NETWORKED, ELECTRONIC GAME TOURNAMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A networked, electronic game method comprising:
- accepting participation in play of an electronic game over a network by a plurality of players;
determining a rank for individual players of the plurality of players;
positioning the ranked individual players on a grid;
wherein the grid has a plurality of vertical levels and wherein individual vertical levels have a plurality of horizontal tiers;
enabling issuance of a challenge by a lower-ranked challenger player against a higher-ranked defender player;
enabling acceptance of the challenge by the defender;
enabling play of the electronic game over the network by the challenger against the defender;
one of awarding and deducting points for at least one of the challenger and the defender based on the play of the electronic game over the network;
adjusting the rank of at least one of the challenger and the defender as a consequence of the one of awarding and deducting points based on the play of the electronic game over the network; and
facilitating one of vertical and horizontal movement of at least one of the challenger and the defender along the grids in response to the adjustment in rank.
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Abstract
A plurality of players of at least one electronic game are enabled to play the game over a network. Players are ranked, based on accomplishments during game play, on a grid having multiple vertical levels and, on at least one of the vertical levels, multiple horizontal tiers. Player rankings are adjusted, following game play, based on points earned or lost. In one embodiment, defending players may be compensated without regard to game outcome.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A networked, electronic game method comprising:
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accepting participation in play of an electronic game over a network by a plurality of players;
determining a rank for individual players of the plurality of players;
positioning the ranked individual players on a grid;
wherein the grid has a plurality of vertical levels and wherein individual vertical levels have a plurality of horizontal tiers;
enabling issuance of a challenge by a lower-ranked challenger player against a higher-ranked defender player;
enabling acceptance of the challenge by the defender;
enabling play of the electronic game over the network by the challenger against the defender;
one of awarding and deducting points for at least one of the challenger and the defender based on the play of the electronic game over the network;
adjusting the rank of at least one of the challenger and the defender as a consequence of the one of awarding and deducting points based on the play of the electronic game over the network; and
facilitating one of vertical and horizontal movement of at least one of the challenger and the defender along the grids in response to the adjustment in rank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A networked, electronic game method comprising:
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accepting participation in play of an electronic game over a network by a plurality of players;
determining a rank for individual players of the plurality of players;
positioning the ranked individual players on a grid;
wherein the grid has a plurality of vertical levels and wherein individual vertical levels have a plurality of horizontal tiers;
enabling issuance of a challenge by a lower-ranked challenger player against a higher-ranked defender player;
enabling acceptance of the challenge by the defender;
enabling play of the electronic game over the network by the challenger against the defender;
providing compensation to the defender for participating in the game against the challenger, without regard to an outcome of the game;
one of awarding and deducting points for at least one of the challenger and the defender based on the play of the electronic game over the network;
wherein the awarding and deducting points for at least one of the challenger and the defender based on the play of the electronic game over the network depends on a plurality of criteria, including game outcome and at least one skill exhibited during play of the game not connected to game outcome;
adjusting the rank of at least one of the challenger and the defender as a consequence of the one of awarding and deducting points based on the play of the electronic game over the network; and
facilitating one of vertical and horizontal movement of at least one of the challenger and the defender along the grid, in response to the adjustment in rank. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A game system comprising
a grid having a plurality of vertical levels and wherein individual vertical levels have a plurality of horizontal tiers; -
an electronic game;
a communications network;
wherein a plurality of players, including at least one challenger and at least one defender are capable of playing the game over the communications network;
wherein the at least one defender is ranked into one or more of the plurality of tiers on the grid based on points accumulated during play of the game over the communications network; and
a challenge invocation module, utilizable by the challenger, to issue a challenge to at least one defender to play the game over the communications network. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A networked, electronic game method comprising:
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accepting participation in play of an electronic game over a network by a plurality of players;
determining a rank for individual players of the plurality of players;
positioning the ranked individual players;
enabling issuance of a challenge by a lower-ranked challenger player against a higher-ranked defender player;
enabling acceptance of the challenge by the defender;
enabling play of the electronic game over the network by the challenger against the defender;
one of awarding and deducting points for at least one of the challenger and the defender based on the play of the electronic game over the network;
adjusting the rank of at least one of the challenger and the defender as a consequence of the one of awarding and deducting points based on the play of the electronic game over the network; and
facilitating practice by at least one of the challenger and the defender of skill sets used at different game levels;
wherein the practice does not affect the rank of the at least one of the challenger and the defender.
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Specification