ONLINE GAMING WITH EMBEDDED REAL WORLD MONETARY WINS VIA LOTTERIES AND SKILL-BASED WAGERING

• US 20120178514A1
• Filed: 01/09/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interprovincial Lottery Corporation
• Original Assignee: Interprovincial Lottery Corporation
• Inventors: SCHULZKE, Ken, ADAMS, Cameron, ROY, Eric, RASSIAS, George, LAM, Jason, LUSSIER, Louis-Philippe, ROY, Serge, HEINTZ, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,821,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

There is described herein an interactive game having both lotterized and skill-based wagering aspects embedded therein. A skill-based game is used to provide players with the challenge and entertainment value that they are accustomed to experiencing in popular mobile games, while adding the possibility of collecting real world winnings via lotteries and other forms of wagering.

Claims

1. A system for executing an interactive video game having a lotterized component and a skill-based wagering component, the system comprising:

at least one computer server communicable with at least one client computing device over a network, the server having a processor and a memory;

a gaming engine module stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the gaming engine module having program code that when executed, generates an interactive game play instance playable on the client computing device;

a lottery services module stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the lottery services module having program code that when executed, conducts a real world lottery transaction within the game play instance; and

a skill-based wagering module stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the skill-based wagering module having program code that when executed, manages wagers placed on an outcome of the game play instance for a chance to win real world money, the outcome being at least partially determined on the basis of player skill.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a management module stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the management module having program code that when executed, manages virtual credits used to purchase virtual items for the game play instance, tokens for wagering on the outcome of the game play instance, and real world currency used to purchase at least one of the virtual credits and the tokens.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, generates the interactive video game in a single player mode and in a multi-player mode.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, generates the game play instance as a skill-based battle between a first player and a computer in the single player mode, and the skill-based battle between the first player and a second player in the multi-player mode.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, generates the game play instance as a skill-based battle between a first player and a second player in the single player mode, the second player corresponding to a real player not online and represented by a computer, and wherein the outcome of the skill-based battle has an impact on a game status of the second player.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the lottery services module further comprises program code that when executed, generates a real lottery ticket by receiving a real lottery ticket transaction request within the game play instance, and wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, generates the real lottery ticket request as a result of an action taken by at least one of the first player and the second player in the skill-based battle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lottery services module further comprises program code that when executed, sets a prize for the real world lottery transaction in accordance with the wager placed on the outcome of the game play instance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the lottery services module further comprises program code that when executed, allocates a prize for the real world lottery transaction independently from the outcome of the game play instance.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, presents an opportunity to purchase weapons and fortifications using the virtual credits, in order to set-up a game board.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, presents weapons that vary in cost, scope of damage, and degree of damage.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, presents fortifications that vary in cost and resistance to attack as a function of a type of weapon used.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, controls aiming of the weapons at the fortifications using an accelerometer that rotates on three axes,

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the gaming engine module further comprises program code that when executed, controls the accelerometer by receiving signals from the client computing device representative of physical movement thereof along the three axes.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the lottery services module further comprises program code that when executed, generates a real lottery ticket issued from a government sanctioned lottery authority.

15. A computer-implemented method for providing an interactive video game having a lotterized component and a skill-based wagering component, the method comprising executing on a processor program code for:

generating an interactive game play instance playable on a client computing device;

conducting a real world lottery transaction within the game play instance; and

managing wagers on the outcome of the game play instance for a chance to win real world money, the outcome being at least partially determined on the basis of player skill.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising managing virtual credits used to purchase virtual items for the game play instance, tokens for wagering on the outcome of the game play instance, and real world currency used to purchase at least one of the virtual credits and the tokens.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein generating the interactive game play instance comprises generating the interactive video game in a single player mode and in a multi-player mode.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein generating the interactive game play instance comprises generating the game play instance as a skill-based battle between a first player and a computer in the single player mode, and the skill-based battle between the first player and a second player in the multi-player mode.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein generating the interactive game play instance comprises generating the game play instance as a skill-based battle between a first player and a second player in the single player mode, the second player corresponding to a real player not online and represented by a computer, and wherein the outcome of the skill-based battle has an impact on a game status of the second player.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein conducting a real world lottery transaction comprises generating a real lottery ticket by receiving a real lottery ticket transaction request within the game play instance, and wherein generating the interactive game play instance comprises generating the real lottery ticket request as a result of an action taken by at least one of the first player and the second player in the skill-based battle.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein conducting a real world lottery transaction comprises setting a prize for the real world lottery transaction in accordance with the wager placed on the outcome of the game play instance.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein conducting a real world lottery transaction comprises allocating a prize for the real world lottery transaction independently from the outcome of the game play instance.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein generating the interactive game play instance comprises presenting an opportunity to purchase weapons and fortifications using the virtual credits, in order to set-up a game board.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein presenting an opportunity to purchase weapons comprises presenting weapons that vary in cost, scope of damage, and degree of damage.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein presenting an opportunity to purchase fortifications comprises presenting fortifications that vary in cost and resistance to attack as a function of a type of weapon used.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein generating the interactive game play instance comprises controlling aiming of the weapons at the fortifications using an accelerometer that rotates on three axes.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein controlling aiming of the weapons at the fortifications using an accelerometer comprises receiving signals from the client computing device representative of physical movement thereof along the three axes.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein conducting a real world lottery transaction comprises generating a real lottery ticket issued from a government sanctioned lottery authority.

29. A computer readable medium having stored thereon program code executable by a processor for providing an interactive video game having a lotterized component and a skill-based wagering component, the program code executable for:

generating an interactive game play instance playable on a client computing device;

conducting a real world lottery transaction within the game play instance; and

managing wagers on the outcome of the game play instance for a chance to win real world money, the outcome being at least partially determined on the basis of player skill.