SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR PLAYING WAGERING GAMES WITH UNLOCKABLE COMMUNITY GAME FEATURES

Abstract

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for executing a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes at least one input device, at least one display, at least one processor, and at least one memory device. The memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display and the input device to conduct a wagering game including a plurality of unlockable features. The unlockable features are initially inaccessible to players at first and second gaming terminals. In response to an unlocking event achieved by a first player during play of the game, the processor unlocks at least one of the unlockable features such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the unlocked feature.

Description

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materials which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to wagering games, as well as systems and devices for playing wagering games. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices for playing a community wagering game by multiple players.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator.

One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is that of a “secondary” or “bonus” game which may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonus game, which is typically entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome of the basic game, may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game. Such a bonus game produces a significantly higher level of player excitement than the basic game because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the basic game.

Another concept that has been employed to enhance player entertainment and achieve player loyalty is the use of progressive games. In the gaming industry, a “progressive” game involves collecting coin-in data from participating gaming device(s) (e.g., slot machines), contributing a percentage of that coin-in data to a progressive jackpot amount, and awarding that jackpot amount to a player upon the occurrence of a certain jackpot-won event. A jackpot-won event typically occurs when a “progressive winning position” is achieved at a participating gaming device. If the gaming device is a slot machine, a progressive winning position may, for example, correspond to alignment of progressive jackpot reel symbols along an active payline. Typically, the initial progressive jackpot is set at a predetermined minimum amount. That jackpot amount, however, progressively increases as players continue to play the gaming machine without winning the jackpot. When the progressive jackpot is awarded, the jackpot amount is generally reset to the predetermined minimum amount.

Gaming machines take on various configurations, such as those that operate as “stand-alone” units, which may or may not be coupled to a backroom computer, where the outcome of game play is “locally determined.” Gaming machines may also be configured as part of a server-based gaming network where the outcome of game play may be either locally determined or “centrally determined.” For example, gaming machines that are located in an airport, a convenience store, or a riverboat typically operate as stand-alone units, whereas many gaming machines that are located in modern-day casinos operate as part of a server-based gaming network.

Server-based gaming networks typically include a number of gaming terminals that are communicatively coupled to one or more server(s) via a dedicated (i.e., non-public) communication network. Because of their versatility, server-based gaming networks enable an operator to augment the traditional “basic” game play with enhancements such as progressive games, community bonus games, tournaments, etc. Server-based gaming network configurations also enable access to all types of gaming terminal data, including performance data, player tracking data, accounting data, security data, and maintenance data, to name a few.

In cases where a gaming proprietor owns multiple casinos distributed over a large geographical area, individual casinos may be linked together via a large dedicated communication network. In addition, one or more servers in an individual casino may be communicatively coupled via the dedicated communication network to one or more remote database servers, thereby enabling the gaming proprietor to gather gaming data and operate and maintain the gaming network at one convenient location.

Some wagering game configurations involve engaging multiple players to enter a shared or “community” wagering game, wherein multiple linked gaming machines play a shared basic or bonus game. Features of the community wagering game, such as sound and graphics related to playing the community game, can be displayed to players on a sign or display area common to the linked gaming machines. For example, a bank of slot machines playing a community progressive game can be coordinated via a progressive slot controller or server, and information related to the progressive jackpot value(s) and jackpot sounds can be presented via the common sign or display peripheral device. In a more sophisticated example, a number of wagering game machines sharing a common theme, such as a Monopoly™-themed slot game, are coupled to a community game server that coordinates participation in a community game, such as accumulation of lottery numbers or progression of game pieces around a Monopoly™ board and awarding of bonuses.

As interest and demand for community wagering games increase, there is also a continuing need to develop new features that enhance the entertainment value and gaming experience for these community games.

SUMMARY

According to aspects of the present disclosure, a gaming system for conducting a community wagering game is featured. The gaming system includes a plurality of gaming terminals with at least first and second gaming terminals. The first and second gaming terminals each have a display for displaying an outcome of a wagering game. The wagering game outcome is randomly determined from a plurality of outcomes. A controller is operatively connected to the plurality of gaming terminals such that players at each of the gaming terminals can play the community game. The community game includes a plurality of unlockable features, which are initially inaccessible to the players at the gaming terminals. The controller is operable to: initiate an unlocking-game feature in response to a triggering event, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocking at least one of the unlockable features; and, in response to determining that the unlocking-game feature is successfully completed by a first player at the first gaming terminal, unlock at least one of the unlockable features such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the unlocked feature.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system is featured. The gaming system includes at least two gaming terminals, which are operable such that players at the gaming terminals can play a community game. The wagering game includes a game sequence in which a wagering game outcome is randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes. The method comprises: in response to a triggering event, initiating via at least one controller an unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocking at least one of a plurality of unlockable features associated with the community game, the plurality of unlockable features being initially inaccessible to players at the gaming terminals; and, in response to a first player at a first gaming terminal successfully completing the unlocking-game feature, unlocking at least one of the unlockable features such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked feature.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a gaming system is presented. The gaming system includes at least one input device, at least one display device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device. The at least one memory device stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the least one input device to: conduct a wagering game including a plurality of unlockable features, the plurality of unlockable features being initially inaccessible to first and second players at respective first and second gaming terminals; and, in response to an unlocking event achieved by the first player during play of the game, unlock at least one of the unlockable features such that the first and second players can access the unlocked feature.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method of conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play a wagering game, the wagering game including a plurality of unlockable features, the plurality of unlockable features being initially inaccessible to first and second players at respective first and second gaming terminals; displaying the game on at least one display device; conducting, via at least one processor, the wagering game; and, in response to an unlocking event achieved by the first player during play of the game, unlocking at least one of the unlockable features such that the first and second players can access the unlocked feature.

According to even yet another aspect of the present disclosure, one or more non-transient computer readable storage media are encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device or a gaming system to perform any of the methods disclosed herein.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the summary merely provides an exemplification of some of the novel features presented herein. The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and best modes for carrying out the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective-view illustration of an exemplary free-standing gaming terminal according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary gaming system according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a basic-game screen from an exemplary wagering game that can be played, for example, on the gaming terminal of FIG. 1 or the gaming system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of a bonus-game screen from an exemplary wagering game that can be played, for example, on the gaming terminal of FIG. 1 or the gaming system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective-view illustration of a representative gaming system for playing an exemplary community wagering game in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a screen shot of a basic-game screen from an exemplary wagering game that can be played on each of the gaming terminals in the representative gaming system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a screen shot depicting an embodiment of the exemplary community wagering game of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a screen shot of various exemplary unlockable features from the exemplary community wagering game of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a screen shot of an exemplary unlocking-game feature employed in some embodiments to unlock the unlockable features of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a screen shot depicting an embodiment of the exemplary unlocking-game feature of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is another screen shot depicting an embodiment of the exemplary unlocking-game feature of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is another screen shot depicting an embodiment of the exemplary unlocking-game feature of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for an exemplary algorithm that corresponds to instructions that can be executed by a controller in accord with at least some aspects of the disclosed concepts.

