagram of a gaming device illustrating according to embodiments of the invention operating in a group mode. 
         FIG. 5B  is a block diagram showing multiple devices according to  FIG. 5A  according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  are block diagrams of a gaming device including a main animation display according to other embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an example flow diagram showing an example process according embodiments to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate example gaming devices according to embodiments of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a gaming device  10  is an electronic gaming machine. Although an electronic gaming machine or “slot” machine is illustrated, various other types of devices may be used to wager monetarily based credits on a game of chance in accordance with principles of the invention. The term “electronic gaming device” is meant to include various devices such as electro-mechanical spinning-reel type slot machines, video slot machines, and video poker machines, for instance. Other gaming devices may include computer-based gaming machines, wireless gaming devices, multi-player gaming stations, modified personal electronic gaming devices (such as cell phones), personal computers, server-based gaming terminals, and other similar devices. Although embodiments of the invention will work with all of the gaming types mentioned, for ease of illustration the present embodiments will be described in reference to the electronic gaming machine  10  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     The gaming device  10  includes a cabinet  15  housing components to operate the gaming device  10 . The cabinet  15  may include a gaming display  20 , a base portion  13 , a top box  18 , and a player interface panel  30 . The gaming display  20  may include mechanical spinning reels ( FIG. 2A ), a video display ( FIGS. 2B and 2C ), or a combination of both spinning reels and a video display (not shown). The gaming cabinet  15  may also include a credit meter  27  and a coin-in or bet meter  28 . The credit meter  27  may indicate the total number of credits remaining on the gaming device  10  that are eligible to be wagered. In some embodiments, the credit meter  27  may reflect a monetary unit, such as dollars. However, it is often preferable to have the credit meter  27  reflect a number of ‘credits,’ rather than a monetary unit. The bet meter  28  may indicate the amount of credits to be wagered on a particular game. Thus, for each game, the player transfers the amount that he or she wants to wager from the credit meter  27  to the bet meter  28 . In some embodiments, various other meters may be present, such as meters reflecting amounts won, amounts paid, or the like. In embodiments where the gaming display  20  is a video monitor, the information indicated on the credit meters may be shown on the gaming display itself  20  ( FIG. 2B ). 
     The base portion  13  may include a lighted panel  14 , a coin return (not shown), and a gaming handle  12  operable on a partially rotating pivot joint  11 . The game handle  12  is traditionally included on mechanical spinning-reel games, where the handle may be pulled toward a player to initiate the spinning of reels  22  after placement of a wager. The top box  18  may include a lighted panel  17 , a video display (such as an LCD monitor), a mechanical bonus device (not shown), and a candle light indicator  19 . The player interface panel  30  may include various devices so that a player can interact with the gaming device  10 . 
     The player interface panel  30  may include one or more game buttons  32  that can be actuated by the player to cause the gaming device  10  to perform a specific action. For example, some of the game buttons  32  may cause the gaming device  10  to bet a credit to be wagered during the next game, change the number of lines being played on a multi-line game, cash out the credits remaining on the gaming device (as indicated on the credit meter  27 ), or request assistance from casino personnel, such as by lighting the candle  19 . In addition, the player interface panel  30  may include one or more game actuating buttons  33 . The game actuating buttons  33  may initiate a game with a pre-specified amount of credits. On some gaming devices  10  a “Max Bet” game actuating button  33  may be included that places the maximum credit wager on a game and initiates the game. The player interface panel  30  may further include a bill acceptor  37  and a ticket printer  38 . The bill acceptor  37  may accept and validate paper money or previously printed tickets with a credit balance. The ticket printer  38  may print out tickets reflecting the balance of the credits that remain on the gaming device  10  when a player cashes out by pressing one of the game buttons  32  programmed to cause a ‘cashout.’ These tickets may be inserted into other gaming machines or redeemed at a cashier station or kiosk for cash. 
     The gaming device  10  may also include one or more speakers  26  to transmit auditory information or sounds to the player. The auditory information may include specific sounds associated with particular events that occur during game play on the gaming device  10 . For example, a particularly festive sound may be played during a large win or when a bonus is triggered. The speakers  26  may also transmit “attract” sounds to entice nearby players when the game is not currently being played. 
     The gaming device  10  may further include a secondary display  25 . This secondary display  25  may be a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasma screen, or the like. The secondary display  25  may show any combination of primary game information and ancillary information to the player. For example, the secondary display  25  may show player tracking information, secondary bonus information, advertisements, or player selectable game options. 
     The gaming device  10  may include a separate information window (not shown) dedicated to supplying any combination of information related to primary game play, secondary bonus information, player tracking information, secondary bonus information, advertisements or player selectable game options. This window may be fixed in size and location or may have its size and location vary temporally as communication needs change. One example of such a resizable window is International Game Technology&#39;s “service window”. Another example is Las Vegas Gaming Incorporated&#39;s retrofit technology which allows information to be placed over areas of the game or the secondary display screen at various times and in various situations. 
