Method and system for operating instances of a game

1. A computer-implemented method of operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the method comprising:

associating with each of a plurality of players a plurality of counters relating to respective game positions, wherein a player's counter corresponding to a given game position is updated in response to the player participating in a game at the given game position; and

assigning players from the plurality of players to a game instance based on the counters, wherein the assigning step comprises, for a given game position in the game instance:

determining position weights for each of a set of players, wherein determining the position weight for a player comprises calculating the position weight based on the player's counter for the given game position and a number of games participated in by the player,

selecting one of the set of players based on the position weights, and

assigning the selected player to the given game position in the game instance.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the position weight for a player comprises:

determining a ratio of the number of games participated in by the player and the number of game positions available in the game, and

modifying the player's counter value based on the ratio.

3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising subtracting the ratio from the player's counter value.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising selecting the set of players from the plurality of players.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein selecting the set of players comprises selecting players who are currently idle and/or selecting the players based on idle indicators associated with each of the plurality of players.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein selecting the set of players comprises selecting randomly from available players.

7. The method according to claim 4 , comprising selecting a number of players for the set corresponding to the number of available game positions in the game instance.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the position weight is determined further in dependence on a time value indicating a time the player has been idle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein assigning players further comprises applying one or more player placement rules, a player placement rule indicating a preference for or against placing a player at a particular position based on positions played by the player in previous game instances.

10. A computer-implemented method of operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the method comprising:

associating with each of a plurality of players a position value relating to game positions played by the player in past game instances;

in response to a player participating in a first game instance at a given game position, updating the position value for the player based on the given game position, wherein the update reflects a difference between a position played in each game instance and a predetermined game position value, preferably an average game position value or middle position; and

assigning the player to a second game instance based on the position value.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising software code adapted, when executed on a data processing apparatus, to perform a method of operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the software code comprising code for:

associating with a player a plurality of weights relating to a plurality of respective game positions, each weight indicative of a respective bias towards placement of the player at the respective game position;

in response to participation of a player in a first game instance at a given game position, updating each of the plurality of weights to indicate an altered bias towards placement at each respective position; and

assigning the player to a second game instance based on one or more of the updated weights.

12. A system for operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the system comprising:

means for associating with a player a plurality of weights relating to a plurality of respective game positions, each weight indicative of a respective bias towards placement of the player at the respective game position;

means for, in response to participation of a player in a first game instance at a given game position, updating each of the plurality of weights to indicate an altered bias towards placement at each respective position; and

means for assigning the player to a second game instance based on one or more of the updated weights.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising software code adapted, when executed on a data processing apparatus, to perform a method of operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the software code comprising code for:

associating with each of a plurality of players a plurality of counters relating to respective game positions, wherein a player's counter corresponding to a given game position is updated in response to the player participating in a game at the given game position;

assigning players from the plurality of players to a game instance based on the counters, wherein the assigning step comprises, for a given game position in the game instance;

determining position weights for each of a set of players, wherein determining the position weight for a player comprises calculating the position weight based on the player's counter for the given game position and a number of games participated in by the player;

selecting one of the set of players based on the position weights; and assigning the selected player to the given game position in the game instance.

14. A system for operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the system comprising:

means for associating with each of a plurality of players a plurality of counters relating to respective game positions, wherein a player's counter corresponding to a given game position is updated in response to the player participating in a game at the given game position;

means for assigning players from the plurality of players to a game instance based on the counters, wherein the assigning step comprises, for a given game position in the game instance;

means for determining position weights for each of a set of players, wherein determining the position weight for a player comprises calculating the position weight based on the player's counter for the given game position and a number of games participated in by the player;

means for selecting one of the set of players based on the position weights; and

means for assigning the selected player to the given game position in the game instance.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined game position value is an average game position value.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined game position value is a middle position value.

17. A method of operating instances of a game having a plurality of game positions that can be occupied by players, the method comprising:

maintaining, for each of a plurality of players, a counter representing a number of game instances since the player was assigned a predetermined game position;

assigning players from the plurality of players to a new game instance;

identifying, from a comparison of the counters of the assigned players, a player having a greatest count value;

assigning the player having the greatest count value to the predetermine game position; and

assigning to the remaining players game positions based on the each remaining player's position compared to the player at the predetermined game position.