Patent Publication Number: US-2006003826-A1

Title: System and method for presenting prizes in a game

Description:
The present Application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/573,345, filed May 28, 2004, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING PRIZES IN AN ONLINE GAME,” in the name of Walker et al. The entirety of the above application is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      A vast majority of merchants struggle to build brand identity (i.e., differentiate themselves from other merchants) and to acquire new customers at manageable cost.  
      Attracting and retaining a base of local customers is important to the success of most retail endeavors. Historically, many retailers have tried to attract local customers through advertising and promotions. However, advertising costs are on the rise, and many commentators argue that advertising is steadily becoming less effective. Further, promotional vehicles such as coupons are declining in effectiveness. Accordingly, an ongoing need exists among retailers for systems and methods designed to facilitate the acquisition of local customers.  
      Merchants typically receive about a 2% response from coupon mailings to prospective customers and a slightly higher response from mailings to existing customers. Thus, once a customer becomes familiar with a particular merchant, the customer may be more likely to transact with that merchant again in the future.  
      Merchants typically prefer to maximize their return on inventory, promotion and labor investment, rather than absorb losses through expiration of goods and/or the underutilization of available services. The cost of media advertising may be prohibitively expensive for some merchants. Further, media-based advertising often produces little (if any) measurable impact on business. In other words, merchants typically cannot easily discern which transactions occur as a direct result of advertising. Low response rates to coupon mailings and other promotions are indicative of their inefficiency. In addition, frequent or otherwise excessive discounting can lead to (i) a lessening of consumers&#39; expectation of quality associated with a given merchant (i.e. brand dilution) and/or (ii) price/margin and thus, profit dilution.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
      The accompanying drawings depict some embodiments of the present invention:  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example system according to some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example controller according to some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a user device or merchant device according to some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a table illustrating an example data structure of a player database for use in some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a table illustrating an example data structure of a merchant database for use in some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a table illustrating an example data structure of a prize database for use in some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a table illustrating an example data structure of an issued prize database for use in some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a table illustrating an example data structure of a presentation rules database for use in some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating an example process according to some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating an example process according to some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  depicts an example screen of a game according to some embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  depicts an example screen of a game according to some embodiments of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 13  depicts an example screen of a game according to some embodiments of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Applicants have recognized that localized customer acquisition systems may access goods and services for provision to prospective customers. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, it may be practical or desirable to disclose only a limited portion of available inventory to the prospective customers.  
      Applicants have recognized that many types of merchants, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, would prefer to minimize the marginalization of merchants&#39; existing customer bases and peak business hours. Thus, some embodiments allow merchants to (i) acquire new customers at manageable cost; and/or (ii) better utilize promotion and inventory investment as well as labor resources during off-peak business hours.  
      Applicants have recognized that many types of merchants, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, would prefer to be able to leverage their excess capacity (e.g., inventory and/or labor capacity) in a manner that results in reduced costs of customer acquisition. Some types of merchants would also find it appealing to experience an incremental, directly measurable increase in business during off-peak hours.  
      One embodiment of the present invention provides for an inventory (product and/or service) clearinghouse system. The clearinghouse system is operatively in communication with (i) a plurality of merchant systems and (ii) a plurality of prospective customers or prospective customer devices. According to at least one embodiment, the disclosed system, the clearinghouse may operate to: (i) negotiate entitlement (by the clearinghouse) to certain inventory from a plurality of merchants, (ii) identify prospective customers of the merchants (e.g., based on a geographic restriction), (iii) present information concerning the inventory to the prospective customers (e.g., in a game, in a game showcase), and/or (iv) facilitate the provision of the inventory to the prospective customers (e.g., via the merchant).  
      Applicants have recognized that some types of game players and consumers would find it appealing to play a game that is configured, at least in part, based on geographic data. According to some embodiments of the present invention, one or more elements of a game may be configured based on geographic data associated with a player. For example, based on a player&#39;s selection or indication of a particular geographic location, one or more game elements (e.g., subject matter of game questions, theme elements, graphics, audio, prizes) may be determined and used to provide a “local edition” of a game to the player.  
      Applicants have further recognized that some types of game players and consumers may find it appealing to play for prizes that are relevant to their geographic area. Some embodiments allow for an entity (e.g., a game server, a prize server) to identify one or more available prizes based on geographic data associated with the player. For example, based on a player&#39;s success in playing a game, the player may be allowed to select (and/or may be awarded) a prize that is based on geographic data provided by the player (e.g., a selection of a particular “local edition” of a game, a residential address, a ZIP code).  
      According to some embodiments of the present invention, a prize may comprise an entitlement (e.g., to a retail product or service). In other embodiments, a prize for play of a game may be the opportunity to obtain at least one entitlement. For example, a player of a game may be permitted to receive at least one entitlement to a product or service based on the player&#39;s play of the game.  
      In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a player can earn (e.g., based on game performance) the ability to purchase one or more entitlements. According to some embodiments, the amount required to purchase an entitlement may be based on the player&#39;s performance in a game.  
      Applicants have also recognized that some types of retailers may find it appealing to take advantage of new systems and methods useful in facilitating the acquisition of local customers. One or more embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and methods that advantageously allow for a retailer to submit marketing information (e.g., information about a retailer, information about products and/or offers available from a retailer) to a central controller that will distribute such information to system users. Some embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and methods that advantageously allow for a retailer to sponsor one or more various types of prizes and/or allow a central entity to distribute such prizes, which may include entitlements redeemable at retail merchants. In at least one embodiment, such a distribution may be managed in a centralized, online system (e.g., through presentation of an online game).  
      Applicants have further recognized that some merchants may find it appealing, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, to be able to promote goods and services to prospective customers from predefined geographical regions by awarding entitlements through online games. In one or more embodiments, promotional entitlements may be based on geographic data associated with such prospective customers.  
      Various embodiments of the present invention allow for an entity (e.g., a central server) to distribute to users entitlements redeemable at retail merchants. Some embodiments allow for an entity to manage play of an online game that awards entitlements as prizes (e.g., based on game performance) to geographically relevant players. According to some embodiments, elements in the online game may be configured based on geographic data associated with a prospective customer. For example, based on a prospective customer&#39;s selection of a geographic location, products from local retailers are selected from a database and used to provide a “local edition” of a game (e.g., a pricing-themed game). Alternatively or additionally, based on geographic data associated with a prospective customer, an online game may be configured to award certain geographically relevant prizes (e.g., entitlements to products marketed by local retailers).  
      Applicants have also recognized that some types of retailers would find it appealing, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, to utilize an entertaining way to (a) distribute promotional entitlements to geographically relevant prospective customers, and/or (b) educate prospective customers about goods and services offered by local retail merchants. For example, some types of retailers would find it appealing to use an online game system to motivate players of the game (prospective customers) into becoming customers. Similarly, prospective customers would find it appealing to be able to receive promotional entitlements and/or information about local products and services in an entertaining way.  
      In some embodiments, merchants may be able to attract new customers by providing products or services at sub-retail prices. Users may, in turn, obtain products at steep discounts while enjoying an entertaining game experience.  
      In some embodiments, a controller may sell game plays to users and/or receive payments from users based on a gap between a price level provided to a user (e.g., through play of a game) and a target price. Preferably, the gap or payment amount is greater than the price that the controller paid (if any) to obtain a corresponding entitlement (e.g., a product guarantee).  
      Some embodiments of the present invention provide the benefit that a controller does not need to handle actual products. For example, while the controller may maintain information about what products are available at participating merchants, the controller need not itself take possession of actual merchandise.  
      According to some embodiments of the present invention, a merchant (or third party) sells or otherwise provides a retail entitlement to a controller. The controller sells to a user a means for obtaining a product or service associated with the entitlement, and the user obtains the product or service from the merchant.  
      One or more embodiments of the present invention provide for performing a method including one or more of the following steps: 
          a) Determine inventory of merchant. For example, receive information pertaining to available inventory from a merchant.     b) Determine clearinghouse entitlement to inventory. For example, based on clearinghouse rules, evaluate inventory information to determine if inventory entitlement is permissible. In some embodiments, if inventory entitlement is not permissible, notify the corresponding merchant.     c) Payment to merchant for inventory item. For example, if inventory entitlement is permissible, effectuate payment to/from the merchant.     d) Characterize inventory. For example, determine inventory attributes such as, without limitation, merchant, size, color, item category, terms and conditions, etc.     e) Identify a customer. For example, based on inventory attributes, identify at least one prospective customer.     f) Generate a show. For example, based on one or more determining factor(s), determine a show via which to feature an item. In another example, assemble show including information associated with the inventory for output to prospective customer.     g) Provide customer with access to show. For example, receive prospective customer device signal requesting access to show. In another example, determine if access is permissible (e.g., Has the show finished?; Is the show full?). In some embodiments, if show is not accessible, notify prospective customer via prospective customer device that show is not accessible. In some embodiments, if show is accessible, output information associated with the show to the prospective customer device.     h) Customer selects inventory item. For example, the system receives product (prize) selection information from prospective customer device.     i) Provide information for redemption of inventory item. For example, transmit redemption information, terms and conditions of redemption and inventory/product information to customer device. In some embodiments, update inventory record to reflect the selection of inventory.        

      In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical, software, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
      Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not intended to be limiting in any sense. The present disclosure is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments of the invention nor a listing of features of the invention that must be present in all embodiments. The invention is widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that aspects of the present invention may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Although particular features of the present invention may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or figures with reference to which they are described.  
      The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention(s)” unless expressly specified otherwise.  
      The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The term “consisting of” and variations thereof mean “including and limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.  
      The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive. The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are collectively exhaustive of anything, unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listing of items does not imply that the items are ordered in any manner according to the order in which they are enumerated.  
      The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The term “plurality” means “two or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.  
      The methods described herein (regardless of whether they are referred to as methods, processes, algorithms, calculations, and the like) inherently include one or more steps. Therefore, all references to a “step” or “steps” of such a method have antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term “method” or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a “step” or “steps” of a method is deemed to have sufficient antecedent basis.  
      Headings of sections provided in this patent application and the title of this patent application are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.  
      Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.  
      A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. To the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.  
      Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in this patent application does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.  
      It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented by, for example, appropriately programmed general purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) will receive instructions from a memory or like device, and execute those instructions, thereby performing a process defined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement such methods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety of known media.  
      When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article.  
      The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the present invention need not include the device itself.  
      The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.  
      Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying sequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Bluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.  
      Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to those described may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. Any schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information. Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by the tables shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those illustrated herein. Further, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed databases) could be used to store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement the processes of the present invention. In addition, the described databases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such a database.  
      Various embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. The leftmost digit(s) of a reference numeral typically identifies the figure in which the reference numeral first appears.  
      A. Introductory Examples  
      The following scenarios describe some embodiments in which a player may obtain one or more retail entitlements as a prize. The examples are provided merely as a brief introduction and to illustrate some aspects and features of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Various other embodiments and examples of embodiments are discussed in further detail herein, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure.  
      In one example of a “Prize Meter” embodiment, a pricing-themed game is configured based on a prospective customer&#39;s selection of a geographic region. More specifically, based on the prospective customer&#39;s selection of a geographic region, the controller consults a database and configures a “showcase” of products available at retail merchants within the geographic region. The controller then initiates a pricing-themed game whereby prospective customers are asked a series of price-oriented questions about the showcased products. Throughout the game (e.g., after each question and answer), the controller communicates the prospective customer&#39;s success in answering the questions by adjusting a “Prize Meter” that represents an amount of credit the player has won toward the purchase of at least one product in the showcase. At the end of the game, the prospective customer may elect to pay the difference between the final Prize Meter amount and a target price. For example, a target price may be based on an average of the retail prices of products in a given group (e.g., a showcase of products). Payment of this difference to the controller would allow the customer to redeem at least one showcased product from a retailer within the selected geographical region. In some Prize Meter embodiments, the difference between a Prize Meter amount and a target price may be referred to as a Prize Meter Gap Amount. Further, in some Prize Meter embodiments, players must pay the controller an amount based on the Prize Meter Gap Amount in order to receive retail entitlements.  
      According to another example of a Prize Meter embodiment, Sue Johnson, a consumer from Stamford, Conn., uses her personal computer to log onto www.GameShow24.com, a website configured to host a pricing-themed game based on the television show “The Price is Right™.” Upon first entering the website, the controller that hosts the website prompts Sue to enter her name and verify that she is at least eighteen years old. After Sue enters her name and verifies her age, the controller prompts Sue to select an area-specific edition of the game from a plurality of listed possibilities, including, for example “New Canaan, Conn.,” “Weston, Conn.” and “Stamford, Conn.” 
      After Sue selects the “Stamford, Conn.” option, a “greeting screen” is presented to Sue. The greeting screen depicts a game show host character and includes a message that reads, “Nice to have you here, Sue Johnson. I&#39;m the host of the show, Bill. Here&#39;s how we play.” The greeting screen is followed by a series of instructional screens, which explain to Sue: (1) “You&#39;ll be asked four questions about the retail prices of selected items from Stamford merchants”; (2) “After each question, you&#39;ll see your ‘Prize Meter.’ The better you play, the higher it gets, and the more credit you win towards the purchase of items from Stamford merchants”; and (3) “After four questions, the show ends. Then, you&#39;ll pick your items from the 24 prizes that appeared on the show. And, first time players get prizes absolutely free. So let&#39;s play!” 