     The gaming device  10  includes a microprocessor  40  that controls operation of the gaming device  10 . If the gaming device  10  is a standalone gaming device, the microprocessor  40  may control virtually all of the operations of the gaming devices and attached equipment, such as operating game logic stored in memory (not shown) as firmware, controlling the display  20  to represent the outcome of a game, communicating with the other peripheral devices (such as the bill acceptor  37 ), and orchestrating the lighting and sound emanating from the gaming device  10 . In other embodiments where the gaming device  10  is coupled to a network  50 , as described below, the microprocessor  40  may have different tasks depending on the setup and function of the gaming device. For example, the microprocessor  40  may be responsible for running the base game of the gaming device and executing instructions received over the network  50  from a bonus server or player tracking server. In a server-based gaming setup, the microprocessor  40  may act as a terminal to execute instructions from a remote server that is running game play on the gaming device. 
     The microprocessor  40  may be coupled to a machine communication interface (MCI)  42  that connects the gaming device  10  to a gaming network  50 . The MCI  42  may be coupled to the microprocessor  40  through a serial connection, a parallel connection, an optical connection, or in some cases a wireless connection. The gaming device  10  may include memory  41  (MEM), such as a random access memory (RAM), coupled to the microprocessor  40  and which can be used to store gaming information, such as storing total coin-in statistics about a present or past gaming session, which can be communicated to a remote server or database through the MCI  42 . The MCI  42  may also facilitate communication between the network  50  and the secondary display  25  or a player tracking unit  45  housed in the gaming cabinet  15 . 
     The player tracking unit  45  may include an identification device  46  and one or more buttons  47  associated with the player tracking unit  45 . The identification device  46  serves to identify a player, by, for example, reading a player-tracking device, such as a player tracking card that is issued by the casino to individual players who choose to have such a card. The identification device  46  may instead, or additionally, identify players through other methods. Player tracking systems using player tracking cards and card readers  46  are known in the art. Briefly summarizing such a system, a player registers with the casino prior to commencing gaming. The casino issues a unique player-tracking card to the player and opens a corresponding player account that is stored on a server or host computer, described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . The player account may include the player&#39;s name and mailing address and other information of interest to the casino in connection with marketing efforts. Prior to playing one of the gaming devices in the casino, the player inserts the player tracking card into the identification device  46  thus permitting the casino to track player activity, such as amounts wagered, credits won, and rate of play. 
     To induce the player to use the card and be an identified player, the casino may award each player points proportional to the money or credits wagered by the player. Players typically accrue points at a rate related to the amount wagered, although other factors may cause the casino to award the player various amounts. The points may be displayed on the secondary display  25  or using other methods. In conventional player tracking systems, the player may take his or her card to a special desk in the casino where a casino employee scans the card to determine how many accrued points are in the player&#39;s account. The player may redeem points for selected merchandise, meals in casino restaurants, or the like, which each have assigned point values. In some player tracking systems, the player may use the secondary display  25  to access their player tracking account, such as to check a total number of points, redeem points for various services, make changes to their account, or download promotional credits to the gaming device  10 . In other embodiments, the identification device  46  may read other identifying cards (such as driver licenses, credit cards, etc.) to identify a player and match them to a corresponding player tracking account. Although  FIG. 1A  shows the player tracking unit  45  with a card reader as the identification device  46 , other embodiments may include a player tracking unit  45  with a biometric scanner, PIN code acceptor, or other methods of identifying a player to pair the player with their player tracking account. 
     During typical play on a gaming device  10 , a player plays a game by placing a wager and then initiating a gaming session. The player may initially insert monetary bills or previously printed tickets with a credit value into the bill acceptor  37 . The player may also put coins into a coin acceptor (not shown) or a credit, debit or casino account card into a card reader/authorizer (not shown). In other embodiments, stored player points or special ‘bonus points’ awarded to the player or accumulated and/or stored in a player account may be able to be substituted at or transferred to the gaming device  10  for credits or other value. For example, a player may convert stored loyalty points to credits or transfer funds from his bank account, credit card, casino account or other source of funding. The selected source of funding may be selected by the player at time of transfer, determined by the casino at the time of transfer or occur automatically according to a predefined selection process. One of skill in the art will readily see that this invention is useful with all gambling devices, regardless of the manner in which wager value-input is accomplished. 
     The credit meter  27  displays the numeric credit value of the money or other value inserted, transferred, or stored dependent on the denomination of the gaming device  10 . That is, if the gaming device  10  is a nickel slot machine and a $20 bill inserted into the bill acceptor  37 , the credit meter will reflect 400 credits or one credit for each nickel of the inserted twenty dollars. For gaming devices  10  that support multiple denominations, the credit meter  27  will reflect the amount of credits relative to the denomination selected. Thus, in the above example, if a penny denomination is selected after the $20 is inserted the credit meter will change from 400 credits to 2000 credits. 
     A wager may be placed by pushing one or more of the game buttons  32 , which may be reflected on the bet meter  28 . That is, the player can generally depress a “bet one” button (one of the buttons on the player interface panel  30 , such as  32 ), which transfers one credit from the credit meter  27  to the bet meter  28 . Each time the button  32  is depressed an additional single credit transfers to the bet meter  28  up to a maximum bet that can be placed on a single play of the electronic gaming device  10 . The gaming session may be initiated by pulling the gaming handle  12  or depressing the spin button  33 . On some gaming devices  10 , a “max bet” button (another one of the buttons  32  on the player interface panel  30 ) may be depressed to wager the maximum number of credits supported by the gaming device  10  and initiate a gaming session. 