While the aspects of this disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail representative embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the various aspects and principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. To that extent, elements and limitations that are disclosed, for example, in the Abstract, Summary, and Detailed Description of the Embodiments sections, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference or otherwise.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a gaming terminal 10 similar to those used in gaming establishments, such as casinos. With regard to the present disclosure, the gaming terminal 10 may be any type of gaming terminal and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For example, in some aspects, the gaming terminal 10 is be an electromechanical gaming terminal configured to play mechanical slots, whereas in other aspects, the gaming terminal is an electronic gaming terminal configured to play a video casino game, such as slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, etc. It should be understood that although the gaming terminal 10 is shown as a free-standing terminal of the upright type, the gaming terminal is readily amenable to implementation in a wide variety of other forms such as a free-standing terminal of the slant-top type, a portable or handheld device primarily used for gaming, such as is disclosed by way of example in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2007/000792 filed Jan. 11, 2007, titled “Handheld Device for Wagering Games,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, a mobile telecommunications device such as a mobile telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA), a counter-top or bar-top gaming terminal, or other personal electronic device, such as a portable television, MP3 player, entertainment device, etcetera.

The gaming terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a cabinet or housing 12. For output devices, this embodiment of the gaming terminal 10 includes a primary display area 14, a secondary display area 16, and one or more audio speakers 18. The primary display area 14 and/or secondary display area 16 variously displays information associated with wagering games, non-wagering games, community games, progressives, advertisements, services, premium entertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts or announcements, broadcast information, subscription information, etc. appropriate to the particular mode(s) of operation of the gaming terminal. For input devices, the gaming terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a bill validator 20, a coin acceptor 22, one or more information readers 24, one or more player-input devices 26, and one or more player-accessible ports 28 (e.g., an audio output jack for headphones, a video headset jack, a wireless transmitter/receiver, etc.). While these typical components found in the gaming terminal 10 are described below, it should be understood that numerous other peripheral devices and other elements exist and are readily utilizable in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming terminal in accord with the present concepts.

The primary display area 14 include, in various aspects of the present concepts, a mechanical-reel display, a video display, or a combination thereof in which a transmissive video display is disposed in front of the mechanical-reel display to portray a video image in superposition over the mechanical-reel display. Further information concerning the latter construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,433 to Loose et al. entitled “Reel Spinning Slot Machine With Superimposed Video Image,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The video display is, in various embodiments, a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a light emitting diode (LED), a DLP projection display, an electroluminescent (EL) panel, or any other type of display suitable for use in the gaming terminal 10, or other form factor, such as is shown by way of example in FIG. 1. The primary display area 14 includes, in relation to many aspects of wagering games conducted on the gaming terminal 10, one or more paylines 30 (see FIG. 3) extending along a portion of the primary display area. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the primary display area 14 comprises a plurality of mechanical reels 32 and a video display 34, such as a transmissive display (or a reflected image arrangement in other embodiments), in front of the mechanical reels 32. If the wagering game conducted via the gaming terminal 10 relies upon the video display 34 only and not the mechanical reels 32, the mechanical reels 32 are optionally removed from the interior of the terminal and the video display 34 is advantageously of a non-transmissive type. Similarly, if the wagering game conducted via the gaming terminal 10 relies only upon the mechanical reels 32, but not the video display 34, the video display 34 depicted in FIG. 1 is replaced with a conventional glass panel. Further, in still other embodiments, the video display 34 is disposed to overlay another video display, rather than a mechanical-reel display, such that the primary display area 14 includes layered or superimposed video displays. In yet other embodiments, the mechanical-reel display of the above-noted embodiments is replaced with another mechanical or physical member or members such as, but not limited to, a mechanical wheel (e.g., a roulette game), dice, a pachinko board, or a diorama presenting a three-dimensional model of a game environment.

Video images in the primary display area 14 and/or the secondary display area 16 are rendered in two-dimensional (e.g., using Flash Macromedia™) or three-dimensional graphics (e.g., using Renderware™). In various aspects, the video images are played back (e.g., from a recording stored on the gaming terminal 10), streamed (e.g., from a gaming network), or received as a TV signal (e.g., either broadcast or via cable) and such images can take different forms, such as animated images, computer-generated images, or “real-life” images, either prerecorded (e.g., in the case of marketing/promotional material) or as live footage. The format of the video images can include any format including, but not limited to, an analog format, a standard digital format, or a high-definition (HD) digital format.

The player-input or user-input device(s) 26 include, by way of example, a plurality of buttons 36 on a button panel, as shown in FIG. 1, a mouse, a joy stick, a switch, a microphone, and/or a touch screen 38 mounted over the primary display area 14 and/or the secondary display area 16 and having one or more soft touch keys 40, as is also shown in FIG. 1. In still other aspects, the player-input devices 26 comprise technologies that do not rely upon physical contact between the player and the gaming terminal, such as speech-recognition technology, gesture-sensing technology, eye-tracking technology, etc. The player-input or user-input device(s) 26 thus accept(s) player input(s) and transforms the player input(s) to electronic data signals indicative of a player input or inputs corresponding to an enabled feature for such input(s) at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The input(s), once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to a CPU or controller 42 (see FIG. 2) for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.

The information reader 24 (or information reader/writer) is preferably located on the front of the housing 12 and comprises, in at least some forms, a ticket reader, card reader, bar code scanner, wireless transceiver (e.g., RFID, Bluetooth, etc.), biometric reader, or computer-readable-storage-medium interface. As noted, the information reader may comprise a physical and/or electronic writing element to permit writing to a ticket, a card, or computer-readable-storage-medium. The information reader 24 permits information to be transmitted from a portable medium (e.g., ticket, voucher, coupon, casino card, smart card, debit card, credit card, etc.) to the information reader 24 to enable the gaming terminal 10 or associated external system to access an account associated with cashless gaming, to facilitate player tracking or game customization, to retrieve a saved-game state, to store a current-game state, to cause data transfer, and/or to facilitate access to casino services, such as is more fully disclosed, by way of example, in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0045354, published on Mar. 6, 2003, entitled “Portable Data Unit for Communicating With Gaming Machine Over Wireless Link,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The noted account associated with cashless gaming is, in some aspects of the present concepts, stored at an external system 46 (see FIG. 2) as more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,328 to Holch et al. entitled “Cashless Computerized Video Game System and Method,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or is alternatively stored directly on the portable storage medium. Various security protocols or features can be used to enhance security of the portable storage medium. For example, in some aspects, the individual carrying the portable storage medium is required to enter a secondary independent authenticator (e.g., password, PIN number, biometric, etc.) to access the account stored on the portable storage medium.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming terminal 10 are controlled by one or more processors (e.g., CPU, distributed processors, etc.) 42, also referred to herein generally as a controller (e.g., microcontroller, microprocessor, etc.). The controller 42 can include any suitable processor(s), such as an Intel® Pentium processor, Intel® Core 2 Duo processor, AMD Opteron™ processor, or UltraSPARC® processor. By way of example, the controller 42 includes a plurality of microprocessors including a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel processor. Controller 42, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware disposed in and/or disposed outside of the gaming terminal 10 that is configured to communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the gaming terminal 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 42 comprises one or more controllers or processors and such one or more controllers or processors need not be disposed proximal to one another and may be located in different devices and/or in different locations. For example, a first processor is disposed proximate a user interface device (e.g., a push button panel, a touch screen display, etc.) and a second processor is disposed remotely from the first processor, the first and second processors being electrically connected through a network. As another example, the first processor is disposed in a first enclosure (e.g., a gaming machine) and a second processor is disposed in a second enclosure (e.g., a server) separate from the first enclosure, the first and second processors being communicatively connected through a network. The controller 42 is operable to execute all of the various gaming methods and other processes disclosed herein.

