SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING PLAY OF A VIDEO GAME VIA A WEB SITE

• US 20060287046A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena M. Fincham, Russell P. Sammon
• Original Assignee: James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena M. Fincham, Russell P. Sammon
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US11/461,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287046A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method and system for operating a video game or video game tournament (e.g., via a Web site) is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system a bonus is provided to a player playing the video game or participating in the video game tournament. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if a rating associated with the player is worse than a threshold rating. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition is identified. Such a condition may be, for example, a condition that indicates the player will soon cease playing the video game or participating in the tournament.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating game play on a network of video games, comprising:

calculating a first player ranking from game outcomes received by a first player from the video game,

calculating a second player ranking from game outcomes received by a second player from the video game;

determining the difference between the first player ranking and the second player ranking; and

providing a bonus to the first player if the difference is of at least a predetermined magnitude,

wherein the bonus changes the difficulty of the video game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the bonus comprises advancing the first player to a particular portion of the video game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing the game play difficulty includes increasing the probability of a winning game outcome in the video game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus is selected from the group of a skill, a power, or a tool.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, and

the processor operative with the program to perform the method of claim 1.

6. A method of facilitating game play of a video game, comprising:

calculating a player ranking from game outcomes received from the video game; and

providing a bonus to the player if the player ranking reaches a predetermined magnitude,

wherein the bonus changes the difficulty of the video game.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the player performance level is determined by player points, the player points acquired during game play of the video game.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the points are credits.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of changing the game play difficulty includes increasing the probability of a winning game outcome in the video game.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the bonus is selected from the group of a skill, a power, or a tool.

11. The methods of claim 6, wherein the tool advances the player to a particular portion of the video game.

12. A method of facilitating game play on a network of video games, comprising:

calculating a first player ranking from game outcomes received by a first player from the video game;

calculating a second player ranking from game outcomes received by a second player from the video game;

determining the difference between the first player ranking and the second player ranking; and

providing a bonus to the first player if the difference is of at least a predetermined magnitude,

wherein providing the bonus comprises changing a parameter of the video game to increase the probability of a winning game outcome for the first player.