System and method for playing games and rewarding successful players

A game playing system including a player rewarding system at least partially controlled by an advertiser, comprising:

• audio-visual means for presenting a recorded video game including a task to which players are intended to respond;
• individual player's means for playing the video game and responding to the task;
• means for formatting response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task and for determining a player's response score;
• means for storing formatted response criteria;
• means for scoring a player's response in accordance with response criteria to determine the value of a successful player's first award;
• means controlled by an advertiser for formatting value adding instructions for adding value to a successful player's first award value;
• means for adding value to a successful player's first award value in accordance with value adding instructions to determine the player's total award value;
• means for communicating the players total award information to token generating means at a location of the player;
• and
• means for generating a successful player's award token indicating the total award value.

A game playing system including a player rewarding system at least partially controlled by an advertiser, comprising:

• audio-visual means for presenting a recorded video game including a task to which players are intended to respond;
• individual players' means for responding to the game and to the task;
• means for formatting response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task, and for determining a player's response score;
• means for storing formatted response criteria;
• means for scoring a player's response in accordance with the response criteria to determine the value of a successful player's first award;
• means controlled by an advertiser for formatting value adding instructions for adding value to the successful players first award value;
• means for adding value to the successful player's first award value in accordance with the value adding instructions to determine a player's total award value;
• means for storing an advertiser's promotional information suitable for display on a coupon;
• a coupon generator at a player's location;
• means for communicating promotional information and a player's total award value information to said coupon generator at the player's location;
• and
• wherein said coupon generator generates a successful player's award coupon displaying the advertiser's promotional information and indicating the player's total award value.

A system for playing a game and rewarding successful players with a promotional award coupon, the system comprising:

• audio-visual means for presenting a recorded video game including a task to which players are intended to respond;
• individual players' means for responding to the game and the tasks;
• means for formatting response criteria for scoring a player's response to determine a successful player's award;
• means for scoring a player's response in accordance with said response criteria to determine a successful player's award;
• means for storing at a central location an advertiser's formatted promotional information suitable for display on a coupon;
• a central transmitter for transmitting signals conveying the promotional information;
• means at players' locations for receiving the promotional information signals;
• a coupon generator at a player's location, and means for communicating a successful player's award information to the coupon generator;
• and
• wherein said coupon generator is responsive to the promotional information signals for generating a successful player's award coupon, displaying promotional information and indicating the value of an award.

A game playing and player rewarding system, comprising:

• means at the locations of a plurality of players for playing back and presenting a recorded video game;
• a recording of a video game including at least one task to which players are intended to respond, the recording including response criteria useful for scoring players' responses;
• means for computing a player's score based on the response criteria and a first award value based on the player's score;
• means at a central facility for formatting value adding instructions to add value to a first award of an individual one of said players;
• means for adding value to the player's first award in accordance with value adding instructions to determine the value of a players total award;
• token generating means at a location of the player, and means for communicating total award information to the token generating means;
• and
• wherein said token generating means generates a player's award token indicating the value of the total award.

A system for playing a game and rewarding successful players with a promotional award coupon, the system comprising:

• means for storing formatted promotional information suitable for displaying on a coupon;
• a central transmitter for transmitting signals conveying the promotional information;
• means for receiving signals carrying the promotional information;
• means at players' locations for storing the promotional information;
• audio-visual means for presenting a recorded video game including a task to which players are intended to respond;
• individual players' means for responding to the game and the task;
• means for storing formatted response criteria for evaluating and scoring player's responses to determine a successful player's award;
• means for evaluating and for scoring a player's response in accordance with said response criteria to determine a successful player's award;
• a coupon generator at a player's location, and means for communicating the promotional information and a player's award information to the coupon generator;
• and
• wherein the coupon generator generates a successful player's award coupon displaying the promotional information and indicating the value of the award.

A video game playing system comprising:

• a game machine for presenting to a player a play-back recording of a task-containing game;
• individual players' means for responding to a task;
• means for formatting, by a host, response criteria defining at least one acceptable response;
• a microprocessor for determining a player's first award for an acceptable response;
• means, under an advertiser's control, for formatting instructional signals for enhancing the player's first award;
• means for storing said instructional signals;
• means for transmitting an advertiser's instructional signals for enhancing the player's first award following a determination of the first award;
• means for receiving and for storing said instructional signals at a player's location;
• means for enhancing the player's first award in accordance with said instructional signals;
• and
• a token generator for generating a player's token having recorded thereon a player's enhanced award.