To provide gaming functions, the controller 42 executes one or more game programs comprising machine-executable instructions stored in local and/or remote computer-readable data storage media (e.g., memory 44 or other suitable storage device). The term computer-readable data storage media, or “computer-readable medium,” as used herein refers to any media/medium that participates in providing instructions to controller 42 for execution. The computer-readable medium comprises, in at least some exemplary forms, non-volatile media (e.g., optical disks, magnetic disks, etc.), volatile media (e.g., dynamic memory, RAM), and transmission media (e.g., coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optics, radio frequency (RF) data communication, infrared (IR) data communication, etc). Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a hard disk, magnetic tape (or other magnetic medium), a 2-D or 3-D optical disc (e.g., a CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), RAM, PROM, EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or solid state digital data storage device, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. By way of example, a plurality of storage media or devices are provided, a first storage device being disposed proximate the user interface device and a second storage device being disposed remotely from the first storage device, wherein a network is connected intermediate the first one and second one of the storage devices.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to controller 42 for execution. By way of example, the instructions may initially be borne on a data storage device of a remote device (e.g., a remote computer, server, or system). The remote device can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line or other communication path using a modem or other communication device appropriate to the communication path. A modem or other communication device local to the gaming machine 10 or to an external system 46 associated with the gaming machine can receive the data on the telephone line or conveyed through the communication path (e.g., via external systems interface 58) and output the data to a bus, which transmits the data to the system memory 44 associated with the processor 42, from which system memory the processor retrieves and executes the instructions.

Thus, the controller 42 is able to send and receive data, via carrier signals, through the network(s), network link, and communication interface. The data includes, in various examples, instructions, commands, program code, player data, and game data. As to the game data, in at least some aspects of the present concepts, the controller 42 uses a local random number generator (RNG) to randomly generate a wagering game outcome from a plurality of possible outcomes. Alternatively, the outcome is centrally determined using either an RNG or pooling scheme at a remote controller included, for example, within the external system 46.

As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the controller 42 is coupled to the system memory 44. The system memory 44 is shown to comprise a volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM), but optionally includes multiple RAM and multiple program memories.

As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the controller 42 is also coupled to a money/credit detector 48. The money/credit detector 48 is configured to output a signal the controller 42 that money and/or credits have been input via one or more value-input devices, such as the bill validator 20, coin acceptor 22, or via other sources, such as a cashless gaming account, etc. The value-input device(s) is integrated with the housing 12 of the gaming terminal 10 and is connected to the remainder of the components of the gaming terminal 10, as appropriate, via a wired connection, such as I/O 56, or wireless connection. The money/credit detector 48 detects the input of valid funds into the gaming terminal 10 (e.g., via currency, electronic funds, ticket, card, etc.) via the value-input device(s) and outputs a signal to the controller 42 carrying data regarding the input value of the valid funds. The controller 42 extracts the data from these signals from the money/credit detector 48, analyzes the associated data, and transforms the data corresponding to the input value into an equivalent credit balance that is available to the player for subsequent wagers on the gaming terminal 10, such transforming of the data being effected by software, hardware, and/or firmware configured to associate the input value to an equivalent credit value. Where the input value is already in a credit value form, such as in a cashless gaming account having stored therein a credit value, the wager is simply deducted from the available credit balance.

As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 42 is also connected to, and controls, the primary display area 14, the player-input device(s) 26, and a payoff mechanism 50. The payoff mechanism 50 is operable in response to instructions from the controller 42 to award a payoff to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that occur in the base game, the bonus game(s), or via an external game or event. The payoff is provided in the form of money, credits, redeemable points, advancement within a game, access to special features within a game, services, another exchangeable media, or any combination thereof. Although payoffs may be paid out in coins and/or currency bills, payoffs are alternatively associated with a coded ticket (from a ticket printer 52), a portable storage medium or device (e.g., a card magnetic strip), or are transferred to or transmitted to a designated player account. The payoff amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 50 are determined by one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 44.

Communications between the controller 42 and both the peripheral components of the gaming terminal 10 and the external system 46 occur through input/output (I/O) circuit 56, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+front-side bus and a PCI backside bus. Although the I/O circuit 56 is shown as a single block, it should be appreciated that the I/O circuit 56 alternatively includes a number of different types of I/O circuits. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the components of the gaming terminal 10 can be interconnected according to any suitable interconnection architecture (e.g., directly connected, hypercube, etc.).

The I/O circuit 56 is connected to an external system interface or communication device 58, which is connected to the external system 46. The controller 42 communicates with the external system 46 via the external system interface 58 and a communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, near field, etc.). The external system 46 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 46 may comprise a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external system interface 58 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the controller 42, such as by a near field communication path operating via magnetic field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).

The gaming terminal 10 optionally communicates with external system 46 (in a wired or wireless manner) such that each terminal operates as a “thin client” having relatively less functionality, a “thick client” having relatively more functionality, or with any range of functionality therebetween (e.g., an “intermediate client”). In general, a wagering game includes an RNG for generating a random number, game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.) for presenting the determined outcome to a player in an audio-visual manner. The RNG, game logic, and game assets are contained within the gaming terminal 10 (“thick client” gaming terminal), the external systems 46 (“thin client” gaming terminal), or are distributed therebetween in any suitable manner (“intermediate client” gaming terminal).

Referring now to FIG. 3, an image of a basic-game screen 60 adapted to be displayed on the primary display area 14 is illustrated, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. A player begins play of a basic wagering game by providing a wager. A player can operate or interact with the wagering game using the one or more player-input devices 26. The controller 42, the external system 46, or both, in alternative embodiments, operate(s) to execute a wagering game program causing the primary display area 14 to display the wagering game that includes a plurality of visual elements.

In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager, such as through the money/credit detector 48, touch screen 38 soft key, button panel, or the like, and a wagering game outcome is associated with the wager. The wagering game outcome is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming terminal 10 depicted in FIG. 1, following receipt of an input from the player to initiate the wagering game. The gaming terminal 10 then communicates the wagering game outcome to the player via one or more output devices (e.g., primary display 14) through the display of information such as, but not limited to, text, graphics, text and graphics, static images, moving images, etc., or any combination thereof. In accord with the method of conducting the wagering game, the controller 42, which comprises one or more processors, transforms a physical player input, such as a player's pressing of a “Spin Reels” soft key 84 (see FIG. 3), into an electronic data signal indicative of an instruction relating to the wagering game (e.g., an electronic data signal bearing data on a wager amount).

In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the controller 42 is configured to processes the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with computer instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the controller 42 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage devices (e.g., system memory 44 or a memory associated with an external system 46), the controller, in accord with associated computer instructions, causing the changing of a state of the data storage device from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage device or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage device, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM), etc.). The noted second state of the data storage device comprises storage in the storage device of data representing the electronic data signal from the controller (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the controller 42 further, in accord with the execution of the instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 14 or other display device and/or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.), to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of computer instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the controller 42 to determine the outcome of the game sequence, using a game logic for determining the outcome based on the randomly generated number. In at least some aspects, the controller 42 is configured to determine an outcome of the game sequence at least partially in response to the random parameter.

