Consumer Game

Methods for implementing a consumer game are provided that include: distributing at a retail location a game board and at least one game ticket, that includes at least one game marker, where the game board includes a plurality of sets of locations, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of different games, a first of the plurality of game includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set non-duplicate game markers, and a second of a plurality of games includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set of duplicate game markers; distributing at the retail location at least one other game ticket, that includes at least one other game marker; and distributing a prize in response to receiving a set of duplicate game markers collected in accordance with the second of the plurality of games.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to consumer games for promoting goods and services.

Consumer games for promoting goods and services have been around for some time. Some games, for example, require the user to purchase goods or services in exchange for points. At a predefined time, the consumer may trade in the points for a prize or a discount at the point of sale. These types of games, however, have limited appeal. Thus, there is a need for more appealing games for use in promoting a merchant's business.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, a method for implementing a consumer game is provided that includes: distributing at a retail location a game board and at least one game ticket, that includes at least one game marker, at a first time, wherein the game board includes a plurality of sets of locations, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of different games, wherein a first of the plurality of game includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set non-duplicate game markers, and wherein a second of a plurality of games includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set of duplicate game markers; distributing at the retail location at least one other game ticket, comprising at least one other game marker, at a second time; and distributing a prize in response to receiving a set of duplicate game markers collected in accordance with the second of the plurality of games.

In one embodiment, each game ticket comprises a plurality of game markers.

In one embodiment, the game markers comprise an adhesive side for adhering the markers to the game board.

In one embodiment, a plurality of game tickets are distributed for each of a plurality of qualified feature products purchased.

In one embodiment, at least one game tickets is distributed for each predefined increment spent during a qualified transaction.

The method of claim 1, wherein each of the markers are imprinted with a unique number and a graphic image that corresponds to a graphic image on at least one location of the game board.

In one embodiment, the graphic image corresponds to product offerings by a merchant distributing the game tickets.

In one embodiment, the second game further includes at least one location for collecting a non-duplicate game marker and distributing the price in response to further receiving the non-duplicate game marker.

In one embodiment, the non-duplicate game marker is a unique game marker.

In one embodiment, locations for collecting duplicate game markers allow for the collection of an arbitrary set of duplicate game markers.

In another aspect, a method for implementing a consumer game is provided that includes: distributing at a retail location a game board and at least one game ticket, that includes a plurality of game marker, at a first time, wherein the game board includes a plurality of sets of locations, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of different games, wherein a first of the plurality of game includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set non-duplicate game markers, and wherein a second of a plurality of games includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set of duplicate game markers; distributing at the retail location a plurality of other game tickets, each comprising a plurality of game markers, at a second time, the plurality of other game tickets comprising a game ticket for a purchase of a qualified feature product and at least one game ticket for spending a predefined increment during a qualified transaction; and distributing a prize in response to receiving a set of duplicate game markers collected in accordance with the second of the plurality of games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention(s) is/are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a game board according to an embodiment of the games discussed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates game boards according to alternative embodiments of the games discussed herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates game board markers according to an embodiment of the games discussed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates game tickets according to an embodiment of the games discussed herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for using the consumer game to promote goods and services according to one embodiment of the methods discussed herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for distributing game tickets according to one embodiment of the methods discussed herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for determining a winning consumer game board according to one embodiment of the methods discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The present application provides a consumer game for increasing loyalty from existing shoppers through games that are relevant to a store's brand offering and values. This in turn creates a shopping experience that is unique and more exciting than provided by conventional competitors. According to some embodiments, the consumer game is based on the offerings of the retailer and is easy for shoppers to participate. For example, a supermarket may promote a consumer game based on groceries. According to another embodiment, the supermarket may also incorporate popular game themes and genres to the consumer game, such as the television game show, “The Price is Right®”.

FIG. 1 illustrates a game board according to an embodiment of the games discussed herein. Game board 100 is themed based on a popular day-time game show, “The Price is Right®,” currently hosted by Drew Carey. The game board 100 may be distributed to customers at a retail or point-of-sale location where customers may collect various game markers associated with game board 100 to win prizes. Upon qualifying transactions, customers may receive game tickets including one or more game markers. Game markers may be self-adhesive stickers, each imprinted with a number and a graphic image that correspond to a numbered spot and a graphic image on the game board 100. The game markers may include unique numbers and graphics corresponding to various products or game elements related to a retailer's products or offerings. These game markers may be removed from game tickets and adhered to corresponding locations on game board 100. Game board 100 may be divided into one or more games where prizes may be won by completing the games using the distributed game markers. The game board 100 includes a plurality of games 102, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, and 190. Games 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, and 190 are each associated with a prize and include a plurality of uniquely numbered spots and associated graphic images that correspond to specific game markers.

Game board 100 also includes double down games 102 comprising a set of two games 102a and 102b for prizes 104a and 104b, respectively. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, game 102 differs from games 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, and 190. In addition to a unique game marker spots 106a and 106b, games 102a and 102b also include duplicative spots 108a and 108b. Games 102 include additional game sections providing customers with a second chance to win a prize using any duplicate stickers they have and at least one unique game marker. According to one embodiment, the at least one unique game marker may be a rare game marker piece. Game markers that are duplicates to ones already in place on game board 100, may be adhered to any open duplicate spots 108a or 108b in the double down games 102 sections of game board 100. When duplicate spots 108a or 108b are complete, along with finding a corresponding unique sticker 106a or 106b, respectively, customers may win the prize associated with that section. The non-double down games may include at least one control piece spot and a specific set of common marker spots. According to an embodiment, the double down games 102 similarly require at least one control piece spot, however, additionally including an arbitrary set of common marker spots designated for any duplicative markers.

FIG. 2 illustrates game boards according to alternative embodiments. Game boards 200 and 220 include bonus games 210 and 230 similar to the double down games 102 described above with respect to the description of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates game board markers according to one embodiment. Employee markers 302 may be common game markers that have higher odds of being found. The common game markers may be produced or printed in substantially greater volume than employee control markers 304. Employee control markers 304 include rare game markers. The employee control markers 304 are generally more difficult to find than employee markers 302 and may be produced in limited quantities. Owning an employee control piece or marker will greater increase the chances of winning the prize associated with a game requiring the control piece. Each of the games on game board 100 may include at least one employee control marker and one or more employee markers.

