Patent ID: 8075404

Claim:
A method of selectively obtaining assistance during play of a game, the method comprising: monitoring progress of a first player during a predefined scene of the game that is played without assistance by other players; determining when to offer assistance to the first player based at least in part on the first player's lack of progress during the predefined scene of the game; receiving a request for assistance initiated by the first player as a first trigger, the request for assistance including at least one criterion for other players to qualify to provide assistance to the first player; sending an electronic message to the other players of the game to request assistance for the predefined scene in the game being played by the first player from a first gaming device, the electronic message including a message and connection information to enable at least one of the other players of the game to provide assistance to the first player during the predefined scene in the game, the electronic message further including the at least one criterion, wherein the sent electronic message is sent in response to the first trigger to a server that facilitates distribution of the electronic message to gaming devices associated with the other players of the game; connecting a second player of the game using the connection information, the second player being one of the other players of the game wherein the second player satisfies the at least one criterion; receiving assistance for the predefined scene in the game, the received assistance provided by an additional character that is controlled by the second player and actively participates in an action sequence of the game that is shared simultaneously with the first player; and disconnecting the second player of the game in response to receipt of a second trigger that is initiated by the first player, the second trigger to terminate the connection to the second gaming device thereby discontinuing the assistance provided by the additional character.