GAMING MACHINE, SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH PROGRESSIVE GAME FEATURE

Abstract

A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game, the gaming machine offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game. The outcomes of the feature game include a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming machine causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome. A gaming machine is also described in which an increase to a jackpot prize is variable. Also described are gaming systems including a plurality of linked gaming machines and methods for gaming.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to, and claims priority from, Australian Patent Application No. 2006904518, filed on Aug. 18, 2006, entitled “Gaming Machine, System and Method With Progressive Game Feature,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to gaming apparatus and methods of gaming. A particular embodiment of the present invention relates to gaming apparatus and methods of gaming that offer a progressive prize.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come increased competition between gaming venues to obtain a larger share of the total gambling spend. Gaming venue operators have therefore continuously looked for new variations and types of games in order to attract both new and return customers to their venues.

In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and systems have attempted to provide the sought after variety, while still developing games that comply with the relevant regulations in the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator. Suppliers of gaming devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games and gaming apparatus that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing regulations and in terms of providing a return on investment to the gaming venue operators.

In addition, it is important that a player be able to understand the operation of a game quickly so that the player can start to quickly play the game and therefore extract maximum entertainment from the game.

Progressive jackpots may be offered on gaming machines. A progressive controller may be programmed to accumulate a percentage of the turnover bet on the machine, that percentage being accumulated in a progressive pool. On the occurrence of a predetermined event, the amount of money in the pool may be awarded to a player.

Recently progressive jackpot gaming systems have been implemented which operate across a group of linked gaming machines, accumulating a percentage of turnover bet on all of the linked machines into one or more progressive pools. Again the contents of a particular progressive pool may be awarded to a player when certain trigger conditions are met.

While the modified player progressive systems have increased player interest, the lack of actual or perceived player involvement in the increment of either standalone or linked progressive systems can mean that players may easily tire of playing these systems.

Any reference in this specification to the prior art does not constitute an admission that such prior art was well known or forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming machine having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming machine causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

According to a second aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines each having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming system offering at least one jackpot prize that can be won by any one of the gaming machines, wherein game play of the game provided by each gaming machine includes awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming system causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

Preferably, the amount that the jackpot prize is increased if the first outcome occurs is variable between plays of the feature game. The amount may be determined by the gaming system making a random selection from a predetermined set or range of possible values.

According to a third aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which at least one outcome is defined that is evaluated for a winning outcome and in which an award is awarded if a winning outcome is defined, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize that is won by the gaming machine on the occurrence of a particular event during play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention broadly resides in a gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines each having a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which at least one outcome is defined that is evaluated for a winning outcome and in which an award is awarded if a winning outcome is defined, the gaming system further offering at least one jackpot prize that is won by a said gaming machine on the occurrence of a particular event during play of the game by that gaming machine, wherein during play of a said game on a gaming machine, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming system causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

Preferably, the particular event is the at least one outcome including a second particular outcome.

Preferably, the game includes a feature game that is played on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the feature game resulting in a definition of a said outcome, wherein the particular outcome is an outcome of the feature game.

Preferably, the second particular outcome is also an outcome of the feature game. More preferably, the second particular outcome is a winning outcome of the feature game and the first particular outcome is a losing outcome of the feature game. The feature game may result in one of two outcomes consisting of the first particular outcome and the second particular outcome.

Preferably, for any aspect/embodiment of the invention described in the preceding paragraphs, a plurality of feature games are offered, each feature game associated with a different jackpot prize, wherein a particular outcome of the feature game results in the increase of the jackpot prize associated with that feature game. Each feature game may be triggered on the occurrence distinct events during play of the game. Alternatively, one or more of the feature games may be triggered on the occurrence of a common event, the particular feature game being triggered dependent on when the event occurs.

Preferably, a further jackpot prize is offered, the further jackpot prize being awarded when a player achieves a winning outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a gaming system including a plurality of gaming machine clients communicably coupled to a jackpot prize controller, each gaming machine client operable to transmit to the jackpot prize controller a jackpot prize increase request on the occurrence of a particular outcome in a game played by that gaming machine client, the jackpot prize controller receiving a jackpot prize increase request received from a said gaming machine client and in response incrementing a jackpot prize, and transmitting the increased amount to the plurality of gaming machine clients.