     If the gaming session does not result in any winning combination, the process of placing a wager may be repeated by the player. Alternatively, the player may cash out any remaining credits on the credit meter  27  by depressing the “cash-out” button (another button  32  on the player interface panel  30 ), which causes the credits on the credit meter  27  to be paid out in the form of a ticket through the ticket printer  38 , or may be paid out in the form of returning coins from a coin hopper (not shown) to a coin return tray. 
     If instead a winning combination (win) appears on the display  20 , the award corresponding to the winning combination is immediately applied to the credit meter  27 . For example, if the gaming device  10  is a slot machine, a winning combination of symbols  23  may land on a played payline on reels  22 . If any bonus games are initiated, the gaming device  10  may enter into a bonus mode or simply award the player with a bonus amount of credits that are applied to the credit meter  27 . 
       FIGS. 2A to 2C  illustrate exemplary types of gaming devices according to embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 2A  illustrates an example spinning-reel gaming machine  10 A,  FIG. 2B  illustrates an example video slot machine  10 B, and  FIG. 2C  illustrates an example video poker machine  10 C. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , a spinning-reel gaming machine  10 A includes a gaming display  20 A having a plurality of mechanical spinning reels  22 A. Typically, spinning-reel gaming machines  10 A have three to five spinning reels  22 A. Each of the spinning reels  22 A has multiple symbols  23 A that may be separated by blank areas on the spinning reels  22 A, although the presence of blank areas typically depends on the number of reels  22 A present in the gaming device  10 A and the number of different symbols  23 A that may appear on the spinning reels  22 A. Each of the symbols  22 A or blank areas makes up a “stop” on the spinning reel  22 A where the reel  22 A comes to rest after a spin. Although the spinning reels  22 A of various games  10 A may have various numbers of stops, many conventional spinning-reel gaming devices  10 A have reels  22 A with twenty two stops. 
     During game play, the spinning reels  22 A may be controlled by stepper motors (not shown) under the direction of the microprocessor  40  ( FIG. 1A ). Thus, although the spinning-reel gaming device  10 A has mechanical based spinning reels  22 A, the movement of the reels themselves is electronically controlled to spin and stop. This electronic control is advantageous because it allows a virtual reel strip to be stored in the memory  41  of the gaming device  10 A, where various “virtual stops” are mapped to each physical stop on the physical reel  22 A. This mapping allows the gaming device  10 A to establish greater awards and bonuses available to the player because of the increased number of possible combinations afforded by the virtual reel strips. 
     A gaming session on a spinning reel slot machine  10 A typically includes the player pressing the “bet-one” button (one of the game buttons  32 A) to wager a desired number of credits followed by pulling the gaming handle  12  ( FIGS. 1A, 1B ) or pressing the spin button  33 A to spin the reels  22 A. Alternatively, the player may simply press the “max-bet” button (another one of the game buttons  32 A) to both wager the maximum number of credits permitted and initiate the spinning of the reels  22 A. The spinning reels  22 A may all stop at the same time or may individually stop one after another (typically from left to right) to build player anticipation. Because the display  20 A usually cannot be physically modified, some spinning reel slot machines  10 A include an electronic display screen in the top box  18  ( FIG. 1B ), a mechanical bonus mechanism in the top box  18 , or a secondary display  25  ( FIG. 1A ) to execute a bonus. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2B , a video gaming machine  10 B may include a video display  20 B to display virtual spinning reels  22 B and various other gaming information  21 B. The video display  20 B may be a CRT, LCD, plasma screen, or the like. It is usually preferable that the video display  20 B be a touchscreen to accept player input. A number of symbols  23 A appear on each of the virtual spinning reels  22 B. Although  FIG. 2B  shows five virtual spinning reels  22 B, the flexibility of the video display  20 B allows for various reel  22 B and game configurations. For example, some video slot games  10 B spin reels for each individual symbol position (or stop) that appears on the video display  20 B. That is, each symbol position on the screen is independent of every other position during the gaming sessions. In these types of games, very large numbers of pay lines or multiple super scatter pays can be utilized since similar symbols could appear at every symbol position on the video display  20 B. On the other hand, other video slot games  10 B more closely resemble the mechanical spinning reel games where symbols that are vertically adjacent to each other are part of the same continuous virtual spinning reel  22 B. 
     Because the virtual spinning reels  22 B, by virtue of being computer implemented, can have almost any number of stops on a reel strip, it is much easier to have a greater variety of displayed outcomes as compared to spinning-reel slot machines  10 A ( FIG. 2A ) that have a fixed number of physical stops on each spinning reel  22 A. 
     With the possible increases in reel  22 B numbers and configurations over the mechanical gaming device  10 A, video gaming devices  10 B often have multiple paylines  24  that may be played. By having more paylines  24  available to play, the player may be more likely to have a winning combination when the reels  22 B stop and the gaming session ends. However, since the player typically must wager at least a minimum number of credits to enable each payline  24  to be eligible for winning, the overall odds of winning are not much different, if at all, than if the player is wagering only on a single payline. For example, in a five line game, the player may bet one credit per payline  24  and be eligible for winning symbol combinations that appear on any of the five played paylines  24 . This gives a total of five credits wagered and five possible winning paylines  24 . If, on the other hand, the player only wagers one credit on one payline  24 , but plays five gaming sessions, the odds of winning would be identical as above: five credits wagered and five possible winning paylines  24 . 
