BE1014377A6 - Cross media networked electronic game, involves players logged onto network competing against each other in multiple rounds organised by server network - Google Patents

Abstract

The game is played on computers, hand-held devices, game consoles and/or interactive television sets over a network such as the internet, an intranet, UMTS, i-Mode or cable television, or on television programs in a television format via traditional television stations and distributed via the internet or network television studios. The players are involved in head-to-head or group matches, during which they aim to eliminate each other and/or achieve a higher score or ranking, optionally in combination with one or more individual games for testing personal qualities such as reaction speed, intellectual knowledge, logic or strategy, e.g. Pacman, memory, shuffle or quiz games, the winners progressing to one or more subsequent rounds until a final winner is found. The winner and optionally the other finalist(s) are awarded prizes in the form of a jackpot, products and/or services offered by the match organisers, sponsors and/or advertisers. The players are able to make consultations via hyperlinks, downloading files, streaming files and/or storage media files. A game participant logs onto a network in order to gain access to the game according to specific instructions (e.g. filling in a form) and conditions (e.g. allow cookies), then the participant gains access to at least one graphic interface and optionally a basis software program from the game-frame via downloading (e.g. program or plug-in on the participants computer), storage media (e.g. CD-Rom or DVD), connection (e.g. television screen via cable television network or set-top box) and/or a web browser belonging to the organiser, sponsor and/or advertiser. Logos and other messages are placed in static and/or dynamic components via software (e.g. via Java, Perl or C++). The participant is matched with one or more opponents via a server with a database of available players, against whom they must play one or more games on-line within a given period of time. Participants are connected peer-to-peer with each other, via a server, website page, set-top box or television set. The result of each game is stored on a server with a database, in order to produce a result or ranking, the winner of the game or at least the highest ranking player progressing to the next round. At least one database server connects the winners up for the next round and subsequent elimination rounds are played until the finalists are left, the finalists being left to play against each other either on-line or at a specific location, resulting in a winner. A technical network of servers and an optionally secure network access, lines and/or wireless connections are used to connect the players to each other during the game.

Description

       

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  Description: Cross-media network game.



  The rise of the Internet and numerous connection possibilities and technology makes it possible to set up a network game worldwide.



  The advantages of such a game are clear to global and local advertisers: the large number of visitors and the number of page views with logos are important to them. It is therefore unique that logos or other messages are inserted in static and / or dynamic game components (eg via Java, Perl, C ++, etc), either beforehand during development or dynamically during program start-up. .



  Moreover, the final price of such a worldwide competition is an almost all-inclusive prize pool. The final winner - and possibly the other finalists to the same or lesser extent - wins a dream life in which he receives all kinds of movable and / or real estate, products and / or services free of charge that are organized by the competition organization, by sponsors and / or advertisers. offered. Depending on their nature, these may possibly be periodically renewable for life (eg with food). The information about this will be accessible for visitors via hyperlinks, downloading and / or streaming files and / or storage media files. For this purpose special links, fields or sectors are placed in the player (as an independent graphical interface), in the browser or in another type of interface.



  This electronic network game is played on computers, handheld devices (eg Palm, handy, etc), game consoles (eg Playstation 2), and / or interactive TV sets over relevant networks (such as Internet, intranet, UMTS, i-Mode , ...).



  Also in TV programs - in an adapted TV format - the game is organized by traditional TV stations and by Internet / network TV studios. Players play against each other one or more two-person or group matches. The goal is to eliminate each other and / or achieve a higher number of points or ranking. This is also possible in combination with one or more individual games with which they prove personal qualities (such as reaction speed, intellectual knowledge, logic, strategy eg Pacman, memory, shuffle, quiz, etc).

   A winning player - immediately either after another match or match series (s) with the same or different player - can promote to one or more higher elimination round (s) that ultimately lead to a final round with a virtually all-inclusive prize pool as the final prize .



  In the game, participants play one or more games against each other. You can eliminate it in various ways. Eg the winner is the one who wins the most number of games from a series of 21. it can also happen that there are groups of, for example, 5 participants, who each play 15 games against each other. Each player then plays 75 games. The one who has won the most goes to the next round. If a competition consists of, for example, four different types of games with different characteristics (eg reaction speed, tactics, memory and insight), the best of each group can be promoted.

