Patent ID: 8371919

Claim:
A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising: a plurality of gaming machines configured to receive a wagering input, to conduct the wagering game, and to access a group game comprising a persistent-state gaming environment responsive to a triggering event; and a controller configured to maintain said persistent-state gaming environment and to control game play within said persistent-state gaming environment, wherein said persistent-state gaming environment is divided into a plurality of selectable sub-portions, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines participating in the group game is uniquely associated with one or more of said selectable sub-portions of the persistent-state gaming environment; wherein an asset generated by an identified one of the plurality of gaming machines in association with the wagering game is transferred into the one or more of said selectable sub-portions of the persistent-state gaming environment uniquely associated with the identified one of the plurality of gaming machines, wherein said asset is redeemable only by the identified one of the plurality of gaming machines causing the asset to be transferred into the persistent-state gaming environment or by a player associated with the identified one of the plurality of gaming machines causing the asset to be transferred into the persistent-state gaming environment, and wherein a value of said asset is modifiable in the persistent-state gaming environment prior to redemption.