The basic-game screen 60 is displayed on the primary display area 14 or a portion thereof. In FIG. 3, the basic-game screen 60 portrays a plurality of simulated movable reels 62a-e. Alternatively or additionally, the basic-game screen 60 portrays a plurality of mechanical reels or other video or mechanical presentation consistent with the game format and theme. The basic-game screen 60 also advantageously displays one or more game-session meters and various buttons adapted to be actuated by a player.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the game-session meters include a “credit” meter 64 for displaying a number of credits available for play on the terminal; a “lines” meter 66 for displaying a number of paylines to be played by a player on the terminal; a “line bet” meter 68 for displaying a number of credits wagered (e.g., from 1 to 5 or more credits) for each of the number of paylines played; a “total bet” meter 70 for displaying a total number of credits wagered for the particular round of wagering; and a “paid” meter 72 for displaying an amount to be awarded based on the results of the particular round's wager. The depicted user-selectable buttons include a “collect” button 74 to collect the credits remaining in the credits meter 64; a “help” button 76 for viewing instructions on how to play the wagering game; a “pay table” button 78 for viewing a pay table associated with the basic wagering game; a “select lines” button 80 for changing the number of paylines (displayed in the lines meter 66) a player wishes to play; a “bet per line” button 82 for changing the amount of the wager which is displayed in the line-bet meter 68; a “spin reels” button 84 for moving the reels 62a-e; and a “max bet spin” button 86 for wagering a maximum number of credits and moving the reels 62a-e of the basic wagering game. While the gaming terminal 10 allows for these types of player inputs, the present disclosure does not require them and can be used on gaming terminals having more, less, or different player inputs.

As shown in the example of FIG. 3, paylines 30 extend from one of the payline indicators 88a-i on the left side of the basic-game screen 60 to a corresponding one of the payline indicators 88a-i on the right side of the screen 60. A plurality of symbols 90 is displayed on the plurality of reels 62a-e to indicate possible outcomes of the basic wagering game. A winning combination occurs when the displayed symbols 90 correspond to one of the winning symbol combinations listed in a pay table stored in the memory 44 of the terminal 10 or in the external system 46. The symbols 90 may include any appropriate graphical representation or animation, and may further include a “blank” symbol.

Symbol combinations are evaluated in accord with various schemes such as, but not limited to, “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays are evaluated left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, or any combination thereof by evaluating the number, type, or order of symbols 90 appearing along an activated payline 30. Scatter pays are evaluated without regard to position or paylines and only require that such combination appears anywhere on the reels 62a-e. While an embodiment with nine paylines is shown, a wagering game with no paylines, a single payline, or any plurality of paylines will also work with the present disclosure. Additionally, though an embodiment with five reels is shown in FIG. 3, different embodiments of the gaming terminal 10 comprise a greater or lesser number of reels in accordance with the present disclosure.

Turning now to FIG. 4, an example of a bonus game to a basic wagering game is illustrated. A bonus-game screen 92 includes an array of markers 94 located in a plurality of columns and rows. The bonus game is entered upon the occurrence of a triggering event, such as the occurrence of a start-bonus game outcome (e.g., symbol trigger, mystery trigger, time-based trigger, etc.) in or during the basic wagering game. Alternatively, any bonus game described herein is able to be deployed as a stand-alone wagering game independent of a basic wagering game.

In the illustrated bonus game of FIG. 4, a player selects, one at a time, from the array of markers 94 to reveal an associated bonus-game outcome. According to one embodiment of this bonus game, each marker 94 in the array is associated with an award outcome 96 (e.g., credits or other non-negative outcomes) or an end-game outcome 98. In the illustrated example, a player has selected an award outcome 96 with the player's first two selections (25 credits and 100 credits, respectively). When one or more end-game outcome 98 is selected (as illustrated by the player's third pick), the bonus game is terminated and the accumulated award outcomes 96 are provided to the player.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary gaming system, designated generally at 500, comprising a plurality of gaming terminals 510A-D is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Although differing in appearance, the gaming terminals 510A-D can be similar in function and connectivity to the gaming terminal 10 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. Each gaming terminal 510A-D includes a primary display 514A-D (and, optionally, a secondary display) supported by a respective housing 512A-D. The gaming terminals 510A-D of FIG. 5 can take on various configurations, including free standing gaming machines (e.g., gaming terminal 10 of FIG. 1), handheld gaming machines (not shown), countertop gaming machines (not shown), personal computers or laptop computers (not shown), or any combination thereof.

Each gaming terminal 510A-D may communicate with an external system (e.g., external system(s) 46 of FIG. 2) such that the terminal operates as a “thin client,” a “thick client,” or through any range of functionality therebetween. The primary displays 514A-D of each gaming terminal 510A-D display wagering games, such as those described above with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4 or those described below with respect to FIGS. 6-12, for example. The various terminals 510A-D may display the same wagering game or each may display a different wagering game. In the illustrated embodiment, the wagering game displayed by each of the gaming terminals 510A-D is the reel-type slot game illustrated in FIG. 6, which is described in further detail hereinbelow. The gaming system 500 may comprise greater or fewer than the four terminals illustrated in FIG. 5 without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

A controller, which is schematically illustrated at 542 in FIG. 5, is operatively connected to and/or operatively connects the gaming terminals 510A-D such that players at each of the gaming terminals 510A-D can play a shared game or community game, such as the community wagering game 630 shown in FIG. 7-12, for example. The controller 542 may be similarly configured in accordance with any of the optional configurations described above with respect to the CPU 42 of FIG. 2. In some optional embodiments, the controller 542 takes on the form of a central server, central controller, or remote host that links to the gaming terminals 510A-D through a data network or remote communication link 544. In some representative arrangements, the controller 542 is a community controller, which controls at least the community portion of the wagering game. To that end, the processor of each gaming terminal 510A-D can be designed to transmit and receive events, messages, commands, and/or any other suitable data or signals between the individual gaming terminals 510A-D and the controller 542.

The system 500 of FIG. 5 further includes a community display 502, which is shown mounted above and/or supported by the gaming terminals 510A-D. The community display 502 may comprise a secondary video display, such as a plasma, LED, LCD, CRT, projection, or any other now known or later developed display device. Information relevant to the community wagering game, or selected portions thereof, is displayed via the community display 502 so that it is visible to players of the gaming terminals 510A-D. The community wagering game may be one of any number of bonus games, group games, competition games, etc., and may involve interaction, competition, collaboration or common outcomes for a plurality of players of the gaming terminals 510A-D. The system 500 may further include signage 504, which comprises other labels, signs, indicators, or markings relating to advertising, promotions, or a theme of one or more of the gaming terminals 510A-D or one or more community wagering games. In the embodiment shown, the signage 504 is entitled CLUE™, and is related to a theme of the illustrated community wagering game displayed on the community display 502.

