Patent ID: 7549918

Claim:
A method of playing a virtual golf game, wherein a player of the golf game is provided a set of golf clubs, wherein each golf club set is classified with a request ability value that indicates a non-monetary ability value needed by the player, and wherein each golf club set is assigned an application ability value that indicates characteristics of golf shots by the golf clubs in the golf club set, the method comprising: allotting a non-monetary, ability value to a player of the golf game, wherein at least one attribute of the player's skill in playing the virtual golf game is based on the allotted non-monetary ability value; receiving a request for a golf club of the set of golf clubs; selectively allowing the player to use the requested golf club set based on whether the non-monetary, ability value allotted to the player is equal to or higher than the request ability value of the requested golf club; determining an adjustment value according to the application ability value associated with the golf club set; adjusting an input parameter according to the adjustment value; and determining a flight distance and location of a golf ball in response to receiving an input corresponding to the adjusted input parameter such that: (1) when neither a gamble nor an over-power gamble on a golf club is requested, the flight distance is computed according to the application ability value associated with the golf club, (2) when a gamble on the golf club is requested, the flight distance is determined based on a sum of a basic flight distance and an additional value according to the result of the gamble, (3) when both a gamble and an over-power gamble are requested, the flight distance is determined based on a sum of a basic flight distance, an additional value according to the result of the gamble, and another additional value that is based on success of the over-power gamble, and (4) upon checking a level of the player and a level of the golf club and when the player's level does not match the golf club level, the flight distance is determined based on applying a compensation value that corresponds to the difference in the player's level and the level of the golf club.