Gaming device with directional audio cues

Abstract

A computerized gaming system has an audio module operable to play audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising representation of the physical location of a game element presented on a video screen by variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, and location-specific sounds. The gaming system further comprises a gaming module, which includes a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a game of chance on which monetary value can be wagered.

1 . A computerized gaming system, comprising: 
 a gaming module, comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and    an audio module, the audio module operable to play audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising representation of the physical location of a game element presented on a video screen by variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, and location-specific sounds.    
   
   
       2 . The computerized gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein localized sounds comprise sounds representing only a portion of the video screen of the gaming device.  
   
   
       3 . The computerized gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein pitch varies with vertical position of directed visual attention on the video screen.  
   
   
       4 . The computerized gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio cues indicate the payline in a video slot gaming machine.  
   
   
       5 . The computerized gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of instrument or phase changes to represent different reels where the gaming system is a multi-reel video slot machine.  
   
   
       6 . The computerized gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, delay, and localized sounds is further accompanied by panning to represent horizontal position on the video screen.  
   
   
       7 . The computerized gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein multiple audio cues are presented at the same time.  
   
   
       8 . A method of providing spatial audio cues in a gaming machine, comprising: 
 playing one or more audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising representation of the physical location of a game element presented on a video screen by variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, and location-specific sounds, wherein the gaming machine comprises a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein localized sounds comprise sounds representing only a portion of the video screen of the gaming device.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein pitch varies with vertical position of directed visual attention on the video screen.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the audio cues indicate the payline in a video slot gaming machine.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of instrument or phase changes to represent different reels where the gaming system is a multi-reel video slot machine.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, delay, and localized sounds is further accompanied by panning to represent horizontal position on the video screen.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein multiple audio cues are presented at the same time.  
   
   
       15 . A computerized gaming system, comprising: 
 a gaming module, comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and    an audio module, the audio module operable to play audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising panning to represent the location of a game element on a video screen, and variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, and location-specific sounds.    
   
   
       16 . A method of providing spatial audio cues in a gaming machine, comprising: 
 playing one or more audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising panning to represent the location of a game element on a video screen, and further comprising variation in at least one of pitch, instrument, rhythm, volume, echo, phase, and location-specific sounds, wherein the gaming machine comprises a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered.    
   
   
       17 . A computerized gaming system, comprising: 
 a gaming module, comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and    an audio module, the audio module operable to play audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising panning to represent the location of a displayed game element on a video screen.    
   
   
       18 . A method of providing spatial audio cues in a gaming machine, comprising: 
 playing one or more audio cues to direct the visual attention of a player of the gaming system, the audio cues comprising panning to represent the location of a displayed game element on a video screen, wherein the gaming machine comprises a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered.