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: A gaming machine and a method of conducting a game of chance on the gaming machine are disclosed. In response to a wager from a player, the machine conducts a selection game including a plurality of selectable elements associated with respective outcomes. In response to a player's selection of one of the selectable elements, the machine awards the outcomes associated with the selected element and at least one of the non-selected elements. The awarded outcome may, for example, include a payoff, a bonus game, or awarding the outcome associated with yet another of the non-selected elements. If the awarded outcome includes the bonus game, the bonus game may re-trigger the selection game.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a video poker game includes a wager-input device, a display, and a controller. The wager-input device receives a wager input from a player and the display displays the video poker game having a plurality of cards. The controller is coupled to the display and the wager-input device, and is programmed to provide an initial poker hand that is randomly selected from the plurality of cards. In response to a bonus feature being triggered, a certain card in the initial poker hand is replaced with at least two substitute cards from the plurality of cards to form two distinct final poker hands.

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.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a community game at linked gaming machines includes a best selection feature that allows players to make selections from a plurality of selectable objects. Each selected object is associated with an award and the highest award is awarded to each of the players at the linked gaming machines.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine is disclosed comprising a wager-indication element for receiving a wager from a player. The wager-indication element has a plurality of wager amounts arranged along a continuous wager scale. The wager-indication element also has an indicator adapted to visually represent the one of the plurality of wager amounts received from the player.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a video poker game includes a wager-input device, a display, and a controller. The wager-input receives a wager input from a player to purchase a plurality of poker hands, wherein the poker hands include a first hand and a second hand. The display displays a plurality of first cards as a first played hand of the first hand. The controller is coupled to the display and is programmed to create the second hand initially consisting of the plurality of first cards, if the first played hand is a predetermined ranked winning card combination. The controller is further programmed to allow the player to create a second played hand of the second hand. The second played hand includes at least one player-selected card of the first cards and at least one randomly selected card from a deck of cards.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game having a basic game and a secondary game is disclosed. A wager is received from a player to play a basic game. A plurality of bonus objects are provided within the basic game. The bonus objects are capable of being collected in the basic game. A secondary game is initiated and at least one collected bonus object is provided as a player-selectable bonus object within the secondary game. The bonus object may be capable of providing an enhanced payout in the secondary game. A system is further provided for playing the above-described wagering game having a basic game and a secondary game.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for conducting a wagering game having increased excitement and enjoyment over existing wagering games. The method and system involve a bank of wagering game terminals connected to a bank controller. Each wagering game terminal allows players to play a basic wagering game that is independent of other wagering game terminals. The wagering game terminals also allow players to play a bonus game where players take turns playing to win a portion of a jackpot. The portion awarded to each player may be the actual amount won by that player, or it may be a percentage of the entire jackpot based on the actual amount won by the player relative to other players. In one implementation, only players at wagering game terminals that exceed a minimum level of wagering activity may play the bonus game.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method for conducting a wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines is disclosed. The method comprises the act of triggering a community event while conducting the wagering game on the plurality of gaming machines. Two or more gaming machines are selected to participate in the community event. The community event is selected from a plurality of independent community events. The gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines, at least one community display, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to select the two or more gaming machines to participate in the community event, and select the community event from the plurality of independent community events to display on the at least one community display.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming machine and a method of playing a wagering game having a basic set of rules for playing a wagering game. Under the basic set of rules, a player can accumulate and save assets that are associated with the wagering game. In addition to the basic set of rules, the wagering game includes modifiers to the basic set of rules that modify the assets, enhance the assets or provide new assets. These modifiers may, for example, multiply an award associated with an asset or group of assets, provide additional rolls of the dice, provide a bonus award, provide additional player selections, allow the player to continue game play after a game-terminating event has occurred, allow the player to use assets at a later gaming session, or allow a player to access new assets at a different gaming machine. The assets and modifiers can be shared by players at different gaming machines to influence the outcome of the wagering games and can be saved for use in subsequent gaming sessions.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game at a gaming terminal. The method includes conducting the wagering game at the gaming terminal and displaying a plurality of game elements. Each of the game elements hides an award. At least one of the plurality of game elements is struck with a moveable object, causing at least one game element to disappear. The award associated with the at least one game element is then revealed and the award is granted to the player.

