Game system with community play
The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to gaming machines that provide a common reel display for multiple players. Various combinations of reel lines, utilized to determine possible wins from symbols across multiple reels, of the reel display, may be available to the players. For example, a first player may be permitted to bet on one set of reel lines and a second player may bet on another set of reel lines. Also, for example, both players may bet on some reel lines and other reel lines may only be available to certain players. A community reel line may also be made available to both players or perhaps just one player upon satisfaction of certain conditions. The ability to have multiple players bet on a common reel display advantageously adds to the excitement and enjoyment of a gaming session.
1. A game system comprising:
a game server;
a plurality of game apparatuses coupled to the game server wherein each game apparatus includes:
a first play station comprising a first plurality of reels rotatable about a first horizontal axis and having a first horizontally configured reel line, wherein a winning combination from said first reel line pays at said first play station;
a second play station comprising a second plurality of reels rotatable about a second horizontal axis and having a second horizontally configured reel line, wherein a winning combination from said second reel line pays at said second play station;
a common reel display of the first and second play stations comprising a third plurality of reels rotatable about a third horizontal axis and including one or more horizontally configured community reel lines, wherein winning combinations of the one or more community reel lines pay at both the first and second play stations; and
a spin mechanism causing the common reel display to spin;
wherein different reel lines of the common reel display are reserved for the first and second play stations and wherein the first play station includes a first plurality of lines which pay left to right and the second play station includes a second plurality of lines which pay right to left.
2. The game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the common reel display is repeated at the first reel display of the first play station and at the second reel display of the second play station.
3. The game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more community reel lines are enabled upon entry of a wager of a certain amount at the first or second play station.
4. The game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more community reel lines are enabled by a triggering event.
5. The game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the common reel display is displayed on an overhead display.
6. The game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the common reel display is repeated at the first reel display of the first play station and at the second reel display of the second play station.
7. The game system as recited in claim 1 wherein the one or more community reel lines is available to the first and second play stations when both are in use.
8. A game system comprising:
a game server;
a plurality of game apparatuses coupled to the game server wherein each game apparatus includes:
a first play station comprising a first plurality of reels rotatable about a first horizontal axis and having a first horizontally configured reel line, wherein a winning combination from said first reel line pays at said first play station;
a second play station comprising a second plurality of reels rotatable about a second horizontal axis and having a second horizontally configured reel line, wherein a winning combination from said second reel line pays at said second play station;
a common reel display of the first and second play stations comprising a third plurality of reels rotatable about a third horizontal axis and including one or more horizontally configured community reel lines, wherein winning combinations of the one or more community reel lines pay at both the first and second play stations; and
a spin mechanism causing the common reel display to spin;
wherein a first plurality of reel lines of the common reel display are reserved for the first play station and a second plurality of reel lines of the common reel display are reserved for the second play station.
9. The game system as recited in claim 8 wherein the one or more community reel lines is available to the first and second play stations when both are in use.
10. The game system as recited in claim 8 wherein the common reel display comprises mechanical reels, video reels or mechanical and video reels.
11. The game system as recited in claim 8 wherein the common reel display is the first reel display of the first play station and the second reel display of the second play station wherein the first and second reel displays depict a common set of reels.
12. The game system as recited in claim 8 wherein two or more CPUs drive each gaming apparatus.
13. The game system as recited in claim 8 wherein the first plurality of reel lines are readable in a first general direction and wherein the second plurality of reel lines are readable in a second general direction, opposite the first direction.
14. A game system comprising:
a game server;
a plurality of game apparatuses coupled to the game server wherein each game apparatus includes:
a first play station comprising a first plurality of reels rotatable about a first horizontal axis and having a first horizontally configured reel line, wherein a winning combination from said first reel line pays at said first play station;
a second play station comprising a second plurality of reels rotatable about a second horizontal axis and having a second horizontally configured reel line, wherein a winning combination from said second reel line pays at said second play station;
a horizontally configured common reel display of the first and second play stations comprising a third plurality of reels rotatable about a third horizontal axis;
a spin mechanism causing the common reel display to spin; and
wherein different reel lines and at least one shared reel line are reserved for the first and second play stations and wherein the first play station includes a first plurality of lines which pay left to right and the second play station includes a second plurality of lines which pay right to left.
15. The game system as recited in claim 14 wherein the at least one shared reel line is enabled via a triggering event.
16. The game system as recited in claim 15 wherein the triggering event is a minimum wager entered at either the first or second play stations.