   So the winning player can immediately either after another match or a match sequence (s) with the same or with different player (s) promote to a higher elimination rounds that

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 eventually lead to a final round from which the final winner comes. The electronic network game contains the following essential steps: the participant logs in to a network via his processing unit and gains access to the game. He follows specific instructions (eg filling in form, giving e-mail address, etc.) and conditions (eg the web browser must allow cookies). The server can send a confirmation to check the e-mail address and to give a password. When logging in to the play page, the participant gives eg his e-mail address and password and gets access to a graphical interface.

   Optionally, a basic software program of the game frame is obtained via (1) downloading (eg program or plugin on one's own computer,), (2) a storage medium (eg CD-Rom, DVD, etc.) with on it the program burned or pressed, and optionally interface, (3) via a mere connection (eg TV screen via TV distribution cable) and / or (4) via a normal web browser that goes to the site of the organizer and / or sponsor / advertizer leads.



  Subsequently, the participant is assigned via a server with data base with available players or multiple opponents with whom he must play one or more games on-line within a given time frame. This may, for example, be mandatory within the week due to the risk of exclusion. Once the opponent is known, the participants are connected to each other either peer-to-peer, or via a website page, or via a Set-Top Box on a TV set or via a server.



  Everything depends on the concept when setting up the competition. When completing each game, the result of each game is kept by a server with a data base, which results in a result or in a ranking. This server can also be with an advertiser or sponsor. If there is only one winner per two participants, it goes to the next round. In a group game where, for example, players do the eliminations among each other, three winners can transfer. So at least the winner of a ranking or a game or series of games will move on to the next round. At least one database server will connect the remaining winners to each other round. Multiple elimination rounds thus follow each other until a small group of winners - the finalists - remains.

   The finalists play against each other online or they play against each other in physical presence, so on location, against each other. Ultimately, only the intended winner remains. Depending on the competition rules, they can also be several winners.



  A technical network of servers and with possibly secured network access, fast lines and / or wireless connections are responsible for the course of the game (logging in, confirming registration, writing and keeping track of results, communicating and publishing results, CGI functions, back-up data , selection of opponents, informing the opponents, generating web pages, etc.) and taking care of any connections between the participants.



  The electronic game can possibly contain the following extensions: As an additional feature to the game, the course of either all games between opponents or a part of the games (eg from the 32 site. Finals) can be followed by visitors via the Internet. The website then contains eg a schematic overview of the race schedule and the active (current)

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 games with player data. If the game does not run exclusively via the web servers, the entire software program or part of it can be placed on the participant's computer or processing unit (eg mobile, set-top box, handheld, game console, etc.) so that the processor power of the own computer is used .. There is the possibility to act as a player with a group.

   An additional possibility is to have a player hold an online match with a competitor who is in a TV Studio during a live TV broadcast; This electronic network game thus becomes part of a TV format.



  In this electronic network game, players have at least one graphical interface to provide instructions for moving, modifying, adding and / or activating other game functions of game components (such as: pawns, discs, dice, time) elements, choice spinners, photos, video images, ...), and where the interface is written in one or more computer languages (eg C ++, Java, Perl, etc).



  Via a CD-Rom, another storage media and / or via the website (s) or server (s) (eg http, ftp, etc) the game can be distributed and activated via a computer or other electronic processing unit (eg GSM, Palm, game console, ...) either directly or via download and / or streaming; The players are connected to each other via an electronic network whereby changes in game positions are made peer-to-peer, but where the players are introduced to each other and / or connected to each other via a random or other selection system on an appropriate server (s) . The selection of opponents can take place within a certain territory or even be limited to this eg only participants from Germany are admitted to the German version of Karstadt / Wärsteiner. French people must participate in the game via the Carrefour website.

   The game is then offered via one or more websites. The local winners are then brought into the international competition at, for example, the tenth selection level. It is m. I within each frame. it is best to make the selection random.



  The players can participate either without special specifications (Open competition) or under special conditions (such as providing a login name, a password (eg via bottle stoppers, combinations of barcodes of various products, etc), an e-mail -address, name and address, registration code via advertizer, a barcode, a serial number, membership, etc). In addition, the game includes that a player may also be a computer that makes pre-selections or acts as a practice unit.



