Neworked Gaming System and Method Having a Multi-Progressive Feature

Abstract

Disclosed are games, gaming machines, gaming systems and methods including a multi-progressive feature. During play of a feature game, tallies are kept of the appearance of various symbols. One or more progressive awards may be paid based on the tallies.

1 . A networked gaming system including:
 a network computer;   one or more gaming machines;   a network connecting the network computer to the one or more gaming machines;   a first game and a second game operable with at least one of the gaming machines, each game having a set of possible outcomes, one or more of the set of second game outcomes determined upon a triggering event associated with the first game;   a plurality of accumulators, each associated with an icon, for tallying any second game outcomes containing one or more of the icons; and   one or more awards which may be won based on the value of one or more of the accumulators.   
   
   
       2 . The networked gaming system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second games are controlled by the network computer. 
   
   
       3 . The networked gaming system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second games is controlled by the at least one of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       4 . The networked gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising a progressive controller connected to the one or more gaming machines; 
   
   
       5 . The networked gaming system of  claim 4  including one or more progressive awards controlled by the progressive controller and awarded based upon the value of at least one of the accumulators. 
   
   
       6 . The networked gaming system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more progressive awards are at least partially funded based on a percentage of a wager at one or more of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       7 . The networked gaming system of  claim 5  wherein the one or more progressive awards are not based on a percentage of a wager placed at one or more of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       8 . The networked gaming system of  claim 5  wherein all progressive awards which may be won are reset to an initial funding level upon the winning of any one progressive award. 
   
   
       9 . A networked system including a server and one or more gaming machines connected to the server;
 the server including a first game, a second game activatable upon an event, and a plurality of accumulators for tallying the occurrence of icons associated with one or more second game outcomes to determine whether one or more progressive prizes have been won;   the gaming machines including a game interface and a display, the game interface enabling a player to initiate play of the first game through the server, the display providing a visual representation of the games.   
   
   
       10 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of:
 connecting a plurality of gaming machines comprising a game;   for one of the games, upon a triggering event, initiating a plurality of second game plays, each second game play having an outcome which may comprise one or more icons;   tallying second game outcomes comprising one or more of the icons;   determining one or more awards which may be won according to the tally; and   paying the determined awards to the player.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the triggering event comprises a predefined one of the set of first game outcomes. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the awards comprises a progressive prize. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the progressive prize is at least partially funded based on a percentage of a wager on the one of the games. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the progressive prize is not based on a percentage of a wager on the one of the games. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein all progressive prizes which may be won are reset to an initial funding level upon the winning of any one progressive prize. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of connecting the plurality of gaming machines for cooperative play of the plurality of second game plays. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of connecting the plurality of gaming machines for competitive play of the plurality of second game plays. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the gaming machines reside in at least one casino. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising displaying the plurality of second game plays on a player tracking system display at each of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 10  further comprising a gaming display control computer.