Patent ID: 8298067

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of game apparatuses wherein each game apparatus includes: a first play station having a first reel display, the first reel display providing an independent game of the first play station, the independent game of the first play station having a bonus system specific to the first play station; a second player station having a second reel display, the second reel display providing an independent game of the second play station, the independent game of the second play station having a bonus system specific to the second play station; a community spin mechanism; wherein the community spin mechanism causes the first and second reel displays at the plurality of game apparatuses to spin, responsive to activation by a player of the first play station and a player of the second play station, the community spin mechanism activating a community play mode with payouts to players of the first play station and the second play station 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 play station and the independent game of the second play station, and wherein the first reel display and the second reel display provide views of the same reel from different viewpoints; wherein the first play station further displays the second reel display in community play mode through a transmissive display of the first play station, the transmissive display of the first play station blocking display of the second set of reels when the independent game of the first play station is active and wherein no reels are interposed between the first set of reels and the second set of reels; wherein the second play station further displays the first reel display in community play mode through a transmissive display of the second play station, the transmissive display of the second play station blocking display of the first set of reels when the independent game of the second play station is active and wherein no reels are interposed between the first set of reels and the second set of reels; wherein the community spin mechanism further causes the community play mode to access a bonus system separate from the bonus system of the first play station and separate from the bonus system of the second play station; and wherein the community spin mechanism further provides access to skill-based community nudge-up and nudge-down features requiring community consensus for activation.