NL1031475C2 - Game supply system. - Google Patents

Description

Short indication: Game Supply System

This invention relates to a game provision system for providing a facility to enable multiple players to play one or more selected games. In particular, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a game provisioning system for operating on a network so that users can access and play a game over a network. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for enabling skill games with prize money (English: Skill-With-Prizes SWP) and games of chance (English: Amusement With Prizes, AWP) to be played of the type in which a player plays against the "machine" instead of a person-to-person tournament. The system can therefore be widely used for games of the type with undefined odds and "controlled" payout, where player 15 plays his dexterity (with SWP) and luck (with AWP) against the machine instead of against a machine other player. With such machines, a control algorithm typically monitors payout history and always tries to maintain the payout percentage over a long period of time at a preset level - for example, 70% to 80% for AWP machines and typically around 30% SWP machines. The control of the payout is achieved by varying the difficulty of the games, questions or tasks.

We have developed a successful range of skill game machines for installation in clubs, arcades etc. where the machine poses challenges to the player or players such as questions projected on a video screen and which can be answered by pressing one or more of a set of answer buttons that correspond to a list of possible answers, also on the screen. The machines can also be played for entertainment only, but others offer prizes if the player accepts the challenge and reaches a certain level of skill. In GB 2185612 A we describe a system whereby the money balance on the machine is controlled over a suitable period by varying parameters such as the payment of prizes, the difficulty of the challenge or the time allocated to meet it, if the balance too far from the norm.

1031475 2

It is now proposed to enable such games to be played on-line via a communication network, for example via the Internet, a private network, a satellite or interactive digital cable TV or by means of a mobile telephone network, so that the network user is provided with what we call a virtual gaming machine that mimics the screen and control of a conventional gaming machine. Such a facility could be provided by an independent provider of games or entertainment, but in many cases it will be provided and operated by the network operator. Providing an online gaming facility greatly increases the number of potential players, but introduces concerns about the possibility of abuse of the gaming system by professional players who have developed their skills in particular. Our 15 studies have shown that a possible problem of providing a SWP game on-line is that the professional players actually drive up the skill level required to win a prize beyond what can be reasonably achieved by the normal player, with the result that the normal player has little incentive to play. In other words, in order to be successful on-line it is important that the feeling of the game replicates that experience on individual physical gaming machines as much as possible, so that the level of difficulty encountered ideally varies from virtual gaming machine to virtual gaming machine, and perceptibly varies over time on a certain cupboard.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a game provision system for providing a facility for allowing multiple players to play one or more selected games, and for receiving a reward under preset conditions, which system includes at least one client application for use by a player, and a server for communicating with one or more of the client applications, the server responding to receiving a game request from a client application to start and play games of a game 35 control, during which games the server poses challenges to a player via the client application and receives the user's responses thereto, the server having multiple virtual cabinets coupled thereto, each with means for controlling and / or adjusting the playing characteristics thereof in in accordance with 40, the playing history thereof, 3 where upon receipt of a playing request va n a client application the server assigns to the client application a respective virtual cabinet that has a playing characteristic based on the playing history of that virtual cabinet.

In this way, each player from a group can be assigned a virtual cabinet whose playing characteristics are determined by the playing history on that particular cabinet, instead of assigning all or several users to a single virtual cabinet whose playing characteristics are adjusted in 10 agreement with the collective performance of a large number of players. In practice, a large number of respective virtual cabinets will typically be available, each with a playing characteristic determined by the playing history on that particular cabinet and independent of the playing histories of the other cabinets, the playing characteristics generally slightly different from cabinet to cupboard and with time, thus copying the feeling of their physical counterparts.

Although in many cases a virtual cabinet will be assigned to each player on a piece-by-piece basis, in some circumstances there may be a group of virtual cabinets, each of which provides a playing facility to, for example, a random group of players. This can be useful, for example, during peak usage periods or if some of the virtual cabinet servers are not running for any reason.

Although the above devices allow a more dynamic variation of the playing characteristics, even in the presence of professional players, the system is still open to abuse by professional players who repeatedly access the server, hoping to hunt. along a large number of different virtual cupboards, for the purpose of milking out those whose playing characteristics are relatively simple.

