Systems for implementing enhanced gaming and prizing parameters in an electronic environment

• US 9,773,373 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Katz, Randall M., Dawson, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Application Number:
  US14/330,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20160012680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

System and methods are provided for effecting user experience in an electronic game environment through use of virtual currency or vCoins. In a multi-level game, the systems and methods include memory for storing information on game play, the information including input received from the user, information relating to levels within the multi-level game and game display information for output to the user. A processor is coupled to the memory for generating game play information, preferably including game play with virtual money. The virtual money is acquired through game play or cash purchase. The virtual money is convertible into a non-cash good comprising advancement to another level within the game.

Claims

1. A system for effecting user experience on a user communication device in a multi-level electronic game environment associated with a lottery comprising:

memory storing information on game play, the information including input received from the user, information relating to levels within the multi-level game and game display information for output to the user,

a lottery processor coupled to the memory generating game play information,

the game play information being communicated to a user communication device,

the game play information including game play with virtual money,

the virtual money being acquired through

cash purchase the virtual money seine acquired by entry of a code from a physical product purchased at a retail vendor location,

conversion of the virtual money into a non-cash good comprising an image to permit advancement to another level within the game, and

memory storing account information which is increased and decreased through the user experience.

2. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money comprises vCoins.

3. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is further acquired by non-cash purchase.

4. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 3 wherein the non-cash purchase utilizes a credit.

5. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 3 wherein the non-cash purchase utilizes an inducement.

6. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 3 wherein the non-cash purchase utilizes a promotion.

7. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is subject to a multiplier.

8. The system for effecting user experience in a multilevel electronic game environment of claim 7 wherein the multiplier is variable.

9. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 8 wherein the multiplier is variable over time.

10. The system for effecting user experience in a multilevel electronic game environment of claim 8 wherein the multiplier is variable based on player status.

11. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money may be converted to cash.

12. The system for effecting user experience in a multilevel electronic game environment of claim 11 wherein the virtual money is converted to cash at a retail location.

13. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein memory stores association groupings for game play pairings.

14. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein memory stores buddy lists.

15. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the game play information further includes a leader board.

16. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a ticket for accessing the electronic environment.

17. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 16 wherein the ticket is a lottery ticket.

18. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 17 wherein the lottery ticket includes variable information regarding the electronic environment.

19. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 17 wherein the lottery ticket includes a scratch-off lottery ticket.

20. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a player registration system.

21. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 20 wherein the player registration is an on line registration system.

22. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein game play information includes a display of game play having a portion of the display with a first display image chosen by the user followed by a second display image in the same portion of the display.

23. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a game play analysis system.

24. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 23 wherein the game play analysis system tracks user specific play.

25. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 23 wherein the game play analysis system includes a decision engine to optimize the prizing structure.

26. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 23 wherein the game play analysis system includes a decision engine to maximize game play.

27. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including a game application to be downloaded to a communications device.

28. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 27 wherein the communications device is a wireless device.

29. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 28 wherein the wireless device is a hand-held wireless device including a display.

30. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the game is a casino game.

31. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 30 wherein the casino game is poker.

32. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 30 wherein the casino game is blackjack.

33. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the system includes an input to receive player selection of game speed.

34. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the system generates probability information relating to game play for the player.

35. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is cashable.

36. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is not cashable.

37. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the virtual money is acquired through game play and cash purchase.

38. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the memory storing account information is prefunded.

39. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the memory storing account information is account is funded at a retail location.

40. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the memory storing account information is a financial account.

41. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 40 wherein the financial account is a bank account.

42. The system for effecting user experience in a multi level electronic game environment of claim 41 wherein the bank account is within a geography where the user is resident.

43. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the memory storing account information is account is checked for status information.

44. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 43 wherein the memory storing account information is where status information is that the account is statused.

45. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 44 wherein the memory storing account information is statused indicates player is not permitted game play.

46. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the memory storing account information is account includes monetary amount.

47. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 wherein the memory storing account information is account includes points.

48. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 1 further including an input coupled to the processor for receipt of real time game play.

49. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 48 wherein the input is a television format input.

50. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 48 wherein the input is provided over a communication network to players located remote from the real time game play.

51. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 50 wherein players receive virtual money for game play.

52. The system for effecting user experience in a multi-level electronic game environment of claim 51 wherein the virtual money are points.