Gaming system and method for providing a bonus event triggered by a continuous communal game
First Claim
1. A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;
a housing,at least one display device supported by the housing,a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;
(i) an acceptor,(ii) a validator, and(iii) a cashout device,at least one processor, andat least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;
(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor;
(i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and(ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item,(b) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager placed on a play of a primary game, said placed wager causes a decrease of the credit balance,(c) determine, via the at least one processor, a primary game symbol from a plurality of primary game symbols in each ofa plurality of primary game symbol positions,(d) display, via the at least one display device, the determined primary game symbol in each of the plurality of primary game symbol positions,(e) display any primary game award for any determined winning combination of said primary game symbols, and(f) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance; and
a controller programmed to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;
(i) determine and cause a display of at least one communal game symbol from a plurality of communal game symbols for a play of a communal game, wherein said determination and display of the at least one communal game symbol occurs;
(A) regardless of any placement of any wagers on any plays of any primary games of any of the gaming devices, and(B) regardless of any plays of any primary games of any of the gaming devices,(ii) determine whether a bonus event is triggered, wherein said determination is based on at least one event occurring in association with the play of the communal game,(iii) if the bonus event is triggered;
(A) determine a bonus event eligibility for each of the plurality of gaming devices and(B) cause each eligible gaming device to display and provide a bonus award, and(iv) if the bonus event is not triggered, repeat (i) to (iv) at least once.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communal game is displayed by a gaming system. A plurality of gaming devices each enable a player to wager on plays of a primary game and determine an eligibility status. The communal game repeatedly generates at least one communal game symbol from a plurality of communal game symbols regardless of whether any player is wagering on plays of a primary game. The communal game triggers a bonus event based on the generated symbols. Any eligible gaming devices may participate in the bonus event. For each eligible gaming device, the gaming system applies at least one symbol or gaming element from the communal game to the primary game of the eligible gaming device. Each eligible gaming device provides an award based on any winning symbol combinations generated by application of the communal game symbol or gaming element.
236 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including; a housing, at least one display device supported by the housing, a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, (ii) a validator, and (iii) a cashout device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor; (i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and (ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item, (b) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager placed on a play of a primary game, said placed wager causes a decrease of the credit balance, (c) determine, via the at least one processor, a primary game symbol from a plurality of primary game symbols in each of a plurality of primary game symbol positions, (d) display, via the at least one display device, the determined primary game symbol in each of the plurality of primary game symbol positions, (e) display any primary game award for any determined winning combination of said primary game symbols, and (f) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance; and a controller programmed to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to; (i) determine and cause a display of at least one communal game symbol from a plurality of communal game symbols for a play of a communal game, wherein said determination and display of the at least one communal game symbol occurs; (A) regardless of any placement of any wagers on any plays of any primary games of any of the gaming devices, and (B) regardless of any plays of any primary games of any of the gaming devices, (ii) determine whether a bonus event is triggered, wherein said determination is based on at least one event occurring in association with the play of the communal game, (iii) if the bonus event is triggered; (A) determine a bonus event eligibility for each of the plurality of gaming devices and (B) cause each eligible gaming device to display and provide a bonus award, and (iv) if the bonus event is not triggered, repeat (i) to (iv) at least once. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including; a housing, at least one display device supported by the housing, a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, (ii) a validator, and (iii) a cashout device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor; (i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and (ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item, (b) receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager placed on a play of a primary game, said placed wager causes a decrease of the credit balance, (c) determine, via the at least one processor, a primary game outcome for the play of the primary game, (d) display, via the at least one display device, the determined primary game outcome, (e) display any primary game award associated with the determined primary game outcome, and (f) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance; and a controller programmed to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to; (i) determine and cause a display of at least one communal game symbol from a plurality of communal game symbols for a play of a communal game, wherein said determination and display of the at least one communal game symbol occurs; (A) regardless of any placement of any wagers on any plays of any primary games of any of the gaming devices, and (B) regardless of any plays of any primary games of any of the gaming devices, (ii) if at least one bonus triggering event occurs in association with the play of the communal game, for each gaming device; (A) determine a bonus event eligibility of said gaming device, and (B) if said gaming device is eligible; (1) modify the determined primary game outcome of said gaming device, said modification based on the at least one determined communal game symbol, (2) determine a bonus award for said gaming device, said bonus award associated with the modified primary game outcome of said gaming device, and (3) cause said gaming device to display and provide the determined bonus award, and (iii) if at least one bonus triggering event does not occur in association with the play of the communal game, repeat (i) to (iii) at least once. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification