Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a display for displaying a bonus game triggered by a start-bonus outcome and for presenting a plurality of player-selectable elements. Each of the player-selectable elements has a predetermined random outcome associated therewith. A game feature associated with the bonus game is configured to introduce a computer-generated player on the display. The computer-generated player randomly selects at least one player-selectable element from the plurality of player-selectable elements.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to selectively combine base games and bonus games. This modular approach allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to mix and match base games and bonus games as needed. In some embodiments, players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers may also select different game features to employ in the bonus and/or base games. Such an arrangement allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to configure each base game and/or bonus game according to their preferences.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include comparing player preference information from a first wagering game player account to additional player preference information of one or more additional wagering game player accounts. The operations can further include determining that some of the one or more additional wagering game player accounts has one or more similarities to the first wagering game player account based on the comparing of the player preference information to the additional player preference information. The operations can further include providing an indication of the some of the one or more additional wagering game player accounts for presentation via a display.

Abstract: A method for conducting a computer-implemented wagering game includes using a processor to execute a plurality of plays of the wagering game, each play having an expected value. A plurality of randomly selected symbols, which are associated with each play, are displayed on a display. The processor is used to randomly assign a plurality of attributes across the plurality of plays. Each attribute increases an expected value of the play to which the attribute is assigned, from a first value to a second value. The first value is in the absence of the attribute and the second value is in the presence of the attribute.

Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises displaying the wagering game and at least one progressive award, receiving a wager to play the wagering game, and upon the occurrence of a first triggering event, offering the at least one progressive award. The method further comprises determining whether or not the at least one progressive award has been accepted, and if the at least one progressive award has not been accepted, banking a progressive enhancement. The method further comprises, upon the occurrence of a second triggering event, applying the progressive enhancement to the at least one progressive award.

Abstract: An establishment can coordinate devices (e.g., lights, speakers, displays) to enhance a game playing environment based on events detected in a network of wagering game machines. A system can be implemented that determines an environmental effect based on an event of a wagering game (e.g., a near win event), regardless of the particular wagering game developer/manufacturer. The system can determine the environmental effect to be created for an event at the wagering game machine, at a server, etc. A request for the environmental effect is then supplied to the process and/or machine that causes the devices to create the environmental effect.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game comprises a value input device for receiving a wager from a player, a display, and a controller coupled to the display and operable to cause the display to present a challenge feature in response to a triggering event. The challenge feature includes a series of possible challenges of different types and having different objectives for successful completion. The series of challenges includes an outcome for awarding a progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpot is preferably displayed in terms of credits instead of currency. The controller successively advances the player from challenge to challenge in the series of challenges until the objective of the currently played challenge is not met.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, a method includes executing a wagering game that generates instructions for control of a number of mechanical reels. The method also includes converting the instructions for controlling the number of mechanical reels into identifiers of video sequences stored in machine-readable media. The video sequences comprising a display representative of a stop result of the mechanical reels. The method includes retrieving the video sequences from the machine-readable media. The method includes displaying the video sequences on displays for video reels of a wagering game machine.

Abstract: A gaming system includes an input device, at least one display, and at least one controller. The input device receives a wager input for playing a wagering game. The at least one display displays a basic wagering game and a community bonus game. The at least one controller is operative to provide a player with a bonus-game asset that is usable in at least a first play of the community bonus game. The bonus-game asset is capable of having at least a first level and a second level that provides a higher bonus-game enhancement than the first level. The at least one controller is further operative to determine if that the bonus-game asset is available to the player for use in a second play of the community bonus game and to alter the level of the bonus-game asset from the first level to the second level for use in the second play.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include providing a custom sound design interface. The operations can further include receiving user input via the custom sound design interface, wherein the user input is to design a custom sound for a wagering game machine including presentation instructions for the custom sound. The operations can further include storing the custom sound. The operations can further include receiving, from the wagering game machine, a request for the custom sound. The operations can further include transmitting, to the wagering game machine, the custom sound including the presentation instructions for the custom sound.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include storing a copy of wagering game content of a wagering game on a portable data storage device while the portable data storage device is connected to a wagering game machine in a casino, the wagering game being played at the wagering game machine. The operations can further include disconnecting the portable data storage device from the wagering game machine, the portable data storage device being configured to transport the copy of the wagering game content to play on a computing device outside the casino.