      Based on Sue&#39;s selection of the “Stamford, Conn.” option, the controller retrieves, from a database, game elements corresponding to a “Stamford edition” of the game. More specifically, icons representing products offered at merchants within the Stamford area are retrieved from a database and communicated to Sue in a “showcase” of products. Other graphics and text presented in the game communicate information about a plurality of local merchants (e.g., a merchant&#39;s location and business hours).  
      The game begins as the controller provides Sue with her first question. More specifically, the game show host character is represented as saying, “Here is your first question. Which 4 items from Stamford-area merchants have a retail price more than $4.00?” The controller also provides images of six products for sale at Stamford merchants. After Sue selects four of the six products in response to the question (e.g., by checking corresponding boxes using a mouse or other pointer device), the controller consults a database to determine Sue&#39;s success in answering the question. For example, the controller may determine that Sue selected only three of the four correct items, and may output a screen reading, “Not bad. You got 3 out of 4 right.” 
      After this first round of the game is completed, the controller adjusts Sue&#39;s Prize Meter, which will ultimately represent the amount of credit Sue has won toward the purchase of at least one product from a participating merchant in the Stamford area. More specifically, based on Sue&#39;s degree of accuracy/correctness in answering the question, the Prize Meter is increased. For example, Sue&#39;s original Prize Meter amount of $0 may be increased to $1.50 based on Sue&#39;s selecting three of four correct answers in the first round of the game. The adjusted price is output to Sue along with a message that reads, “That&#39;s a good start. You&#39;re on your way to some great prizes.” 
      Similarly, three more rounds ensue, asking Sue price-oriented questions about products available at participating Stamford-area merchants. After each round, based on Sue&#39;s degree of accuracy/correctness, the Prize Meter is increased further.  
      After the last (fourth) round, the final Prize Meter amount is calculated and displayed to Sue. The controller consults a database to determine the number of products toward which Sue may apply her Prize Meter credit (e.g., two items). Further, the controller outputs an instructional message explaining that, generally, players would pay the difference between the final Prize Meter amount and a target price (e.g., the average retail price of the items in the showcase), and thereby receive vouchers good for one or more selected showcase products. However, the controller recognizes Sue as a first-time player, and awards a credit equal to the difference between the final Prize Meter amount and the target price. Thereafter, Sue (1) selects a predetermined number of prizes in the showcase (e.g., two items), and (2) provides identification data, such as full name, address, and credit card number. After selecting her items in the showcase, Sue is permitted to download and print vouchers that indicate her entitlement to the corresponding goods and/or services offered at Stamford merchants.  
      B. System  
      An example embodiment of the system  100  of the present invention is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The present invention can be configured to work as a system  100  in a network environment including a controller  102  (e.g., a computer-based server) that is in communication, via a communications network, with one or more user devices  104  (e.g., personal computer) and/or merchant devices  106  (e.g., POS terminals, personal computer, validator device). The controller  102  may communicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such as the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, or via any appropriate communications means or combination of communications means. Each of the devices  104 ,  106  may comprise computers, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® processor, that are adapted to communicate with the controller  102 . Any number and type of devices  104 ,  106  may be in communication with the controller  102 .  
      Communication between the devices  104 ,  106  and the controller  102 , and among the devices  104 ,  106 , may be direct or indirect, such as over the Internet through a website maintained by computer on a remote server or over an online data network including commercial online service providers, bulletin board systems and the like. In yet other embodiments, the devices  104 ,  106  may communicate with one another and/or the controller  102  over RF, cable TV, satellite links and the like.  
      Some, but not all, possible communication networks that may comprise the network or be otherwise part of the system  100  include: a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a telephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communications line, and a satellite communications link. Possible communications protocols that may be part of the system include: Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth™, and TCP/IP. Communication may be encrypted to ensure privacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art.  
      Those skilled in the art will understand that devices in communication with each other need not be continually transmitting to each other. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a device in communication with another device via the Internet may not transmit data to the other device for weeks at a time.  
      In another example, a user may download game data from the controller  102  into a PDA, and may play a game several weeks later. The PDA might be programmed, for example, to reveal prize codes only when the user has answered a threshold number of questions correctly.  
      As described in further detail herein, the controller  102  (e.g., a game server, offer server) is operable to manage and/or optimize the distribution and display of game, offer, product, and/or merchant information. For example, the controller  102  may manage the communication of merchant-related information to potential customers (e.g., users playing one or more online games). In various embodiments, the controller  102  (or, in an alternative embodiment, a peer-to-peer network) can control, for example, whether an entitlement will be provided at a given time, whether a user should be allowed to play a game, and/or determine what types of merchants and/or offers should be presented to a user (e.g., in a game, in a showcase of prizes). In one or more embodiments, the controller  102  may manage what type of content should be included in a game and/or determine what version of a game to provide to a player.  
      In some embodiments, the controller  102  may function as a “web server” that generates web pages (documents on the World Wide Web that typically include an HTML file and associated graphics and script files) that may be accessed via the World Wide Web and allows communication with the controller  102  in a manner known in the art. In some embodiments, the controller  102  may function as a server for providing online game play (e.g., via the Internet, via an intranet).  
      Any or all of the devices  102 ,  104 ,  106  may be, e.g., conventional personal computers, portable types of computers, such as a laptop computer, a palm-top computer, a hand-held computer, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or they may be specialized devices built for specific purposes such as publicly-available terminals or kiosks.  
      In some embodiments, a controller  102  may not be necessary and/or may not be preferred. For example, the present invention may, in one or more embodiments, be practiced on a stand-alone user device  104 . In such embodiments, any functions described as performed by the controller  102  or data described as stored on the controller  102  may instead be performed by or stored on one or more gaming devices  104 ,  106 . Similarly, in some embodiments the user device  104  and/or the merchant device  106  may not be necessary. For example, various embodiments are directed to functions that may be performed entirely by the controller  102 . Other embodiments may involve only the controller  102  and a merchant device  106  (e.g., a merchant requesting validation of an entitlement), or may involve only the user device  104  and the controller  102  (e.g., to provide game play for a player, to distribute entitlements to a user).  
      In operation, the controller  102  and the devices  104 ,  106  may exchange information about the use of the devices by individual users and/or merchants, messages, merchant information, game content, information about game conditions, and the like. In embodiments with a third-party server, the controller  102  and/or the user device  104  may exchange information about the use of the user device  104  by individual players, data about the players, messages, prize information, and the like, via the third-party server. The device  104  may, for example, provide information related to game conditions to the controller  102  (and/or a third-party server). The user device  104  (e.g., a game device) may further provide game performance and player data to the controller  102  (and/or a third-party server). The controller  102  (and/or a third-party server) may provide information about entitlement selections and/or historical information about the player, for example, to other devices.  
      It is worthwhile to note that the system  100  (and other systems described herein) may be arranged into a variety of configurations, with functionality residing in various locations. Various types of information may be transmitted between different devices. For example, the controller  102  may control most aspects of initiating a game session and/or providing one or more entitlements to a player. A signal may be received, for example, by a user device  104 , which then provides play of a game and/or initiates an entitlement selection process. In one example, a player may download game software (e.g., from a web server) and install the software on his computer. When the game software executes, the software may request and/or receive information about prizes from the controller  102 . In this way, the potential pool of prizes and other game content may be updated as desired when the game is played (e.g., for each game, from time to time), even if some or all of the basic program instructions for the game do not change. For instance, the player may be able to play for different prizes each time he plays.  
      In some embodiments, the controller  102  may reside in a user device  104 . For example, a user device  104  (e.g., a kiosk) may control most aspects of playing a game and/or distributing promotional information. A user device  104  may not even have a network connection.  
      In some embodiments, merchant information (e.g., an offer, an entitlement sponsored by a merchant) may be determined by the controller  102 , but a user device  104  may control when to provide game play. For example, a user device  104  may receive an indication of a product to offer the player from the controller  102 , and the user device  104  then provides game play, monitors play and game parameters during the game session, and provides merchant-related information to the player (e.g., at the end of the game so the player can select a prize).  
      Note that a wide variety of other configurations are possible, some of which are discussed herein. It should be understood that methods of the invention may be implemented by one or more devices  104 ,  106 , one or more controllers  102 , other devices, and/or any combination thereof.  
      1. Controller  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment  200  of the controller  102  of  FIG. 1 . The controller  200  may be implemented as a system controller, a dedicated hardware circuit, an appropriately programmed general purpose computer such as an Intel-based PC, a server computer or any other equivalent electronic, mechanical or electro-mechanical device suited for providing any of various functionality described herein.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, the controller operates a clearinghouse system for inventory (products and/or services). For example, the controller may negotiate entitlements to inventory from merchants and distribute the entitlements to consumers (e.g., as prizes in an online game).  
      The controller  200  comprises a processor  205 , such as one or more Intel® Pentium® processors. The processor  205  is in communication with a communication port  270  through which the processor  205  is able to communicate with one or more other devices.  
      The processor is in communication with at least one input device  260  and at least one output device  265 . Various types of input devices such as keyboards, microphones, touch screens, and pointer devices (e.g., a mouse), are known to those of skill in the art. Similarly, various types of output devices such as display devices (e.g., LCD panel displays), speakers, printers, and radio transmitters are known to those of skill in the art.  
      The processor  205  is also in communication with a data storage device  210 . The data storage device  210  comprises an appropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), a compact disc and/or a hard disk. The processor  205  and the storage device  210  may each be, for example: (i) located entirely within a single computer or other computing device; or (ii) connected to each other by a remote communication medium, such as a serial port cable, telephone line or radio frequency transceiver. In one embodiment, the controller may comprise one or more computers that are connected to a remote server computer for maintaining databases.  
      The data storage device  210  stores a program  215  for controlling the processor  205 . The processor  205  performs instructions of the program  215 , and thereby operates in accordance with the present invention, and particularly in accordance with the methods described in detail herein. The program  215  may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. The program  215  furthermore includes program elements that may be necessary, such as an operating system, a database management system and “device drivers” for allowing the processor  205  to interface with computer peripheral devices. Appropriate program elements are known to those skilled in the art, and need not be described in detail herein.  
      The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to the processor of a user device, merchant device or controller for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may carry acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.  
      Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to a gaming device (or, e.g., a server) can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector can receive the data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on a system bus for the processor. The system bus carries the data to main memory, from which the processor retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory may optionally be stored in memory either before or after execution by the processor. In addition, instructions may be received via a communication port as electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals, which are example forms of carrier waves that carry data streams representing various types of information. Thus, the user device or controller may obtain instructions in the form of a carrier wave.  
      According to an embodiment of the present invention, the instructions of the program  215  may be read into a main memory from another computer-readable medium, such as from a ROM to a RAM. Execution of sequences of the instructions in program  215  causes processor  205  to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation of the processes of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.  
      The storage device  210  also stores (i) a player database  220 , (ii) a merchant database  225 , (iii) a prize database  230 , (iv) an issued prize database  235 , and (v) a presentation rules database  240 . The databases are described in detail below and depicted with example entries in the accompanying figures. Note that, although these databases are described as being stored in the controller  102 , in other embodiments of the present invention some or all of these databases may be partially or wholly stored in another device, such as one or more of the user devices, merchant devices, or a combination thereof.  
      Various functionality of the controller described herein may alternatively be performed by one or more of the user devices  104  and/or the merchant devices  106 .  
      2. User Device/Merchant Device  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment  300  of the user device  104  and/or the merchant device  106  of  FIG. 1 . The device  300  may be implemented as a system controller, a dedicated hardware circuit, an appropriately programmed general purpose computer such as an Intel®-based personal computer, a server computer or any other equivalent electronic, mechanical or electro-mechanical device suited for providing any of various functionality described herein.  
      The device  300  comprises a processor  305 , such as one or more Intel® Pentium® processors. The processor  305  is in communication with a communication port  370  through which the processor  305  is able to communicate with one or more other devices. The processor  305  is also in communication with at least one input device  360  and at least one output device  365 . Input devices may include keyboards and pointer devices, for example, and output devices may include, for example, display devices and speakers. Display devices may comprise, for example, one or more display screens or areas for outputting information related to game play on the gaming device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, or light emitting diode (LED) screen. Various other types of input devices and output devices are described herein, and still others will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure.  
      The processor  305  is also in communication with a data storage device  310 . The data storage device  310  comprises an appropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), a compact disc and/or a hard disk. As with the example controller  200  described herein, the processor  305  and the storage device  310  may each be, for example: (i) located entirely within a single computer or other computing device; or (ii) connected to each other by a remote communication medium, such as a serial port cable, telephone line or radio frequency transceiver. In one embodiment, the device  300  may comprise one or more computers that are connected to a remote server computer for maintaining databases.  
      The data storage device  310  stores a program  315  for controlling the processor  305 . The processor  305  performs instructions of the program  315 , and thereby operates in accordance with the present invention, and particularly in accordance with the methods described in detail herein. The program  315  may be stored in a compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. The program  315  furthermore includes program elements that may be necessary, such as an operating system, a database management system and “device drivers” for allowing the processor  305  to interface with computer peripheral devices. Appropriate program elements are known to those skilled in the art, and need not be described in detail herein.  
      In some embodiments, the device  300  may comprise a game device operable to allow a user to play one or more games. In one example, the game device may include one or more display screens, a keyboard or keypad, and a pointer device for use in playing a game. In another example, a user device  300  may receive game data from another device (e.g., a controller, a PDA) and present a game to the user based on the game data. In another example, the user device  300  may store game data and provide play of a game (e.g., in response to a request by a user, in response to a signal from a controller).  
