Controller-based linked gaming machine bonus system

A method for providing bonus payoffs during a bonus mode time period in a system of linked gaming machines interconnected to a controller, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fixed number of bonus rounds,
• assigning a bonus multiplier for each of the fixed number of bonus rounds,
• providing a predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities for each of said fixed number of bonus rounds, each bonus multiplier opportunity corresponding to the bonus multiplier assigned for each bonus round,
• starting the bonus mode time period with a bonus pool of monetary value,
• determining eligible gaming machines in the linked gaming machines at the time the bonus mode time period starts,
• each bonus round comprising the following steps:
• (a) detecting when an eligible gaming machine starts a game,
• (b) randomly selecting the detected eligible gaming machine to receive a bonus multiplier opportunity,
• (c) awarding the randomly selected gaming machine a bonus jackpot payoff based on (1) the bonus multiplier assigned to the received bonus multiplier opportunity and (2) a game payoff resulting from play of the game,
• (d) deducting the awarded bonus jackpot payoff value from the monetary value of the bonus pool,
• (e) ending the aforesaid bonus round when all of the predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities are received by the selected gaming machines,
• ending the bonus mode time period when all of the fixed number of bonus rounds have occurred or when the monetary value in the bonus pool drops below a predetermined low value.

A method for providing bonus payoffs during a bonus mode time period in a system of linked gaming machines interconnected to a controller, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing in the controller a fixed number of bonus rounds,
• assigning in the controller a bonus multiplier for each of the fixed number of bonus rounds,
• providing in the controller a predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities for each of said fixed number of bonus rounds, each bonus multiplier opportunity corresponding to the bonus multiplier assigned for each bonus round, wherein the bonus multiplier increases for each successive bonus round and wherein the predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities decreases for each successive bonus round,
• starting the bonus mode time period with a bonus pool of monetary value,
• determining eligible gaming machines at the time the bonus mode time period starts,
• each bonus round comprising the following steps:
• (a) detecting when an eligible gaming machine starts a game,
• (b) randomly selecting the detected eligible gaming machine to receive a bonus multiplier opportunity in response to the start of the game,
• (c) awarding the randomly selected gaming machine a bonus jackpot payoff determined by:
• (the bonus multiplier assigned to the received bonus multiplier opportunity minus one) times (a game payoff resulting from play of the game),
• (d) deducting the awarded bonus jackpot payoff value from the monetary value of the bonus pool,
• (e) ending the aforesaid bonus round when all of the predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities are received by the selected gaming machines,
• ending the bonus mode time period when all of the fixed number of bonus rounds have occurred or when the monetary value in the bonus pool drops below zero,
• continuing play of any selected gaming machines when the bonus mode time period ends, and
• performing only steps (c) and (d) in the event such continued play results in a game payoff.

A method of controlling the length of the average bonus mode time period for a bonus game having a plurality of linked eligible gaming machines interconnected to a controller, said bonus mode time period funded by a bonus pool of monetary value, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing to the controller at least the following values:
• (1) a fixed number of bonus rounds, (2) a bonus multiplier for each of the fixed number of bonus rounds, (3) a predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities for each of the fixed number of bonus rounds, each bonus multiplier opportunity corresponding to the bonus multiplier assigned for each bonus round, and (4) a random selection rate for each bonus round for delivering a bonus multiple opportunity to each eligible gaming machine at the start of a game in the aforesaid each eligible gaming machine, the aforesaid values controlling the average length of the bonus mode time period,
• playing the bonus game from the controller by issuing bonus multiplier opportunities to each eligible gaming machine at the start of each game so as to be sure the predetermined number of bonus multiplier opportunities for each bonus round is the fixed number of bonus rounds,
• ending the bonus mode time period when all of the fixed number of bonus rounds have occurred or when the monetary value in the bonus pool drops below a predetermined value.