U.S. Patent No. 8,795,086: Referee mode within gaming environments
Issued August 5, 2014, to Red 5 Studios, Inc.
Filed/Priority to July 20, 2012
Overview:
U.S. Patent No. 8,795,086 (the ‘086 patent) relates to a referee mode for a user in a video game, likely a sports game. The ‘086 patent details a mode of gameplay providing referee control over a gaming environment by establishing a referee role. The game environment has numerous players and the referee role is only available to an end user who has completed and passed an examination establishing proficiency in the game. The referee can enforce player selected rules, and may have to pay a fee for the position. The referee position also gives the player powers to pause and control the game so they may review the game. The ‘086 patent could allow a player who would normally be occupying a spectator position to instead be involved with the game, so long as the player is qualified.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing referee control over game play within a gaming environment are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include establishing a referee role that allows an end user to exert referee control of game play relative to a competition, within a gaming environment, between a plurality of participants, establishing referee rights for the referee role, the referee rights being made available only to the end user upon which the referee role has been conferred; and, conferring the referee role upon the end user.
Illustrative Claim:
- A method for providing referee control over game play within a gaming environment, the method comprising: establishing a referee role that allows an end user to exert referee control of game play relative to a competition, within the gaming environment, between a plurality of participants, the referee role established using a networked gaming system running on a server; establishing referee rights for the referee role using the networked gaming system, the referee rights being made available only to the end user upon which the referee role has been conferred; qualifying the end user for the referee role by requiring the end user to complete and pass an examination to establish proficiency in the game, the examination comprising questions regarding referee commands in response to a hypothetical gaming scenario; and conferring the referee role upon the end user using a referee mode module.