Prize redemption system for games

• US 6,015,344 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rlt Acquisition Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Matthew F., Kelly, Bryan M., Petermeier, Norman B., Kroeckel, John G., Link, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/938,461
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/23, 463/25, 463/26, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

The present invention provides a prize redemption system for use with one or more game apparatuses. A game is provided on a game apparatus for a player to play in exchange for monetary input, and prize credits are credited to the player based on the game. A prize selection menu is displayed by the game apparatus, the menu including one or more prizes, where the player may select a prize having a prize cost within the player'"'"'s prize credit amount. The player can be dispensed a specific prize ticket from the game apparatus or other unit that is redeemable for the selected prize. The game apparatus can also provide specific prizes and tournament games played for a tournament prize. An operator can adjust prizes and payout percentages of the system to achieve a desired profitability for game apparatuses. Prize input is entered into a prize table describing multiple available prizes and payout information that indicates a desired amount of payout that the operator wishes to provide back to players. Prize information, such as prize costs and specific prize win ratios, is automatically determined by the system for each of the prizes in view of the desired profitability of the game apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for providing a redemption system for players of a game apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a game on said game apparatus for a player to play, wherein said player plays said game in exchange for monetary input from said player to said game apparatus;

providing a number of prize credits for said player based on an outcome of said game, wherein said outcome of said game is influenced by skill of said player;

providing a prize selection menu for said player, said prize selection menu displaying at least one prize selectable by said player; and

receiving an indication of a selection of a prize by said player, said indication resulting from input by player using an input device of said game apparatus, wherein said selected prize is provided to said player after said indication is received.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said prize selection menu is displayed on a display screen of said game apparatus.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said game is an action video game which provides a player with opportunities to utilize dexterity in increasing said game score, or said game is a card game in which said outcome of said game is, at least in part, randomly influenced.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said prize selection menu is displayed on an apparatus separate from said game apparatus.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a step of dispensing a specific prize ticket describing said selected prize and which is redeemable for said prize.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said prize selection menu includes a prize cost for each of said prizes provided in said prize selection menu, and wherein prize credits equal to said prize cost are subtracted from said player'"'"'s prize credits after said player has selected said prize.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said game apparatus is included in a system comprising a plurality of game apparatuses coupled together such that players of said plurality of game apparatuses may all choose prizes from a prize database communicated to said plurality of game apparatuses.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein said player may store said number of prize credits electronically to an account, said number of prize credits being available to said player at future uses of said game apparatus to use in selecting a prize.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said prize credits in said account are available to a remote prize provider, said prize provider receiving prize credits over a computer network and supplying said selected prize to said player.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said selected prize is provided to said player by sending an indication of said selected prize to a prize provider such that said player may receive said selected prize from said prize provider.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said prize credits are dispensed to said player as a number value on a printed ticket, wherein said player may redeem said prize credits on said printed ticket at a later time.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said game apparatus is one of a bar top game provided at a bar, tavern, or restaurant environment, an electromechanical game provided at an arcade environment, and a computer device provided at a home of a player.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a step of displaying advertising or promotional information on said game apparatus, wherein said advertising or promotional information portrays a particular brand of product, wherein a prize having said brand is displayed in said prize table.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said prize having said brand is a discount on a price of said advertised product when purchasing said advertised product, wherein said prize is provided to said player as a coupon indicating said price discount.

15. A method for providing a redemption system for players of a game apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a game on said game apparatus for a player to play, wherein said player plays said game in exchange for monetary input from said player to said game apparatus, and wherein said providing a game includes providing an option to said player of playing a single game for prize credits based on a game score and providing an option to said player of playing a tournament game for a tournament prize contributed to by multiple players of said game apparatus;

providing a number of prize credits for said player based on an outcome of said game;

providing a prize selection menu for said player, wherein said prize selection menu displays at least one prize selectable by said player, and wherein said prize selection menu includes a prize cost for each of said prizes provided in said prize selection menu, and wherein prize credits equal to said prize cost are subtracted from said player'"'"'s prize credits after said player has selected said prize; and

receiving an indication of a selection of a prize by said player, said indication resulting from input by player using an input device of said game apparatus, wherein said selected prize is provided to said player after said indication is received.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein when said tournament game is selected by said player, said player does not receive said prize credits.

