Systems and methods for prize discovery games

• US 8,771,059 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geonomics Global Games Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Geonomics Global Games Ltd.
• Inventors: Oakes, James Allan, Oakes, Henry Edward, Arbib, Benjamin Guy, Young, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US13/189,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 463 17- 19, 463/26, 463/25, 463/27, 463/28, 463/30, 463/42, 273/138.1, 273/269, 273/274, 273/444
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Systems and methods for map-based prize discovery game are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for map-based prize discovery games may comprise: establishing an online game based on a map that includes a plurality of grid units; placing at least one object in hidden association with one or more predetermined grid units in the map; receiving from a first player at least one token and a selection of at least one available first grid unit; associating the selected at least one first grid unit with the first player; determining whether the first player wins a prize based on the selection of the at least one first grid unit and the placement of the at least one object in hidden association with the one or more predetermined grid units in the map. In another exemplary embodiment, it may be determined whether the first player wins based on a probability algorithm.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for a map-based prize discovery game, the method comprising:

establishing an online game based on a map that includes a plurality of grid wherein said map is of a geographic region and each of the at least one grid unit on the map is associated with a corresponding real-world location;

placing at least one object in hidden association with one or more predetermined grid units in the map;

receiving, via a graphical user interface, from a first player at least one token;

receiving the first player'"'"'s selection of the at least one grid unit automatically based on the player'"'"'s real-world location;

associating the selected at least one first grid unit with the first player;

determining, using at least one processor, whether the first player wins a prize based on the selection of the at least one first grid unit and the placement of the at least one object in hidden association with the one or more predetermined grid units in the map.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

contributing the at least one token to the prize if the first player does not win any prize, thereby increasing the prize amount for a subsequent winner.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accepting enrollment of a plurality of players in the map-based game after establishing the game.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one token is distributed to the first player free of charge, said method further comprising presenting at least one item of advertising from at least one source, wherein the source or an originator of the at least one item of advertising contributes to at least a portion of the at least one prize.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of establishing a map-based game includes providing to the first player a ticket at a retail location, wherein said ticket, when processed by a device, allows the first player to access at least one functionality in the online game.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one functionality is selected from a group comprising:

giving the player a greater probability of winning the prize;

giving the player the ability to select at least one grid unit; and

giving the player one or more tokens.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one object comprises a plurality of related objects that are placed in the map in accordance with a common relationship.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of grid units is associated with a permission, said permission determining whether the grid unit can be selected by a second player subsequent to its selection by the first player.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising revealing the at least one object to the first player if the first player'"'"'s selection of the at least one location matches one or more predetermined grid units corresponding at least one object placed on the map.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first player'"'"'s winning selection is hidden from a second player for a predetermined time period.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of grid units contains a plurality of layers, wherein the at least one object is placed in the at least one layer of the one or more predetermined grid units.

12. A computer-implemented method for a map-based prize discovery game, the method comprising:

establishing an online game based on a map that includes a plurality of grid units wherein the map is of a geographic region and each of the at least one grid unit on the map is associated with a corresponding real-world location;

receiving, via a graphical user interface, from a first player at least one token and a selection of at least one available first grid unit, said selection being received automatically based on the player'"'"'s real-world location;

associating the selected at least one first grid unit with the first player;

determining whether to reveal a hidden object to the first player based on a probability calculation; and

revealing the hidden object in response to the step of determining.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising accepting enrollment of a plurality of players in the map-based game after establishing the online game.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the probability calculation takes into consideration a number of grid units in the game that have not been selected and a total number of revealed objects.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of contributing the at least one token to the prize based on the step of determining, thereby increasing the prize amount for a subsequent winner.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of the at least one object is associated with one of a plurality of tiers, and wherein the probability calculation takes into consideration the tier associated with the selected at least one first grid unit.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one token is distributed to the first player free of charge, said method further comprising presenting at least one item of advertising from at least one source, wherein the source or an originator of said at least one item of advertising contributing to at least a portion of the at least one prize.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of establishing a map-based game includes providing to the first player a ticket at a retail location, wherein said ticket, when processed by a device, allows the first player to access at least one functionality in the online game.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one functionality includes one or more from the group comprising:

giving the player a greater probability of winning the prize;

giving the player the ability to select at least one grid unit; and

giving the player one or more tokens.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said grid units is associated with a permission, said permission determining whether the grid unit can be selected by a second player subsequent to its selection by the first player.

21. The method according to claim 12, further comprising displaying a result of the determining step to at least the first player.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the results are hidden from a second player for a predetermined time period.

23. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of grid units contains a plurality of layers, wherein at least one layer of the selected at least one first grid unit is associated with the player.