Abstract: Systems and methods for a flexible, dynamically configurable, process of connecting together modules or elements of a hybrid game having an entertainment game component and a gambling game component over a network. The systems and methods enable the modules or elements of the hybrid game to dynamically connect, and then perform their functions, without having to be pre-compiled or integrated. Such systems and methods dynamically bring together modules or elements to create a gaming environment in conjunction with a game of skill in the context of a networked gaming environment, such as a communication network within a casino, or a wide area network, such as the Internet.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a multisession hybrid game, including: a gambling game providing a game of chance and an entertainment game providing a game of skill, where the entertainment game utilizes a multisession module constructed to: load game state data from a database accessible to the multisession module, where game state data is information from a prior entertainment game gameplay session associated with a player and capable of being utilized to configure an entertainment game gameplay session; initiate a current entertainment game gameplay session for the player using the game state data retrieved by the multisession module, where the current entertainment game gameplay session builds upon the player's interactions with the multisession hybrid game in the prior entertainment game gameplay session; and store game state data in the database based upon information concerning the current entertainment game gameplay session associated with the player.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate an insurance enabled hybrid game, including: a gambling game providing a game of chance and an entertainment game providing a game of skill, where the insurance enabled hybrid game utilizes a multisession module constructed to: activate an insurance proposition associated with an insurance trigger event in accordance with an insurance activation rule to generate at least one insurance relationship between an insurance safeguard that can be applied in exchange for an insurance fee, and where a challenge is a gameplay event dependent upon player action with a negative outcome of the challenge defined by the insurance safeguard; collect an insurance fee; and apply an insurance safeguard associated with the collected insurance fee by altering insurance enabled hybrid game gameplay in response a negative outcome of a challenge detected by the insurance module that mitigates the negative outcome.

Abstract: Systems and methods that regulate a hybrid game to detect and/or defeat unauthorized use of the hybrid game. One embodiment includes a method of detecting unauthorized operation of a hybrid gaming system that includes a gambling game and an entertainment game. In addition, the method can include collecting first game operating performance data (GOPD) from the entertainment game while the hybrid game is being played by a first player, generating a reference profile using the first GOPD, collecting second GOPD from the entertainment game while the hybrid game is being played by a second player, comparing the second GOPD to the reference profile to determine whether the second player is operating the hybrid game in an unauthorized manner, and generating a notification to an operator upon determination that the second player is operating the hybrid game in an unauthorized manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a controlled entity hybrid game. A controlled entity hybrid game includes a real world engine constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits from at least one wager in a gambling game, an entertainment software engine constructed to execute an entertainment game providing outcomes based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game; and a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment software engine and communicate, to the gambling game, a gameplay gambling event occurrence based upon a player's instruction of a controlled entity to consume an element of the entertainment game that triggers a wager in the gambling game, and change the element on the basis of the randomly generated payout and an entertainment game variable.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a time enabled hybrid game. A time enabled hybrid game includes a real world engine constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits from at least one wager in a gambling game, an entertainment software engine constructed to execute an entertainment game providing outcomes based upon a player's skillful play of the entertainment game and a game world engine constructed to monitor the output of a clock during the player's skillful play of the entertainment game detect a unit of time based on the monitored output of the clock; and trigger the at least one wager in the gambling game based on the detection of the unit of time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a gaming system are provided. The gaming system receives a request for a wager for a player of an entertainment game, the request being triggered by a player action taken by the player while playing the entertainment game. The gaming system establishes a result for the wager and generates, based on the result of the wager, a controlled sequence of a portion of the entertainment game, the controlled sequence changing the state of the entertainment game as the entertainment game is being played by the player.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments operate an anti-cheating hybrid game. One embodiment includes an anti-cheating hybrid game constructed to communicate occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of an entertainment game that triggers a randomly generated payout to a gambling game; where the anti-cheating hybrid game incorporates an anti-cheating module constructed to: receive player data for a player, where the player data is indicative of the player's current gameplay performance at the entertainment game; analyze the player data to determine whether cheating is occurring by comparing the player's current gameplay performance with historical gameplay data to evaluate whether the player's current gameplay performance is beyond the statistical limits of the randomness inherent in the anti-cheating hybrid game; and send a command to penalize the player during play of the entertainment game based upon a determination that cheating has occurred from the analyzed player data.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a skill normalized hybrid game. One embodiment includes a skill normalized hybrid game, including: a gambling game; an entertainment game; a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment game and communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game that trigger randomly generated payouts for the gambling game to the gambling game; and a skill normalization module constructed to: receive player performance measurements for at least one player from the game world engine; assign a handicap to the at least one player based at least in part upon the performance measurements for the at least one player from the game world engine; and send information concerning handicaps to the game world engine that configures the game world engine to implement each assigned handicap within the skill normalized hybrid game.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a providing a jackpot bonus in a gaming system A jackpot bonus element is generated in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game and a gambling game in a gambling game portion of the hybrid game is triggered when a player initiates an encounter in the entertainment game with the bonus element. It is then determined if the player wins the gambling game triggered by the player's encounter with the bonus element in the entertainment game a payout is provided to the player when it is determined that the player has won the gambling game.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a networked system for a skill calibrated hybrid game that includes: a gambling game; an entertainment game; a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment game and communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game that trigger a wager in the gambling game; and a skill calibration module constructed to: receive player data for a player, where the player data is indicative of a player's gameplay performance at the entertainment game; analyze the player data to determine a player's skill level; determine whether the terms of a wager of a gambling game are calibrated in a manner appropriate to the player's skill level; and send a command during play of the skill calibrated hybrid game that causes the real world engine to calibrate the terms of a wager in the gambling game.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring a gaming system. In one such gaming system, a plurality of real world engine modules are provided for a hybrid game, each real world engine module having a gambling game that is triggered by an element of an entertainment game of the hybrid game. A selection is received, from a player of the hybrid game, of a selected real world engine module of the plurality of real world engine modules, and triggering is enabled of the selected real world engine module's gambling game by the element of the entertainment game of the hybrid game.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate an anti-sandbagging hybrid game. One embodiment includes an anti-sandbagging hybrid game, including: a gambling game; an entertainment game; a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment game and communicate gameplay gambling event occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game that trigger randomly generated payouts for the gambling game to the gambling game; and an anti-sandbagging module constructed to: receive player performance measurements for at least one player from the game world engine; assign an anti-sandbagging provision to the at least one player based at least in part upon the performance measurements for the at least one player from the game world engine; and send information concerning the anti-sandbagging provision to the game world engine that configures the game world engine to implement the assigned anti-sandbagging provision within the anti-sandbagging hybrid game.

