Skill and participation based prizing

Abstract

A method for awarding prizes to a plurality of users each participating in a multiuser game via a user console. For each round of the multiuser game, a trivia question and at least two answer choices are electronically delivered to each user participating in the multiuser game. A selection of one of the plurality of answer choices is received from the game console service that delivered the question to the user. Upon receiving the selected answer choice from the game console service, both an electronic participation-based prize and a skill-based prize are electronically awarded to the user associated with the console.

1 . A computer-implemented method for awarding prizes to a plurality of users participating in a multiuser game via a user console, wherein the multiuser game includes multiple rounds of trivia questions, comprising the steps of:
 (a) electronically delivering a trivia question and a plurality of answer choices to a game console associated with a user participating in the multiuser game;   (b) receiving, from the game console, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices delivered in step (a);   (c) upon receiving a selected answer choice in step (b) from the game console, automatically awarding a participation-based prize to the user associated with the console;   (d) when the answer choice received in step (b) correctly answers the question, awarding an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus to the user associated with the console;   (e) when the answer choice received in step (b) incorrectly answers the question, awarding only a speed bonus to the user associated with the console; and   (f) when the multiplayer game has ended, awarding users participating in the multiplayer game with one or more skill-based prizes, wherein the skill-based prizes are based on a total score that includes the accuracy score and answer bonuses awarded in step (d) and the speed bonus awarded in step (e) for each round of the multiuser game.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (c) of automatically awarding a participation-based prize to the user associated with the console comprises the steps of:
 generating a sweepstakes record;   identifying a gamertag associated with the user; and   associating the sweepstakes record with the gamertag.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (d) of awarding an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus to the user associated with the console comprises the steps of:
 determining a speed bonus;   determining a streak bonus; and   determining a prize ladder bonus.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein determining a speed bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;   determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and   when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein determining a streak bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user that correctly answered the question presented in the prior round; and   awarding a streak bonus to the user based on the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein awarding a pre-timer bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining whether the answer timer began prior to the user selecting an answer choice;   when the answer choice is selected prior to the start of the answer timer, awarding a pre-timer bonus; and   when the answer choice is selected after the start of the answer timer, awarding a timer bonus.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein determining a speed bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;   determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and   when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method for awarding prizes to a plurality of users each participating in a multiuser game via a user console, wherein each round of the multiuser game presents a trivia question to each user, comprising the steps of:
 (a) electronically delivering a trivia question and a plurality of answer choices to a game console associated with a user participating in the multiuser game;   (b) receiving, from the game console, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices delivered in step (a); and   (c) upon receiving a selected answer choice in step (b) from the game console, automatically awarding an electronic participation-based prize and a skill-based prize to the user associated with the console.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  8 , further including the steps of:
 (d) generating a participation-based prize record representative of the electronic participation-based prize awarded in step (c);   (e) generating a skill-based prize record representative of the electronic skill-based prize awarded in step (c);   (f) associating the participation-based record and skill-based record with the user; and   (g) storing the participation-based prize record and skill-based prize record in a database.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein automatically awarding an electronic participation-based prize to the user associated with the console comprises the steps of:
 generating a sweepstakes record;   identifying a gamertag associated with the user; and   associating the sweepstakes record with the gamertag.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein automatically awarding an electronic skill-based prize comprises the steps of:
 awarding an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus to the user associated with the console.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein awarding at least one answer bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining a speed bonus;   determining a streak bonus; and   determining a prize ladder bonus.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein determining a speed bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;   determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and   when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein determining a streak bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user that correctly answered the question presented in the prior round; and   awarding a streak bonus to the user based on the number of consecutive answer choices previously selected by the user.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein awarding a pre-timer bonus comprises the steps of:
 determining whether the answer timer began prior to the user selecting an answer choice;   when the answer choice is selected prior to the start of the answer timer, awarding a pre-timer bonus; and   when the answer choice is selected after the start of the answer timer, awarding a timer bonus.   
     
     
         16 . A system for awarding prizes to a plurality of users each participating in a multiuser game via a user console, wherein each round of the multiuser game presents a trivia question to each user, comprising:
 a game service server configured to,
 deliver, per round of the game, a trivia question and a plurality of answer choices to a game console server associated with a user participating in the game; 
 receive, from the game console server, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices delivered to the game console server; 
 upon receiving a selected answer choice in step (b) from the game console, automatically award an electronic participation-based prize and a skill-based prize to the user associated with the console; 
   the game console server configured to,
 deliver the trivia question and plurality of answer choices received from the game service server to the user participating in the game; 
 receive, from the user participating in the game, a selection of one of the plurality of answer choices; 
 associate a participation-based prize record representing the participation-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user; 
 associate a skill-based prize record representing the skill-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user; and 
 store the participation-based record and skill-based record in a database. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the game console server associates a participation-based prize record representing the participation-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user by:
 identifying a gamertag associated with the user; and   associating the participation-based prize record with the gamertag.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the game console server associates a skill-based prize record representing the skill-base prize awarded by the game service server with the user by:
 upon receiving a selection of an answer choice, award a total score for the round to the user associated with the console, wherein the total score includes an accuracy score and at least one answer bonus;   generate a total score record; and   associate the total score record with the user's gamertag.   
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one answer bonus includes a speed bonus, a streak bonus, and a prize ladder bonus. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the game console service determined a speed bonus by:
 determining a period of time that expired between the answer choice being displayed to the user and selection by the user of the answer choice;   determining whether the period of time qualifies for an instant answer bonus; and   when an answer choice is selected before an answer timer began, awarding a pre-timer bonus.