17. A method for providing a redemption system for players of a game apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a game on said game apparatus for a player to play, wherein said player plays said game in exchange for monetary input from said player to said game apparatus, and wherein said providing a game includes providing a specific prize goal during said game that may be achieved by skill of said player, and wherein if said specific prize goal is achieved, said player receives a specific prize;

providing a number of prize credits for said player based on an outcome of said game;

providing a prize selection menu for said player, wherein said prize selection menu displays at least one prize selectable by said player, and wherein said prize selection menu includes a prize cost for each of said prizes provided in said prize selection menu, and wherein prize credits equal to said prize cost are subtracted from said player'"'"'s prize credits after said player has selected said prize; and

receiving an indication of a selection of a prize by said player, said indication resulting from input by player using an input device of said game apparatus, wherein said selected prize is provided to said player after said indication is received.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said providing a game includes providing a specific prize to said player based on a random determination.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said specific prize is determined using a prize table listing specific prizes that can be won by a player when said specific prize goal is achieved.

20. A method for providing a redemption system for players of a game apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a game on said game apparatus for a player to play, wherein said player plays said game in exchange for monetary input from said player to said game apparatus, and wherein said game apparatus is included in a system comprising a plurality of game apparatuses coupled together such that players of said plurality of game apparatuses may all choose prizes from a prize database communicated to said plurality of game apparatuses, and wherein said plurality of game apparatuses communicate with a server which includes said prize database;

providing a number of prize credits for said player based on an outcome of said game;

providing a prize selection menu for said player, wherein said prize selection menu displays at least one prize selectable by said player, and wherein said prize selection menu includes a prize cost for each of said prizes provided in said prize selection menu, and wherein prize credits equal to said prize cost are subtracted from said player'"'"'s prize credits after said player has selected said prize; and

receiving an indication of a selection of a prize by said player, said indication resulting from input by player using an input device of said game apparatus, wherein said selected prize is provided to said player after said indication is received.

21. A method for providing a redemption system for players of a game apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a game on said game apparatus for a player to play, wherein said player plays said game in exchange for monetary input from said player to said game apparatus;

providing a number of prize credits for said player based on an outcome of said game and checking whether a progressive goal was achieved by said player using skill in said game, such that if said progressive goal is achieved, progressive bonus prize credits are awarded to said player, said progressive bonus credits being contributed to by multiple players of said game apparatus;

providing a prize selection menu for said player, wherein said prize selection menu displays at least one prize selectable by said player, and wherein said prize selection menu includes a prize cost for each of said prizes provided in said prize selection menu, and wherein prize credits equal to said prize cost are subtracted from said player'"'"'s prize credits after said player has selected said prize; and

receiving an indication of a selection of a prize by said player, said indication resulting from input by player using an input device of said game apparatus, wherein said selected prize is provided to said player after said indication is received.

22. A game apparatus providing a prize redemption system for players of said game apparatus, the game apparatus comprising:

a controller providing a game on said game apparatus for a player to play, wherein a number of prize credits are provided to said player based on an outcome of said game, and wherein said outcome of said game is influenced by skill of said player, and wherein said player plays said game in exchange for monetary input from said player to said game apparatus;

a display device coupled to said controller and displaying a prize selection menu for said player after said game is played by said player, said prize selection menu displaying at least one prize selectable by said player; and

an input device coupled to said controller and manipulable by said player to input an indication of a selection of a prize in said prize selection menu by said player, wherein said selected prize is provided to said player after said indication is received.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising a specific prize ticket dispenser that dispenses a specific prize ticket describing said selected prize and which is redeemable for said selected prize.

24. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said prize selection menu includes a prize cost for each of said prizes provided in said prize selection menu, and wherein prize credits equal to said prize cost are subtracted from said player'"'"'s prize credits after said player has selected said prize.

25. A method as recited in claim 24 wherein a specific prize goal is offered during said game that may be achieved by skill of said player, and wherein if said specific prize goal is achieved, said player receives a specific prize, wherein said specific prize is determined using a prize table listing specific prizes that can be won by a player when said specific prize goal is achieved.

26. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said player may store said number of prize credits to an account, said number of prize credits being available to said player at future uses of said game apparatus to use in selecting a prize.

27. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said selected prize is provided to said player by sending an indication of said selected prize to a prize provider such that said player may receive said selected prize from said prize provider.

28. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein said game apparatus is one of a bar top game provided at a bar, tavern, or restaurant environment, an electromechanical game provided at an arcade environment, and a computer device provided at a home of a player.

29. A method for providing a prize redemption system for a game apparatus, said prize redemption system being customizable by an operator, said method comprising:

displaying a prize table on a display;

receiving prize input which is stored on a storage medium and displayed in said prize table, said prize input characterizing a plurality of prizes that are to be available in said redemption system to players of said game apparatus, said plurality of prizes including at least two different goods or services;

receiving payout input from said operator which is stored on a storage medium, said payout input indicating a desired amount of payout that said operator wishes to provide back to said players of said game apparatus in terms of a monetary value of said plurality of prizes; and

automatically determining prize information for each of said plurality of prizes, said prize information determining how frequently said prizes are to be won by players of said game apparatus, wherein said prize information is determined in accordance with said desired amount of payout and is stored on a storage medium.

30. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein said game apparatus receives monetary income from players in exchange for allowing use of said game apparatus, and wherein said prize input includes monetary costs of said prizes, and wherein said prize information includes a prize cost for each of said plurality of prizes in terms of prize credits winnable by players playing a game on said game apparatus, wherein said prize cost is determined in accordance with said desired amount of payout and is stored on a storage medium.

31. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein said prize costs are determined using an average number of prize credits awarded per game played on said game apparatus, wherein said average number of prize credits awarded per game is determined by recording and averaging prize credits won by players over multiple games played on said game apparatus.

32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein said prize costs are adjusted at designated points in time, said adjustments based on prize credits awarded to players over multiple games played on said game apparatus previous to said respective points in time.

33. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein said adjustments are provided at points in time designated by an operator, said points in time being designated as periodic with a predetermined time period, or as after each game is played on said game apparatus, or as when said operator commands said adjustment.

34. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein said operator may adjust the number of prize credits awarded by each of a plurality of games offered on said game apparatus for a particular score.

35. A method as recited in claim 29 wherein said plurality of prizes from said prize table is provided to said game apparatus to be displayed to said players as a menu by said game apparatus, said menu allowing said players to select a prize from said menu after winning at least one prize credit by playing a game on said game apparatus.

36. A method as recited in claim 35 wherein said prize input is received manually from said operator.

37. A method as recited in claim 35 wherein said prize table is displayed by a computer apparatus, and wherein said prize input is received from a remote apparatus linked to said computer apparatus.

38. A method as recited in claim 37 wherein said step of determining if said player has won a specific prize during said game process includes determining whether another player playing a second game apparatus linked to said game apparatus has won said specific prize.

39. A method as recited in claim 30 wherein said payout input includes a global payout percentage value indicating a desired percentage of said monetary income earned by said game apparatus that said operator wishes to provide back to players in the form of said prizes.

40. A method as recited in claim 39 wherein said operator may manually adjust said prize information to provide a desired amount of said global payout percentage, such that said global payout percentage is adjusted by determining an individual payout percentage for each of said prizes and averaging said individual payout percentages to determine said adjusted global payout percentage.

41. A method for implementing a specific prize game on a game apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving input game commands from a player of said game apparatus during a game process, said input game commands derived from a skilled manipulation of input devices of said game apparatus by said player during said game process;

determining if said player has won a specific prize during said game process by examining a skilled performance of said player during said game process based on said input game commands, wherein a specific prize is awarded to said player only if said player achieves a predetermined goal requiring said skilled performance during said game process, said specific prize being a good or service awarded to players;

determining an identity of said specific prize won by said player; and

indicating with said game apparatus to said player said identity of said specific prize won by said player.

42. A method as recited in claim 41 wherein said specific prize is selected from a plurality of different available goods and services, wherein an identity of said selected specific prize is indicated to said player in said indicating step.

43. A method as recited in claim 42 wherein said determining if said player has won a specific prize by examining a skilled performance of said player during said game process includes determining if said player has achieved a predetermined goal associated with winning said specific prize during said game process.

44. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein said determining if said player has won a specific prize includes by examining a skilled performance of said player during said game process includes checking whether said player has achieved a particular specific prize goal associated only with said specific prize and separate from a game score.

