Abstract:
A method of attracting players to give preference to play with a specific computerized game provider, including: providing a multiplayer game application on a game server for multiple players to compete against each other over a network, enlisting multiple players on one or more group servers to participate in the multiplayer game application provided by the game server, collecting a fee from each player to participate in the multiplayer game, awarding prizes to one or more winners of the multiplayer game from the fee collected from each player, giving players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected in order to receive additional prizes responsive to events occurring in the game in addition to the prizes awarded to the one or more winners.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a method of attracting clients to preferentially participate in a computerized game offered by a specific server. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many games require more than one participant or a specific number of participants in order to be played. Many games have been computerized in order to overcome the problem of finding multiple participants to play the game. Some computerized games overcome this problem by having the computer play for the missing participants. Another solution is for a game server to allow remote user from all around the world to participate in the game, in order to increase the probability that the required number of participants will be found at a specific time. In recent years with the advance of computer communications, especially a high speed Internet connection, it has become common practice to match up multiple remote clients to participate in a computer game that requires multiple participants. 
         [0003]    Typically, the game server provides the basic platform for the participants to get together to play. The server deals with registration of the participants and sets the times and rules for conducting the games. In many implementations the server charges a fee from every participant for the service. 
         [0004]    In some cases there are a few group servers that are recognized by their clients as game providers. The group servers publicize the game provided by the game server to their clients and provide access to games provided by the game server for their clients. The group servers compete among themselves in bringing players to play a specific game. Generally, each group server may bring some of the players. The group server collects a fee from the clients it brings to provide the group server with a profit from this service. An example of a game which is conducted in such a fashion is poker as offered for example by the following group servers: www.titanpoker.com, www.cdpoker.com, www.vcpoker.com, and www.betfred.com/poker/. Each of these web sites serves as a group server for bringing players to play together with a common game provided by a common game server. 
         [0005]    Two common method of play are referred to as a cash game and a tournament. In the cash game each player joins a play table and pays per round. Typically, the group server collects from the player either a set sum per round or a percentage of the sum the player invests in each round. In a tournament a group of players get together to play, for example at a specific time (“scheduled tournament”) or as soon as a pre-selected number of players sign up to play (“sit and go tournament”). In the tournament each player receives the same number of chips and they play until one player wins all the chips and all the other players are knocked out. Typically, each player pays a set sum, which is allocated toward providing prizes for the winners of the tournament and also serves as a commission for the group server for bringing the player. Each group server can define the rule for collecting a commission from the players for the service provided, for example a set sum and/or a percentage of any winnings by the player. The group servers may compete with each other by charging less commission or by offering bonuses to attract players, for example paying part of the play cost for first time players to get them to join the group. 
         [0006]    As explained above competition exists between different group servers promoting the same poker game to get as many players as possible to sign up through them. Additionally, there may be competition between all the group servers representing a specific game server against other game servers promoting a competing game of the same or similar type. There is generally an interest in finding ways to make a specific game more attractive to the potential players so that they will choose to play the game offered by a specific company/server and not by the competition. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An aspect of an embodiment of the invention, relates to a system and method of attracting players to preferentially choose a specific implementation of a multiplayer computer game by offering additional options for receiving prizes during the game play in addition to those offered to the winners of the game. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a game server provides the multiplayer game. Optionally, group servers enlist players to play the multiplayer game and collect a fee for participation in the game and to become eligible to receive prizes if they win the game. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the group servers offer the players to pay an additional sum, which will make them eligible to receive jackpot awards for various events that may occur during game play, for example drawing a specific hand of cards in a poker game. Optionally, the additional sum is small relative to the participation fee, for example 5% or 10%. Alternatively, the sum may be as large as the participation fee or larger for players that like to add a high element of chance in their game play. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments of the invention, the player can select a higher sum or lower sum and be eligible to higher value prizes or lower value prizes accordingly. Optionally, the player can select a higher sum or lower sum and be eligible to receive prizes for more events or less events accordingly. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments of the invention, all players with a specific game server or group server must pay the additional sum for receiving jackpot awards. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments of the invention, the jackpot award prizes for a specific event are of a preset value. Alternatively, the jackpot award prizes for a specific event are of a value that is set as a percentage of the sum collected for jackpot awards. 
