System and method for an online duel game

• US 20050266925A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bwin Games AB (Entain Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ongame E-Solutions AB (Entain Plc)
• Inventors: Hornell, Erik F., Hornell, Karl H.
• Application Number:
  US10/852,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266925A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/80 specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

A network system and network method perform a pyramid tournament duel game, such as a Rock-Paper-Scissors duel game, between at least two participants online a network for data- and telecommunication such as the Internet. Network software is used for performing the online game and a readable storage medium stores the network software.

Claims

1. A network system including a game server and a game database connected to said server for storing at least one of game data and registered player data, for performing an online multilevel tournament duel game, hosted on said server connected to an open network for data and telecommunication between at least two players through a network connection via respective computerized devices, each with a screen, comprising:

game entry means for activating a player avatar on a certain game level of a preset number of total game levels depending on the size of a game bet provided from a redefined game account;

pairing means for checking if an opponent player is available on the certain game level;

dueling means for simultaneously opening up a duel window on the respective screens of both players when an available opponent player is found and upon which a countdown clock is started, said duel means for performing at least one duel match wherein each player is prompted to actively select, on said respective computerized screen and within a preset timeframe of said countdown clock, one of three different duel symbols displayed in said duel window, each symbol being first to one of the other two symbols and second to the other of the other two symbols;

random selection means for randomly selecting one of the three duel symbols for a player not having selected one of the three duel symbols within said preset timeframe;

symbol comparing means for comparing the selected duel symbols of the players when said preset timeframe has passed, wherein if the selected duel symbols upon comparison are found equal, the countdown clock is reset and the duel match is repeated, and wherein if the symbols are found not equal, the selected symbol being first to the other symbol selected determines a duel match winner;

wherein the system is arranged so that the winner of at least one duel match, through a level advancing means, advances one level in the game, doubles the game bet and is prompted, via said dual game window and utilizing winner selection means, to select one of transfer winnings to said predefined game account upon ending the game and engage a new duel match on the new game level, and wherein the system is arranged so that the loser of said at least one duel match, through eliminating means, is momentarily eliminated from said multilevel game.

2. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising duel match win indicating means for providing at least one of a graphical indication and an audible indication of a duel match win.

3. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising a duel match loss indicating means for providing at least one of a graphical indication and an audible indication of a duel match loss.

4. A network system according to claim 2, further comprising duel match win counting means arranged so that the first player to win three duel matches wins the duel.

5. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising messaging means for the players to communicate with one another.

6. A network system according to claim 5, wherein the messaging means utilizes at least one messaging systems chosen from the group consisting of email, means for real time messaging and means for time delayed messaging.

7. A network system according to claim 5, wherein the messaging means utilizes means for voice connection between the players through at least one of headsets, loudspeakers and microphones connected to their respective computerized devices.

8. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising lobby interface means for adjusting settings of the duel game.

9. A network system according to claim 8, wherein the settings are chosen from the group consisting of enabling sound, disabling sound and determining which of several different ongoing tournament duel games to enter.

10. A network method for performing an online multilevel tournament duel game between at least two players being connected to on an open network for data and telecommunication through respective computerized devices, each with a screen, wherein a network game server hosts said duel game and a network game database connected to said server stores at least one of game data and registered player data, comprising the steps of:

activating a player avatar on a certain game level of a preset number of total game levels depending on the size of a game bet provided from a predefined game account through a game entry means;

checking if an opponent player is available on the certain game level through pairing means;

randomly selecting one of the three duel symbols for a player not having selected one of the three symbols within said preset timeframe through random selection means; and

comparing the selected duel symbols of the players when said preset timeframe has passed through symbol comparing means, wherein if the selected duel symbols upon comparison are found equal, the countdown clock is reset and the duel match is repeated, and wherein if the symbols are found not equal, the selected symbol being first to the other symbol selected determines a duel match winner;

wherein the winner of at least one duel match, through a level advancing means, advances one level in the game, doubles the game bet and is prompted, via said duel game window and utilizing winner selection means, to select one of transfer winnings to said predefined game account upon ending the game and engage a new duel match on the new game level, wherein the loser of said at least one duel match, through eliminating means, is momentarily eliminated from said multilevel game.

