WO2002011839A2

WO2002011839A2 - A game

Info

Publication number: WO2002011839A2
Application number: PCT/GB2001/003436
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven John Donovan; Paul Kelly; John Alfred Donovan
Original assignee: Injini Limited
Priority date: 2000-08-03
Filing date: 2001-07-31
Publication date: 2002-02-14
Also published as: WO2002011839A3; AU2001276477A1; GB0019091D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for playing a game, comprising means for generating a first selection of data items from a stored master list of data items, means for displaying a first selection of items to a user, means for a user to indicate a second selection of the displayed items, and means for comparing the second selection with a pre-determined ranking of the data items.

Description

A GAME

This invention relates to (an interactive) game which may be provided on a website.

There are countless online games and lotteries currently provided on the Internet whereby winners are determined by pure chance. Such games do not require the participants to exercise any skill when taking part. There are also online contests, such as trivia quiz games, in which the participants exercise their skill and knowledge. The promoters of these online contests are hampered by the fact that competitors can find the correct answers to any questions simply by searching the world-wide web, and for this reason only low value prizes can be offered on an instant win basis. To provide a quiz challenge, it is necessary to research thousands of trivia questions, and these inevitably become increasingly remote and uninteresting when a large number is required to avoid repetition.

The present invention seeks to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for playing a game, comprising means for generating a first selection of data items from a stored master list of data items, means for displaying the first selection of items to a user, means for a user to indicate a second selection of the displayed items, and means for comparing the second selection with a pre-determined ranking of the data item.

Thus, there may be provided a skill based challenge which can generate suspense and excitement for the user. The second selection may be compared using one of a plurality of sets of rankings stored in relation to the master list, the set being chosen in accordance with a category presented to the user.

The apparatus may include means for selecting the category from a stored list of categories.

The apparatus may include means for limiting the time available to the user to make the second selection. This could be provided by, for example, an online countdown clock. This puts the user under pressure and thereby adds to the general suspense and excitement.

The apparatus may include means for the user to register to play the game.

There may be means adapted to allow the user to participate on a "pay-per- play" basis.

There may be means to record the order of the second selection of items by the user.

The apparatus may comprise a website. This may be a dedicated website or the game may be provided as a content filler on, for example, a search engine, Internet Service Provider, portal or themed website. The game could be provided with an advertising banner on a website to provide interactive promotion.

The apparatus may comprise a networked terminal, or alternatively a stand alone terminal. Thus, physical terminals for playing the game can be provided at, for example, licensed premises. The apparatus may include means for transmitting data to and from the user using any suitable receiver, such as, for example, TV sets, and/or mobile telephones, including WAP technology. Thus the user may participate interactively with the game being transmitted through the "ether" (for example by satellite), and/or carried by cable and/or telephone lines.

A specific embodiment according to the invention, comprises a website based "skill with prizes" challenge. To participate, an Internet user would be required to register on the website by providing their e-mail address and a password, the combination of which would thereafter serve as their unique login I.D. In return, they may be allowed initially to participate for free.

The user is presented with a number of general topics to select from. For example, suitable topics could be sport, pop music, television programmes, movies, pets, politics. Within each topic, there are a number of subjects for the user to choose from, or alternatively which may be selected automatically for them, perhaps at random. For example, under the topic of sports, a subject could be "Heavyweight Boxers".

The user is presented with a list of items relevant to the chosen subject, for example in this case a list of the names of famous heavyweight boxers. The number of items in the list may vary, up to any suitable number, for example eight. The user is also presented with categories which relate to the subject. For example, for the subject of heavyweight boxers, the categories could be "Punching Power" or "All Time Greats". The user attempts to match decisions already pre-determined by qualified experts in the relevant subjects. For example, the user may select, using tick boxes, half of the items (boxers⁷ names) in accordance with each of the categories. Different items in the list can be selected for each category. As an alternative the user might be asked to rank each of the items according to the category.

There may be means for the user to change their initial selection, for example by de-selecting and re-selecting different tick boxes. The user then submits their final answer for the result to be calculated.

The list of items (boxers⁷ names) presented to the user for that subject has been selected from a larger master list of items. AH the items in the master list have already been ranked for each category by an expert panel, or alternatively using polls of public opinion. Any category in a subject area which is capable of being ranked according to expert or public opinion is suitable for inclusion.

There may be a very large number of categories for each subject. Any suitable number of categories, for example four, are selected, and presented to the user.

In this way, many different combinations of categories and items may be generated each time, thus ensuring no repetition of a list of items for a given category. Thus, numerous variations can be presented for any single subject, and no user will be presented with a duplicated game. In addition, the nature of this game means that the correct answers are not to be found anywhere on the Internet, or elsewhere, and the users are therefore required to use their own skill and knowledge.

A specially designed computer program may eliminate any element of chance in the combination of the items appearing together on each instance of the game being played. In other words, the program process can ensure that some combinations of items are not easier to assess than others. Each combination of items would be subjected to the computer process which will either accept or reject the combination, dependent on criteria designed to ensure an equal level of skill for each game. This would be repeated until a combination is accepted and is then presented to the user. Consequently, all users would have to exercise genuine skill in respect of each and every instance. Each instance of the game may be provided with a unique I.D. code.

As an example of the program process for accepting/rejecting combinations of items, some items in the master lists would be certain winners/losers, i.e. those items ranked top and bottom in any category. An instance of the game which contained a number of these certain winners/losers would be easier for the user to complete than a game in which all the items were drawn from the middle rankings. Thus, setting a skill level for the game will determine which combination of items the program process would accept or reject. The embodiment includes an "instant win" facility, which calculates the points based upon the user's selection when compared with the rankings for the individual items stored for that category. The total score is displayed to the user. Prizes may be presented to the user for achieving a specified score, for example in the form of cash, points or limited free participation. A "stick or bust" format could allow the user to choose whether to continue or to keep the prizes already obtained.

The embodiment includes means to provide an audible sound effect when the user achieves a particular score.

The embodiment also includes means for the user to select to view the correct answers online, which may be in return for payment.

The user may be allowed to participate on a "pay-per-play" basis. The user would deposit a minimum amount by credit card over a secure encrypted server into a secure online account held for the user on the website, which they could then access using the unique login I.D. The deposited funds could be held as cash or converted into points. "Pay-per-play" fees might then be drawn from the account. Prizes awarded when a challenge is successfully completed could be credited to the same account, and penalties may be deducted from the account for poor performance in the challenge. Online loyalty points might be used wholly or partially as an awards currency. One or more share out prize levels might be offered, in which event all users qualify for any such share out prize would receive an equal share of the relevant cash or points.

There is means provided to up-date or amend the ranking master list for each subject by adding or deleting items, and also means for adding or deleting master lists.

Rankings provided by individual experts in relation to the lists can be entered and merged to form rankings for the master list by, for example, averaging out (and possibly rating) the opinions of the qualified experts.

There is means provided for the game promoter to alter the value and/or nature of the prizes being offered for playing the game. This allows the promoter the opportunity to react quickly to, for example, any activity by hackers or others attempting to cheat. Such type of immediate response is advantageous in contrast with the promotional games using physical game pieces which must often be manufactured in advance of a promotional period.

The embodiment may include means for providing audio and/or visual presentations on the website simultaneously with the instance of the game. For example, there could be video clips provided in an insert picture and could be of an associated subject to the currently selected subject of the game.

The embodiment may include a facility whereby the user can select any of the items displayed and will be transferred to an associated web page, for example one which contains details of associated merchandise.

It will be understood that a website may be a multi-subject website. In such a case, a player or players visiting the website can be provided with a "pot luck" option whereby the subject chosen would thus be chosen at random.

In an alternative embodiment to the website, the game could be played via an interactive television commercial. An insert for the game would appear on the screen during the commercial, and the user would click on this insert to participate. The general format of the game would then be as described previously.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing a game, comprising means for generating a first selection of data items from a stored master list of data items, means for displaying a first selection of items to a user, means for a user to indicate a second selection of the displayed items, and means for comparing the second selection with a pre-determined ranking of the data items.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the second selection is compared using one of a plurality of sets of ranking stored in relation to the master list, the set being chosen in accordance with a category presented to the user.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, including means for selecting a category from a stored list of categories.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for limiting the time available to the user to make the second selection.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means for the user to register to play the game.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means adapted to allow the user to participate on a "pay-per-play" basis.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including means to record the order of the second selection of items by the user.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a website.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, comprising a multi-subject website.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 7, comprising a networked terminal.

1 1. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 7, comprising a stand alone terminal.

12. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 7, including means for transmitting data to and from the user using any suitable receiver, whereby the user may participate interactively in the game from a remote location.

13. A computer program for playing a game, comprising means for generating a first selection of data items from a stored master list of data items, means for displaying a first selection of items to a user, means for a user to indicate a second selection of the displayed items, and means for comparing the second selection with a pre-determined ranking of the data items.