FIG. 4 illustrates game tickets according to an embodiment. Game ticket 400 may be provided to customers for a consumer game promoting a retailer's products or services. According to one embodiment, one or more game tickets may be given to customers based on an amount spent on a given transaction. In another embodiment, no purchase may be necessary to participate or win in the promotion. The game ticket 400 includes stickers that associated with the retailer's consumer game.

Ticket page 402 may be illustrated as a cover page including promotional information. Page 402 instructions a user that there are stickers inside the game ticket 400. Opening up ticket page 402 may reveal a next ticket page 404 including a coupon ticket. The coupon on page 404 may be redeemable for a purchase of a specified item under certain terms and conditions specified on the coupon. On a next page 406, includes game marker pieces 406a, 406b, and 406c. Each of game marker pieces 406a, 406b, and 406c may be peeled off and adhered to a corresponding game marker spot on a game board. Page 408 may include a collectable game piece for another consumer game under the retailer's promotion.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for generating a consumer game to promote goods and services according to one embodiment.

A promotion of goods and services is initiated, step 500. One or more game boards associated with the promotion is designed, step 502. Designing the one or more game boards includes designing one or more games on the game boards. One or more unique game pieces are designated for the one or more game boards, step 504. Unique locations for the one or more unique game pieces are indicated on the one or more game boards, step 506.

A plurality of locations for a predetermined number of duplicate game pieces are indicated on the one or more game boards, step 508. Step 508 may be used to generate the double down games discussed above with reference to the description of FIG. 1. Promotion game entry information and award structure are determined, step 510. The entry information and award structure may include ways to play, ways to win, and what prizes are won. The following describes an exemplary entry information and award structure for The Price Is Right game:

The Price is Right Collect & Win Game

Official Customer Rules & Details

1. ELIGIBILITY. The Price is Right Collect & Win Game (the “Promotion”) is only open to individuals that are at least 18 years of age and a legal U.S. resident of California or Nevada. Someone who does not permanently reside in California or Nevada may need to prove residency as defined in this Promotion to be awarded a prize. Employees, officers and directors of Save Mart/Lucky Supermarkets, their retail stores, distribution centers and division offices, their subsidiaries and affiliates, promotion suppliers, affiliated advertising agencies, and spouses of members of the aforementioned groups (and the I.R.S. listed dependents or members of household including dependents in the military or attending college living away from home) are not eligible to play and redeem any customer prize or coupon. A separate The Price Is Right Collect & Win Employee Game will be occurring simultaneously and employees are ONLY eligible to participate in that game. By participating in this Promotion, all participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and agree that the decisions of Sponsor will be valid and binding in all respects.

2. HOW TO GET A GAME TICKET. (a) BY MAKING A QUALIFYING TRANSACTION: To obtain a game ticket in this Promotion, while game ticket supplies last, make a qualifying transaction as defined in this section (the following are excluded when determining qualifying transactions: online purchases and purchases of Western Union, money orders, bill payment, postage, stamps, select gift cards, Ticketmaster, events tickets sold through the register, BART & transportation tickets, MoneyGram, Lottery, Charity icon sales, fuel, check cashing fee, liquor sales, tobacco sales, ski lift tickets, prescription drugs, sales tax or other products excluded by law or regulation) between Mar. 14, 2012 and Jun. 5, 2012 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time at any participating Save Mart or Lucky Supermarkets store (“Sponsor”) and automatically receive one game ticket for every $20 of qualifying transaction activity each time. You will also automatically receive one game ticket for each qualifying featured product you purchase (specific sizes and flavors will apply) at any participating store while supplies last. The total quantity of game tickets earned per transaction will be calculated on your receipt and will be awarded only at the time of transaction. Customers are limited to one transaction per three-hour period. Sponsor reserves the right to limit quantities purchased of any item. See store customer service counter and/or advertisements for complete listing of qualifying featured products, which are subject to change at any time during the Promotion at the discretion of Sponsor. As the game progresses, some participating stores may run out of game tickets before others. Alternate entry method: (b) BY MAIL WITHOUT MAKING A PURCHASE: Request free game tickets by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to The Price Is Right Collect & Win Game Ticket Request, AMOE, Dept. 8155, P.O. Box 5012, Stacy Minn. 55078-5012. You will receive one game ticket per mail-in request. Mail-in requests, including both outer envelope and SASE plus a 3″×5″ card, all must be handwritten and must be postmarked no sooner than Mar. 14, 2012 and must be postmarked no later than Jun. 5, 2012 and received no later than Jun. 12, 2012, and will be honored while supplies last. Each request must be sent in a separate stamped outer mailing envelope with the requestor's first and last name, street address, city, state and zip or postal code (name and address must match the return name and address on SASE) legibly handwritten in the upper left-hand corner of the outer envelope. Requests that are sent in business reply envelopes, that utilize address labels or stickers, that are photocopied, hand-stamped, computer-generated or otherwise mechanically or digitally produced or reproduced, that are not mailed in separate outer stamped mailing envelopes, or that otherwise fail to comply with these Official Rules will not be honored, acknowledged or returned, and the persons submitting such requests will forfeit any corresponding postage and unused envelopes. Customers who return featured products for which game ticket(s) have been awarded must return unopened game tickets to receive refund or product must be exchanged for identical product. Ways to earn additional game tickets may be added during the Promotion.

3. HOW TO PLAY. There are two ways to enter and win a prize: (1) Instant Win; and (2) Collect and Win. Instant Win and Collect and Win prize claims are subject to validation procedures and confirmation of eligibility as stated within these rules. Winners are declared and prizes are awarded only if all conditions of these rules are met.

To play, carefully fold and tear open the game ticket along perforations. Upon opening the ticket, game play commences as follows.

