Wireless gaming network

Abstract

The invention provides a prize redemption system for use with one or more game apparatuses. A game is provided on a game apparatus for a player to play in exchange for monetary input, and prize credits are credited to the player based on the game outcome. A prize selection menu is then displayed by the game apparatus, the menu including one or more prizes, where the player may select a prize that has a prize cost within the player's prize credit amount. The player is dispensed a specific prize ticket that is redeemable for the selected prize. The game apparatus can also provide specific prizes and tournament games played for a tournament prize contributed to by multiple players. An operator can adjust prizes and payout percentages of the system to achieve a desired profitability for game apparatuses. Prize input is entered into a prize table describing multiple available prizes and also describing payout information that indicates a desired amount of payout that the operator wishes to provide back to players of the game apparatus in terms of the value of the prizes. Prize information, such as prize costs and specific prize win ratios, is automatically determined by the system for each of the prizes in view of the desired profitability of the game apparatus.Additionally, the invention provides method and article of manufacture for implementing a user profile-driven gaming and prize redeeming system. The user profile-driven gaming and prize redemption system allows for the tailoring of a user's experience of playing a computer implemented game on a network gaming system by first receiving an identifier selected from a group of identifiers including a user identifier relating to the user (i.e., player) of the network gaming system, a game identifier relating to a particular game played by the user of the network gaming system, and a site identifier relating to the location (i.e. web site) from which the game is being played. The network gaming system then alters the computer-implemented game played by the user in a manner based upon the selected identifier. The foregoing technique may also be applied to a prize redemption system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 915,929 filed Jul. 26, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 433,516 filed Nov. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,068 issued Nov. 11, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 040,654 filed Mar. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,426 issued Dec. 28, 1999, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08 / 746,755 filed Nov. 14, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,918 issued Oct. 6, 1998, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.COPYRIGHT NOTICE[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a gaming system that allows users to play games on a network server and receive money for each game played. The system includes multiple gaming units connected to the server through a wireless network. Games can be downloaded from the server to the gaming units and played in real-time. The system also allows for the management of games and the tracking of player identification and game play tracking. The technical effects of this patent include the ability to provide real-time game play and monetize gaming through a network server."

Problems solved by technology

One problem with the redemption games in the prior art is that maintaining a redemption system can be very involved for the operator of the arcade, to the point of being burdensome.

But the task can become overwhelming when a large variety of prizes are offered and many different types of games can be played, each game having a different ticket payout and difficulty level.

This may lead to extra or unknown costs which can be magnified over time when large numbers of prizes are redeemed by players.

In addition, the prior art redemption games and redemption systems are not suitable for bars, taverns, and other, non-arcade public places, such as stores, hotels, food establishments, and the like.

This is because the games typically offered in bars and like places often have low appeal to players due to the absence of any sort of tangible award or prize that is received by playing the game.

For example, the bar-top and other games typically found in bars may quickly get uninteresting if the only reward a player receives is to put his or her name on a high-score list.

However, non-traditional gaming environments such as bars are not very suitable for supporting redemption systems like those found in gaming arcades.

The proprietor or bartender of the non-arcade environment often does not want to provide a booth or area to display available prizes for players due to the additional maintenance and staff needed for such a display area.

More importantly, the proprietor typically does not have the knowledge to properly adjust payouts of redemption games and offer prizes with proper and profitable ticket costs.

Even if the proprietor has such knowledge, the small numbers of games and / or the secondary role of games in non-traditional gaming environments does not warrant providing a prize display area.

However, although a wide array of options is available for home game players, players typically cannot play games from home to receive prizes.

Players may often desire to receive a prize after playing a game or participating in a tournament, but no standardized prize redemption system is provided to home players.

Any administrator of such a prize redemption system faces the same problems and overhead as described above when attempting to organize ticket winnings and offer prizes at ticket costs adjusted for a desired profitability.

In the past, providers have been restricted to a “one-size-fits-all” approach to implementing a network gaming system, which has made it very difficult when attempting to tailor many variables in order to satisfy a multitude of diverse players located in a large number of different locations.

Many issues arise when choosing games to suit a diverse pool of players.

Some games featuring violence, nudity, or certain types of adult themes may not be suitable to players under a certain age.

Further, playing games of chance may also be illegal for underage players and for players residing at particular locations.

In the past, it has been very difficult for providers of network gaming systems offering a large number of games and having a diverse selection of users to effectively target advertising to particular segments of their users.

However, a provider is forced to overcome several more difficulties when trying to implement an effective prize awarding and redemption scheme for a network gaming system having a large number of games and a diverse selection of users.

With respect to prize redemption, providers encounter several problems in satisfying a large, diverse, user base and providing a sufficient impetus to prompt users to continue purchasing games.

Decisions as to which types and amounts of prizes to award can become very problematic when trying to provide incentives, which entice players to continue to play.

For example, a middle-age male may not be enticed to play a game when available prizes are limited to toys.

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