Virtual banks for community group bonus games

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include initiating, at a wagering game server, a wagering game session for a player at a gaming machine. The operations can also include relating the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with one or more additional players, where the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions is associated with a community group bonus game. The operations can further include determining when the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions, determining game results of the community group bonus game, and determining an award for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank based, at least in part, on the game results of the community group bonus game.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 initiating, at a wagering game server of a wagering game system, a wagering game session for a player at a gaming machine of the wagering game system;   relating the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with one or more additional players, wherein the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions is associated with a community group bonus game;   determining when the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions associated with the player and the one or more additional players;   determining game results of the community group bonus game; and   determining an award for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank based, at least in part, on the game results of the community group bonus game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining an award for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank based, at least in part, on the game results of the community group bonus game comprises:
 determining a gaming activity associated with a base wagering game for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank;   determining a bonus multiplier to award to the player and to each of the one or more additional players based on each player's gaming activity; and   determining an award for the player based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the bonus multiplier associated with the player, and determining an award for each of the one or more additional players based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the bonus multiplier associated with each of the one or more additional players.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that the community group bonus game is triggered:
 selecting one of the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions to be an active participant in the community group bonus game, wherein the active participant makes selections for the virtual bank that drive the community group bonus game;   determining bonus features associated with the community group bonus game based on one or more selections made by the player selected as the active participant; and   determining the game results associated with the community group bonus game based, at least in part, on the bonus game features.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, when the community group bonus game is a slot-based bonus game, the bonus features associated with the community group bonus game comprises a number of free spins of reels associated with the community group bonus game and at least one type of wild reel bonus feature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said relating the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the community group bonus game comprises associating the player's wagering game session to a same instance of the community group bonus game associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said relating the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the community group bonus game further comprises causing a plurality of gaming machines associated with the plurality of players of the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions to present a graphical representation of the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions including a plurality of graphical elements representing the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of graphical elements representing the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank comprises an indication of each player's username associated with the wagering game system and an indication of each player's bonus multiplier awarded to each player based on each player's gaming activity in a base wagering game associated with each player's wagering game session, and the method further comprises dynamically updating the indication of each player's bonus multiplier when a value associated with each player's bonus multiplier is increased based on each player's gaming activity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said relating the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions comprises:
 determining that the player wants to participate in a virtual bank of related wagering game sessions associated with the community group bonus game;   determining whether the player wants to customize a new virtual bank or join an existing virtual bank;   if it is determined that the player wants to customize a new virtual bank:
 causing the gaming machine associated with the player to present a customization tool to select customization options for customizing a new virtual bank; 
 determining how to customize the new virtual bank based on the customization options selected by the player; 
 relating the wagering game session associated with the player to the new virtual bank customized according to the customization options selected by the player; 
 causing the gaming machine associated with the player to present a graphical representation of the new virtual bank customized according to the customization options selected by the player; 
   if it is determined that the player wants to join an existing virtual bank:
 determining whether at least one of a plurality of existing virtual banks of related wagering game sessions has not reached a predefined limit of a maximum number of players that can join the existing virtual bank; 
 if at least one of the plurality of existing virtual banks of related wagering game sessions has not reached the predefined limit, relating the player's wagering game session to the existing virtual bank of related wagering game sessions; and 
 if all the plurality of existing virtual banks of related wagering game sessions have reached the predefined limit, initiating a new virtual bank with a default configuration and relating the player's wagering game session to the new virtual bank with the default configuration. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the player has joined a second virtual bank of related wagering game sessions in response to determining that the community group bonus game associated with a first virtual bank of related wagering game sessions is triggered for the first virtual bank;   if the player has joined a second virtual bank:
 associating the player's wagering game session associated with the second virtual bank to a same instance of the community group bonus game associated with the first virtual bank that has been triggered for the first virtual bank; 
 determining an award for the player's wagering game session associated with the first virtual bank and for the player's wagering game session associated with second virtual bank based, at least in part, on the game results of the same instance of the community group bonus game that has been triggered for the first virtual bank. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player and the one or more additional players participate in the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions via one or more physical casinos associated with the wagering game system and/or via one or more online casinos associated with the wagering game system. 
     