45. A method as recited in claim 44 wherein a circular playing field means is provided on said game apparatus, and wherein said player halts a rotating pointer at a specific location on said playing field means to achieve said particular specific prize goal.

46. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein said step of determining if said player has won a specific prize includes determining if said player is an nth player of said game apparatus since a specific prize was last won by a player of said game apparatus, where n is a predetermined number.

47. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein said step of determining if said player has won a specific prize includes determining if said player is an nth player of said game apparatus since a specific prize was last won by a player of said game apparatus, where n is a randomly-determined number, and wherein if said player is said nth player, one particular specific prize associated with said number n is selected as said specific prize won by said player from a list of a plurality of specific prizes.

48. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein said specific prize won by said player is a good or service randomly selected from said plurality of different available goods or services offered as specific prizes.

49. A method as recited in claim 43 wherein said identity of said specific prize that will be won when said predetermined goal is achieved is indicated to said player on a display screen included in said game apparatus before said predetermined goal is achieved, wherein said identity of said specific prize is determined from a prize table including a plurality of identities of specific prizes and stored in a storage device of said game apparatus.

50. A method as recited in claim 49 wherein said identity of said specific prize is indicated as a scrolling display message in a message window displayed on said display screen.

51. A method as recited in claim 43 further comprising dispensing a number of universal tickets to said player based upon a game score achieved by a skilled performance of said player during said game process.

52. A method as recited in claim 42 wherein said specific prize won by said player is selected in a predetermined order of said plurality of available specific prizes, wherein said plurality of available prizes are provided in a prize table stored in a storage device of said game apparatus.

53. A method as recited in claim 42 wherein a plurality of specific prizes are determined previously to a player playing a game on said game apparatus, each of said plurality specific prizes being offered in a different future game, and wherein said plurality of specific prizes are displayed to said player previously to said player playing said game.

54. A method as recited in claim 42 wherein said at least one physical specific prize ticket includes text or pictorial indicia identifying said specific prize won by said player.

55. A method as recited in claim 54 further comprising dispensing a physical specific prize ticket that indicates said identity of said specific prize won by said player.

56. A game apparatus for allowing a player to win a specific prize during a game process, the game apparatus comprising:

a game processor for controlling a game process on said game apparatus, said game process providing a specific prize goal during said game process to be achieved by skilled player input, said game processor determines whether said specific prize goal is achieved by said player;

an input device for providing said skilled player input to said game processor to influence said game process and to achieve said specific prize goal;

an output device for providing feedback to said player in response to commands from said game processor; and

a specific prize ticket dispenser for providing a physical specific prize voucher to said player which can be exchanged for a specific prize indicated on said specific prize voucher, said specific prize being a good or service, and wherein said specific prize is one a plurality of different specific prizes available to be won on said game apparatus by said player.

57. A game apparatus as recited in claim 56 wherein said specific prize voucher is at least one specific prize ticket.

58. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 wherein said game processor outputs a message for said player indicating which specific prizes are available when playing said game apparatus.

59. A game apparatus as recited in claim 58 wherein said output device includes a display screen, and wherein said message is a scrolling message which moves in a message window on said display screen.

60. A game apparatus as recited in claim 59 wherein said input device includes a plurality of player-selectable buttons and a track ball.

61. A game apparatus as recited in claim 59 wherein said display screen is a touch screen responsive to contact with said player such that said input device is included in said display screen.

62. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 wherein said game processor outputs a message for said player using said output device, said message indicating said specific prize for which said specific prize ticket can be exchanged.

63. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 wherein said specific prize ticket is printed by a printing device, said ticket including indicia portraying said specific prize.

64. A game apparatus as recited in claim 63 wherein said indicia on said specific prize ticket can be changed in accordance with different types of specific prizes that said player can win on said game apparatus.

65. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 further comprising a universal ticket dispenser for dispensing universal tickets to said player, said universal tickets being awarded based on said player'"'"'s performance during said game and which can be exchanged for one of a plurality of available prizes.

66. A game apparatus as recited in claim 65 further comprising a coin slot for receiving a coin from said player and a cash box for storing said inserted coin.

67. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 further comprising a scoring apparatus for accumulating a game score and a progressive score, said progressive score being accumulated over a plurality of games played on said game apparatus.