     Because the video display  20 B can easily modify the image output by the video display  20 B, bonuses, such as second screen bonuses are relatively easy to award on the video slot game  10 B. That is, if a bonus is triggered during game play, the video display  20 B may simply store the resulting screen shot in memory and display a bonus sequence on the video display  20 B. After the bonus sequence is completed, the video display  20 B may then retrieve the previous screen shot and information from memory, and re-display that image. 
     Also, as mentioned above, the video display  20 B may allow various other game information  21 B to be displayed. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2B , banner information may be displayed above the spinning reels  22 B to inform the player, perhaps, which symbol combination is needed to trigger a bonus. Also, instead of providing a separate credit meter  27  ( FIG. 1A ) and bet meter  28 , the same information can instead be displayed on the video display  20 B. In addition, “soft buttons”  29 B such as a “spin” button or “help/see pays” button may be built using the touch screen video display  20 B. Such customization and ease of changing the image shown on the display  20 B adds to the flexibility of the game  10 B. 
     Even with the improved flexibility afforded by the video display  20 B, several physical buttons  32 B and  33 B are usually provided on video slot machines  10 B. These buttons may include game buttons  32 B that allow a player to choose the number of paylines  24  he or she would like to play and the number of credits wagered on each payline  24 . In addition, a max bet button (one of the game buttons  32 B) allows a player to place a maximum credit wager on the maximum number of available paylines  24  and initiate a gaming session. A repeat bet or spin button  33 B may also be used to initiate each gaming session when the max bet button is not used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2C , a video poker gaming device  10 C may include a video display  20 C that is physically similar to the video display  20 B shown in  FIG. 2B . The video display  20 C may show a poker hand of five cards  23 C and various other player information  21 C including a paytable for various winning hands, as well as a plurality of player selectable soft buttons  29 C. The video display  20 C may present a poker hand of five cards  23 C and various other player information  21 C including a number of player selectable soft (touch-screen) buttons  29 C and a paytable for various winning hands. Although the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3C  shows only one hand of poker on the video display  20 C, various other video poker machines  10 C may show several poker hands (multi-hand poker). Typically, video poker machines  10 C play “draw” poker in which a player is dealt a hand of five cards, has the opportunity to hold any combination of those five cards, and then draws new cards to replace the discarded ones. All pays are usually given for winning combinations resulting from the final hand, although some video poker games  10 C may give bonus credits for certain combinations received on the first hand before the draw. In the example shown in  FIG. 2C  a player has been dealt two aces, a three, a six, and a nine. The video poker game  10 C may provide a bonus or payout for the player having been dealt the pair of aces, even before the player decides what to discard in the draw. Since pairs, three of a kind, etc. are typically needed for wins, a player would likely hold the two aces that have been dealt and draw three cards to replace the three, six, and nine in the hope of receiving additional aces or other cards leading to a winning combination with a higher award amount. After the draw and revealing of the final hand, the video poker game  10 C typically awards any credits won to the credit meter. 
     The player selectable soft buttons  29 C appearing on the screen respectively correspond to each card on the video display  20 C. These soft buttons  29 C allow players to select specific cards on the video display  20 C such that the card corresponding to the selected soft button is “held” before the draw. Typically, video poker machines  10 C also include physical game buttons  32 C that correspond to the cards in the hand and may be selected to hold a corresponding card. A deal/draw button  33 C may also be included to initiate a gaming session after credits have been wagered (with a bet button  32 C, for example) and to draw any cards not held after the first hand is displayed. 
     Although examples of a spinning reel slot machine  10 A, a video slot machine  10 B, and a video poker machine  10 C have been illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2C , gaming machines and various other types of gaming devices known in the art are contemplated and are within the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating networked gaming devices according to embodiments of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , multiple electronic gaming devices (EGMs)  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 , and  75  may be coupled to one another and coupled to a remote server  80  through a network  50 . For ease of understanding, gaming devices or EGMs  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 , and  75  are generically referred to as EGMs  70 - 75 . The term EGMs  70 - 75 , however, may refer to any combination of one or more of EGMs  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 , and  75 . Additionally, the gaming server  80  may be coupled to one or more gaming databases  90 . These gaming network  50  connections may allow multiple gaming devices  70 - 75  to remain in communication with one another during particular gaming modes such as tournament play or remote head-to-head play. Although some of the gaming devices  70 - 75  coupled on the gaming network  50  may resemble the gaming devices  10 ,  10 A,  10 B, and  10 C shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2C , other coupled gaming devices  70 - 75  may include differently configured gaming devices. For example, the gaming devices  70 - 75  may include traditional slot machines  75  directly coupled to the network  50 , banks of gaming devices  70  coupled to the network  50 , banks of gaming devices  70  coupled to the network through a bank controller  60 , wireless handheld gaming machines  72  and cell phones  73  coupled to the gaming network  50  through one or more wireless routers or antennas  61 , personal computers  74  coupled to the network  50  through the internet  62 , and banks of gaming devices  71  coupled to the network through one or more optical connection lines  64 . Additionally, some of the traditional gaming devices  70 ,  71 , and  75  may include electronic gaming tables, multi-station gaming devices, or electronic components operating in conjunction with non-gaming components, such as automatic card readers, chip readers, and chip counters, for example. 
