Systems and methods for tournament modifiers

Abstract

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for online tournament leader boards (and/or other rankings) that may be modified by tournament modifiers obtained by individual players (or groups of players). Systems, methods and articles of manufacture may also or alternatively provide for win or loss streaks that trigger bonus games, where a tournament modifier from the bonus game may be utilized to alter the primary game.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a processing device, a plurality of players of an online tournament;   determining, by the processing device, a leader board of the plurality of players, the leader board being defined by a first rule;   determining, by the processing device, that a first player of the plurality of players has obtained a tournament modifier as a result of play in the online tournament; and   determining, by the processing device, an updated leader board of the plurality of players, the updated leader board being defined by a second rule, the second rule being based at least in part on the tournament modifier obtained by the first player, and the second rule being different than the first rule.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first rule ranks the plurality of players based on a score achieved in the online tournament by each respective player of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second rule modifies the leader board by re-arranging the plurality of players irrespective of the score achieved in the online tournament by each respective player of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second rule ranks the plurality of players based on one or metrics other than a score achieved in the online tournament by each respective player of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second rule is defined at least in part based on an indication of a selection made by the first player with respect to the tournament modifier. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining of the updated leader board is conducted in response to a request received from the first player. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated leader board is further based on an indication from the first player defining how the second rule is to be applied. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second rule comprises a rule that allows the first player to select, for a leader board demotion or promotion, one or more of the other players of the plurality of players of the online tournament and wherein the indication from the first player defining how the second rule is to be applied comprises a selection of at least one of the other players of the plurality of players of the online tournament. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tournament modifier comprises the ability of the first player to cause one or more of: (i) an inversion of positions of the leader board; (ii) a swapping of positions between two players on the leader board; (iii) a freezing of a player in a particular position on the leader board; (iv) an alteration of a speed at which players may advance up the leader board; and (v) a designation of one or more positions of the leader board as an enhanced leader board position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the designation of one or more positions of the leader board as the enhanced leader board position comprises one or more of: (i) applying a multiplier to ongoing win amounts for the player in the enhanced leader board position; and (ii) qualifying the player in the enhanced leader board position for a prize not made available to the other players in the other leader board positions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tournament modifier is obtained by the first player via a result of a bonus game in the online tournament. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the leader board comprises a leader board for a primary game in the online tournament. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a processing device; and   a memory device in communication with the processing device, the memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processing devices result in:
 determining a plurality of players of an online tournament; 
 determining a leader board of the plurality of players, the leader board being defined by a first rule; 
 determining that a first player of the plurality of players has obtained a tournament modifier as a result of play in the online tournament; and 
 determining an updated leader board of the plurality of players, the updated leader board being defined by a second rule, the second rule being based at least in part on the tournament modifier obtained by the first player, and the second rule being different than the first rule. 
   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processing device result in:
 determining a plurality of players of an online tournament;   determining a leader board of the plurality of players, the leader board being defined by a first rule;   determining that a first player of the plurality of players has obtained a tournament modifier as a result of play in the online tournament; and   determining an updated leader board of the plurality of players, the updated leader board being defined by a second rule, the second rule being based at least in part on the tournament modifier obtained by the first player, and the second rule being different than the first rule.