      In some embodiments, the device  300  may comprise one or more validator devices. For example, a merchant may use a merchant device  300  to input a code (e.g., using a keypad, using a bar code scanner) provided by a user attempting to redeem a prize certificate. The merchant device  300  may then transmit a request to validate the code to a controller or third-party server.  
      3. Databases  
      Although databases  220 ,  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240  are depicted as residing at the controller  200  in the example embodiment of  FIG. 2 , it will be understood that one or more of these databases could just as easily be implemented on one or more other devices. Further, the individual database files could be stored on any number of different devices (e.g., located on different storage devices in different geographic locations, such as on a user device  104 ). For example, a user device and/or a merchant device may store a redundant copy of a controller&#39;s databases to protect against data loss or for any number of other reasons.  
      As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions of the sample databases presented herein are example arrangements for stored representations of information. Other database arrangements may be used which would still be in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention. Any number of arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by the accompany figures. For example, even though a particular number of separate databases are illustrated, various embodiments of the invention could be practiced effectively using any number of functionally equivalent databases. In other words, the present invention could be implemented using any number of different database files or data structures, as opposed to the number depicted. Similarly, the illustrated entries of the databases represent example information only; those skilled in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those illustrated herein. Further, despite the depiction of the databases as tables, an object-based model could be used to store and manipulate the data types of the present invention and likewise, object methods or behaviors can be used to implement the processes of the present invention. Some examples of these processes are described in detail in this disclosure.  
       FIG. 4  depicts a tabular representation  400  of an example of a player database  220  according to some embodiments of the present invention. This particular tabular representation of a player database includes sample records or entries which each include information regarding a particular player. In some embodiments of the invention, a player database is used to track information about players including identity, contact information, preferences, game performance history, current activity, and demographics. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the player database  220  may include any number of entries or additional fields.  
      The tabular representation  400  also defines fields for each record or entry. The fields include: (i) a player identifier  402  that may store a representation uniquely identifying the player; (ii) a name  404  that may store a representation of the player&#39;s name; (iii) a financial account identifier  406  that may store information about an account associated with a user (e.g., a credit card account number); (iv) an address  408  that may store information about one or more addresses of a player (e.g., a street address, a telephone number, an IP address); (v) an email address  410  that is associated with the player; (vi) demographic information  412  that may include any of various types of information about a player such as a number of children, interests and marital status; and (vii) a geographic area preference  414  that may include an indication of one or more geographic areas to which the player would prefer any prizes or merchants were relevant (e.g., an indication of the player&#39;s preferred local edition of an online game).  
      As discussed herein, various types of contact or address information may be received and stored about a player (e.g., when a player registers with a website), including a street address, an e-mail address, and/or a telephone number. A controller  102  may utilize information in the player database  220  when determining, for example, what type of merchant, product, and/or prize information to present to a player.  
       FIG. 5  depicts a tabular representation  500  of an example of a merchant database  225  according to some embodiments of the present invention. This particular tabular representation of a merchant database includes sample records or entries which each include information regarding a particular merchant. In some embodiments of the invention, a merchant database is used to track information about merchants including identity, contact information, and geographic information. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the merchant database  225  may include any number of entries or additional fields.  
      The tabular representation  500  also defines fields for each record or entry. The fields include: (i) a merchant identifier  502  that may store a representation uniquely identifying the merchant; (ii) a name  504  that may store a representation of the merchant&#39;s name (e.g., a name of a retail establishment, a name under which a merchant conducts business); (iii) an address  506  that may store information about one or more addresses of a merchant (e.g., a street address, a telephone number, an IP address); (iv) geographic information  508  that includes an indication of one or more geographic regions and/or locations; (v) a category  510  that includes an indication of at least one category of products offered by the merchant (e.g., a standard industry code (SIC)); and (vi) a description  512  that includes a description of the merchant and/or the merchant&#39;s offerings.  
      As discussed herein, various types of information may be received and stored about a merchant (e.g., when a merchant registers with a website), including a street address, business hours, an e-mail address, driving directions, and/or a telephone number.  
      According to some embodiments of the present invention, the controller  102  might utilize information in the merchant database  225  when determining, for example, what type of merchant, product, and/or prize information to present to a player. In some embodiments, geographic information  508  may be useful in determining whether to use a particular merchant, or a prize associated with a merchant, in a game. For example, if a player indicates he would like to play the “Greenwich, Conn.” edition of a game, the controller  102  may refer to merchant database  225  to identify one or more merchants based on their geographic information. Geographic information  508  may indicate an actual place of business of a merchant and/or may indicate one or more regions/locations/game editions in which the merchant would like to be promoted (or in which the controller  102  would like to promote that merchant). For instance, a player playing a “Stamford, Conn.” edition of a game might be presented with information about a merchant in White Plains, N.Y., based on an indication in the merchant database  225  that the merchant wanted to be promoted to players who are from Stamford (or at least who appear to be willing to redeem prizes in Stamford).  
       FIG. 6  is a tabular representation  600  of the prize database  230 . The tabular representation  600  includes a number of example records or entries, each defining a prize (e.g., offer, entitlement, product) that may be or has been provided. In some embodiments of the invention, a prize database may be used to manage and track information about prizes including a prize category, an associated sponsoring merchant, and a prize quantity. Those skilled in the art will understand that the prize database  230  may include any number of entries.  
      The tabular representation  600  also defines fields for each record or entry. The fields specify: (i) a prize identifier  602 , which uniquely identifies a particular prize; (ii) a merchant identifier  604 , which uniquely identifies a particular merchant sponsoring or otherwise associated with the particular prize; (iii) a description  606  of the particular prize; (iv) a prize category  608  that may indicate one or more categories corresponding to the prize (e.g., “dinner entree,” “dry cleaning”); (v) a number of units available  610 , which includes an indication of how many instances of the corresponding prize remain available (e.g., for selection by a user as a prize); and (vi) conditions  612 , which includes an indication of one or more terms or conditions (if any) that may be associated with the prize (e.g., as established by the merchant and/or controller).  
      Of course, the prize database  230  may include any additional or alternative information about prizes, as deemed practicable for a particular application. For example, information such as a number of times a prize has been presented, selected, rejected, and/or redeemed may be included. In another example, the prize database  230  may store an indication of the retail value of a prize and/or an indication of an amount paid to a merchant for the prize.  
      It will be understood that the merchant identifier  604  may be used, in some embodiments, to look up or otherwise determine additional merchant-related information (as may be represented in the merchant database  225 ).  
       FIG. 7  is a tabular representation  700  of the issued prizes database  235 . The tabular representation of the issued prizes database  235  includes a number of example records or entries, each defining a prize that has been issued to a user (e.g., awarded to and/or selected by a player). In some embodiments, information in the issued prizes database  235  may be useful in managing and tracking the redemption of issued prizes. Those skilled in the art will understand that the issued prizes database  235  may include any number of entries.  
      The tabular representation  700  also defines fields for each record or entry. The fields specify: (i) an issued prize identifier  702 , which uniquely identifies a prize (e.g., offer, entitlement) that has been issued; (ii) a player identifier  704  that identifies a player to whom the prize was issued; (iii) a date issued  706  that indicates a time and/or date when the corresponding prize was issued; (iv) an expiration date  708  that indicates a time and/or date when the prize (e.g., an issued entitlement) will expire; and (v) a redemption date  710  that indicates a time and/or date the prize was redeemed (e.g., by presenting a voucher at a corresponding merchant).  
       FIG. 8  is a tabular representation  800  of the presentation rules database  240 . The tabular representation of the presentation rules database includes a number of example records or entries, each defining an example rule. In some embodiments, a rule may be used in determining whether to present information about a particular merchant, and what information to present. In some embodiments, a rule may be used in determining whether to provide one or more entitlements, offers, or other type of prizes, and might be used alternatively or in addition in determining game content to use in providing a game for a player. Those skilled in the art will understand that the presentation rules database  240  may include any number of entries.  
      The tabular representation  800  also defines fields for each of the entries or records. The fields specify: (i) a rule identifier  802 , which uniquely identifies a particular rule; (ii) a description  804 , which includes a description of the corresponding rule; and (iii) a subject  806 , which includes an indication of one or more prizes and/or merchants that may be specifically subject to the rule.  
      In one embodiment, the controller  102  may operate in accordance with one or more databases of rules. Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by merely defining and selecting appropriate rules to govern the functionality of the controller, for example, in determining when to present a prize, what prizes to make available to a player, and/or what types of merchant-related content to include in a game. In some embodiments, prizes to be made available to a user may be determined in light of various types of stored presentation rules. Accordingly, the controller  102  may utilize information stored in presentation rules database  240  in some embodiments for determining what type of merchant-related information (e.g., prizes, merchant advertising) to present to a user.  
      C. Processes  
      The example system discussed above, including the described hardware components, software components, and the databases, are useful to perform various methods of the invention. However, it should be understood that not all of the above-described components and databases are necessary to perform any of the methods of the present invention. In fact, in some embodiments, none of the above-described system is required to practice the methods of the present invention. The system described above is merely an example of a system that would be useful in practicing some methods of the invention.  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , a flow chart  900  is depicted that represents some embodiments of the present invention. Although the method  900  is discussed as being performed by a controller, it will be understood in light of the present disclosure that various aspects of the example method may be performed by a controller, a clearinghouse, a game server, a user device, a merchant device, or any combination of the devices and/or computers described herein. For example, in some embodiments, some or all of the method steps may be executed by one or more servers physically located within a particular geographic region.  
      It must be understood that the particular arrangement of elements in the flow chart  900  of  FIG. 9  (as well as the number and order of example steps of other various methods discussed herein) is not meant to imply a fixed order, sequence, quantity, and/or timing to the steps. Embodiments of the present invention can be practiced in any order, sequence, and/or timing that is practicable. Likewise, the labels used to reference the individual steps of the methods are not meant to imply a fixed order, sequence, quantity, and/or timing to the steps.  
      In general terms and still referring to  FIG. 9 , method steps of some embodiments of the present invention may be summarized as follows. In step  902 , information associated with at least one merchant is determined. In step  904 , information about a user is determined. In step  906 , play of a game by the user is enabled. In step  908 , merchant information is presented to the user. In step  910 , an entitlement is provided to the user. In step  912 , a request to validate an entitlement is received. In the discussion that follows, each of these steps will be discussed in greater detail.  
      Note that not all of these steps are required to perform the methods of the present invention and that additional and/or alternative steps are also discussed below. For example, some processes of the present invention may not require any functionality related to validation, determining information about a user, or both. Also note that the above general steps represent features of only some of the embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments these example steps may be performed in a different order. More, fewer, and/or alternative steps may be used as well. Such steps may be combined and/or subdivided in any number of different ways so that methods of the present invention include more or fewer actual steps. For example, in some embodiments additional steps may be added to update and maintain the databases described above. As indicated, however, it is not necessary to use the above-described databases in all embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, a described step may be performed by or with respect to any number of devices or entities. For example, a step may be subdivided into sub-steps, some of which are performed by one device, and some of which are performed by or otherwise involve a different device. In other words, the methods of the present invention may contain any number of steps performed by any number of entities that are practicable to implement the various different inventive processes described herein.  
      In step  902 , information associated with one or more merchants is determined. For example, such information may be received from a merchant, a third party, or retrieved from one or more databases (e.g., merchant database  225 ). In some embodiments, a controller may receive or otherwise determine information such as a merchant&#39;s name and type of business. Merchant-related information might also include information about a location of a merchant, such as place(s) of business (e.g., town, street address), contact information (e.g., mailing address, telephone number, fax number), driving directions, business hours, and/or geographic region. Alternatively, or in addition, information associated with a merchant may include information about products or services available through the merchant and/or offers or promotions by the merchant (e.g., a discount on a large pizza). In some embodiments, information associated with a merchant is stored in a database (e.g., merchant database  225 ). For example, a new database record may be created for a merchant, or an existing record for a particular merchant might be updated.  
      In some embodiments, information associated with a merchant may include information about one or more product guarantees, offers, retail entitlements, prizes or other types of benefits. Such benefits may be sponsored by the merchant and/or provided by the merchant to the controller, for example, and may be made available to users (e.g., as a prize in a game), as discussed herein.  
      In some embodiments, a game system receives at least one offer or entitlement from each of at least two merchants.  
      Optionally, the controller may provide a payment to the merchant in exchange for the benefit. Thus, the controller may or may not pay a merchant for a prize (e.g., an entitlement).  
      In some embodiments, a merchant may pay a fee to post a prize to the system. For example, a merchant may be charged a fee for having a sponsored prize included (or potentially included) in a prize showcase, for having a sponsored prize selected by a user, and/or for having information related to the merchant (e.g., business location, product offerings, merchandise pricing) included (or potentially included) in the presentation of a game (e.g., as an advertisement, as part of a game question). Payment may be provided in any number of manners, including the provision of a negotiable instrument (such as a check), via a credit/debit arrangement, or any agreed-upon system of accounting.  
