Visual Fix Points And Methods For Display Of Game Data

Abstract

A visual fixed point apparatus and method for presenting a player with visually coherent game type or game variant changes is disclosed. The display is logically considered a collection of visual elements or points. When a player requests to see an alternate game or game variant as compared to the game currently being played, the alternate's properties are shown using as many unchanged visual points as reasonably possible.

1 . A visual fixed point apparatus for use with a gaming machine including a display field with pre-determined display areas for displaying game-related data, and a player interface for selecting one or more selectable game options associable with selected of the game-related data and causing associated of the game-related data to display in the pre-determined display areas.  
   
   
       2 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 1 , the player interface including a denomination selector for selecting a currency denomination to wager from a set of currency denominations.  
   
   
       3 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 2 , the player interface including a game selector for selecting a game to play from a set of games associated with a selected currency denomination, each of the set of games being displayable in one of the pre-determined display areas.  
   
   
       4 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 3 , a second of the predetermined display areas for simultaneously displaying a paytable associated with any selected game of the set of games.  
   
   
       5 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 4 , the player interface including a wager selector for selecting the quantity to be wagered from a set of selectable wagers on an event in a selected of the games; 
 the paytable including a highlightable region associated with the quantity to be wagered.    
   
   
       6 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 1 , the player interface including a game selector for selecting a game to play from a set of games.  
   
   
       7 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 1 , the player interface having a cloaking interface for removing a selected portion of the display field from view, the cloaking interface causing a game portion of the display to enlarge.  
   
   
       8 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 1 , the display field having one or more subfields for display of selected data, the subfields may be oriented by player preference.  
   
   
       9 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 8 , the player preference being retainable on a storage media associated with player identification information, the player preference being recallable at a later time by entry of the player identification information.  
   
   
       10 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 9 , the storage media may be a player transportable card or device that may be recognizable or attachable to a gaming machine for download and/or upload of player data.  
   
   
       11 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 8 , each of the subfields having an associated set of game-related data, the elements of the associated set of game-related data being serially displayable within a respective subfield.  
   
   
       12 . A visual fixed point apparatus as in  claim 8 , the subfields including tags for accessing additional information and causing the additional information to be viewable by the player.  
   
   
       13 . A method for using visual fixed points including the steps of: 
 displaying game-related data in pre-determined areas;    selecting one or more selectable game options associable with selected of the game-related data; and,    modifying the displayed game-related data depending upon the selecting step.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , the selecting step including: 
 selecting a currency denomination to wager from a set of currency denominations.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , the selecting step including: 
 selecting a game to play from a set of games associated with a selected currency denomination, each of the set of games being serially displayable in one of the pre-determined areas.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , the selecting step including: 
 simultaneously displaying a paytable associated with each selected game of the set of games in another of the pre-determined areas.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , the selecting step including: 
 selecting the quantity to be wagered from a set of selectable wagers on an event in a selected of the games;    highlighting a region of the paytable associated with the quantity to be wagered.