     
         11 . A wagering game server comprising:
 a game management unit configured to initiate a wagering game session for a player at a gaming machine of a wagering game system; and   a virtual bank management unit configured to determine that the player wants to participate in a virtual bank of related wagering game sessions associated with a community group bonus game, and the virtual bank management unit is further configured to:
 relate the wagering game session associated with the player to the virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with one or more additional players, wherein the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions is associated with the community group bonus game; 
 determine a bonus multiplier to award to the player and to the one or more additional players based on each player's gaming activity associated with a base wagering game; 
 determine when the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions associated with the player and the one or more additional players; 
 determine game results of the community group bonus game; and 
 determine an award for the player based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the bonus multiplier associated with the player, and an award for each of the one or more additional players based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the bonus multiplier associated with each of the one or more additional players. 
   
     
     
         12 . The wagering game server of  claim 11 , wherein, in response to determining that the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions, the virtual bank management unit is further configured to:
 select one of the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions to be an active participant in the community group bonus game, wherein the active participant makes selections for the virtual bank that drive the community group bonus game;   determine bonus features associated with the community group bonus game based on one or more selections made by the player selected as the active participant; and   determine the game results associated with the community group bonus game based, at least in part, on the bonus game features.   
     
     
         13 . The wagering game server of  claim 11 , wherein the virtual bank management unit configured to relate the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with one or more additional players and the community group bonus game comprises the virtual bank management unit configured to relate the player's wagering game session to a same instance of the community group bonus game associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions, such that when the instance of the community group bonus game is triggered the player and the one or more additional players are provided an award based, at least in part, on the results of the instance of the community group bonus game. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 relating, at a wagering game server of a wagering game system, a plurality of wagering game sessions associated with a plurality of players to a community group bonus game to initiate a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the plurality of players and the community group bonus game;   determining a bonus multiplier to award to each of the plurality of players based on each player's gaming activity in a base wagering game associated with each player's wagering game session;   causing each of a plurality of gaming machines associated with the plurality of players to present, within a graphical representation of the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions, a plurality of graphical elements representing the plurality of players and an indication of each player's bonus multiplier that has been awarded based on each player's gaming activity in the base wagering game associated with each player's wagering game session;   determining when the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions;   selecting a player, from the plurality of players, to be an active participant in the community group bonus game;   determining bonus features associated with the community group bonus game based on one or more bonus game initialization selections made by the player selected as the active participant;   determining game results associated with the community group bonus game based, at least in part, on the bonus game features; and   determining an award earned by each of the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the game multiplier associated with each of the plurality of players.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said relating the plurality of wagering game sessions associated with the plurality of players to the community group bonus game to initiate the virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the plurality of players and the community group bonus game comprises associating the plurality of wagering game sessions associated with the plurality of players to a same instance of the community group bonus game, such that when the instance of the community group bonus game is triggered each of the plurality of players are provided an award based, at least in part, on the results of the instance of the community group bonus game. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said relating the plurality of wagering game sessions associated with the plurality of players to the community group bonus game to initiate the virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the plurality of players and the community group bonus game comprises:
 determining that each of the plurality of players wants to participate in a virtual bank of related wagering game sessions associated with the community group bonus game; and   for each of the plurality of players, determining whether the player wants to customize a new virtual bank or join an existing virtual bank of related wagering game sessions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, if it is determined that the player wants to customize a new virtual bank:
 causing a gaming machine associated with the player to present a customization tool to select customization options for customizing the new virtual bank;   determining how to customize the new virtual bank based on the customization options selected by the player;   relating the wagering game session associated with the player to the new virtual bank customized according to the customization options selected by the player; and   causing the gaming machine associated with the player to present a graphical representation of the new virtual bank customized according to the customization options selected by the player.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said determining how to customize the new virtual bank based on the customization options selected by the player comprises:
 determining one or more customization options associated with the graphical representation of the new virtual bank that the player selected via the customization tool;   determining whether the player indicated that the new virtual bank should be private or public; and   determining whether the player indicated to invite one or more friends from a virtual gaming community associated with the wagering game system to join the new virtual bank, and sending invitations to the one or more friends from the virtual gaming community if the player indicated to invite the one or more friends.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising, if it is determined that the player wants to join an existing virtual bank of related wagering game sessions:
 determining whether at least one of a plurality of existing virtual banks of related wagering game sessions has not reached a predefined limit of a maximum number of players that can join the existing virtual bank;   if at least one of the plurality of existing virtual banks of related wagering game sessions has not reached the predefined limit, relating the player's wagering game session to the existing virtual bank of related wagering game sessions; and   if all the plurality of existing virtual banks of related wagering game sessions have reached the predefined limit, initiating a new virtual bank with a default configuration and relating the player's wagering game session to the new virtual bank with the default configuration.   
     
