Game machine software and communications for community bonus round gaming

Abstract

A software product for operating a game with a community bonus round includes software and a storage medium. The software is operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to receive a game play event from an interface of a game machine and transmit the game play event to a game system. The software is also operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to process the game play event to determine a state of the game with the community bonus round and transmit the state to the game system for synchronization. The storage medium stores the software.

1 . A software product for operating a game with a community bonus round, the software product comprising: 
 software operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to receive a game play event from an interface of a game machine, transmit the game play event to a game system, process the game play event to determine a state of the game with the community bonus round, and transmit the state to the game system for synchronization; and    a storage medium configured to store the software.    
   
   
       2 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the game play event indicates a user interaction with the game machine.  
   
   
       3 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the game machine comprises another game machine.  
   
   
       4 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the game machine comprises a server.  
   
   
       5 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the state indicates a condition of hardware in the game machine.  
   
   
       6 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the state indicates a transaction in the game.  
   
   
       7 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the software comprises game client software operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to receive the game play event from the interface of the game machine and transmit the game play event to a game system.  
   
   
       8 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the software comprises state manger software operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to process the game play event to determine a state of the game with the community bonus round and transmit the state to the game system for synchronization  
   
   
       9 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the software comprises state manager software operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to process communications between the game machine and the game system.  
   
   
       10 . The software product of  claim 1  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to receive a message indicating an offer to join the community bonus round.  
   
   
       11 . A system for operating a game with a community bonus round, the system comprising: 
 a user interface configured to generate a game play event based on user input; and    a processor configured to receive the game play event from the user interface, transmit the game play event to a game system, process the game play event to determine a state of the game with the community bonus round, and transmit the state to the game system for synchronization.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the game play event indicates a user interaction with the game machine.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the game machine comprises another game machine.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the game machine comprises a server.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the state indicates a condition of hardware in the game machine.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the state indicates a transaction in the game.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the processor is configured to receive a message indicating an offer to join the community bonus round.  
   
   
       18 . A method for operating a game with a community bonus round, the method comprising: 
 in a user interface, generating a game play event based on user input;    receiving the game play event from the user interface;    transmitting the game play event to a game system;    processing the game play event to determine a state of the game with the community bonus round; and    transmitting the state to the game system for synchronization.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the game play event indicates a user interaction with the game machine.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the game machine comprises another game machine.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the game machine comprises a server.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the state indicates a condition of hardware in the game machine.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the state indicates a transaction in the game.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising receiving a message indicating an offer to join the community bonus round.