System and method for conducting a game

• US 8,641,496 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kane, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/106,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,218 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• 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 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A game system is provided that conducts a game having one or more players. In the game, players compete in a number of gaming sessions to achieve an ultimate goal. In one example, the ultimate goal is to win a race, with the players'"'"' progress in the race being influenced by each players'"'"' success within individual game sessions. In one example, at least one of the game sessions is a guts poker game played among a number of players.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a game using a game computer, the game computer programmed to implement an entry interface, a game interface and a game engine, the method comprising the acts of:

providing, via the entry interface, for an entry of a first player into a game, the game including a plurality of games sessions;

providing, via the entry interface, for playing, by the first player, in at least one of the plurality of game sessions, wherein the at least one of the plurality of game sessions comprises a race; and

providing, via the game engine, for the race between two or more players including the first player, each of the two or more players having a starting point in the race, some of the two or more players having a same starting point different from the starting point of the first player, wherein a winning outcome of the race comprises either finishing the race first or being in a leading position at a predetermined time during the race, and wherein the winning outcome of the race determines an advancement of the first player in the game.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of purchasing, by the first player, the entry of the first player into the game.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first player pays to enter the game with at least one of money, credit, debit, and loyalty program credit.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first player is permitted to purchase the entry to the game in a jurisdiction that permits gambling.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first player is permitted to view at least one of the plurality of game sessions in an interface at a location outside of a jurisdiction that permits gambling.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining at least one winner among the two or more players.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of assigning a random number to the first player, the random number at least partially determining the advancement of the first player in the game.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of game sessions is a poker game, and wherein the method further comprises an act of assigning to a plurality of possible poker hands, respectively, a score for each of the respective possible poker hands, dealing a first poker hand to the first player, and, based on the poker hand and the assigned scores, determining a score of the hand, and determining the advancement of the first player in the game based at least in part on the score of the hand.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising an act of determining a player score over a period of time, the player score being based at least in part on the score of the hand.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the period of time includes a predetermined time period.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined time period is at least one of a day, a week, a month and a year.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an act of awarding a prize to a player having a highest score over the predetermined time period.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising an act of awarding a prize to the first player if the first poker hand matches a predetermined poker hand.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the act of awarding a prize further comprises an act of, if the first player receives the first poker hand within a predetermined period of time, awarding the prize to the first player.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the prize is funded through a percentage of a subscription fee paid to the gaming operator.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the act of awarding a prize further comprises an act of, awarding a plurality of prizes to a top percentage of scores.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein an amount of the plurality of prizes awarded to the top percentage of scores is paid from a predetermined percentage of revenues derived from purchases of player subscriptions.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of game sessions comprises a fixed-odds game.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a payout to the first player from a predetermined payout table.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of selecting, from among a plurality of players, a winning player that wins at least one of the plurality of game sessions.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of representing, in a visual manner to the first player, the advancement of the first player in the game.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the act of representing further comprises an act of displaying to the first player in an interface of a computer system, the advancement of the first player in the game.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the act of representing further comprises an act of representing the first player as a token displayed in a race track, and representing the advancement of the first player visually to the first player as a progression along the race track.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of game sessions comprises a card game.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sessions comprises a game of guts poker.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of game sessions comprises a session of guts poker.

27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of representing the player as a token in the race.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the token is advanced based on one or more outcomes of the plurality of game sessions.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one player is not required to observe at least one of the plurality of game sessions to play the at least one of the plurality of game sessions.

30. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first player is permitted to observe at least one of the plurality of game sessions.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first player is permitted to observe the at least one of the plurality of game sessions from a location remote from a system that is adapted to conduct the at least one of the plurality of game sessions.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the first player is permitted to observe the at least one of the plurality of game sessions on at least one of a televisions, a personal computer, a kiosk, a handheld device, and a telephone having a display.

33. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a payout to at least a winner of the race.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the act of determining the payout further comprises an act of determining the payout based on the number of players participating in the race.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the act of determining the payout further comprises an act of determining a hold percentage to be retained by a gaming operator.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the act of determining the payout further comprises an act of determining a payout to at least one winning player from a predetermined payout table.

37. The method according to claim 33, wherein the act of determining a payout further comprises determining at least one fixed odds payout.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the at least one of the plurality of game sessions comprises a poker game, and wherein the act of determining at least one fixed odds payout comprises an act of determining a payout for a plurality of goals, wherein at least one of the goals occurs if the first player achieves a certain hand during a predetermined period of time, and at least another of the plurality of goals that occurs if the first player achieves a particular hand.

39. The method according to claim 33, wherein the act of determining a payout further comprises determining at least one payout to at least one of a plurality of players of a group of top scorers.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the group of top scorers within at least one of the plurality of game sessions includes players that finish within at least one of a predetermined ranking of players and predetermined percentage of top scorers.

41. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first player is permitted to enter at least one of a plurality of game sessions through an alternative method of entry (AMOE).

42. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of conducting at least one of the plurality of game sessions, the act of conducting comprising acts of:

choosing, for the at least one of the plurality of game sessions, winning game content from among game content associated with a plurality of players playing the at least one of the plurality of game sessions and determining at least one winning player;

indicating, to the at least one winning player that the player has won the at least one of the plurality of game sessions; and

providing a payout to the at least one winning player.

43. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing an entry includes an act of entering the first player in a series of game sessions of guts poker.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the series of game sessions of guts poker are played daily and wherein a new hand is dealt at least one of every M minutes and D times per day.

45. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing for the entry of the first player into the game comprises entering the first player into the game after at least one of the plurality of game sessions begins.

46. A system for conducting an electronic game, the system comprising:

an entry interface configured to receive an entry of a player into a plurality of electronic game sessions;

a game interface configured to receive, from the player, plays pertaining to at least one of the plurality of electronic game sessions, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic game sessions comprises a race; and

a game engine configured to conduct the race between a plurality of players that includes the player, each of the plurality of players having a starting point in the race, some of the plurality of players having a same starting point different from the starting point of the player, wherein a winning outcome of the race comprises either finishing the race first or being in a leading position at a predetermined time during the race, and wherein an advancement of the player in the electronic game is determined based on the winning outcome.