Wagering game with community award based on best selection from all players

• US 7,833,094 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Englman, Allon G., Mastropietro, Michael W., Pacey, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li; Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/445,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/42, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A gaming system for conducting a community game at linked gaming machines includes a best selection feature that allows players to make selections from a plurality of selectable objects. Each selected object is associated with an award and the highest award is awarded to each of the players at the linked gaming machines.

Claims

1. A gaming system for playing a community game comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming machines being operable to receive wagers from players, each machine including a display for displaying a plurality of objects, each of said plurality of objects being associated with an award, each of said awards being masked prior to selection;

wherein at least one of said plurality of objects is randomly pre-selected at each of said plurality of linked gaming machines by a controller, said controller providing said players with at least two options to select from during a fixed amount of time, said at least two options being to (i) accept said pre-selected object by said controller or (ii) select a different object via player selection, and wherein said object that is pre-selected by said controller is automatically selected after said fixed amount of time has expired; and

wherein upon selection of at least one of said objects at each of said plurality of linked gaming machines, the award associated with said at least one selected object is revealed and the highest award associated with said selected objects is awarded to each of said gaming machines.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said selection of at least one of said objects is responsive to player input.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said community game is triggered by either a community controller or a special-event outcome at one of said plurality of linked gaming machines.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said pre-selected object is a known outcome.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said awards are non-monetary awards, said highest award providing a predetermined number of free picks in a bonus game.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein said bonus game is displayed on a community display, and wherein after said bonus game is played, said players return to playing wagering games at said plurality of linked gaming machines.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said pre-selected object is highlighted.

7. A method of conducting a community wagering game via a plurality of linked gaming machines, each of said plurality of linked gaming machines being operable to receive a wager from a player, said method comprising:

displaying a plurality of selectable objects at said plurality of linked gaming machines, each of said plurality of selectable objects masking an award; and

randomly selecting, via a controller, at least one of said plurality of selectable objects at each of said plurality of gaming machines, said controller providing each player of said plurality of gaming machines with at least two options, said at least two options being to (i) accept said random selection or (ii) select a different selectable object via player selection, said at least two options being provided during a fixed amount of time, and wherein said random selection is automatically selected and revealed after said fixed amount of time has expired without at least one of said players making any selection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said wagering game is a community wagering game including a plurality of linked gaming machines.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said community game is triggered by either a community controller or a special-event outcome at one of said plurality of linked gaming machines.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing an option of selecting a known special-event outcome instead of participating in said community game.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising achieving a start-community-game outcome at said one of said plurality of linked gaming machines, said start-community-game outcome triggering a special event including said act of selecting from said selectable objects.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising highlighting said random selection.

12. A gaming system for playing a community game comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming machines;

a controller coupled to said plurality of linked gaming machines and operative to

receive a special-event-triggering signal associated with a special event in response to a special-event outcome being achieved;

transmit a special-event-play signal to said plurality of linked gaming machines to randomly pre-select, via the controller, one of a plurality of masked objects on each of said plurality of gaming machines, said controller providing players of said linked gaming machines with at least two options to select from during a fixed amount of time, said at least two options being to (i) accept said pre-selected object by said controller or (ii) select a different object via player selection, and wherein said object that is pre-selected by said controller is automatically selected after said fixed amount of time has expired, each of said plurality of objects being associated with an award;

reveal the award associated with said selected objects on each of said plurality of gaming machines;

determine which of said selected objects on each of said plurality of gaming machines is associated with an award that is better than the least favorable award obtained; and

award said better award to each of said players at said plurality of linked gaming machines.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein said awards are non-monetary awards, said better award providing a pre-determined number of free picks in a bonus game.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein said better award is the highest award of said obtained objects.

17. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein said pre-selected object is highlighted.