Gaming apparatus and gaming method

A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

• identifying a player;
• accessing stored player data relating to the player;
• causing a first video image representing a game to be generated, said first video image representing at least one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first playing card if said game comprises one of video poker and video blackjack,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel if said game comprises video slots,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first keno card if said game comprises video keno, and
• said first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo;
• causing a second video image representing a game to be generated, said second video image representing at least one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo, said second video image being based on the stored player data,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second playing card differing from the first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance if said game represented by said second video image comprises one of video poker and video blackjack,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, reel symbol appearance and reel symbol color if said game represented by said second video image comprises video slots,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video keno,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video bingo.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;
• a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said computer being programmed to identify a player;
• said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following personalized gaming operations:
• generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data;
• generating a personalized video image based on the stored player data;
• or
• generating a game environment, the game environment including video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;
• a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said computer being programmed to identify a player;
• said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player;
• said computer being programmed to cause a first video image representing a game to be generated, said first video image representing at least one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first playing card if said game comprises one of video poker and video blackjack,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel if said game comprises video slots,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first keno card if said game comprises video keno, and
• said first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo;
• and
• said computer being programmed to cause a second video image representing a game to be generated, said second video image representing at least one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo, said second video image being based on the stored player data,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second playing card differing from the first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance if said game represented by said second video image comprises one of video poker and video blackjack,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, reel symbol appearance and reel symbol color if said game represented by said second video image comprises video slots,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video keno,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video bingo.

A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

• identifying a player;
• accessing stored player data relating to the player;
• performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following operations:
• generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having at least one of dimensions, color and contrast selected according to the stored player data;
• and
• generating a background video image, the background video image having at least one of color and contrast selected according to the stored player data.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;
• a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said computer being programmed to identify a player;
• said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following operations:
• generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having at least one of dimensions, color and contrast selected according to the stored player data;
• and
• generating a background video image, the background video image having at least one of color and contrast selected according to the stored player data.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;
• a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said computer being programmed to identify a player;
• said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising:
• generating a video image including textual captions corresponding to at least one aural element according to the stored player data.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming apparatus comprising an input device, a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;
• a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said computer being programmed to identify a player;
• said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising:
• modifying the response characteristics of the input device according to stored player data.

A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

• a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to identify a player;
• a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising one of the following personalized gaming operations:
• generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data;
• generating a personalized video image based on the stored player data;
• or
• generating a game environment, the game environment including video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data.

A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

• a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to identify a player;
• a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to access stored player data relating to the player;
• a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a first video image representing a game to be generated, said first video image representing one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first playing card if said game comprises one of video poker and video blackjack,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel if said game comprises video slots,
• said first video image comprising an image of a first keno card if said game comprises video keno, and
• said first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo;
• and
• a fourth memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to cause a second video image representing a game to be generated, said second video image representing one of the following games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, and video bingo, said second video image being based on the stored player data,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second playing card differing from first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance if said game represented by said second video image comprises one of video poker and video blackjack,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, reel symbol appearance and reel symbol color if said game represented by said second video image comprises video slots,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video keno,
• said second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card-as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video bingo.

A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

• a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to identify a player;
• a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising one of the following personalized gaming operations:
• generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having at least one of dimensions, color and contrast selected according to the stored player data;
• and
• generating a background video image, the background video image having at least one of color and contrast selected according to the stored player data.

A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

• a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to identify a player;
• a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising one of the following personalized gaming operations:
• generating a video image including textual captions corresponding to at least one aural element according to the stored player data.

A memory having a computer program stored therein, said computer program being capable of being used in connection with a gaming apparatus, said memory comprising:

• a first memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to identify a player;
• a second memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to access stored player data relating to the player;
• and
• a third memory portion physically configured in accordance with computer program instructions that would cause the gaming apparatus to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising one of the following personalized gaming operations:
• modifying the response characteristics of an input device according to stored player data.