Community bonus round gaming

Abstract

A gaming system-comprising a first game machine and a bonus server. The bonus server generates and transmits an initiation message to the first game machine and other game machines to initiate a community bonus round. The first game machine activates the community bonus round and transmits game information in the community bonus round. The bonus server then receives the game information from the first game machine and determines a result for the community bonus round.

1 . A gaming system comprising: 
 a first game machine configured to activate a community bonus round and transmit game information in the community bonus round; and    a bonus server configured to generate and transmit an initiation message to the first game machine and one or more other game machines to initiate the community bonus round, receive the game information from the first game machine, and determine a result for the community bonus round.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the first game machine is further configured to activate the community bonus round based on a game result on the first game machine.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the first game machine is further configured to send a bonus signal to the bonus server to initiate the community bonus round with the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the first game machine is further configured to activate the community bonus round based on the initiation message from the bonus server.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the game information comprises a state of play, player information, status of the community bonus round, and/or game machine data.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the game information comprises a request to join the community bonus round, a refusal to join the community bonus round, and/or an acceptance to join the community bonus round.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the first game machine is configured to store at least some game information on a player identification card.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the first game machine is configured to store at least some game information within a player identification system.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the bonus server is further configured to determine the result of the community bonus round based on competition within the community bonus round between the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the bonus server is further configured to determine the result of the community bonus round based on cooperation within the community bonus round between the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       11 . A method of gaming, the method comprising: 
 transmitting game information from the first game machine to a bonus server;    generating an initiation message to the first game machine and one or more other game machines to initiate the community bonus round;    activating the community bonus round on the first game machine; and    determining a result for the community bonus round.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein activating the community bonus round on the first game machine is based on a game result on the first game machine.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising transmitting a bonus signal to the bonus server to initiate the community bonus round with the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein activating the community bonus round on the first game machine is based on the initiation message.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the game information comprises a state of play, player information, status of the community bonus round, and/or game machine data.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the game information comprises a request to join the community bonus round, a refusal to join the community bonus round, and/or an acceptance to join the community bonus round.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising storing at least some of the game information on a player identification card.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising storing at least some of the game information within a player identification system.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein determining the result of the community bonus round is based on competition within the community bonus round between the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein determining the result of the community bonus round is based on cooperation within the community bonus round between the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       21 . A system for game machine interaction, the system comprising: 
 a means for transmitting game information from a first game machine to a bonus server;    a means for generating an initiation message to the first game machine and one or more other game machines to initiate a community bonus round;    a means for activating the community bonus round on the first game machine; and a means for determining a result for the community bonus round.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the means for activating the community bonus round on the first game machine is based on a game result on the first game machine.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a means for transmitting a bonus signal to the bonus server to initiate the community bonus round with the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the means for activating the community bonus round on the first game machine is based on the initiation message.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the game information comprises a state of play, player information, status of the community bonus round, and/or game machine data.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the game information comprises a request to join the community bonus round, a refusal to join the community bonus round, and/or an acceptance to join the community bonus round.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a means for storing at least some of the game information on a player identification card.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a means for storing at least some of the game information within a player identification system.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the means for determining the result of the community bonus round is based on competition within the community bonus round between the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the means for determining the result of the community bonus round is based on cooperation within the community bonus round between the first game machine and the one or more other game machines.