Games, and methods for improved game play in games of chance and games of skill

• US 6,565,084 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Felsher, Andrew, Dawson, Gary, Katz, Randall Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, D
• Application Number:
  US09/585,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.1, 273/269, 273/439, 463/17, 463/9, 463/40
• US Class Current: 273/138.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• 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 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A variety of games and methods for enhancing game play are provided. In one aspect, a secondary or ancillary game is played in parallel with a first game, such as a lottery ball draw. Yet another game involves the selection of items which a player or participant believes had been selected by an audience as not being the most popular. In yet another aspect, an interstitial progressive sequencing of programming is provided, such as where a series of short segments are presented at differing times throughout an evening of prime time programming. Audience participation may be enhanced by permitting Internet access to the game system, and to permit remote users to play along as if they were in studio participants or part of the studio audience.

Claims

1. A method for enhanced game play in association with generation of a plurality of random numbers comprising the steps of:

selecting a series of events to be compared to the sequential, random selection of numbers, wherein the events are selected from the group consisting of;

that a subsequent random number will be (1) higher or lower than a previously selected number and (2) odd or even,

generating the plurality of random numbers,

comparing the selection of the series of events with the plurality of random numbers, and

determining a winner based on the number of positive comparisons from the preceding step.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generation of the plurality of numbers is for a lottery.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of random numbers is mechanical.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mechanical selection utilizes balls.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the balls are ping-pong balls.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of numbers is electrical.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the electrical selection includes a random number generator.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection of the series of events comprises a game of chance.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the game of chance involves a determination regarding the actions in the sequential, random selection of numbers.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the game involves multiple players.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the players are ranked according to a score.

12. The method of claim 1 further including the step of advising a contestant of the probability of an outcome of an upcoming event.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication medium is television.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication medium is the Internet.

15. The method of claim 14 further including the step of providing a physical product to the player memorializing their selected portions of the second game.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the physical product is a lottery ticket.

17. The method of claim 1 further including audience participation in the game show.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the audience participation is via interactive video.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the audience participation is via the internet.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the audience participation is via inter active television.

21. A method for ancillary game play in a lottery comprising the steps of:

obtaining a pool of contestants to participate in the ancillary game,

sequentially selecting a plurality of random numbers for use in the lottery,

upon each sequential selection of a random number, comparing an additional attribute, beyond said random number for use in the lottery, associated with that selection versus corresponding attributes of the pool of contestants,

permitting those contestants with matching attributes to the attribute of the selected random number to continue game play with the next random number selection, and

continuing the selection of random numbers, comparing of attributes and permitting matches to continue until all random numbers are selected.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the pool of contestants comprises lottery game players.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the selection of numbers is mechanical.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the mechanical selection utilizes balls.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the balls are ping-pong balls.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the selection of numbers is electrical.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the electrical selection includes a random number generator.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the ancillary game comprises a game of chance.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of comparing an attribute associated with the random number selection is performed after the random numbers are selected.