Networked gaming systems and methods

Abstract

A novel networked game, such as poker, having one or more jackpots, includes a lobby screen display from which a player can request to be seated at one or more of a plurality of virtual game tables which are identified as jackpot game tables. Playing cards are electronically dealt to players at the jackpot game tables from an electronic game deck, thereby forming player hands. A dynamic game table screen display presented to each player includes a representation of a game table and players, and, at one or more times: a representation of the playing cards forming the player's hand, an indication of a fee to be collected from a pot containing amounts wagered by players for funding a jackpot, a jackpot counter for indicating the cumulative funds in the jackpot, and a message identifying one or more players at the table who have won funds from the jackpot, and the amounts which they have won.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 592,774, filed on Jul. 30, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is directed to a networked game, such as poker, having one or more jackpots. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Poker is a community card game. There are multiple variants of poker, with the popular games being Texas hold'em, Omaha hi, Omaha hi-lo, seven card stud and seven card stud hi-lo. [0006] Cards are dealt to players and the objective is to make the best possible hand of five cards from the cards they are allowed to use (depending on the game being played) To know if one hand beats another hand, the hands are compared against a ranking system used commonly in nearly all poker games. (view Appendix 1 for hand rankings) [0007] The objective is to win money in the pot by having the winning hand(s). The pot is the money or chips wagered by all players during a hand of p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] A novel networked game, having one or more prize funds comprises a lobby screen display from which a player can request to be seated at one or more of a plurality of virtual game positions which are identified as prize fund game positions. A dynamic game position screen display presented to each player includes a representation of a game position and at least one player, and, at one or more times: a representation of said player's game status, and an indication of a fee to be collected from amounts contributed by players for funding a prize fund, a counter for indicating the cumulative funds in said prize fund, and a message identifying one or more players who have won funds from said prize fund, and the amounts which they have won.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a networked gaming system having one or more prize funds comprises of at least one game server and a game client application by which a player connects to the server. At least one prize fund game position is hosted on said game server, which holds prize fund qualification logic and checks every game after completion to evaluate if the game qualifies for a prize fund. A game server controller application manages a life cycle of one or more game positions, and a database stores information to be utilized by the system. Changes made through the admin reports are automatically updated on game server controller.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a networked game, having one or more prize funds comprises means for providing a lobby screen display from which a player can request to be seated at one or more of a plurality of virtual game positions, at least some of which are identified as prize fund game positions, and means for admitting one or more players to one of said positions, comprising means for differentiating between prize fund game positions and other game positions for purposes of creating a wait list, and means for creating one wait list for the prize fund game positions and one wait list for the other game positions.

Problems solved by technology

A number of problems were encountered when attempting to add a jackpot system to an existing networked poker game.

Another problem occurs when attempting to broadcast messages upon a jackpot hit.

Yet another problem is finding space for jackpot counter images in the existing client lobby and game table screens.

Images