System and method for using a game to interact with television programs

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting code for a computer-implemented game to a client device, the computer implemented game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the computer implemented game to cast one or more votes for participants in a television program;

receiving a request to vote for participants in the television program from the in-game voting module;

allocating, using at least one processor of a machine, at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game in response to the request to vote by:

accessing game data for the player of the computer-implemented game;

and allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game based on in-game tasks performed by the player, the performed in-game tasks being determined from the game data; and

notifying the in-game voting module of the at least one vote allocated to the player of the game.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game includes:

obtaining a voting history for the player of the computer-implemented game with respect to the television program; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game based on the voting history for the player of the computer-implemented game.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the player is allocated a first predetermined number of votes if the player voted for a first participant that received a highest number of votes in a prior voting session.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the player is allocated a second predetermined number of votes if the player voted for a second participant that did not receive the highest number of votes in a prior voting session, the second predetermined number of votes being less than the first predetermined number of votes.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game includes:

determining that the player of the computer-implemented game purchased votes using currency; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game from at least a portion of the purchased votes.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the currency is selected from the group consisting of:

out-of-game currency; and

in-game currency.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game includes:

determining that other players of the computer-implemented game have donated votes to the player of the computer-implemented game; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the game from at least a portion of the donated votes.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the in-game voting module determines a total number of allocated votes to the player.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the in-game voting module allows the player to cast a number of votes based on a number of votes allocated to the player.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the computer-implemented game is a network-based social game.

11. A system to allocate votes for participants in a television program, the system comprising:

a processor-implemented game module configured to:

transmit code for a game to a client device, the game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast one or more votes for participants in a television program; and

a processor-implemented voting module configured to:

receive a request to vote for participants in the television program from the in game voting module;

allocate at least one vote to the player of the game in response to the request to vote, with the voting module being further configured to:

access game data for the player of the computer-implemented game;

and allocate the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game based on in-game tasks performed by the player, the performed in game tasks being determined from the game data; and

notify the in-game voting module of the at least one vote allocated to the player of the game.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the voting module is further configured to:

obtain a voting history for the player of the game with respect to the television program; and

allocate the at least one vote to the player of the game based on the voting history for the player of the game.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the voting module is further configured to:

determine that the player of the game purchased votes using currency; and

allocate the at least one vote to the player of the game from at least a portion of the purchased votes.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the currency is selected from the group consisting of:

out-of-game currency; and

in-game currency.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the voting module is further configured to:

determine that other players of the game have donated votes to the player of the game; and

allocate the at least one vote to the player of the game from at least a portion of the donated votes.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the voting module is further configured to determine a total number of allocated votes to the player.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the voting module is further configured to allow the player to cast a number of votes based on a number of votes allocated to the player.

18. A computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting code for a game to a client device, the game including an in-game voting module that allows a player of the game to cast votes for participants in a television program;

receiving a request to vote for participants in the television program from the in-game voting module;

allocating at least one vote to the player of the game in response to receiving the request to vote, by:

accessing game data for the player of the computer-implemented game; and

allocating the at least one vote to the player of the computer-implemented game based on in-game tasks performed by the player, the performed in-game tasks being determined from the game data; and

notifying the in-game voting module of the at least one vote allocated to the player of the game.