Gaming Device, a System For Gaming and a Method of Controlling a Game

Abstract

A gaming device for playing a game comprising: including detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played; and control means for changing the state of the gaming device from a first non-penalty state to a second, penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event within the game and for returning the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state.

1 . A gaming device for playing a game comprising:
 detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played; and   control means for changing the state of the gaming device from a first non-penalty state to a second, penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event within the game and for returning the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control means is operable to return the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state after the expiry of a predetermined period. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising means for receiving an electronic token, wherein the control means is operable to return the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state in response to the receipt of an electronic token 
   
   
       4 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the means for receiving comprises a radio transceiver and the electronic token is received wirelessly via the radio transceiver. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electronic token is a message received via the radio transceiver in response to a request message sent via the radio transceiver. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the request message identifies the user for billing. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a display which is controlled by the control means, when the state of the gaming device changes from the first non-penalty state to the second penalty state, to present a user selectable option for obtaining a token immediately, wherein user selection of the option controls the gaming device to send the request message via the radio transceiver. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control means is operable to present a specified task for completion by a user of the gaming device and is operable to return the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state on the successful completion of the specified task by the user. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising means for receiving a specification of the task. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the means for receiving comprises a radio transceiver and the specification of the task is received wirelessly via the radio transceiver. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the specification of the task is within a message received via the radio transceiver in response to a request message sent via the radio transceiver. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the request message identifies the user for billing. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a display which is controlled by the control means, when the state of the gaming device changes from the first non-penalty state to the second penalty state, to present a user selectable option for obtaining a specified task immediately, wherein user selection of the option controls the gaming device to send the request message via the radio transceiver. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control means is operable to start a timer when it changes the state of the gaming device from the first non-penalty state to the second penalty state and is operable to return the state of the gaming device from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state when the timer exceeds a predetermined period. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 14 , comprising a memory for recording a value of the timer when a game session ends while in the penalty state, wherein the control means updates the value of the timer when a game session is started, determines whether the updated value of the timer exceeds the predetermined period and determines whether the state of the device is the first non-penalty state or the second penalty state. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second penalty state is persistent between sessions of a current instantiation of the game. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second penalty state is persistent between instantiations of the game. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming device as claimed in any preceding  claim 1 , operable to play a plurality of games wherein the second penalty state is persistent between the plurality of games. 
   
   
       19 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the game comprises a user playing object associated with the user, wherein during the second penalty state of the gaming device the user playing object associated with the user of the gaming device is disabled. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , operable to play a plurality of games each of which comprises a user playing object, wherein during the second penalty state of the gaming device all user playing objects associated with the user of the gaming device are disabled. 
   
   
       21 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the game comprises a user playing object that is associated with the user of the gaming device and has one or more attributes, wherein during the second penalty state of the gaming device at least one attribute of the user playing object associated with the user in the game is affected. 
   
   
       22 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , operable to play a plurality of games each of which comprises a user playing object that is associated with the user of the gaming device and has one or more attributes, wherein during the second state of the gaming device at least one attribute of the user playing object associated with the user in the game is affected and at least one attribute of the user playing object associated with the user in another game is similarly affected. 
   
   
       23 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the occurrence of the event within the game is dependent upon how a user of the gaming device plays the game. 
   
   
       24 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the game comprises a user playing object that is associated with the user of the game, the event within the game corresponds to an injury to the user playing object received within the game and the predetermined period corresponds to a healing time for the injury. 
   
   
       25 . A gaming device as claimed in  claim 1  operable as a hand-portable mobile cellular telephone. 
   
   
       26 . A computer program comprising computer program instructions which when run on a computer provide a gaming device, for playing a game, comprising: detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played; and
 control means for changing the state of the gaming device from a first non-penalty state to a second, penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event within the game and for returning the state of the gaming device from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       27 . A physical entity embodying the computer program as claimed in  claim 26 . 
   
   
       28 . An electromagnetic carrier signal carrying the computer program as claimed in  claim 26 . 
   
   
       29 . A system for enabling a plurality of gaming devices including a first gaming device having a first user and a second gaming device having a second user, to participate in a game, the system comprising:
 a game server that is remotely accessed by the plurality of gaming devices to play a game, the game server comprising:   detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played by the first user; and   control means for changing the state of the game for the first user from a first non-penalty state to a second penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event and for returning the state of the game for the first user from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       30 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the control means is operable to return the state of the game for the first user from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state after the expiry of a predetermined period. 
   
   
       31 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the control means is operable to return the state of the game for the first user from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state in response to a transaction by the first user. 
   
   
       32 . A system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the transaction is initiated by a message identifying the first user received wirelessly from the first gaming device. 
   
   
       33 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the control means is operable to present a specified task for completion by the first user and is operable to return the state of the game for the first user from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state on the successful completion of the specified task by the first user. 
   
