Lottery Machine, again...

Ok so its me again, for you who didnt see my last thread it was a boring one on a poll about a few things about a lottery machine. Well no poll on this one, going back down to the very basics. OK so, here i go, so.

I am making a lottery machine as you may have guessed because i keep using the word lottery machine. And well i need to know how you 'the people' think the best lottery machine should work.

The reason i want to know is because at first when i started it i was like ohhh ok well ill just let them pay the machine, you know? and have the ticket stay in the machine, and then you could pay like $30linden for 3 tickets (or whatever numebr of linden divided by 10 would be your total) the more tickets the more you increase your odds, and the drawing would be everyone like... monday or whatever i choose. BUT THEN... someone was like why dont you have them buy a ticket from a selection of 4 or so and then each ticket would be like, 1 ticket $10linden, 5 ticket $50linden, 10 ticket $100linden, 25 ticket $250linden. And those would be the for you get the choose one. The cool thing about this is well the objects that they would click to "buy" would look like real tickets, which would add a more real feel to the thing, like in real.... you know. And then this other person was well like why dont you also (adding onto the last idea i stated) add like the acual kind of number's for the ticket, and then the machine chooses a number, and then all the people would have to come to one of the lottery machines in whatever locations they want and they rez the ticket right infront of the machine, and it would say if its a winner or not, and if it is it would give them the jackpot. And i love this idea, its EVEN almost like real life lottery! but the problem is i have a big fear that alot of people wont come or forget to come to a machine and rez the lottery ticket and then *lifts shoulders* no winner. So yah its like i Almost want to do the first idea its easy, no harm, always a winner. But then the second i thaught it also a good idea... ads some realisticness to it, and the third is awesome just the fact that sometimes there wont be winners (well im guessing since im pretty sure alot of the peole will forget). So i want your thoughts, opinions, idea's about any of these, or maybe you might come up with one that would acually turn out great and i'd use it.

So now i have reached the end, and now that i read it over it looks somewhat confusing lol. But if you get it, id like some reply's.

Rufus

*blinks*
*rubs eyes*
Ow, that hurt.

Yeah, uh, this sounds extremely similar to the lottery setup I've been running since November 2004, under the name "Miller's Millions LOTTO".

Each machine has four "Ticket Packs" sitting on the face of the machine, available for sale. A "Single Pack" (1 ticket) costs L$10. A "Five Pack" (5 tickets) costs L$49 (savings of L$1). A "25 Pack" (25 tickets) costs L$240 (savings of L$10). A "50 Pack" (50 tickets) costs L$475 (savings of L$15).

When you purchase any of those four packs, the pack you just purchased will move itself to a "chute" at the bottom of the machine, and display your ticket numbers. Then, you'll be notified to Right-Click the ticket and 'Take' it to your inventory. Then, a new pack will be rezzed to replace the one you just purchased from the face of the machine.

Remember, Lotto is not supposed to ALWAYS have a winner. If it were, it would be called a Raffle.

Good luck with your lotto.

P.S. If anyone is interested in seeing my lottery game in action, visit the main location at Noyo (30,90).

Yay for free advertising! Heck, why not check out the Heisenberg casino? Someone won 12k on Video poker a few days ago!

Yeah, I know it sounds like advertising. I really just wanted to state that, for the record, I was here with this system first, and if any systems with similarities appear, I can point to this thread for proof.

Heh, well most likely the girl that told me this played yours or saw yours before and told me, i had no idea, well i wont use that idea then of course, Well... THEN... Anyone have any other idea's... since im pretty much left with one or 2

Lotteries in SL have been around for a long time. James is most assuredly not the first one to sell lottery tickets in SL, and I am not certain he is the first to have automated ticket sales and drawings. There was a rather widespread lottery before his (the drawing might have been done manually though - I dont know because I didn't play it). His is, however, among the best I have seen.

That is, however, irrelevant. There is no reason there cannot be many different lotteries. Being first in SL is cool, but it does not convey any special rights unless for some insane reason someone managed to get an actual patent.

There is plenty of room for many different lotteries and/or games of all types in SL. Competition is healthy, and I enthusiastically encourage it. Without competition, whoever did something first would rarely improve their own product.

SO .. kudos to James for making a pretty decent lottery system ... but don't let that discourage you from making your own. People did it before him, and people will do it again in the future. If I was still involved in SL Gaming, I would probably make one myself.

Borrowing and expanding upon the ideas of others is the cornerstone of innovation. It is good for the market, and very good for consumers because it forces developers to enhance their own oferings.

With Regards,
The (semi retired) Antagonistic Protagonist

I completely agree, there can be more than one lottery in Second Life -- there's already quite a few. I wasn't the first -- if I recall correctly, the first was by Kirsten Taylor (might have been Kristen Taylor, can't recall), way back in beta, nearly three years ago. Her's had manual drawings, as does mine. I only wanted to point out the similarities to my "Buy Original" instead of "Buy Copy" system, and my "Multi-Pack" system.

I welcome competition. I think there's definitely room in the market for everyone. Lotto tickets are not like other products -- people don't need to buy just one -- in fact, it's in their best interest if they buy more than one from each lotto.

I even won yours once!! haha!

I love James's Lotto. And I know he didn't meant to imply his was the only one. James isn't like that.

I remember when Candy Apple held her lotto. I have never before or since seen a lotto that gathered as much publicity as hers did. But Candy was an amazing person. And even she was not the *only* one holding such an event weekly. She was simply the most well known at the time.

I *love* to see others expand and grow on ideas. If nothing else it keeps the pre-creators on their toes and forever improving.

Best of luck to you Rufus!!! I'll have to be sure and stop by for a ticket when you are up and running!!

Oh i see, i see... not really, but thanks for the people that replied! Also, nice speech antagonistic, very good.

Anyways yah thanks for the reply's, ill figure somthing out.

Rufus