      As discussed herein, one or more conditions may be associated with an entitlement, offer, or other type of prize. Any terms and conditions related to an entitlement may be specified by a merchant and/or by a controller. In some embodiments, such terms may be stored in the prize database  230  and/or the presentation rules database  240 . Terms may include, without limitation, (i) a number of instances of a particular offer or entitlement that may be distributed, or a quantity or amount of goods and/or services associated with a particular offer (e.g., if an offer is a “medium pizza,” a merchant may agree to sponsor two hundred medium pizzas to a game show system); (ii) a description or details of an entitlement (e.g., “a 12-inch cheese pizza with one topping”); (iii) redemption terms and conditions or other restrictions associated with an entitlement (e.g., “Offer valid from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. only”); (iv) any fees associated with the provision of a prize to the inventory of the system (e.g., a game show system pays $0.75 to a merchant for each unit or instance of a “medium pizza” offer provided by the merchant as a prize); (v) a time period during which an offer or entitlement may be presented to system users (e.g., during the month of June only); (vi) a velocity or frequency with which an offer may be presented to users (e.g., present the offer as frequently as possible); and/or (vii) any other terms or information associated with a prize. In some embodiments, an offer, for example, may be considered “received” by a central controller once any offer terms have been mutually agreed upon by a merchant and the central controller (e.g., a game show provider) or agent thereof.  
      In one example, a condition for redemption may be that a user must present to the merchant a specially designed certificate issued to the user by the controller (e.g., a certificate bearing the name of the user and the name of a product to be provided). Details of an example redemption process are discussed further herein. In another example, a merchant may be able to indicate information about an offer or retail entitlement via a website by entering data about terms and conditions governing the redemption of any retail entitlements available for particular goods or services (e.g., a given entitlement may only be redeemable between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday).  
      In various embodiments, a controller may receive information about an entitlement (e.g., an offer) from a merchant by employing one or more of a variety of methods. In some embodiments, merchants may provide various kinds of information (e.g., data about goods and services) by registering it with a controller (e.g., via a website).  
      In one example, according to at least one embodiment, retail merchants from various geographic areas may provide information by (1) using a personal computer to log on to a website hosted by the controller; (2) providing data about the merchant such as name, store locations, financial account identifiers, etc. (e.g., by entering the data into corresponding data entry fields); and (3) providing data regarding goods or services offered by the merchant (e.g., product names, prices, product descriptions, product category). In some embodiments, merchants may be allowed to select (e.g., from a menu of options) or otherwise indicate one or more geographical areas they would like to acquire customers from, and/or geographical editions of a game they would like to be included in. Further, retail merchants may transmit files containing digital images representative of products offered by the merchant.  
      In other embodiments, a merchant may communicate such information to a game show system. For example, a merchant and a game show system (or representative thereof) may communicate (e.g., in person or via a telephone conversation) so as to determine the details associated with an anticipated provision by the merchant of an offer. In another example, a merchant may submit desired offer terms by (i) sending a facsimile, (ii) sending electronic or postal mail, (iii) completing a form on a website (e.g., provided by a game show system), and/or (iv) any other practicable means, electronic or otherwise, of communicating such information.  
      A controller may choose to reject any submitted offer terms, and/or may collaborate with a merchant to revise such offer terms until they are considered mutually satisfactory. In further embodiments, merchants may only submit offer terms subject to constraints already communicated by a game system (e.g., a game show system provides facsimile forms by which a merchant may configure or select from a finite number of offer variables).  
      Information regarding inventory or offers may include, for example, a brief description of the item, along with certain terms and conditions under which a prospective customer may procure the inventory.  
      In one example of receiving information about a product guarantee, Susan&#39;s Diner may indicate to the controller a promise to provide a free appetizer to the bearer of an appropriate certificate. In return for the guarantee, Susan&#39;s Diner may receive a payment of $0.50 from the controller. In aggregate for a week, Susan&#39;s Diner may make twenty-five such product guarantees. Therefore, for the week, Susan&#39;s Diner may receive a total payment of $12.50, and may ultimately give away twenty-five appetizers to users bearing appropriate certificates.  
      Other types of information that may be associated with a merchant and determined by a controller will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the present disclosure.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, one or more merchants may participate in an online game system by submitting at least one offer each (e.g., for products or services) to a controller (e.g., a game server). One or more players of the game may then be able to win, claim and/or redeem at least one of the offers after playing one or more games provided by the game, as discussed further herein.  
      In some embodiments, a system controller may receive offers from a plurality of merchants. In some embodiments, merchants provide or sponsor only one offer or other prize each. In other embodiments, each merchant may provide a plurality of prizes (e.g., to a game system). For example, Super-Clean Car Wash may provide several units each of an “express car wash” offer, “ultimate car wash” offer and “interior detailing service” offer. A wider variety of prizes available to the game system may enable the system to serve the tastes of different consumers, which may in turn have a positive effect on the rate at which users accept prizes (and potentially patronize sponsoring retailers).  
      Any or all of the data associated with one or more merchants could be incorporated into one or more games as game elements. For example, the controller may use such data to formulate and output price-oriented questions regarding a merchant&#39;s products. Alternatively or additionally, the controller may use such received data to allocate game prizes to users (e.g., based on an indicated location of a merchant and/or player).  
      In some embodiments, as information about merchants, products and/or prizes is received, such information may be entered in a database (e.g., prize database  230 ). For example, a game show system receiving an indication that a car wash is providing one hundred units of a Super-Clean Car Wash “ultimate car wash” offer, such information may be stored in the prize database  230 .  
      In some embodiments, a game system (or agent thereof) may receive entitlement data or other information related to a merchant and may subsequently update prize database  230  and/or merchant database  225  accordingly. In further embodiments, a merchant may interact substantially directly with one or more game system databases for the purpose of providing one or more offers to a game system. For example, a merchant provides prize data by filling out a form on a website or answering the prompts of an Interactive Voice Response telephone unit, and a prize database is automatically populated or modified as necessary with the information.  
      In some embodiments, the controller or clearinghouse, in negotiating the entitlement to inventory from the merchants, may evaluate information associated with the inventory in order to determine whether or not entitlement to the inventory by the clearinghouse is permissible. For example, the clearinghouse system may “pre-screen” the inventory in order to ensure that the inventory is of an acceptable nature (e.g., not contraband) and/or that the inventory is capable of achieving a certain “take threshold”.  
      A “take threshold” may be defined, in some embodiments, as the number of times a given unit or specific type of inventory is displayed to prospective customers, divided by the number of times the inventory is selected by those customers as items or services for procurement by the customers, or vice versa (i.e., number of selections/number of presentations).  
      If the controller determines entitlement to the inventory via the merchant to be permissible (e.g., the merchant indicates the specific units or types of inventory to be provided), the controller receives and stores information regarding the inventory as discussed herein and, optionally, provides payment to the corresponding merchant(s). Alternatively, as noted above, merchants may pay the controller an amount to have the clearinghouse accept entitlements. The amount may comprise an account fee, a posting fee, inventory management fee, a premium showcase fee, or some other price/service arrangement.  
      In step  904 , information about a user is determined. In some embodiments, determining information about a user may include the central controller determining geographic data associated with a user. For example, a user may have communicated with the controller (e.g., by logging onto a website hosted by the controller), and the determination could be based on the user&#39;s selection of a local-area edition of a game offered via the website. For example, the user may have selected a “Stamford, Conn.” version of a game from a plurality of available versions, or otherwise expressed a geographic preference. Determining the geographic data might then include determining which version of a game a user has selected or indicated and/or determining geographic information related to a selected game.  
      In other embodiments, the controller could determine geographic data associated with the user by determining the user&#39;s phone number (or portion thereof, such as a three digit local-area prefix), ZIP code, GPS coordinates, or by determining the IP address of a user device. The controller could make this determination by requesting and receiving geographic data from the user. For example, the user&#39;s geographic data could be determined by asking for the user&#39;s credit card number, and retrieving a corresponding billing address from a local or remote account database.  
      In some embodiments, information about a user may be communicated to the controller by the user, for example, by phone or using a personal computer (e.g., over the Internet). In one example, a user could provide various user information, such as his name, address, contact information, and financial account information. For instance, the user may enter data in corresponding data fields of a website hosted by or operated by or on behalf of the controller, in a well-known manner. Of course, many other ways of providing user information to a controller will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, in light of the present disclosure.  
      In one or more embodiments, a user who desires to play a game (e.g., in order to receive a prize) must first register with the controller. To register, a user may, for example, employ a user terminal (e.g., a PDA, cell phone) to log onto the Internet and to visit a website hosted by the controller. Registration may make the user eligible to play one or more games and/or win prizes on the controller&#39;s website.  
      In one or more embodiments, a clearinghouse system may operate to identify a prospective customer of the merchants. In some embodiments, a prospective customer may be any potential purchaser who meets at least one criterion established by a merchant and/or the clearinghouse system. For example, as discussed herein, the criteria may be a geographic restriction (e.g., the customer must reside in a particular zip code).  
      According to another embodiment, the criteria may be determined in response to a screening process undertaken by prospective customers (e.g. the customers may answer survey questions or provide other information in order to establish a customer profile). Thus, the clearinghouse system may identify a prospective customer based on information received from the prospective customer and/or information received from any of the plurality of merchant systems.  
      For example, where the clearinghouse system evaluates inventory information corresponding to “1 Medium Pizza” from Pizza Parlor A, the clearinghouse system may identify a prospective customer to be a person who works or resides in the geographic area near, around or outside of Pizza Parlor A.  
      In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the clearinghouse system may identify a prospective customer based on criteria established by one or more merchant(s). In this manner, the clearinghouse system may operate to target specific prospective customers or types of prospective customers on behalf of those merchants.  
      For example, merchants may specify that prospective customers from certain geographic areas (e.g. geographic areas outside of the immediate geographic area of the merchants&#39; place of business) be targeted to receive the ability to claim a product from the merchant.  
      According to some embodiments of the invention, the clearinghouse system may operate to identify potential customers of any of the plurality of merchants by gathering information from the potential customers, effectively “qualifying” those prospective customers on behalf of the merchants. Such a qualification may include for example, receiving information directly from a customer and/or user device, and/or verifying information via an independent third party (e.g., a credit card billing address may be used to verify an age or to determine a billing address).  
      In step  906 , play of a game by the user is enabled. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the user may be allowed to play one or more games (or portions of a game). For example, the user may visit a website and be allowed to play an online game. Many types of games may be made available for play; some examples of games are described herein, and still others will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.  
      For example, the game may involve skill, luck, or a combination of the two. A game may involve answering questions, such as trivia questions. In another example, a game may involve solving a puzzle, such as a crossword puzzle, acrostic, or cryptogram. Other puzzles may include jigsaw puzzles or puzzles like Rubik&#39;s Cube®. The game may involve playing a version of a board game, such as, for example, Monopoly®, Scrabble®, Life®, Trivial Pursuit®, checkers, or chess. The game may involve play of a card game, such as war, poker, Bridge, Hearts, Uno®, etc. In some embodiments, the game may involve play of a video game, such as Minesweeper, Frogger™, Super Mario Bros.™, or any other type of video or arcade game. As will be appreciated, many other games might be played in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.  
      In some embodiments, enabling play of a game may comprise determining a game to enable and/or generating some or all of the content for a game. In one example, once the controller has configured the game (e.g., by selecting particular content based on the version of the game requested by the user and/or geographic data), the controller permits the customer to play the game.  
      In some embodiments, enabling play of a game may include transmitting game content to a user device  104  and/or transmitting a signal instructing the user device  104  to provide play of the game (e.g., some or all of the game content may be stored at the user device  104 ).  
      In some embodiments, allowing the user to play a game may comprise the controller initiating play of the game. For example, the controller may present to the user an initial question in a trivia game, an initial puzzle state in a puzzle game, an initial setup in a board game, an initial hand of cards in a card game, etc. In at least one embodiment, the central controller may initiate a game process by presenting one or more introductory or instructional screens that explain aspects of game play, winning prizes, and/or prize redemption. Of course, such instructional information may be presented at any time and/or made available to the user throughout the game (e.g., by clicking on a link on a webpage). In some embodiments, the user device may initiate play of the game.  
      Initiating the game may include determining a first game event (e.g., a question) to present to the user. For example, the controller may output a first question and then identify the customer&#39;s response (if any) to the first question.  
      A user may or may not be required to pay to play a game. Thus, enabling play of a game may but need not include receiving a payment (or indication of payment) by a user. If a user does pay, the payment may be made from the user&#39;s financial account, such as a credit card account (e.g., as indicated in the player database  220 ). Alternatively, the payment may be made from an account established with the controller.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, providing game play may include configuring or rendering the game based on information associated with one or more merchants (e.g., prize information) and/or information associated with the user. For example, the controller may determine at least one game element based on the geographic data associated with the user and data associated with at least one merchant. In some embodiments, such a determination may be made by querying one or more databases and by identifying a game file corresponding to the geographic data. For instance, the controller may use the customer&#39;s selection of “Stamford, Conn.” as the basis for determining which of a plurality of games, or which version of a game, to provide.  
      Alternatively, or in addition, in some embodiments such a determination may be made by identifying merchants and/or products corresponding to the user&#39;s geographic data (e.g., by querying the merchant and/or prize databases). Thus, such merchant and/or product information could be used by the controller in configuring a game. For example, certain game and/or prize screens could be populated with geographically relevant merchant-related data. For instance, if a player selects a geographical area (e.g., a town or county), the controller may (i) query a database, (ii) identify products offered and/or merchants located within that geographical area, and (iii) assemble and display a product “showcase” comprising the identified products.  
      In some additional embodiments, such a determination may be made by determining whether a numerical limit associated with a particular retail entitlement has been reached. Such numerical limits may be determined, for example, based on information received from a merchant, as discussed herein (e.g., how many of a particular type of prize a merchant is willing to sponsor). For example, numerical limits may be employed to ensure that not more than a given number of retail entitlements are distributed to players through a game system. For instance, a given retailer may wish to provide only one hundred retail entitlements for bottles of Brand Y Soda. Once one hundred of such retail entitlements have been distributed, the controller may refrain from configuring games with images of and/or questions about Brand Y Soda.  
