Gaming machine, system and method with progressive game feature

Abstract

A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game, the gaming machine offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game. The outcomes of the feature game include a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming machine causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome. A gaming machine is also described in which an increase to a jackpot prize is variable. Also described are gaming systems including a plurality of linked gaming machines and methods for gaming.

1 . A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which a plurality of symbols from a symbol set are displayed on the display to form at least one outcome that is evaluated for a winning combination and in which an award is awarded if a winning combination results, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, the outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, wherein the gaming machine causes an increase of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and causes the award of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome. 
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the amount that the jackpot prize is increased if the first outcome occurs is variable between plays of the feature game. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2 , wherein the amount that the jackpot prize is increased is determined by the game controller making a random selection from a predetermined set or range of possible values. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game includes a plurality of different feature games, and wherein each feature game has a said particular outcome that causes a said jackpot prize to increase. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein each said feature game has a separate trigger event. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein one or more of the feature games is triggered on the occurrence of a common trigger event, the particular feature game being triggered dependent on when the event occurs. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein there are a plurality of said jackpot prizes and each feature game is associated with a separate one of the jackpot prizes, wherein only the jackpot prize associated with the feature game that is played is increased on occurrence of the first particular outcome of that feature game. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein only the jackpot prize associated with the feature game that is played is awarded on occurrence of the second particular outcome of that feature game. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein a further jackpot prize is offered, the further jackpot prize being awarded when a player achieves a winning outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein on the occurrence of a said first outcome during play of the feature game on any one of the linked gaming machines then the at least one jackpot prize is increased and on the occurrence of a said second outcome on any one of the gaming machines, the jackpot prize is awarded by that gaming machine. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one feature game is common to each of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming machine including a display and a user interface in communication with a game controller, which cooperate to provide a game in which at least one outcome is defined that is evaluated for a winning outcome and in which an award is awarded if a winning outcome is defined, the gaming machine further offering at least one jackpot prize that is won by the gaming machine on the occurrence of a particular event during play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein the game includes a base game and a feature game that is played following the occurrence of a trigger event during play of the base game, and wherein the particular outcome is one of a plurality of possible outcomes in the feature game. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the game includes a plurality of different feature games, which each have separate associated trigger events and wherein each feature game has a said particular outcome that causes the jackpot prize to increase. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein each feature game includes a second particular outcome and wherein the gaming machine awards the jackpot prize on occurrence of the second particular outcome. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 15 , wherein the gaming machine determines when a player has achieved the second particular outcome in every one of the plurality of feature games and then awards a further jackpot prize. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming system including a plurality of linked gaming machines as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein on occurrence of the particular outcome on any of the plurality of linked gaming machine, the same jackpot prize is increased. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 16 , wherein on occurrence of the particular outcome on any of the plurality of linked gaming machine, the same jackpot prize is increased, and wherein on occurrence of the second particular outcome on any of the plurality of linked gaming machines, the same jackpot prize is awarded to that gaming machine. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 18 , wherein each gaming machine provides the same at least one feature game having the same particular outcome and the same second particular outcome. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming system including a plurality of gaming machine clients communicably coupled to a jackpot prize controller, each gaming machine client operable to transmit to the jackpot prize controller a jackpot prize increase request on the occurrence of a particular outcome in a game played by that gaming machine client, the jackpot prize controller receiving a jackpot prize increase request from a said gaming machine client and in response incrementing a jackpot prize, and transmitting the increased amount to the plurality of gaming machine clients. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 20 , wherein each gaming machine client is operable to transmit to the jackpot prize controller a second jackpot prize increase request, the second jackpot prize increase request being transmitted in response to the placing of a wager on a gaming machine and the jackpot prize controller receives the second jackpot prize increase request and in response increases a second jackpot prize. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the second jackpot prize increase request causes the second jackpot prize to increase in an amount proportional to the size of the wager. 
   
   
       23 . A method for use with a gaming machine which provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the gaming machine and awarding at least one feature game on the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the game, outcomes of the feature game including a first outcome and a second outcome, the method including increasing the value of the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the first outcome, and awarding the jackpot prize on the occurrence of the second outcome. 
   
   
       24 . A method for use with a gaming machine which provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are presented to form at least one outcome, the method including providing a chance to win at least one jackpot prize through play of the game, wherein during play of the game, if the at least one outcome includes a particular outcome, the gaming machine causes the jackpot prize to increase, the amount of the increase being variable between separate occurrences of the particular outcome. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  when simultaneously used with a plurality of linked gaming machines, wherein the at least one jackpot prize is common to the plurality of linked gaming machines. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  when simultaneously used with a plurality of linked gaming machines, wherein the at least one jackpot prize is common to the plurality of linked gaming machines.