Abstract: The document describes operations for managing online wagering game casinos. In some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the operations include presenting wagering games to players in an online casino; facilitating messaging between the players and a wagering game attendant; reporting results of the wagering games to the attendant; and detecting, from the wagering game attendant, a request to present a community bonus opportunity to one or more of the players. The operations can also include presenting the community bonus opportunity to the players; detecting responses to the community bonus opportunity, wherein the responses are associated with the players; determining one or more winners of prizes offered in the community bonus opportunity; and awarding the prizes to the one or more winners.

Abstract: A wagering game system wide-area central gaming controller (WAGC) determines a threshold trigger (TT) for awarding a wide-area award, divides a condition prerequisite for the TT into a set of discrete threshold units (TU), one of which is associated with the TT, and distributes to each local central gaming controller (LCGC) a block of the TU for evaluation against an outcome or wager from each eligible wagering game machine. The WAGC also subtracts the distributed block of the TU from the set of TU, continues distributing to each LCGC a block of the TU selected from the set of TU for evaluation against an outcome or wager from each eligible wagering game machine and subtracting the distributed block of the TU from the set of TU until one LCGC confirms to the WAGC that a wagering game machine satisfied the TT associated with a TU allocated to the relevant LCGC.

Abstract: A method of conducting a community game includes displaying a first outcome of the community game for each player. The outcomes are indicated by a plurality of symbols on one or more display devices. At least one processor is used to determine which of the first outcomes has optimal symbols from the plurality of symbols for achieving the highest payout during continued play of the community game. The one or more display devices are used to display a second outcome for each player. The second outcomes are at least partially based on the optimal symbols from the first outcome determined to have the optimal symbols for the continued community game. The second outcome of the first player is different from the second outcome of the second player.

Abstract: A method of conducting a wagering game having a basic game and a continuous bonus game includes continually displaying a plurality of free plays of the continuous bonus game. The act of continually displaying the plurality of free plays includes the act of displaying a randomly selected outcome for each of the plurality of free plays of the continuous bonus game. While continually displaying the plurality of free plays of the continuous bonus game, a session of the basic game is conducted on a wagering game machine. The session includes (i) receiving a wager to play the basic game on the wagering game machine and (ii) in response to the receiving of the wager, a randomly selected outcome of the basic game is displayed.

Abstract: A primary array of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns and a feeder array of symbol positions arranged in one or more columns are displayed. A plurality of symbols including a special symbol is randomly distributed such that (i) each of the symbol positions of the primary and feeder arrays is associated with one of the plurality of symbols thereby forming a first outcome. In response to one of the symbol positions of the primary array being associated with the special symbol, one or more of the symbols associated with the feeder array is visually transferred to the primary array of symbol positions. The first outcome is modified with the one or more transferred symbols thereby forming a second outcome.

Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises receiving one or more configuration inputs to create at least one wagering game configuration. The at least one wagering game configuration comprises at least one base game and at least one portal game. The at least one base game is operable in response to receipt of a primary wager, the primary wager being within a range of allowable wagers. The range includes minimum and maximum allowable wagers. The at least one portal game having a set of eligibility criteria. The method further comprises creating a plurality of wager categories based upon the set of eligibility criteria and a size of the primary wager, activating participation in the at least one portal game if the set of eligibility criteria is satisfied, and metering the entire primary wager to a single wager category.

Abstract: A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes the steps of displaying a selectable game element on a display and associating each potential outcome associated with the selectable game element with a predetermined haptic output selected from a plurality of predetermined haptic device outputs. The method also includes the steps of selecting the selectable game element to reveal an outcome associated therewith and causing a haptic device to output the predetermined haptic output corresponding to the outcome of the selectable game element.

Abstract: “Fusion” gestures that transition from air to surface or surface to air and interactions with graphical objects displayed on one or more display devices. Surface-to-air gestures are captured on a surface of a touch-based sensing device, and the gesture leaves the surface and enters a volumetric space adjacent to the surface, where a 3D gesture sensing system captures the gesture in 3D space. One or more objects displayed on the display device(s) are graphically shown to be manipulated by the gesture. Air-to-surface gestures are captured in the reverse manner. Different devices housed in separate housings can detect the different types of gestures. For example, a gaming terminal can detect surface gestures made on a single- or multi-touch sensitive surface while a portable electronic device in communication with the gaming terminal can detect air gestures made in a volumetric space in front of the gaming terminal.

Abstract: A game of chance involving a progression of events is conducted on one or more gaming machines. After receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine, play of the game is initiated. If the game is paused, the status of the paused game is stored at a central database linked to and remote from the gaming machine. This game status is associated with a personal identifier of the player. To continue play of the game beginning from a point at which the game was paused, the personal identifier is provided to the central database via the same or another gaming machine and the game status associated with the personal identifier is retrieved from the central database.