NETWORKED GAMING SYSTEMS AND METHOD WITH A RANDOMLY-SELECTED FEATURE GAME
Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods are disclosed that include a randomly selected feature game. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
1 . A networked gaming system including:
a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a server, at least one of the gaming machines including a game operable by a player, the game comprising a first game and a set of two or more feature games, one or more of the set of feature games triggered upon an event and randomly selected for play.
2 . The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the triggering event comprises the occurrence of a specific one of a set of possible first game outcomes.
3 . The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a wager input mechanism operable by the player wherein play of at least one selected feature game is restricted by the amount of a wager placed by the player by way of the wager input mechanism.
4 . The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a game management unit operatively coupled to at least one of the gaming machines and to the network.
5 . The gaming system of claim 1 , the first game comprising at least one of a slot machine game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game.
6 . The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the gaming machines are connected for competitive play.
7 . The gaming system of claim 1 where the gaming machines are connected for cooperative play.
8 . The gaming system of claim 1 wherein a random outcome is associated with each play of the game.
9 . The gaming system of claim 1 wherein game outcomes are determined by the server.
10 . A networked gaming system including:
a network computer; one or more gaming machines;
a network connecting the network computer to the one or more gaming machines;
a progressive controller connected to the one or more gaming machines;
a game operable with at least one of the gaming machines; and
a trigger operable in conjunction with the game for causing the game to randomly select for play at least one of a set of two or more feature games.
11 . The networked gaming system of claim 10 wherein the game is controlled by the network computer.
12 . The networked gaming system of claim 10 wherein the game is controlled by the at least one of the gaming machines.
13 . The networked gaming system of claim 10 wherein the progressive controller is associated with a wide-area progressive, casino-wide progressive, bank progressive, stand-alone progressive, or combination thereof.
14 . The networked gaming system of claim 10 including a progressive award controlled by the progressive controller and awarded upon a progressive outcome of at least one of the feature games.
15 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of:
connecting a plurality of gaming machines comprising a game;
for one of the games, selecting at least one of a set of possible outcomes for a first game; and
upon the occurrence of a triggering event, randomly selecting one or more of a set of two or more feature games for play.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the triggering event comprises a predefined one of the set of first game outcomes.
17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of connecting the plurality of gaming machines for cooperative play of the randomly selected feature games.
18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of connecting the plurality of gaming machines for competitive play of the randomly selected feature games.
19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the gaming machines reside in at least one casino.
20 . The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying at least one randomly selected feature game on a player tracking system display at each of the gaming machines.
21 . The gaming system of claim 15 further comprising a gaming display control computer.
22 . A networked system including a server and one or more gaming machines connected to the server;
the server including a game including a primary game and two or more feature games, one or more of the feature games randomly selectable and activatable upon an event.
the gaming machines including a game interface and a display, the game interface enabling a player to initiate play of the game through the server, the display providing a visual representation of the game.