Game machine with community bonus round gaming

Abstract

The game machine system comprises an input/output interface, a communication network interface, and a processor. The input/output interface receives player input. The communication network interface transmits game information to a device. The processor transitions from a game in a normal gaming mode to a community bonus round, and operates the community bonus round.

1 . A game machine system comprising: 
 an input/output interface configured to receive a player input;    a communication network interface configured to transmit game information to a device; and    a processor configured to transition from a game in a normal gaming mode to a community bonus round and operate the community bonus round.    
   
   
       2 . The game machine system of  claim 1  wherein processor is further configured to transition from the community bonus round to the game in the normal gaming mode.  
   
   
       3 . The game machine system of  claim 1  further comprising a bonus display configured to display the community bonus round.  
   
   
       4 . The game machine system of  claim 1  further comprising a display configured to display a message indicating a request to join the community bonus round to a player.  
   
   
       5 . The game machine system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an initiation message to another game machine system in response to transitioning from the game in the normal gaming mode to the community bonus round.  
   
   
       6 . The game machine system of  claim 1  wherein the community bonus round is based on competition between a player of the game machine system and another player of another game machine system.  
   
   
       7 . The game machine system of  claim 1  wherein the community bonus round is based on cooperation between a player of the game machine system and another player of another game machine system.  
   
   
       8 . The game machine system of  claim 1  further comprising a player loyalty system configured to receive player information.  
   
   
       9 . The game machine system of  claim 1  wherein the game in the normal gaming mode comprises a slot machine game.  
   
   
       10 . The game machine system of  claim 1  further comprising a ticket printer configured to print one or more coupons redeemable by a player.  
   
   
       11 . A method of gaming, the method comprising: 
 receiving a player input;    transmitting game information to a device;    transitioning from a game in a normal gaming mode to a community bonus round; and    operating the community bonus round.    
   
   
       12 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  further comprises transitioning from the community bonus round to the game in the normal gaming mode.  
   
   
       13 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  further comprises displaying the community bonus round using a bonus display.  
   
   
       14 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  further comprises displaying a message indicating a request to join the community bonus round to a player.  
   
   
       15 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  further comprises transmitting an initiation message to another game machine system in response to transitioning from the game in the normal gaming mode to the community bonus round.  
   
   
       16 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  wherein the community bonus round is based on competition between a player of a game machine system and another player of another game machine system.  
   
   
       17 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  wherein the community bonus round is based on cooperation between a player of a game machine system and another player of another game machine system.  
   
   
       18 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  further comprises receiving player information from a player loyalty system.  
   
   
       19 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  wherein the game in the normal gaming mode comprises a slot machine game.  
   
   
       20 . The method of gaming of  claim 11  further comprising printing one or more coupons redeemable by a player.  
   
   
       21 . A software product for playing a game, the software product comprising: 
 software operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to receive a player input, to transmit game information to a device, to transition from a game in a normal gaming mode to a community bonus round, and to operate the community bonus round; and    a storage medium configured to store the software.    
   
   
       22 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to transition from the community bonus round to the game in the normal gaming mode.  
   
   
       23 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to display the community bonus round using a bonus display.  
   
   
       24 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to display a message indicating a request to join the community bonus round to a player.  
   
   
       25 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to transmit an initiation message to another game machine system in response to transitioning from the game in the normal gaming mode to the community bonus round.  
   
   
       26 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the community bonus round is based on competition between a player of a game machine system and another player of another game machine system.  
   
   
       27 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the community bonus round is based on cooperation between a player of a game machine system and another player of another game machine system.  
   
   
       28 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to receive player information from a player loyalty system.  
   
   
       29 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the game in the normal gaming mode comprises a slot machine game.  
   
   
       30 . The software product of  claim 21  wherein the software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to print one or more coupons redeemable by a player.