  Finally, the final round is reached. In addition to an online final round, there is also the BigGame version: in such a final round, for example, 40 finalists are brought together at an isolated location (eg BigGame home in Amsterdam equipped with webcam's, etc.). This is accompanied by major news coverage. From this location, contact with the outside world and with networks is no longer possible. Ultimately, for example, there remain 4 finalists who play the last matches live, on-stage or in a studio. At the

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 but also during selection rounds, the type of games can also be adjusted (eg extra game checkers are inserted, Tetris, Pin-
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 ball, etc.). The properties of the games can also be adjusted (eg Caramba4 with 42 fields gets 72 fields, discs are added, logos are added, etc.).

   Elimination can be done in different ways, via an individual match or series of matches (eg 10 identical games Caramba4, or 5 matches Caramba4 + 5 matches Pinball). But the points scores can also be spread over a group and the winner (s) with the highest cumulative score (s) may go to the next round. It is therefore possible to work via direct elimination or via a group competition.



  The losers can take part in the game, and thus the competitions again, but then through resit rounds, and larger competition groups can be formed and significantly fewer winners can be entered in a later higher round. Eg only 2% of those left over from the losers competition can join the winners competition again at level 14. Losers can also be admitted again via a paying membership system.



  It is important that game components contain logos that may be adjusted automatically according to the website or the network from which you are logging in (eg participating from the Shell website provides a graphical interface with disks bearing the Shell logo, participation via sponsor Uunet gives automatic a Uunet logo in the discs, etc.).



  The graphical interface is either a normal web browser or a special player, where advertising spaces (eg banners, animated gifs) and / or videos (eg explanation of companies, explanation of game rules) are included. Via hyperlinks, related information eg ranking per country, extra prizes per country, name of the highest scorer, etc. can be consulted by surfers and participants.



  This interactive electronic network game can be supported by a TV program or TV version, a hard plastic version of the game with logos of one or more advertisers or sponsors, special storage media (eg game CD) and / or advertisement campaigns (eg every advertiser must mention the game on every campaign in the media. The main prize is the realization of a dream life. Such a dream life can be limited to a region, country or branched world wide. can, however, limit the market segment to a specific sector (eg cars with all kinds of services and products).

   For the final winner, the dream prize in the case of a worldwide competition means, for example, a package containing: a beach house with jetty and tennis court in the Bahamas, a chalet in Aspen, an apartment in New York, a 20-meter yacht, a Porsche every 5 years, lifelong free airline tickets from KLM, lifelong free Coca-Cola drink, lifelong free Kinepolis movie tickets, free 20

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 costumes, shirts and shoes from Daniel Hechter every year, a new TV set from Sony every three years, an annual sum of money,, annually free 5,000 liters of Shell petrol, free for life 36 bottles of Piper Heidseick Champagne, free lifetime member of a golf club , a free tennis racket every year and 200 tennis balls from Wilson, free K2 ski equipment every year, 500 kg per year.

   free pet food from Petfoods, every year the newest computer from Dell with internet connections, free 500 liters of beer per year, free Cleaning service from CleanHouse Inc., free insurance from Royal Belge, an old-timer Buggatti from 1921, annually 20 meals from Traiteur Jacobs, etc., and for the other three finalists lower prices and / or shorter duration (eg 10 years). A game in the Netherlands will of course limit itself in terms of participants, and therefore also the prize pool, so the beach house in the Bahamas then becomes, for example, an apartment in Zandvoort. Local preselections (eg Belgium level) can also give interim prizes that are provided by lower national sponsors or advertisers. Only the main sponsors then come to the European level.



  A series of applications of games for an electronic network game are those in which discs or geometric figures (eg triangles, squares, etc) fall or rise in a frame in the game in question, so that rows, lines or geometric patterns must be made with it.



  An electronic network game can also be a game between two players where the game consists of at least two different games (eg Caramba4, Pinball, OXO, memory, Poker, Quiz, Trivial, etc.), of which possibly a surprise game, and in which, in addition to the intellectual aspect, motor skills, adaptability and reaction speed can also play a role. An identical value can be attached to each type of game, but a ponderation. Such a multi-competition can also only be used in the resits.



