Fantasy internet sports game

A method for providing an interactive sports game to a plurality of participants each wishing to form a fantasy sports team made up of actual players, and each operating a participant terminal operable to act as a client on a network, on a system comprising:

• a host controller, the host controller comprising a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with the participant terminals over the network;
• and data storage accessible to the host controller, the data storage storing information relating to performance of the players in actual games, the method comprising:
• (a) the host controller soliciting and accepting from each participant an initial selection and purchase of players to form the participant's fantasy sports team, each participant purchasing the players using no more than a predetermined number of game value units initially allocated by the host controller, an initial value in game value units for each player being previously set by the host controller;
• and
• (b) responsive to a request of a participant, accessing the data storage and reporting a status of the participant's fantasy team, the status including information as to performance and market value of the players on the participant's team,
• wherein the number of game value units associated with each player varies in correlation with demand of the participants for that player and a participant receives periodically a value-based reward correlated to the value of the players on his or her team,
• wherein a participant may invest any game values units unused in purchasing players in a fixed interest instrument or in a portfolio of stocks, the value of which tracks an existing stock market index.

A computer-readable medium storing code for causing a processor-controlled system to perform a method for providing an interactive sports game to a plurality of participants each wishing to form a fantasy sports team made up of actual players, and each operating a participant terminal operable to act as a client on a network, the system comprising:

• a host controller, the host controller comprising a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with the participant terminals over the network;
• and data storage accessible to the host controller, the data storage storing information relating to performance of the players in actual games, the method comprising:
• (a) the host controller soliciting and accepting from each participant an initial selection and purchase of players to form the participant's fantasy sports team, each participant purchasing the players using no more than a predetermined number of game value units initially allocated by the host controller, an initial value in game value units for each player being previously set by the host controller;
• and
• (b) responsive to a request of a participant, accessing the data storage and reporting a status of the participant's fantasy team, the status including information as to performance and market value of the players on the participant's team,
• wherein the number of game value units associated with each player varies in correlation with demand of the participants for that player and a participant receives periodically a value-based reward correlated to the value of the players on his or her team,
• wherein a participant may invest any game values units unused in purchasing players in a fixed interest instrument or in a portfolio of stocks, the value of which tracks an existing stock market index.

A method for a game participant, operating a client computer on a network, to play an interactive sports game run by an administrator operating a host computer on the network, the host computer:

• a) having access to a database of information relating to performance of players in actual games, and b) setting an initial value for each of the players based on predetermined criteria, the value for each player thereafter varying in accordance with demand for the player, the method comprising the steps of:
• purchasing players to form a team from among the players, the initial values of which have been set by the administrator, using no more than a predefined number of game value units allocated by the administrator for the purpose;
• and
• maintaining the team by selectively trading players, and by selectively investing or holding any game value units above the amount used to purchase players,
• wherein the participant is eligible to win an award periodically on the basis of the value of his or her players, together with any additional game value units he or she may have accumulated,
• wherein a participant may invest any game values units unused in purchasing players in a fixed interest instrument or in a portfolio of stocks, the value of which tracks an existing stock market index.