System and method for adding a skill aspect to games of chance

• US 20060183522A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games Limited (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Game Account Limited
• Inventors: Lawrence, Sam B., O'Neal, Kevin R., Leen, Fergus A., McNally, David G., McDowell, David M., Hetherington, Clive
• Granted Patent: US 8,105,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/00 Game accessories of general use , e.g. score counters, boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0468 Electronic dice; electronic dice simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically

Abstract

A system and methods are provided in which a certain level of the chance aspect of a game or other application is removed and a certain level of a skill aspect is added. This may be accomplished by using an indicator to establish a predetermined number of move numbers for one or more players in the game. For example, the indicator may be used to determine a first group of move numbers for a first player and a second group of move numbers for a second player. The players use the pre-established move numbers to advance according to the rules of the game. Depending on the particular embodiment, the move numbers within a group may be sequenced or non-sequenced. Move numbers may be replaced at each player'"'"'s turn or when all or a subset of the move numbers of a group are used. Move numbers may be established by any type of indicator such as dice, dominos, or a random number generator. In some embodiments, move numbers may be traded in. Move numbers may or may not be visible at predetermined times to one or more players.

Claims

1. A system for executing a game or other application in which users make moves, the system comprising:

a processor; and

an application operable to be executed by the processor, wherein the application is operable to perform a method of making moves, comprising;

using an indicator to determine one or more numbers; and

advancing a number of positions corresponding to at least one of the one or more numbers;

wherein the using the indicator step comprises activating the indicator a predetermined plurality of times to determine a first sequence of move numbers and wherein, after the first sequence is determined, the advancing step comprises advancing a first time, in a first turn of a first player, by a number of positions corresponding to a move number of the first sequence of move numbers and then advancing a second time, in a second turn of the first player, by a number of positions corresponding to another move number of the first sequence of move numbers, and wherein the second turn of the first player is after a first turn of a second player.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first move number of the first sequence is not used for advancing more than once during advancements corresponding to the first sequence of move numbers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises one or more die.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises one or more dominos.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a user participates in the game or application by taking turns, and wherein one or more move numbers of the first sequence of move numbers is visible to the user at times during the game or application other than the user'"'"'s turn.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a user participates in the game or application by taking turns, and wherein move numbers are invisible to the user until selected by the user upon the user'"'"'s turn.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising the step of trading in one or more move numbers for one or more substitute move numbers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the using the indicator step further comprises activating the indicator a predetermined number of times to determine a second sequence of one or more move numbers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the total of the move numbers of the first sequence of move numbers is within a predetermined range of the total of the move numbers of the second sequence of move numbers.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the total of the move numbers of the first sequence of move numbers equals the total of the move numbers of the second sequence of move numbers.

11. A system for executing a game or other application in which users make moves, the system comprising:

a processor; and

an application operable to be executed by the processor, wherein the application is operable to perform a method of making moves, comprising;

using an indicator to determine a plurality of numbers;

then advancing a number of positions corresponding to at least one of the plurality of numbers;

wherein the using the indicator step comprises activating the indicator a predetermined plurality of times to determine a first group of move numbers and wherein, after the first group of move numbers is determined, the advancing step comprises advancing a first time, in a first turn, by a number of positions corresponding to a first move number of the first group of move numbers; and

using the indicator a second time during the first turn to determine one or more substitute move numbers to replace the one or more move numbers of the first group of move numbers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the step of using the indicator a second time is accomplished after the step of advancing a first time.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising advancing a second time by a number of positions corresponding to a second move number of the first group of move numbers.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first group of move numbers comprises a sequence of a plurality move numbers.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises one or more die.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises one or more dominos.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein a user participates in the game or application by taking turns, and wherein one or more move numbers of the first group of move numbers is visible to the user at times during the game or application other than the user'"'"'s turn.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein a user participates in the game or application by taking turns, and wherein move numbers are invisible to the user until selected by the user upon the user'"'"'s turn.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising the step of trading in one or more move numbers for one or more substitute move numbers.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the using the indicator step further comprises activating the indicator a predetermined number of times to determine a second group of one or more move numbers.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the total of the move numbers of the first group of move numbers is within a predetermined range of the total of the move numbers of the second group of move numbers.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the total of the move numbers of the first group of move numbers equals the total of the move numbers of the second group of move numbers.

23. A system for executing a game or other application in which users make moves, the system comprising:

a processor; and

an application operable to be executed by the processor, wherein the application is operable to perform a method of making moves, comprising;

prior to a move by a first user, using an indicator a first time a predetermined number of times to determine a plurality of move numbers for the first user;

the first user advancing a first time by a number of positions corresponding to at least one of the plurality of move numbers; and

using the indicator a second time to determine at least one substitute move number replaces at least one of the pluralities of move numbers.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the step of using the indicator a first time results in a first plurality of move numbers and wherein the step of using the indicator a second time results in a second plurality of move numbers and wherein the advancing step comprises advancing a first time by a number of positions prior to step of using the indicator a second time.