VIDEO GAMING APPARATUS FOR WAGERING WITH UNIVERSAL COMPUTERIZED CONTROLLER AND I/O INTERFACE FOR UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE

摘要

A computerized wagering game apparatus is disclosed. The invention comprises a universal computerized game controller operable to control a computerized wagering game. The apparatus includes a video display device for providing a visual representation of a signal provided by the computerized game controller such that the video display device displays at least one visual image selected from the group consisting of a) computerized wagering game status information and b) symbol elements that change with the play of the wagering game. A communication port communicatively coupled to the computerized game controller is provided, as well as an interface assembly comprising one or more user interface devices. An I/O interface is configured to communicatively couple the interface assembly to the communication port. A method for reconfiguring a computerized wagering game apparatus having a harness for associating memory with output devices in the apparatus is also disclosed. The method comprises a) removing an original special-purpose computerized game controller used to control a computerized wagering game from the apparatus, the original computerized game controller designed to and capable of working exclusively with a particular computerized wagering game apparatus; b) inserting a universal computerized game controller operable to control a video wagering game that can be played on the video wagering game apparatus and an I/O interface that operatively couples the universal computerized game controller to user interface devices of the wagering game apparatus; and c) sending signals from the computerized game controller through the I/O and harness to confirm proper communication between the computerized game controller and the user interface devices.