Community wagering game with multiple player selections

Abstract

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a plurality of linked gaming machines for receiving multiple player selections in a community bonus game. The community bonus game may be displayed to all players at the linked gaming machines on a community display. Upon receiving multiple player selections in the community bonus game, players are awarded bonus awards based on the respective player selections.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of linked gaming machines being operable to receive wagers from players, each linked gaming machine including a display for displaying a basic wagering game and an input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value establishing a credit balance on the respective gaming machine, each linked gaming machine of the plurality initiating the basic wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager drawn on the credit balance; 
 one or more controllers in communication with the plurality of linked gaming machines; and 
 wherein upon the occurrence of a special event at any one of the plurality of linked gaming machines, each of the eligible linked gaming machines being allowed to participate in a community bonus game executed by one of the one or more controllers, the community bonus game receiving a player selection from multiple plurality of alternating-player selections at respective ones of the eligible linked gaming machines, each of the player selections affecting the outcome of and the community bonus game sharing an award among all players at each of the eligible linked gaming machines in response to a selection that is not a bonus-terminating selection. 
 
     
     
       2. The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the player alternating-player selections occur as sequential selections are from a set of objects or symbols displayed in the community bonus game, the sequential selections occurring as alternating between a first selection via a first player and, a second selection via a second player, and a third selection via the first player. 
     
     
       3. The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a community display coupled to the plurality of linked gaming machines for displaying the community bonus game. 
     
     
       4. The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the community display is located on signage proximate at least a portion of the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       5. The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein the players make sequential selections of symbols or objects displayed in the community bonus game, the sequential selections occurring as alternating between a first selection via a first player and a second selection via a second player. 
     
     
      
       6. The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein each player receives an award based on individual player selections of symbols or objects made by that player. 
      
     
     
       7. The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the total award awards for all players are shared among the players playing at the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       8. The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the shared awards are proportional based on the individual wagers made at the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       9. The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the a controller coupled to the linked gaming machines triggers the special event. 
     
     
       10. A method of conducting a community wagering game on a gaming system having a plurality of linked gaming machines, each of the linked gaming machines including an input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value establishing a credit balance on the respective linked gaming machine, the method comprising:
 displaying a wagering game at each of the linked gaming machines in response to an input indicative of a wager drawn on the credit balance on the respective linked gaming machine; 
 initiating a community bonus game upon the occurrence of a special event, the community bonus game being displayed to all players playing at the linked gaming machines; 
 receiving a plurality of selections from multiple players taking alternating turns selecting in the community bonus game, each of the plurality of selections from affecting the outcome one or more bonus awards awarded to one or more players of the community bonus game; and 
 awardingsharing an award toamong all of the multiple players at the linked gaming machines based on the player selectionsin response to a selection that is not a bonus-terminating selection. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the community bonus game is displayed on a community display positioned proximate at least a portion of the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving multiple the plurality of player selections includes receiving sequential selections from players at the linked gaming machines are from a set of objects or symbols displayed in the community bonus game, the sequential player selections occurring as alternating between a first selection via a first player and, a second selection via a second player, a third selection via the first player, and a fourth selection via the second player. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising terminating play of the community bonus game upon receiving a selection associated with a bonus-game-terminating outcome. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of player selections are from a set of objects or symbols displayed in the community bonus game, the method further comprising revealing the value associated with at least one unselected selection object or symbol. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the awarding award includes applying a multiplier to the award associated with a player selection at one of the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the value of the multiplier is dependent on wagers made at the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
      
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the awarding includes providing each individual player with an award based on the selection made by that player. 
      
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the awarding award includes providing a shared award to a group of players playing at the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       19. A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of linked gaming machines, each linked gaming machine including an input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value establishing a credit balance on the respective gaming machine, each linked gaming machine of the plurality initiating a basic wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager drawn on the credit balance; 
 a controller coupled to the plurality of linked gaming machines and operative to: initiate a community bonus game based on an occurrence of a special event, the community bonus game including a group of symbols on a display; 
 allow players at the plurality of linked gaming machines to make alternating selections from the group of symbols on the display associated with the community bonus game; 
 determine if the player-selected symbols are associated with awardsreceive, by the controller, a plurality of selections from the players; 
 share an award among the players in response to a selection that is not a bonus-terminating selection; and 
 continue play of the community bonus game until a bonus-game-terminating outcome is selected. 
 
     
     
       20. The gaming system of  claim 19 , further comprising a community display positioned proximate at least a portion of the plurality of linked gaming machines and coupled to the controller, the community bonus game being displayed on the community display. 
     
     
       21. The gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the special event is achieved by at least one of the linked gaming machines. 
     
     
       22. The gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein the alternating player selections are associated with one or more of credit awards, multipliers, and free picks.