Preferably, each gaming machine client is operable to transmit to the jackpot prize controller a second jackpot prize increase request, the second jackpot prize increase request being transmitted in response to the placing of a wager on a gaming machine and the jackpot prize controller receives the second jackpot prize increase request and in response increases a second jackpot prize. Preferably, the second jackpot prize increase request causes the second jackpot prize to increase in an amount proportional to the size of the wager.

According to a sixth aspect, the invention broadly resides in a method for use with a gaming machine which provide a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the gaming machine and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, the method including increasing the value of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and awarding the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

According to a seventh aspect, the invention broadly resides in a method for use with a gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines which each provide a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize at least one jackpot through play of any one of the gaming machines by awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, the method including increasing the value of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and awarding the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

According to an eighth aspect, the invention broadly resides in method for use with a gaming machine which provide a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

According to a ninth aspect, the invention broadly resides in a method for use with a gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines which each provide a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the game on any one of the gaming machines, wherein during play of a said game on a gaming machine, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming system causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

Further aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: shows diagrammatically, a view of a gaming machine suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2: shows a block diagram of gaming apparatus suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3: shows a block diagram of components of the memory of the gaming apparatus represented in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4: shows diagrammatically, a network gaming system suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5: shows a screen display of one of a plurality of game features available in a first embodiment of the feature game of certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6: shows a screen display of the results of a game indicating an exemplary feature game has been triggered.

FIG. 7: shows an attract screen display of a game feature which has been triggered from the game of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8: shows a screen display of a game feature of FIG. 5 in its initial configuration.

FIG. 9: shows a screen display of the game feature of FIG. 5 after a number of rounds of the feature game have been played.

FIG. 10: shows a typical underlying reel structure for the safe game feature.

FIG. 11: shows a screen display of the game feature of FIG. 5 in which a player has won.

FIG. 12: shows the attract screen display of FIG. 5 after the player has won.

FIG. 13: shows a typical screen display of the game feature of FIG. 6a-6c when a player has lost.

FIG. 14: shows an attract screen display of FIG. 5 after the player has lost.

FIG. 15: shows a flowchart of a game process in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, one example of a gaming machine suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention is generally referenced by arrow 10.

The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which is displayed representations of a game 16, that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to play the game 16. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 including a coin input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example, pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on the front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the console 12 for cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box 26 in a more preferred form of gaming machine 10 to implement the present invention includes a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or a different type of display.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a gaming apparatus, generally referenced by arrow 100, suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the present invention. The gaming apparatus 100 may, for example, operate as a standalone gaming machine of the type shown in FIG. 1. However, the gaming apparatus 100 may alternatively operate as a networked gaming machine, communicating with other network devices, such as one or more servers or other gaming machines. The gaming apparatus 100 may also have distributed hardware and software components that communicate with each other directly or through a network. Accordingly, different reference numerals have been used in FIG. 2 from FIG. 1 for components that may be equivalent.

The gaming apparatus 100 includes a game controller 101, which in the illustrated example includes a computational device 102, which may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other suitable device. Instructions and data to control operation of the computational device 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with, or forms a part of, the computational device 102. Typically, the gaming apparatus 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. The instructions to cause the game controller 101 to implement the present invention will be stored in the memory 103.

The gaming apparatus may include hardware meters 104 for the purposes of regulatory compliance and also include an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with the peripheral devices of the gaming apparatus 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for instructions and data.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral devices that communicate with the controller are one or more displays 106, user input devices 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. One or more of the displays 106 may include a touch screen 106A, forming part of the user input devices 107. Additional devices may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or devices omitted as required for the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card, may for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from a the central controller, server or database. One or more of the peripheral devices, for example the card/ticket reader 108 may be able to communicate directly with the network card 112.