In FIG. 6, the primary display 514 of one of the gaming terminals 510 of the system 500 is shown. The display 514 displays or otherwise visually depicts a wagering game 530, which in this example is the slot game shown in FIG. 6. The wagering game 530 includes a plurality of symbol-bearing reels, designated generally as 521-525, respectively, each having a plurality of distinct symbol positions and bearing an array of symbols (collectively represented by symbols 260-262 in FIG. 6). The symbols may include any variety of graphical symbols, emblems, elements, or representations, including symbols that are associated with one or more themes (e.g., a Clue™ board game theme) of the gaming terminal 510 or system 500. The symbols may also include a blank symbol or empty space. The symbols on the reels 521-525 are arranged in an array or matrix, which in this embodiment is a 3×5 matrix of symbols. The reels 521-525 are varied (e.g., spun and stopped) to reveal combinations of symbols, which represent randomly selected outcomes of the wagering game 530, that are evaluated for winning combinations. Winning combinations of symbols landing, for example, on activated paylines (e.g., those paylines for which a wager has been received), cause awards to be paid in accordance with one or more pay tables associated with the gaming system 500.

The wagering game 530 can include fewer or additional symbol-bearing reels (simulated, mechanical, or combinations thereof) and/or symbol bearing positions than those shown in FIG. 6. In alternate embodiments, the randomly selected outcomes may comprise greater or fewer than 15 symbols, and may take on a variety of different forms having greater or fewer rows and/or columns. The matrix may even comprise other non-rectangular forms or arrangements of symbols. Moreover, the randomly selected outcomes of the wagering game 530 may be varied from the representation provided in FIG. 6. Likewise, the Clue™ board game theme is purely illustrative and non-limiting in nature.

The primary display 514 further includes certain display features for providing information and options to a player. For example, the display 514 features may include a MENU button 580, a WIN meter 582, a CREDITS meter 584, and a BET meter 586. The MENU button 580 can be pressed and activated (e.g., through an overlying touch screen) by a player desiring to access other control menus, preferences, help screens, etc. For example, the player can change a theme of the wagering game 530 via the MENU button 580, or change the type of wagering game being played (e.g., to video poker, keno, etc.). The WIN meter 582 displays to the player the amount of the total win (if any) from the most recent play of the wagering game 530. The CREDITS meter 584 displays to the player the total amount of credits (if any) remaining and available to the player for play of the wagering game 530. The BET meter 586 displays to a player the current size of his/her wager (in credits). Fewer, additional or alternative display features may be included for presenting information/options to a player. In a specific instance, the display 514 also features an optional player data window 588, which displays information related to the player currently playing at the terminal 510, such as personal information and player tracking data. The primary display 514 can also include, for example, an optional change-denomination feature that can be activated to change the denomination of wagers which the player is inputting into the system 500, bet change buttons that permit a player to increase and decrease the size of his/her wager accordingly, a “max bet spin” button for wagering a maximum number of credits and spinning the reels of the wagering game 530, as well as any of the buttons and meters displayed in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 7, the community display 502 of the gaming system 500 is shown displaying an exemplary community wagering game 630, which in this example is a Clue™-board-game themed progressive wagering game. In general, the object of the Clue™ game is for players to move through the rooms of a mansion collecting clues from which to deduce: (1) which suspect murdered the game's victim, (2) which weapon was used in the murder, and (3) in which room of the mansion was the murder perpetrated. In a more specific, sophisticated example, players strategically move through eight different rooms 650-657 in a multi-room mansion (historically known as the “Boddy Mansion” or “Tudor Mansion”), designated generally as 658 in FIG. 7. These eight rooms include: a ballroom 650, a dining room 651, a billiards room 652, a lounge 653, a kitchen 654, a library 655, a study 656, and a conservatory 657. The mansion 658 may include greater or fewer than the eight rooms illustrated in FIG. 7. For example, the mansion 658 may further comprise a cellar and a hall, neither of which are illustrated herein but are part of the Clue™ board game.

Continuing with the foregoing example, each of the participants in the community wagering game 630 moves through the rooms 650-657 of the mansion 658 in the guise of one of the game's various characters. By way of non-limiting example, the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 features six different characters: Miss Scarlet 661, Mrs. Peacock 662, Professor Plum 663, Mrs. White 664, Colonel Mustard 665, and Reverend Green 666, each of which is represented by a respective avatar (or other individualized game piece) on one or more of the displays in the gaming system 500. Each of the characters 661-666 may be dedicated to and, thus, controlled by one of the players at the gaming terminals 510A-D. To that end, the player's name or a pseudonym used by the player (a “handle”) may be displayed proximate to the player's character. In addition, or as an alternative thereto, one or more of the characters 661-666 may be controlled by one or more of the gaming terminals 510A-D, by the controller 542, by a player(s) at a remote cite, or any combination thereof. Moreover, fewer or greater than six characters can be presented in the community wagering game 630. Some additional characters that can be presented include, for example, Mme. Rose, Sgt. Gray, Miss Peach, and Mrs. Silver.

While traversing the various rooms, corridors, and passages in the mansion 558, the characters 661-665 collect different clues from which to deduce which suspect murdered the game's perpetual victim—e.g., Dr. Black or, depending on the version being played, Mr. Boddy. In some embodiments, the characters 661-666 move at random, for example, by rolling an electronically simulated pair of gambling dice. In alternative embodiments, the characters 661-666 move in response to selection of a bonus game associated with a particular room. Optional configurations may comprise a character being animated in a celebratory manor whenever the player associated therewith achieves a positive outcome, such as a large winning outcome during a base game or a bonus game.

During play of the wagering game 530, which may include times when the reels 521-525 are being spun and stopped, as well as intermittent times therebetween, or any time that any player is present at one of the gaming terminals 5510A-D, certain triggering events may trigger the community wagering game 630. The triggering events may be certain outcomes occurring on one or more of the gaming terminals 510A-D of the system 500. For example, certain symbol combinations may trigger a community wagering game. Other triggers may include randomly executed community wagering games, which may be based upon the time playing the wagering game 530 (“time on device”) or the size and/or number of wagers. According to one specific example, in an embodiment, the community wagering game 630 may be triggered in a “mystery” fashion. A mystery trigger is a trigger that is generally independent of the displayed outcome(s) of the wagering game 530. Instead, a mystery triggering event is communicated to the player when it occurs, but the player may be unaware of what caused the triggering event. For example, the player may be simply informed via a primary display, secondary display, community display, and/or accompanying audio, that the community wagering game 630 has been triggered. Such “mystery” triggering events may be driven by a number of mechanics that are not observable by the player. For example, mystery triggering events may include time-based triggers where the community wagering game 630 is automatically triggered after a certain amount of time has elapsed. Moreover, the mystery trigger may be a randomly selected event, such as intermittently randomly selecting a number from a pool of numbers until the selected number matches a triggering number or range of numbers. In yet other embodiments, mystery triggering events may include a threshold time playing a wagering game 530 (time on device), total wagers input meeting a predetermined amount (coin in), accumulation of a certain amount of credits, points, or assets, etc.

In alternate embodiments, the triggering event is dependent on the displayed outcome of the wagering game, for example, a symbol driven (“symbol-based”) triggering event. A symbol driven triggering event, may comprise, for example, three or more symbols aligning on an active payline, symbols being arranged in predetermined patterns, or a triggering symbol(s) appearing anywhere in the displayed outcome of the wagering game 530. In other embodiments, player selection of an appropriate selectable element may reveal an award, which may include triggering the community wagering game 630. In yet other embodiments, the outcome-based triggering events may include accumulation of certain assets or advancement to certain stages or episodes within the game.