Instant Win: The left side of the open game ticket will reveal if you are an instant winner. It may hold a store discount coupon; or a game code for playing the Internet game described in Rule #4 below; or a message entitling you to a free game ticket; or an “instant win” message for a store gift card or cash prize, subject to verification.

Do not affix game stickers to the game board with additional glue or tape or in a permanent manner, as doing so may result in disqualification and forfeiture of any prize at discretion of Sponsor. You may obtain an official game board, while supplies last at participating Save Mart or Lucky Supermarkets stores or you may request one by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to The Price Is Right Collect & Win Game Board Request, AMOE, Dept. 8155, P.O. Box 5012, Stacy Minn. 55078-5012.

There are 20 Price Is Right games and four Double Down Games on the game board. If you collect ALL the stickers that correspond to a prize on the game board and/or collect 16 duplicate stickers plus the one unique sticker required in a Double Down Game, you win the prize specified, subject to the verifications discussed in these rules.

4. INTERNET GAME. If the left side of your open game ticket is imprinted with an Internet game code, go online to www.savemart.com/priceisright or www.luckysupermarkets.com/priceisright and click on the Internet Game button for a chance to win additional prizes. All Internet game plays must be completed by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Jun. 19, 2012. Enter required registration information to play. The first game you will be eligible to play is “Pick A Pair,” in which you will be shown a featured grocery product and its retail price, along with a line-up of seven other grocery products. Choose which one of the seven other products most closely matches the retail price of the featured product without going over. After playing “Pick A Pair,” you will be required to enter the alpha/numeric code on your game ticket and will have a chance to play the “Master Key” game. To play the “Master Key” game, you will be asked to choose one of five keys and use it to try to open one of three locks. If your chosen key successfully opens the lock, you will win the prize revealed inside, subject to the verification process described herein. Playing the “Master Key” game also makes you eligible to win one of five $5,000 Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacations to be awarded via computerized random drawing from all “Master Key” game participants in the event that the $500,000 grand prize is not awarded. Winners of the computerized random drawing, if held, will be notified via mail no later than Jul. 31, 2012. See chart below for list of all available Internet prizes and odds.

Internet access and a valid email address are required to participate in the Internet game. Limit one (1) registration/My Account per person and/or email address. Any participant who attempts to secure more than one registration by using different names, addresses, email addresses, or uses any device or artifice to circumvent these Official Rules will be disqualified and ALL of their Internet plays including winning plays will be forfeited. Participants will be required to complete the required registration form fields: first and last name, email address, phone, street address and city/state/zip code, preferred store, choose a password and confirm it, and click to enter the game website and enter the alphanumeric security verification code shown. Participants will also be required to acknowledge that they have read and agree to the Official Rules and that they have read the Eligibility requirements and verify compliance with same. Participants that do not meet these requirements will be ineligible to play the game. My Account: When you register for the online game, a My Account page (“My Account”) will be created for you. The My Account will contain information about your Internet play activity, for example, but not limited to: the codes that you have played and the prizes for which you are a potential winner; and the prizes you have won. While reasonable efforts will be made to record, maintain and keep current the information in your My Account, due to technical or other errors or failures, the information may not always be current and accurate and Sponsor will not assume responsibility or liability for any such information. Passwords: You are solely responsible for the security of your email address and password. You should take precautions to keep your password private to prevent unauthorized use. Neither Sponsor nor any other person or entity will be responsible for any losses, damages or consequences you may suffer due to careless or unauthorized use of your password. THE INTERNET COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ARE: Minimum Adobe Flash version: 9.0.28. JavaScript must be enabled on the browser. Browsers: on PC-IE7, 1E8, Google Chrome and Firefox 3; on Mac-Firefox 3 and Safari 4.

5. SECOND CHANCE SWEEPSTAKES. The following collect and win prizes will be awarded via random drawings in the order listed if they go unclaimed during the Promotion period: $25,000 Cash with a Chance to Win $1,000,000 (Showcase Showdown); $10,000 Cash with a Chance to Win $500,000 (Plinko Mortgage Game); $1,000 Apple Gift Card (Double Down Game A—up to five winners); 10 Pc. Thomas Cook and Pour Cookware and 8 Pc. Grundig Kitchen Appliances Package (Double Down Game B—up to five winners); $3,000 Disney World Vacation (Double Down Game C—up to five winners); and $4,000 Royal Caribbean Cruise (Double Down Game D—up to five winners). To be entered into the random drawings, at the end of the Promotion fill in your name, address and other information requested on the back of your game board and mail the entire game board, WITH A MINIMUM 16 ORIGINAL GAME STICKERS (UNIQUE OR DUPLICATES) adhered properly, to The Price Is Right Headquarters, Attn: Second Chance Sweepstakes Entry, P.O. Box 46790, Eden Prairie, Minn. 55344. Facsimiles and reproductions of game board and/or game stickers are not acceptable. Sweepstakes entry must be mailed by regular First Class mail enclosed in an envelope 9″×12″ or smaller. Limit one entry per envelope. Entries must be postmarked by Jun. 25, 2012 and received by Jul. 6, 2012. Random drawings will be held on or around Jul. 31, 2012. Winners will be notified by mail. If entry information is illegible, person cannot be contacted or does not respond within 14 days after certified notification, then alternative winner will be drawn. Odds of winning are dependent on the number of eligible entries received. Sweepstakes prize limited to one prize per person, family, or household. Prizes cannot be transferred except at Sponsor's discretion due to availability. Entries become property of Sponsor and will not be returned.

6. PRIZES/APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE (“ARV”)/ODDS OF WINNING.

*Odds of winning are based on the likelihood of obtaining the one rare game sticker needed to win, plus there will be a semi-rare game sticker that is printed with odds of 1:1,019 game tickets.

**There are a total of 4,032,700 product discounts that are made up of 1,700 different instant winner/product SKU discounts ranging from $0.25 off to $2 off the product price.

***In the event that the $500,000 grand prize is not awarded, five additional $5,000 Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacations3 will be given away via computerized random drawing from among all participants in the “Master Key” Internet game described in Rule #4. Odds of winning dependent on number of participants in the “Master Key” Internet game.

