Game system including community reels

Abstract

A networked gaming system directed to gaming machines that include a community spin mechanism that, when activated, causes reel displays, at two or more gaming machines, to spin. One or more community reels are utilized to determine an outcome of a community gaming session. The community reels are “community” in that they are formed by combining reels of individual gaming machines in order to increase the odds, and payouts, of potential wins via various line combinations of the combined set of reels, once they stop spinning. Each gaming machine has its own set of reels and when community play is started, one or more community reels are spun along with each player's set of reels. Any potential winning combinations are then based on resulting combinations of the individual gaming machine reels in combination with the community reels. Community play, via community reels, advantageously adds to the excitement and enjoyment.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A gaming system comprising:
 a server;   a plurality of game apparatuses including a first game apparatus having a first reel display, the first reel display providing an independent game of the first game apparatus, and a first community spin mechanism, and at least a second game apparatus having a second reel display, the second reel display providing an independent game of the second game apparatus, and a second community spin mechanism;   a network coupled to the server and each of the plurality of game apparatuses to connect the game apparatuses to the server;   wherein each game apparatus provides information to the server concerning activity on the game apparatus and a communication portal for a player on each game apparatus with the server;   wherein the first and second community spin mechanisms cause the first and second reel displays at the plurality of game apparatuses to spin, responsive to activation of at least one of the first and second community spin mechanisms by at least one of a player of the first game apparatus and a player of the second game apparatus, the at least one community spin mechanism activating a community play mode with payouts to players of the first game apparatus and the second game apparatus based on collective displayed contents of the first reel display and the second reel display, the community play mode deactivating the independent game of the first game apparatus and the independent game of the second game apparatus;   wherein the first game apparatus further displays the second reel display in community play mode through a display comprising the first game apparatus;   wherein the second game apparatus further displays the first reel display in community play mode through a display comprising the second game apparatus;   wherein the community spin mechanisms further cause the community play mode to access a bonus system separate from the bonus system of the first game apparatus and separate from the bonus system of the second game apparatus.   
     
     
         39 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein activation of the community play mode is responsive to and requires activation of both the first and second community spin mechanisms by a player of the first game apparatus and a player of the second game apparatus, respectively. 
     
     
         40 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein reels of the first and second reel display are selected from among the group of reels consisting of mechanical reels, video reels, and a combination of mechanical and video reels. 
     
     
         41 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 40  wherein the reels further comprise a point-based award. 
     
     
         42 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein a player of the second game apparatus is given a time period to join a community play session when the community play mode is initiated by a first player of the first game apparatus. 
     
     
         43 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 42  wherein the community play mode is not initiated if the player of the second game apparatus does not join the community play session during the time period. 
     
     
         44 . The gaming apparatus as recited in  claim 38  wherein the community spin mechanisms further cause the community play mode to access a community bonus system separate from the bonus system of the first game apparatus and separate from the bonus system of the second game apparatus, the community bonus system having higher payouts for the same level of betting than either of the bonus system of the first game apparatus or the bonus system of the second game apparatus; and wherein the community spin mechanisms are utilized for a community betting session involving at least two of the plurality of game apparatuses. 
     
     
         45 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein the community spin mechanisms further provide access to at least one of skill-based community hold, re-spin, nudge-up, and nudge-down features requiring community consensus for activation. 
     
     
         46 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein the server is configured as a single logical server comprising a plurality of servers. 
     
     
         47 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein the first and second game apparatuses are funded via a single currency acceptor; and wherein funds, entered via the single currency acceptor, may be routed, in varying proportions, to the first and second game apparatuses. 
     
     
         48 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein each of the game apparatuses further comprises a player interface, a card reader, and selection buttons through which the game apparatuses interact with players playing a wagering game on the respective game apparatuses. 
     
     
         49 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 48  wherein the player interface enables the players playing the wagering game on the respective game apparatuses to choose at least one of the amount of a wager and a number of lines of the first reel to wager. 
     
     
         50 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 48  wherein the player interface enables a player to select from among server-related menu options consisting of transferring a specified number of credits from the player's account onto a credit meter of the respective gaming apparatus and transferring credits from the gaming apparatus to a central player account on the server. 
     
     
         51 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein at least one of the game apparatuses further comprises a game monitoring unit to interconnect the at least one game apparatus to the network. 
     
     
         52 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 51  wherein the game monitoring unit comprises a processor to execute processor-readable instructions to provide notification of events on the at least one game apparatus including one or more of the events comprising wins, accounting data, player tracking, session data, and crediting the player's account. 
     
     
         53 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 51 , further comprising a display connected to the game monitoring unit. 
     
     
         54 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38 , further comprising a gaming display computer coupled to the network. 
     
     
         55 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 54 , further comprising a gaming display connected to the gaming display computer to display the reels of a carousel of game apparatuses comprising the plurality of game apparatuses. 
     
     
         56 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 55  wherein the display of reels is on an overhead display utilized by the carousel of gaming apparatuses. 
     
     
         57 . The gaming system as recited in  claim 38  wherein the plurality of game apparatuses is located in one of a particular area, carousel, casino, and casinos in geographically separate areas.