Method and apparatus for gaming machines with a quasi-competition play bonus feature

A method of conducting a game, comprising:

• providing, in association with a primary game, a bonus game comprising a simulated contest between two characters;
• providing at least two game characters for play of said bonus game, at least one game character being an offensive character in said bonus game and at least another game character being a defensive character in said bonus game;
• providing a player an opportunity to play one of said primary game or said bonus game;
• in association with play of said bonus game, providing said player an opportunity to select a bonus game character;
• randomly determining an outcome of at least one of said primary game and said bonus game.

A method of conducting a game, comprising:

• providing a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine of said plurality of gaming machines configured for play of a primary game and to enable play of a bonus game;
• providing, in association with play of said bonus game, at least one display for exhibiting at least one competition between at least two different characters, each of said at least two different characters being associated with a gaming machine of said plurality of gaming machines;
• exhibiting a simulation of said at least one competition between said at least two different characters on said at least one display to an outcome;
• and
• determining at least one award associated with said outcome of said at least one competition