     Gaming devices  71  coupled over an optical line  64  may be remote gaming devices in a different location or casino. The optical line  64  may be coupled to the gaming network  50  through an electronic to optical signal converter  63  and may be coupled to the gaming devices  71  through an optical to electronic signal converter  65 . The banks of gaming devices  70  coupled to the network  50  may be coupled through a bank controller  60  for compatibility purposes, for local organization and control, or for signal buffering purposes. The network  50  may include serial or parallel signal transmission lines and carry data in accordance with data transfer protocols such as Ethernet transmission lines, Rs-232 lines, firewire lines, USB lines, or other communication protocols. Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , substantially the entire network  50  may be made of fiber optic lines or may be a wireless network utilizing a wireless protocol such as IEEE 802.11a, b, g, or n, Zigbee, RF protocols, optical transmission, near-field transmission, or the like. 
     As mentioned above, each gaming device  70 - 75  may have an individual processor  40  ( FIG. 1A ) and memory  41  to run and control game play on the gaming device  70 - 75 , or some of the gaming devices  70 - 75  may be terminals that are run by a remote server  80  in a server based gaming environment. Server based gaming environments may be advantageous to casinos by allowing fast downloading of particular game types or themes based on casino preference or player selection. Additionally, tournament based games, linked games, and certain game types, such as BINGO or keno may benefit from at least some server  80  based control. 
     Thus, in some embodiments, the network  50 , server  80 , and database  90  may be dedicated to communications regarding specific game or tournament play. In other embodiments, however, the network  50 , server  80 , and database  90  may be part of a player tracking network. For player tracking capabilities, when a player inserts a player tracking card in the card reader  46  ( FIG. 1A ), the player tracking unit  45  sends player identification information obtained on the card reader  46  through the MCI  42  over the network  50  to the player tracking server  80 , where the player identification information is compared to player information records in the player database  90  to provide the player with information regarding their player account or other features at the gaming device  10  where the player is wagering. Additionally, multiple databases  90  and/or servers  80  may be present and coupled to one or more networks  50  to provide a variety of gaming services, such as both game/tournament data and player tracking data. 
     The various systems described with reference to  FIGS. 1-3  can be used in a number of ways. For instance, the systems can be used to track data about various players. The tracked data can be used by the casino to provide additional benefits to players, such as extra bonuses or extra benefits such as bonus games and other benefits as described above. These added benefits further entice the players to play at the casino that provides the benefits. 
       FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of a gaming device  100  including an animation screen according to embodiments of the invention. The gaming device  100  may be the same or similar to the gaming device  10  of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment the gaming device  100  is operating as a stand-alone game, i.e., it does not interact with other games. However in other embodiments, such as those described below with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the gaming device can operate in conjunction with other gaming devices. 
     With reference back to  FIG. 4A , the gaming device  100  includes a player interaction section  102 , a game detail display  104 , and an animation screen  106 . Either or both of the game detail display  104  and animation screen  106  may be CRT, LCD or other similar devices on the gaming device  100 . Further, the game detail display  104  may include mechanical reels, such as described with reference to  FIG. 2A  above, or may include one or more video display screens depicting items other than reels, such as video poker screens or depictions of other typical games. 
     In this example, the animation screen  106  is illustrated as being in the top box  18  of the gaming device  10  of  FIG. 1A , while the game detail display  104  is below, in the center portion of the gaming device  100 . in this example, the game detail display  104  includes a set of animated reels  120 , as well as indications for the payline  24 , spin and help buttons, and a credit meter, all of which work as described above with reference to  FIG. 1A - FIG. 2C . A player interacts with the gaming device  100  through the player interaction panel  102 , including wager buttons  132 , a spin button  134 , and a repeat bet button  136 . 
     In operation, a player selects how much to wager through the wager buttons  132 , then presses a spin button  134  or repeat bet button  136  to initiate the game on the gaming device  100 . In the typical game, described above, after a player makes a wager and presses the game initiating button, the reels  120  spin or appear to spin through animation, and sequentially come to a stop. If the symbols on the reels  120  align with one of the paylines  24 , credits are credited to the player. If however, the reel symbols do not line with any payline, or, stated a different way, none of the wagered paylines  24  has a winning outcome, then nothing further happens. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4A , however, when the player initiates the game, such as by pressing the spin button  134  after having made an appropriate wager, an animated character such as the miner  214  illustrated in the animation screen  106  of  FIG. 4A  takes an action. In this example, the miner  214  swings his pickaxe at a symbol of a rock, illustrated as  216 . In the most basic example, if the game has a losing outcome, then the animation screen  106  will illustrate the miner  214  taking a swing, striking the rock, and nothing else happening. The miner  214  then sets up for making his next strike, which won&#39;t be made until the next game is played. One advantage of using such an animation to convey the game outcome to the player is that it is very fast. Compared to the time spent to spin the reels  120 , and allowing them to come to a stop, the animation described above may be able to be completed in ½, ¼, or even 1/10th the time. In some examples, the animation may complete in as little as 0.1-0.5 seconds. Other animations may take between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds. 
