Linked gaming machines implementing various game modes

A computational device, comprising:

• a user interface comprising a user input and a user output;
• a first processor coupled with the user interface;
• and
• a computer memory device, coupled with the first processor, comprising instructions that are executable by the first processor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to:
• initiate, in a first game mode, a first reel spin in which a first random number generator output is used to determine a first position of symbols within an array of symbol areas;
• after the first reel spin, evaluate the first position of symbols within the array of symbol areas to determine whether the first reel spin results in a predetermined outcome warranting an update to a first credit meter;
• update the first credit meter based on the first reel spin results;
• after the first reel spin, further evaluate whether the first random number generator output triggered occurrence of a second game mode different from the first game mode;
• determine that the first random number generator output triggered occurrence of the second game mode;
• in response to the determining that the random number generator output triggered occurrence of the second game mode, automatically initiate, by the first processor at a predetermined start time, the second game mode on the computational device;
• and
• cause a message to be sent to a second processor of a second computational device to automatically initiate, by the second processor at the predetermined start time, the second game mode on the second computational device.

A system, comprising:

• a first processor;
• a timer;
• a credit meter;
• a user interface comprising a user input and user output;
• a network interface;
• a random number generator;
• and
• a computer memory device, coupled with the first processor, comprising instructions;
• and
• wherein the first processor is coupled with the timer, credit meter, computer memory device, user interface, network interface, and random number generator, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to:
• initiate, in a first game mode in a first gaming machine, a first reel spin in which a first random number generator output is used to determine a first position of symbols within an array of symbol areas;
• after the first reel spin, evaluate the first position of symbols within the array of symbol areas to determine whether the first reel spin results in a predetermined outcome warranting an update to a first credit meter;
• update the first credit meter based on the first reel spin results;
• after the first reel spin, further evaluate whether the first random number generator output triggered occurrence of a second game mode different from the first game mode;
• determine that the first random number generator output triggered occurrence of the second game mode;
• in response to the determining that the random number generator output triggered occurrence of the second game mode, cause a second processor of a second gaming machine to automatically terminate the first game mode and initiate the second game mode on the second gaming machine, wherein the first game mode is associated with a first expected return to player and the second game mode is associated with a second expected return to player, the second expected return to player being greater than the first expected return to player.