The game controller 101 may also include a random number generator 113, which generates a series of random numbers that determine the outcome of a series of random game events played as part of a game on the gaming apparatus 100. As explained in more detail in relation to FIG. 4, the computational device 102 may include two or more controllers or processors, which may be local or remote from each other and the displays 106.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary block diagram of the main components of the memory 103. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the computational controller 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may hold be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the computational controller 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

FIG. 4 shows a gaming system 200. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming devices 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming devices 202 in FIG. 4, are connected to the network 201. The gaming devices 202 may be gaming machines 10, as shown in FIG. 1 or form part or all of another gaming apparatus 100. Single gaming devices 202 and banks 203 containing three or more gaming devices 202 may also be connected to the network 201.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. The displays 204 may, for example, be associated with a bank 203 of gaming devices. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming devices 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

Servers may also be connected to the network 201. For example, a game server 205 may generate game outcomes for games played on the gaming devices 202, a database management server 206 may manage the storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A, and a jackpot server 207 may control one or more jackpots associated with the gaming devices 202.

Further servers may be provided to assist in the administration of the gaming system 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network and/or a wide area network such as the Internet through a firewall 211.

FIG. 15 shows a process flow diagram 500 of a process performed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process may be performed by the network gaming system 200, in which the gaming devices 202 may each comprise part or all of a gaming apparatus 100 and the following description assumes this implementation. However, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that the process will also be able to be implemented by other gaming systems. The process shown in FIG. 15 is described below with reference to a set of exemplary screen shots of a game.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a screen shot 300 may be displayed on a LCD screen or CRT display occupying the top box 26 and/or may appear on the display 204, which may be located near to gaming devices 202 that can play a game associated with the screen shot 300. In the screen shot 300, a plurality of prize pool amounts are shown 301a to 305a, together with a representation of a corresponding character or ‘bandit’ 301b to 305b. A larger illustration of one of the bandits 301b-305b, in this example the bandit 306, may also be shown, the bandit 306 alternating between different characters as time progresses as an attract screen display.

Display of the screen shot 300 may be under the control of the jackpot server 207, which may communicate directly or indirectly with the display in the top box 26 and display 204. Alternatively, the display in the top box 26 may be controlled by the game controller 101.

A plurality of gaming devices 202 each provide a game, which may be the same game or different games. In an embodiment of the invention as presently contemplated, the game includes a chance to win one of the prize pool amounts 301a to 305a in a feature game. Each prize pool amount 301a to 305a may have its own associated feature game.

The feature game associated may be triggered during play of the game in a number of different ways. An exemplary diagrammatic representation of a game screen 310 is shown in FIG. 6, the game being a spinning reel game with five spinning reels, each of which display three symbols to form outcomes of the game. The outcomes of the exemplary game are the symbols in the paylines 1 to 3 shown in FIG. 6.

After a bet has been placed at step 501, the spinning reel game may be played (step 502). The spinning reel game may result in the occurrence of a predetermined symbol based trigger event occurring (determined in step 504) in the game. In FIG. 6, the occurrence of five PEDRO symbols in payline 2 may be a trigger event for the feature game and provided the player has purchased play of payline 2, then the feature will be commenced by the jackpot server 207 taking control of a display 106 of the gaming device 202 to display the feature (step 506). In this embodiment, the reels of the spinning reel game include trigger symbols that are associated with the various prize pool amounts 301a to 305a, with particular trigger symbols resulting in play for a particular prize pool.

Alternatively, the feature may be triggered according an event that occurs independently of any particular outcome of the game, for example based on turnover of the game as described in Australian patent number 754689, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In this case there may be only a single prize pool, or alternatively, where multiple prize pools are provided the prize pool that is played for may be selected randomly.

After the base game has been completed and a feature game triggered, the jackpot server 207 may cause the feature screen display 312 of FIG. 7 to be displayed on the display 106, in which the bandit 306 is shown enlarged and an indicator is displayed to highlight the jackpot amount associated with the bandit (e.g., the arrow 313). A corresponding screen display may be displayed on the display 204. This display may replace the game display on the gaming device 202, or alternatively be presented on a separate display, for example in a display provided in the top box 26.

After a short period of time, the display of FIG. 7 is replaced with the screen display 316 of FIG. 8, shown as one example game feature. The screen display is split into two sections; section 317 showing the bandit character (PEDRO) attempting to access a safe and section 318 showing a series of buildings with windows 319, one window 319 being arbitrarily selected by the computer prior to the commencement of the feature game as a window behind which PEDRO is hiding. Alternatively, whether PEDRO is hiding behind a window 319 may be determined when that window is selected, with a 1 in 15 chance for the first window, a 1 in 14 chance for the second window and so on.

