Computer-implemented environments and interfaces for educational games

Abstract

Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for providing computer-implemented educational games. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises a system for providing a computer-based educational game environment comprising a processor, memory, and storage storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, allow a player at a first remote computer to play one or more educational games at the first remote computer and allow a thematic specialist at a second remote computer to modify content or rules of the one or more educational games. In certain embodiments, at least one of the educational games is a game that requires a player to classify patterns into groups of like patterns.

1 . A system for providing a computer-based educational game environment, comprising:
 a processor;   memory; and   storage storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, allow a player at a first remote computer to play one or more educational games at the first remote computer and allow a thematic specialist at a second remote computer to modify content or rules of the one or more educational games.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the educational games is a game that requires a player to classify patterns into groups of like patterns. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first one of the educational games is a multi-player game and a second one of the educational games is a single-player game. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the educational games display to the player a plurality of art works, at least some of the art works having a common criteria, and wherein the one or more educational games require the player to identify the art works having the common criteria in order to earn game points. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further store the game points earned by the player and allow the game points to be redeemed for a uniquely identifiable digital representation of an art work. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further allow the game points to be redeemed for one or more prizes directly from a server, via exchange with other players, or at a scheduled time in an auction with other players. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the educational games is a game that requires a player to identify game cards that are related to each other according to a common criteria, and wherein the game cards comprise audio data for musical works or literary works. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the educational games is a game that requires a player to identify game cards that are related to each other according to a common criteria, and wherein the game cards comprise visual representations of painted works, sculpted works, literary works, architectural works, historical events or persons, geographical items, or sports events or persons. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further allow an educational quiz to be created by the thematic specialist and displayed to the player at the first remote computer during, before, or after play of the one or more educational games. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . One or more tangible computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 causing a game interface to appear on a computer display of a first player, the game interface displaying game cards currently held by the first player as part of an educational game and allowing the first player to input a request for a game card from one or more other players,   wherein the game cards comprise visual or audio representations of artistic works selected from a set of game cards, the set of game cards being arranged into families of two or more game cards, each family of game cards having a common criterion.   
   
   
       15 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 storing the cards remaining in the set of game cards; and   adding one of the remaining cards to the game cards currently held by the first player if none of the other players have the requested game card or if the first player chooses to pass rather than input the request for the game card from the one or more other players.   
   
   
       16 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises storing respective scores for the first player and the one or more other players. 
   
   
       17 .- 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the game interface further displays one or more of the following: names and scores of the one or more other players, the number of cards left in the set of game cards, or the name of the player whose turn it is. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises causing the first player to lose a turn and obtain a card from the set of game cards if none of the one or more other players holds the requested card. 
   
   
       25 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises:
 allowing the first player to claim a respective family of game cards if the first player holds all game cards in the respective family,   updating a score of the first player in response to the first player claiming the respective family; and   indicating to the one or more other players that the respective family has been claimed, the game cards in the respective family, and the updated score.   
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the game interface comprises multiple panes, a first pane of the multiple panes displaying the game cards currently held by the first player, and a second pane of the multiple panes displaying the list of families from the set of game cards. 
   
   
       28 .- 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises causing an interface to appear to a thematic specialist that allows the thematic specialist to upload game cards and game data and to select the criterion for the families of the two or more game cards. 
   
   
       34 . One or more tangible computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
 causing a game interface to appear on a computer display of a player, the game interface displaying at least some of a set of game cards, the set of game cards being arranged into families of two or more game cards, each family having a common criterion, the game interface further allowing the player to select one of the displayed game cards for inclusion in a hand of game cards displayed to the player until the hand of game cards is complete, the hand of game cards being complete when the player selects all game cards that satisfy the common criteria for a selected one or more of the families.   
   
   
       35 .- 38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 34 , wherein the game interface further displays to the player an indication of the number of incorrect selections the player can make while attempting to complete the hand. 
   
   
       40 . The one or more tangible computer-readable storage media of  claim 34 , wherein the method further comprises:
 calculating a score for the player when the hand is complete; and   displaying the score to the player, wherein the score is based at least in part on one or more of the number of incorrect selections made by the player, the number of times the player has selected the same family, and the time the player spent in completing the hand.