Multistage, multiplayer game of chance

Abstract

Many example embodiments of the present invention involve playing a multistage, multiplayer game, in which, during each stage of the multistage game, a plurality of players each receive a hidden, electronic game piece (“EGP”). Each player may reveal the game piece to produce an unhidden EGP. At the completion of the multistage game, a calculation may be performed on one or more of each player's unhidden EGPs, and a winning player may be determined according to winning criteria based, at least in part, on the calculations. For example, an unhidden EGP may include a number. The calculation may involve summing the numbers associated with the unhidden EGPs of each player. The winning criteria may include selecting the player with the greatest sum.

1 . A method for playing a game having at least one stage, comprising the steps of:
 for each one of a plurality of players, in each one of the at least one stage:   receiving by a respective player device a respective data token, the data token including a hidden value; and   presenting a neutral indicia to the each one of a plurality of players;   in response to selecting the neutral indicia, revealing the hidden value to produce an unhidden value; and   after completing a final one of the at least one stage, selecting a winning player by a winning criteria that is based at least in part on the unhidden value,   wherein the respective player data comprises a running total of values, and the associating step includes summing the first value with the running total of values, and   wherein the winning criteria is such that the winning player is selected based on which one of the respective player data has a greater summed value.   
   
   
       2 . A method for playing a game having at least one stage, comprising the steps of:
 for each one of a plurality of players, in each one of the at least one stage:   receiving by a respective player device a respective data token, the data token including a hidden data; and   presenting a neutral indicia to the each one of a plurality of players;   in response to selecting the neutral indicia, revealing the hidden data to produce an unhidden data; and   after completing a final one of the at least one stage, selecting a winning player by a winning criteria that is based at least in part on the unhidden data.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one stage includes two or more stages. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of associating the produced unhidden data with respective player data for each one of the plurality of players. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the produced unhidden data includes a first value. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the respective player data comprises a running total of values, and the associating step includes summing the first value with the running total of values. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the winning criteria is such that the winning player is selected based on which one of the respective player data has a greater summed value. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first value and the running total are numbers. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the numbers are integers. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the respective player device is a mobile phone. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hidden data corresponds to a hidden electronic game piece. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the multistage game is played over a data communications network. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the winning player wins sweepstake entries. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a request by a server for the unhidden data; and   receiving, by the respective player device, the unhidden data, the unhidden data communicated to the player.   
   
   
       15 . A method for playing a game having at least one stage, comprising the steps of:
 for each one of a plurality of players, in each one of the at least one stage:   issuing to a respective player device a respective data token, the data token including a hidden data; and   in response to selecting a neutral indicia presented to the each one of a plurality of players, receiving an unhidden data revealed from the hidden data; and   after completing a final one of the at least one stage, selecting a winning player by a winning criteria that is based at least in part on the unhidden data.   
   
   
       16 . A system for playing a game having at least one stage, comprising:
 each one of a plurality of data tokens configured to be received by a respective player device of each one of a plurality of players during each one of the at least one stage, the each one of a plurality of data tokens including a hidden data;   a presentation component configured to present a universal indicia to a player;   a reveal component configured to reveal the hidden data to produce an unhidden data; and   a winner selector configured to, after completing a final one of the at least one stage, select a winning player by a winning criteria that is based at least in part on the unhidden data.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one stage includes two or more stages. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising an associating component configured to associate the produced unhidden data with respective player data for each one of the plurality of players. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the produced unhidden data includes a first value. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a summation engine configured to sum the first value with a running total of values,
 wherein the respective player data includes the running total of values.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the winning criteria is such that the winning player is selected based on which one of the respective player data has a greater summed value. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first value and the running total are numbers. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the numbers are integers. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the respective player device is a mobile phone. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the hidden data corresponds to a hidden electronic game piece. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the reveal component issues a request to a server to unhide the hidden data and the server returns the unhidden data.