A video game playing system comprising:

• a game machine for presenting to a player a played-back recording of a game including a task;
• individual players' means for responding to the task;
• a microprocessor for computing a player's game playing score and for determining a player's award;
• means for providing an advertiser's instructional signals;
• means for transmitting the advertiser's instructional signals to enable enhancement of the player's award;
• a receiver operably coupled to said microprocessor for receiving said instructional signals;
• means coupled to said receiver for enhancing the player's score in accordance with said instructional signals;
• and
• a token generator for generating a player's token having recorded thereon the player's score enhanced in accordance with the advertiser's instructions.

A video game system comprising:

• a game machine for presenting a game containing a task to which players are to respond, players' response means for responding to the task, and computing means for tallying a player's award based on a response to the task;
• central means under an advertiser's control for transmitting instructional'signals;
• means governed by said instructional signals for enhancing the player's award;
• a token generator, and a communication link between said enhancement means and said token generator, said token generator being at a player's location;
• and
• wherein said token generator records on a token the player's award computed in accordance with the advertiser's instructions, thereby enabling advertisers to promote products and services.

A video game system comprising:

• a game machine for presenting a game containing a task to which players are to respond, the game machine including players' response means and computing means for tallying a player's score;
• central means under an advertiser's control for transmitting instructional signals;
• means for receiving the instructional signals;
• microprocessor means operably connected to said receiving means and governed by said instructional signals for translating the player's score into command signals capable of controlling a token generator;
• and
• a token generator for recording on a token a player's score inputted in accordance with the advertiser's instructions.

A method for dispensing promotional award coupons sponsored by an advertiser, comprising the steps of:

• presenting a task to players at their individual locations, to which task the players are intended to respond;
• players responding to said task;
• formulating at a central location response criteria to determine a successful player's first award for responding to said task;
• determining the successful player's first award;
• formulating by an advertiser a successful player's additional award to result in a total award;
• formulating product information by an advertiser;
• providing a coupon generator at a player's location;
• communicating award information to said generator;
• communicating product information to said generator;
• and
• generating a successful player's promotional award coupon displaying an advertiser's product information and the player's total award, said award coupon being provided by said generator.

A method for playing a game sponsored by an advertiser and for rewarding successful players with a prize, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from a first location a first signal group comprising signals conveying a game including a task to which players at remote locations are intended to respond, and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to a task and governing the scoring of a successful player's response;
• a player responding to the task;
• scoring a player's response in accordance with the response criteria to determine a player's first prize value;
• transmitting information regarding the player's first prize value to a central location communicatively connected to an advertiser's location;
• transmitting from a second location communicatively connected to an advertiser's location a second signal group comprising signals conveying an advertiser's product information and an advertiser's instructions governing the enhancing of a successful player's first prize value to determine a total prize value;
• providing means for receiving said second signal group;
• providing means for enhancing the player's first prize value in accordance with said instructional signals;
• enhancing the player's first prize value in accordance with said instructional signals to determine the player's total prize value;
• providing a device for displaying the player's total prize value and;
• displaying the player's total prize value.

A method for playing a game and for rewarding successful players at their locations with a prize, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from a central location a first signal group comprising signals conveying a game including a task to which players are intended to respond, and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task and governing the scoring of a successful player's response;
• a player responding to the task;
• scoring a player's response to the task in accordance with the response criteria to determine a first prize value;
• transmitting toward the players' locations a second signal group comprising signals conveying an advertiser's product information, and an advertiser's instructions governing an enhancing of the successful player's first prize value to determine a total prize value;
• enhancing the players first prize value in accordance with said instructions to determine the player's total prize value;
• and
• informing the player of said total prize value.

A method for playing a game and for rewarding successful players at their locations with a prize, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from a central location a first signal group comprising signals conveying a game including a task to which players are intended to respond, and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task and governing the scoring of a successful player's response;
• a player responding to the task;
• scoring a player's response to the task in accordance with the response criteria to determine a first prize value;
• transmitting toward the players' locations a second signal group comprising signals conveying an advertiser's product information, and an advertiser's instructions governing an enhancing of the successful player's first prize value to determine a total prize value;
• enhancing the player's first prize value in accordance with said instructions to determine the player's total prize value;
• and
• creating a record of the player's total prize value.

