Incentive-Based Video Gaming System

Abstract

There is provided a method of playing a video game with at least one interactive information element incorporated within the game. The method includes: a player manipulating a control unit to play the game in a preferred mode; and the player having an option to engage the interactive information element when playing the game. The information element may be either advertisements or public announcement services. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game including at least one interactive information element, where gameplay is preferably not disrupted when the interactive information element is engaged. Finally, there is also provided a method of incorporating at least one interactive information element into a video game, including: adding an engageable module into the video game; updating the engageable module with the interactive information element; and locating the interactive information element at a juncture in the video game.

1 . A method of playing a video game with at least one interactive information element in a form of either an advertisement, or a public announcement service, incorporated within the game, the at least one interactive information element being able to be updated, the method comprising:
 a player manipulating a control unit to play the game in a preferred mode; and   the player having an option to engage the at least one interactive information element when playing the game in the preferred mode, an incidence of interactive information element engagement being countable, the incidence being counted on a local counter when the video game is played offline and the incidence being sent to a separate server for subsequent counting when the video game is played online;   wherein gameplay is not disrupted when the at least one interactive information element is engaged, and a total incidence of engagement is obtainable when the video game is played both offline and online.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one interactive information element is selected from an icon in the game, a character in the game, or an item in the game. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein engaging the at least one interactive information element is by means selected from clicking on the interactive information element, highlighting the interactive information element or interacting with the interactive information element. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein engagement of the at least one interactive information element is not mandatory for continuation of gameplay. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein engagement of the at least one interactive information element activates an action selected from an on-screen presentation, an electronic token generation system or a combination of the aforementioned. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the on-screen presentation is either within the course of gameplay or in a sub-screen in the game. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electronic tokens are stored either locally or on a network. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total incidence of interactive information element engagement is stored either locally or on a network. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one interactive element is located at a juncture in the game, wherein the juncture is either a specific event in the course of the game or a specific location in the game. 
   
   
       10 . A video game including at least one interactive information element in a form of either an advertisement, or a public announcement service, the at least one interactive information element being able to be updated, where gameplay is not disrupted when the at least one interactive information element is engaged;
 wherein an incidence of interactive information element engagement being countable, the incidence being counted on a local counter when the video game is played offline and the incidence being sent to a separate server for subsequent counting when the video game is played online, and a total incidence of engagement is obtainable when the video game is played both offline and online.   
   
   
       11 . The video game of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one interactive information element is selected from an icon in the game, a character in the game or an item in the game. 
   
   
       12 . The video game of  claim 10 , wherein engaging the at least one interactive information element is by means selected from clicking on the interactive information element, highlighting the interactive information element or interacting with the interactive information element. 
   
   
       13 . The video game of  claim 10 , wherein engagement of the at least one interactive information element is not mandatory for continuation of gameplay. 
   
   
       14 . The video game of  claim 10 , wherein engagement of the at least one interactive information element activates an action selected from an on-screen presentation, an electronic token generation system or a combination of the aforementioned. 
   
   
       15 . The video game of  claim 14 , wherein the on-screen presentation is either within the course of gameplay or in a sub-screen in the game. 
   
   
       16 . The video game of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic tokens are stored either locally or on a network. 
   
   
       17 . The video game of  claim 10 , wherein the total incidence of interactive information element engagement is stored either locally or on a network. 
   
   
       18 . The video game of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one interactive element is located at a juncture in the game, wherein the juncture is either a specific event in the course of the game or a specific location in the game. 
   
   
       19 . A method of incorporating at least one interactive information element in a form of either an advertisement, or a public announcement service, into a video game, the at least one interactive information element being able to be updated, the method comprising:
 adding an engageable module into the video game;   updating the engageable module with the at least one interactive information element; and   locating the at least one interactive information element at a juncture in the video game, an incidence of engaging the at least one interactive information element being countable, the incidence being counted on a local counter when the video game is played offline and the incidence being sent to a separate server for subsequent counting when the video game is played online;   wherein gameplay is not disrupted when the at least one interactive information element is engaged, and a total incidence of engagement is obtainable when the video game is played both offline and online.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the engageable module is updated either locally or from a remote source via a network. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the juncture in the video game is either a specific event in the course of the game or a specific location in the game. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one interactive information element is selected from an icon in the game, a character in the game or an item in the game. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein engaging the at least one interactive information element is by means selected from clicking on the interactive information element, highlighting the interactive information element or interacting with the interactive information element. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein engagement of the at least one interactive information element is not mandatory for continuation of gameplay. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein engagement of the at least one interactive information element activates an action selected from an on-screen presentation, an electronic token generation system or a combination of the aforementioned. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the on-screen presentation is either within the course of gameplay or in a sub-screen in the game. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the electronic tokens are stored either locally or on a network. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the total incidence of interactive information element engagement is stored either locally or on a network.