System and method of vehicle competition with enhanced ghosting features

Abstract

A system and method for computerized competition useful for rewarding a player. The system and method may be utilized in arcade games, personal computer games, dedicated video games, networked games, and simulators. The method may include selecting a target reward level or threshold such as by selecting a score from a list of past scores, and dynamically adjusting the reward level according to the ability of the players of the system. The method may further include adjusting the playback of a previous competition sequence according to the adjusted reward level. In one embodiment, a previous vehicle race sequence is stored and played back as a ghost or phantom vehicle simultaneously with a present vehicle of a player.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computerized competition method, comprising: 
 accumulating a plurality of competition scores from multiple competitions in a competition environment, wherein the plurality of competition scores are retained from among the multiple competitions; and    selecting one of the competition scores to be a threshold for further competitions, wherein passing the threshold determines an award, and wherein the selecting is based on a predefined percentage of awards.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting as a function of the predefined percentage of awards.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises: 
 sorting the plurality of accumulated competition scores into a sequential order; and    selecting a competition score from the sorted plurality of accumulated competition scores at an index determined by the predefined percentage of awards being applied as a factor to a total number of accumulated competition scores.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is a free game time in a driving competition.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising adjusting the threshold based on a subsequent competition score that passes the threshold, thereby using the subsequent competition score to generate a new threshold.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising sorting the plurality of accumulated competition scores according to a predetermined criterion.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of accumulated competition scores comprises a time to finish a race.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising awarding a present player of the computerized competition a reward if the most recent competition score passes the threshold.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computerized competition is an arcade game and the reward comprises a free race.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computerized competition operates on a global computer network and the reward comprises recognition for the present player on a network resource of the global computer network.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computerized competition operates on a global computer network and the reward comprises cyber-credits or a cyber-reward for the player on the global computer network.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising: 
 tagging each of the plurality of accumulated competition scores with a date of storage and a time of storage; and    removing the competition score tagged with the oldest date and time when a new competition score is available for storing.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of accumulated competition scores is organized in a data structure comprising a circular queue.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the circular queue has a length equal to a predetermined number.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , additionally comprising overwriting an oldest entry in the circular queue when a new competition score is added.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is modified over time.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selecting comprises: 
 determining a first percentage of rewards to be awarded over time;    determining a second percentage of rewards already awarded based on previous computerized competitions; and    selecting one of the plurality of accumulated competition scores as a function of the first percentage and the second percentage.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the reward comprises a free game.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of competition scores of a particular track are accumulated for a predetermined number of previous races.  
     
     
         20 . A computerized competition method, comprising: 
 accumulating a competition score from each one of multiple competitions in a competition environment so as to form a plurality of accumulated competition scores; and    selecting one of the competition scores to be a threshold for further competitions, wherein passing the threshold determines an award, and wherein the selecting is based on a predefined percentage of awards.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting as a function of the predefined percentage of awards.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the selecting comprises: 
 sorting the plurality of accumulated competition scores into a sequential order; and    selecting a competition score from the sorted plurality of accumulated competition scores at an index determined by the predefined percentage of awards being applied as a factor to a total number of accumulated competition scores.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the threshold is a free game time in a driving competition.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , additionally comprising adjusting the threshold based on a subsequent competition score that passes the threshold, thereby using the subsequent competition score to generate a new threshold.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , additionally comprising awarding a present player of the computerized competition a reward if the most recent competition score passes the threshold.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the selecting comprises: 
 determining a first percentage of rewards to be awarded over time;    determining a second percentage of rewards already awarded based on previous computerized competitions; and    selecting one of the plurality of accumulated competition scores as a function of the first percentage and the second percentage.    
     
     
         27 . A computerized competition method, comprising: 
 accumulating a plurality of competition scores from multiple competitions in a competition environment; and    selecting one of the competition scores to be a threshold for further competitions, wherein passing the threshold determines an award, and wherein the selecting is based on a predefined percentage of awards.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting as a function of the predefined percentage of awards.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the selecting comprises: 
 sorting the plurality of accumulated competition scores into a sequential order; and    selecting a competition score from the sorted plurality of accumulated competition scores at an index determined by the predefined percentage of awards being applied as a factor to a total number of accumulated competition scores.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the threshold is a free game time in a driving competition.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , additionally comprising adjusting the threshold based on a subsequent competition score that passes the threshold, thereby using the subsequent competition score to generate a new threshold.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , additionally comprising awarding a present player of the computerized competition a reward if the most recent competition score passes the threshold.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of accumulated competition scores is organized in a data structure comprising a circular queue.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the selecting comprises: 
 determining a first percentage of rewards to be awarded over time;    determining a second percentage of rewards already awarded based on previous computerized competitions; and    selecting one of the plurality of accumulated competition scores as a function of the first percentage and the second percentage.    
     
     
         35 . A computerized competition system, comprising: 
 means for accumulating a plurality of competition scores from multiple competitions in a competition environment; and    means for selecting one of the competition scores to be a threshold for further competitions, wherein passing the threshold determines an award, and wherein the means for selecting determines which competition score to select as a function of a predefined percentage of awards.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the means for selecting comprises: 
 means for sorting the plurality of accumulated competition scores into a sequential order; and    means for selecting a competition score from the sorted plurality of accumulated competition scores at an index determined by the predefined percentage of awards being applied as a factor to a total number of accumulated competition scores.    
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the threshold is a free game time in a driving competition.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , additionally comprising means for adjusting the threshold based on a subsequent competition score that passes the threshold, thereby using the subsequent competition score to generate a new threshold.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 35 , additionally comprising means for awarding a present player of the computerized competition a reward if the most recent competition score passes the threshold.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the means for accumulating a plurality of competition scores comprises a circular queue.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the means for selecting comprises: 
 means for determining a first percentage of rewards to be awarded over time;    means for determining a second percentage of rewards already awarded based on previous computerized competitions; and    means for selecting one of the plurality of accumulated competition scores as a function of the first percentage and the second percentage.