Sponsor will contact winner directly (once he/she is verified to have won, is confirmed to be an eligible game participant, and has met any other conditions of these rules) to coordinate project. Winner can work with remodeler of his/her choice within budget of $100,000 including taxes and delivery of materials and goods. Kitchen appliances, if any, will be furnished by Sponsor-assigned supplier. In no event will the prize value exceed amount stated. Any project costs in excess of $100,000 are the sole responsibility of winner. A winner may select a cash option of $80,000 in lieu of kitchen makeover. Should the winner opt to receive the cash as their sole prize choice, they will not receive any additional compensation, prize or award. Approximate retail value of the cash option is $80,000.

Sponsor will contact winner directly (once he/she is verified to have won, is confirmed to be an eligible game participant, and has met any other conditions of these rules) to coordinate delivery of the vehicle from Sponsor-assigned dealer. Vehicle model, color and options can be specified by winner, subject to availability, with value up to $40,000 including taxes, license plates and delivery. Any costs above $40,000 and title, registration and similar fees and insurance expenses are the sole responsibility of winner. Winner will be required to show proof of currently valid U.S. driver's license and current, valid insurance covering the new vehicle prior to taking delivery. The prize will be delivered to the winner's residence. Sponsor shall not be responsible for delays in delivery of the prize vehicle, and delivery is subject to continuing availability of this product. Sponsor, however, shall use all reasonable efforts, subject to continuing availability of this product, to deliver the prize vehicle within 120 days of completion of the verification process described in these rules. The winner shall bear all risk of loss or damage to the prize vehicle after it has been delivered. The vehicle will be delivered solely with the express limited warranties set forth in the vehicle's Owner's Guide, which shall run for the term set forth in said Owner's Guide. A winner may select a cash option of $32,000 in lieu of the vehicle. Should the winner opt to receive the cash as their sole prize choice, they will not receive any additional compensation, prize or award. Approximate retail value of the cash option is $32,000.

Verified winners of travel prizes will be awarded a travel budget ($7,500 for Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacation, $5,000 for Las Vegas Vacation, $3,000 for Disney World Vacation, $4,000 for Royal Caribbean Cruise Vacation, and $5,000 for Royal Caribbean Cruise in Internet game as specified above) to be redeemed through a Sponsor-assigned travel agent who will design a trip of the winner's choice. Winner and any travel companion(s) must travel together on the same itinerary. Air travel arrangements, destination, accommodations, and duration of stay are dependent upon details of the travel package chosen, with maximum value as stated above. In no event will the prize value exceed amount stated. Additional costs including but not limited to a longer stay, additional airfare or accommodations, car rental, meals, gratuities, souvenirs and other incidentals in excess of the stated amount will be the sole responsibility of winner. Accommodations, air reservations, and other travel options are subject to availability. Travel must be completed within 12 months of prize verification. If the winner is unable to complete trip within this time period, the prize will be forfeited. The winner and travel companion(s) are responsible for all travel documents and all additional expenses associated with obtaining travel documents. Approximately 21 days prior to travel, travel companion(s) accompanying the winner must sign and return a release of liability and a publicity release. If a winner is traveling with a minor, the minor must be accompanied on the trip by a custodial parent or legal guardian, and the custodial parent or legal guardian must provide proof of status and sign and return within the timeframes specified all required documents required by Sponsor for the minor to travel.

Valid for gasoline, auto supplies, food/snacks, car wash and more at over 14,000 Shell stations nationwide. The Shell Gift Card can be used only for purchases of goods and services at Shell locations in the U.S., except territories. The Card cannot be redeemed for cash and no change will be given, except in states that require redemption for cash. If card balance falls below one dollar, pay at the pump may not be available, in which case contact station cashier to access balance or call the number printed on the card for assistance.

Cookware includes 8″ and 10″ non-stick fry pan, 1.5 qt. and 3 qt. saucepan/lid, 3 qt. casserole/lid, 5 qt. dutch oven/lid, 11″ non-stick grill pan, 8 qt. stockpot/lid, 3 qt. sauté pan/lid, and 4 qt. non-stick stir-fry pan/lid; kitchen appliances include can opener, coffee grinder, hand mixer, toaster, hand blender, coffee maker, jug blender and contact grill.

The ARV of any prize is subject to price fluctuations in the consumer marketplace based on, among other things, any gap in time between the date the ARV is estimated for purposes of these Official Rules and the date the prize is awarded or redeemed. If the actual purchase price of a prize is less than the ARV stated herein, the prize winner will NOT be entitled to payment or adjustment for the price difference. Chrysler, Apple, Sony, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Disney World, City of Las Vegas, Samsung, Shell Oil Products U.S., Thomas Cook and Pour, Grundig and any other prize providers and their parent and subsidiary companies are not sponsors nor affiliated with this Promotion in any way.

Instant Win Prize Claims: Potential instant prize winners of a free game ticket can have their game ticket verified and prize awarded in-store at the cashier. Potential instant prize winners of Save Mart/Lucky Supermarkets gift cards or cash can have their game ticket verified and prize awarded in-store by store management.

Internet Prize Claims: Potential winners of Internet prizes will receive a confirmation notice and instructions for prize claim via email. Potential winners of Internet prizes valued over $150 will need to print out and complete a prize claim form and mail it via overnight delivery, along with the original game ticket showing the winning Internet game code and a copy of a current, government-issued photo identification card (such as driver's license or passport) to verify identity, to Prize Headquarters at the address provided on form for official review and possible final verification that all conditions are met, that the entrant has won the prize claimed, and confirmation of the entrant's eligibility. Potential winners of free game tickets, cash prizes and gift cards valued $150 or less will need to print out their prize notification and bring it, along with the original game ticket showing the winning Internet game code, to store management at their participating Save Mart/Lucky store for official review and possible final verification that all conditions are met, that the entrant has won the prize claimed, and confirmation of the entrant's eligibility. ALL POTENTIAL WINNING PLAYS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR OR ADMINISTRATOR, WHOSE DECISION IS FINAL AND BINDING. A PARTICIPANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF THE INTERNET GAME SHOULD SO INDICATE, UNLESS AND UNTIL PARTICIPANT'S ELIGIBILITY AND THE POTENTIAL WINNING PLAY HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE. SPONSOR WILL NOT ACCEPT SCREEN SHOTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF WINNING IN LIEU OF ITS VALIDATION PROCESS. ANY PLAY THAT OCCURS AFTER THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED FOR ANY REASON IS DEEMED A DEFECTIVE PLAY AND IS VOID AND WILL NOT BE HONORED.