A method for playing a game and for rewarding successful players at their locations with a prize, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from a central location a first signal group comprising signals conveying a game including a task to which players are intended to respond, and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task and governing the scoring of a successful player's response;
• a player responding to the task;
• scoring a player's response to the task in accordance with the response criteria to determine a first prize value;
• transmitting toward the players' locations a second signal group comprising signals conveying an advertiser's product information, and an advertiser's instructions governing an enhancing of the successful player's first prize value to determine a total prize value;
• enhancing the players first prize value in accordance with said instructions to determine the player's total prize value;
• and
• making the benefit of said prize available to the player.

A method for playing a game and for rewarding successful players at their locations with a prize, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from a central location a first signal group comprising signals conveying a game including a task to which players are intended to respond, and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task and governing the scoring of a successful player's response, said game being a video game or a radio game;
• a player responding to the task;
• scoring a player's response to the task in accordance with the response criteria to determine a first prize value;
• transmitting toward the players' locations a second signal group comprising signals conveying an advertiser's product information, and an advertiser's instructions governing an enhancing of the successful player's first prize value to determine a total prize value;
• enhancing the players first prize value in accordance with said instructions to determine the player's total prize value;
• providing a token generator at the player's location;
• and
• recording by the generator on a token of said generator the product information and the successful player's total prize value.

A system for a game to be played by a plurality of players, the game including a task to which players are intended to respond, the system comprising:

• a recording of a program comprising a game including at least one first task;
• a device in each player's location for playing back said program recording;
• activating means operable by first instructional signals for activating and deactivating a playing back of said program recording by said device;
• means at player's locations for presenting a played-back program to the players;
• players' means for responding to a first task;
• means for scoring a player's response to the first task;
• central means for transmitting the first instructional signals to inhibit a presentation of said program;
• means at players' locations operably connected to the playback devices at respective players' locations for receiving instructional signals;
• means for transmitting signals conveying a second task to which the players are intended to respond;
• means at each player's location for presenting the second task to the players;
• means for transmitting second instructional signals defining at least one acceptable response to the second task and for scoring a player's response;
• means for initiating a transmission of said second task signals and of said second instructional signals at essentially a time of deactivation of said playback devices;
• players' means for responding to the second task;
• means for scoring a player's response to the second task in accordance with said second instructional signal;
• and
• means for transmitting third instructional signals permitting the presentation of said program.

A system for a game to be played by a plurality of players, the game including a task to which players are intended to respond, the system comprising:

• a recording of a program comprising a game including a first task;
• a device in each player's location for playing back said program recording;
• activating means operable by first instructional signals for activating and deactivating a playing back of said program recording by said device;
• means at player's locations for presenting a played-back program to the players;
• players' means for responding to a first task;
• means for scoring a player's response to the first task;
• central means for transmitting the first instructional signals to inhibit a presentation of said program;
• means at players' locations operably connected to the playback devices at respective players' locations for receiving said first instructional signals;
• means for transmitting signals conveying a second task to which the players are intended to respond;
• means at each player's location for presenting the second task to the players;
• means for transmitting second instructional signals defining at least one acceptable response to the second task and for scoring a player's response;
• means for initiating a transmission of said second task signals and of said second instructional signals at essentially a time of deactivation of said playback devices;
• players' means for responding to the second task;
• means for scoring a player's response to the second task in accordance with said second instructional signal;
• means for determining the value of a player's award based on a player's scores achieved by the player's responding to the first task and to the second task;
• means for transmitting third instructional signals permitting the presentation of said program;
• means for storing formatted promotional information suitable for displaying on a coupon;
• a central transmitter for transmitting signals conveying said promotional information;
• means at the players' locations for receiving promotional information signals;
• a buffer storage for receiving promotional information signals;
• coupon generators at respective ones of said players' locations, and means for communicating the promotional information and a player's award information to said coupon generators;
• and
• wherein each of said coupon generators serves for generating a successful player's award coupon, displaying promotional information, and indicating the value of an award.

A system for playing a game in conjunction with advertising activity, comprising:

• a plurality of player locations each of which has a game playing apparatus including a display for presenting a status of the game to players, and means for entering into the apparatus plays of the game by the players;
• a central station remote from said plurality of player locations, said central station having means for transmitting instructional signals to each of said player locations, said instructional signals including commands directing the playing apparatus at each of said player locations to operate in concert with advertising material for presentation of both game material and the advertising material to the players at respective ones of said locations;
• wherein said advertising material includes a task to be performed by the players at respective ones of the player locations;
• and
• said system further comprises means for scoring a player's plays on the game playing apparatus at each of the plurality of the player's locations to provide a score, said scoring means being operative to score responses of the players to said task to provide a task score, said scoring means being operative further for outputting an enhanced score based on the player score and the task score.