11. A method according to claim 10, further including the step of indicating a duel match win by at least one of a graphical indicator and an audible indicator through duel match win indicating means.

12. A method according to claim 10, further including the step of indicating a duel match loss by at least one of a graphical indicator and an audible indicator through duel match loss indicating means.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the player who first wins three duel matches wins the duel.

14. A method according to claim 10, further including the step of adjusting settings of the game through a lobby interface means.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the settings are chosen from the group consisting of enabling sound, disabling sound and determining which of several different ongoing tournament duel games to enter.

16. A network software for performing an online multilevel tournament duel game hosted on a server connected to an open network for data and telecommunication between at least two players through a network connection via respective computerized devices, each with a screen, comprising:

game entry means for activating a player avatar on a certain game level of a preset number of total game levels depending on the size of a game bet provided from a predefined game account;

pairing means for checking if an opponent player is available on the certain game level;

dueling means for simultaneously opening up a duel window on the respective screens of both players when an available opponent is found and upon which a countdown clock is started, said duel means for performing at least one duel match wherein each player is prompted to actively select, on said respective computerized screen and within a preset timeframe of said countdown clock, one of three different duel symbols displayed in said duel window, each symbol being first to one of the other two symbols and second to the other of the other two symbols;

random selection means for randomly selecting one of the duel symbols for a player not having selected one of the three duel symbols within said preset timeframe; and

symbol comparing means for comparing the selected duel symbols of the players when said preset timeframe has passed, wherein if the selected duel symbols upon comparison are found equal, the countdown clock is reset and the duel match is repeated, and wherein if the symbols are found not equal, the selected symbol being first to the other symbol selected determines a duel match winner; and

wherein the software is arranged so that the winner of at least one duel match, through a level advancing means, advances one level in the game, doubles the game bet and is prompted, via a said duel window and utilizing winner selection means, to select one of transfer winnings to said predefined game account upon ending the game and engage a new duel match on the new game level, and wherein the software is arranged so that the loser of said at least one duel match, through eliminating means, is momentarily eliminated from said multilevel game.

17. A readable storage medium storing network software for performing an online multilevel tournament duel game hosted on a server connected to an open network for data and telecommunication between two players through a network connection via respective computerized devices, each with a screen, the network software comprising:

game entry means for activating a player avatar on a certain game level of a preset number of total game levels depending on the size of a game bet provided from a predefined game account;

pairing means when an available opponent is found for checking if an opponent player is available on the certain game level;

dueling means for simultaneously opening up a duel window on the respective screens of both players when an available opponent is found and upon which a countdown clock is started, said duel means for performing at least one duel match wherein each player is prompted to actively select, on said respective computerized screen and within a preset timeframe of said countdown clock, one of three different duel symbols displayed in said duel window, each symbol being first to one of the other two symbols and second to the other of the other two symbols;

random selection means for randomly selecting one of the duel symbols for a player not having selected one of the three duel symbols within said preset timeframe; and

symbol comparing means for comparing the selected duel symbols of the players when said preset timeframe has passed, wherein if the selected duel symbols upon comparison are found equal, the countdown clock is reset and the duel match is repeated, and wherein if the symbols are found not equal, the selected symbol being first to the other symbol selected determines a duel match winner; and

wherein the software is arranged so that the winner of at least one duel match, through a level advancing means, advances one level in the game, doubles the game bet and is prompted, via a said duel window and utilizing winner selection means, to select one of transfer winnings to said predefined game account upon ending the game and engage a new duel match on the new game level, and wherein the software is arranged so that the loser of said at least one duel match, through eliminating means, is momentarily eliminated from said multilevel game.