Sponsor is not responsible if a potential Internet prize winner does not receive his or her redemption instructions or corresponding prize because an erroneous, fraudulent or bogus email address was provided at the time of registration or if the email is intercepted by SPAM or other email filters, is misdirected or not received for any reason. See your email application help instructions for further information. Each participant acknowledges and agrees that the decisions of Sponsor shall be final, binding and conclusive in all matters relating to the Internet game, including without limitation determinations regarding the validity of game tickets, codes and other prize claim materials submitted for verification.

7. HOW TO CLAIM A PRIZE. Only original Promotion materials imprinted with code number SMTDC312 are accepted. Any facsimiles, copies, and/or reproductions are void for the Customer Promotion. No “Employee” Promotion materials may be used in the Customer Promotion. Participants assume all risk of loss, damage, destruction, delay and misdirection of prize claim materials and are advised to obtain insurance where appropriate. Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion may engage various third parties to administer aspects of the Promotion on its behalf.

Collect and Win Prize Claims: To claim a Collect and Win prize, entrant must bring the game board with original game stickers attached (but not taped, additionally glued, or permanently affixed) to participating Save Mart/Lucky store for initial verification as described in these Rules. An entrant may only present his/her own game board for initial verification and only one person can be named on prize claim (group play is not allowed). Entrant must not allow any employee or other representative of the store to touch or handle the game board or the game stickers until the following steps have been completed. The entrant must have all winning game stickers associated with the prize indicated on the game board (or in the case of a Double Down Game prize claim, any 16 duplicate stickers plus the one unique sticker required to win). In the presence of an authorized store representative, in cursive writing, the entrant must initial the face of each game sticker that corresponds to the prize being claimed, must transfer the original game stickers to a new game board, and fill out information required on the new game board and on a prize claim form provided by the authorized store representative. IF THE ENTRANT HAS COLLECTED ALL GAME STICKERS CORRESPONDING TO A SHELL GIFT CARD OR PRIZE VALUED OVER $50 (“HIGH LEVEL PRIZE”), the store will forward the prize claim form and game materials to Prize Headquarters for official review and possible final verification that all conditions are met, that the entrant has won the prize claimed, and confirmation of the entrant's eligibility. Entrant will be notified of judging agency's decision within 21 days, using the contact information provided on prize claim form. The store will provide a copy of the prize claim form to the entrant and will make and file a photocopy of other submitted materials (game board and game stickers), as once these materials are forwarded to Prize Headquarters, they become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Until Prize Headquarters has notified the entrant, the entrant is a potential winner of a collect and prize and does not become an actual winner until Prize Headquarters determines that all conditions are met and until the entrant has completed all paperwork and signed all forms required for a prize to be awarded. IF THE ENTRANT HAS COLLECTED ALL GAME STICKERS CORRESPONDING TO ANY OTHER PRIZE (VALUED $50 OR LESS) the prize—if verified and all other conditions are met—will be awarded in-store.

Instant Win Prize Claims: Potential instant prize winners of a free game ticket can have their game ticket verified and prize awarded in-store at the cashier. Potential instant prize winners of Save Mart/Lucky Supermarkets gift cards or cash can have their game ticket verified and prize awarded in-store by store management.

Internet Prize Claims: Potential winners of Internet prizes will receive a confirmation notice and instructions for prize claim via email. Potential winners of Internet prizes valued over $150 will need to print out and complete a prize claim form and mail it via overnight delivery, along with the original game ticket showing the winning Internet game code and a copy of a current, government-issued photo identification card (such as driver's license or passport) to verify identity, to Prize Headquarters at the address provided on form for official review and possible final verification that all conditions are met, that the entrant has won the prize claimed, and confirmation of the entrant's eligibility. Potential winners of free game tickets, cash prizes and gift cards valued $150 or less will need to print out their prize notification and bring it, along with the original game ticket showing the winning Internet game code, to store management at their participating Save Mart/Lucky store for official review and possible final verification that all conditions are met, that the entrant has won the prize claimed, and confirmation of the entrant's eligibility. ALL POTENTIAL WINNING PLAYS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR OR ADMINISTRATOR, WHOSE DECISION IS FINAL AND BINDING. A PARTICIPANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF THE INTERNET GAME SHOULD SO INDICATE, UNLESS AND UNTIL PARTICIPANT'S ELIGIBILITY AND THE POTENTIAL WINNING PLAY HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE. SPONSOR WILL NOT ACCEPT SCREEN SHOTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF WINNING IN LIEU OF ITS VALIDATION PROCESS. ANY PLAY THAT OCCURS AFTER THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED FOR ANY REASON IS DEEMED A DEFECTIVE PLAY AND IS VOID AND WILL NOT BE HONORED.

Sponsor is not responsible if a potential Internet prize winner does not receive his or her redemption instructions or corresponding prize because an erroneous, fraudulent or bogus email address was provided at the time of registration or if the email is intercepted by SPAM or other email filters, is misdirected or not received for any reason. See your email application help instructions for further information. Each participant acknowledges and agrees that the decisions of Sponsor shall be final, binding and conclusive in all matters relating to the Internet game, including without limitation determinations regarding the validity of game tickets, codes and other prize claim materials submitted for verification.

8. SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN ($25,000 CASH WITH A CHANCE TO WIN $1,000,000)—PRIZE DETAILS. Upon validation of prize claim, the Showcase Showdown winner will be awarded $25,000 cash with a chance to increase value up to $1,000,000 by participating in the “High Five Money Bags” game. The “High Five Money Bags” game will take place during a store event (location to be determined by store where winning game board was obtained) at a time that is mutually agreed upon by the Sponsor and the Showcase Showdown winner, no later than Aug. 31, 2012. To play the “High Five Money Bags” game, the Showcase Showdown winner will be presented with 40 identical, sealed, and unmarked envelopes, each containing a card specifying $25,000 or a bonus amount of +$10,000, +$40,000, or +$1,000,000 (bonus amount to be paid in addition to $25,000 already won). The Showcase Showdown winner will be given the opportunity to randomly open the envelopes until five identical cards, each bearing the same monetary amount, have been revealed among the envelopes opened. Once five identical monetary amounts have been revealed, the player wins the amount stated on the five identical cards. Envelopes will be seeded as follows:

No. of Total Prize Envelopes Cash Award Amount Holding a Message on (in addition (including Card with This Card Inside to $25,000 $25,000 Message (set of Envelope already won) already won) 40 envelopes) Odds Bonus $1,000,000 $1,000,000*  $1,025,000 5 1:500 Bonus $40,000 $40,000 $65,000 6 1:100 Bonus $10,000 $10,000 $35,000 9 1:14  $25,000    $0 $25,000 20 1:2  *The $1,000,000 prize, if won, will be paid out at the rate of $25,000 per calendar year over a 40-year period without interest. Payment will be made by check during the same calendar month each year as selected by Sponsor, beginning in 2012.

9. PLINKO MORTGAGE GAME ($10,000 CASH WITH A CHANCE TO WIN $500,000)—PRIZE DETAILS. Upon validation of prize claim, the Plinko Mortgage Game winner will be awarded $10,000 cash with a chance to increase value up to $500,000 by participating in the “Plinko Machine” game. The “Plinko Machine” game will take place during a store event (location to be determined by store where winning game board was obtained) at a time that is mutually agreed upon by the Sponsor and the Plinko Mortgage Game winner, no later than Aug. 31, 2012. To play the “Plinko Machine” game, the Plinko Mortgage Game winner will have one attempt to drop in four (4) identical disks, one by one, from the top of a pinball-like machine. Disks will wind their way down through the machine's maze to land in one of nine slots at the bottom. If two or more of the disks land in the center slot at the bottom of the machine, bonus dollars will be added to the prize as follows:

Cash Award Total No. of Disks (in addition to Prize Amount That Land $10,000 already (including $10,000 in Center Slot won) already won) Odds 4 $500,000* $510,000  1:386.15 3 $15,000 $25,000  1:28.12 2 $10,000 $20,000 1:5.46 0-1    $0 $10,000 1:2.39 *The $500,000 prize, if won, will be awarded by check in one payment.

10. “HIGH FIVE MONEY BAGS/PLINKO MACHINE” GAME CONDITIONS. Validated Showcase Showdown and Plinko Mortgage Game winners are responsible for appearing at the designated store, on time for the “High Five Money Bags/Plinko Machine” game, at their own expense. No additional envelopes may be opened by a participant in the “High Five Money Bags” game after five identical messages have been revealed. If a player continues to open envelopes after five envelopes containing cards with five identical messages have been opened, then Sponsor is relieved of all liability to award any additional prize and no additional monetary prize will be awarded beyond the $25,000 the player has already won. In the event that no Showcase Showdown and/or Plinko Mortgage Game prize winners are verified in the collect and win game, prizes will be awarded via a random Second Chance Sweepstakes drawing, as described in Rule #5 above.

11. NOTICE. This Promotion is void where prohibited. Entry into the Promotion, where lawful, constitutes permission to use name, voice, photograph or likeness of prize winners for advertising/publicity purposes without additional compensation. Major prize winners will be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability release and, where lawful, a publicity release within ten (10) days of notification by Sponsor. In the event of non-compliance or if prize is returned as non-deliverable, the prize will be forfeited and will not be awarded. All instant winner prize tickets, and all promotional materials submitted for verification and/or second chance sweepstakes entry, become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. All tax liability on prizes is the sole responsibility of prize winner. An IRS Form-1099 will be issued to all winners of prizes valued over $600. Some prizes may have federal, state, and local taxes removed due to governmental regulations. By accepting prize, winners release and agree to hold harmless sponsoring and participating corporations and prize providers, their attorneys, affiliated companies, franchises, subsidiaries, advertising and Promotion agencies and their respective directors, officers, and associates, representatives, and agents from any and all liabilities for any injuries, losses, or damages, including death, and property arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, out of participation in the Promotion, or acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize. Prizes cannot be substituted or transferred except as described herein or at the discretion of Sponsor due to availability. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SUCH PRIZES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND THE GAME ENTITIES HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL SUCH WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules or the rights and obligations between participant and the game entities in connection with the game shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, including procedural provisions without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other state's or jurisdiction's laws. Participants agree that all parties involved in Promotion are not responsible for: (a) any incomplete, illegible or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrant, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Promotion; (b) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, disconnections or unavailability in phone lines, computer systems, servers or network hardware/software, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission or any combination thereof; (c) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Promotion; (d) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Promotion or the processing of entries; (e) misdirected, late, lost, postage due, undeliverable, damaged or stolen mail; or (f) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant's participation in the Promotion or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (a) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Promotion or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by binding arbitration under the American Arbitration Association Consumer Rules and Procedures, at which point all litigation will be conducted in the State of California; (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Promotion, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (c) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for any typographical/other error in entries, selection announcement or for any liability for damage to any computer system resulting from participation in, accessing or downloading information in connection with this Promotion. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than the stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, unawarded, eligible prize claims.

12. PROMOTION MATERIALS. Only original materials with code number SMTDC312 printed on them are valid for this Promotion. All Promotion materials will be rejected and judged VOID if not legitimately obtained through authorized channels and verified by an authorized store representative, or if any part of any game board, game ticket, coupon, or game sticker is illegible, altered, mutilated, defaced, tampered with, forged, contains printing, seeding, mechanical, or other errors, or is irregular in any way. Sole liability for any irregular game tickets, coupons or game stickers will be limited to replacement with another randomly selected game ticket while supplies last. Any attempt to defraud or forge any Promotion materials in any way will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This Promotion is offered in California and Nevada, and all its parts are VOID elsewhere or where taxed or prohibited by law. Employee Promotion materials are not valid for the Customer Promotion.

