Networked sports simulator and method

Abstract

A sports simulator network with reward potential. In one embodiment, the system includes a first sports simulator and a second sports simulator. The simulators are configured to allow a plurality of participants to play a sports scenario upon payment. Each participant of the sports simulators achieves a score for the sports scenario. The first sports simulator is configured to communicate with the second sports simulator to determine a winner with a best score for the sports scenario between the first sports simulator and the second sports simulator. When this happens, at least a portion of the cumulative amount of the payments is aggregated to pay a reward to the winner.

1 . A sports simulator network with reward potential, the system comprising:
 a first sports simulator configured to allow a plurality of participants to play a sports scenario upon payment of a first sum, wherein each participant of the first sports simulator achieves a score for the sports scenario;   a second sports simulator configured to allow a plurality of participants to play the sports scenario upon payment of a second sum, wherein each participant of the second sports simulator achieves a score for the sports scenario;   wherein the first sports simulator is configured to communicate with the second sports simulator to determine a winner with a best score for the sports scenario between the first sports simulator and the second sports simulator; and   wherein at least a portion of the cumulative amount of the first sum and the second sum are aggregated to pay a reward to the winner.   
     
     
         2 . A computerized method for providing a reward based on a game of skill, the method comprising the steps of:
 storing a contest expiration time representing a time when a contest will expire;   receiving an amount of a first payment from a first participant;   receiving a first score representing a result from the first participant playing a game of skill;   receiving an amount a second payment from a second participant;   receiving a second score representing a result from the second participant playing a game of skill;   determining a rank of the first participant and the second participant based on the first score and the second score;   in response to the contest expiration time expiring, paying a monetary value to either the first participant or the second participant based on the rank.   
     
     
         3 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising the steps of:
 associating a plurality of sports simulators with a contest that provides an aggregate award based on at least a portion of payments received from a plurality of participants to play on the plurality of sports simulators;   storing on a data storage device, a contest expiration time representing a time when the contest will expire;   determining an aggregate reward amount for the contest based on payments received to play on the plurality of sports simulators;   receiving over a communications network, a plurality of scores representing results from the plurality of participants playing on the plurality of sports simulators;   determining a highest rank representing a participant of the plurality of participants with a highest score; and   in response to the contest expiration time expiring, paying a monetary value to a participant with the highest score.