Text message entry of a remote contest using participation code awarded at a local arcade game

The present invention relates generally to arcade games, and, more particularly, to arcade games that award players contest codes for entry in a remote contest via text message.

Prize-dispensing arcade games, also known in the art as redemption arcade games, are popular entertainment machines that are commonly found in arcades, malls, theaters, restaurants, theme parks, and other locations with large concentrations of people. These machines typically display objects, such as stuffed animals, trinkets, electronic devices, and other desirable prizes, inside a game cabinet and are clearly visible to those who pass by. Usually, these objects are offered as prizes to a player who wins or accomplishes some predetermined objective of the game. Typically, a player will insert a game credit, which may be some form of monetary credit, token, or the like to play the game. The player then plays the game and attempts to accomplish the predetermined objective in order to win the game. If the player is successful, a prize is typically immediately awarded to the player through a door or compartment in the game cabinet.

The prizes that the operator of a prize-dispensing arcade game can provide in the game machine are usually limited in selection. The physical size of the prize is limited to the space available in the game cabinet and the size of the prize door in which the winning player receives his prize. Also, the technology of the game machine may limit what the game operator can offer as prizes. The machine should be able to dispense the prize to a winning player. If a prize is the wrong shape, weight, or texture, the game machine may not be able to properly dispense the prize to the winning player through the prize door.

Operators of prize-dispensing arcade games are also often limited in the value of the prizes offered in the game machine. Typically, these game machines are constructed of glass, plastic, or other transparent materials that allow for the prizes to be readily visible to those who pass by. These materials, however, offer limited security against theft of the prizes physically located in the machine. A thief could easily break the transparent material and steal the prizes displayed in the machine. Also, these game machines typically contain a door or other means to allow the operator to gain access to the contents of the machine in order to load prizes, retrieve monetary credits, or service the machine. These doors or other access means offer the potential thief an additional way by which to break into the machine and steal the displayed prizes. Thus, when placed in areas that are not regularly monitored, this construction restricts the operator to displaying only low-valued prizes and those with a low probability of being stolen.

Higher-valued prizes are typically limited to game machines that are placed in areas that have regular and consistent monitoring. Moreover, some game operators may desire to awards prizes that are valued at a percentage of the cost of play. These game machines would have prizes of varying values, some of which may be high-valued prizes. Therefore, depending on whether a game machine offers low-valued prizes, high-valued prizes, mixed-value prizes (such as in minor/major prize redemption games), or some other combination of prizes, a game operator will consider various options when determining where to place the game machine.

Another problem with typical prize-dispensing arcade games is that if the player does not win the game, he will not receive any prize and will walk away empty-handed. Because most prize-dispensing games are setup to generate a profit for the operator, the majority of players will fall into this category. Only a small minority of players will actually be allowed to win the game and receive a prize. This can have a negative effect on some players and ultimately impact the revenue for the operator.

One solution to the aforementioned problems is to award tickets or the like for the redemption of additional prizes. In this solution, the game machine dispenses tickets to the player at the conclusion of the game. The number of tickets awarded is usually proportional to how well the player performed in the game. The player then collects the tickets and redeems them at a prize redemption center in the immediate area. This prize center typically contains prizes of varying value. The more valuable the prize, the more tickets are required to purchase the prize. One problem with this solution is that it requires a large initial investment by the operator to setup and maintain a ticketing system for the redemption of prizes. The operator generally equips the game machines with ticket dispensers and constructs the prize redemption center in an area that is accessible to the players. In addition, the prize centers typically require staffing by at least one employee who accepts the tickets and dispenses the prizes. This creates an ongoing operating expense that may be undesirable or unprofitable to the typical game operator.

The ticket redemption solution is also generally not desirable to the typical game player. This solution requires the player to accumulate and maintain a collection of tickets to be redeemed at a later time. This places a large encumbrance on the player to maintain an accurate count of the amount of tickets he owns. The player also stores the tickets until he wishes to redeem them. These requirements place a large burden on the player and may discourage many players from paying to play the operator\'s games. Participation and overall revenues suffer as a result.

In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for awarding a player of an arcade game an opportunity to win a prize is provided which substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for an arcade game that includes receiving one or more game credits, beginning the arcade game in response to receiving the credits, where the arcade game has an ultimate objective associated with one or more prizes. It also includes awarding a participation code to a player for a remote contest in response to the player unsuccessfully completing the ultimate objective, where the participation code is entered by the player using a text message.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an arcade game is made up of a processor, a game operable to run on the processor, a receptacle in communication with the processor operable to accept one or more game credits, and a code dispensing unit in communication with the processor operable to dispense a contest code to a player for a remote contest when a predetermined criteria of the game is satisfied. The user then enters the contest code using at text message.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a game system made up of a central server, comprising a central processor and a central memory, and one or more arcade games, comprising a local processor and a local memory, where the arcade games are in communication with the central server and award prizes locally to one or more players when those players successfully complete an objective of a game. There is also a plurality of contest entry codes stored in the central memory and the local memory and a remote contest operable on the central server, where some of the contest entry codes are given to additional players when those additional players are unsuccessful at completing the objective, and a communication interface at the central server, where the awarded contest codes are received via a text message from the players who received the contest codes. There is also code operable on the central server for conducting a contest using the contest codes received at the communication interface.

In accordance with another representative embodiment of the present invention, there is a computer program product having a computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon. The computer program product includes code for receiving one or more game credits, code for beginning an arcade game in response to receiving the game credits, and code for awarding a participation code to a player for a remote contest in response to the player unsuccessfully completing the ultimate objective. The arcade game has at least one ultimate objective that is associated with one or more prizes. Moreover, the players who receive the participation codes enter those codes by text messaging them.

An advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that players who pay to play the arcade game will not walk away empty-handed. In situations where typical arcade games end and leave the player without a prize, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides the player with a contest code that allows the player to compete in a contest for another prize.

A further advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that an operator of the arcade game will be able to entice more players to play the game by offering players a contest code to compete in another contest. The operator will be able to offer larger and more expensive prizes to the winner of the contest than he would normally be able to display offer as prizes in the game machine itself. As a result, players will be enticed to play the game more often than a typical prize-dispensing arcade game and the operator\'s profits will increase.

It should be noted that the referenced advantages apply to certain embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments may include one, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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