13. WINNERS LIST. For a list of major prize winners, send a first class stamped, self-addressed envelope to: The Price Is Right Collect & Win Game, Attn: Winners List Request, Dept. 8155, P.O. Box 5012, Stacy Minn. 55078-5012. Requests must be received by Jul. 6, 2012.

14. ENDING OF PROMOTION. The Promotion is scheduled to terminate on Jun. 5, 2012 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time and will end on that date or the date on which all game tickets are distributed. All prizes must be claimed by Jul. 6, 2012 (with the exception of free game ticket prizes, which must be claimed by 6, 2012, 2012 while supplies last) and all coupons must be redeemed by Jun. 30, 2012 or they will be forfeited. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded except as described herein.

15. PROMOTION DELAY/EXTENSION. Sponsor may delay the Promotion start date and thereafter extend the Promotion period, if such delay is caused by circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor. Sponsor also reserves the right, without prior notice and at any time, to terminate the game, in whole or in part, or modify, suspend or extend the game in any way, or deem the affected game stickers or Internet codes void and invalid if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the game sticker or Internet game code in question reflects printing or other errors or if it determines, in its sole discretion that the game is impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions (including, without limitation, computer viruses or other deleterious programs or materials, glitches or printing or production errors) have destroyed or severely undermined the proper play, integrity, and/or feasibility of the game. In the event Sponsor is prevented from continuing with the game as contemplated herein by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, natural or man-made health epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, terrorist threat or activity, war (declared or undeclared) or any federal, state, provincial or local government law, order, or regulation, public health crisis, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Sponsor's control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), then subject to any governmental approval which may be required, Sponsor shall have the right to modify, suspend, extend or terminate the game.

16. GENERAL RELEASE AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Promotion or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Participants assume all risk of loss, damage, destruction, delay and misdirection of prize claim materials and are advised to obtain insurance where appropriate. Sponsor, FreemantleMedia Enterprises North America, TCC Retail Marketing, Inc. and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, franchisees, local advertising cooperatives, advertising/promotion agencies, and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, and agents (individually and collectively “Game Entities”) are not responsible for: (a) incomplete, illegible, misdirected, late, lost, damaged, stolen, non-delivered, or postage-due submissions of prize claim materials, or any mail; (b) any damage to an entrant's or other person's computer system or Smartphone which is caused or occasioned by accessing the online website or claiming any prizes; (c) lost, interrupted, inaccessible or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet, Smartphone or Wireless Service Providers, websites, or other connection, availability or accessibility problems arising in connection with or over the course of the Promotion; (d) miscommunications, failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, dropped, interrupted, lost, non-delivered or misdirected computer, telephone, Smartphone, email or cable transmissions or hardware or software or program or programming malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (e) any technical malfunctions, failures, or difficulties, printing errors, color discrepancies, clerical, typographical or other error in any Game Tickets, game codes, prize codes, or printed copy, any prize offering announcement or any prize claim materials; or (f) any errors or failures of any kind, whether human, mechanical, clerical, electronic, interruption of power, digital or technical in nature, or unauthorized human intervention; (g) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by online website users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with, or utilized in, the Promotion; or (h) the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture or loss of any information. Proof of mailing prize claim materials of any kind or nature does not constitute proof of delivery. Prize claim materials submitted become the sole property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Sponsor shall not be responsible to correspond with entrants. By participating in the Promotion each entrant hereby releases and agrees to hold the Game Entities harmless from and against any and all costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including, without limitation, property damage, death and bodily injury (whether due to negligence or otherwise), due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to participation in the Promotion or any Promotion-related and/or travel-related activity, or participation in any prize-related activities, or the receipt, use or misuse of any prize. Entrants waive the right to assert as a cost of winning any prize, any and all costs of verification and redemption or travel to claim said prize and any liability and publicity which might arise from claiming or seeking to claim said prize. If, due to printing, digital, computer programming, hardware or software, or production errors or for any reason, more potential winners in any prize category come forward seeking to claim prizes in excess of the number of each type of prize as set forth in these Official Rules, the winners, or remaining winners, as the case may be, of the advertised number of prizes available in the prize category in question may be selected in a random drawing from among all persons making purportedly valid claims for such prize(s) in that prize category. Inclusion in such drawing shall be each entrant's sole and exclusive remedy under such circumstances. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.

17. PARTICIPATING STORES. The Promotion is being conducted in 187 participating Save Mart and Lucky Supermarkets in the states of California and Nevada.

18. TICKETS DISTRIBUTED. A total of 38,700,000 game tickets may be distributed during the Promotion.

One or more retail locations are selected to host the promotion of goods and services, step 512. In a next step 514, one or more game pieces based on the promotion game entry information and award structure are distributed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for distributing game tickets according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Tickets may be distributed at the point-of-sale locations of the retail goods or services, such as at cash registers, kiosks, stations, etc. According to one embodiment, ticket distribution may be based on the amount spent on a transaction. An amount spent on a transaction is determined, step 600. A determination is made whether the amount spent is greater than a threshold, step 602. If the amount spent is greater than a threshold, a number of game tickets for each threshold increment spent on the transaction is determined, step 604.

For example, shoppers receive a game ticket once they meet a minimum spend threshold (in this case, $20.00), and another ticket for each $20.00 increment, e.g. if they spend $55.00, they get 2 tickets; if they spend $60.00, they get 3 tickets. Otherwise, no game tickets are awarded. One or more game tickets are selected for each increment, step 606. The tickets may be selected randomly or selected based on one or more of a variety of factors such as, the items in the transaction, the amount of the transaction, retail location, etc. The one or more game tickets are distributed, step 608. A game ticket may also be given to the shopper for qualified purchases. For instance, a food brand or the seller may, in an effort to promote a particular product, give consumers an additional ticket for each of the promoted products purchased. For example, in addition to the tickets earned in connection with the threshold limitations, the purchaser may be given an additional ticket for purchasing a promoted brand of cookies, ice cream, etc.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for verifying a winning consumer game board according to one embodiment of the present invention.

