Community wagering game with multiple player selections
View Patent ↗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.
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.