Video game and method of play

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for a player to determine the feelings and state of mind of a virtual patient via the types of defensive answers, or defenses, the patient provides to the player. On the basis of the defenses given by the patient, the player further challenges the patient by asking additional focus questions and determines which additional defenses are provided by the patient. Points are granted to the player for the successful determination of the player's true feelings and/or state of mind.

1 . A method for determining a state of mind of a virtual patient via a processor or device, the method comprising:
 providing a starting score to a player;   providing a set of possible defenses to the player;   receiving the player's choice of one or more of the defenses;   calculating a first score on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more defenses is correct;   providing the player with a plurality of focus questions;   receiving the player's choice of one or more of the focus questions; and   calculating a second score on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more focus questions is correct.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the first score comprises increasing the starting score by one or more increments when the player's choice of the defense is correct and subtracting the starting score by one or more increments when the player's choice of the defense is incorrect. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the second score comprises increasing the first score by one or more increments when the player's choice of the one or more focus questions is correct and subtracting the first score by one or more increments when the player's choice of the one or more focus questions is incorrect. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the player's choice of one or more defenses and the player's choice of one or more correct focus questions are received only when the first score and the second score are greater than zero. 
   
   
       5 . A system for determining a state of mind of a virtual patient, the system comprising:
 means for providing a starting score to a player;   means for providing a set of possible defenses to the player;   means for receiving the player's choice of one or more of the defenses;   means for calculating a first score on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the defense is correct;   means for providing the player with a plurality of focus questions;   means for receiving the player's choice of one or more focus questions; and   means for calculating a second score on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more focus questions is correct.   
   
   
       6 . A system for determining a state of mind of a virtual patient, the system comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface functioning via the processor; and   a repository accessible by the processor; wherein   a starting score is provided to a player;   a set of possible defenses are provided to the player;   the player's choice of one or more of the defenses is received;   a first score is calculated on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more defenses is correct;   the player is provided with a plurality of focus questions;   the player's choice of one or more of the focus questions is received; and   a second score is calculated on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more focus questions is correct.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is housed on a terminal. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the terminal is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a main frame computer, a microcomputer, a hand held device, and a telephonic device. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is housed on a server. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the server is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a main frame computer. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the server is coupled to a network. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the network is the Internet. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the server is coupled to the network via a coupling. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling is selected from a group consisting of a wired connection, a wireless connection, and a fiberoptic connection. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the repository is housed on a server. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the server is coupled to a network. 
   
   
       17 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to exchange user-generated community information, the control logic comprising:
 first computer readable program code means for providing a starting score to a player;   second computer readable program code means for providing a set of possible defenses to the player;   third computer readable program code means for receiving the player's choice of one or more of the defenses;   fourth computer readable program code means for calculating a first score on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more defenses is correct;   fifth computer readable program code means for providing the player with a plurality of focus questions;   sixth computer readable program code means for receiving the player's choice of one or more of the focus questions; and   seventh computer readable program code means for calculating a second score on the basis of a determination of whether the player's choice of the one or more focus questions is correct.