Multiplayer voting game and method for conducting a multiplayer voting game

Abstract

The invention broadly comprises a method for conducting a multiplayer game, including: transmitting a plurality of voting options; accepting votes from respective players via respective telecommunication devices, the votes selecting voting options from the plurality of voting options; ranking the voting options according to the votes; identifying a player who voted for a predetermined designation of the voting options; assigning a prize to the player; and notifying the player. The telecommunication devices can be cellular telephones, computers connected to the Internet, or land line telephones. In some aspects, the method: transmits another plurality of voting options; accepts other votes selecting a voting option from the other plurality of voting options; ranks the other voting options according to the other votes; identifies another player voting for another predetermined designation; assigns another prize to the other player; and notifies the other player. The steps are performed by a specially programmed general-purpose computer.

1 . A method for conducting a multiplayer game, comprising the steps of:
 accepting first respective votes from first respective players via first respective telecommunication devices, said first respective votes selecting first respective voting options from a first plurality of voting options;   ranking said first plurality of voting options according to said first respective votes; and,   identifying a first player from said first respective players who voted for a first predetermined designation of said first plurality of voting options, wherein said steps of accepting, ranking, and identifying are performed by a general-purpose computer specially programmed to perform said steps of accepting, ranking, and identifying.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting said first plurality of voting options, wherein said step of transmitting is performed by said general-purpose computer. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein transmitting said first plurality of voting options further comprises transmitting said first plurality of voting options to at least a portion of said first respective telecommunication devices. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first predetermined designation is a predefined ranking among said first plurality of voting options and wherein transmitting said first plurality of voting options further comprises transmitting said predefined ranking. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising notifying said first player, said step of notifying performed by said general-purpose computer. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein notifying said first player further comprises notifying via said first respective telecommunication devices. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assigning a first award to said first player, said step of assigning performed by said general-purpose computer. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a display accessible to said first respective players, said display listing said first player, said step of providing a display performed by said general-purpose computer. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting a second plurality of voting options;   accepting second respective votes from second respective players via second respective telecommunication devices, said second respective votes selecting second respective voting options from said second plurality of voting options;   ranking said second plurality of voting options according to said second respective votes;   identifying a second player from among said second respective players who voted for a second predetermined designation of said voting options;   assigning a second award to said second player; and,   notifying said second player, wherein said steps of transmitting, accepting, ranking, identifying, assigning, and notifying are performed by said general-purpose computer.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said second award is greater when said second player voted for said first predetermined designation of said first plurality of voting options. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said first and second pluralities of voting options are for sequential rounds of said game. 
   
   
       12 . A method for conducting a multiplayer game, comprising the steps of:
 in a sequence of rounds, transmitting respective pluralities of voting options;   for each said round, accepting respective votes from respective players via respective telecommunication devices, said respective votes selecting respective voting options from said respective plurality of voting options;   in said each round, ranking said respective pluralities of voting options according to respective numbers of votes cast for said respective voting options;   in said each round, identifying a respective player voting for a respective predetermined designation of said respective voting options;   in said each round, assigning a respective award to said respective player, wherein said respective reward increases for said respective player according to a number of consecutive rounds in said sequence of rounds in which said respective player selects said respective predetermined designation; and,   in said each round, notifying said respective player, wherein said steps of transmitting, accepting, ranking, identifying, assigning, and notifying are performed by a general-purpose computer specially programmed to perform said steps of transmitting, accepting, ranking, identifying, assigning, and notifying.   
   
   
       13 . A computer-based system for conducting a multiplayer game, comprising:
 a receiving element arranged to accept first respective votes from first respective players via first respective telecommunication devices, said first respective votes selecting first respective voting options from said first plurality of voting options;   a ranking element arranged to rank said first plurality of voting options according to said first respective votes; and,   an identifying element arranged to identify a first player among said first respective players who voted for a first predetermined designation of said voting options, wherein said receiving, ranking, and identifying elements are included in at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a transmitting element arranged to transmit said first plurality of voting options, wherein said transmitting element is included in said at least one specially programmed computer. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said transmitting element is arranged to transmit said first plurality of voting options to at least a portion of said first respective telecommunication devices. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said first predetermined designation of is a predefined ranking among said first plurality of voting options and said transmitting element is arranged to transmit said predefined ranking. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a first assignment element arranged to assign a first award to said first player, said first assignment element located in said specially programmed computer. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a first notifying element arranged to notify said first player, said first notifying element located in said specially programmed computer. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a displaying element arranged to provide a listing regarding said first player, said displaying element located in said specially programmed computer. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a second assignment element and a second notifying element; and,
 wherein:   said transmitting element is arranged to transmit a second plurality of voting options;   said receiving element is arranged to accept second respective votes from second respective players via second respective telecommunication devices, said second respective votes selecting second respective voting options from said second plurality of voting options;   said ranking element is arranged to rank said second plurality of voting options according to said second respective votes;   said identifying element is arranged to identify a second player from said second respective players who voted for a second predetermined designation of said voting options;   said second assignment element is arranged to assign a second award to said second player; and,   said second notifying element is arranged to notify said second player.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said second award is greater when said second player voted for a first predetermined designation of said voting options. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said first and second pluralities of voting options are for sequential rounds of said game.