[arg_discuss] Umm, wow... Far out.

[Andres M. Quijano]

That's almost exactly what I was going to write!

Mike Stein escribió:

> I thought a game mechanic couldn't be patented.

> "get puzzle piece - solve puzzle - get reward" certainly sounds like a game

> mechanic to me, albeit a very high level one.

>

> -Mike

>

> On 9/26/07, Charles Kriel <charles at kriel.tv> wrote:

>   

>> I¹m sure someone has pointed this out previously, but I¹ve just sidled up

>> to

>> the bar.

>>

>> Is this real? Any implications? :::

>>

>>

>> Title:

>> Immersive alternate reality game

>> Document Type and Number:

>> United States Patent 20060246970

>> Kind Code:

>> A1

>> Link to this page:

>> http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20060246970.html

>> Abstract:

>> An architecture for an alternative reality game that provides a revenue

>> stream to a game provider. A game objective and a narrative are defined as

>> is a set of collectible game pieces. The collectible game piece comprises

>> a

>> unique identifier and a narrative element. The narrative element of at

>> least

>> some of the collectible game pieces relates to the narrative. A puzzle and

>> a

>> puzzle solution are assigned to the collectible game piece and the puzzle

>> and the puzzle solution are associated with the unique identifier. The

>> puzzle solution of at least some of the collectible game pieces relates to

>> achievement of the game objective. A player purchases a random assortment

>> of

>> collectible game pieces and proffers proffers the unique identifier and a

>> proffered puzzle solution to a game provider server. If the proffered

>> solution is the puzzle solution, the game player is awarded points. A

>> prize

>> is offered to a winning player achieving the game objective and having the

>> most points.