Interactive gaming platform

Abstract

Systems and methods for online marketing are disclosed. Advertising games are provided by defining a game having at least one question that is answerable by physically visiting a predetermined sponsor location. The at least one question is stored in a database of sponsored games in an advertising system. A participant enrolls in a game and receives a question clue to the predetermined sponsor location from the advertising system. The participant visits the sponsor location to determine an answer responsive to the question clue and obtains corresponding verification information. After transmitting the verification information to the advertising system, the participant receives game standing information.

1 . An online marketing method, comprising the steps of:
 defining a game having at least one question answerable by physically visiting a predetermined sponsor location;   storing the at least one question in a database of sponsored games in an advertising system;   enrolling a participant in the game;   receiving from the advertising system a question clue to the predetermined sponsor location;   visiting the sponsor location to determine an answer responsive to the question clue and obtaining corresponding verification information;   transmitting verification information to the advertising system; and   receiving game standing information.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising registering for an account to the advertising system. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising uploading sponsor data to the advertising system. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising issuing at least one game token to a game participant. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one game token is a member card containing a unique identifier corresponding to each game participant. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of a barcode, and an RFID tag. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving step is performed substantially simultaneously by a plurality of participants via a network connection. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving step is performed at a time selected from the group consisting of a predetermined time and a random time. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the game standing information includes a notification that a participant may to proceed to a subsequent game round. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the notification is based at least in part upon the time at which verification information is transmitted to the advertising system. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of awarding a prize based upon the time at which verification information is transmitted to the advertising system. 
   
   
       12 . An online advertising system, comprising:
 a processor in operable communication with a network via a network interface;   a game database in operable communication with the processor, the game database configured to store at least one game definition;   a sponsor database in operable communication with the processor, the sponsor database configured to store at least one sponsor profile;   a participant database in operable communication with the processor, the participant database configured to store information corresponding to at least one game participant;   a software module executable by the processor for performing a method of online marketing online, comprising the steps of:   defining a game having at least one question answerable by physically visiting a predetermined sponsor location;   storing the at least one question in the game database;   enrolling a game participant in the game;   transmitting a question clue relating to the predetermined sponsor location;   receiving verification information from a participant; and   transmitting game standing information.   
   
   
       13 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising a client access terminal in operable communication with the processor via a network. 
   
   
       14 . The system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the client access terminal is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a wireless device, and a set-top box. 
   
   
       15 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising a sponsor access terminal in operable communication with the processor via a network. 
   
   
       16 . The system in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the sponsor access terminal is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a wireless device, and a set-top box. 
   
   
       17 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the question clue is transmitted substantially simultaneously to a plurality of participants via a network. 
   
   
       18 . The system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the game standing information includes a notification that a game participant may to proceed to a subsequent game round. 
   
   
       19 . The system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the notification is based at least in part upon the time at which verification information is transmitted to the processor. 
   
   
       20 . A computer-readable medium storing a set of programmable instructions configured for being executed by at least one processor for performing a method for online marketing, comprising:
 defining a game having at least one question answerable by physically visiting a predetermined sponsor location;   storing the at least one question in the game database;   enrolling a game participant in the game;   transmitting a question clue relating to the predetermined sponsor location;   receiving verification information from a participant; and   transmitting game standing information.