Upon the occurrence of one or more of the triggering events, a community wagering game is displayed, as described herein. In an embodiment, only eligible players participate in the displayed community wagering game. Such eligibility can be based on a number of factors. For example, only players wagering a certain amount, or wagering at a certain coin-in rate, or having certain time on device, or reaching certain levels or episodes of the primary wagering game 530, or any combination thereof, may be eligible to participate in the community wagering game, when triggered. Other eligibility criteria may include total coin in on device, achieving certain outcomes in the primary wagering game 530, collection of certain assets, player reward accumulation and award level, etc. Moreover, the gaming system 500 may include play of a plurality of community wagering games, and may select one or more of those community wagering games to execute, and thereby permit play by one or more eligible players at the various gaming devices of the system 500, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2005/0003886, 2006/0009283, 2006/0135243, all to Allon G. Englman et al., which are all incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties.

FIG. 8 illustrates a plurality of unlockable game features 671-676 that are associated with the community game 630. Each of the unlockable game features 671-676 is initially “locked” and, thus, inaccessible to the players at the gaming terminals 510A-D. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, each of the rooms 650-657 in the mansion 668 is associated with a bonus game or secondary game. The rooms 650-657 can be associated with the same bonus/secondary game or each may be associated with a different bonus/secondary game. In response to a triggering event, such as those described in the previous paragraphs, a SELECT YOUR BONUS selection screen 632 illustrated in FIG. 8 is presented to the player, for example, on the community display 502 and/or a respective terminal display 514. The SELECT YOUR BONUS selection screen 632 presents to the player a plurality of selectable elements from which the player selects a bonus game he/she wishes to play. In the illustrated embodiment, the selectable elements are the unlocked rooms 650-657 of the mansion 668. Initially, however, some/all of the rooms 650-657 are locked or otherwise prohibited, which may be visually indicated to the player, for example, with padlocks, as seen in FIG. 8. Consequently, the locked rooms (i.e., unlockable features 671-676) and, thus, their corresponding bonus games cannot be selected by players (i.e., are inaccessible).

Each time play of the community game 630 is initiated or “triggered,” one or more players attempt to unlock one or more of the unlockable features 671-676 (e.g., locked rooms in FIG. 8)). The unlockable features 671-676 can be unlocked, for example, sequentially, randomly, or selectively (e.g., by a player, terminal, or the community controller), etc. By way of non-limiting example, the rooms 650-657 are unlocked sequentially by floor, starting on the first floor and progressing to the top floor of the mansion 658. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, the ballroom 650 and the dining room 651 on the first floor of the mansion 668 are initially unlocked. In contrast, the billiards room 652, lounge 653, kitchen 654, library 655, study 656, and conservatory 657 are initially locked and, thus, prohibited from access by the players. Alternative embodiments initially lock all of the rooms or provide greater or fewer than two initially unlocked rooms. Continuing with the above example, all players start on the first floor of the mansion 658. Next, the billiards room 652, lounge 653, kitchen 654, and conservatory 657 on the second floor of the mansion 668 are unlocked in random order. Once all four of these rooms are unlocked, the two rooms on the top floor of the mansion 658—i.e., the library 655 and the study 656, are unlocked successively from left-to-right.

Returning to FIG. 6, a player begins play of the wagering game 530, for example, by providing a wager. A player can operate or interact with the wagering game 530 using one or more player-input devices, such as those described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. A local controller (e.g., CPU 42 of FIG. 2), a host system (e.g., external system 46 of FIG. 2), the community controller 542 (FIG. 6), or any combination thereof, in alternative embodiments, operates to execute a wagering game program causing the primary display area 514 to display the wagering game 530 or selected portions thereof. An outcome of the wagering is randomly selected from a plurality of wagering game outcomes (e.g., using a local random number generator (RNG)). The wagering game outcome is then revealed, displayed, or otherwise communicated to the player, for example, on a corresponding display 514. In FIG. 6, the game screen 514 displays the wagering game outcome by portraying the plurality of simulated reels 521-525 spinning and stopping to reveal a plurality of symbols arranged in an matrix. A winning combination occurs, for example, when the displayed symbols correspond to one or more of the winning symbol combinations listed in a pay table. In response, a base-game prize (also referred to herein as “first prize”) associated with a winning outcome in the wagering game of FIG. 6 is conferred upon the player.

Continuing with the above-example, the outcome of the wagering game 530 is also evaluated for a triggering event, such as, for example, a combination of community-game triggering symbols. In the illustrated embodiment, the appearance of at least two CLUE? symbols 264 anywhere on the reels 521-525 triggers the community wagering game 630. One such scatter-type symbol-based triggering event can be seen in FIG. 6, where a first CLUE? symbol 264 appears on the second reel 522 and a second CLUE? symbol 264 appears on the fourth reel 524. Responsively, the SELECT YOUR BONUS selection screen 632 illustrated in FIG. 8 is presented to the player, for example, on a respective terminal display 514. In some preferred embodiments, the SELECT YOUR BONUS selection screen 632 is presented to a single player, whereby only that single player attempts to complete the unlocking-game feature.

From the SELECT YOUR BONUS selection screen 632, the player selects a bonus game (e.g., by choosing one of the unlocked rooms 650, 651, 653). In a non-limiting example, selection of the ballroom 650 initiates a free spin bonus game. The ballroom free spin bonus game may comprise, for example, an enlarged, more detailed ballroom, which is filled with dancing couples each bearing a symbol, being displayed to the player. Each free spin comprises the couples waltzing around the room and stopping or settling into a 3×5 grid of symbols, at which time pays are evaluated in any known manner. Symbols can then be removed when a murderer takes out all the couples with low paying symbols on their backs, after which the group dances again. A bonus-game prize (also referred to herein as “second prize”) associated with one or more winning bonus outcomes in the ballroom free spin bonus game is conferred upon the player.

In another non-limiting example, selection of the dining room 651 initiates a picking bonus game. The dining room picking bonus game may comprise, for example, an enlarged, more detailed dining room, which is filled with player-selectable wine glasses, being displayed to the player. The player chooses glasses of wine to serve to guests. One or more of the wine glasses conceal bonus prizes (also referred to herein as “second prize”), such as multipliers and credits, which are conferred upon the player when such glasses are selected. Contrastingly, one or more of the wine glasses are poisoned. Serving a poison-filled glass to a guest will typically end the dining room picking bonus game. If, however, a selected poison-filled glass is served to a murderer, the bonus can continues.

In addition to allowing a player to select and play a bonus game, the triggering event (e.g., combination of community-game triggering symbols illustrated in FIG. 6) also initiates an unlocking-game feature. A successful outcome in or a successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocks at least one of the unlockable features 671-676. If, for example, the unlocking-game feature is successfully completed by a player on one of the gaming terminals 510A-D in the gaming system 500, at least one of the unlockable features 671-676 is unlocked such that multiple players at multiple terminals 510A-D on the gaming system 500 can subsequently access the unlocked feature(s). In an optional configuration, every player who is “present” on the gaming system 500 during the unlocking-game feature is credited with the unlocked feature. Being “present” may comprise, for example, physical presence at one of the gaming terminals 510A-D or representative presence on the gaming system 500 (e.g., via a character dedicated to a player being shown in the community game 630). A player's unlocked features may optionally be stored on a corresponding player account or in the gaming system 500 such that the unlocked features can be recalled during subsequent plays at a terminal 510 even after the player has left the gaming system 500.

