Video games adapted for wagering

• US 7,682,239 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympian Gaming, LLC (Costas, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Olympian Gaming, LLC (Costas, Inc.)
• Inventors: Muskin, Jon, Friedman, Stacy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/009,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/7, 463/9, 463/16, 463/31, 463/32, 463/42, 463/52, 463/53, 463/56
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to allow players to wager on video games. The method disclosed herein can allow players to win or lose money while partaking in any video game previously played for entertainment purposes. A player can purchase play time on a game, play the game and earn monetary prizes during the game, and then redeem the monetary prizes for real cash.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method to allow wagering during a video game, the method comprising:

installing a non-wagering video game on a computer to create an installed non-wagering video game on the computer;

installing an upgrade to the installed non-wagering video game on the computer to create an installed upgraded wagering video game on the computer that supplements the non-wagering video game by allowing for earning of credits redeemable for cash;

allowing a player, using an input device, to play the wagering video game and earn credits; and

allowing the player to redeem the credits for a cash disbursement.

2. A method to allow wagering during a multiplayer video game, the method comprising:

allowing a first player and a second player to interact with each other, respectively using a first input device and a second input device, in a computer implemented and displayed 2D or 3D playing world, wherein the first player has a first amount of credits, and the second player has a second amount of credits;

allowing the first player to allocate a first amount of risk credits from the first amount of credits;

allowing the second player to allocate a second amount of risk credits from the second amount of credits, the second amount of risk credits being different from the first amount of risk credits;

receiving an attack by the first player to attack the second player, without the direct consent of the second player, wherein the first player succeeds, wherein a probability of success for the first player is related to a ratio of the first amount of risk credits and the second amount of risk credits;

applying a credit gain to the first amount of credits and applying a credit loss to the second amount of credits; and

allowing the first player and the second player to redeem the first credit amount and the second credit amount, respectively, for real cash.

3. A computer implemented method to allow wagering during a video game, the method comprising:

receiving a deposit representing a cash amount and converting the cash amount into player credits;

presenting to a player a computer implemented video game playing world and allowing the player, using an input device, to play in the in world;

for each distance unit played by the player, automatically continuously debiting from the player credits an amount based on the distance unit;

evaluating payback amounts based on occurrences in the playing world; and

adding the evaluated payback amounts to the player credits.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

determining payback amounts for each distance unit; and

adding the determined payback amounts to the player credits.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

determining payback amounts for each distance unit;

accumulating a plurality of determined payback amounts; and

adding a total of the accumulated payback amounts to the player credits at one time.