         [0011]    There is thus provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of attracting players to give preference to play with a specific computerized game provider, including: 
         [0012]    Providing a multiplayer game application on a game server for multiple players to compete against each other over a network; 
         [0013]    Enlisting multiple players on one or more group servers to participate in the multiplayer game application provided by the game server; 
         [0014]    Collecting a fee from each player to participate in the multiplayer game; 
         [0015]    Awarding prizes to one or more winners of the multiplayer game from the fee collected from each player; 
         [0016]    Giving players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected to be eligible to receive additional prizes responsive to events occurring in the game in addition to the prizes awarded to the one or more winners. Optionally, the group server serves as the game server. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the additional sum is smaller than the fee. Alternatively, the additional sum is larger than the fee. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the game requires purchase of a unitary element for game play. Optionally, some of the one or more group servers give players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, all of the one or more group servers give players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected. Optionally, the game is a computerized poker game. 
         [0017]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an additional prize is awarded for drawing a specific hand of cards. Optionally, an additional prize is awarded to a player in a poker tournament that wins the most rounds in the game even if the player does not win the tournament. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an additional prize is awarded to a player that wins a specific number of rounds consecutively. Optionally, an additional prize is awarded to a player in a poker tournament that wins a specific number of tournaments consecutively. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an additional prize is awarded to a player with a pre-selected good hand that loses to an even better hand. Optionally, an additional prize is awarded to a player that knocks out the most opponents in a tournament. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an additional prize is awarded to a player that loses in all the rounds in a tournament. Optionally, the player can add different additional sums and be eligible to receive better or worse additional prizes accordingly. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the player can add different additional sums and be eligible to receive prizes responsive to more or less events accordingly. Optionally, the additional prizes are of a preset value. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the additional prizes are of a value determined by a percentage of the sum collected. 
         [0018]    There is thus additionally provided by an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a system for providing computerized games over a network, including: 
         [0019]    A game server adapted to provide a multiplayer game that is accessed by client stations over a communication network. 
         [0020]    One or more group servers adapted to sign up players to participate in the multiplayer game provided by the game server. 
         [0021]    Wherein the one or more group servers are adapted to charge a fee from players that sign up to participate in the multiplayer game to provide prizes for the winners of the multiplayer game; and 
         [0022]    Wherein the one or more group servers are adapted to offer the player to pay an extra sum in addition to the fee, to be eligible to receive additional prizes responsive to events occurring in the multiplayer game, in addition to the prizes awarded to the one or more winners. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The present invention will be understood and better appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. Identical structures, elements or parts, which appear in more than one figure, are generally labeled with the same or similar number in all the figures in which they appear, wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a system for playing a multiplayer game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method of providing an enhanced multiplayer game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a system  100  for playing a multiplayer game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, system  100  comprises a network  140  (e.g. an intranet or the Internet), which connects between a game server  110 , one or more group servers  120  and one or more clients  130 . Network  140  allows clients  130  to remotely access a game application  115  provided by game server  110 , which requires participation of multiple clients. 
         [0027]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, group servers  120  are renown by clients  130  as game providers. Optionally, group server  120  may directly provide some game applications, which can be played by a single client  130  or by multiple clients  130 . Alternatively, group server  120  may only provide an interface for accessing game applications  115  provided by a game server  110 . Optionally, group server  120  publicizes game services, signs up clients  130 , charges clients  130  for game usage, provide access codes and awards clients  130  with points, prizes or payment resulting from the outcome of their game play. Group server  120  may provide the games by itself or provide client  130  with access to game server  110  to actually play the game. 
         [0028]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more of group servers  120  offer clients  130  the option of adding a jackpot application  125  when playing game application  115 . In a jackpot application client  130  pays an additional fee which serves for awarding additional prizes to the participating clients  130  responsive to events occurring in game application  115 . Optionally, by offering jackpot application  125  to clients  130 , the group server that offers jackpot application  125  will be preferentially chosen by clients  130  to increase there chances of being awarded for their game play. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments of the invention, the jackpot application is applied to a computerized multiplayer poker game in cash game mode or tournament mode as described above. Alternatively other multiplayer games (e.g. bridge, chess, bingo) may also implement a jackpot application to enhance their attractiveness to clients  130 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram  200  of a method of providing an enhanced multiplayer game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a client  130  logs-in ( 210 ) to a selected group server  120 . Optionally, client  130  pays ( 220 ) a service fee, which provides for the prizes for the winners of the game and the commission of game server  120 . In some embodiments of the invention, client  130  buys ( 230 ) elements for game play (e.g. chips or points or other units which are recognized during game play) in game application  115 . In some embodiments of the invention, the purchase of chips or points may include the service fee, for example in a poker cash game where the service fee is based on the investment of the player and the winnings are based on the investment of all the participating players. Alternatively, the service fee may provide for a basic allocation of elements for game play without need to purchase additional elements, for example in a poker tournament wherein each player is allocated a pre-selected number of chips. 
