Gaming system and method providing a collection game

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

• (a) for each of a plurality of gaming devices, enabling a player of said gaming device to play a collection game;
• (b) during each of a plurality of predetermined time intervals, each predetermined time interval having a first length, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to make one of a plurality of community elements of the collection game currently available for collection;
• (c) for each player, if at least a designated period of time has elapsed since a community element has been collected for said player, a length of the designated period of time being different than the first length, enabling said player to provide a collect input;
• (d) for each received collect input, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:
• (i) collect the community element currently available for collection for the player from whom said collect input was received, and
• (ii) cause at least one display device of the gaming device of said player to display the collected community element;
• (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether any player has collected a predetermined combination of the community elements;
• and
• (f) if one of the players has collected the predetermined combination of the community elements, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause an award to be provided to said player.