  If it is deemed necessary, the participants will, under certain circumstances, play against each other in electronic versions, in physical configurations (eg Plastic version) or take various tests (eg Sport test, equilibrium test, quiz, card game, etc.). .).



  Here the participants show that they have additional "skills" in addition to the initial competition for one or more central games. In a competition on a website of a company, this gives the company the opportunity to organize events or to deal with possible fraud.



  Depending on the server, bandwidth and overall configuration, users can play via a real-time video conference.



  Electronic and cross-media network game where the use of logo-containing game components is very important, and where the prize pool is so impressive that both the participants - with the aim of becoming the final winner - and sponsors and advertisers - with the aim of promoting as much as possible. to participate.


    

Claims (2)

 000 liters of Shell petrol, lifelong free 36 bottles of Piper Heidseick Champagne, lifelong free member of a golf club, a free tennis racket every year and 200 tennis balls from Wilson, free K2 ski equipment every year, 500 kg per year. free pet food from Petfoods, every year the newest computer from Dell with internet connections, free 500 liters of beer per year, free Cleaning service from CleanHouse Inc., free insurance from Royal Belge, an old-timer Buggatti from 1921, annually 20 meals from Traiteur Jacobs, etc., and for the other three finalists lower prices and / or shorter duration (eg 10 years); 16.  Electronic network game, as described in claim 1, wherein rows or geometric patterns are to be made from a game in which discs or geometric figures (e.g. triangles, squares, etc.) fall or ascend into a frame; An electronic network game, as described in claim 1, wherein a match between two players consists of at least two mutually different games (e.g., Caramba4, Pinball, OXO, memory, Poker, Quiz, Trivial, etc.), of which possibly a surprise game, and in which besides the intellectual aspect also motor skills, adaptability and reaction speed can play a role, and in which such multi-competition is possibly only used in the resits; 18.  Server, as described in claim 2, as well as the bandwidth and the configuration that allows users to play via real-time video conference; An electronic network game, as described in claim 1, wherein the use of logo-containing game components is very important and the prize pool is so impressive that both the participants-with the goal of becoming the end-winner - as sponsors and  <Desc / Clms Page number 10>  advertisers - with the aim of promoting as many promotional wishes as possible. Conclusions 1. An electronic network game - that is played on computers, handheld devices, game consoles and / or interactive TV sets over relevant networks (such as Internet, intranet, UMTS, i-Mode, cable, ... and eg. via set-top boxes) and in TV programs in a TV format are distributed by traditional TV stations and by Internet / network TV studios - where players play one or more two-person or group matches against each other for the purpose of eliminate each other and / or achieve a higher number of points or ranking, possibly in combination with one or more individual games with which they prove personal qualities (such as reaction speed, intellectual knowledge, logic, strategy eg.  Pacman, memory, shuffle, quiz, etc) so that a winning player - immediately either after another match or match series (s) with the same or different player - can promote to one or more higher elimination round (s) that ultimately lead to a final round with as final prize a virtually all-inclusive prize pool whereby the final winner - and possibly the other finalists to the same or lesser extent - free of charge - and possibly lifelong or periodically renewable - all kinds of movable and / or real estate, products and / or services receives that is offered by the competition organization, sponsors and / or advertisers, whereby the players can also consult via hyperlinks, downloading and / or streaming files and / or storage media files, and the course is thus:    a. the participant logs in to a network and gains access to the game according to specific instructions (eg filling in form) and conditions (eg allowing cookies), b. the participant gets access to at least a graphical interface - and possibly a basic software program of the game frame - via downloading (eg program or plug-in on their own computer,), storage media (eg CD-ROM, DVD, etc. ), mere connection (eg TV screen via TV distribution cable / set-top box) and / or via a web browser of the organizer and / or sponsor / advertizer, c.  