68. A game apparatus as recited in claim 67 wherein said scoring apparatus contributes to said progressive score and adds said progressive score to said game score when said player achieves a progressive goal during said game process.

69. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 further comprising a plurality of said game apparatuses linked to each other and allowing a plurality of players of said linked game apparatuses to participate in a single game process.

70. A game apparatus as recited in claim 57 wherein said game apparatus implements a tournament mode in which a plurality of players participate in said game process and said specific prize is won by a player having a highest performance of said plurality of players.

71. A game apparatus as recited in claim 56 wherein said specific prize associated with said predetermined goal can be changed by an operator of said game apparatus.

72. A game apparatus as recited in claim 56 wherein more valuable prizes have a less chance of being awarded to said player than less valuable prizes.

73. A video game apparatus for awarding a specific prize to a player, said video game apparatus including:

a display screen for outputting images of a playing field and a pointer that moves relative to said playing field, wherein at least one predefined specific prize area on said playing field is associated with achieving a specific prize goal and at least one other scoring area on said playing field is associated with increasing a game score;

an input device coupled to said game processor for allowing a player to input skilled game commands during a game process, said game commands including a command to influence movement of said pointer from moving relative to said playing field;

a game processor coupled to said display screen and to said input device, said game processor controlling said game process, updating a game score in accordance with a position of said pointer in relation to said scoring area on said playing field, and determining whether said specific prize goal is achieved during said game process based on a position of said pointer with respect to said specific prize area, wherein a specific prize associated with said specific prize area is won when said specific prize goal is achieved, said specific prize being a particular one of a plurality of types of specific prizes that can be won by said player, and wherein an identity of said specific prize won by said player is displayed on said display screen.

74. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 73 wherein said identity of said specific prize displayed on said display screen is displayed until an operator verifies that said player has won said prize and resets said game apparatus.

75. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 73 further comprising an award dispenser coupled to said game processor for dispensing a specific prize ticket to said player, said specific prize ticket having indicia indicating said particular specific prize and being exchangeable for said specific prize portrayed by said indicia.

76. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 75 wherein said playing field is substantially circular and includes a plurality of segments to which said pointer can point, and wherein said pointer is moving during said game process until said player inputs a command to stop said movement.

77. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 75 wherein said game processor determines that said player has won said specific prize when said player stops said pointer at said specific prize area, said specific prize area being at least one of said segments.

78. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 77 wherein said pointer rotates about a center of said circular playing field.

79. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 77 wherein said specific prize is determined from a prize table including said plurality of types of prizes.

80. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 79 wherein each of said prizes in said prize table is checked in a predetermined order to determine if said player has won said prize.

81. A video game apparatus as recited in claim 75 wherein said game processor displays at least one of said specific prizes that can be won on said game apparatus before beginning said game process.

82. A game system for awarding a specific prize to players of said game system, said game system including:

(a) a first game apparatus including;

(i) a first game processor implementing a game process;

(ii) a first input device coupled to said first game processor for inputting game commands from a first player playing said first game apparatus to said first game processor during said game process; and

(iii) a first display screen coupled to said first game processor for outputting images in accordance with said game commands from said first player and game commands from a second player not playing said first game apparatus;

(b) a second game apparatus including;

(i) a second game processor in communication with said first game processor by a communication link, said second game processor implementing said game process;

(ii) a second input device coupled to said second game processor for inputting game commands from said second player to said second game processor during said game process; and

(iii) a second display screen coupled to said second game processor for outputting images in accordance with said game commands from said first player and said game commands from said second player; and

(c) a ticket dispenser coupled to said first game processor for dispensing a specific prize ticket, said specific prize ticket having indicia referring to a specific prize and being exchangeable for said specific prize portrayed by said indicia, said specific prize being based on an outcome of said game process.

83. A game system as recited in claim 82 wherein said ticket dispenser is a first ticket dispenser for dispensing said specific prize ticket to said first player, and further comprising a second ticket dispenser coupled to said second game processor for dispensing a specific prize ticket to said second player, said specific prize ticket having indicia referring to a specific prize and being exchangeable for said prize portrayed by said indicia.

