Gaming system and method providing a group game having multiple stages

摘要

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a group game having a same average expected total payback percentage regardless of the number of players participating in the group game. In various embodiments, the gaming system determines or sets one or more characteristics, features, or parameters of the group game based on the number of players participating in the group game such that the average expected total payback percentage of the group game is the same or substantially the same for each play of the group game regardless of the number of players participating in that play of the group game.

主权项

1. A gaming system comprising:
a central controller configured to operate with a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including (1) an acceptor configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value and to establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, the credit balance usable to wager on a play of a primary game and being decreasable based on any placed wager, and (2) a cashout device actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, to: (a) upon an occurrence of a triggering event in association with at least one wagered-on play of the primary game, provide a group game having a plurality of different stages; and (b) for one of the stages of the group game:
(i) display a plurality of different selections, the displayed selections including at least one designated selection;(ii) display an initial award amount for said stage;(iii) for each of the gaming machines, receive a pick of one of the displayed selections from a player of said gaming machine;(iv) if a target quantity of each of the at least one designated selection has been picked, the target quantity being at least two:
(A) provide the displayed award amount, the credit balance of at least one of the gaming machines being increasable by the displayed award amount; and(B) if at least one of the stages of the group game has not been provided, provide another one of the stages of the group game; and(v) if the target quantity of each of the at least one designated selection has not yet been picked, regardless of whether the at least one designated selection has been picked, reduce the displayed award amount for said stage and repeat (b)(ii) to (b)(v) for said stage for the gaming machines at least once.