FIG. 9 is a screen shot of an exemplary unlocking-game feature 680 that unlocks the unlockable features 671-676 presented in FIG. 8. In the illustrated embodiment, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature 680 includes solving a multi-component mystery. In a Clue™ themed unlocking-game feature, players try to solve the mystery of “who done it, with what, and where?” At the beginning of play, one suspect, one weapon, and one room are chosen at random, e.g., via controller 542. The embodiment of FIG. 9 includes presenting a selection screen where the player is prompted to make three selections, one from each of three groups of player-selectable elements: (1) a group of potential murderers 682, (2) a group of potential murder weapons 684, and (3) a group of potential murder rooms 686. The group of potential murderers 682 includes selectable elements representing each of the community game's six characters: Miss Scarlet 661, Mrs. Peacock 662, Professor Plum 663, Mrs. White 664, Colonel Mustard 665, and Reverend Green 666. The group of potential murder weapons 684 includes selectable elements representing a rope 691, a candlestick 692, a dagger 693, a wrench 694, a lead pipe 695, and revolver 696. Likewise, the group of potential murder rooms 686 includes selectable elements representing each of the rooms 650-657 in the mansion 658. Although shown displayed on a display 514 of a gaming terminal 510, the unlocking-game feature 680 can be displayed solely or contemporaneously, in whole or in part, on the community display 502. Moreover, the unlocking-game feature 680 can include greater or fewer than three groups of player-selectable elements, each of which may comprise greater or fewer than the number of selections illustrated in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 10, a primary display 514 of one of the gaming terminals 510 of the system 500 is shown with three representative player selections. According to this particular example, the player selects from the three groups of player-selectable elements 682, 684, 686 shown in FIG. 9 (e.g., via touching a touch screen mounted over the primary display 514). As the selections are made, the selectable element representing each of the selections is enlarged from its original size. In the illustrated embodiment, the player has selected Professor Plum 663 as the suspected murderer, the revolver 696 as the suspected murder weapon, and the study 656 as the suspected location of the murder. The three selections made during the unlocking-game feature 680 are displayed on the primary display 514 of a gaming terminal 510 and, in some embodiment, contemporaneously displayed on the community display 502. In a non-limiting example, FIG. 11 shows the community display 502 displaying the avatar of Prof. Plum 663, which represents the player currently playing the unlocking-game feature 680, in the ballroom 650 with a pop-up bubble 698. The pop-up bubble 698 provides a visual depiction of the three selections shown in FIG. 10—i.e., Professor Plum 663, the revolver 696, and the study 656.

If all three player selections are correct, the player has successfully completed the unlocking-game feature 680. In response to successfully completing the unlocking-game feature 680, one or more of the unlockable features 671-676 (e.g., one of the locked rooms illustrated in FIG. 8) are unlocked such that the bonus game associated therewith can be subsequently selected and played by players currently “present” on the gaming system 500. In one embodiment, any/all unlockable features 671-676 that are unlocked by any/all players remain permanently unlocked. According to an alternate embodiment, an unlocked feature remains permanently unlocked for the unlocking player (i.e., the player who successfully completes the unlocking-game feature 680), while that unlocked feature remains unlocked for other “present” players as long as those players remain “present” on the gaming system 500 (e.g., continue playing at one of the gaming terminals 510A-D). Optionally, an unlocked feature remains permanently unlocked for the unlocking player, while that unlocked feature remains unlocked for other players “present” on the gaming system 500 for a single play or for a predetermined duration of time (e.g., thirty minutes, two hours, one day, one week, etc.). As an extension of the foregoing concepts, an unlocked feature can remain unlocked for all players as long as they remain “present” on the gaming system 500. In this vein, an unlocked feature can remain unlocked for all players for only a limited duration of time and/or at only selected locations.

According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, unlockable features 671-676 can be configured to remain unlocked only at specific locations (e.g., at a particular terminal bank, at a particular gaming establishment, at a particular group of gaming establishments, etc.). Likewise, the unlockable features 671-676 can be configured to remain unlocked only at a specific location at specific times (e.g., at a particular casino between certain times of the day). Moreover, the unlockable features 671-676 can be configured to remain unlocked for only players who meet a certain criteria (e.g., provide an additional wager, have achieved a particular player status with the gaming establishment, have an internet account, etc.). Optionally, the unlockable features 671-676 can be configured to remain unlocked for a virtual group of players formed at a website. The virtual group of players may never actually be in the same physical location.

In addition to unlocking one or more of the unlockable features 671-676, a community-game prize (also referred to herein as “third prize”) associated with a successful outcome in or a successful completion of the unlocking-game feature 680 is conferred upon the player. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-12, for example, the bank of gaming terminals 510A-D is associated with a progressive jackpot 688. If the three selections made by the player, such as those illustrated in FIG. 10, correspond to the suspect, weapon, and room chosen at random at the beginning of the unlocking-game feature 680, the player is awarded the current value of the progressive jackpot (shown in FIG. 10, for example, as $328.17). Once conferred upon the player, the progressive jackpot can be subsequently reset to a predetermined minimum amount or “reset value”. As players continue to play on the gaming system 500 without winning the jackpot 688, the jackpot amount progressively increases. Subsequently, if the unlocking-game feature 680 is triggered and successfully completed again, a subsequent value of the progressive jackpot is awarded for subsequently unlocking another one of the unlockable features. In alternative embodiments, each of the unlockable game features 671-676 has an award or progressive jackpot associated therewith that is conferred upon the player who unlocks that particular feature. In yet another alternative embodiment, the progressive jackpot 668 is only conferred upon the player who successfully unlocks that last remaining unlockable game features—e.g., feature 676 of FIG. 8.

Turning next to FIG. 12, if the unlocking-game feature 680 is not successfully completed, none of the unlockable game features 671-676 are unlocked and no additional prizes are conferred upon the player. In optional configurations, the player may be provided with a consolation prize for making 2-out-of-3 correct selections, for example. Moreover, the gaming system 500 may provide an indication to the players how to subsequently successfully complete the unlocking-game feature 680. According to certain aspects of the disclosed concepts, after the three selections are made and a moment of suspense passes, one or more of the incorrect selections are revealed. For instance, FIG. 12 visually indicates that that Professor Plum 663 is not the murderer (e.g., by crossing out the selection). The incorrect selection(s) can be presented to the other players on the community display 502, for example, in a community notes section 506 (FIG. 7).

With reference now to the flow chart of FIG. 13, an improved method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming system is generally described at 700 in accordance with certain embodiments. FIG. 13 represents an algorithm that corresponds to at least some instructions that can be executed, for example, by the controller 42, external system(s) 46 of FIG. 2, and/or controller 542 of FIG. 5 to perform any or all of the above or below described functions associated with the disclosed concepts. By way of non-limiting example, the exemplary algorithm 700 of FIG. 13 includes, at block 701, initiating a wagering game, for example, using a local controller (e.g., CPU 42 of FIG. 2). The wagering game may comprise those wagering games discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3 and 6, which include a plurality of movable reels each of which has a plurality of distinct symbol positions and bears a variety of symbols.

