System and method for combining interactive game with interactive advertising

• US 7,054,831 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Poweronedate Corporation
• Original Assignee: Poweronedate Corporation
• Inventors: Koenig, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Janvier, Jean D.
• Application Number:
  US10/637,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 705/1, 705/26, 705/27, 463/1, 463/42, 463/40, 463/41, 463/30, 463/16, 463/25
• US Class Current: 705/14.5
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A combination multi-media interactive game and video infomercial enables a seller of merchandise to combine an advertising infomercial with a player and/or participant'"'"'s playing of an interactive game. Preferably, the game is a step-by-step strategic or random game, whereby a player and/or participant starts at an opening starting point and proceeds from one decision point to another. When a player comes to a decision point in the game, they are required to select a product from a group of products that is suitable for the next task that the player must accomplish to advance in the game. This requires that the player research each of the products, thereby acquiring knowledge of the same, and retain the knowledge for later application in the game through selection of the correct product for each task in the game. As the players successfully make their way through the game, they amass point, product discounts, coupons, etc. that can be applied toward the purchase of the products.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game in which products and services are advertised comprising the steps of:

sponsoring an interactive game in which a player moves between successive decision points during a story line plot of the game; and

providing said player with an infomercial about a product or service directly related to said game at each of various decision points during said game;

placing an advertisement in said infomercial conforming to a product displayed and described in a story line plot of said game,

relating said advertisement of said product to the game content at each interval of the story line plot of the game;

displaying said product or service to the player;

informing the player of specifications pertaining to said product or service;

permitting the player to select said product or service during said story line plot of said game;

allowing the player to use and manipulate images to sample and try out said selected product or service on a screen during said story line plot of said game, to traverse obstacles provided in the game with said selected product or service directly related to the game content at each interval of the story line plot of the game, said traversal of said obstacles with said selected product or service is in accordance with the overall story of the game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said player samples said product or service by using or interacting with said product or service on the screen, said method further comprising the step of allowing said player to negotiate the purchase of said product or service.

3. The method of claim 2 in which said product or service provides clues to said user that are necessary for continued play of the game.

4. An apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game comprising:

at least one central processing unit driving a gaming device;

at least one storage device to store information on said gaining device;

at least one display device having a screen to facilitate the output of said gaming device;

at least one input device to facilitate player interaction with said gaming device;

at least one interactive game loaded onto such storage device to be run on the gaming device;

at least one goal within said interactive game for at least one player to accomplish;

at least one product placement ad within each level of gaming to inform at least one player on the specifications of such product;

said at least one product placement ad conforming to a product displayed and described in a story line plot of said gaming said product placement ad being directly related to the game content at each interval of the story line plot of the gaming, and

at least one interactive advertisement for at least one product, whereas the at least one player sees a multiple of products displayed during said stow line plot of said gaming and the at least one player is informed of product specifications, whereas the at least one player selects at least one most appropriate product displayed, to use and manipulate images to sample and tryout said selected product on said screen during said story line plot of said gaming, to traverse obstacles provided in the game with said selected product directly related to the game content at each interval of the story line plot of the gaming, which said transversal of said obstacles with said selected product is in accordance with the overall story of the game.

5. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein the at least one player is a plurality of players.

6. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein said at least one most appropriate product displayed, is a plurality of products displayed to the at least one player.

7. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 5 wherein said at least one most appropriate product displayed, is a plurality of products displayed to said plurality of players.

8. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein said interactive game stores demographic information of the player and presents said player with interactive user options based upon user preferences.

9. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein said interactive game sends said at least one player updated product information from participating sponsors of said product placement ad.

10. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein said gaming device is at least one terminal video or audio display device for each player or participant communicating with said central processing unit.

11. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 10 wherein said terminal video or audio display device is a personal computer.

12. The apparatus to market inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 10 wherein said terminal video or audio display device is a personal digital assistant PDA.

13. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 10 wherein said terminal video or audio display device is a wireless communications device.

14. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 10 wherein said terminal video or audio display device is a television.

15. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 10 wherein said at least one player input device is a keyboard.

16. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods Through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein said at least one player input device is a mouse.

17. The apparatus to market, inform, and educate the public on consumer goods through the use of an interactive computer game as in claim 4 wherein said at least one player input device is a remote control.