      In one or more embodiments, information about products and/or services marketed by a retailer may be incorporated into the play of the game. In some embodiments, such information may relate to prizes (e.g., offers, entitlements) for which the user is playing or for which the user may become eligible (e.g., based on game play). For example, in a trivia game, questions may be asked that test a user&#39;s knowledge of the retail prices of products for which the user is playing, or knowledge of one or more merchants sponsoring prizes in a showcase.  FIG. 11  depicts one example game screen  1100  including a price-oriented question about products and services in a local edition of an online game. The message  1102  instructs the player to select the three items that have the highest retail prices from the set of six displayed products and services. The graphics displayed for the products (e.g., image  1104 ) indicate a brief description of each product and the merchant offering the product. In some embodiments, additional information (e.g., a merchant location, more detailed description of the product) may be available about the product (e.g., by rolling over an image with a pointer, by clicking on an image). To indicate a product is a correct answer, the player is instructed to click on a depicted graphic (e.g., image  1104 ) corresponding to that product (e.g., by using a mouse or other pointer device).  
      In some embodiments, upon taking entitlement of inventory from the merchants and identifying one or more prospective customer(s), a clearinghouse system may assemble and provide a graphical output of the inventory for presentment to (and selection by) the prospective customer. The graphical output itself may take a variety of forms and/or themes including for example, a game show-type theme (e.g., a game based on the long-running television game show “The Price is Right™”). Thus, the graphical output itself may be hereinafter referred to as a “show”.  
      Generally, the products, services or other inventory featured in a show are subject to presentment based on certain rules or criteria as established by one or more of: (i) the merchant associated with the inventory, (ii) the prospective customer viewing the show, and/or (iii) the controller (e.g., clearinghouse system).  
      For example, as discussed herein, a merchant may establish one or more criteria under which inventory associated with that merchant may be selected for inclusion in a given show. For instance, a merchant may establish criteria limiting the age, gender and/or geographic location for any potential customer to be presented with the merchant&#39;s particular inventory. In addition, the merchant may establish particular terms and conditions under which the inventory may be procured (e.g., “Redemption Valid Mon.-Thurs. Between 3:00 and 6:00 PM”).  
      Similarly, the clearinghouse system itself may establish various criteria under which inventory associated with a particular merchant may be selected for inclusion in a given show. As a first example, the clearinghouse may establish limits on the number of times a particular merchant&#39;s inventory is to be included relative to a particular customer (e.g., “For ‘Customer X’, present only 10 instances over 30 days of any inventory from “Category Y”).  
      In another example, the clearinghouse system may take entitlement of inventory such as Health and Beauty Services from a first merchant located in Geographical Area A, and Retail Goods from a second merchant also located in Geographical Area A. Thereafter, the clearinghouse system may assemble a graphical output or display (a show) such as one or more Web page(s), based on a characterization of both merchants having businesses located in Geographical Area A.  
      In some embodiments, the customer may establish or otherwise indicate one or more criteria under which inventory associated with a particular merchant or type of merchant may be selected for inclusion in a given show instance. For example, the customer may, via a user device, provide an indication of one or more categories of product in which he is interested (e.g., via a menu hosted by the clearinghouse system). That is, the customer may be given the option to select one or more particular categories of product(s), and/or may establish a geographic preference via which the clearinghouse system may determine the appropriate inventory for inclusion.  
      According to one embodiment of the present invention, a clearinghouse system may operate to predict or otherwise determine a rate or frequency with which inventory must be presented to prospective customers in order to clear the inventory from the system. For example, where the system is entitled to award a total of one hundred units of Product Z the clearinghouse system may establish a rate or volume of presentment based on a relative rate or volume of product selection associated with the given inventory.  
      For example, where Product Z is featured in one thousand shows (e.g. presented in a game to each of one thousand prospective customers) and associated with  10  prior instances of product selection, the system may determine that ten thousand games will be required to clear all one hundred units of Product Z In a similar manner, the system may determine that at least a minimum amount of time may be required in order to clear particular inventory (e.g. based on a number of shows featuring the inventory over a given span of time).  
      Various other rules, criteria and determining factors via which the clearinghouse system may assemble particular instances of inventory into a show will be explained in detail herein. Others will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure.  
      In accordance with one embodiment, product selection signal(s) (or lack thereof) may be utilized by the controller in order to determine what specific inventory should be indicated to a potential customer during his or her show. For example, the show itself may only afford a limited amount of inventory to be indicated to the prospective customer. Therefore, the system may be required to utilize any number of determining factors in establishing which particular inventory should be included in a given show.  
      In addition, such determining factors may be utilized by the clearinghouse system throughout the course of the show. For example, a customer&#39;s performance in a first round of a game may influence the inventory to be included in any subsequent round(s).  
      Such determining factors may include e.g.: the “velocity/take rate of certain inventory” (historical, actual or expected), expected revenue associated with certain inventory, the historical or expected popularity or effectiveness of certain inventory, payment of fees from merchants in exchange for featuring their inventory in a show (or for awarding the inventory as a prize), etc.  
      Of course, various types of games may incorporate such information as well. For example, in a game involving the assembly of a jigsaw puzzle, the picture formed by the puzzle may depict one or more products for which a user is playing. In a crossword puzzle game, one or more words in the crossword puzzle may be the name of a product for which the user is playing. In a Scrabble™ game, the user&#39;s performance may be scored higher if the user makes words consisting of the names of presented products. In one or more embodiments, a game may incorporate information about every prize for which a user is playing (e.g., about every product in a product showcase from which the user may become eligible to select one or more prizes).  
      Play of a game may continue through one or more rounds (e.g., a series of questions) or component games. For example, a question-and-answer process may repeat a predetermined number of times (e.g., four times). A session of a game show, for example, may include one or more component games. In some embodiments, component games may involve testing the skill of a contestant in relation to the sorting, ranking, selecting, choosing and/or grouping of certain game icons. In some embodiments, one or more component games may be played sequentially within a game session. In further embodiments, a game contestant who successfully plays one or more component games may aggregate value (e.g., currency, points, etc.) or some measure of performance that may be used, for example, in determining whether the contestant may select one or more prizes (e.g., upon the completion of a game show session).  
      Thus, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, after receiving information about one or more prizes from a merchant (and preferably from multiple merchants), a controller may then allow users to earn value (e.g., based on a measure of performance) toward one or more prizes. Alternatively, or in addition, a player&#39;s performance may determine whether or not the player is even given the opportunity to select one or more entitlements as a prize.  
      In some embodiments, a user is allowed to play a game for the opportunity to obtain one or more products for a relatively small financial outlay (e.g., the difference between a Prize Meter amount and an average retail price). For instance, the user may play a game for the opportunity to obtain one or more products for an outlay of between zero and thirty percent of the retail prices of one or more products.  
      In various embodiments of the present invention, the controller may also determine and/or adjust a measure of performance of the player (e.g., as might be represented in a Prize Meter or Price Tag). In some embodiments, the measure of performance may be based on the player&#39;s skill (e.g., ability to answer a question correctly). In some embodiments, the controller may evaluate the correctness of a player&#39;s responses to game questions, challenges, or other game events, for example, by comparing the player&#39;s indicated responses against a database of stored answers. Alternatively, or in addition, a measure of performance may be based on one or more factors unrelated to the player&#39;s skill or ability to play the game (e.g., a random event or preferential increase in a player&#39;s game score).  
      Based on various factors, a measure of performance may increase, decrease, both increase and decrease, or remain unchanged during the course of a game. In one example, a value represented on a Prize Meter may be increased based on the customer&#39;s correct responses. In another example, a value associated with a Price Tag icon may be adjusted downward based on the customer&#39;s correct responses.  
      Some measures of a user&#39;s performance in a game may include and/or be based on, without limitation: 
          a) A number of questions a user has answered correctly in a trivia game.     b) A number of answers a user has correctly chosen for a single trivia question (e.g., in a game in which a user must select multiple answers to a question).     c) An amount of progress a user has made towards solving a puzzle.     d) An outcome a user has obtained in a game of chance. For example, in a slot machine game, a measure of a user&#39;s performance may include whether the user has obtained a typical winning outcome, such as “7-7-7” or a typical losing outcome, such as “bar-orange-lemon.” A user&#39;s performance in a game of chance may be made by reference to a pay table. For example, a pay table may correlate an amount by which credit amount is to increase with each possible outcome that may be obtained in the game of chance.     e) An appraisal of how “good” a move made by the user was in a game of skill. For example, in a game of Scrabble®, when there were multiple possible words available for the user to create, the performance of the user may be based on whether the user found the highest-scoring word possible, the second highest-scoring word possible, etc.     f) An amount of time it takes a player to complete a game event, such as a round of a game.     g) A score a player has achieved in a game.     h) A performance of a player relative to the performance of a real or simulated opponent.     i) A performance of a player relative to his own prior performance. For example, measures of a user&#39;s performance may include measures of the user&#39;s improvement since the last time he played a game.     j) A number of questions, rounds, or other game events in a game. In a game with a relatively few number of questions, for example, each increase in a player&#39;s Prize Meter may be relatively large. However, in a game with relatively large number of questions, each increase may be relatively small, since the user may then have more chances to increase the Prize Meter value.     k) A target price. One or more factors used in determining a measure of performance may have the object of biasing a final value (e.g., a price level) to fall within a certain range (e.g., as desired by a merchant and/or controller). For example, the amount of a price level increase may be relatively larger if a target price is high, and may be relatively smaller if a target price is low. In this way, a user may be more likely to obtain a final price level that is within a predetermined range of the target price, regardless of what the target price is. For example, it may be desirable that the final price level falls in the range from $0.50 to $1.00 below the target price. In this way, the controller may make a small profit from selling a product entitlement to the user, assuming the controller has paid less than $0.50 to the merchant for the entitlement.     l) A value of one or more products or other prizes the user may be (or may become) eligible to obtain. For example, for relatively more valuable products, Prize Meter increases may be smaller. For relatively less valuable products, Prize Meter increases may be larger. Of course, the value of a product may be measured in a number of ways, and may be based on the product&#39;s retail price, manufacturing cost, utility value, etc.     m) An amount that the controller paid for one or more prizes. For example, the price the controller paid a merchant for providing a particular entitlement to the system, and for which the player may be playing (e.g., as included in a showcase). Performance measure increases may be relatively large for relatively small amounts paid, and may be relatively small for relatively large amounts paid.     n) A current stage or component of the game. For example, performance measure increases may tend to be larger in later stages of a game than they are in earlier stages. This may allow, for example, the user to finish a game “on a high note” by having achieved a relatively large performance measure increase near the end.     o) Chance. In one or more embodiments, the amount by which a measure of performance is modified may be determined, at least in part, through the outcome of a random or pseudo-random process. For example, a credit amount increase may be equal to $0.45+x, where x is a random variable which may take on any value between 0 and $1.00 with equal probability. Thus, a credit amount may increase by a random amount between $0.45 and $1.45.        

      In one example of a Prize Meter embodiment, throughout a game (e.g., after each question and answer), the controller communicates a user&#39;s success in answering questions (e.g., based on merchants and/or products available in a geographic area) by adjusting a depicted Prize Meter. The Prize Meter represents an amount of credit the player has won toward the purchase of at least one product in a showcase. At the end of the game, as discussed further herein, the prospective customer may elect to pay the difference between the final Prize Meter amount and a target price, which may represent the average retail price of the items in the showcase. Payment of this difference to the controller would allow the customer to redeem at least one showcased product from a retailer (e.g., within a selected geographical region).  
      In one example of an alternative Price Tag embodiment, based on the prospective customer&#39;s success in answering questions about products sold by merchants within the selected geographic region, for example, a Price Tag amount is adjusted. At the end of the game, the user may elect to pay the Price Tag amount. Payment of the Price Tag amount to the controller would provide the customer the right to redeem at least one product from a retailer within the selected geographic region.  
       FIG. 12  depicts an example game screen  1200  that includes a graphic representation of a value  1202  (e.g., a score of $5.57) achieved by a player. The example screen also includes a representation of a meter  1204  (e.g., the Prize Meter). The meter indicates the performance of the player relative to a target price  1206  (e.g., $16.77). The game screen  1200  also indicates that the target price  1206  is the average retail price of a showcase of prizes (e.g., on which one or more game questions may be based, from which a player may later choose a prize if eligible). The sample message  1208  communicates information to the player about the player&#39;s performance in a round, indicates the player&#39;s score at that point in the game, and conveniently reminds the player of the goal of attaining the target price in order to be eligible for one or more prizes.  
      In some embodiments, users may achieve “price levels” applicable to one or more products associated with product guarantees or other types of entitlements. A price level counts towards the purchase of one or more products (e.g., an earned discount off of a “retail price” or target price). For example, a player may win a price level for one or more products based on game play. For instance, at the initiation of the game, the user may begin with a price level of $0.00. However, the beginning price level may, in various embodiments, take on other values. For example, after one or more activities in the game, the controller may modify the price level. In one or more embodiments, the controller may modify the price level based on the user&#39;s play of the game. For instance, if the user has done well in the game (e.g., come closer to one or more game objectives), then the controller may increase the price level by a relatively large amount. However, if the user has done poorly in the game, then the controller may increase the price level by a relatively small amount. The controller may even leave the price level unchanged, or may decrease the price level. In one or more embodiments, a measure of a user&#39;s performance may be directly related to the skill exhibited by the user in the game. For instance, the better the user&#39;s performance in the game, the higher the price level. Therefore, through skillful play of a game, a user may earn a high price level, and may thereby acquire one or more products for a small financial outlay.  