84. A game system as recited in claim 83 wherein said game processor commands a specific prize ticket to be dispensed to one of said first and second players who first achieves a predetermined goal during said game process, said predetermined goal requiring skill by said player to be achieved.

85. A game system as recited in claim 83 wherein said first game processor and said second game processor determine if said first player or said second player wins said specific prize during said game process, and wherein said first game processor or said second game processor commands a specific prize ticket to be dispensed to one of said first and second players who first skillfully achieves a predetermined goal during said game process.

86. A game system as recited in claim 85 wherein said first an second input devices include a plurality of buttons selectable by said first and second players, respectively, and first and second track balls controllable by said first and second players, respectively.

87. A game system as recited in claim 83 wherein said first and second game apparatuses include first and second monetary input devices, respectively, for receiving monetary input from said first and second players, respectively, wherein said monetary input includes coins, tokens, or a computer-readable account card.

88. A game system as recited in claim 83 wherein said communication link includes a link to a global computer network.

89. A game system as recited in claim 88 wherein said global computer network includes the Internet.

90. A method for providing a prize redemption system, the method comprising:

receiving monetary input from a player of a game apparatus, said game apparatus providing at least one game during which said player may win a plurality of prize credits;

providing a prize selection menu displayed on said game apparatus and receiving input from said player in said prize selection menu to select a local prize for said player based on an amount of said prize credits, said local prize being provided from a gaming environment in which said game apparatus is located; and

providing at least a portion of said prize credits to said player if said player does not use said portion of said prize credits to select a prize in said prize selection menu, wherein said prize credits are capable of being sent to a remote prize supplier physically separate from said gaming environment, said remote prize supplier delivering a delivered prize to said player if said player indicates to said prize supplier an identity of said delivered prize and provides a number of prize credits to said prize supplier sufficient to redeem said delivered prize.

91. A method as recited in claim 90 wherein an operator of said game apparatus may select on said game apparatus whether said prize credits winnable on said game apparatus are capable of being redeemed for a delivered prize from said remote prize supplier.

92. A method as recited in claim 91 wherein said game apparatus is in a catalog mode when said prize credits may be redeemed for said delivered prize, and wherein said game apparatus is in a local mode when not in said catalog mode such that said prize credits may only be redeemed for local prizes.

93. A method as recited in claim 92 wherein when said game apparatus is in said catalog mode, either local prizes or delivered prizes may be received by said player.

94. A method as recited in claim 92 wherein said player inputs monetary value to said game apparatus to play said at least one game, and further comprising setting said prize credits winnable on said game apparatus to have a standardized, fixed value regardless of any percentage of said input monetary value received as payout by said operator from said game apparatus.

95. A method as recited in claim 94 wherein said standardized, fixed value of said prize credits is set only in said catalog mode.

96. A method as recited in claim 90 wherein said at least a portion of said prize credits not used to select a prize are provided to said player as a value on a dispensed physical ticket.

97. A method as recited in claim 90 wherein said at least a portion of said prize credits not used to select a prize are provided to said player by adding said portion of prize credits to an account stored on a computer readable medium.

98. A method for providing prizes in a prize redemption system, the method comprising:

receiving non-monetary prize credits from players of games utilizing said prize redemption system, said games being implemented on game apparatuses which reward said prize credits based on outcomes of said games;

receiving an indication of a prize that said player has selected to be redeemed with said prize credits; and

providing said selected prize to said player.

99. A method as recited in claim 98 wherein said prize credits are received as a physical medium providing information, said information including a number of prize credits.

100. A method as recited in claim 99 wherein said physical medium is a ticket stub, and wherein said number of prize credits is printed on said ticket stub.

101. A method as recited in claim 99 wherein said number is encrypted information on said physical medium, and further comprising a step of decrypting said information to determine said number of prize credits.

102. A method as recited in claim 99 wherein said information includes an identification of at least one source of said prize credits and a date when said prize credit was awarded.

103. A method as recited in claim 98 wherein said prize credits are received in electronic form over a computer network.

104. A method as recited in claim 103 further comprising storing said prize credits in an account for said player and retrieving prize credits from said account when said player indicates said prize to be redeemed with said prize credits.

105. A method as recited in claim 98 wherein said prize is selected by said player on a prize selection menu displayed by one of said game apparatuses, said prize selection menu including a plurality of prizes.