To address this, the server may preferably be operated upon completion of a game by a particular player in order to reserve a respective virtual cabinet for a predetermined period, whereby the same cabinet is reassigned to a player if it returns within the predetermined period. set period. The length of the period or "stickiness" can be determined based on the cash balance or the payout percentage of 40 that virtual closet. Thus, for example, if the intended 4 payout percentage is 30%, a player who achieves less than this can keep the virtual cabinet reserved for himself for one hour. A player who achieves more than this but less than a higher preset threshold can keep the virtual cabinet reserved for twelve hours, with a long period of days if the higher threshold is exceeded.

Preferably, the server can be operated in order to start and control the operation of a number of different games with different rules. Thus, for example, the server may be able to offer games such as "Who Wants to be a

Millionaire ™, "Hangman ™" or general-question based games to attract different players. When more than one game is available to players, a variety of options are possible with regard to assigning and / or reserving virtual cabinets. Therefore, if a player completes one of a given type and chooses a different type of game (as opposed to playing the same game again), he can be assigned the same case as before. of a new type of game, a different virtual cabinet can be assigned, so groups of virtual cabinets can for instance be reserved for games of only one type of game.

Preferably, the server comprises a respective game-specific engine for each game, each of which contains the logic of a respective game. The game-specific engine may suitably be a state engine that contains the current state of each game client and monitors state-to-state transitions. Preferably, the game-specific engine monitors state changes, taking appropriate action in the case of apparent system instability or apparent tampering. The game-specific engine preferably also responds to a difficulty rating (which may be the money balance of the individual virtual cabinet server or the payout percentage) for adjusting the difficulty of that game, by adjusting the game parameters and / or the difficulty of the game. ask.

Preferably, the server comprises a server with a query data file that stores queries for the games. The questions are preferably subdivided into categories (for example, sports, general knowledge, films, etc.) and also sorted by difficulty. The virtual case server can retrieve questions / answers from the question database server according to the required type and difficulty.

Preferably, the server maintains a group of virtual cabinets and can be operated to form a new virtual cabinet if there are no free cabinets to satisfy a player's request. Preferably, the server can be operated to monitor use of the virtual cabinets and to remove one or more virtual cabinets from the set if the number of cabinets not being used during a certain period exceeds a preset limit.

Although the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features described above or in the following description.

The invention can be carried out in various ways, and an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the functional parts of the server side of the system, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram representing allocation of the virtual cabinets 26 / i 26 / n, in accordance with the payout percentage provided by a player has been reached.

In this embodiment, a number of network users 10, 12, 14, 16 gain access to a gaming 18 facility over a network 20. The network could be, for example, as shown in Figure 1, a mobile telephony network, or it would any other suitable network for providing services 30 to network users. The system is a server-based system for controlling SWP (Skill With Prizes, skill games with payouts), AWP (Amusement With Prizes, games of chance with payouts) or other game clients looking for a target that works on a distributed model where the 35 game clients are at a distance from the server. The game clients can be internet-based applets (for example with Java ™), mobile telephony applets or games for set top boxes provided via interactive TV. In all cases, the intelligence of the system, i.e., the queries, 6 payout control, etc., remains fixed in the remote facility 18, which is usually controlled by the network provider.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2, the facility 18 includes a data router 20 that serves as a highway for all incoming traffic from all game clients 10 through 16 running on the system. It validates the incoming data packets, thereby ensuring that corrupt information is not passed on to the rest of the system. It also guides data to the correct game-specific engine 22i (222 to 10 operation).

Each game-specific engine contains the logic of the individual games (such as "Hangman ™", "Who wants to be a millionaire TM" etc.

The messages from the data router 20 arrive at a particular specific engine 22i, etc. The engine is essentially a state machine engine that contains the current state of each game client and monitors state-to-state transitions. He sends correct responses to each client and monitors state changes, taking appropriate action if he finds that they are the result of system instability or intentional tampering.

In this regard, most monitoring systems observe the sequence of data stream and timing to determine if responses are valid.

The virtual cabinet server 24 manages the virtual cabinets 26i ... 26 ".

Each of the 26x ... 26n virtual cabinets mimics a conventional slot machine as placed in a typical environment such as a pub. While many players pass through a single cabinet in a pub environment, in this setup many cabinets are sent past a single player. Each cupboard maintains its own internal money balance in a manner similar to a conventional cupboard. When a new game session is started, the virtual cabinet server assigns to the player the next available cabinet 26, and if none is available, it forms a new cabinet and a new or predetermined money balance. When the player plays games, the money balance tends to grow, and when he wins it decreases. The money balance for each of the virtual cupboards is monitored and the difficulty of each cupboard is then adjusted in proportion to the money balance, with a negative balance giving a difficult game and a positive balance a simpler game. When the player stops playing, the cabinet 26n remains assigned to that player for a period of time 40, so that cabinet continues to "stick" to that player for a few hours. If the player returns within this period, the same box will be awarded to him. This setup ensures that professional players, who are very agile, are not able to quickly switch between the cupboards and skim off winnings.

