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A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced periphe

A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.

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1. A candle device comprising: a center portion including a plurality of lighting elements;a cap mounted to a top of the center portion including a first wireless communication interface;a candle controller mounted in an interior of the candle device;a speaker assembly including a speaker mounted to

1. A candle device comprising: a center portion including a plurality of lighting elements;a cap mounted to a top of the center portion including a first wireless communication interface;a candle controller mounted in an interior of the candle device;a speaker assembly including a speaker mounted to the cap wherein a portion of the speaker assembly forms a top surface of the cap that is approximately perpendicular to a center axis of the candle device extending from a base to the cap;the base wherein a bottom of the center portion extends into the base;communication and power pathways routed from the candle controller, through the center portion and into the base, the communication and power pathways including a wiring harness that extends from the base;an attachment interface located in the base for mounting the candle device to an exterior surface of a gaming platform, said attachment interface configured to allow the wiring harness to pass through the exterior surface of the gaming platform;the candle controller, including a processor and a memory, configured to: 1) receive candle control commands via the wiring harness from a game controller and in response to the candle control commands control the plurality of lighting elements in accordance with the candle control commands, 2) wirelessly communicate with a remote device and 3) control the speaker to emit sounds. 2. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising: one or more antennas for sending and receiving wireless communications via the wireless communication interface. 3. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna located on a top outer surface portion of the cap. 4. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for sending and receiving the wireless communications mounted to the speaker assembly. 5. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising: a power interface for providing power to an external device separate from the candle device and power conversion circuitry for converting power received via the wiring harness from a primary power source that provides power to the candle device to a power format different from the power format received from the primary power source to allow the external device to receive power from the power interface. 6. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the cap and the center portion are cylindrically shaped. 7. The candle device of claim 6, wherein the cap includes an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of a cylindrical shell associated with the center portion allowing a portion of the cap to fit over the cylindrical shell such that the cylindrical shell extends into the cap. 8. The candle device of claim 6, further comprising: a ratcheting mechanism for preventing a rotation of the cap relative to the center portion. 9. The candle device of claim 6, wherein the candle controller is formed on a circular shaped printed circuit board (PCB), said PCB mounted within the cap proximately perpendicular to a center axis through a top of the cap. 10. The candle device of claim 9, wherein the candle controller is formed on a plurality of the circular shaped PCBs. 11. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising a hollow conduit that extends from the cap to the base and encloses the communication and the power pathways and extending from the cap to the base, the hollow conduit having a a center axis proximately aligned with a center axis of the candle device. 12. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the center portion is configured into a plurality of lighting stages, each of the lighting stages including lighting elements separately controlled by the candle controller such that each of the lighting stages can be illuminated with a different color. 13. The candle device of claim 12, further comprising: a divider around an outer perimeter of the center portion for providing a physical indicator of a boundary between two different lighting stages. 14. The candle device of claim 12, further comprising: an internal divider for preventing light from the lighting elements in one stage from leaking into another stage. 15. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising: a camera mounted within an interior of the cap. 16. The candle device of claim 15, wherein the cap is formed from a transparent material and wherein the outer surface of the cap is coated except in a region proximate to the camera to provide a viewing window for the camera. 17. The candle device of claim 15, wherein the candle controller is further configured to wirelessly communicate image data including image data of a user of the gaming platform generated using the camera to the remote device. 18. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising: a display mounted to the center portion wherein the candle controller is further configured to output textual messages and video images to the display. 19. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector that allows the candle controller to be communicatively coupled to a value input device communicatively coupled to the game controller. 20. The candle device of claim 19, wherein the candle controller is configured receive operational performance data from the value input device and wirelessly communicate the operational performance date to the remote device wherein the operational performance data from a plurality of transactions generated using the value input device are used to determine whether the value input device needs maintenance. 21. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector that allows the candle controller to be communicatively coupled to a value output device communicatively coupled to the game controller. 22. The candle device of claim 21, wherein the candle controller is configured receive operational performance data from the value output device and wirelessly communicate the operational performance data to the remote device wherein the operational performance data from a plurality of transactions generated using the value output device are used to determine whether the value output device needs maintenance. 23. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the candle controller is further configured to emulate different models of candle devices wherein the emulation includes responding to commands specific to each model. 24. The candle device of claim 23, wherein different types of candle devices include different numbers of lighting stages. 25. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector for allowing communications from the game controller to a first remote device to be routed through the candle device and wirelessly transmitted to the remote device. 26. The candle device of claim 1, wherein the back-up power source can be charged via power received from an external power source. 27. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising: a back-up power source configured to provide power when power received via the wiring harness from a primary power source is interrupted wherein the candle controller is further configured to operate in a low-power mode using the back-up power source when the power received from the primary power source is interrupted said low-power mode including a wireless communication capability with the remote device. 28. The candle device of claim 1, further comprising at least one printed circuit board including the plurality of lighting elements, disposed within the center portion wherein the plurality lighting elements are arranged on a top surface of the printed circuit board and a bottom surface of the printed circuit board such that the lighting elements on the top surface generate light for a first stage of the candle device and the lighting elements on the bottom surface generate light for a second stage of the candle device. 29. The candle device of claim 28, wherein the lighting elements are LEDs. 30. A candle device comprising: a center portion including a plurality of lighting elements;a cap mounted to a top of the center portion including a first wireless communication interface;a candle controller mounted in an interior of the candle device;a base wherein a bottom of the center portion extends into the base;communication and power pathways routed from the candle controller, through the center portion and into the base, the communication and power pathways including a wiring harness that extends from the base;an attachment interface located in the base for mounting the candle device to an exterior surface of a gaming platform, said attachment interface configured to allow the wiring harness to pass through the exterior surface of the gaming platform;a power interface for providing power to an external device separate from the candle device and power conversion circuitry for converting power received via the wiring harness from a primary power source that provides power to the candle device to a power format different from the power format received from the primary power source to allow the external device to receive power from the power interface; andthe candle controller, including a processor and a memory, configured to: 1) receive candle control commands via the wiring harness from a game controller and in response to the candle control commands control the plurality of lighting elements in accordance with the candle control commands and 2) wirelessly communicate with a remote device.