The feature game has two outcomes, a winning outcome in which the player of the gaming device 202 is awarded the prize pool 301a and a losing outcome, in which the player is not awarded the prize pool 301a and the prize pool is incremented. The increment amount may be viewed as an amount that the bandit PEDRO is playing for and the prize pool 301a may be viewed as an amount that the player is playing for in a competition. A consolation prize may be awarded to the player of the gaming device 202 if the losing outcome occurs. Although the examples described herein are for feature games with only two outcomes, the feature game may also have other winning or losing outcomes associated with other game events, such as the award of a fixed value prize or the award of a number of free games.

The amount that the bandit is playing for is displayed as shown at 320 and the award amount 301a is displayed at 321 (step 508). The amount displayed at 320 may be randomly selected from a set of predetermined potential increment amounts or from a range of potential increment amounts. Therefore, the increment amount may vary between occurrences of the feature game. The amount could alternatively be set for every occurrence of the feature game.

The amount that the player is playing for may be determined by the amount of credits bet per line in the game play that triggered the feature game, multiplied by the award amount 301a. In the example shown, the amount shown at 321 is the award amount 301a, as one credit only was bet per line. If two credits per line had been bet in the underlying base game, then the amount shown at 321 in FIG. 8 would be 259,130 credits.

In the game screen displays of FIG. 8, the PEDRO bandit is shown to be attempting to open a safe, which will open when the slots 322 on the safe door 323 have letters spelling out OPEN. The player is represented as attempting to find PEDRO behind one of the fifteen windows 319.

Accordingly, at the start of the feature, the player selects one of the windows 319, and if this window is not the arbitrarily predetermined location of the bandit the words “No bandit” are shown. After each selection (or beforehand if the order of play is reversed), a reel associated with one of the slots 322 is spun and its stopping position randomly determined. The reels associated with the slots 322 may be as shown in FIG. 9, as having half their positions blank and half their positions displaying one of the letters from the word “Open”. Accordingly, for each spin, there is a 50% chance of a letter being displayed. If a letter is displayed, then a reel associated with another of the slots 322 is spun and so on until either the word “Open” is spelled out, in which case the outcome of the feature is a losing outcome, or a blank space is displayed, in which case the player is prompted to select another window.

The result after two trials of this game is displayed in FIG. 10. Two letters have been revealed in slots 322 by the bandit, and two windows 319 have been selected by the player, neither of which resulted in a winning outcome.

This process will continue (step 510) until the player selects the window which the bandit has been assigned as being behind. In this case the award amount 301a is won by the player (step 512) and the screen shot 326 shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. Following this, the award amount 301a is reset to its seed amount (step 514), 100,000 in this example, and the screen shot 328 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, which is the same as the screen shot 300 of FIG. 5, except that the award amount 301a has been updated. Once the award amount 301a has been reset, control of the display 106 of the gaming device 202 may be returned to the jackpot server 207 or progressive controller (step 518).

If instead the bandit character spells OPEN across the slots 322 the amount displayed at 320 is added to the award amount 301a. This results in the screen shots 330 and 332 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 respectively, indicating to the player that they have not won the award amount 301a and showing that the award amount 301a has been increased by the amount shown at 320 (step 516). Once the award amount 301a has been increased, control of the display 106 of the gaming device 202 may be returned to the jackpot server 207 or progressive controller 101 (step 518).

Each award amount 301a-305a may be associated with a separate second screen feature game that preferably shows a competition between the player, who is attempting to win one of the award amounts 301a-305a, and a bandit, who is attempting to win an amount to be added to the jackpot. Alternatively, the feature game may not be a second screen bonus and may be played using the same screen format as the game. For example, in the spinning reel game, two separate symbols may be collected each time they are displayed in a series of games, one for the bandit and one for the player, with the first player to collect a number of symbols winning. The series of games may be provided as a feature game, for example a series of free games, or the competition may occur during ordinary play of the game. Alternatively, an animation may occur in the game simply displaying the word “WIN” or “LOSE” to indicate the outcome of the feature game.

In addition to the jackpot prizes that give award amounts 301a-305a, the gaming system may maintain another jackpot prize, which may be a standard progressive based on turnover on a gaming machine or a fixed value prize. In one embodiment, the progressive is designed to have a high value or a high value fixed prize is provided, which is won only if the player “beats” all of the bandits (five the example shown) in their respective feature games.

