Systems, methods, and devices for playing wagering games with unlockable community game features

Abstract

Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for executing a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming system is presented that includes at least one input device, at least one display, at least one processor, and at least one memory device. The memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display and the input device to conduct a wagering game including a plurality of unlockable features. The unlockable features are initially inaccessible to players at first and second gaming terminals. In response to an unlocking event achieved by a first player during play of the game, the processor unlocks at least one of the unlockable features such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the unlocked feature.

1 . A gaming system for conducting a community game, the gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming terminals including at least first and second gaming terminals, the first and second gaming terminals each having a display configured to display outcomes of a wagering game, the outcomes being randomly determined from a plurality of outcomes; and   a controller operatively connected to the plurality of gaming terminals such that players at the plurality of gaming terminals can play the community game, the community game including a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to the players at the plurality of gaming terminals, the controller being operable to:   in response to a triggering event in one of the wagering-game outcomes, initiate an unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games; and   in response to determining that the unlocking-game feature is successfully completed by a first player at the first gaming terminal, unlock at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked bonus game.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to, in response to a second triggering event:
 initiate a second unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the second unlocking-game feature unlocking at least a second one of the unlockable bonus games; and   in response to determining that the second unlocking-game feature is successfully completed by the second player at the second gaming terminal, unlock at least a second one of the unlockable bonus games such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and the second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least second unlocked bonus game.   
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein, in response to a third triggering event, the display at the first gaming terminal is configured to display a first selection screen from which the first player can select to play previously unlocked ones of the plurality of unlockable bonus games including the at least one unlocked bonus game and the at least second unlocked bonus game. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to a subsequent triggering event, the display at the second gaming terminal is configured to display a second selection screen from which the second player can select to play previously unlocked ones of the plurality of unlockable bonus games including the at least one unlocked bonus game. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to, in response to determining that the unlocking-game feature is not successfully completed, provide an indication to both the first and second players how to subsequently successfully complete the unlocking-game feature. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein successful completion of the unlocking-game feature includes solving a multi-component mystery. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the triggering event, the display at the first gaming terminal is configured to display a bonus game, and wherein the player is awarded a first prize associated with a winning outcome in the wagering game, a second prize associated with a winning bonus outcome in the bonus game, and a third prize associated with successfully completing the unlocking-game feature. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first player is awarded a current value of a progressive jackpot for successfully completing the unlocking-game feature and thereby unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games, a subsequent value of the progressive jackpot being awarded for subsequently unlocking another one of the plurality of unlockable bonus games. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a community display readily visible to at least the first and second players at the first and second gaming terminals, wherein at least a portion of the community game is displayed via the community display. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein at least a first portion of the unlocking-game feature is displayed via the community display and at least a second portion of the unlocking-game feature is displayed via the display at the first gaming terminal. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of unlockable bonus games is associated with a selectable bonus game, the selectable bonus game becoming selectable in response to the corresponding unlockable bonus game being unlocked. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event for the unlocking-game feature includes at least one of a mystery trigger and a symbol-based trigger. 
     
     
         13 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system with at least first and second gaming terminals, the first and second gaming terminals being operable such that players at the gaming terminals can play a community game, the wagering game including a game sequence in which a wagering game outcome is randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes, the method comprising:
 in response to a triggering event, initiating via at least one controller an unlocking-game feature, successful completion of the unlocking-game feature unlocking at least one of a plurality of unlockable bonus games associated with the community game, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to players at the first and second gaming terminals; and   in response to a first player at the first gaming terminal successfully completing the unlocking-game feature, unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that both the first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked bonus game.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to a second triggering event, displaying a selection screen from which at least one of the first and second players can select to play previously unlocked ones of the plurality of unlockable bonus games including the at least one unlocked bonus game. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to the first player not successfully completing the unlocking-game feature, displaying an indication to both the first and second players how to successfully complete the unlocking-game feature in a subsequent play of the unlocking-game feature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to the triggering event, conducting a bonus game at the first gaming terminal, wherein the first player is awarded a first prize associated with a winning outcome in the wagering game, a second prize associated with a winning bonus outcome in the bonus game, and a third prize associated with successful completion of the unlocking-game feature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying at least a first portion of the unlocking-game feature via a community display, and displaying at least a second portion of the unlocking-game feature via a display associated with the first gaming terminal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of unlockable bonus games is associated with a selectable bonus game, the selectable bonus game becoming selectable in response to the corresponding unlockable bonus game being unlocked. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer readable medium having an instruction set borne thereby, the instruction set being configured to cause, upon execution by one or more controllers, the acts of:
 determining if a triggering event occurred during play of a wagering game on a gaming system including at least first and second gaming terminals, the first and second gaming terminals being operable such that players at the gaming terminals can play a community game, the community game including a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to players at the first and second gaming terminals;   execute an unlocking-game feature at the first gaming terminal in response to the triggering event; and   in response to a successful outcome in the unlocking-game feature, unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that both a first player at the first gaming terminal and a second player at the second gaming terminal can access the at least one unlocked bonus game.   
     
     
         20 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one input device;   at least one display device;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the least one input device to:   conduct a wagering game including a base game and a community game with a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to first and second players at respective first and second gaming terminals; and   in response to an unlocking event achieved by the first player during play of the community game, unlock at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that the first and second players can access the unlocked bonus game.   
     
     
         21 . The gaming system of  claim 20 , wherein the base game is offered via each of the first and second gaming terminals, the community game being triggered during play of the base game. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the community game is common to the first and second gaming terminals. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one display device includes a community display for displaying at least a portion of the common community game. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming system of  claim 20 , wherein the unlocking event includes the first player successfully completing a game feature. 
     
     
         25 . A computer-implemented method of conducting a wagering game, the method comprising:
 receiving, via at least one input device, a wager to play a wagering game, the wagering game including a base game and a community game with a plurality of unlockable bonus games, the plurality of unlockable bonus games being initially inaccessible to first and second players at respective first and second gaming terminals;   displaying the wagering game on at least one display device;   conducting, by at least one processor, the wagering game; and   in response to an unlocking event achieved by the first player during play of the community game, unlocking at least one of the unlockable bonus games such that the first and second players can access the unlocked bonus game.