5 When the preset time period has elapsed, the cabinet returns to a sleeping state, awaiting allocation to a new player. This is discussed in more detail below.

Since the number of virtual cabinets 26i ... 26 "is increased as required, there may be times after peak use that there are a large number of sleeping cabinets. Since every cupboard has a corresponding money balance, it is possible that a large amount of money is left over at some point or too short. If this situation persists, the virtual SWP server can be operated to perform a truncation routine in which the cash balance of each of the sleeping cabinets is collected and those cabinets destroyed. The resulting money balance can then be divided among the remaining cupboards. It should be noted that the aforementioned money balances are virtual and are used as an indication of machine condition and that even a box with a negative money balance can pay out a prize to a properly handy player.

The question file server 26 provides questions as desired by the various game-specific engines 22i, 222. The questions can be arranged and arranged according to difficulty, so that the server can choose the correct question based on type and difficulty. Use of a common database server facilitates maintenance, updating and correction of questions. The question file server 26 also has built-in security elements, which determine whether requests for data are valid, using various techniques including analysis of timing 30 and sequence.

A detailed example will now be given in which it is assumed that the virtual cabinet server 24 has three virtual cabinets 26i, 262 and 263 at its disposal. As noted above, in the preferred embodiments, the virtual cabinets will be reassigned to the same player who requests another game within a preset time, the length of the preset time depending on the "stickiness" of the cabinet as set by the virtual case server based on the game history as measured by the balance or the payout 40 percentage.

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The server may periodically refresh the virtual cabinets to remove the stickiness to selected players as defined in their playing patterns, and for this explanation it is assumed that none of the three cabinets are sticky to any player, at least initially.

The allocation process is shown in Figure 3. Player A requests to start a game (step 100). The virtual cabinet server checks existing virtual cabinets to search for a pre-assigned cabinet (step 102). None is found, so that player A is assigned a random cabinet (step 104), for example cabinet 26i. The player ends the game without making a profit.

The virtual cabinet 26! a standard one-hour tack is then given (step 112). Player A returns after 10 minutes (step 100) and is again assigned box 26i for further play (steps 102, 114). The player also ends this game without reaching a win (step 106). The virtual box server 24 then updates the user / box payout percentage (step 108). The payout percentage is then evaluated (step 110).

The stickiness of cabinet 1 is refreshed to 1 hour from the current time (step 112). After one hour, box 26i is deallocated from player A. Player A returns after two hours and is now assigned to him a random box (step 103), for example box 263. He plays this game without winning. Virtual case 3 is given a standard tack of one hour.

In another scenario, player B requests to start a game (step 100). The virtual cabinet server checks existing virtual cabinets to search for a pre-assigned cabinet (102). None is found so that the player is assigned a random cabinet, for example cabinet 262 (step 104). Player B plays six games and achieves winnings of £ 10 (167% payout percentage with £ 1 bet). The user / box payout percentage is updated (step 108) and checked (steps 110, 112) and appears to be greater than 30% but less than 200% (step 116). Virtual case 262 is given a higher tack of 12 hours (step 118). Player B returns after 3 hours and is again assigned box 262 for further games (steps 100, 102). The player ends this game without gaining a profit.

9

Since the payout percentage is still greater than 30%, the stickiness of cabinet 262 is refreshed to 12 hours from the current time (step 118).

After 12 hours, cabinet 262 is deallocated from player B. Player B5 returns after 15 hours and he is now assigned a random cabinet, for example cabinet 263 (steps 100, 102, 103, 104). He plays this game without a win. Virtual cabinet 263 is given a standard tack of 1 hour.

In the following scenario, player C requests to start a game (step 100). The virtual cabinet server checks existing virtual cabinets to search for a pre-assigned cabinet (step 103). None is found so that the player is assigned a random cabinet, for example cabinet 263 (step 104). The player plays four games and achieves winnings of 25% (625% 15 payout percentage). The virtual case 3 is given an even higher tack of 7 days. Player C returns after 3 days and is again assigned box 3 for further play. The player plays five games without reaching a win. Player cabinet statistics are now nine games, £ 25 profit (417% payout percentage). The stickiness of case 3 is refreshed to 7 days from the current time (step 120). Player C returns after 2 days and is again assigned box 263 for further play. The player plays 10 games without reaching a profit. Player case statistics are now 19 games, £ 25 winnings (132% payout percentage). The stickiness 25 of cabinet 3 is refreshed to 12 hours from the current time, based on payout percentage (step 118).

