Patent ID: 8663012

Claim:
A networked, electronic game method comprising: accepting participation in play of an electronic game over a network through game systems played by a plurality of players; determining a rank for individual players of the plurality of players; positioning the ranked individual players on a grid operated on a game server; wherein the grid has a plurality of vertical levels and wherein individual vertical levels have a plurality of horizontal tiers, wherein the rank for each of the individual players is based on a location of each player on the individual vertical levels and the plurality of horizontal tiers; enabling issuance of a challenge by a challenger who is a lower-ranked player against a defender who is a higher-ranked player; enabling acceptance of the challenge by the defender; enabling play of the electronic game over the network by the challenger against the defender; one of awarding or deducting points to the challenger and the defender based on an outcome of the play of the electronic game over the network, where the awarding or deducting of points is based on a predetermined number multiplied by a tier differential between the challenger and the defender, wherein individual skill element points are awarded to one of the defender or the challenger who executes an individual skill during play of the electronic game between the challenger and the defender; adjusting a rank of at least one of the challenger and the defender as a consequence of the awarding and deducting points based on the play of the electronic game over the network; and facilitating vertical, horizontal, and diagonal movement of at least one of the challenger and the defender along the grid in response to the adjustment in rank.