SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING PLAY OF A VIDEO GAME VIA A WEB SITE

• US 20070117618A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena Fincham, Russell Sammon
• Original Assignee: James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena Fincham, Russell Sammon
• Inventors: Jorasch, James, Sammon, Russell, Walker, Jay, Fincham, Magdalena
• Application Number:
  US11/624,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method and system for operating a video game or video game tournament (e.g., via a Web site) is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system a bonus is provided to a player playing the video game or participating in the video game tournament. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if a rating associated with the player is worse than a threshold rating. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition is identified. Such a condition may be, for example, a condition that indicates the player will soon cease playing the video game or participating in the tournament.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

facilitating play of a game session of a tournament;

determining a score of a player of the game session;

comparing the player'"'"'s score to scores of other players from the game session; and

generating, based on the comparing of the scores, a list of players that qualify to advance to a subsequent game session of the tournament, wherein the list comprises indications of a number of qualifying players that is less than a total number of players that participated in the game session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the list, whether the player qualifies to advance to the subsequent game session of the tournament.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

preventing, in the case that it is determined that the player does not qualify to advance to the subsequent game session of the tournament, the player from playing in the subsequent game session.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the preventing comprises:

determining a password required to gain access to the subsequent game session; and

distributing the password only to players indicated by the list of players that qualify to advance to the subsequent game session of the tournament.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

hosting an online site via which the subsequent game session may be accessed; and

allowing access only to players that provides an indication of the password.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

preventing, in the case that it is determined that the player does not qualify to advance to the subsequent game session of the tournament, the player from winning a prize in the subsequent game session.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

terminating, in the case that it is determined that the player does not qualify to advance to the subsequent game session of the tournament, an online connection between a device associated with the player and a game controller that facilitates the subsequent game session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating is further based on one or more advancement qualification criteria.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more advancement qualification criteria comprises a requirement that an advancing player achieve a score in the gaming session that is greater than or equal to a minimum score threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more advancement qualification criteria comprises a requirement that an advancing player achieve an average score across the gaming session and one or more previous game sessions that is greater than or equal to a minimum average score threshold.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more advancement qualification criteria comprises a requirement that an advancing player achieve a score in the gaming session that is a maximum score within a sub-group of players in the game session.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more advancement qualification criteria comprises a requirement that an advancing player achieve a score in the gaming session that is greater than a pre-determined threshold above a mean score for the game session.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pre-determined threshold above the mean score for the game session is defined by a number of standard deviations above the mean score for the game session.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more advancement qualification criteria comprises a requirement that an advancing player achieve a score in the gaming session that is less than a pre-determined threshold below a mean score for the game session.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pre-determined threshold below the mean score for the game session is defined by a number of standard deviations below the mean score for the game session.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

facilitate play of a game session of a tournament;

determine a score of a player of the game session;

compare the player'"'"'s score to scores of other players from the game session; and

generate, based on the comparing of the scores, a list of players that qualify to advance to a subsequent game session of the tournament, wherein the list comprises indications of a number of qualifying players that is less than a total number of players that participated in the game session.

17. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

facilitate play of a game session of a tournament;

determine a score of a player of the game session;

compare the player'"'"'s score to scores of other players from the game session; and

generate, based on the comparing of the scores, a list of players that qualify to advance to a subsequent game session of the tournament, wherein the list comprises indications of a number of qualifying players that is less than a total number of players that participated in the game session.