Techniques for incentivized networking

Abstract

A method of playing via a processing system a game of chance providing networking opportunities for players playing the game. A gaming environment is created to allow the players playing the game to compete with one another for a chance to win a prize. Each player playing the game is required to partner up with at least one partner from among the players playing the game as a condition for each player to become an eligible winner of the game to win the prize. A prize winner is selected via from among the players playing the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner. The selected prize winner is required to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize, thereby offering each player playing the game a chance to receive a share of the prize won either as a player selected as the prize winner or as the at least one partner of the prize winner.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of playing via a processing system a game of chance providing networking opportunities for players playing the game, the method comprising:
 creating via the processing system a gaming environment allowing the players playing the game to compete with one another for a chance to win a prize;   requiring each player playing the game to partner up via the processing system with at least one partner from among the players playing the game as a condition for each player to become an eligible winner of the game to win the prize;   selecting via the processing system a prize winner from among the players playing the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner; and   requiring the selected prize winner to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize, thereby offering each player playing the game a chance to receive a share of the prize won either as a player selected as the prize winner or as the at least one partner of the prize winner.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 ; further comprising: playing the game via the processing system at a public gathering, online, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 ; further comprising: allowing via the processing system a player playing the game, an organizer of the game, at least one judge appointed by the organizer, or a matchmaking computer program to choose the at least one partner for each player. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 ; further comprising: requesting, via the processing system, each player to provide player-identifying information to the at least one partner; and requesting, via the processing system, each player to accept one or more invitations to become the at least one partner. 
     
     
         5 . A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions for causing a computer for playing a game of chance providing networking opportunities for players playing the game to execute a method, comprising:
 creating a gaming environment allowing the players playing the game to compete with one another for a chance to win a prize;   requiring each player playing the game to partner up with at least one partner from among the players playing the game as a condition for each player to become an eligible winner of the game to win the prize;   selecting a prize winner from among the players playing the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner; and   requiring the selected prize winner to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize, thereby offering each player playing the game a chance to receive a share of the prize won either as a player selected as the prize winner or as the at least one partner of the prize winner.   
     
     
         6 . A computer program product according to  claim 5 ; wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has instructions for further causing the computer to execute the method comprising: facilitating access to means for playing the game at a public gathering, online, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A computer program product according to  claim 5 ; wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has instructions for further causing the computer to execute the method comprising:
 allowing one or more of the players playing the game, an organizer of the game, at least one judge appointed by the organizer, or a matchmaking computer program to choose the corresponding at least one partner for each player playing the game; and   requesting each player playing the game to provide player-identifying information to the corresponding at least one partner.   
     
     
         8 . A system for playing a game of chance providing networking opportunities for players playing the game, the system comprising:
 a game computer adapted to administer execution of rules of the game played, the rules including (i) requiring the creation of a gaming environment allowing the players playing the game to compete with one another for a chance to win a prize, (ii) requiring each player playing the game to partner up with at least one partner from among the players playing the game as a condition for each player to become an eligible winner of the game to win the prize, (iii) selecting a prize winner from among the players playing the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner, (v) and requiring the selected prize winner to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize, thereby offering each player playing the game a chance to receive a share of the prize won either as a player selected as the prize winner or as the at least one partner of the prize winner; and   a display operable by the game computer and adapted for displaying portions of the game.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 ; wherein the game computer is further adapted to execute the rules that include:
 the at least one partner is chosen by a player playing the game, an organizer of the game, at least one judge appointed by the organizer, or a matchmaking computer program; and   each of the players is requested to provide portions of game-related data to the at least one partner.   
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 8 ; further comprising means for providing the players with a player's ID and a player's book of tickets including invitations for other players to become the at least one partner. 
     
     
         11 . A method of playing via a processing system a game of chance providing networking opportunities for participants of the game, the method comprising:
 creating via the processing system a gaming environment that allows each game participant an opportunity to participate in the game both as an active player that actively participates in the game and as a partner of at least one of the other active players, wherein during participation as a partner the participant does not actively participate in the game;   requiring each active player of the game to partner up via the processing system with at least one partner selected from among the other participants of the game;   selecting via the processing system a prize winner from among the active players of the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner; and   requiring the selected prize winner to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 ; further comprising: playing the game via the processing system at a public gathering, online, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 ; further comprising: allowing via the processing system the active player of the game, an organizer of the game, at least one judge appointed by the organizer, or a matchmaking computer program to choose the at least one partner for each active player. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 ; further comprising: requesting, via the processing system, each active player to provide player-identifying information to the at least one partner; and requesting, via the processing system, each active player to accept one or more invitations to become the at least one partner. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions for causing a computer for playing a game of chance providing networking opportunities for participants of the game to execute a method, comprising:
 creating via the processing system a gaming environment that allows each game participant an opportunity to participate in the game both as an active player that actively participates in the game and as a partner of at least one of the other active players, wherein during participation as a partner the participant does not actively participate in the game;   requiring each active player of the game to partner up via the processing system with at least one partner selected from among the other participants of the game;   selecting via the processing system a prize winner from among the active players of the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner; and   requiring the selected prize winner to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize.   
     
     
         16 . A computer program product according to  claim 15 ; wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has instructions for further causing the computer to execute the method comprising: facilitating access to means for playing the game at a public gathering, online, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product according to  claim 15 ; wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium has instructions for further causing the computer to execute the method comprising:
 allowing one or more of the active players of the game, an organizer of the game, at least one judge appointed by the organizer, or a matchmaking computer program to choose the corresponding at least one partner for each active player of the game; and   requesting each active player of the game to provide player-identifying information to the corresponding at least one partner.   
     
     
         18 . A system for playing a game of chance providing networking opportunities for participants of the game, the system comprising:
 a game computer adapted to administer execution of rules of the game played, the rules including (i) creating via the processing system a gaming environment that allows each game participant an opportunity to participate in the game both as an active player that actively participates in the game and as a partner of at least one of the other active players, wherein during participation as a partner the participant does not actively participate in the game, (ii) requiring each active player of the game to partner up via the processing system with at least one partner selected from among the other participants of the game, (iii) selecting via the processing system a prize winner from among the active players of the game that have partnered up with the at least one partner, and (iv) requiring the selected prize winner to share a prize won by the selected prize winner with the at least one partner of the selected prize winner as a condition for the selected prize winner to receive the prize; and   a display operable by the game computer and adapted for displaying portions of the game.   
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18 ; wherein the game computer is further adapted to execute the rules that include:
 the at least one partner is chosen by an active player of the game, an organizer of the game, at least one judge appointed by the organizer, or a matchmaking computer program; and   each of the active players is requested to provide portions of game-related data to the at least one partner.   
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 18 ; further comprising means for providing the active players with a player's ID and a player's book of tickets including invitations for other participants of the game to become the at least one partner.