System and method for facilitating play of a video game via a web site

Abstract

A method and system for operating a video game or video game tournament (e.g., via a Web site) is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system a bonus is provided to a player playing the video game or participating in the video game tournament. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if a rating associated with the player is worse than a threshold rating. In some embodiments a bonus is provided to the player if the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition is identified. Such a condition may be, for example, a condition that indicates the player will soon cease playing the video game or participating in the tournament.

1 . A method of facilitating game play on a network of video games, comprising: 
 calculating a first player ranking from game outcomes received by a first player from the video game,    calculating a second player ranking from game outcomes received by a second player from the video game;    determining the difference between the first player ranking and the second player ranking; and    providing a bonus to the first player if the difference is of at least a predetermined magnitude,    wherein the bonus changes the difficulty of the video game.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the bonus comprises advancing the first player to a particular portion of the video game.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of changing the game play difficulty includes increasing the probability of a winning game outcome in the video game.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bonus is selected from the group of a skill, a power, or a tool.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a storage device; and    a processor in communication with the storage device, 
 the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, and  
 the processor operative with the program to perform the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
   
       6 . A method of facilitating game play of a video game, comprising: 
 calculating a player ranking from game outcomes received from the video game; and    providing a bonus to the player if the player ranking reaches a predetermined magnitude,    wherein the bonus changes the difficulty of the video game.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the player performance level is determined by player points, the player points acquired during game play of the video game.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the points are credits.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of changing the game play difficulty includes increasing the probability of a winning game outcome in the video game.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the bonus is selected from the group of a skill, a power, or a tool.  
   
   
       11 . The methods of  claim 6 , wherein the tool advances the player to a particular portion of the video game.  
   
   
       12 . A method of facilitating game play on a network of video games, comprising: 
 calculating a first player ranking from game outcomes received by a first player from the video game;    calculating a second player ranking from game outcomes received by a second player from the video game;    determining the difference between the first player ranking and the second player ranking; and    providing a bonus to the first player if the difference is of at least a predetermined magnitude,    wherein providing the bonus comprises changing a parameter of the video game to increase the probability of a winning game outcome for the first player.