   
       34 . A system as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the game is a multi-user game that is playable simultaneously by the first and second users, wherein the specified event within the game is a result of the action or inaction of the first user while playing the game. 
   
   
       35 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the game is multi-user game that is playable simultaneously by the first and second users, wherein the specified event within the game is a result of the action of the second user while playing the game. 
   
   
       36 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the game comprises a first user playing object that is associated with the first user of the game, the event within the game corresponds to an injury to the first user playing object received within the game and the predetermined period corresponds to a healing time for the injury. 
   
   
       37 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the second penalty state of the game for the first user is persistent, for the first user, between sessions of a current instantiation of the game. 
   
   
       38 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the second penalty state of the game for the first user is persistent, for the first user, between instantiations of the game. 
   
   
       39 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the game comprises a first user playing object associated with the first user, wherein during the second penalty state of the game for the first user, the first user playing object is disabled. 
   
   
       40 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the game comprises a first user playing object that is associated with the first user of the gaming device and has one or more attributes, wherein during the second penalty state of the game for the first user, at least one attribute of the first user playing object is affected. 
   
   
       41 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the
 detection means is additionally operable to detect the occurrence of a specified event, relating to the second user, within the game while it is being played by the second user; and the control means is operable to change the state of the game for the second user from a first non-penalty state to a second penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event, relating to the second user, and for returning the state of the game for the second user from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state after one of: the expiry of a predetermined period; the receipt of an electronic token at the input means during the predetermined period; completion of a specified task by the second user.   
   
   
       42 . A system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the gaming device is a hand-portable mobile cellular telephone. 
   
   
       43 . A game server that is remotely accessed by a plurality of users playing a game, the game server comprising: detection means for detecting while the game is being played the occurrence of a specified event in the game and the user(s) associated with that event; and control means for changing the state of the game for the associated user(s) only from a first non-penalty state to a second penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event and the user(s) associated with the event and for returning the state of the game for an associated user from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state when the associated user completes a transaction. 
   
   
       44 . A game server as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the transaction is a financial transaction. 
   
   
       45 . A game server as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the control means is operable to return the state of the game for the user(s) from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state after the expiry of a predetermined period. 
   
   
       46 . A game server as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the control means is operable to return the state of the game for a first user from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state in response to a transaction by the first user. 
   
   
       47 . A game server as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein the control means is operable to present a specified task for completion by a first one of the user(s) and is operable return the state of the game for the first one of the user(s) from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state on the successful completion of the specified task by the first one of the user(s). 
   
   
       48 . A computer program comprising computer program instructions which when run on a computer provides a game server comprising:
 detection means for detecting, while the game is being played, an occurrence of a specified event in the game and the user(s) associated with that event; and control means for changing the state of the game for only the associated user(s) from a first non-penalty state to a second penalty state in response to the detection means detecting the occurrence of the specified event and the user(s) associated with the event and for returning the state of the game for an associated user from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state when the associated user completes a transaction.   
   
   
       49 . A physical entity embodying the computer program as claimed in  claim 48 . 
   
   
       50 . A client device for accessing a remote server to play a game, the client device comprising:
 a user interface for providing, in response to the server changing the state of the game for the user from a first non-penalty state to a second penalty state,   a user-selectable option for completing a transaction with the server that changes the state of the game for the user from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       51 . A computer program comprising computer program instructions which when run on a computer provides a client device for accessing a remote server to play a game, the client device comprising:
 a user interface for providing in response to the server changing the state of the game for the user from a first non-penalty state to a second penalty state,   a user-selectable option for completing a transaction with the server that changes the state of the game for the user from the second penalty state to the first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       52 . A physical entity embodying the computer program as claimed in  claim 51 . 
   
   
       53 . A method of controlling a game comprising: detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played by a user;
 changing the state of the game for the user from a first non-penalty state to a second, penalty state in response to detecting the occurrence of the specified event; and   returning the state of the game for the user from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state   
   
   
       54 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the step of returning the state of the game for the first user to the first non-penalty state occurs after the expiry of a predetermined period. 
   
   
       55 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the step of returning the state of the game for the first user to the first non-penalty state occurs in response to a transaction by the first user. 
   
   
       56 . A method as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the step of returning the state of the game for the first user to the first non-penalty state occurs on the successful completion of a specified task by the first user. 
   
   
       57 . A computer program comprising computer program instructions which when run on a computer provides a method for:
 detecting the occurrence of a specified event within a game while it is being played by a user;   changing the state of the game for the user from a first non-penalty state to a second, penalty state in response to detecting the occurrence of the specified event; and   returning the state of the game for the user from the second, penalty state to the first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       58 . A method of obtaining a revenue stream from a game comprising:
 transacting with a remote device, used by a first user to play a game, to change the state of the game for the first user from a second penalty state to a first non-penalty state.   
   
   
       59 . A method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the transacting involves a financial transaction. 
   
   
       60 . A method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the transacting involves the sending of a message, from the remote device, that incurs a charge.