     
         20 . A wagering game server of a wagering game system, the wagering game server comprising:
 means for relating a plurality of wagering game sessions associated with a plurality of players to a community group bonus game to initiate a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the plurality of players and the community group bonus game;   means for determining a bonus multiplier to award to each of the plurality of players based on each player's gaming activity in a base wagering game associated with each player's wagering game session;   means for determining when the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions;   means for selecting a player, from the plurality of players, to be an active participant in the community group bonus game;   means for determining bonus features associated with the community group bonus game based on one or more bonus game initialization selections made by the player selected as the active participant;   means for determining game results associated with the community group bonus game based, at least in part, on the bonus game features; and   means for determining an award earned by each of the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the game multiplier associated with each of the plurality of players.   
     
     
         21 . The wagering game server of  claim 20 , wherein said means for relating the plurality of wagering game sessions associated with the plurality of players to the community group bonus game to initiate the virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the plurality of players and the community group bonus game comprises means for associating the plurality of wagering game sessions associated with the plurality of players to a same instance of the community group bonus game, such that when the instance of the community group bonus game is triggered each of the plurality of players are provided an award based, at least in part, on the results of the instance of the community group bonus game. 
     
     
         22 . The wagering game server of  claim 20 , wherein said means for relating the plurality of wagering game sessions associated with the plurality of players to the community group bonus game to initiate the virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with the plurality of players and the community group bonus game comprises means for causing a plurality of gaming machines associated with the plurality of players of the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions to present a graphical representation of the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions including a plurality of graphical elements representing the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank. 
     
     
         23 . One or more machine-readable storage media, having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:
 initiating a wagering game session for a player of the wagering game system;   relating the wagering game session associated with the player to a virtual bank of related wagering games sessions associated with one or more additional players, wherein the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions is associated with a community group bonus game;   determining when the community group bonus game is triggered for the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions associated with the player and the one or more additional players;   determining game results of the community group bonus game; and   determining an award for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank based, at least in part, on the game results of the community group bonus game.   
     
     
         24 . The machine-readable storage media of  claim 23 , wherein said operation of determining an award for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank based, at least in part, on the game results of the community group bonus game comprises:
 determining a gaming activity associated with a base wagering game for the player and for each of the one or more additional players associated with the virtual bank;   determining a bonus multiplier to award to the player and to each of the one or more additional players based on each player's gaming activity; and   determining an award for the player based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the bonus multiplier associated with the player, and determining an award for each of the one or more additional players based on the game results of the community group bonus game and the bonus multiplier associated with each of the one or more additional players.   
     
     
         25 . The machine-readable storage media of  claim 23 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 selecting one of the plurality of players associated with the virtual bank of related wagering game sessions to be an active participant in the community group bonus game;   determining bonus features associated with the community group bonus game based on one or more bonus game initialization selections made by the player selected as the active participant; and   determining the game results associated with the community group bonus game based, at least in part, on the bonus game features.