     In other embodiments, a losing outcome may be reported to the player by showing the losing animation described above on the animation screen  106  and additionally reporting the specific game outcome on the game detail display  104 . In contrast to the typical reel-spinning sequence of a standard game, described above, the game outcome according to embodiments of the invention may be reported by showing a shortened or truncated outcome sequence on the game detail display  104 . For instance, in an embodiment where the game detail display  104  is a set of physical reels, the losing outcome may be shown by quickly driving the reels to their ending stop locations by the relatively fast modern stepper motors. This can occur without the typical period of “free spin” of standard reels. The entire sequence of showing the result quickly may take place in as little as between 0.2 and 2 seconds. Embodiments where the game detail display  104  is a video screen may take place even faster, by simply showing a generated static display of the final outcome of the reel symbols or, in other embodiments, cards of a poker hand. 
     If instead the game outcome is a winning outcome, a different animation sequence is played in the animation screen  106 . Specifically, the miner  214  strikes the rock  216 , which opens to reveal a jewel or diamond inside. Such an animation is illustrated in the animation screen  107  of  FIG. 4B . The winning animation may be accompanied by a winning audio sound, such as a high pitched “clink” that could be played out of speakers  26  of the gaming device ( FIG. 1A ), in contrast to a low pitched “clunk” played in the losing example. After the animation in a winning outcome indicates to the player that the game has been won, the reels  120  in the game detail display  104  spin or are animated just as in a regular game. The main difference is, at least in some embodiments, if the reels  120  spin after a winning animation, the player knows that he or she will receive winning credits after the reels stop. In some embodiments, after a winning animation, the gaming device  100  prompts the player to initiate the spinning of the reels  120  by pressing, for example, the spin button  134 . In other embodiments, the reels  120  initiate automatically. 
     In yet other embodiments, a winning outcome may be displayed more slowly in the game detail display  104  as compared to a standard game. For instance, if a typical spinning reel game, such as described above with reference to  FIG. 2B , takes 3 seconds for all of the reels to be sequentially stopped, embodiments of the invention may stretch the time to display a winning game to 5 or 10 seconds, or even longer. This has an effect of prolonging the final award and building anticipation in the player who may realize that he or she has won the base game because of the winning animation display in the animation screen  106 , but doesn&#39;t know the winning amount. 
     Although these embodiments are described with reference to spinning the reels  120  to report the specific game outcome and the game winnings, any system or method known in the art could alternatively be used. For instance, a poker hand could be revealed and the game paid according to the particular poker hand dealt. 
     In some embodiments, any jewel or prize revealed in the animation shown on the animation screen  106  is sized proportionate to the size of the game winnings. In other words, if the game has a winning outcome that is rather low, for instance 5 credits, the jewel uncovered by the miner  214  on the animation screen  106  will be comparatively small. In contrast, if the game outcome is a large number of credits, any jewel uncovered by the miner  214  will be comparatively larger. In some embodiments, the audio signal will change pitch or timbre based on the size of the game award. Although in such embodiments the player gets a preview of the relative size of the game winnings, anticipation still builds because each varying size translates to multiple possible credits won. In other words, a relatively small jewel may, when the winnings are revealed, signify an award to the player of between 1 and 10 credits, while the very largest jewel may indicate to the player that the ultimate award will be between one hundred and five hundred credits. Thus, merely because the miner  214  on the animation screen  106  strikes the largest jewel, there is still player anticipation as the player finds out exactly what he or she has won. 
     Although there are a number of rocks  216  illustrated in the animation screen  106  of both  FIGS. 4A and 4B , in some embodiments, there may only be one rock that takes up most or the entire animation screen. However, a player may get bored relatively quickly if every loss of the game is merely a quick animated pickaxe strike without anything further. In contrast, the animation screens  106  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  change as a player plays more than one game. For instance, if a player plays multiple games, the miner  214  moves to the right as he opens more and more rocks  216  and the opened rocks disappear. 
     The animation screen  106  may serve a double function both as a way to indicate to the player the outcome of the game as well as to indicate to the player that he or she is are progressing toward a mystery bonus win. Graphical interfaces to mystery bonus wins are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/353,083, filed Jan. 13, 2009, entitled GRAPHICAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR GAMING DEVICE BONUS, which is incorporated by reference herein. By using the animation screen as a win proximity indicator in this manner, the player knows that, should the miner  214  cross all the way to the end of the animation screen  106 , that regardless of game outcome, the player will win a mystery bonus. This could encourage further play and increased enjoyment from the player. 
     When the player wins a mystery bonus, it may appear the same or similar to winning the game. For example, winning in the individual game is indicated to the player by uncovering one of many sized diamonds, which are clear in color, from the rocks  216 . Winning the mystery bonus could be indicated by uncovering a different colored jewel, such as a green emerald. Awarding the mystery bonus may be as simple as, in some embodiments, awarding a fixed value to the player. In other examples, a mystery bonus may be awarded to the player by spinning the reels and seeing the outcome of the paylines. Other bonuses are paid by having the player spin a wheel or play a separate, secondary game. Yet other examples are described with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B  below. Still other methods and systems to pay mystery awards or bonus awards are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/166,156, filed Jul. 1, 2008, entitled PLAYER BASED COMPENSATION, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     Recall from above, that when the game is a losing outcome, that the miner  214  swings at the rock  216  relatively quickly and the game ends. It may become repetitive or boring for the player to continually press one of the game initiation buttons  134  or  136 . Thus, in some embodiments, a new game will automatically restart if the preceding game ends in a losing outcome. Such techniques are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/204,633, filed Sep. 4, 2008, entitled GAMING DEVICE WITH VARIABLE PLAY SPEED, the teachings of which are incorporated herein. 
