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

• US 20070117621A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James, WALKER, Jay, Fincham, Magdalena, Sammon, Russell
• Granted Patent: US 7,985,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• 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 for conducting a tournament contemporaneously with an event, comprising:

uniquely identifying a player communicating with a central controller via an associated player device;

allowing the player to participate in the tournament via the associated player device upon payment of an entry fee;

generating a challenge based on the contemporaneous event;

communicating the challenge to the associated player device;

receiving an indication of an answer provided by the player in response to the challenge; and

determining, based at least in part on the indication of the player'"'"'s answer, whether the player qualifies to win a prize.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge is based on an action of a character associated with the contemporaneous event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge is based on an anticipated action of a character associated with the contemporaneous event and wherein the player'"'"'s answer comprises a prediction associated with the anticipated action of the character.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the contemporaneous event comprises a television show.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contemporaneous event comprises a live event.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

uniquely identify a player communicating with a central controller via an associated player device;

allow the player to participate in a tournament via the associated player device upon payment of an entry fee;

generate a challenge based on a contemporaneous event;

communicate the challenge to the associated player device;

receive an indication of an answer provided by the player in response to the challenge; and

determine, based at least in part on the indication of the player'"'"'s answer, whether the player qualifies to win a prize.

7. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

uniquely identify a player communicating with a central controller via an associated player device;

allow the player to participate in a tournament via the associated player device upon payment of an entry fee;

generate a challenge based on a contemporaneous event;

communicate the challenge to the associated player device;

receive an indication of an answer provided by the player in response to the challenge; and

determine, based at least in part on the indication of the player'"'"'s answer, whether the player qualifies to win a prize.

8. A method for conducting a tournament, comprising:

facilitating a play of a game session of a first game by a first player;

facilitating a play of a game session of a second game by a second player, wherein the first game is different than the second game;

determining a first mean score associated with the game session of the first game;

determining a second mean score associated with the game session of the second game;

normalizing a first score achieved by the first player in the game session of the first game by converting the first score into a first number of standard deviations from the first mean;

normalizing a second score achieved by the second player in the game session of the second game by converting the second score into a second number of standard deviations from the second mean; and

determining, based on the first and second number of standard deviations, that one or more of the first and second players, respectively, qualify for advancement to a subsequent round of the tournament.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of whether one or more of the first and second players qualify for advancement to the subsequent round of the tournament, comprises:

determining that one or more of the first and second number of standard deviations is greater than a pre-determined threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pre-determined threshold comprises one standard deviation.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of whether one or more of the first and second players qualify for advancement to the subsequent round of the tournament, comprises:

comparing the first and second numbers of standard deviations.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

adjusting the first number of standard deviations by a numeric constant that is based on a difficulty associated with the first game.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

facilitate a play of a game session of a first game by a first player;

facilitate a play of a game session of a second game by a second player, wherein the first game is different than the second game;

determine a first mean score associated with the game session of the first game;

determine a second mean score associated with the game session of the second game;

normalize a first score achieved by the first player in the game session of the first game by converting the first score into a first number of standard deviations from the first mean;

normalize a second score achieved by the second player in the game session of the second game by converting the second score into a second number of standard deviations from the second mean; and

determine, based on the first and second number of standard deviations, that one or more of the first and second players, respectively, qualify for advancement to a subsequent round of the tournament.

14. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:

facilitate a play of a game session of a first game by a first player;

facilitate a play of a game session of a second game by a second player, wherein the first game is different than the second game;

determine a first mean score associated with the game session of the first game;

determine a second mean score associated with the game session of the second game;

normalize a first score achieved by the first player in the game session of the first game by converting the first score into a first number of standard deviations from the first mean;

normalize a second score achieved by the second player in the game session of the second game by converting the second score into a second number of standard deviations from the second mean; and

determine, based on the first and second number of standard deviations, that one or more of the first and second players, respectively, qualify for advancement to a subsequent round of the tournament.