Gaming machine having a community game with side wagering
View Patent ↗A gaming system includes at least one community display, a first gaming machine, and a second gaming machine. The at least one community display displays a communal game that includes a plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a communal value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines have a respective first and second video display for displaying the plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a first and second player value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines determine the first and second player values by applying a respective first and second value-enhancement parameter to the communal values associated with at least some of the plurality of elements. The first value-enhancement parameter is different than the second value-enhancement parameter.
1. A method for conducting a communal game linked to a plurality of gaming machines each having a video display, the communal game being a game in which multiple players participate, the method comprising:
initiating, by one or more processors, the communal game, the communal game including at least a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine that participate and share gameplay in the communal game;
determining, by the one or more processors, a first value-enhancement parameter for the first gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines based on first game-play activity of a wagering game at the first gaming machine, the first game-play activity occurring over a plurality of plays prior to initiation of the communal game;
determining, by the one or more processors, a second value-enhancement parameter for the second gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines based on second game-play activity of a wagering game at the second gaming machine, the second game-play activity occurring over a plurality of plays prior to initiation of the communal game, the second value-enhancement parameter having a different value than the first value-enhancement parameter;
displaying, on a communal display, game-play indicia indicative of a communal outcome for the communal game and shared by the first and second gaming machines;
determining, by the one or more processors, at least one communal base award resulting from the communal outcome, the same base award being provided to both the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine;
enhancing, by the one or more processors, the communal base award by the first value-enhancement parameter and the second value-enhancement parameter; and
awarding the communal base award enhanced by the first value-enhancement parameter to the first gaming machine and the communal base award enhanced by the second value-enhancement parameter to the second gaming machine.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communal display is viewable by players playing the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are multipliers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communal outcome is a randomly selected outcome, the game-play indicia being indicative of the communal outcome including a plurality of game-play symbols.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second game-play activity is a betting history on the respective gaming machine prior to the initiation of the communal game.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first value-enhancement parameter is a first level and the second value-enhancement parameter is a second level, said first and second levels being based on a number of time slices accrued on the first and second gaming machines, respectively.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second game-play activity is outcomes achieved on the respective gaming machine prior to the initiation of the communal game.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communal game includes an award meter displayed on the communal display, the award meter displaying the communal base award to the first and second gaming machines.
9. A system for conducting a communal game in which a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines participate, the plurality of gaming machines include a first and second gaming machine each having a display and an input device for receiving a wager, the system comprising:
a communal display being viewable from both the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine; and
one or more processors for controlling the first gaming machine, the second gaming machine, and the communal display, the one or more processors being programmed to:
conduct a communal game, at least in part, on the communal display, the communal game including both the first and second gaming machines that participate and share gameplay in the communal game, the communal game including game-play indicia indicative of a communal outcome for the communal game and shared by the first and second gaming machines, the communal outcome resulting in at least one base award to be provided to both the first and second gaming machines,
determine a first value-enhancement parameter for the first gaming machine based on game-play activity of the first gaming machine, the game-play activity occurring over a plurality of plays prior to conducting the communal game,
determine a second value-enhancement parameter for the second gaming machine based on game-play activity of the second machine, the game-play activity occurring over a plurality of plays prior to conducting the communal game,
enhance the at least one base award by the determined first and second value-enhancement parameters to determine a first award value and a second award value, respectively, and
award the first award value to the first gaming machine and the second award value to the second gaming machine.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first value-enhancement parameter is a different value than the second value-enhancement parameter.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are multipliers.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the communal outcome is randomly determined.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the game-play indicia indicative of the communal outcome includes a plurality of symbols.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are determined based on a portion of the first and second gaming machines' betting history, respectively.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are determined based on game-play outcomes of the first and second gaming machines, respectively.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are determined based on both (1) a portion of the first and second gaming machines' betting history, respectively, and (2) game-play outcomes of the first and second gaming machines, respectively.
17. A method for conducting a communal game, a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines participating in the communal game, the plurality of players including a first player and a second player, the method comprising:
initiating, by one or more processors, the communal game in which the plurality of players participate simultaneously;
displaying, on a communal display, game-play indicia indicative of a communal outcome of the communal game and shared by the participating gaming machines, the participating gaming machines sharing gameplay, the communal outcome resulting in at least one base award that is provided to each of the plurality of participating players;
determining, by the one or more processors, a first value-enhancement parameter for the first player and a second value-enhancement parameter for the second player, the first and second value-enhancement parameters being determined based at least in part on game-play activity at the respective gaming machines prior to initiation of the communal game; and
awarding at least a first award to the first gaming machine and a second award to the second gaming machine, the first award being the at least one base award enhanced by the first value-enhancement parameter and the second award being the at least one base award enhanced by the second value-enhancement parameter.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first value-enhancement parameter is a different value than the second value-enhancement parameter.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first award is a different value than the second award.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the communal outcome is randomly determined.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the game-play indicia indicative of the communal outcome includes a plurality of symbols.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are determined based on a portion of the first and second players' betting history, respectively.
23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are determined based on game-play outcomes achieved by the first and second player, respectively.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second value-enhancement parameters are determined based on both (1) a portion of the first and second players' betting history, respectively, and (2) game-play outcomes achieved by the first and second player, respectively.