Interactive display for pachinko gaming machine

Abstract

Pachinko gaming systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed. A pachinko gaming apparatus may include a communications controller installed in a pachinko gaming machine. The communications controller may execute a pachinko gaming event according to a randomly determined outcome, and exchange gaming information about the gaming event with a remote gaming system monitoring the pachinko gaming event and player activity at the pachinko gaming machine.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for executing a pachinko gaming event, comprising:
 generating, on an interactive gaming interface, a user interface providing controls for operating a gaming event on a pachinko gaming machine;   initiating the gaming event on the pachinko gaming machine, in response to receiving first user input at the interactive gaming interface, wherein the first user input comprises wager information;   determining a random outcome for the gaming event; and   managing a ball launcher associated with the pachinko gaming machine to execute a set of ball launches to result in the random outcome for the gaming event, wherein the set of ball launches occur in response to second user input received via at least one of the interactive user interface and a peripheral device of the pachinko gaming machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: executing a first ball launch of the set of ball launches following receipt of the second user input, and wherein an outcome of the first ball launch is independent of the second user input. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second user input determines at least one of a timing and a speed of the first ball launch. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the interactive gaming interface, live gaming data associated with the gaming event. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the live gaming data comprises at least one of: a pocket that has received a ball, a ball return count, a game status, wager information, and payout information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to third user input received at the interactive user interface, displaying at least one of: a credit meter, a win meter, a bank meter, a bonus count, and a bet meter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to third user input received at the interactive user interface, displaying help information comprising at least one of: game rules, game instructions, and pay table information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive user interface generates a central interactive element corresponding to game information associated with the gaming event, and at least one secondary element corresponding to gameplay information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one secondary element is arranged around the central interactive element. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one secondary element displays at least one of: a slump graph, a past game summary, a win combination, a reel combination, a game message, a bet meter, help button, and a win meter. 
     
     
         11 . A pachinko gaming controller comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and comprising computer-readable instructions that upon execution by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 generating, on an interactive gaming interface, a user interface providing controls for operating a gaming event on a pachinko gaming machine; 
 initiating the gaming event on the pachinko gaming machine in response to receiving first user input at the interactive gaming interface, wherein the first user input comprises wager information; 
 determining a random outcome for the gaming event; and 
 managing a ball launcher associated with the pachinko gaming machine to execute a set of ball launches to result in the random outcome for the gaming event, wherein the set of ball launches occur in response to second user input received via at least one of the interactive user interface and a peripheral device of the pachinko gaming machine. 
   
     
     
         12 . The pachinko gaming controller of  claim 11 , further comprising: providing, on the user interface, live gaming data associated with the gaming event, and at least one selection to display past gaming data. 
     
     
         13 . The pachinko gaming controller of  claim 12 , wherein the past gaming data comprises at least one of: a summary of a past number of games, a total number of balls shot, a total number of balls won, an amount of balls received in a pocket type, and a total prize won from each pocket type. 
     
     
         14 . The pachinko gaming controller of  claim 11 , wherein the peripheral device is at least one of: a handle and a button. 
     
     
         15 . The pachinko gaming controller of  claim 11 , wherein the interactive gaming interface is a touch screen display. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause:
 generating, on an interactive gaming interface, a user interface providing controls for operating a gaming event on a pachinko gaming machine;   initiating the gaming event on the pachinko gaming machine, in response to receiving first user input at the interactive gaming interface, wherein the first user input comprises wager information;
 determining a random outcome for the gaming event; and 
 managing a ball launcher associated with the pachinko gaming machine to execute a set of ball launches to result in the random outcome for the gaming event, wherein the set of ball launches occur in response to second user input received via at least one of the interactive user interface and a peripheral device of the pachinko gaming machine. 
   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further configured to perform operations comprising: executing a first ball launch of the set of ball launches following receipt of the second user input, and wherein an outcome of the first ball launch is independent of the second user input. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising displaying, on the user interface, live gaming data and past gaming data associated with the gaming event. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising generating, on the user interface, an interactive selection comprising at least one of: an error display screen, a help screen, an audit screen, and a game summary. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the random outcome for the gaming event is determined based on a paytable associated with the pachinko gaming machine.