A method for playing a game and for rewarding successful players at their locations with a prize, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting from a central location game signals conveying a game including a task to which players are intended to respond, and response criteria defining at least one acceptable response to the task and governing the scoring of a successful player's response;
• a plurality of players responding to the task at their respective locations remote from the central location;
• scoring responses of the players to the task in accordance with the response criteria to determine first prize values for respective ones of said players;
• ranking individual ones of said players against other ones of said players in accordance with their responses to tasks;
• enhancing a player's first prize value in accordance with said ranking;
• and
• assigning an award in accordance with an enhanced value of said first prize value.

A system for playing a game, comprising:

• a central station and a plurality of stations remote from said central station;
• two-way communication means interconnecting said central station with each of said remote stations;
• data means at said central station for providing data pertaining to the conduct of a game via said communication means to each of said remote stations;
• means at each of said remote stations for presenting said data to a player;
• entry means at each of said remote stations for an entering of a response by a player to a game situation described by said data;
• processing means including computer means at said central station for updating the game situation based on responses by players at respective ones of said remote stations;
• wherein said processing means further comprises:
• means responsive to player identifications entered at the entry means of respective ones of said remote stations for identifying a player's response;
• means for scoring responses of respective ones of the players, and means responsive to player scores for ranking the players;
• and
• means coupled to said scoring means for enhancing the scores of respective ones of said players based on a ranking provided by said ranking means.

A method for playing a game by a plurality of players and for evaluating players respective game playing, the method comprising:

• providing a central station and a plurality of player stations remote from said central station;
• providing two-way communication means interconnecting said remote stations with each other through a central station;
• transmitting from said central station via said communication means data pertaining to the progress of a game played by participating players;
• receiving at a player's station data pertaining to the progress of a game played by another participating player;
• presenting to a participating player said data pertaining to the progress of the game played by another participating player;
• providing at player's stations game playing means operated by participating players in response to another participating player's game playing;
• a participating player playing the game in response to another participating player's game playing;
• a participating player playing the game in response to another participating player's game playing;
• providing computer means, at said central station for evaluating individual player's comparative game playing;
• evaluating individual players' comparative game playing transmitted from players' remote stations to said central station;
• providing means for identifying participating players' remote stations;
• identifying participating players' remote stations;
• formulating at a central station response criteria governing the scoring of the game playing of participating players;
• storing said response criteria at a central station;
• providing means for scoring the game playing of respective ones of participating players based on said response criteria;
• scoring the game playing of respective ones of participating players based on said response criteria;
• providing means responsive to players' scores for ranking participating players;
• and
• ranking participating players on the basis of players' scores.

A system for playing a game by a plurality of players and for evaluating players' respective game playing, the system comprising:

• a central station and a plurality of player stations remote from said central station;
• two-way communication means interconnecting said remote stations with each other through said central station;
• means at said central station for transmitting and receiving data pertaining to the progress of a game played by participating players via said communication means;
• means at each of said remote stations for presenting to a participating player data pertaining to the progress of the game;
• game playing means at said remote stations for playing the game by a participating player in response to another participating player's game playing;
• processing means, including computer means, at said central station for evaluating individual players' comparative game playing transmitted from players' remote stations to said central station via said communications means;
• and
• means responsive to player identifications associated with respective ones of said remote stations for identifying a player's response.

A system for playing a game by a plurality of players and for evaluating players' respective game playing, the system comprising:

• a central station and a plurality of player stations remote from said central station;
• two-way communication means interconnecting said remote stations with each other through said central station;
• means at said central station for transmitting and receiving data pertaining to the progress of a game played by participating players via said communication means;
• means at each of said remote stations for presenting to a participating player data pertaining to the progress of the game;
• game playing means at said remote stations for playing the game by a participating player in response to another participating player's game playing;
• processing means, including computer means, at said central station for evaluating individual players' comparative game playing transmitted from players' remote stations to said central station via said communications means;
• means responsive to player identifications associated with respective ones of said remote stations for identifying a player's response;
• means for scoring the game playing of respective ones of participating players;
• and
• means responsive to player scores for ranking participating players.