To claim a “collect and win prize,” an entrant provides a game board with original game stickers attached to a participating retail location for verification. The game board is received, step 700. In a step 702, a determination is made whether a control game piece is on the board. If not, the game board is rejected, step 704. Verification that all conditions are met, that the entrant has won the prize claimed, and confirmation of the entrant's eligibility may be determined.

In a step 706, a game on the game board corresponding to the control game piece is identified. The control game piece is verified to the identified game on the game board, step 708. A determination is made whether the control game piece is valid, step 710. Control game pieces placed in incorrect locations may be ignored and deemed invalid. If the control game piece is not valid, it is determined whether there are additional control game pieces on the board, step 714. Otherwise, completion of the game corresponding to the control game piece is verified, step 712, prior to step 714.

The entrant's game board must have all winning game stickers associated with a game indicated on the game board (or in the case of a double down game prize claim, e.g., any 16 duplicate stickers plus the one unique sticker (control) required to win) to win the prize for the game. If there are additional control pieces, the method returns to step 706, otherwise, the method proceeds to step 716. In step 716, a determination is made whether there are any game board sections completed. A redeemable prize associated with the completed game board sections (games) are identified if the game board includes a completed game, step 718. Game boards without complete game board sections are rejected, step 704.

Although the embodiments are discussed herein by way of example to a physical game board, the embodiments may also be applied to a virtual or online game. For example, purchasers identified by, e.g., a loyalty card may earn “virtual markers” that are stored in a customer profile. In this instance, the determination as to how many markers are due the purchaser may be made electronically at the point of sale terminal and saved to the purchaser's profile and/or printed out at the point of sale terminal. The purchasers may play the game by monitoring their progress online and/or with the printouts at the points of sale terminal. The game may also be implemented in an “app” for a personal devices, such as an Android or IOS phone, tablet, etc. Coupons earned in lieu of “virtual markers” may be printed at the point of sale terminal, and/or displayed on the personal device. The coupons preferably include a bar code or other distinguishing criteria for use at the point of service terminal. With regard to the personal device, the device may display the bar code that is scanned at the point of sale terminal. Once scanned, the customer profile may be updated to indicate that the coupon has been used, thereby preventing the coupon from being reused.

FIGS. 1 through 7 are conceptual illustrations allowing for an explanation of the present invention. It should be understood that various aspects of the embodiments of the present invention could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the various components and/or steps would be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or software to perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the same piece of hardware, firmware, or module of software could perform one or more of the illustrated blocks (e.g., components or steps).

In software implementations, computer software (e.g., programs or other instructions) and/or data is stored on a machine readable medium as part of a computer program product, and is loaded into a computer system or other device or machine via a removable storage drive, hard drive, or communications interface. Computer programs (also called computer control logic or computer readable program code) are stored in a main and/or secondary memory, and executed by one or more processors (controllers, or the like) to cause the one or more processors to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. In this document, the terms “machine readable medium,” “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as a random access memory (RAM); a read only memory (ROM); a removable storage unit (e.g., a magnetic or optical disc, flash memory device, or the like); a hard disk; or the like.

Notably, the figures and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s).

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It would be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a consumer game comprising:

distributing at a retail location a game board and at least one game ticket, comprising at least one game marker, at a first time, wherein the game board includes a plurality of sets of locations, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of different games, wherein a first of the plurality of game includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set non-duplicate game markers, and wherein a second of a plurality of games includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set of duplicate game markers;
distributing at the retail location at least one other game ticket, comprising at least one other game marker, at a second time; and
distributing a prize in response to receiving a set of duplicate game markers collected in accordance with the second of the plurality of games.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each game ticket comprises a plurality of game markers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the game markers comprise an adhesive side for adhering the markers to the game board.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of game tickets are distributed for each of a plurality of qualified feature products purchased.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one game tickets is distributed for each predefined increment spent during a qualified transaction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the markers are imprinted with a unique number and a graphic image that corresponds to a graphic image on at least one location of the game board.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the graphic image corresponds to product offerings by a merchant distributing the game tickets.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second game further includes at least one location for collecting a non-duplicate game marker and distributing the price in response to further receiving the non-duplicate game marker.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-duplicate game marker is a unique game marker.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein locations for collecting duplicate game markers allow for the collection of an arbitrary set of duplicate game markers.

11. A method for implementing a consumer game comprising:

distributing at a retail location a game board and at least one game ticket, comprising a plurality of game marker, at a first time, wherein the game board includes a plurality of sets of locations, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of different games, wherein a first of the plurality of game includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set non-duplicate game markers, and wherein a second of a plurality of games includes a plurality of locations for collecting a set of duplicate game markers;
distributing at the retail location a plurality of other game tickets, each comprising a plurality of game markers, at a second time, the plurality of other game tickets comprising a game ticket for a purchase of a qualified feature product and at least one game ticket for spending a predefined increment during a qualified transaction; and
distributing a prize in response to receiving a set of duplicate game markers collected in accordance with the second of the plurality of games.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the markers are imprinted with a unique number and a graphic image that corresponds to a graphic image on at least one location of the game board.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphic image corresponds to product offerings by a merchant distributing the game tickets.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the second game further includes at least one location for collecting a non-duplicate game marker and distributing the price in response to further receiving the non-duplicate game marker.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-duplicate game marker is a unique game marker.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein locations for collecting duplicate game markers allow for the collection of an arbitrary set of duplicate game markers.

Patent History
Publication number: 20140265121
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Applicant: TCC Retail Marketing, Inc. (Westport, CT)
Inventors: James Homer (Westport, CT), Ted A. Davies, JR. (Eden Prairie, MN)
Application Number: 13/827,164
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Property Or Commodity Transactions (273/256)
International Classification: A63F 3/00 (20060101);