Patent ID: 7780531

Claim:
A method for conducting a communal wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines each having a video display, comprising: determining, by one or more processors, for each of the plurality of gaming machines a value-enhancement parameter to apply to the communal wagering game, the communal wagering game being a game in which multiple players participate, the value-enhancement parameter being a first value-enhancement parameter for a first player's gaming machine based on the first player's game play activity, over a plurality of plays, prior to initiation of the communal game, and a second value-enhancement parameter for a second player's gaming machine based on the second player's game play activity, over a plurality of plays, prior to the initiation of the communal game; displaying, by at least one of the one or more processors, on at least one community display a plurality of game play symbols, one or more of the plurality of game play symbols having a communal value associated therewith, the communal value being a base award provided to all participating players while conducting the communal wagering game; and displaying, by at least one of the one or more processors, on the respective video display of the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine at least some of the plurality of game play symbols having a player value associated therewith, the first player value on the first gaming machine being the communal value enhanced by the first value-enhancement parameter, the second player value on the second gaming machine being the communal value enhanced by the second value-enhancement parameter.