Patent ID: 8545326

Claim:
A gaming system, comprising: at least a first gaming machine and a processor in a plurality of gaming machines is configured to cooperate with at least a second gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines to provide a wagering game as a group wagering game, the gaming machine comprising: a gaming machine cabinet having an exterior surface, an input device configured to receive an indication of a wager for play of one or more wagering games, an output device configured to output an item of value based on play of the one or more wagering games, a main display configured to display game play data of one or more wagering games, a first player interface configured to receive an indication to change a game theme; a second player interface configured to receive a request to provide a wagering game as the group wagering game; and a configurable surface display mounted to the gaming machine cabinet and being separate from the main display, the configurable surface display covering or integral with at least a portion of the exterior surface of the gaming machine cabinet, wherein: the processor, coupled with the player interface, is configured, responsive to the indication, to stop executing a first game theme and start executing a second game theme by causing the configurable surface display to: a) display a first graphical pattern of game theme information associated with the first game theme, b) change, responsive to the indication, from the first game theme to the second game theme different from the first game theme, and c) display a second graphical pattern of game theme information associated with the second game theme.