Patent ID: 8187068
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for operating an interactive game on a plurality of linked gaming machines, comprising the steps of: entering a wager by a participating player; providing a base game playable on each of a plurality of gaming machines by at least two respective players; providing a community bonus game playable in common from each gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines, said bonus game including a set of a plurality of game elements for a game, wherein said set of game elements yield letters comprising at least one word hidden from view of at least first and second players comprising said at least two respective players; operating said base and bonus games using at least one processor including data storage containing program instructions executable by said at least one processor for carrying out a set of functions, said set of functions including: engaging at least two gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines in play of said community bonus game among said at least two players, said play of said community bonus game resulting in respective bonus-game outcomes for said at least two players; receiving, during play of said community bonus game, input from said at least two players via the at least two gaming machines, said input reflecting choices made by said at least two players during play of said community bonus game, said choices affecting said respective bonus-game outcomes in a manner that has the potential of yielding different respective bonus-game outcomes as between said at least two players, said input including alternate play of said community bonus game by said at least two players who comprise said first and second players, wherein said first player and said second player alternately select a letter from a set of letters visible to said first and second players before player selection thereof, said set of letters comprising the letters of said at least one word but less than all of the letters of the alphabet, and wherein a selected letter is revealed in said set of game elements; calculating a respective award for each of said at least two players based at least in part on said game element letters revealed in said set of game elements by each of said at least two players; and presenting said award to said at least one player.