SKILL AND PARTICIPATION BASED PRIZING

• US 20110165924A1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Brett, Gorder, Matt Van
• Application Number:
  US12/652,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20110165924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5533 using program state or machine event data, e.g. server keeps track of the state of multiple players on in a multiple player game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A method for awarding prizes to a plurality of users each participating in a multiuser game via a user console. For each round of the multiuser game, a trivia question and at least two answer choices are electronically delivered to each user participating in the multiuser game. A selection of one of the plurality of answer choices is received from the game console service that delivered the question to the user. Upon receiving the selected answer choice from the game console service, both an electronic participation-based prize and a skill-based prize are electronically awarded to the user associated with the console.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for awarding prizes to a plurality of users participating in a multiuser game via a user console, wherein the multiuser game includes multiple rounds of trivia questions, comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically delivering a trivia question and a plurality of answer choices to a game console associated with a user participating in the multiuser game;

(b) receiving, from the game console, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices delivered in step (a);

(c) upon receiving a selected answer choice in step (b) from the game console, automatically awarding a participation-based prize to the user associated with the console;

(d) when the answer choice received in step (b) correctly answers the question, awarding an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus to the user associated with the console;

(e) when the answer choice received in step (b) incorrectly answers the question, awarding only a speed bonus to the user associated with the console; and

(f) when the multiplayer game has ended, awarding users participating in the multiplayer game with one or more skill-based prizes, wherein the skill-based prizes are based on a total score that includes the accuracy score and answer bonuses awarded in step (d) and the speed bonus awarded in step (e) for each round of the multiuser game.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (c) of automatically awarding a participation-based prize to the user associated with the console comprises the steps of:

generating a sweepstakes record;

identifying a gamertag associated with the user; and

associating the sweepstakes record with the gamertag.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (d) of awarding an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus to the user associated with the console comprises the steps of:

determining a speed bonus;

determining a streak bonus; and

determining a prize ladder bonus.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein determining a speed bonus comprises the steps of:

determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;

determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and

when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein determining a streak bonus comprises the steps of:

determining the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user that correctly answered the question presented in the prior round; and

awarding a streak bonus to the user based on the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein awarding a pre-timer bonus comprises the steps of:

determining whether the answer timer began prior to the user selecting an answer choice;

when the answer choice is selected prior to the start of the answer timer, awarding a pre-timer bonus; and

when the answer choice is selected after the start of the answer timer, awarding a timer bonus.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining a speed bonus comprises the steps of:

determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;

determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and

when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.

8. A computer-implemented method for awarding prizes to a plurality of users each participating in a multiuser game via a user console, wherein each round of the multiuser game presents a trivia question to each user, comprising the steps of:

(a) electronically delivering a trivia question and a plurality of answer choices to a game console associated with a user participating in the multiuser game;

(b) receiving, from the game console, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices delivered in step (a); and

(c) upon receiving a selected answer choice in step (b) from the game console, automatically awarding an electronic participation-based prize and a skill-based prize to the user associated with the console.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein automatically awarding an electronic participation-based prize to the user associated with the console comprises the steps of:

generating a sweepstakes record;

identifying a gamertag associated with the user; and

associating the sweepstakes record with the gamertag.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein automatically awarding an electronic skill-based prize comprises the steps of:

awarding an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus to the user associated with the console.

12. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 11, wherein awarding at least one answer bonus comprises the steps of:

determining a speed bonus;

determining a streak bonus; and

determining a prize ladder bonus.

13. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein determining a speed bonus comprises the steps of:

determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;

determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and

when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.

14. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein determining a streak bonus comprises the steps of:

determining the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user that correctly answered the question presented in the prior round; and

awarding a streak bonus to the user based on the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user.

15. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein awarding a pre-timer bonus comprises the steps of:

determining whether the answer timer began prior to the user selecting an answer choice;

when the answer choice is selected prior to the start of the answer timer, awarding a pre-timer bonus; and

when the answer choice is selected after the start of the answer timer, awarding a timer bonus.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in 8, further including the steps of:

(d) generating a participation-based prize record representative of the electronic participation-based prize awarded in step (c);

(e) generating a skill-based prize record representative of the electronic skill-based prize awarded in step (c);

(f) associating the participation-based record and skill-based record with the user; and

(g) storing the participation-based prize record and skill-based prize record in a database.

16. A system for awarding prizes to a plurality of users each participating in a multiuser game via a user console, wherein each round of the multiuser game presents a trivia question to each user, comprising:

a game service server configured to,

deliver, per round of the game, a trivia question and a plurality of answer choices to a game console server associated with a user participating in the game;

receive, from the game console server, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices delivered to the game console server;

upon receiving a selected answer choice in step (b) from the game console, automatically award an electronic participation-based prize and a skill-based prize to the user associated with the console;

the game console server configured to,

deliver the trivia question and plurality of answer choices received from the game service server to the user participating in the game;

receive, from the user participating in the game, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices;

associate a participation-based prize record representing the participation-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user;

associate a skill-based prize record representing the skill-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user; and

store the participation-based record and skill-based record in a database.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the game console server associates a participation-based prize record representing the participation-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user by:

identifying a gamertag associated with the user; and

associating the participation-based prize record with the gamertag.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the game console server associates a skill-based prize record representing the skill-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user by:

upon receiving a selection of an answer choice, award a total score for the round to the user associated with the console, wherein the total score includes an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus;

generate a total score record; and

associate the total score record with the user'"'"'s gamertag.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one answer bonus includes a speed bonus, a streak bonus, and a prize ladder bonus.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the game console service determined a speed bonus by:

determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;

determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and

when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.