Wagering game with group free-spin bonus
View Patent ↗A method of conducting a wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines. The method includes receiving wagers from players at the plurality of gaming machines to play a basic game. A plurality of symbols is displayed on each of the plurality of gaming machines. The plurality of symbols indicate a randomly selected outcome at each of the plurality of gaming machines. The method also includes aggregating a plurality of special-game triggering events at the plurality of gaming machines. In response to a predetermined number of the plurality of special-game triggering events being achieved, a community-based special event involving eligible of the plurality of gaming machines is initiated.
1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines associated with each other, the method comprising:
receiving wagers from players at the plurality of gaming machines to play basic games;
displaying a plurality of symbols on each of the plurality of gaming machines corresponding to each play of the basic games, the plurality of symbols indicating one of a plurality of randomly selected outcomes for each play of the basic games at each of the plurality of gaming machines, the plurality of randomly selected outcomes including a special-game triggering event;
aggregating a plurality of the special-game triggering events from the plurality of gaming machines only when a special-game triggering event is selected from the plurality of randomly selected outcomes from the plurality of plays from each of the plurality of gaming machines;
in response to a predetermined number of the plurality of special-game triggering events being achieved, initiating a community-based bonus game involving inputs from only eligible ones of the plurality of gaming machines and including a winning outcome for all eligible ones of the plurality of gaming machines.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising awarding the players at each of the plurality of gaming machines a special-event award in response to the community-based special event achieving a winning outcome.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the special event award is selected from the group consisting of a free spin, a multiplier, a progressive jackpot, and a bonus jackpot.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the special event includes one or more spins of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the initiating of the community-based bonus game comprises at least one of the players at the plurality of gaming machines selecting a player-selectable element.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to the special-game triggering event being achieved, awarding the player at one of the gaming machines a base game award.
7. A computer readable, non-transitory, storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 1 .
8. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines for playing wagering games associated with each other, the wagering games each including one of a plurality of randomly selected outcomes, the randomly selected outcomes including a special-game triggering event; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of gaming machines and programmed to aggregate a plurality of special-game triggering events from the plurality of gaming machines only when a special-game triggering event is selected from the plurality of randomly selected outcomes from the plurality of plays from each of the plurality of gaming machines, and
in response to a predetermined number of the plurality of special-game triggering events being achieved, initiate a community-based bonus game involving inputs from only eligible ones of the plurality of gaming machines and including a winning outcome for all eligible ones of the plurality of gaming machines.
9. The gaming system of claim 8 further comprising a community display coupled to the controller, the community display for displaying the community-based special event.
10. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the community display displays a current number of aggregated special-game triggering events until the predetermined number of the plurality of special-game triggering events is achieved.
11. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of a slots game, a poker game, a roulette game, a blackjack game, and a keno game.
12. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further operative to award a player at a gaming machine that achieves one of the plurality of special-game triggering event a triggering award.
13. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the controller is located in one of the plurality of gaming machines.
14. A method for playing a wagering game at a plurality of gaming machines associated with each other, the method comprising:
conducting the wagering game on at least some of the plurality of gaming machines, the at least some of the plurality of gaming machines each having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game corresponding to each play of the wagering games;
displaying at least some of the plurality of symbols to indicate the randomly selected outcome;
only in response to at least one of the displayed symbols indicating a triggering outcome, determining whether a predetermined number of triggering outcomes have been achieved based on the triggering outcome and previously occurring triggering outcomes from the plurality of plays from each of the other ones of the plurality of gaming machines;
playing a community-based bonus game in response to the predetermined number of triggering outcomes being achieved, the community-based bonus game involving inputs from only qualified ones of the plurality of gaming machines; and
in response to the bonus game achieving a winning outcome, awarding an award to players at each of the plurality of gaming machines that qualify for the bonus game.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying the bonus game on a community display coupled to each of the plurality of gaming machines.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying the number of triggering outcomes achieved on a community display coupled to each of the plurality of gaming machines.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising displaying the bonus game on each of the plurality of gaming machines.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising awarding the player at the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines a triggering award in response to at least one of the displayed symbols indicating a triggering outcome.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the awarding includes determining whether each of the plurality of gaming machines qualifies for the bonus game.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein qualifying for the bonus game comprises placing a minimum wager on the wagering game.
21. The method of claim 14 , wherein only one of the plurality of gaming machines plays the bonus game and each of the plurality of gaming machines is awarded the award in response to the bonus game achieving a winning outcome.