Multi-Stage Future Events Outcome Prediction Game

Abstract

Apparatus and method for the playing of a multi-stage multi-player future event outcome prediction game. The prediction game involves the prediction or forecasting or guessing of the actual outcomes of a series of pre-defined sequentially occurring future events. The objective of the players participating in the prediction game is to predict correctly, progressively, sequentially and continuously the actual outcome of the entire set of pre-defined future events included in a game unit.

1 . A method for performing a multi-stage future event outcome prediction game, the method comprising:
 providing a computer software on a computer readable medium, configured for:   tracking along a time axis at tentative event maturation points-in-time of at least one future event constituting a game unit;   at the tentative event maturation points-in-time obtaining an actual outcome of the at least one future event, determining the correctness of at least two players predictions by comparing the actual outcome of the at least one future event with the respective predictions of the at least two players; according to the correctness of the predictions calculating the number of players that predicted correctly the actual outcome of the at least one future event, calculating the temporary number of bonus points for each player; and   at the termination point-in-time of the game unit determining the number of winners for the game unit according with the number of event outcome predictions that proved to be correct and calculating the final number of bonus points for each player.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises generating a multi-stage future event prediction game unit, including defining the duration of the game unit, the starting point-in-time and the tentative termination point-in-time of the game unit, associating the at least one future event with the game unit that the tentative maturation points-in-time of the at least one future event are later than the starting point-in-time and earlier than the termination point-in-time of the game unit, the tentative maturation points-in-time of the at least one future event are separated by pre-defined different time intervals. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises creating a list including a set of future event-related questions with two or more alternative answers attached or one question solving indicator placeholder the set of future event-related questions and attached alternative answers and the question solving indicators concern respectively the outcome of the at least one future event. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprises the tentative maturation points-in-time of the at least one future event occur progressively, sequentially, continuously and separately along the time axis of the game unit. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prediction of the players are made progressively, sequentially and continuously along the time axis. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises responding to requests submitted by players and potential players by distributing to the players and potential players the list of future-event related questions and attached alternative answers or question solving indicator placeholders to provide the players with the option of predicting the outcome of the at least one future event by indicating the correctness of one of the alternative answers or inserting an answer to the question solving indicator placeholder. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 receiving and handling requests submitted by the players for the organization of players' groups;   receiving, handling and negotiating offers for the transfer of lists of event-related answers from the players;   receiving, handling and negotiating requests for the transfer of lists of event-related answers from the users; and   receiving and handling requests for the deposition of bonus points in a points depository from the players.   
   
   
       10 .- 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the future events constituting the game unit include any one of the following:
 stock market fluctuations; sport competitions; financial and economic indicators; scientific and artistic awards winners; natural phenomena; cellular communications statistics and Short Message Service call statistics; Internet usage statistics; marketing statistics and market research results; global, national or local elections; public opinion surveys.   
   
   
       14 .- 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the winners of the game unit are one or more players comprising:
 players that predicted correctly the highest number of actual event outcomes progressively, sequentially and continuously during the progress of the game unit along the time axis;   players that predicted the highest number of actual event outcomes non-sequentially and non-continuously;   players that predicted the highest number of actual event outcomes progressively, sequentially and continuously in a specific stage of the game unit and the total number of players in the game unit predicted incorrectly the actual outcome of the events in the following stage of the game unit; and   players where the total number of players in the game unit predicted incorrectly the actual outcome of the events at all the stages of the game unit.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein more than one tentative maturation points-in-time could occur at the same point-in-time. 
   
   
       19 .- 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 9  wherein a player's group is one of the following:
 a public players' group to allow for any potential player to enter the group; and   a private players' group to allow selectively invited members to join.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the players' group includes a group of players submitting an identical list of event-related answers and introducing initial bonus points for the list of event-related answers and where the winner of the game unit is the member of the group then the bonus points earned by the winner are distributed among the members of the group on the introduced points percentage basis. 
   
