Social networking game with non-random prizes
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a social networking game that provides players additional incentives and advantages based on the value of that player to a site hosting the games. For example, a player who refers more friends to play on the site will receive better chances of winning valuable prizes in the games. The value of a player's referred friends can also be taken into consideration when determining that player's value.
1. A method to implement a game, the method comprising:
providing a game server which cooperates with a host server which hosts and serves a social networking site, the game server connects to a plurality of remote computers via the Internet and executes computer readable instructions on an electronic processing unit which causes:
determining an amount of loyalty points earned by a player using one of the plurality of remote computers;
receiving a request by the player to initiate the game;
determining that the player qualifies for a predetermined prize;
determining the predetermined prize based on the amount of loyalty points;
determining a predetermined combination of symbols that corresponds to the predetermined prize; and
displaying and conducting the game comprising spinning reels and stopping the reels on the predetermined combination of symbols.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the amount of loyalty points is determining using a number of friends the player has referred to the game server.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the amount of loyalty points is determined using a number of friends the player has referred to the gamer server that have signed up with the game server.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the amount of loyalty points is determined using an amount of loyalty points of friends referred to the game server by the player.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the request by the player to initiate the game includes receiving a payment by the player of a credit amount from player credits.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the player is offered an opportunity to convert loyalty points into an award having a monetary value.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the player is offered an opportunity to convert loyalty points into credits.
8. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the player is offered an opportunity to convert loyalty points into credits.
9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the more loyalty points a player has the greater an expected value for the player.
10. A method to implement a game, the method comprising:
providing a game server which cooperates with a host server which hosts and serves a social networking site, the game server connects to a plurality of remote computers via the Internet and executes computer readable instructions on an electronic processing unit which causes:
receiving an action by a player unrelated to the game, the player using one of the plurality of remote computers;
receiving a request by the player to initiate the game;
determine that the player qualifies for a predetermined prize;
determine the predetermined prize based on the action;
determine a predetermined combination of symbols that corresponds to the predetermined prize; and
displaying and conducting the game comprising spinning reels and stopping the reels on the predetermined combination of symbols.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the action is the player referring at least a predetermined number of friends.
12. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the action is the player received at least a predetermined score.
13. A method to implement a game, the method comprising:
providing a game server which cooperates with a host server which hosts and serves a social networking site, the game server connects to a plurality of remote computers via the Internet and executes computer readable instructions on an electronic processing unit which causes:
enabling a player to log into a game site during a particular range in time, the player using one of the plurality of remote computers;
receiving a request by the player to initiate the game;
determining that the player qualifies for a predetermined prize;
determining the predetermined prize based on the player logging in during a particular range in time;
determining a predetermined combination of symbols that corresponds to the predetermined prize; and
displaying and conducting the game comprising spinning reels and stopping the reels at the predetermined combination.