Gaming machine with interactive pop-up windows

Abstract

A gaming machine includes interactive pop-up windows that provide a player with an opportunity to configure or view different aspects of a wagering game. For example, the windows may allow the player to make side bets on a selected symbol, modify the appearance or function of a selected symbol, view a pay history for a selected symbol, and/or adjust a wager on an individual pay line in the case of a reel slot game.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of configuring a video wagering game, comprising: 
 displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols;    selecting one of the symbols;    displaying a pop-up window for the selected symbol, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including options for configuring the selected symbol; and    selecting one of the options.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video wagering game is a reel slot game, the video image including a plurality of simulated reels that place the symbols in a symbol array.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displaying step includes displaying the pop-up window around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the step of selecting one of the symbols is performed by a player by touching the one of the symbols.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the step of selecting one of the options is performed by a player by touching the one of the options.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pop-up window includes touch buttons associated with the respective options.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the options include a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the options include a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the wagering game.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the special function indicates that the selected symbol will be evaluated as a scatter, wild, left-to-right line pay, right-to-left line pay, a bonus trigger, or in an additional winning symbol combination during the wagering game.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of selecting one of the options includes purchasing the special function.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the options include artwork for the selected symbol.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the options include a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the wagering game.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game is selected from a group consisting of reel slots, poker, keno, bingo, blackjack, and roulette.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the options include a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the wagering game.  
     
     
         16 . A method of configuring a video reel slot game, comprising: 
 displaying a video image on a touch screen video display, the video image including a plurality of symbol-bearing reels that place symbols in an array;    selecting one of the symbols;    displaying a pop-up window for the selected symbol, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including options for configuring the selected symbol; and    selecting one of the options.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the displaying step includes displaying the pop-up window around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the steps of selecting one of the symbols and selecting one of the options are performed by a player by touching the one of the symbols and touching the one of the options, respectively.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the options include a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the options include a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the reel slot game.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the options include artwork for the selected symbol.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the options include a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the reel slot game.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the options include a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the reel slot game.  
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a video wagering game, comprising: 
 displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols;    selecting one of the symbols; and    displaying a pop-up window for the selected symbol, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including a pay history for the selected symbol.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the video wagering game is a reel slot game, the video image including a plurality of simulated reels that place the symbols in a symbol array.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the displaying step includes displaying the pop-up window around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the step of selecting one of the symbols is performed by a player by touching the one of the symbols.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pay history includes information about when different winning combinations including the selected symbol last occurred.  
     
     
         30 . A method of configuring a video reel slot game, comprising: 
 displaying a video image of an array of symbols in visual association with a plurality of pay lines;    selecting one of the pay lines;    displaying a pop-up window for the selected pay line, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including an interface for changing a wager on the selected pay line; and    operating the interface to change the wager on the selected pay line.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further including a touch screen video display for displaying the video image, and wherein the steps of selecting one of the pay lines and operating the interface are performed by a player by touching the one of the pay lines and touching the interface, respectively.  
     
     
         33 . A gaming machine for conducting a video wagering game, comprising: 
 a video display for displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols; and    a processor for causing the video display to display a pop-up window for one of the symbols selected by a player, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including player-selectable options for configuring the selected symbol.    
     
     
         34 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the video wagering game is a reel slot game, the video image including a plurality of simulated reels that place the symbols in a symbol array.  
     
     
         35 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the pop-up window is displayed around the selected symbol such that the selected symbol remains in its position within the array and also appears inside the pop-up window.  
     
     
         36 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the pop-up window overlays a portion, but not all, of the symbol array.  
     
     
         37 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the video display is outfitted with a touch screen for allowing the player to make selections.  
     
     
         38 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the pop-up window includes touch buttons associated with the respective options.  
     
     
         39 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the options include a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol.  
     
     
         40 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the options include a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the wagering game.  
     
     
         41 . The machine of  claim 40 , wherein the special function indicates that the selected symbol will be evaluated as a scatter, wild, left-to-right line pay, right-to-left line pay, a bonus trigger, or in an additional winning symbol combination during the wagering game.  
     
     
         42 . The machine of  claim 40 , wherein the special function is purchased by the player.  
     
     
         43 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the options include artwork for the selected symbol.  
     
     
         44 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the options include a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the wagering game.  
     
     
         45 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the wagering game is selected from a group consisting of reel slots, poker, keno, bingo, blackjack, and roulette.  
     
     
         46 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein the options include a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the wagering game.  
     
     
         47 . A method of configuring a video wagering game, comprising: 
 displaying a video image of a plurality of symbols; and    displaying a pop-up window for one of the symbols selected by a player, the pop-up window overlaying the video image and including player- selectable options for configuring the selected symbol.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the player-selectable options are selected from a group consisting of a side bet that the selected symbol will yield an award during one or more subsequent plays of the wagering game; a bonus event to be triggered by the selected symbol; a special function indicating how the selected symbol will be evaluated during the wagering game; artwork for the selected symbol; and a position of the selected symbol in a pay hierarchy for the wagering game.