      Reference is now made to an example trivia game in which the user is presented with a single question and may or must select multiple answers. In one example question, a user is presented with multiple illustrations and/or text descriptions of products. The user is asked to indicate each product whose retail price is below $9.00. For instance, the question might read, “Click on the three products below that retail for less than $9.00.” In such a game, the amount of increase in a price level may depend on the number of correct answers chosen. For example, if the user chooses no correct answers, then the price level may remain the same. If the user chooses exactly one correct answer, then the price level may be increased by $0.25. If the user chooses exactly two correct answers, then the price level may be increased by $1.00. If the user chooses exactly three correct answers, then the price level may be increased by $2.00.  
      In one embodiment, a table may be stored in the memory of a controller, for example. The table stores information representing an amount by which a price level is to be increased depending on the number of correct answers a user provides for a question. The amount of the price level increase need not be strictly proportional to the number of correct answers provided.  
      In one or more embodiments, it may be desirable that a measure of performance (e.g., a game score) increases after every question, round, or other game event. This may reduce the likelihood that a user becomes discouraged while playing the game. Therefore, in one embodiment, the controller provides a question to the user that the user will answer correctly. For example, the question says, “Select the three items below that retail for the highest prices.” The user is given five answer choices. If there are only two (or fewer) incorrect answer choices, and the user must select three choices, the user is guaranteed to get at least one correct answer. Therefore, in an embodiment in which a Prize Meter is increased upon the selection of any correct answer, the user is guaranteed to obtain an increase in the amount depicted by the Prize Meter.  
      In one embodiment, after each question, round, or other game event, a price level or measure of performance may be shown to the player as increasing. For example, a user answers a question that is presented on a first screen of the controller&#39;s website. After the user has indicated his answer, a second screen may appear showing a meter indicating a price or value (e.g., a Prize Meter). The meter may consist of an area of a screen that displays the user&#39;s price level. The meter may display a price level numerically, with example readings of “$0.35”, or “4.32.”  FIG. 12  depicts an example display of a meter indicating an amount or price, and is discussed further below. The price on the meter may then be shown increasing.  
      In some embodiments, above the meter, the controller may display a message indicating various types of information. Such information may include the user&#39;s performance in the prior round (e.g., “You got 2 out of 3 correct”), an indication of what is presently occurring (e.g., “your price level is now increasing”), the amount by which the price level is increasing, and so on. Visually, the displayed price may increase rapidly through a sequence of consecutive prices. For instance, “$0.00” becomes “$0.01,” then “$0.02,” then “$0.03,” finally ending with “$2.23.” 
      A meter or other indication of a player&#39;s game performance may be shown on a different screen from the screen in which the user plays the game. For example, after each question, round, or other event, the controller may display for the user a separate screen in which the price on the meter is shown increasing. Once a meter has been depicted as reaching its new value, for example, the controller may bring the user back to the screen in which the game is being played.  
      Of course, the meter may be shown in the same screen as the game. For example, the user may view questions in the lower portion of his screen, and may view the meter displayed in the upper portion of his screen. After, or during each game event, the user may watch as the price increases. For instance, after the user answers the first of three questions displayed on a screen, the user&#39;s earned credit amount may be shown increasing within the same screen.  
      In addition to, or instead of displaying a price using a meter, the controller may display a measure of game performance or other measure graphically. For example, the controller may display a thermometer with a target price indicated above the thermometer. The thermometer may contain a depiction of a mercury level representing the current price level. The ratio of the height of the mercury to the height of the thermometer may be (but need not be) made proportional to the ratio of the price level to the target price, for example. Other graphic depictions of a price level may include a dial with markings from zero to the target price, an hourglass where the level of sand is related to the current price level, and so on. Other types of graphic representations will be understood by those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure.  
      In some embodiments of the present invention, the controller may determine a final measure of performance (e.g., a final Prize Meter amount or Price Tag value). For instance, the user may reach the end of a game after which there are no further game events. A final measure or score may be presented to the user, in any of various well-known ways. In one example, in a separate screen showing the final amount on a meter, the controller may display the message, “This is your final price level.” In another example, the message may read more explicitly, “Your final price level is $9.45.” In one or more embodiments, the controller may express the user&#39;s final amount in terms of a price gap or gap amount that is equal to the difference between a target price and a final value (or, alternatively, it may be equal to a final Price Tag value). For example, the controller may display the message, “Your price gap is $0.55. You only need to pay $0.55 to acquire each of up to three products.” 
      In one or more embodiments featuring a pricing-themed game, a final Prize Meter Gap Amount or Price Tag value may be determined based on the customer&#39;s success in answering one or more price-oriented questions. The Prize Meter Gap Amount or Price Tag may then be displayed to the customer.  
      In step  908 , merchant information is presented to the user. In some embodiments, as discussed herein, a server may be configured to present to a user (e.g., a game contestant) information about one or more products and/or one offer from one or more merchants. In some embodiments, as described herein, presenting information associated with a merchant may comprise presenting information about one or more products or services available at a merchant in a game (e.g., displaying a prize showcase, asking a question based on information about a merchant or a merchant&#39;s product). For example, information associated with a merchant, such as the merchant&#39;s name, location, and/or information about products or services the merchant offers, may be used as an element of a game.  
      In some embodiments, presenting such information may comprise providing a user with a prize and/or allowing a user to select at least one prize (e.g., product entitlement) associated with a merchant. According to some embodiments, presenting merchant information to a user may comprise determining what information to present. For example, in some embodiments, the entitlements from which the customer may be allowed to select a prize may be based on the Prize Meter Gap Amount, the Price Tag amount, the price level and/or the customer&#39;s degree of success in playing the game.  
      In accordance with some embodiments, presenting merchant information to a user may comprise determining whether to provide access to any entitlements (e.g., based on a user&#39;s performance in game). For example, after a player has finished playing a game (e.g., after four rounds of questions), the central controller evaluates the customer&#39;s performance and determines whether, and to what degree, the customer will be provided with retail entitlements. In another example, once a final price level or other measure of performance has been determined, the user may have an opportunity to select one or more products.  
      In some embodiments, prizes may be presented to users of a game system irrespective of their interaction with one or more component games (e.g., a contestant of a game show system who does not win or complete a game may still be presented with an offer). In other embodiments, a contestant may be presented with a prize based on her success playing a component game (e.g., a customer answers a question correctly and is then presented with an entitlement). In other embodiments, upon the completion of one or more component games, a customer may be presented with at least one prize from each of at least two merchants.  
      In one or more embodiments, the number of prizes a user may select may depend upon the user&#39;s game performance. For example, if the user has performed poorly, then the user may be allowed to select only one product. On the other hand, if the user has performed well, then the user may be allowed to select three products.  
      In one example of a Prize Meter embodiment, based on the Prize Meter Gap Amount and/or the user&#39;s degree of success in the game (e.g., in answering price-oriented questions), the controller may determine how many products the customer may be entitled to purchase for the Prize Meter Gap Amount. In one example of a Price Tag embodiment, based on the Price Tag amount and/or the user&#39;s degree of success in answering questions, the central controller may determine how many products the customer may be entitled to purchase for the Price Tag amount.  
      In some embodiments, a user may select or may otherwise be issued a certain number of prizes based on his success or failure playing one or more component games within a game session. For example, a user may be able to claim a certain number of prizes (e.g., “Pick your favorite 3 prizes!”) that is determined based on the player&#39;s performance playing one or more component games (e.g., the customer successfully completed three of four component games). In other embodiments, a customer may accept more than one prize (e.g., a customer may select three prizes from a “showcase” of fifteen prizes).  
      In some embodiments, a user may be allowed to choose a subset of prizes presented to him, as discussed further herein. In one embodiment, a user may also have the opportunity to select a product for which the price level he has won will apply. For example, over the course of a game, the user may win a price level of $9.45. In one embodiment, the user may be presented with twenty-four product descriptions and may have the opportunity to select up to three of them.  
      In other embodiments, the number of prizes that a user may be eligible to choose may be predetermined and/or may be limited by the rules of the game, for example, to three products (e.g., as indicated in the presentation rules database  240 ).  
      A representation of any prizes made available for selection, and/or an indication of the number of prizes the customer may select, may be output to the customer in a prize selection screen. In some embodiments, the group of products from which a player may be able to select a prize and/or will play a game for may be referred to as a showcase, prize showcase, or product showcase. In at least one embodiment, available prize options may be presented in the form of a prize showcase (at the beginning of the game, during the game, or anytime), in which a plurality of prizes (e.g., represented by pictures or icons) is presented substantially simultaneously to a player. In one embodiment, the prize showcase is displayed after the contestant has completed playing at least one component game.  
       FIG. 13  depicts an example game screen  1300  that may be used to prompt a game player to select one or more retail entitlements. The screen  1300  displays indications of a plurality of prizes  1304  (a “showcase”) from which the player may select. A sample message  1302  communicates to the player that the player has earned a final amount of $9.45 (e.g., a final Prize Meter amount). In some embodiments, as discussed herein, the indicated final amount may be used in determining an amount to be charged the player for each entitlement issued. In this example, the average retail price of the showcase (e.g., a target price) is $10.00. The sample message  1302  also indicates that the player may receive up to three prizes in exchange for $0.55 per prize (i.e., the gap amount is $0.55).  
      In one or more embodiments, the user may have the opportunity to choose one or more products for which he will play or from which he will be able to select a prize. For example, prior to initiating game play, or at any time, the user may choose a category of products, such as “household items,” “restaurant items,” or “premium products.” Based on the user&#39;s choice of category, the controller may determine one or more products that fall into the category. For example, in the category of “restaurant items,” the controller may select a “large pizza at Tanya&#39;s Pizza”, an “appetizer at Gordon&#39;s Diner”, a “large drink at Linda&#39;s Café”, and so on. It will be understood that a category of products may be defined by any number of attributes, such as the price of products within the category, the main use of products within the category (e.g., all products are used for gardening), the location at which the products may be purchased (e.g., all are from merchants within a particular geographic region), the audience to which products would appeal (e.g., products for a family with children), and so on. A category of products might even consist of “miscellaneous” products, with no particular relationship among them.  
      In one or more embodiments, the user himself may choose one or more indicated individual products that he will play for (i.e., that he may be or become eligible to select at the end of the game). In one or more other embodiments, a user may not have a choice as to a showcase or product category, or as to which products will be contained in a showcase. In one example, a controller may create a group of products that fall under a category. The group of products selected by the controller may then comprise the products for which the game will be played. In another example, the user may choose a product category, the controller may then present the user with products falling within the category, and the user may then select individual products from within the category in order to form a showcase.  
      In various embodiments, presenting merchant-related information may include one or more of (i) receiving or otherwise determining at least two offers, (ii) determining a presentation rule, (iii) identifying at least one game condition (e.g., a measure of performance), and/or (iv) determining whether to present the first or second offer based on the presentation rule and the at least one game condition. For example, merchants may instruct that certain prizes be offered in accordance with different criteria (e.g., present prize MP-001 to a certain type of contestant, during a certain time of day, when prize LP-003 is also available for selection). Accordingly, in some embodiments (e.g., wherein one merchant may provide a plurality of offers), a system may employ a presentation process in which, based on stored presentation rules and game conditions, one or more particular offers from one or more merchants may be presented instead of other offers. Various types of presentment rules may be stored and/or referred to as deemed practicable, in accordance with some embodiments, to increase the overall acceptance rates of entitlements and to generate more traffic and sales at the retail locations of participating merchants.  
      In some embodiments, presenting merchant-related information includes communicating one or more of (i) written text describing an offer and/or offer terms; (ii) an icon, graphic and/or picture representing a product or service associated with the offer; and/or (iii) any other means of communicating a specific offer or other prize to a contestant, visually or otherwise. For example, the controller may present to the user a number of product images and product descriptions. Such images and descriptions may correspond to products for which the controller has obtained product guarantees or other entitlements. Additionally, as discussed herein, such images and descriptions may correspond to a group of products determined at the start of the game.  
      In some embodiments, as discussed herein, more than one entitlement may be presented substantially simultaneously to a contestant. For example, a contestant may be presented with a plurality of offers (e.g., a prize showcase contains fifteen prize offers supplied by local merchants) from which a contestant may claim a certain number of prizes (e.g., “Pick your favorite 3 prizes!”). In another example, a user may then be presented with twenty-four product images, representing such example products as a large pizza at Joe&#39;s Pizza, a manicure at Hilda&#39;s Salon, or a dog grooming at Sam&#39;s Creature Care Center. Each product may correspond to a product described by a product guarantee or other entitlement.  
      In step  910 , an entitlement is provided to the user. In some embodiments, an entitlement may be provided as a prize (e.g., in a game). In some embodiments, providing an entitlement may include determining whether a user accepts at least one retail entitlement. For example, upon being presented with one or more offers (e.g., via a display of a user device  104 ), a user may accept one or more offers. In some embodiments, providing an entitlement to a user comprises receiving an indication of a selection by a user of the entitlement.  
      If the customer has won a retail entitlement, for example, such as the ability to purchase a product for an amount equal to a Prize Meter Gap Amount or a Price Tag amount, the customer may be provided with the opportunity to accept the retail entitlement (e.g., by clicking on a corresponding image displayed on a website).  
