MULTI-PLAYER SKILL-BASED WAGERING METHODS, DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
Embodiments of the invention comprise skill-based wagering games, systems and devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the configuration of a skill-based game is dependent upon the skill level of the player or players. In one embodiment, the game is configured so that the odds of winning the game, and thus the payout for a winning outcome, depends upon the player's skill level. In other embodiments, the payouts or awards offered to players are fixed and the difficultly level for achieving a winning outcome is adjusted based upon the skill levels of the players. In some case, games are modified, such as to have a higher payout or lower difficulty, when criteria for modification are met based which are dependent upon a persona of the player.
1 . A method of presenting a skill-based game to a plurality of players, said game comprising play of at least one event by each of said plurality of players, said game having an outcome which is determined primarily by a skill-input of each of said plurality of players relative to said at least one event, comprising the steps of:
receiving at a game server, from at least one input device, information regarding an identity each of said plurality of players;
determining, at said game server, a skill level of each of said players, wherein said skill level of one or more of said plurality of players differs;
determining, at said game server, a difficultly level for said at least one event;
determining, at said game server, odds of each player achieving a successful outcome of said at least one event based upon said difficultly of said at least one event and said skill level of said player, wherein said odds of achieving a successful outcome vary for players having different skill levels;
determining, at said game server, a payout rate for each player for a winning outcome of said game, said payout rate based upon said odds of said player achieving a successful outcome of said at least one event, wherein said payout rate varies for players having different odds of achieving a successful outcome;
receiving, at said game server, a fee from each of said plurality of players to participate in said game;
receiving, at said game server from one or more sensors, information regarding at least one action associated with at least one input by each player to at least one element of physical game equipment relative to said at least one event;
determining, at said game server, an outcome of each player's participation in said at least one event based upon said information regarding said at least one action associated with said at least one input by each player;
determining, at said game server, at least one winner of said game based upon said determined outcome for each player; and
awarding, based upon an output of said game server, a payout to each winning player of said plurality of players, said payout based upon said payout rate for each winning player and the fee paid by said player, whereby payouts awarded to different players may vary based upon differences in their payout rates and fees paid.
2 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one event comprises a golf event.
3 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of an RFID sensor, a GPS, a radar, a LIDAR, and an image capture device.
4 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , comprising determining a single winner of said game and awarding said payout to said single winner.
5 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein plurality of players consists of a first player and a second player.
6 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said fee comprises a wager.
7 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one event comprises a plurality of golf events and said physical game equipment comprises at least one golf club.
8 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said game is configured such that said plurality of players do not participation against one another in the play of said at least one event.
9 . The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said payout comprises one or more of: money, a prize, points, and credits.
10 . A method of presenting a skill-based game to a plurality of players, said game comprising play of at least one event by each of said plurality of players, said game having an outcome which is determined primarily by a skill-input of each of said plurality of players relative to said at least one event, comprising the steps of:
receiving at a game server, from at least one input device, information regarding an identity each of said plurality of players;
determining, at said game server, a skill level of each of said players, wherein said skill level of one or more of said plurality of players differs;
determining, at said game server, a difficultly level for said at least one event for each player of said plurality of players, said difficulty level comprising a level which, based upon said skill level of each player results in a probability of said player achieving said successful outcome of said at least one event, wherein the difficulty level for players having different skill levels is different but the probability of each player achieving said successful outcome of said at least one event is the same;
determining a payout rate based upon said probability, said payout rate being the same for each of said plurality of players;
receiving, at said game server, a fee from each of said plurality of players to participate in said game;
receiving, at said game server from one or more sensors, information regarding at least one action associated with at least one input by each player to at least one element of physical game equipment relative to said at least one event;
determining, at said game server, an outcome of each player's participation in said at least one event based upon said information regarding said at least one action associated with said at least one input by each player;
determining, at said game server, at least one winner of said game based upon said determined outcome for each player; and
awarding, based upon an output of said at least one game server, a payout to each winning player of said plurality of players, said payout based upon said payout rate for each winning player and the fee paid by said player, whereby payouts awarded to different players only vary based upon differences in the fees paid.
11 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said at least one event comprises a golf event.
12 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of an RFID sensor, a GPS, a radar, a LIDAR, and an image capture device.
13 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , comprising determining a single winner of said game and awarding said payout to said single winner.
14 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein plurality of players consists of a first player and a second player.
15 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said fee comprises a wager.
16 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said payout comprises one or more of: money, a prize, points, and credits.
17 . The method in accordance with claim 10 , comprising outputting, from said game server, one or more control instructions for changing a difficulty level of said at least one event based upon said determined difficulty level for each player.