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

• US 20070117641A1
• 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:
  US11/624,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/131
• 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 of conducting an electronic golf tournament, comprising:

receiving, from a player device associated with a player of a golf game session of the tournament, an indication of a value of a parameter associated with the golf game session;

calculating, based at least in part on the received indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session, a result associated with the golf game session; and

transmitting the calculated result associated with the golf game session to the player device such that the player device may provide a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter associated with the golf game session comprises one or more of:

(i) a golf club selection; and

(ii) a force of a golf club swing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session is defined by the player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the result associated with the golf game session comprises a golf ball coordinate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the player device comprises a mobile terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mobile terminal comprises one or more of:

(i) a laptop computer;

(ii) a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device;

(iii) a telephone; and

(iv) a video game terminal.

7. A method of conducting an electronic golf tournament, comprising:

determining, by a player device associated with a player of a golf game session of the tournament, a value of a parameter associated with the golf game session;

transmitting, to a controller associated with the tournament, an indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session;

receiving, after the transmitting and from the controller, a result associated with the golf game session, wherein the result is calculated by the controller based at least in part on the indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session; and

displaying, to the player, a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter associated with the golf game session comprises one or more of:

(i) a golf club selection; and

(ii) a force of a golf club swing.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session is defined by input received from the player.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the player input defining the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the result associated with the golf game session comprises a golf ball coordinate.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the player device comprises a mobile terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile terminal comprises one or more of:

(i) a laptop computer;

(ii) a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device;

(iii) a telephone; and

(iv) a video game terminal.

14. A system to conduct an electronic golf tournament, comprising:

a player device, comprising;

an input device to receive, from a player, an indication defining a value of a parameter of a golf game session;

a communication device to (i) transmit an indication of the value of the parameter of the golf game session and (ii) receive, after a transmitting of the value of the parameter of the golf game session, an indication of a result associated with the golf game session; and

a display device to provide, to the player, a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session; and

a game controller, comprising;

a communication device to (i) receive a transmission of the indication of the value of the parameter of the golf game session from the player device and (ii) transmit, to the player device and in response to a receiving of the indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session, the result associated with the golf game session; and

a processor to calculate, based at least in part on the indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session, the result associated with the golf game session.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the parameter associated with the golf game session comprises one or more of:

(i) a golf club selection; and

(ii) a force of a golf club swing.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the result associated with the golf game session comprises a golf ball coordinate.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the player device comprises a mobile terminal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the mobile terminal comprises one or more of:

(i) a laptop computer;

(ii) a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device;

(iii) a telephone; and

(iv) a video game terminal.

19. 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;

receive, from a player device associated with a player of a golf game session of the tournament, an indication of a value of a parameter associated with the golf game session;

calculate, based at least in part on the received indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session, a result associated with the golf game session; and

transmit the calculated result associated with the golf game session to the player device such that the player device may provide a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session to the player.

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

receive, from a player device associated with a player of a golf game session of the tournament, an indication of a value of a parameter associated with the golf game session;

calculate, based at least in part on the received indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session, a result associated with the golf game session; and

transmit the calculated result associated with the golf game session to the player device such that the player device may provide a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session to the player.

21. 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;

determine, by a player device associated with a player of a golf game session of the tournament, a value of a parameter associated with the golf game session;

transmit, to a controller associated with the tournament, an indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session;

receive, after the transmitting and from the controller, a result associated with the golf game session, wherein the result is calculated by the controller based at least in part on the indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session; and

display, to the player, a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session.

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

determine, by a player device associated with a player of a golf game session of the tournament, a value of a parameter associated with the golf game session;

transmit, to a controller associated with the tournament, an indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session;

receive, after the transmitting and from the controller, a result associated with the golf game session, wherein the result is calculated by the controller based at least in part on the indication of the value of the parameter associated with the golf game session; and

display, to the player, a visual indication of the result associated with the golf game session.