method of attracting clients to preferentially participate in a computerized game

Abstract

A method of attracting players to give preference to play with a specific computerized game provider, including: providing a multiplayer game application on a game server for multiple players to compete against each other over a network, enlisting multiple players on one or more group servers to participate in the multiplayer game application provided by the game server, collecting a fee from each player to participate in the multiplayer game, awarding prizes to one or more winners of the multiplayer game from the fee collected from each player, giving players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected in order to receive additional prizes responsive to events occurring in the game in addition to the prizes awarded to the one or more winners.

1 . A method of attracting players to give preference to play with a specific computerized game provider, comprising:
 providing a multiplayer game application on a game server for multiple players to compete against each other over a network;   enlisting multiple players on one or more group servers to participate in the multiplayer game application provided by said game server;   collecting a fee from each player to participate in said multiplayer game;   awarding prizes to one or more winners of the multiplayer game from the fee collected from each player;   giving players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected to be eligible to receive additional prizes responsive to events occurring in the game in addition to the prizes awarded to the one or more winners.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said group server serves as the game server. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said additional sum is smaller than said fee. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said additional sum is larger than said fee. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said game requires purchase of a unitary element for game play. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein some of said one or more group servers give players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein all of said one or more group servers give players the option of adding an additional sum to the fee collected. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said game is a computerized poker game. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded for drawing a specific hand of cards. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded to a player in a poker tournament that wins the most rounds in the game even if the player does not win the tournament. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded to a player that wins a specific number of rounds consecutively. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded to a player in a poker tournament that wins a specific number of tournaments consecutively. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded to a player with a pre-selected good hand that loses to an even better hand. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded to a player that knocks out the most opponents in a tournament. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein an additional prize is awarded to a player that loses in all the rounds in a tournament. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the player can add different additional sums and be eligible to receive better or worse additional prizes accordingly. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the player can add different additional sums and be eligible to receive prizes responsive to more or less events accordingly. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said additional prizes are of a preset value. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said additional prizes are of a value determined by a percentage of the sum collected. 
   
   
       20 . A system for providing computerized games over a network, comprising:
 a game server adapted to provide a multiplayer game that is accessed by client stations over a communication network;   one or more group servers adapted to sign up players to participate in said multiplayer game provided by said game server;   wherein said one or more group servers are adapted to charge a fee from players that sign up to participate in said multiplayer game to provide prizes for the winners of said multiplayer game; and   wherein said one or more group servers are adapted to offer the player to pay an extra sum in addition to said fee, to be eligible to receive additional prizes responsive to events occurring in the multiplayer game in addition to the prizes awarded to the one or more winners.