Abstract: A gaming system is provided. The gaming system provides players a rich (i.e. akin to leading home and arcade-based video games) single-player, multi-player cooperative and/or head to head environment in which the participant(s) win cash and credits as a result of their play activity within the environment, based on the wagers which they make entering and playing a game of the gaming system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for gaming are provided. A transpiring of a collective element in an entertainment game portion of a hybrid game is determined where the collective element is shared by two or more players of the entertainment portion of the hybrid, and where the hybrid game includes a gambling game portion and the entertainment game portion. A wager is triggered in the gambling game portion of the hybrid game based on the transpiring of the collective element in the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game. A real world credit gambling game result is distributed in the gambling game portion of the hybrid game between the two or more players. The distribution may be made on the basis of various parameters of the use of the shared collective element by the players. In addition, an allocation of an amount of a real world credit for the wager may also be based on various parameters of the players use of the shared collective element.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include: at least one gambling game with a real world engine; a multiplayer entertainment game with a head to head gambling controller constructed to: instruct the real world engine to conduct a head to head gambling session in which at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game conduct at least one wager in at least one gambling game where real world credit payout as a result of the at least one wager in the at least one gambling game of the head to head gambling session is distributed between the at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game within the head to head gambling session; and parameterize wager terms of each wager made in each gambling game of the head to head gambling session using information related to gameplay within the multiplayer entertainment game.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a lottery ticket to a player of a hybrid game having a gambling game portion and an entertainment game portion are provided. One or more lottery tickets are generated by a lottery system and transmitted to the hybrid game where the one or more lottery tickets are held in a queue. Attendant rules for issuing a lottery ticket are also transmitted to the hybrid game. The hybrid game receives player actions from the entertainment portion of the hybrid game and, based on the player actions and the attendant rules, awards a lottery ticket to the player.

Abstract: Methods and systems for making a side bet in a hybrid game having a gambling game portion and an entertainment game portion are provided. The side bet is made in regards to the play of the entertainment portion of the hybrid game and can be made using a real world credit, a game world credit or a game world element. If the side bet is made using a real world credit, the real world credits used by the gambling game portion of the hybrid game and credited to a player are incremented or decremented. If the side bet is made using a game world element, the entertainment game portion of the hybrid game is updated based on the outcome of the side bet.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate a controlled entity hybrid game. The controlled entity hybrid game, includes a real world engine constructed to provide a randomly generated payout of real world credits from at least one wager in a gambling game, an entertainment software engine constructed to execute an entertainment game providing outcomes based upon a player's skillful execution of the entertainment game, and a game world engine constructed to manage the entertainment software engine and communicate, to the gambling game, a gameplay gambling event occurrence based upon a player's instruction of a controlled entity to consume an enabling element of the entertainment game that triggers a wager in the gambling game.

Abstract: Methods and systems for personalizable hybrid games including a gambling game and an entertainment game are provided. A hybrid game includes a real world engine configured to provide a randomly generated payout for a gambling game and a game world engine configured to manage an entertainment software engine to provide outcomes based upon a player's skillful execution of an entertainment game. Parameter data indicative of player performance when playing the entertainment game at a first difficulty setting is collected and a difficulty setting is selected for the entertainment game based upon the collected parameter data. An amount of real world credit to be wagered in the gambling game may be determined based on the selected difficulty setting for the entertainment game, where real world credit is credit used in the gambling game.