A system for playing a game by a plurality of players and for evaluating players' respective game playing, the system comprising:

• a central station and a plurality of player stations remote from said central station;
• two-way communication means interconnecting said remote stations with each other through said central station;
• means at said central station for transmitting mad receiving data pertaining to the progress of a game played by participating players via said communication means;
• means at each of said remote stations for presenting to a participating player data pertaining to the progress of the game;
• game playing means at said remote stations for playing the game by a participating player in response to another participating player's game playing;
• means for continuously storing respective players' game positions;
• processing means, including computer means, at said central station for evaluating individual players' comparative game playing transmitted from players' remote stations to said central station via said communications means;
• means responsive to player identifications associated with respective ones of said remote stations for identifying a player's response;
• means for scoring the game playing of respective ones of participating players;
• and
• means responsive to player scores for ranking participating players.

In a communication system comprising:

• at least one central station including a first computing system;
• and a plurality of stations remote from the central station in duplex communications with the central station;
• each of the remote stations including a second computing system being operable for receiving and transforming electronic data defining a computer game into a game suitable for a player at a remote station;
• being operable to provide information to said first computing system as to a player's progress in playing a game;
• and being operable to identify the respective second computing systems to said first computing system;
• each of said second computer system being operable for generating a hard copy of a report;
• the improvement comprising;
• said first computing system establishing duplex communications with respective second computing systems to enable the identification of respective second computing systems to said first computing system and to provide electronic data to said respective second computing systems to enable each of said second computing systems to generate a game for a player at respective remote stations;
• said electronic data including the capability enabling said second computing systems to provide information to said first computing system as to the progress and identification of respective second computing systems participating in the respective games;
• said first computing system being operable to establish criteria for scoring the games of respective players and for establishing updates on the status of participating players in playing the game;
• and
• said respective second computing systems being operable to use said electronic data to produce a hard copy showing the score of player at the associated second computing system based on the criteria established by the first computing system.

A method for evaluating responses to task setting messages transmitted from a central station to respondents distant from said central station, the method comprising steps of:

• transmitting to said respondents data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by individual ones of said respondents;
• establishing response criteria for judging responses of respective ones of said respondents and ranking criteria for ranking respective ones of said respondents according to their respective responses;
• enabling individual ones of said respondents to enter responses to said task-setting messages by performing at least one of said tasks;
• applying the response criteria to the responses of respective ones of said respondents to obtain a set of evaluations of performances of the respective respondents in their responding to said tasks;
• applying the ranking criteria to the evaluations of the performances;
• and
• ranking said respondents based on said evaluations.

A system for evaluating responses to task setting messages transmitted from a central station to respondents distant from said central station, the system comprising:

• means for transmitting to said respondents data accompanied by task-setting messages defining tasks to be performed by individual ones of said respondents;
• response means for enabling individual ones of said respondents to enter responses to said task-setting messages by performing at least one of said tasks;
• evaluation means for evaluating the responses of respective ones of said respondents to obtain a set of evaluations of performances of the respective respondents in their responding to said tasks;
• ranking means operative with the evaluations of the performances for ranking the respondents;
• and
• criteria means for providing response criteria and ranking criteria, said criteria means providing said response criteria to said evaluation means for use by said evaluation means in judging responses of respective ones of said respondents, said criteria means providing said ranking criteria to said ranking means for use by said ranking means in ranking respective ones of said respondents.

A method of presenting a scenario by a set of central stations to plural respondents distant from each central station of said set of central stations, said scenario relating to acquisition of an object by at least one of said respondents and including descriptive data of the object and conditions for acquisition of the object, comprising the steps of:

• said set of central stations presenting to the respondents said scenario by providing data describing the object, said data including physical details of the object and criteria for acquisition of the object;
• individual ones of said respondents generating respectively responses to said scenario, said responses including respectively conditions for the acquisition of the object;
• individual ones of said respondents selecting at least one of said central stations for enabling each of said respondents to respond to at least one selected station of said set of central stations;
• individual ones of said respondents communicating to respective ones of said selected stations their respective responses including said respective conditions for the acquisition of the object;
• comparing said conditions to said criteria to determine if said conditions meet said criteria;
• altering at least one of said conditions and said criteria to obtain a match;
• dispensing a coupon to a successful respondent having submitted a condition meeting said criteria, said coupon having a monetary value serving at least as a partial payment by said successful respondent upon an acquisition of said object by said successful respondent.