      In one or more embodiments, once the clearinghouse system determines the appropriate inventory for inclusion, the clearinghouse system may then host the graphical display in order to receive one or more product selection signal(s) from a prospective customer or user device. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the product selection signal(s) may represent, without limitation: (i) a comparative ranking by the prospective customer of at least a sub-set of products represented by the graphical display relative to one another (i.e., a game play signal) and/or (ii) a signal indicating a desire to acquire the presented inventory via the corresponding merchant (i.e., a prize selection signal).  
      For example, where the graphical output comprises a game, as discussed above, a first product selection signal may be provided by the customer and/or user device in order to rank various inventory based on his or her perception of retail price associated with the items included in the show. Based on the results of the comparative ranking process (e.g., how well the customer is able to comparatively rank the various products), the customer may be entitled to select one or more of the previously presented product(s) as a prize by providing a second product selection signal. For instance, as discussed herein, the performance of a player in a game may entitle the player to select (e.g., by selecting from a showcase of prizes) a prize that was included in game play (i.e., a previously-presented product).  
      In various embodiments, a user may accept an entitlement by selecting (e.g., highlighting, clicking on, pressing an area of a touch screen, actuating a corresponding button or key, etc.) one or more of: (i) text, (ii) icons, graphics or symbols, and/or (iii) any representation, visual or otherwise, identifying a specific entitlement sponsored by a merchant.  FIG. 13 , discussed above, depicts an example game screen  1300  that may be used to prompt a game player to select one or more prizes.  
      In some embodiments, as discussed herein, a player may accept a finite number of entitlements after completing a game session. In other embodiments, a player may win one or more prizes (e.g., after playing a game show), and choose not to accept or select prizes until a later time (e.g., a return visit to the game show website). Also, in some embodiments, providing an entitlement may not include any active acceptance by a player of a particular prize. For example, a visitor to an online game show website may automatically “win” a medium pizza from a local merchant.  
      In one or more embodiments, the user need not select any entitlements or other prizes. For instance, the user may not desire to obtain any of the products displayed for him, even though he may be able to do so for well below the products&#39; typical retail prices. In such cases, the user may be given the opportunity to select from another group of products and/or to replay the game. In some embodiments, a customer&#39;s rejection of the at least one retail entitlement results in the start of a new game. Thus, although a user may potentially accept at least one retail entitlement, the customer may also reject the at least one retail entitlement.  
      Should a user accept at least one entitlement, providing the entitlement(s) may further comprise determining whether the customer is a first-time player or a repeat visitor to the website. For example, the controller may consult a player database  220  to determine if the user has previously played an online game before, which would indicate that the player is a repeat visitor. If the customer is a first-time player, this step may further comprise requesting and receiving the customer&#39;s contact information (e.g., full name, address, phone number, etc.) and/or financial account information (e.g., credit card account number). Of course, as discussed herein, such information may be requested and/or received prior to the start of a game or at any time.  
      According to some embodiments, a user may provide a payment in exchange for a product, offer, entitlement, or other prize. In some embodiments, a prize may include the opportunity to purchase something. For example, a user may pay for one or more selected products based on a price level he has achieved or a credit amount he has earned. In another example, based on a Prize Meter Gap Amount and/or a user&#39;s degree of success in answering price-oriented questions, the user may be entitled to purchase one or more products for the Prize Meter Gap Amount. In an example of a Price Tag embodiment, based on the Price Tag amount and/or the user&#39;s degree of success in answering price-oriented questions, the user may be entitled to purchase one or more products for the Price Tag amount. If the user has won an entitlement such as the ability to purchase a product for an amount equal to a Prize Meter Gap Amount or a Price Tag amount, the user may be provided with the opportunity to accept the retail entitlement.  
      In some embodiments featuring pricing-themed games, the operator of the controller may desire to provide first-time customers with the ability to receive one or more retail entitlements for free. In the case of a Prize Meter embodiment, for example, the controller may be configured to waive charging first-time customers any amount whatsoever, including (1) a game entry fee, or (2) a Prize Meter Gap Amount. Otherwise, for repeat customers, the controller may be configured to charge (1) a game entry fee (e.g., $0.25 per game) and/or (2) a Prize Meter Gap Amount. In the case of a Price Tag embodiment, the controller may be configured to waive charging first-time customers any amount whatsoever, including (1) a game entry fee, or (2) an amount based on the customer&#39;s final Price Tag. Otherwise, for repeat customers, the controller may be configured to charge (1) a game entry fee (e.g., $0.25 per game), and/or (2) an amount based on the customer&#39;s final Price Tag, such as an amount equal to the final Price Tag amount multiplied by the number of products selected from a prize selection screen (e.g., sample game screen  1300 ).  
      It should be noted that in embodiments where customers are required to pay the controller (e.g., with a credit card account or account established with the controller) a Price Tag amount or gap amount in order to realize retail entitlements, the controller may be configured to request a supplemental, affirmative authorization from the customer to charge the customer&#39;s account.  
      In one example of a Prize Meter embodiment, a customer may determine that the final Prize Meter Gap Amount is too high (i.e., it would cost too much to purchase an entitlement), and may choose to start the game process over again. Further, in such instances, a fee may be optionally charged for each new game started (e.g., $0.25).  
      According to some embodiments, a user may purchase one or more products by making up the gap between a credit amount (or a price level) and a target price. Once the user has chosen a subset of products (e.g., from a showcase), the user may pay for the chosen products based on the credit amount he has accumulated. Thus, in some embodiments, to obtain a right to an entitlement, a user need then only pay the difference between the credit amount he has achieved and a determined price (e.g., a target price, a retail price of the product corresponding to the entitlement). Once the user has selected one or more entitlements, the user may be charged for the entitlements. The credit amount a user earns toward an entitlement may typically be close to the retail price of the product, so that there is only a small gap for the user to make up using his own funds. Accordingly, it is generally beneficial for a user to win a higher credit amount for a product, as then there will be a smaller gap that he must pay out of his own pocket. Equivalently, it is generally beneficial for the user to achieve a small gap, which in some embodiments may be represented as a declining value (e.g., a Price Tag amount).  
      Providing an entitlement to a user may comprise determining a price to charge the user for one or more entitlements. In some embodiments, after the one or more products have been determined as part of the game and/or for selection as prizes by the user, the controller may determine a target price. During a game, the user may attempt to get a price level or credit amount as close as possible to a target price. If the user can get his price level to match the target price, for example, then the user may be able to obtain one or more products without further financial outlay (i.e., for free).  
      In one embodiment, the target price may be determined based upon the retail prices of the products for which the user is playing. The target price may be based on, for example: 
          a) The average (mean, median or mode) of the retail prices of the products     b) The highest of the retail prices of the products     c) The lowest of the retail prices of the products     d) The weighted average of the retail prices of the products.        

      It will be understood that the weighting of retail prices may be done in a number of ways. In one example, the retail price of a particular product is weighted based on the frequency with which users have chosen it for acquisition in the past. For instance, suppose a user is playing for a group of products comprising products A, B, and C. At the end of the game, the user will be able to choose one product from the group of products to acquire. Suppose further that product A has a retail price of $10.00, product B has a retail price of $5.00, and product C has a retail price of $9.00. Further, suppose that products A and B have been chosen with about equal frequency in the past, while product C has been chosen twice as often as products A or B. Therefore, the retail price of product C may receive twice the weighting of the retail prices of products A and B when figuring the target price. Thus, in this example, the target price may be equal to: (retail price of A+retail price of B+2×retail price of C)/4, which equals $10.00+$5.00+2×$9.00)/4, which equals $8.25. Of course, there are many other criteria with which the weightings for an average may be derived.  
      It should be noted that the target price might be determined based on other prices or measures of value for the products for which the user is playing. For example, the target price of a product may be based upon the price the controller paid for a corresponding product guarantee, the manufacturing cost of the product, the price suggested for the product by a merchant (e.g., by the merchant supplying the product), the liquidation value of the product, and so on. The controller may also determine a target price based on other additional or alternative factors. Such factors may include, without limitation: 
          a) The category label, or the showcase label. For example, if a category is labeled “premium products,” then the target price may be relatively high, even though the products themselves do not necessarily have high retail prices.     b) The geographic location of the user. In various embodiments, the controller may wish to discourage play from users who live far from merchants providing product guarantees. Such users might be less likely to become regular customers of the merchants. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, a target price is made relatively higher for a user whose residence is geographically distant from the location of one or more merchants providing product guarantees for the products in a game.     c) Chance. A controller may select a target price at random. The target price may, for example, take on a random value within a predetermined range, such as $8.00 to $12.00.     d) History. The controller may, for example, select a target price for a showcase because the target price has applied to similar showcases in the past.        

      In at least one embodiment, if a user&#39;s price level falls short of the target price, then the user may have to make up the gap with his own funds. In some embodiments, this gap refers to the difference between the price level won by the user and the retail price of the product. For example, if the target price is $9.50, and the user achieves a price level of $9.10 through play of the game, then the user may have to make up the gap of $0.40 with his own funds if he wishes to obtain a product. To obtain two products, the user may have to use $0.80 from his own funds, and so forth.  
      In another example, for each selected product, the amount the user is charged may be equal to the difference between the target price and the price level the user won during play of the game. For instance, if the user has won a price level of $8.55, if the target price is $10.00, and if the user has chosen three products, then the user may be charged 3×($10.00−$8.55), or $4.35. The user may, in some embodiments, be charged an additional amount for other costs, such as shipping costs for the product or for a certificate redeemable for the product (e.g., if the product or certificate is mailed to the user by the controller).  
      In some embodiments, the user may be considered to be purchasing the means to obtain a product (as opposed to purchasing the product itself from the controller). Since the controller may have obtained product guarantees, for example, the controller may be able to provide the user with the means for obtaining a product (e.g., a certificate corresponding to the guarantee). The user may then obtain the product from an appropriate merchant.  
      In some cases, the game may be configured such that a user may be able to achieve a price level equal to the retail price of a product, in which case he would not have to pay anything for the chosen products—the gap amount would be zero.  
      In some embodiments, providing one or more entitlements to a user may include receiving payment or an indication of payment by a user. For example, the user may possess an account with the controller. The account may contain an amount of funds provided by the controller (or a third party) to the user for free (e.g., as a benefit to first-time users). Alternatively, the user&#39;s account may have been established or funded with funds from the user&#39;s credit card account. For instance, the user&#39;s credit card account may have been charged $5.00 in order to fund an account maintained with the controller. Once the user has agreed to purchase one or more products, the amount of the gap between the target price and the final price level may be deducted from the user&#39;s account with the controller. If the user has insufficient funds in his account, in some embodiments the user may be required to add additional funds (e.g., from a credit card account).  
      In some embodiments, the user may not have an account associated with the controller. In one or more such embodiments, the user&#39;s credit card account may be charged directly for any amount required to obtain one or more entitlements (e.g., based on the gap between a target price and a price level earned by the player).  
      In one or more embodiments, providing an entitlement to a user comprises providing the user with means to obtain a product (e.g., corresponding to a product guarantee). In some embodiments, if the user has accepted at least one retail entitlement, the controller the retail entitlement to the user. This may include providing retail entitlement data to the user (e.g., including information about a product, a merchant, a merchant location, etc.) and/or recording the distribution of the retail entitlements. Thus, in some embodiments, once the user has purchased a right to receive a product, the controller may provide the user with the means to obtain that product.  
      In one or more embodiments, the user may obtain the product by bringing an appropriate certificate to the merchant providing the product. Providing an entitlement to a user may thus include providing a certificate or other means to obtain a product. In one example, a certificate might contain, among other things, the user&#39;s name, a description of the product for which the certificate is redeemable, the name of the merchant who will provide the product, a date on which the certificate was issued, a date by which the certificate must be redeemed, and one or more designs that are difficult to forge.  
      In some embodiments, the controller may provide a player with a retail entitlement by allowing the player to download a printable voucher that can be presented by the player to a retailer in a redemption process. For example, once a user has paid for one or more product guarantees, the controller may transmit to the user one or more printable certificates. In one embodiment, the controller transmits one certificate for each entitlement for which the user has paid. The user may then print the printable certificates from a user device (e.g., using a printing device). The controller may transmit a certificate to a user in electronic form. For example, the controller may transmit the certificate as a PDF (portable document format) file.  
      In one or more embodiments, the electronic file to be printed as the certificate is not displayed directly on the user&#39;s terminal screen. The electronic file may be set up in this way, for example, in order to discourage screen capturing of the certificate. For instance, if the user were able to screen-capture the certificate, the user might duplicate the certificate electronically and send electronic versions of the certificate to friends. Since the friends would thereby obtain certificates without paying, and since there might now be more certificates outstanding than were intended by the controller, the re-transmission of certificates could be a misuse of the system.  
      In one or more embodiments, the controller may mail to the user a copy of a certificate or entitlement data via postal mail. Postal mail might be used, for example, if the user has no printer.  
      In other embodiments, the controller may allow the player to download a code that identifies a prize into a PDA, cell phone, or other portable device. In some embodiments, a game may be played on a user device (e.g., a PDA) in order to “unlock” any codes stored in the device. For example, a player&#39;s PDA may unlock one or more stored prize codes (e.g., reveal them to the player) based on the player&#39;s performance in a game.  
      In some embodiments, the player could transmit a prize code to a device operated by the retailer upon redemption. In yet another embodiment, the controller may merely output a message to the customer indicating that an entitlement is registered in his or her name.  