At block 703, the exemplary method 700 includes determining (e.g., via CPU 42 of FIG. 2) an outcome of the wagering game. The wagering-game outcome is randomly determined from a plurality of wagering-game outcomes, for example, using a random number generator (RNG) in the manner disclosed above. One or more of the plurality of wagering-game outcomes constitutes a winning outcome for which a corresponding award is conferred upon the player. In addition or as an alternative to the foregoing, block 703 may comprise determining the stop position(s) for the reels in the array. Correspondingly, block 705 includes displaying the outcome of the wagering game.

At block 707, the exemplary method 700 includes determining (e.g., via controller 542 of FIG. 5) if a triggering event occurred. The triggering event can be a symbol-based triggering event included in the displayed outcome of the wagering game. Alternatively, the triggering event can be a mystery trigger or any of the above-disclosed triggering events. In response to a triggering event, an unlocking-game feature is initiated at block 709. A successful outcome in or a successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocks one or more of the unlockable features such that two or more players can access the underlying feature (e.g., bonus game) associated with the unlockable feature.

At block 711, the exemplary method 700 includes determining (e.g., via controller 542 of FIG. 5) if there was a successful outcome in or a successful completion of the unlocking-game feature. Successful completion of the unlocking-game feature may include solving a multi-component mystery. In response to a successful outcome/successful completion, one or more unlockable features are unlocked at block 713 such that players at multiple terminals can access the underlying feature.

In some embodiments, the method includes at least those steps enumerated above. It is also within the scope and spirit of the present invention to omit steps, include additional steps, and/or modify the order presented above. It should be further noted that the method 400 represents a single play of a wagering game. However, it is expected that the method 400 be applied in a systematic and repetitive manner.

While many preferred embodiments and best modes for carrying out the present invention have been described in detail above, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gaming system for conducting a community game, the gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals including at least first and second gaming terminals, the first and second gaming terminals each having a display configured to display outcomes of a wagering game, the outcomes being randomly determined from a plurality of outcomes; and

a controller operatively connected to the plurality of gaming terminals such that players at the plurality of gaming terminals can play the community game, the community game including a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to the players at the plurality of gaming terminals, the controller being operable to:

in response to a triggering event in one of the wagering-game outcomes, initiate an unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games; and

in response to determining that the unlocking-game feature is successfully completed by a first player at the first gaming terminal, unlock at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked bonus game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to, in response to a second triggering event:

initiate a second unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the second unlocking-game feature unlocking at least a second one of the unlockable bonus games; and

in response to determining that the second unlocking-game feature is successfully completed by the second player at the second gaming terminal, unlock at least a second one of the unlockable bonus games such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and the second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least second unlocked bonus game.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein, in response to a third triggering event, the display at the first gaming terminal is configured to display a first selection screen from which the first player can select to play previously unlocked ones of the plurality of unlockable bonus games including the at least one unlocked bonus game and the at least second unlocked bonus game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, in response to a subsequent triggering event, the display at the second gaming terminal is configured to display a second selection screen from which the second player can select to play previously unlocked ones of the plurality of unlockable bonus games including the at least one unlocked bonus game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to, in response to determining that the unlocking-game feature is not successfully completed, provide an indication to both the first and second players how to subsequently successfully complete the unlocking-game feature.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein successful completion of the unlocking-game feature includes solving a multi-component mystery.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the triggering event, the display at the first gaming terminal is configured to display a bonus game, and wherein the player is awarded a first prize associated with a winning outcome in the wagering game, a second prize associated with a winning bonus outcome in the bonus game, and a third prize associated with successfully completing the unlocking-game feature.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first player is awarded a current value of a progressive jackpot for successfully completing the unlocking-game feature and thereby unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games, a subsequent value of the progressive jackpot being awarded for subsequently unlocking another one of the plurality of unlockable bonus games.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a community display readily visible to at least the first and second players at the first and second gaming terminals, wherein at least a portion of the community game is displayed via the community display.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein at least a first portion of the unlocking-game feature is displayed via the community display and at least a second portion of the unlocking-game feature is displayed via the display at the first gaming terminal.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of unlockable bonus games is associated with a selectable bonus game, the selectable bonus game becoming selectable in response to the corresponding unlockable bonus game being unlocked.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event for the unlocking-game feature includes at least one of a mystery trigger and a symbol-based trigger.

13. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system with at least first and second gaming terminals, the first and second gaming terminals being operable such that players at the gaming terminals can play a community game, the wagering game including a game sequence in which a wagering game outcome is randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes, the method comprising:

in response to a triggering event, initiating via at least one controller an unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocking at least one of a plurality of unlockable bonus games associated with the community game, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to players at the first and second gaming terminals; and

in response to a first player at the first gaming terminal successfully completing the unlocking-game feature, unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked bonus game.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to a second triggering event, displaying a selection screen from which at least one of the first and second players can select to play previously unlocked ones of the plurality of unlockable bonus games including the at least one unlocked bonus game.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to the first player not successfully completing the unlocking-game feature, displaying an indication to both the first and second players how to successfully complete the unlocking-game feature in a subsequent play of the unlocking-game feature.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, in response to the triggering event, conducting a bonus game at the first gaming terminal, wherein the first player is awarded a first prize associated with a winning outcome in the wagering game, a second prize associated with a winning bonus outcome in the bonus game, and a third prize associated with successful completion of the unlocking-game feature.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying at least a first portion of the unlocking-game feature via a community display, and displaying at least a second portion of the unlocking-game feature via a display associated with the first gaming terminal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of unlockable bonus games is associated with a selectable bonus game, the selectable bonus game becoming selectable in response to the corresponding unlockable bonus game being unlocked.

19. A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer readable medium having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by one or more controllers, the acts of:

determining if a triggering event occurred during play of a wagering game on a gaming system including at least first and second gaming terminals, the first and second gaming terminals being operable such that players at the gaming terminals can play a community game, the community game including a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to players at the first and second gaming terminals;

execute an unlocking-game feature at the first gaming terminal in response to the triggering event; and

in response to a successful outcome in the unlocking-game feature, unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that both a first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked bonus game.

20. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the least one input device to:

conduct a wagering game including a base game and a community game with a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to first and second players at respective first and second gaming terminals; and

in response to an unlocking event achieved by the first player during play of the community game, unlock at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that the first and second players can access the unlocked bonus game.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the base game is offered via each of the first and second gaming terminals, the community game being triggered during play of the base game.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the community game is common to the first and second gaming terminals.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the at least one display device includes a community display for displaying at least a portion of the common community game.

24. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the unlocking event includes the first player successfully completing a game feature.

25. A computer-implemented method of conducting a wagering game, the method comprising:

receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play a wagering game, the wagering game including a base game and a community game with a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to first and second players at respective first and second gaming terminals;

displaying the wagering game on at least one display device;

conducting, by at least one processor, the wagering game; and

in response to an unlocking event achieved by the first player during play of the community game, unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that the first and second players can access the unlocked bonus game.