In the final scenario, it is assumed that players A, B and C have connections to cabinet 26i, 262 and 263, respectively. Player D requests to start a game (step 100). The virtual cabinet server 30 checks existing virtual cabinets to search for a previously allocated cabinet and finds none (step 103). There are no free cabinets, therefore a new cabinet is formed, i.e. cabinet 264 (step 122). The player plays a game without any winnings. Virtual case 4 is given the standard 1-hour tack (step 112).

It should be noted that the length of time during which the cabinets remain sticky, i.e., 1 hour, 12 hours, or 7 days, are simply examples, and similarly, the payout percentage that causes the increase in stickiness can be increased.

1031475

Claims (19)

A game provision system for providing a facility to allow multiple players to play one or more selected games, and to receive a reward under pre-set conditions, which system comprises: at least one client application for use by a player , and a server for communicating with one or more of the client applications, the server responding to receiving a game request from a client application to start and control game play, during which game the server poses challenges to a player via the client application and receives the user's responses thereto, the server having multiple virtual cabinets coupled thereto, each with means for controlling and / or adjusting their playing characteristics in accordance with their playing history, wherein upon receipt of a play request from a client application the server to the client application is a r espective virtual cabinet that has a playing characteristic based on the playing history of that virtual cabinet. 2. A game provisioning system according to claim 1, wherein each client application is assigned a virtual cabinet on a one-to-one basis. 3. Game provisioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a group of virtual cabinets is provided, each of which provides a facility for playing games to two or more client applications. 4. A game provisioning system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the server is operative upon receipt of a game request from a client application to reserve a respective virtual cabinet for a predetermined period of time whereby, upon completion of a game, the same cabinet at the same client application is granted if another game request is made by that client application during the pre-set period of time. 1031475 40 The game provisioning system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the server is operable to start and control operation of a number of different games with different rules. 5 The game provisioning system of claim 5, wherein upon completion of a game by a player on a given virtual cabinet, and player's choice of another game, the server assigns the same virtual cabinet to the player. 10 A game provisioning system according to claim 5, wherein, upon completion of a game by a player on a given virtual cabinet server, and player's choice of another game, the server assigns another virtual cabinet to the player. 15 The game provisioning system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the server comprises a respective game-specific engine for each game, each of which contains the logic of a respective game. 20 The game provisioning system of claim 8, wherein the game-specific engine comprises a state engine that contains the current status of each game client and monitors state-to-state transitions. 25 The game provision system of claim 9, wherein the game-specific engine monitors state transitions, and is operable to detect apparent system instability or apparent tampering. 30 11. A game provisioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game-specific engine responds to an indication of difficulty in order to adjust the difficulty of that game by adjusting the game parameters and / or the difficulty of the questions. A game supply system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the server comprises a question file server that stores questions for the games. 40 13. Game provisioning system according to claim 12, wherein the questions are arranged according to subject and also classified according to difficulty, and wherein the server responds to an indication of difficulty in order to retrieve question / answer sets from the question file server according to the requested type and difficulty . 14. A game provisioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the server maintains a group of virtual cabinets and is operable to form a new virtual cabinet if there are no free cabinets to satisfy a player's request. 15. The game provisioning system of claim 14, wherein the server is operable to monitor use of the virtual cabinets and to remove one or more virtual cabinets from the set if the number of unused cabinets exceeds a preset limit for a period of time. 16. The game provision system of claim 9, wherein the server includes difficulty enhancing systems and game protocols to support skill games based on at least one of player's speed, player's skill, player's memory, or perception capabilities of the player. player. 25 The game provision system of claim 1, adapted to provide a goal-seeking game. 18. The game provisioning system of claim 17, wherein the target search game is selected from the group comprising amusement-with-prizes (Amusement-With-Prizes (AWP)) and skill-with-prizes (Skill-With-Prizes (SWP)). 19. Method for providing a gaming facility over a network, comprising assigning to each player upon receipt of a gaming request a respective virtual cabinet, the playing characteristic of which is based on the playing history of that virtual cabinet. 1031475 40