Electronic Multiplayer Tournament Prize Allocation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Players in electronic multiplayer tournaments can only win tournament prize money and not real-money prizes, limiting the value of their winnings outside of the tournament context.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allocate a portion of the tournament entry fee for real-money prizes in addition to tournament prize money, allowing players to win real-money prizes during tournament play, such as jackpot or progressive jackpot prizes, which can be redeemed outside the tournament.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tournament entry fees are allocated only to tournament prize money, then the tournament structure remains simple and easy to understand, but player winnings have no value outside the tournament context
Solution Approach 1:
The tournament entry fee is segmented into three distinct portions: (1) tournament prize money, (2) real-money prizes during play, and (3) jackpot prize contributions. This segmentation allows each portion to serve a different purpose - tournament advancement, immediate real-money rewards, and progressive jackpot accumulation - thereby creating external value for players while maintaining clear tracking through separate virtual accounts for each fund type.
2Productivity
If real-money prizes are introduced during tournament play, then player attraction and participation increase, but the tournament system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it conducts a traditional tournament for prize money ranking, operates progressive jackpot mechanisms for real-money prizes during play, and manages separate virtual accounts for different prize types. This multi-functionality increases tournament attractiveness and participation while using a unified software platform to manage the complexity rather than requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Virtual accounts serve as intermediaries between the player's entry fee and the different prize pools. Each player has separate virtual accounts tracking tournament credit, real-money prize eligibility, and jackpot contributions. These virtual accounts mediate the complex prize allocation by automatically directing portions of entry fees and wagers to appropriate pools, simplifying the management interface while enabling sophisticated prize structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a portion of entry fees is allocated to real-money prizes and jackpots, then player incentive and engagement increase, but the portion available for tournament prize money decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of prize redemption value by introducing real-money prizes and progressive jackpots that can be redeemed outside the tournament context. Simultaneously, it adjusts the distribution parameters of the entry fee across multiple prize pools. This allows the tournament to offer diverse prize types with different redemption values, attracting players seeking both tournament prestige and immediate real-money rewards, while the overall prize structure remains sustainable through controlled allocation ratios.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic multiplayer tournament is provided in which participating players can win real-money prizes during tournament play, that is, prizes that can be redeemed for value outside of the context of the tournament prize, in addition to overall tournament prizes at the close of tournament play. The real-money prizes may include any one or more of a jackpot prize, a progressive jackpot prize or a wide-area progressive jackpot prize. A portion of a tournament entry fee can be utilized to fund the cost of the real-money prize, in direct proportion to the probability of the real-money prize being won by a participating player.