Community wagering game with multiple player selections

• US 8,460,087 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Michel, Jeffrey E
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US12/298,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17, 463/20, 463/27, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a plurality of linked gaming machines for receiving multiple player selections in a community bonus game. The community bonus game may be displayed to all players at the linked gaming machines on a community display. Upon receiving multiple player selections in the community bonus game, players are awarded bonus awards based on the respective player selections.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming machines being operable to receive wagers from players, each linked gaming machine including a display for displaying a basic wagering game; and

wherein upon the occurrence of a special event at any one of the plurality of linked gaming machines, each of the eligible linked gaming machines being allowed to participate in a community bonus game, the community bonus game receiving a player selection from multiple ones of the eligible linked gaming machines, each of the player selections affecting the outcome of the community bonus game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the player selections occur as sequential selections from a set of objects or symbols displayed in the community bonus game, the sequential selections occurring as a first selection via a first player and a second selection via a second player.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a community display coupled to the plurality of linked gaming machines for displaying the community bonus game.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the community display is located on signage proximate at least a portion of the linked gaming machines.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the players make sequential selections of symbols or objects displayed in the community bonus game, the sequential selections occurring as a first selection via a first player and a second selection via a second player.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each player receives an award based on individual player selections of symbols or objects made by that player.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the total award for all players are shared among the players playing at the linked gaming machines.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the shared awards are proportional based on the individual wagers made at the linked gaming machines.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller coupled to the linked gaming machines triggers the special event.

10. A method of conducting a community wagering game on a gaming system having a plurality of linked gaming machines, the method comprising:

displaying a wagering game at each of the linked gaming machines;

initiating a community bonus game upon the occurrence of a special event, the community bonus game being displayed to all players playing at the linked gaming machines;

receiving a plurality of selections from multiple players in the community bonus game, each of the plurality of selections from affecting the outcome of the community bonus game; and

awarding an award to players at the linked gaming machines based on the player selections.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the community bonus game is displayed on a community display positioned proximate at least a portion of the linked gaming machines.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving multiple player selections includes receiving sequential selections from players at the linked gaming machines, the sequential selections occurring as a first selection via a first player and a second selection via a second player.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising terminating play of the community bonus game upon receiving a selection associated with a bonus-game-terminating outcome.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising revealing the value associated with at least one unselected selection.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the awarding includes applying a multiplier to the award associated with a player selection at one of the linked gaming machines.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the value of the multiplier is dependent on wagers made at the linked gaming machines.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the awarding includes providing each individual player with an award based on the selection made by that player.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the awarding includes providing a shared award to a group of players playing at the linked gaming machines.

19. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming machines;

a controller coupled to the plurality of linked gaming machines and operative to initiate a community bonus game based on an occurrence of a special event, the community bonus game including a group of symbols on a display;

allow players at the plurality of linked gaming machines to make alternating selections from the group of symbols on the display associated with the community bonus game;

determine if the player-selected symbols are associated with awards; and

continue play of the community bonus game until a bonus-game-terminating outcome is selected.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, further comprising a community display positioned proximate at least a portion of the plurality of linked gaming machines and coupled to the controller, the community bonus game being displayed on the community display.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the special event is achieved by at least one of the linked gaming machines.

22. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the alternating player selections are associated with one or more of credit awards, multipliers, and free picks.