Wagering game with progressive game triggered by multiple players

• US 8,328,626 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hornik, Jeremy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOANG, BACH V
• Application Number:
  US11/990,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20090117974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463 25- 26
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method of conducting a group wagering game that includes a special award that is attainable by players at a plurality of gaming machines. The method includes receiving wagers from players at the plurality of machines for playing individual wagering games. In response to a triggering condition that is associated with one of the machines, the group wagering game is presented including an opportunity to fulfill at least one of a plurality of victory conditions. In response to all of the plurality of victory conditions being fulfilled, the special award is awarded to the machine associated with a next triggering condition.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a group wagering game and individual wagering games on a plurality of gaming machines, said group wagering game having a special award that is attainable by players at said plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising:

receiving wagers from players at said plurality of machines for playing said individual wagering games;

presenting on a community display a commonly shared group of victory conditions to be fulfilled during said group wagering game;

in response to a first triggering condition occurring during game play of at least one of said individual wagering games at one of said machines, presenting on a display an initial instance of said group wagering game including an opportunity to fulfill at least one of said victory conditions, wherein fulfilling by one of said players of a victory condition of said victory conditions fulfills said victory condition for all of said players;

returning to play of said individual wagering games at said plurality of machines after playing said group wagering game during said initial instance; and

in response to a second triggering condition occurring during game play of at least one of said individual wagering games at any of said machines and after fulfilling all of said victory conditions during one or more subsequent instances of said group wagering game,

(i) displaying the fulfillment of all said victory conditions on the community display, and

(ii) awarding said special award to the machine associated with said second triggering condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first triggering condition and said second triggering condition is selected from a group consisting of a symbol arrangement, a player-selectable pick, and a mystery award.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said victory conditions is selected from a group consisting of selecting a correct number, selecting a correct hidden symbol, winning a poker hand, selecting a correct symbol combination, and solving a puzzle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a last victory condition of said victory conditions is fulfilled by a first player of said players, said special award being awarded to a second player of said players.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awarding a first award in response to fulfilling a victory condition of said victory conditions; and

awarding a second award in response to not fulfilling said victory condition of said victory conditions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first award and said second award is a multiplier of an award associated with at least one of said individual wagering games.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of selectable options during said initial instance of said group wagering game, said plurality of selectable options representing said victory conditions; and

removing selected ones of said plurality of selectable options in at least one of said one or more subsequent instances of said group wagering game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said second triggering condition is a repeat condition of said first triggering condition.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium or media is encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the method of claim 1.

10. A gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a display for displaying a base game of said wagering game in response to receiving a wager from at least one of multiple players, said wagering game further including a group wagering game;

a community display for displaying a commonly shared group of victory conditions to be fulfilled; and

a controller coupled to the display and to the community display and programmed to present on the community display the commonly shared group of victory conditions, wherein fulfilling a victory condition of said victory conditions by one player of said multiple players fulfills said victory condition for all of said multiple players,

present one or more rounds of said group wagering game in response to a respective occurrence of a triggering condition during game play of said base game, and

after all of said plurality of victory conditions are fulfilled in said one or more rounds of said group wagering game and in response to another triggering condition during game play of said base game that occurs after fulfilling all of said plurality of victory conditions, (i) award a special award to a player of the multiple players that fulfills a special award condition and (ii) display on the community display the fulfillment of all the victory conditions.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said community display includes a plurality of game balls, each of said game balls revealing a hidden number when a corresponding one of said victory conditions is fulfilled.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming machines is selected from a group consisting of slot machines, poker machines, and keno machines.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said controller is further programmed to

provide a plurality of selectable options during an initial round of said group wagering game, said plurality of selectable options representing said victory conditions, and

remove selected ones of said plurality of selectable options in subsequent rounds of said group wagering game.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said controller is further programmed to select a victory condition of said victory conditions from a group consisting of selecting a correct number, selecting a correct hidden symbol, winning a poker hand, selecting a correct symbol combination, and solving a puzzle.

15. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said controller is located in one of said plurality of gaming machines.

16. A method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, comprising:

receiving wagers from a plurality of players for playing said wagering games, each player of the plurality of players playing on a respective gaming machine of the gaming system;

in response to achieving special triggering conditions during game play of said wagering games, presenting respective one or more players of the plurality of players with respective rounds of a special event;

presenting on a community display a commonly shared group of victory conditions to be fulfilled;

fulfilling all of said victory conditions based on selections made by said one or more players during said rounds of said special event, wherein fulfilling by one of said players of a victory condition of said victory conditions fulfills said victory condition for all of said players;

displaying on the community display the fulfillment of all said victory conditions;

providing an opportunity to achieve a special award requirement after fulfilling all of the plurality of victory conditions; and

in response to achieving the special award requirement, awarding a special award of the special event to a player of the respective gaming machine on which the special award requirement was achieved.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising awarding a bonus award in response to fulfilling one of said victory conditions.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of selectable options during said rounds of said special event, said plurality of selectable options representing said victory conditions.