A number of gaming devices 202 may contribute to the same award amounts 301a-305a and play common feature games to win the award amounts 301a-305a. Alternatively, the award amounts 301a-305a may be provided for a single gaming device 202.

While the foregoing description has been provided by way of example of certain embodiments of the present invention as presently contemplated, which utilise gaming apparatus and machines, those skilled in the relevant arts will appreciate that the present invention also may have application to internet gaming and/or have application to gaming over a telecommunications network, where handsets are used to display game outcomes and receive player inputs.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming machine causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the amount that the jackpot prize is increased if the first outcome occurs is variable between plays of the feature game.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the amount that the jackpot prize is increased is determined by the game controller making a random selection from a predetermined set or range of possible values.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game includes a plurality of different feature games, and wherein each feature game has a said particular outcome that causes a said jackpot prize to increase.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein each said feature game has a separate trigger event.

6. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein one or more of the feature games is triggered on the occurrence of a common trigger event, the particular feature game being triggered dependent on when the event occurs.

7. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein there are a plurality of said jackpot prizes and each feature game is associated with a separate one of the jackpot prizes, wherein only the jackpot prize associated with the feature game that is played is increased on occurrence of the first particular outcome of that feature game.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein only the jackpot prize associated with the feature game that is played is awarded on occurrence of the second particular outcome of that feature game.

9. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein a further jackpot prize is offered, the further jackpot prize being awarded when a player achieves a winning outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games.

10. A gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the occurrence of a said first outcome during play of the feature game on any one of the linked gaming machines then the at least one jackpot prize is increased and on the occurrence of a said second outcome on any one of the gaming machines, the jackpot prize is awarded by that gaming machine.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the at least one feature game is common to each of the gaming machines.

12. A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which at least one outcome is defined that is evaluated for a winning outcome and in which an award is awarded if a winning outcome is defined, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize that is won by the gaming machine on the occurrence of a particular event during play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the game includes a base game and a feature game that is played following the occurrence of a trigger event during play of the base game, and wherein the particular outcome is one of a plurality of possible outcomes in the feature game.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the game includes a plurality of different feature games, which each have separate associated trigger events and wherein each feature game has a said particular outcome that causes the jackpot prize to increase.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein each feature game includes a second particular outcome and wherein the gaming machine awards the jackpot prize on occurrence of the second particular outcome.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the gaming machine determines when a player has achieved the second particular outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games and then awards a further jackpot prize.

17. A gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines as claimed in claim 12, wherein on occurrence of the particular outcome on any of the plurality of linked gaming machine, the same jackpot prize is increased.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein on occurrence of the particular outcome on any of the plurality of linked gaming machine, the same jackpot prize is increased, and wherein on occurrence of the second particular outcome on any of the plurality of linked gaming machines, the same jackpot prize is awarded to that gaming machine.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein each gaming machine provides the same at least one feature game having the same particular outcome and the same second particular outcome.

20. A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machine clients communicably coupled to a jackpot prize controller, each gaming machine client operable to transmit to the jackpot prize controller a jackpot prize increase request on the occurrence of a particular outcome in a game played by that gaming machine client, the jackpot prize controller receiving a jackpot prize increase request from a said gaming machine client and in response incrementing a jackpot prize, and transmitting the increased amount to the plurality of gaming machine clients.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein each gaming machine client is operable to transmit to the jackpot prize controller a second jackpot prize increase request, the second jackpot prize increase request being transmitted in response to the placing of a wager on a gaming machine and the jackpot prize controller receives the second jackpot prize increase request and in response increases a second jackpot prize.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the second jackpot prize increase request causes the second jackpot prize to increase in an amount proportional to the size of the wager.

23. A method for use with a gaming machine which provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the gaming machine and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, the method including increasing the value of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and awarding the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome.

24. A method for use with a gaming machine which provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome.

25. The method of claim 23 when simultaneously used with a plurality of linked gaming machines, wherein the at least one jackpot prize is common to the plurality of linked gaming machines.

26. The method of claim 24 when simultaneously used with a plurality of linked gaming machines, wherein the at least one jackpot prize is common to the plurality of linked gaming machines.