   
       23 .- 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . Apparatus for performing a multi-stage future event outcome prediction game, the apparatus comprising:
 an at least one gaming server device for generating an at least one multi-stage future event outcome prediction game unit, for registering an at least two players requesting to participate in the at least one game unit, for creating and distributing a list of future event-related questions to potential players, for tracking the tentative maturation points-in-time of the future events constituting the at least one game unit, for obtaining the actual outcomes of the events constituting the at least game unit, for determining the correctness of the predictions for the outputs of the events constituting the at least one game unit, for determining the status of the at least two players participating in the at least one game unit at each stage of the at least one game unit, for calculating the number of bonus points earned and lost by the at least two players at every stage of the at least one game unit and for determining the number and the identity of the winners from among the participating at least two players and the final number of bonus points earned and lost by the at least two players at the termination of the at least one game unit.   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  further comprises an at least two client devices utilized by an at least one player for connecting to the at least one gaming server device, for registering as participants in at least one the future event outcome prediction game unit and for submitting predictions concerning the actual outcome of the future events constituting the at least one game unit. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the gaming server device comprises:
 a game controller for organizing creating and managing the at least one game unit, for organizing, managing, controlling and tracking the activities of the at least two participating players in the at least one game unit, for selecting a set of future events suitable for constituting the at least one game unit;   a message handler for communicating with the at least two players and for transmitting messages reflecting the progress of the at least one game unit, the position of the at least two players in the at least one game unit, the outcomes of the events constituting the at least one game unit, the number and identity of the winners and the scheduling of an at least one future game unit; and   a game unit summary generator to initialize and update a game unit summary associated with the at least one game unit.   
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the gaming server device further comprises:
 a list of event-related answers available for transfer between the at least two players or potential players;   an answer exchange handler to handle transfer of lists of event-related answers between the at least two players or other potential players;   a points depository to store the bonus points earned and submitted by the at least two players; and   an events, questions and answers organizer to receive, handle and organize events, questions and answers suggested by the at least two players or other potential players.   
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the at least one gaming server device is a computing and communicating device. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the at least one gaming server device is a cellular switch. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the at least one gaming server device is a gaming machine. 
   
   
       35 .- 41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . A game machine comprising;
 a gaming system for the performance of a game unit of a multi-stage, multi-participant future event outcome prediction game including a player's interface to communicate with a player during the game unit, a game controller for managing and controlling the game unit, a game unit summary generator for generating dynamically a game unit summary during the performance of the game unit, an answers transfer handler for checking the answers submitted during the progress of the game unit, and a points depository to store the number of bonus points for each of the players participating in the game.   
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the game machine further comprises a gaming database including a game unit data for storing game unit-specific information, the game unit data including a list of players including a list of players participating in the game unit, a list of future event-related questions including questions associated with events the termination point-in-time is within the period of the game unit, a game unit summary to hold information concerning the progress of the game, the standing of the players at the different stages of the game unit, the number of bonus points accumulated by the players, and the answers introduced by the players at each stage of the game unit, and a list of event-related answers submitted by the players or potential players; 
   
   
       44 .- 47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 . The game machine of  claim 42  further comprises:
 a bonus point token reception device to allow the players to introduce bonus points for a game unit; and   a bonus points disposal device to provide bonus point tokens to a player.   
   
   
       49 . A method of playing a prediction game, the method comprising:
 submitting predicted outcomes of at least one property of at least one prediction event provided by a game control unit; and   competing with other players on the accuracy of the prediction of the outcome of said event, for a plurality of events whose outcome is not known simultaneous in time.   
   
   
       50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . A method according to  claim 49  wherein submitting predicted outcomes is via SMS. 
   
   
       52 . (canceled) 
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 49  wherein submitting predicted outcomes is at a kiosk. 
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 49  wherein submitting the predicted outcomes occurs before start of the game. 
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 49  wherein submitting the predicted outcomes occurs during the game. 
   
   
       56 . (canceled) 
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 49  further comprising:
 activating at least one life saver.   
   
   
       58 .- 60 . (canceled) 
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 49 , further comprising:
 influencing the outcome of said prediction events by a player.   
   
   
       62 . (canceled) 
   
   
       63 . Apparatus for playing a prediction game, the apparatus comprising of:
 a game control unit adapted to provide prediction events to players in a prediction game; and   a subscription unit adapted to receive the predicted outcomes to said prediction events as submitted by players of the game;   wherein the game control unit is further adapted to score the players according to the predicted outcomes submitted by the players.   
   
   
       64 . Apparatus according to  claim 63  wherein the control unit is a trusted source. 
   
   
       65 . Apparatus according to  claim 63  wherein at least some of the prediction events provided by the game control unit are real world events. 
   
   
       66 . Apparatus according to  claim 63  wherein at least some of the prediction events provided by the game control unit are fantasy events. 
   
   
       67 . Apparatus according to  claim 63  wherein the prediction events provided by the game control unit comprise a commercial value. 
   
   
       68 . Apparatus according to  claim 63  wherein the prediction events provided by the game control unit are personalized by at least one of said unit and said controller to match a specific player. 
   
   
       69 .- 74 . (canceled)