In static and / or dynamic game components, software-based (eg via Java, Perl, C ++, etc) logos or other messages are inserted, either in advance or dynamically, d. the participant will be indicated - via a database-based server with available players or multiple opponents with whom he must play one or more games on-line within a given time frame, e. the participants are connected to each other either peer-to-peer, or via a server, or via a website page, or via a Set-Top Box on a TV set, f. the result of every match is kept by a server with a database, which results in a result or in a ranking,  <Desc / Clms Page number 7>  g. at least the winner of a ranking or a game or game series moves to the next round, h.  at least one database server connects winners with each other for the next round, i. elimination rounds follow each other until a small group of winners - the finalists - remain, j. the finalists play against each other either online or on location, until the intended winner or winners are reached, k. a technical network of servers and with possibly secured network access, lines and / or wireless connections is responsible for the course of the game and the connections between the participants, and possibly including: 1. the progress of either all games or part of the games can be followed by visitors via the Internet, m.  The entire software program or part of it can be placed on the computer or processing unit (eg mobile, set-top box, handheld, game console, etc.) of a participant, n. the possibility of acting as a player with a group; o. the possibility of having a player hold an online match with an opponent in a TV Studio during a TV broadcast p. participants play against each other in a physical location in certain circumstances in electronic versions, in physical configurations (eg Plastic version) or take various tests (eg  Sport test, balance test, quiz, card game, ...) ; An electronic network game, as described in claim 1, wherein players can give instructions on at least one graphical interface for moving, modifying, adding and / or activating other game functions of game components (such as: pawns, discs, dice, time elements, choice spinners, photos, video images, ...), and where the interface is written in one or more computer languages (eg C ++, Java, Perl, etc); 3.  Electronic network game, as described in claim 1, which can be distributed and activated via a CD-Rom, another storage media and / or via website (s) or server (s) (e.g. http, ftp, etc) via a computer or other electronic processing unit (eg GSM, Palm, game console, ...) either directly, or via download and / or streaming; ; An electronic network game, as described in claim 1, wherein players are connected via each other via an electronic network and wherein changes in game positions are made peer-to-peer, but where the players are introduced to each other and / or with  <Desc / Clms Page number 8>  are connected to each other via a random or other selection system on an appropriate server (s); 5.  Electronic network game, as described in claim 1, offered via one or more websites; A player as described in claim 1, who can participate either without special specifications or under special conditions (such as providing a login name, a password, an e-mail address, name and address, registration code via advertizer, a barcode , a serial number, membership, etc.), including a player who is a computer that makes pre-selections or can act as a practice unit; 7. Final round, as described in claim 1, being the final round with for example 40 finalists at an isolated location (eg BigGame home in  EMI8.1  Amsterdam equipped with webcam 's, etc.) where no contact with the outside world and with networks is possible, 8.  Final round, as described in claim 1, on location from which, for example, 4 finalists remain who play the final matches live, on-stage or in a studio; 9. Final round, as described in claim 1, wherein the type of games can be adjusted (e.g. additional game checkers, Tetris, Pinn-ball, etc.) and / or features of games (e.g. Caramba4 with 42 fields) 72 fields, "wild card" discs are added, logos are added, etc.); 10.  Eliminate, as described in claim 1, via an individual competition or competition series (e.g. 10 identical games Caramba4, or 5 competitions Caramba4 + 5 competitions checkers) or the point scores are spread over a group and the winner (s) with the highest cummulative score (s) may go to the next round; 11. Competition, as described in claim 1, in which the losers can participate again via a second chance round; 12. Game components, as described in claim 1, contain logos, optionally automatically adjusted according to the website or network from which the login is made (e.g. participating from the Shell website provides a graphical interface with disks bearing the Shell logo); 13.  Graphical interface, as described in claim 1, either a web browser or a special player, in which advertising spaces (eg banners, animated gifs) and / or videos (eg explanation of companies, explanation of rules of the game) are included, as well as hyperlinks to related information eg ranking per country, extra prizes per country, name of the highest scorer, etc.;  <Desc / Clms Page number 9>    An electronic game, as described in claim 1, supported by a TV program or TV version, a hard plastic version of the game, special storage media (e.g., game CD) and / or advertising campaigns; 15.  Prize pool, as described in claim 1, limited to a region, country or truly worldwide, or limited to a particular sector (e.g., car with all kinds of services and products), e.g., worldwide for the final winner: a beach house with jetty and tennis courts in the Bahamas, a chalet in Aspen, an apartment in New York, a 20-meter yacht, a Porsche every 5 years, lifelong free airline tickets from KLM, free Coca Cola drink for life, Kinepolis movie tickets for free, 20 costumes, shirts and Daniel shoes for free Closer each year, a new TV set from Sony every three years, an annual sum of money, free annually 5.