     The same animation display  106  described above can function simultaneously as both a game result animation screen as well as a grouped mystery bonus game. With reference back to  FIG. 3 , a bank controller  60  is coupled to a number of EGMs  70  all within the same bank.  FIG. 3  also separately shows EGMs  70  coupled to one another in a bank without use of the bank controller  60 . Some embodiments of the invention are best exemplified when a group of connected gaming devices  70  are located physically near one another, which can build excitement for the nearby players, as described below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5A , a device  101  includes an animation screen  108 , which appears similar to the animation screen  106  of  FIG. 4A . Differently, however, the animation screen  108  includes three separate sub animation screens  210 , each illustrating the progress in a group mystery jackpot game. 
     In  FIG. 5A , each of the sub-animation screens  210  aligns with one of the bet options of the game buttons  132 . For example, one of the screens  210  is associated with the “bet-1” action. Thus, when the player presses the bet-1 button on the base game, or otherwise bets one credit, the miner  214  in the associated animation screen takes a swing. A losing game outcome is an extremely quick animation, while a winning outcome may be a longer animation, including reel spins, just, just as described above. In another embodiment, because time may be of the essence during the mystery bonus game, the reels of the reel screen may not spin at all, even when there is a winning outcome. In still other embodiments, there may be a relatively fast reel spin, or animated reel spin, as described above, even with a losing outcome. Still further embodiments may include the extended-time winning spin, longer than a normal win, also as described above. The player may be able to choose whether to animate wins while involved in a group mystery jackpot, or this decision may be up to the casino or game provider. 
     Each of the sub-animation screens  210  indicates its present level by showing its associated number of rocks  216 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . With reference to  FIG. 5B , each of the animation screens  108  of each of the devices  101  that are coupled to one another through the gaming network  50  and playing the mystery jackpot show the same or a similar animation. For example, if there are five gaming devices  101  coupled to one another, the animation screen  108  of each device conveys identical information, with the same number of rocks  216  in each sub-animation screen  210 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5B . When any of the players of the connected gaming devices  101  bet 1, one of the rocks on the bet-1 sub-animation screen  108  of every connected gaming device is decremented for all the players to see. Of course, as described above, it may take multiple swings of the pickaxe to actually remove one of the rocks  216 , given their relatively few number. 
     In some embodiments on a casino floor, multiple separate mystery jackpot games could each be operating, simultaneously, one for each bank or bank portion of the connected gaming devices  70 . 
     In the group mystery jackpot bonus, each of sub-animation screen  108  includes an individual trigger that, when satisfied by one of the players, causes the mystery jackpot to be awarded. The triggers may each be different and may be randomly (or pseudorandomly) set. The trigger of the mystery jackpot is guaranteed to be satisfied by the time all of the rocks  216  are removed for any of the sub-animation screens  108 . In this way, graphical feedback is provided to the player of progress toward the mystery jackpot bonus. 
     In alternate embodiments, instead of including a separate account and sub-animation screen  108  for each of the “bet-x” options, where “x” stands for any of the possible wagers, embodiments of the invention may include a single counter that is incremented when any of the linked gaming devices makes any wager. 
     In operation, each of the players of the linked gaming devices plays the base game betting one through three credits as desired. If a player sees that one particular counter sub-animation screen  108  is running out of rocks  216 , or if they are simply feeling lucky, they may bet an amount that corresponds to the particular screen  108 . In other instances, the player may simply make the corresponding bet in the base game without reference to the mystery jackpot. Eventually, one of the players of the connected gaming devices will satisfy the corresponding trigger for one of the particular sub-animation screens  108 . When that happens, an indicator, such as a sound, image, or series of images, or combination, may indicate to players of the connected gaming devices, or other players, that one of the players of the connected gaming devices has won the bonus. In some instances the animation will include the miner  214  finding an emerald or other jewel. In a preferred embodiment, the indicator that notifies that one of the players of the gaming devices has won the bonus does not immediately identify the winning player. Instead, the mystery jackpot sequence builds excitement by informing each of the players of the connected gaming devices that they may have won the mystery jackpot. Then the jackpot enters an identification phase, where the winning player is identified. Examples of identifying the winner and determining the winning bonus award are described in related co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/272,630, filed Nov. 17, 2008, entitled BONUS FOR CONNECTED GAMING DEVICES, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     In some embodiments, the winner of the mystery jackpot determines the amount won by playing a separate game, such as a spinning a wheel, spinning the reels, or by other methods. In other embodiments the amount won in the mystery jackpot is simply credited to the appropriate device. 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  illustrate a different animation sequence than those described above. With reference to  FIG. 6A , animation screen  120  includes a central figure, in this case a pirate  124 , who digs for treasure in various discrete lands  130 . Of course, the actual animation characters or actions are merely representative and many character or character sequences would be appropriate to use to implement embodiments of the invention. In this animation sequence, the pirate  124  searches for treasure by digging in the lands  130 . If treasure is found, which happens when there is a winning game outcome, or by winning a game or mystery bonus, the pirate  124  will find an animated piece of treasure. Then the game outcome is conveyed to the player by spinning the reels  120  as described above with reference to  FIG. 4A . Different in this embodiment, however, is that the pirate  124  need not continue sequentially across a screen as the miner  214  did in  FIG. 4A . In other words, the pirate  124  may meander throughout the animation screen  120  digging various holes  134  looking for treasure. 