      For each issued entitlement, the controller may create or update a record in a database to reflect the issuance (e.g., an issued prize database  235  and/or a prize database  230 ). In some embodiments, once a customer accepts one or more prizes, a record (e.g., in prize database  230 ) may be updated so as to reflect the removal of one or more prize units. This step may be particularly useful in embodiments where participating merchants wish to limit the availability of retail entitlements. For example, the number available of a particular prize may be adjusted in the prize database  230 . Maintaining and tracking the issuance of prizes may be desirable so that, once a given retail entitlement has been exhausted (i.e. once a numerical limit has been reached), related products are not included as game elements or offered as prizes in any subsequent games.  
      In various embodiments, acceptance data may be recorded (e.g., in an issued prize database) to reflect a customer&#39;s selection of a prize. In some embodiments, acceptance data may include an indication of: (i) the offer that was accepted, (ii) the user that selected the offer (e.g., user data, which may include demographic information), (iii) the status of certain game elements when the offer was selected (e.g., game conditions), and/or (iv) general game system statistics. Additionally, in some embodiments, acceptance data may be sequentially updated to include information concerning the redemption of awarded prizes (e.g., a customer&#39;s behavior subsequent to accepting a prize, such as whether or not a prize voucher is then presented and redeemed at a merchant retail location).  
      In one embodiment, a clearinghouse system may update an inventory record associated with the particular product or service having been selected by the customer, which may reduce (or eliminate entirely) the number of available units of the particular inventory available for inclusion in subsequent shows (e.g., relative to that particular customer or entirely within the system).  
      In some embodiments, upon receiving a product selection signal from a prospective customer or prospective customer device, a clearinghouse system may communicate with a corresponding merchant system and/or customer device in order to facilitate the provision of the selected product(s) to the prospective customer via the merchant. For example, as discussed herein, the prospective customer may be instructed to print out a voucher or claim code that may be taken to the merchant&#39;s place of business and redeemed for the previously-selected inventory. The redemption itself may be subject to certain terms and conditions as discussed above (e.g., as specified by the merchant when providing/indicating inventory to the clearinghouse system).  
      In step  912 , a request to validate an entitlement is received. In some embodiments a user provides a certificate to a merchant sponsoring a corresponding entitlement.  
      In some embodiments, the controller may receive a request to validate an attempt by a user to redeem a retail entitlement, and may determine the validity of the retail entitlement. For example, after at least one retail entitlement has been distributed to a customer, a retailer may transmit retail entitlement data to the controller to validate the retail entitlement. A retailer may seek such validation of a retail entitlement when a customer attempts to redeem a product from the merchant by claiming that they are entitled to receive the product (e.g., after having played an online game). For instance, a customer may present a product to a cashier at a retail store and tell the cashier that she is entitled to receive the product as a result of her playing an online game. The cashier may, in turn, manipulate a merchant device such as a personal computer, a validator device or a card authorization terminal to transmit an authorization or validation inquiry to the controller.  
      Such an inquiry may include, without limitation, (a) an entitlement identifier, such as an alphanumeric voucher identifier or prize code (e.g., that may match or be used to determine a prize identifier  602 ); (b) a unique identifier of the customer, such as a full name, Social Security Number, financial account number (e.g., credit card number, checking account number), promotional account number (e.g., loyalty card number), or the like; and/or (c) a description of the product the customer claims she is entitled to receive (e.g., a Universal Product Code, or the like).  
      After receiving a request, the central controller may consult a database (e.g., an issued prize database  235 ) to confirm that the customer was issued an appropriate retail entitlement. If the controller determines that the customer is registered to receive the product, the central controller may (1) transmit an authorization message to the cashier, who may authorize the transaction such that the customer need not provide payment to the retailer for the product; and/or (2) update a database record to reflect the redemption (e.g., in the issued prize database  235 ).  
      Thus, if a customer has won the product and/or purchased it in conjunction with an online game, in some embodiments she need not provide any payment to the retailer in order to acquire the product. In some embodiments, an operator of the central controller may credit the retailer for any such redeemed products.  
      In an alternate embodiment, a retailer may maintain an independent database or log of retail entitlement identifiers that can be consulted without submitting an inquiry to the controller. Such information may be provided to the retailer by the controller, for example, from time to time. When a customer wishes to redeem a retail entitlement, the validity of the retail entitlement can be verified against the retailer&#39;s local information, eliminating the need to communicate (e.g., via a network) with the controller in order to validate that entitlement. Of course, the retailer may at some point indicate to the controller that the entitlement has been redeemed.  
      In one example, a user may have purchased an entitlement after playing an online game. In another example, with a printed certificate in hand, a user may visit the merchant who is to provide a product the user has purchased a right to (e.g., from the controller). The user may hand the certificate to the merchant and may receive the prize from the merchant in exchange for the certificate.  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , a flow chart  1000  is depicted that represents some embodiments of the present invention. Although the method  1000  is discussed as being performed by a controller, it will be understood in light of the present disclosure that various aspects of the example method may be performed by a controller, a game server, a user device, a retailer device, or any combination of the devices and/or computers described herein.  
      In step  1002 , data is received from a plurality of retail merchants. For example, merchants register via a website or otherwise communicate information to the controller. Various examples of merchant-related information are described in this disclosure and might include geographic data, product offerings (e.g., a dinner menu), promotional information (e.g., “We&#39;ve been satisfying Stamford customers since 1983”), and one or more prizes each merchant is willing to provide to the system (e.g., “Large cheese pizza”). In step  1004 , geographic data associated with a user is determined. For example, a visitor to an online game website may indicate a preference for a local edition of a game or might indicate a street address when registering with a central controller. In step  1006 , at least one game element is determined based on the geographic data associated with the user and the data received from at least one merchant. For example, a controller may identify a particular game file associated with a local edition of a game. In another example, the controller may generate game questions that are based on information about merchants and/or products available in the user&#39;s geographic data. In another example, the controller may determine a prize showcase including prizes sponsored by local merchants (e.g., merchants identified based on the user&#39;s indicated geographic area). In step  1008 , a game process is initiated. Various aspects of providing play of a game are described in this disclosure, and other examples will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light this disclosure. In step  1010 , the user&#39;s access to retail entitlements is determined based on the user&#39;s performance in the game. For example, a measure of performance may be determined and tracked during play of the game (e.g., based on various factors discussed in the disclosure). In another example, the user may be required to achieve a minimum game performance before being permitted access to any entitlements. In step  1012 , the controller determines whether the user accepts at least one entitlement. For example, as discussed herein, the user may be presented with a prize selection screen and may indicate (e.g., using a mouse) one or more entitlements he would like to receive. In another example, a user may indicate permission to charge an account for any amount due for an entitlement accepted by the user. In step  1014 , retail entitlement data is provided to the user if the user has accepted at least one entitlement and (optionally) a record of the issuance of the retail entitlement is recorded. For example, the user may receive a file for use in printing a voucher and/or may receive a code that identifies the issued entitlement(s). In step  1016 , a request to validate a retail entitlement is received from a merchant and the validity of the retail entitlement of is determined. For example, a retailer may send a voucher identifier to the controller in order to determine whether a customer presenting a voucher is entitled to receive a product (e.g., for free).  
      Some embodiments of the present invention provide that benefit that the system operates to produce measurable incremental sales for retail merchants via the use of physical prize vouchers and claim codes. That is, sales that are generated for a merchant by way of the present system are evidenced upon redemption of the voucher. Also, some embodiments of the present system employ any number of determining factors to establish a subset of available clearinghouse inventory to be included in individual games, shows or other opportunities for presenting merchant/product information to potential customers. This benefits merchants by allowing them an easily controllable means for increasing the visibility of their product offerings on a product-by-product basis.  
      One or more embodiments of the present system provide merchants with an increased level of control in establishing which customers (or type(s) of customers) may redeem inventory and under which terms (e.g., during which time(s) of which day(s)). In doing so, the restrictions, terms and condition of redemption may allow the merchant to generate incremental sales during off-peak business hours (i.e., hours during which labor investment may be high relative to sales volume).  
      Applicants have recognized that not all merchants may wish to acquire the same type of customer. That is, merchants&#39; customer acquisition goals may not overlap at all. For example, Retail Store A may wish to acquire female customers who typically purchase from a competing merchant while Retail Store B may wish to acquire male customers between the ages of 20 and 30.  
      Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention may allow for merchants to establish certain criteria by which a controller (e.g., clearinghouse system) may select appropriate prospective customers and the inventory to be included in those particular customers&#39; shows. According to some embodiments, the criteria may be compared against information gathered from a prospective customer, in order to qualify the prospective customer for a given show instance or type of show.  
      D. Additional Embodiments  
      According to some alternative embodiments, various types of information may be gathered from a prospective customer by requiring the prospective customer to complete a survey. The survey may address certain purchasing behaviors previously exhibited by the prospective customer and/or general demographic information of the prospective customer. Such information may also be gathered, for example, during a standard registration process between the prospective customers and the clearinghouse system. In some embodiments, one or more entitlements may be provided based on a customer&#39;s response to a survey.  
      In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, a clearinghouse may transmit follow-up information to a prospective customer who has selected one or more product(s). Such follow-up information may include, for example, one or more survey questions related to the selected product(s) and/or the merchant(s) associated with the selected product(s). This response or feedback may be factored in, according to some embodiments, as a determining factor in establishing which particular inventory should or should not be included in subsequent shows (for that customer, for one or more other customers, and/or for any customer). In addition, the customer response/feedback may be provided back to the appropriate merchant by the clearinghouse system in an effort to encourage or discourage the merchant from providing further inventory to the clearinghouse system.  
      According to other features of the present invention, a prospective customer may be identified by the clearinghouse system via information received from one or more merchant systems. For example, such information may indicate a customer who has historically purchased from a first merchant, but not from a second, similar merchant. Thus the clearinghouse system may discern that the customer of the first merchant may have significant potential to transact with the second merchant. In this manner, the present system may discourage duplication of customer acquisition efforts by any individual merchant. That is, by possessing advance knowledge of existing customers across a plurality of merchants, the clearinghouse system may more effectively identify potential customers on behalf of those merchants.  
      Various other determining factors may be used in establishing and/or determining which entitlements, products, prizes, etc., should be included or excluded in a given game (e.g., a show). Some examples include: 
          a) Which products have and have not been previously presented to a given customer or type of customer.     b) Whether the customer elected the product as a prize or not.     c) How the inclusion of certain inventory affects the average retail price of a given show. For example, does the inventory in the show need to be adjusted in order to somehow compensate?    d) A number of products per merchant that may be included in a given show instance.     e) Categories the particular customer has taken prizes from previously.     f) Most popular overall prize category (e.g., currently, projected).     g) Whether the customer specifically has requested prizes from a given category or merchant.     h) Which categories the customer has never seen and/or taken a prize from.     i) Whether certain categories, prizes or merchants are weighted (e.g., by a ranking) to ensure greater exposure (e.g., based on expected revenue or profitability to the clearinghouse).     j) Which inventory has had the least exposure to date (new inventory).     k) Fully or partially random inclusion of inventory, prizes, etc. in a game or show.     l) Compatibility of various inventories. For example, a show (or showcase) may be based on a theme, which may dictate the products to be included and/or excluded, depending on the theme. For example, a “Backyard BBQ” theme may include inventory from “food-related” categories and exclude inventory from “office supply” categories.        

      Some embodiments provide for inventory qualification and testing (e.g., accepting and rejecting of inventory). Also, testing of certain prizes or prize types may be provided for.  
      Some embodiments provide for a scoring system for prospective customer qualification in general. Some embodiments provide for a prospective customer status monitoring/policing. For example, the system may be configured to track the performance of prospective customers and/or determine the status of prospective customers (e.g., scrupulous or unscrupulous).  
      Some embodiments provide for merchant/clearinghouse interaction via a graphical user interface.  
      Some embodiments allow for prospective customer-to-prospective customer acquisition/referrals. For example, one customer may be able to populate someone else&#39;s show. In some embodiments, the customer may receive access to better prizes, free or subsidized shows, etc., as a corresponding benefit.  
      Some embodiments provide for utilizing a clearinghouse for purposes of retail price testing and to gauge velocity at reduced price points. In other embodiments, contestant responses in a pricing game may be used to determine the customer&#39;s personal level of price sensitivity. In some instances, assuming game prices are accurate, those with more pricing knowledge may perform better in the game and will thus be entitled to better (or more) prizes.  
      Some embodiments allow merchants “real-time” access to the system in order to unload excess capacity quickly. For example, a restaurant owner may have only 20% occupancy at 7:00 p.m. on a Friday night. He or she could post incentives for customers that are subject to a limited window of turn around (e.g., posting offers/inventory for the next hour and redeemable during the next two hours).  
      Some embodiments provide for determining presentation of prizes based on redemption rates. For example, the system may be able to determine the likelihood that once a prize or prize type is taken it will be claimed. For example, if a higher percentage of customers ultimately redeem pizza prizes in zip code 11111 vs. movie tickets in zip code 22222, the system should adjust accordingly to maximize redemption rates, if this is deemed desirable. In another example, the system may adjust to achieve a desired redemption rate (e.g., per prize, per customer, per merchant, per geographic area).  
      In some embodiments, merchants may pay a premium for specific placement (e.g., preferred placement) or highlighting within the context of a game or show. This factor may influence inclusion/exclusion. In one example, a merchant may “sponsor” a game or a round of a game. For instance, when a round of a game begins, the merchant&#39;s name may be displayed or otherwise communicated to a player.  
      In some embodiments, merchants may be allowed to post conditional or binary rules for when inventory should be taken off the system (e.g., post certificates redeemable for one medium pizza until midnight on Saturday, or until thirty certificates have been taken as prizes).