         [0031]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, client  130  is offered the option of paying an additional fee ( 240 ) to be enlisted in a jackpot application and have the option of winning additional prizes for various events occurring during game play whether the user wins the game or not. Optionally some group servers may require any client  130  that enlists through them to pay the additional fee for the jackpot application. In some embodiments of the invention, the fee for the jackpot application is smaller than the basic fee so that clients  130  will regard it as negligible but yet rewarding, for example 5% or 10%. Alternatively, the fee for the jackpot application may be up to the same magnitude as the basic fee or even larger. 
         [0032]    Following is a list of examples of events which can serve as a basis for awarding jackpot prizes: 
         [0033]    1. A prize for a player that draws a specific hand of cards, for example a royal flush or a full house. 
         [0034]    2. A prize for a player in a poker tournament that wins the most rounds in a game even if the player does not win. 
         [0035]    3. A prize for a player that wins a specific number of rounds in a row, for example 5 or more. 
         [0036]    4. A player that wins a few consecutive tournaments, for example one of the first three places in 3 consecutive tournaments. 
         [0037]    5. In a cash game a player that has a good hand (e.g. 4 of a kind) and the player loses to an even better hand (e.g. a royal flush). 
         [0038]    6. A player that knock out the most opponents in a tournament. 
         [0039]    7. a condolence prize for a player that demonstrates the worst play, for example loses all rounds in a tournament. 
         [0040]    After logging-in ( 210 ) and paying, client  130  plays ( 250 ) the game with game server  110 . During game play server  110  or server  120  keeps track of the game and identifies events, which credit a player with a jackpot award. Optionally, server  110  or server  120  notify client  130  on the occurrence of an event that accredits him with a jackpot award. If client  130  paid to participate in receiving jackpot awards, the player is credited ( 260 ) with the award. Optionally, if client  130  did not pay to participate in jackpot awards, the client will be notified of the potential win, which will not be awarded to him, so that he/she may join in future games. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, when the game is finished server  120  checks ( 270 ) if client  130  is interested in another round of play. If client  130  is not interested in playing again, client  130  will be logged-off ( 280 ). If client  130  is interested in playing again, client  130  will pay ( 220 ) the service fee again and continue as described above. Optionally, in a poker cash game client  130  may be charged for every poker hand or every time he purchases elements for game play (e.g. chips). In a poker tournament client  130  may be charged only every time a new tournament starts. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments of the invention, the cases for which jackpot prizes are awarded are predefined and notified to clients  130  of group server  120 . Optionally, the sum awarded for a specific event is also pre-designated, for example $100 or $1000. If the jackpot did not accumulate enough to cover the jackpot prize, server  110  or server  120  provide the missing funds. Alternatively, jackpot prizes are awarded as a percentage of the amount collected from participating clients  130  of a specific game or as a percentage of the sum available for jackpot prizes. In some embodiments of the invention, the sum available for jackpot prizes may be accumulative and grow from round to round if nobody meets the requirements to win the jackpot or if very few prizes are awarded. In some embodiments of the invention, the sum available for jackpot prizes is displayed during game play to attract potential players, for example due to a large accumulated sum. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments of the invention, all jackpot events are awarded the same prize. Alternatively, each jackpot event may be awarded a different prize. In some embodiments of the invention, system  100  may offer different levels of participation in a jackpot game, which can be selected by client  130 . One example of different participation levels requires client  130  to pay less to participate and in exchange offers lower prizes, for example pay 50% of the regular charge and be awarded only 50% of the prize. Another example is for client  130  to pay less and be eligible to receive prizes for fewer circumstances, for example only for drawing a specific hand of cards. 
         [0043]    It should be noted that the exact details of the game implementation described above are only exemplary and other variations may be implemented. 
         [0044]    It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices used. It should be appreciated that different features may be combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every embodiment of the invention. Further combinations of the above features are also considered to be within the scope of some embodiments of the invention. 
         [0045]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims, which follow.