Wagering game system with pausing feature
A gaming system includes one or more controllers and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more controllers, cause the gaming system to initiate a wagering game to be played via a gaming machine and in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing a final outcome of the wagering game. While the game-in-progress is paused, the one or more controllers allow the gaming machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines and in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine.
1. A gaming system for playing a casino wagering game, comprising:
a gaming machine including a gaming machine housing, an electronic display device, and an electronic input device, the gaming machine housing constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game, the electronic display device and the electronic input device being coupled to the housing, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the casino wagering game and transform the physical input into an electronic data signal input for operation of the casino wagering game;
a random element generator configured to generate a random outcome for the casino wagering game, the random outcome being represented by one or more game elements in the casino wagering game; and
one or more controllers configured to:
initiate the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device;
randomly determine a final outcome of the casino wagering game, the final outcome being represented by the one or more game elements in the casino wagering game;
in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing the final outcome of the casino wagering game on the electronic display device;
while the game-in-progress is paused, allow the gaming machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines; and
in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine to display the final outcome of the casino wagering game on the electronic display device, and provide any awards to the player.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more controllers are configured to cause the gaming system to determine eligibility of the gaming machine to participate in the community event.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more controllers include an external controller linked to the gaming machine and an internal controller within the gaming machine, and wherein the external controller temporarily pauses the wagering game-in-progress by outputting a pause signal to the internal controller.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to cause the gaming machine electronic display device to display the paused game-in-progress in minimized form.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to cause the gaming system to display graphics on the gaming machine electronic display device, indicating that the game-in-progress is paused.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein the pause event includes a random trigger in the wagering game or independent of the wagering game.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein the end-pause event includes termination of the community event.
8. The gaming system of claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the random element generator or the one or more controllers are housed within the gaming machine housing.
9. A computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system comprising one or more controllers and a gaming machine including a gaming housing constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game, an electronic display device coupled to the housing, and an electronic input device coupled to the housing, the gaming system comprising a random element generator configured to generate a random outcome for the casino wagering game, the random outcome being represented by one or more game elements in the casino wagering game, the method comprising the acts of:
receiving a physical input from a player, via the electronic input device, to initiate the casino wagering game and transforming the physical input into an electronic data signal input to the one or more controllers for operation of the casino wagering game;
initiating the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device;
randomly determining a final outcome of the casino wagering game based and the one or more game elements representing the final outcome;
in response to a pause event, temporarily pausing, via at least one of the one or more controllers, the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing the final outcome of the casino wagering game on the electronic display device;
while the casino wagering game-in-progress is paused, allowing, via at least one of the one or more controllers, the gaming machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines; and
in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, via at least one of the one or more controllers, reinstating the paused casino wagering game-in-progress at the gaming machine to display the final outcome of the casino wagering game on the electronic display device and to provide any awards corresponding to the final outcome to the player.
10. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
determining an eligibility of the gaming machine to participate in the community event.
11. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 ,
wherein the one or more controllers comprises an internal controller within the gaming machine and an external controller external to the gaming machine and communicatively linked to the gaming machine, and
wherein the temporary pausing of the wagering game-in-progress is performed by an output of a pause signal by the external controller to the internal controller.
12. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
displaying the paused game-in-progress in minimized form on the gaming machine electronic display device.
13. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 , further comprising:
displaying graphics on the gaming machine electronic display device indicating that the game-in-progress is paused.
14. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 ,
wherein the pause event includes a random trigger in the casino wagering game or independent of the casino wagering game.
15. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 ,
wherein at least one of the random element generator or the one or more controllers are housed within the gaming machine housing.
16. The computer-implemented method for conducting a casino wagering game on a gaming system according to claim 9 ,
wherein the end-pause event includes termination of the community event on the gaming machine.
17. A gaming machine for playing a casino wagering game, comprising:
a gaming machine housing constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game;
an electronic display device coupled to the housing;
an electronic input device, coupled to the housing, configured to receive a physical input from a player of the casino wagering game and to transform the physical input into an electronic data signal input for operation of the casino wagering game;
a random element generator configured to generate a random outcome for the casino wagering game, the random outcome being represented by one or more game elements displayed on the electronic display device; and
one or more controllers configured to:
initiate the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device;
randomly determine a final outcome of the casino wagering game, the final outcome being represented by the one or more game elements in the casino wagering game;
in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing the final outcome of the casino wagering game on the electronic display device;
while the game-in-progress is paused, allow the gaming machine to participate in a community event with a plurality of other gaming machines; and
in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine to display the final outcome of the casino wagering game on the electronic display device, and provide any awards corresponding to the final outcome to the player.
18. The gaming machine of claim 17 ,
wherein the occurrence of the pause event triggers the output of a pause signal by a controller external to the gaming machine to the one or more controllers of the gaming machine, the pause signal causing the one or more controllers of the gaming machine to pause the wagering game-in-progress at the gaming machine prior to the display of the final outcome on the electronic display device.
19. The gaming machine of claim 17 ,
wherein the pause event comprises a trigger arising from the casino wagering game conducting on the gaming machine or on another gaming machine.
20. The gaming machine of claim 17 ,
wherein the pause event comprises a trigger arising from an event on the gaming machine or on another gaming machine.