     Because the pirate  124  is free to move about the animation screen  120 , in some embodiments, the player may control the movements of the pirate. As part of the animation screen  120  or elsewhere on the gaming device  100 , are a set of controls  140 . The player may press the controls, for example up, down, right, and left to control where the player desires the pirate  124  to dig next. Providing such control to the player may keep the player interested and at the game. Recall that, just as with the miner  214  example given with reference to  FIG. 4A , a game losing outcome invokes a very quick animation of the pirate  124 , while a winning game outcome causes a different animation, for example, striking treasure. Either of these animations may be followed by or shown simultaneously with spinning or animating the reels in the game detail display  104  to display the game winnings, or lack thereof, to the player. Performing an unexpected action, such as a decoy animation where an animation on the game detail display yields zero credits when it typically indicates that a win is forthcoming, is a way to hold a player&#39;s interest in the game. 
     As the player is playing the game, one of the lands  130  may animate, as illustrated in  FIG. 6B  to provide the player a hint of where treasure may be located. As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , stars or another animation  144  may spontaneously erupt from one or more of the lands  130  to signal to the player that there is treasure below. The revealing animation  144  may occur automatically, or for some other reason. For instance, the player may be able to purchase such a reveal for a nominal or non-nominal amount of credits or other value. At other times the reveal  144  may occur based on a game outcome. As illustrated in  FIG. 6C , after the reveal  144 , the smart player directs the pirate  124  to the particular land  130  that was revealed in the reveal process  144 . In some embodiments, the treasure may be located somewhere within the land  130 , although the player does not know exactly where it is. Such a technique can also be used to hold players attention or interest. 
     In all of the animations described above, the player may play multiple games before any progress is in an animation screen. For example, the miner  214  of  FIG. 4A  may take ten strikes at a rock  216  before the rock  216  is removed from the animation screen  106 . Otherwise, due to the limited screen space on a device  100 , there might not otherwise be enough games played before a mystery bonus is forced to be won by removing all of the rocks  216  on the screen. 
     The animation screen  120  of  FIG. 6A  can also operate as a win proximity indicator to a mystery bonus, such as those described above with reference to  4 A. In this example, the progress toward a mystery is illustrated to the player by the increasing number of empty holes  134  left behind by the pirate  124 . The player may be informed, or may learn for himself or herself that a mystery bonus must be awarded before all of the digging locations  134  are revealed in the lands  130 . 
     The animation sequence illustrated in  FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  may be used for stand-alone games, as described with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , or may be used in a group mystery jackpot as described with reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In a group mystery jackpot setting, there may be multiple pirates  124 , one for each bet-multiple, and each having an isolated sets of lands  130 . In other embodiments the multiple pirates  124  roam the entire screen and can dig at any of the lands  130 . A bonus multiplier may be used to compensate for the different wager amounts for animating the pirates  124 . 
       FIG. 7  is an example flow diagram of a method to indicate a gaming result to a player according to embodiments of the invention. A flow  200  begins at a process  210  where the player initiates play on the base game. The initiation can be satisfied by receiving a signal that the player has pressed the wagering buttons, the spin button  134 , or the repeat bet button  136 , all of  FIG. 4A or 5A . Next, the gaming result is shown on an animation screen in a process  220 . As described above, a losing game outcome is displayed with a very quick animation sequence, while a winning game outcome may include a longer animation sequence. At a process  230 , a decision determines whether to additionally show the results on the base game or game screen. In other words, the process  230  determines whether only the quick animation sequence or both the animation sequence and a separate game outcome sequence, such as spinning the reels of the base game, is shown to the player. If the game result is not shown on the base screen, then the flow  200  exits the decision block  230  in the NO direction, where a next game is ready to be played. Recall, that in some embodiments, a losing outcome automatically initiates the start of a new game. 
     If the process  230  exits in the YES direction, then the game result is additionally shown on the game screen, in a process  240 . Next, a process  250  determines if the win result was a result of the local game, or another winning result. If the game is a local game, then a winning amount is added to the credit meter in a process  260 . Then the flow  200  returns back to wait for an initiation of a next game. 
     If instead the process  250  exits in the NO direction, this indicates that the winning result animation was the result of a non-game win, for example, a bonus, a mystery bonus, or winning a group bonus. If so, the player may automatically participate in the group bonus sequence in a process  270 , after which it is determined whether or not he or she was a winner. If the player won the group bonus, then the process  280  exits in the YES direction and additional credits from the group bonus are added to the meter of the game in a process  290 . If instead, the player did not win the group bonus, flow  200  simply returns back to the beginning of the flow, to wait for initiation of another game. 
     Some embodiments of the invention have been described above, and in addition, some specific details are shown for purposes of illustrating the inventive principles. However, numerous other arrangements may be devised in accordance with the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. Further, well known processes have not been described in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, while the invention is described in conjunction with the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is not limited to these embodiments or drawings. Rather, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that come within the scope and spirit of the inventive principles set out in the appended claims.