Community reels game apparatus

摘要

The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to gaming machines that include a community spin mechanism that, when activated, causes reel displays, at two or more player stations, to spin. Certain embodiments provide for one or more community reels that 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 play stations 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. Re-stated, by way of non-limiting example, each play station 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 play station reels in combination with the community reels. In one embodiment, one or more dedicated reels are specifically reserved as community reels that may be used in various combinations with a player's reels and other player reels to determine potential awards. The addition of community play, via community reels, advantageously adds to the excitement and enjoyment.

主权项

1. A game apparatus comprising:
a first play station of a first player having a first player reel display and a first community reel display horizontally aligned with the first player reel display, the first player reel display displaying a first set of reels having a first plurality of indicia arranged in a first plurality of rows, and the first community reel display displaying a first additional reel having a second plurality of indicia arranged in a second plurality of rows and selectively activated in response to the first player betting a first extra wager, the first play station providing a first independent game which can be won by a first pattern of indicia along a first winning line through one of the first plurality of rows and the second plurality of rows when the first extra wager has been bet and the first play station is not in a community play mode, the first independent game of the first play station having a first bonus system specific to the first play station; a second play station of a second player having a second player reel display and a second community reel display horizontally aligned with the second player reel display, the second player reel display displaying a second set of reels having a third plurality of indicia arranged in a third plurality of rows, and the second community reel display displaying a second additional reel having a fourth plurality of indicia arranged in a fourth plurality of rows and selectively activated if the second player joins in a community play session, the second play station providing a second independent game which can be won by a second pattern of indicia along a second winning line through one of the third plurality of rows when not in the community play mode, the second independent game of the second play station having a second bonus system specific to the second play station; a community spin mechanism causing the first and second sets of reels of both the first and second player reel displays and the first and second additional reels selectively activated in response to the first extra wager at the first play station and an election of community play at the second play station to spin responsive to activation by the first player and the second player, the community spin mechanism activating the community play session with payouts to the first player and the second player based on collective displayed contents of the respective first set of reels, the second set of reels, and the first and second additional reels, the community play mode deactivating the first independent game and the second independent game; wherein the first play station further displays the fourth plurality of indicia of the second additional reel when in the community play mode, such that the first set of reels and the first and second additional reels provide a community game of the first play station and the second play station which can be won at the first play station by a third pattern of indicia along a third winning line through one of the first, third, and fourth plurality of rows; and wherein the second play station further displays the second plurality of indicia of the first additional reel when in the community play mode, such that the second set of reels and the first and second additional reels provide the community game of the first play station and the second play station which can be won at the second play station by a fourth pattern of indicia along a fourth winning line through one of the second, third, and fourth plurality of rows; wherein the first additional reel provides an added reel for the first independent game of the first play station when not in the community play mode and is included in the community game in the community play mode.