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

• US 7,967,292 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Dawson, Gary, Felsher, Andrew, Katz, Randall Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US12/545,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 273/269, 273/274, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273/144.R, 273/144.A, 273/144.B, 273/138.2, 463 17- 20, 463/22, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 273/138.2
• 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 system for enhanced game play among one or more users of the system in association with generation of a plurality of numbers comprising:

a number generator for selecting a plurality of numbers,

a display, the display sequentially presenting images of the numbers,

an output to advise the user of the probability of occurrence of subsequent numbers presented by the system,

an input, the input configured to receive an indication of user selection from the group consisting of;

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

a comparator for comparing the selection of the user input with the plurality of numbers, and

logic to determine a winner based on the number of positive comparisons from the comparator.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the generator is a lottery number generator.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the selector is mechanical.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the mechanical selector utilizes balls.

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

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the selector is electrical.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the electrical selector includes a random number generator.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the selector randomly generates the series of events.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the selector determines sequential, random selections of numbers.

10. The system of claim 1 including a plurality of user input devices to permit multiple player games.

11. The system of claim 10 further including a comparator to rank players according to a score.

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

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the display is a television system.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the display includes the Internet.

15. The system of claim 14 further including a physical product which memorializes their selections.

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