Abstract: A method for playing a wagering game includes receiving wager inputs from a player for a wagering game, which includes a basic game and a bonus game, and selecting at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving the wager inputs. The player is awarded a bonus-game asset in a first gaming session of the wagering game. A data set representing the bonus-game asset is stored, and, based on the data set, the player is allowed to use the bonus-game asset in a second gaming session.

Abstract: System and method are disclosed for conducting a wagering game having increased excitement and enjoyment. The method/system of the invention involves a bank of wagering game terminals connected to a bank server. In addition to a basic wagering game, the wagering game terminals allow players to play a bonus game where only one or some of the players may win a prize. In one implementation, the prize is a jackpot composed entirely of game credits won by the players in the bonus game and pooled by the bank server. In another implementation, only players at wagering game terminals that exceed a minimum level of wagering activity may play the bonus game. The player that wins the bonus game receives the jackpot. If there are multiple winners, the jackpot is distributed amongst the winners based on their performance in the bonus game or some other criterion.

Abstract: A stand-alone or server-linked gaming terminal that displays on a plasma display in the top-box area a 3D-rendered mechanical device that is pre-rendered or rendered in real time using a 3D-graphics processor or the like. The 3D-rendered mechanical device depicts the game outcome or a bonus game displayed in the top box display. The images or animation representing the 3D-rendered mechanical device may be stored on a digital video recorder (DVR) within the gaming terminal or downloaded remotely from a storage device coupled to the gaming terminal. The DVR outputs the mechanical device images as analog video, and is capable of receiving analog video input, converting the analog video to a digital format such as MPEG, and storing the converted video on a storage media. Additional structural elements such as a frame may be arranged about the top-box display to add depth or dimensionality to the 3D-rendered images displayed thereon.

Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one community display, a first gaming machine, and a second gaming machine. The at least one community display displays a communal game that includes a plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a communal value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines have a respective first and second video display for displaying the plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a first and second player value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines determine the first and second player values by applying a respective first and second value-enhancement parameter to the communal values associated with at least some of the plurality of elements. The first value-enhancement parameter is different than the second value-enhancement parameter.

Abstract: A slot-type gaming machine using an expandable symbol array to create a series of sequentially larger symbol arrays with the potential for additional or enhanced awards. The generation of the larger arrays can be performed through a variety a different mechanisms, such as the addition of a reel to the base array. The secondary arrays may be generated only under specific sets of circumstances that occur in the base array including, a winning pay line, the occurrence of a bonus triggering symbol, etc. To increase player interest in the game, some embodiments include allowing the player to determine where the additional symbols to create the larger array are placed in the base array.

Abstract: A slot machine type wagering game having a bonus feature that is activated by a start-bonus outcome in the basic game. For example, one start-bonus game outcome may be the occurrence of a winning pay line in the base game array. Certain symbols on the winning pay line are replaced to create a bonus array; all other symbols in the bonus array remain the same, and in the same position, as in the original base array. The replacement symbols are randomly determined. Once the symbols are replaced, the bonus array is checked for winning symbol combinations on active pay lines. If the bonus array forms winning symbol combinations (i.e., a winning pay line), a second start-bonus game outcome may be triggered and the process continues until an array is created that does not form any winning pay lines.

Abstract: The present invention is a gaming machine having an award-trading scheme and a method for conducting the award-trading scheme. The method includes receiving a wager to play the wagering base game and detecting a winning outcome to the wagering base game, and providing a first award option to a player of the wagering base game, where the first award option is displayed on a video display of the gaming machine. The method also includes precluding the player from receiving the winning credits and awarding the first award option to the player in response to the first award option being exercised by the player. The method further includes providing a second award option in response to the first award option not being exercised by the player. The first and second award options can include credits and free game play, to name a few.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for presenting media content on a gaming device are described herein. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a gaming control unit to transmit media presentation requests. The apparatus also includes a set of one or more media control units to receive the media presentation requests from the gaming control unit and present primary media and secondary media, wherein the secondary media is presented when the a game is in a bonus state, and wherein each media control unit of the set includes an adapted Sony PlayStation 2.