Game engine module and method for playing an electronic game using location information

Abstract

A system, method and computer product that leverages location information for a positioning receiver to alter elements in a virtual gaming world under influence from the real world elements (e.g., geographic position of wireless gaming device and geographic location of buildings and the like) to provide a unique gaming experience. The system, method and computer product is configured to be executed on a wireless gaming device to be operable in a first mode wherein one or more features of the location based software product is dependent on a geographical location of the wireless gaming device; and operates in a second mode wherein the one or more features of the location based game system are static. Another embodiment relates to a method providing a virtual reward for playing a location-based game when a real-world product and/or service is purchased. Another embodiment relates to providing a real world reward based on performance of the location-based game.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless gaming device comprising:
 a memory for storing a gaming application, wherein the gaming application includes one or more game categories and one or more game rules that controls operation of the gaming application such that when the wireless gaming device is within a predefined geographic vicinity of at least one of the one or more game categories one or more game features of the gaming application may be altered;   a receiver for determining a geographic location for the wireless gaming device, wherein the receiver generates location information;   a radio circuit operable to receive map information associated with the geographic location of the wireless gaming device from a remote source, wherein the map information includes at least one map category that corresponds to one or more game categories;   a display operable to present multimedia content associated with the gaming application on the display to an associated user;   a processor coupled to the receiver, the memory and the display, wherein the processor executes computer code to periodically obtain the geographic location of the wireless gaming device and the map information and when the wireless gaming device is within the predefined geographic vicinity of map information that includes at least one of the one or more game categories, the processor causes a change in the one or more game feature that correspond to the wireless gaming device being within the predefined geographic vicinity of the at least one of the one or more game categories.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless gaming device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a global positioning receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver and the radio circuit are operable to receive communications from a mobile telephony network. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more categories include at least one selected from the group of: hospitals, coffee shops, fuel stations, car care centers, restaurants, training centers, swimming pools, marinas, hotels, lodging, parks, grocery stores and/or shopping stores. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming application includes a real-time mode of play when the location information is processed for use with the gaming application and a second mode of play when the location information is not processed for use with the gaming application. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein in the first mode of play, the one or more game features are dynamically located within the gaming application based on the location information and/or the map information. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein in the second mode of play, game elements are statically located within the gaming application. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor compares the location information and the map information with the one or more game categories to determine which of the one or more game features to alter. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the computer code is a game engine. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a location based game, the method comprising:
 storing a location based game application in a memory of a wireless gaming device, wherein the gaming application includes one or more game categories and one or more game rules that controls operation of the gaming application such that when the wireless gaming device is within a predefined geographic vicinity of at least one of the one or more game categories, one or more game features associated with the gaming application may be altered;   receiving geographic location information from a receiver coupled to the wireless gaming device, wherein the geographic location information is dependent on the geographic location of the wireless gaming device;   receiving map information from a source wherein the map information includes at least one map category that corresponds to the one or more game categories;   comparing the geographic location with the map information to determine whether the wireless gaming device is within a predetermined geographic vicinity of one of the at least one of the one or more game categories; and   outputting one or more changes in the one or more game features on the wireless gaming device, wherein the game feature changed is dependent on the one or more game categories that the wireless gaming device is within the predetermined geographic vicinity.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further including receiving the location based game application from a remote server. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the source is a remote server that periodically transmits the map information to the wireless gaming device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the source is a memory housed in the wireless gaming device, wherein the memory transmits the map information to the gaming application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of outputting one or more changes in the one or more game features on the wireless gaming device includes displaying one or more game features on a display of the wireless gaming device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of outputting one or more changes in the one or more game features on the wireless gaming device includes outputting an audible signal indicating changes in one or more game features on a speaker of the wireless gaming device. 
     
     
         17 . A location based software product, the product comprising:
 computer executable code configured to be executed on a wireless gaming device to be operable in a first mode wherein one or more features of the location based software product is dependent on a geographical location of the wireless gaming device; and operates in a second mode wherein the one or more features of the location based game system are static.   
     
     
         18 . The software product of  claim 17 , wherein the computer executable code includes one or more game categories and one or more game rules that controls operation of the computer executable code such that when the wireless gaming device is within a predefined geographic vicinity of at least one of the one or more game categories, one or more game features associated with the gaming application may be altered. 
     
     
         19 . The software product of  claim 17 , wherein in the first mode of play, the one or more game features are dynamically located based on the location information and/or the map information. 
     
     
         20 . The software product of  claim 19 , wherein in the second mode of play, game features are statically located within the gaming application. 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing a reward for playing a location-based game, the method comprising:
 playing a location based game application stored in a memory of a wireless gaming device, wherein the gaming application includes one or more game categories and one or more game rules that controls operation of the gaming application such that when the wireless gaming device is within a predefined geographic vicinity of at least one of the one or more game categories, one or more game features associated with the gaming application may be altered;   moving the wireless gaming device within the predefined geographic vicinity of at least one of the game categories; and   receiving an enhanced game feature based at least in part on the purchase of the product and/or service.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including purchasing a product and/or a service from the at least one of the game categories and receiving a greater enhanced feature than the enhanced game feature received for being in the predefined geographic vicinity of the at least one of the game categories. 
     
     
         23 . A method for providing a real world reward for playing a location-based game, the method comprising:
 playing a location based game application stored in a memory of a wireless gaming device, wherein the gaming application includes one or more game categories and one or more game rules that controls operation of the gaming application such that when the wireless gaming device is within a predefined geographic vicinity of at least one of the one or more game categories, one or more game features associated with the gaming application may be altered;   performing above a predetermined threshold in at least one aspect of the game; and   receiving a coupon for purchasing one or more items at a retail outlet and/or a web-based retail outlet.