Gaming method and gaming system

Abstract

A method of playing a question and answer game using a communication network connected player device, the method including the steps of the player device: receiving question data via a communication network, the question data including question presentation data and answer data; presenting a question using the question presentation data; assessing any answer input in response to the question using the answer data; presenting an answer assessment; and transmitting assessment data for at least an answer assessed as correct to a game administrator via the communication network.

1 . A method of playing a question and answer game using a communication network connected player device, the method comprising the steps of the player device:
 receiving question data via a communication network, the question data including question presentation data and answer data;   presenting a question using the question presentation data;   assessing any answer input in response to the question using the answer data;   presenting an answer assessment; and   transmitting assessment data for at least an answer assessed as correct to a game administrator via the communication network.   
     
     
         2 . A method, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of the game administrator transmitting the question data via the communication network. 
     
     
         3 . A method, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the question data is transmitted concurrently to a plurality of player devices. 
     
     
         4 . A method, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the assessment data is only transmitted to the game administrator when the answer is assessed as correct. 
     
     
         5 . A method, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the assessment data includes time data indicative of an elapsed time between presenting the question and an answer being input to the device. 
     
     
         6 . A method, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the time data is indicative of an elapsed time between presenting the question and a correct answer being input to the device. 
     
     
         7 . A method, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of the game administrator analysing the assessment data received from a player and awarding a prize for a correct answer. 
     
     
         8 . A method, as claimed in  claim 7 , where the prize is a credit value added to a credit balance value of a player account. 
     
     
         9 . A method, as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the credit value of the prize awarded for a correct answer is based on the time data for the answer. 
     
     
         10 . A method, as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein analysing the assessment data includes determining a score value for the player for the question based on whether or not the answer is correct and the time data. 
     
     
         11 . A method, as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of adding the determined score value for the question to a cumulative score value for a player. 
     
     
         12 . A method, as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the game can be played by a plurality of players, further comprising the step of determining a relative ranking for each player based on each player's cumulative score value. 
     
     
         13 . A method, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein one or more prizes are awarded to players based on their relative ranking. 
     
     
         14 . A question and answer game system comprising:
 a game administrator comprising:
 a network interface for connection to a communication network; 
 a memory storing question data comprising question presentation data and answer data, for one or more questions; and 
 a processor adapted to control transmission of question data for a question to one or more player devices via a connected communication network, and to process assessment data received in response to the question from the player devices via the communication network; and 
   at least one player device adapted to, in response to each receipt of question data, present the question to a player using the question presentation data, assess any input answer using the answer data and transmit assessment data to the game administrator.   
     
     
         15 . A system, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the player device is further adapted to monitor the elapsed time between presenting the question and an answer being input to the player device and include time data indicative of the elapsed time in the assessment data. 
     
     
         16 . A system, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the time data is indicative of an elapsed time between presenting the question and a correct answer being input to the device. 
     
     
         17 . A system, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the player device is adapted to only transmit assessment data for a correct answer. 
     
     
         18 . A system, as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a subscriber register in data communication with the game administrator, whereby players register to play the question and answer game, the subscriber register being adapted to store for player data each registered player. 
     
     
         19 . A system, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein processing assessment data includes analysing assessment data received from a player and awarding a prize for a correct answer. 
     
     
         20 . A system, as claimed in  claim 19 , where the prize is a credit value which is added to a credit balance value included in player data for the player. 
     
     
         21 . A system, as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the credit value of the prize awarded for a correct answer is based on the time data for the answer. 
     
     
         22 . A system, as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein analysing the assessment data includes the game administrator processor determining a score value for the player for the question based on whether or not the answer is correct and the time data. 
     
     
         23 . A system, as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the determined score value for the question is added by the game administrator processor to a cumulative score value for a player stored as player data. 
     
     
         24 . A system, as claimed in  claim 23 , a relative ranking is determined by the game administrator processor for each of a plurality of players based on each player's cumulative score value. 
     
     
         25 . A system, as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein one or more prizes are awarded to players based on their relative ranking. 
     
     
         26 . A system, as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a player's credit balance value stored as player data can be redeemed for goods or services offered through the player register. 
     
     
         27 . A system, as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the redeemable services include mobile phone network service access. 
     
     
         28 . A game administrator comprising:
 a network interface for connection to a communication network;   a memory storing question data comprising question presentation data and answer data, for one or more questions; and   a processor adapted to control transmission of question data for a question to one or more player devices via a connected communication network, and to process assessment data received in response to processing of the question data by the player devices via the communication network, the assessment data including an indication of whether the answer is correct.   
     
     
         29 . A player device adapted to:
 receive question data for a question transmitted by a game administrator via a communication network, the question data including question presentation data and question answer data;   present the question to a player using the question presentation data;   assess any input answer using the answer data; and   transmit assessment data for the question to the game administrator.   
     
     
         30 . A player device, as claimed in  claim 29 , further adapted to monitor the elapsed time between presenting the question and an answer being input to the player device and include time data indicative of the elapsed time in the assessment data. 
     
     
         31 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium; and   executable program instructions embodied in the computer readable storage medium that when executed by a player device cause the player device to perform functions that implement a question and answer game using the player device connected to a communication network, the functions comprising:   receive question data for a question transmitted by a game administrator via a communication network, the question data including question presentation data and question answer data;   present the question to a player using the question presentation data;   assess any input answer using the answer data; and   transmit assessment data for the question to the game administrator.   
     
     
         32 . An article of manufacture, as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the executable program instructions further adapt the player device to monitor the elapsed time between presenting the question and an answer being input to the player device and include time data indicative of the elapsed time in the assessment data. 
     
     
         33 . An article of manufacture, as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the executable instructions are downloadable to the player device via the communication network.